Diseases Commons^™

Liver Perilipin 5 Expression Worsens Hepatosteatosis But Not Insulin Resistance In High Fat-Fed Mice, Michelle B. Trevino, David Mazur-Hart, Yui Machida, Timothy King, Joseph Nadler, Elena V. Galkina, Arjun Poddar, Sucharita Dutta, Yumi Imai

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Perilipin 5 (PLIN5) is a lipid droplet (LD) protein highly expressed in oxidative tissues, including the fasted liver. However, its expression also increases in nonalcoholic fatty liver. To determine whether PLIN5 regulates metabolic phenotypes of hepatosteatosis under nutritional excess, liver targeted overexpression of PLIN5 was achieved using adenoviral vector (Ad-PLIN5) in male C57BL/6J mice fed high-fat diet. Mice treated with adenovirus expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) (Ad-GFP) served as control. Ad-PLIN5 livers increased LD in the liver section, and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry revealed increases in lipid classes associated with LD, including triacylglycerol, cholesterol ester, and phospholipid classes, …

An Intersectional Perspective On Stigma As A Barrier To Effective Hiv Self-Management And Treatment For Hiv-Infected African American Women, Kimberly Adams Tufts

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Among those who are HIV-infected and striving to live well with HIV, African American women have poorer health outcomes and represent a higher portion of those women who die from HIV-related causes. Those health inequalities have been associated with the presence of social determinants of health such as stigma. This analytical review asserts that stigmas precipitated by gender, race, and class in the context of HIV-related stigma constitute substantial barriers to active engagement in HIV self-management, care, and treatment for HIV-infected African American women. The utility of the intersectionality framework for analyzing how these various stigmas interact to create unique …

Novel Interventions For Hiv Self-Management In African American Women: A Systematic Review Of Mhealth Interventions, Kimberly Adams Tufts, Kaprea F. Johnson, Jewel Goodman Shepherd, Juyoung Lee, Muna S. Bait Ajzoon, Lauren B. Mahan, Miyoung Kim

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the quality of interventions using mobile health (mHealth) technology being developed for and trialed with HIV-infected African American (AA) women. We aimed to assess rigor and to ascertain if these interventions have been expanded to include the broad domain of self-management. After an extensive search using the PRISMA approach and reviewing 450 records (411 published studies and 39 ongoing trials atclinicaltrials.gov), we found little completed research that tested mHealth HIV self-management interventions for AA women. Atclinicaltrials.gov, we found several mHealth HIV intervention studies designed for women in general, forecasting a promising …

Concepts Of Cancer And A Novel Cancer Therapy: Treating Tumors As An Aggressive Organ, Stephen J. Beebe

Bioelectrics Publications

No abstract provided.

Epidemic Surveillance Using An Electronic Medical Record: An Empiric Approach To Performance Improvement, Hongzhang Zheng, Holly Gaff, Gary Smith, Sylvain Delisle

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUNDS: Electronic medical records (EMR) form a rich repository of information that could benefit public health. We asked how structured and free-text narrative EMR data should be combined to improve epidemic surveillance for acute respiratory infections (ARI).

METHODS: Eight previously characterized ARI case detection algorithms (CDA) were applied to historical EMR entries to create authentic time series of daily ARI case counts (background). An epidemic model simulated influenza cases (injection). From the time of the injection, cluster-detection statistics were applied daily on paired background+injection (combined) and background-only time series. This cycle was then repeated with the injection shifted to each …

Leptin Regulates Cd16 Expression On Human Monocytes In A Sex-Specific Manner, Joseph G. Cannon, Gyanendra Sharma, Gloria Sloan, Christiana Dimitropoulou, R. Randall Baker, Andrew Mazzoli, Barbara Kraj, Anthony Mulloy, Miriam Cortez-Cooper

School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Publications

Fat mass is linked mechanistically to the cardiovascular system through leptin, a 16 kDa protein produced primarily by adipocytes. In addition to increasing blood pressure via hypothalamic-sympathetic pathways, leptin stimulates monocyte migration, cytokine secretion, and other functions that contribute to atherosclerotic plaque development. These functions are also characteristics of CD16-positive monocytes that have been implicated in the clinical progression of atherosclerosis. This investigation sought to determine if leptin promoted the development of such CD16-positive monocytes. Cells from 45 healthy men and women with age ranging from 20 to 59 years were analyzed. Circulating numbers of CD14++16++ monocytes, which are primary …

Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (Platelet Gel): An Appropriate Intervention For Salvaging Cardiac Myocytes Under Oxidative Stress After Myocardial Infarction, Barbara Y. Hargrave

Bioelectrics Publications

Background: The prompt restoration of blood flow (reperfusion) to the ischemic myocardium after an acute myocardial infarction is critical to the survival of non damaged heart tissue. However, reperfusion is responsible for additional myocardial damage. Our objective was to investigate the role of autologous platelet rich plasma or platelet gel prepared using nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) in improving left ventricular mechanical function after ischemic reperfusion.

Methods: The hearts of nine adult female New Zealand White rabbits were perfused using the Langendorff model. The hearts were exposed to global ischemia for 30 min and reperfused for 60 min. The hearts …

Tick-Bourne Pathogens Of Potential Zoonotic Importance In The Southern African Region, Simbarashe Chitanga, Holly Gaff, Samson Mukaratirwa

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The aim of this communication is to provide preliminary information on the tick-borne pathogens of potential zoonotic importance present in southern Africa, mainly focusing on their geographical distribution and host range, and to identify research gaps. The following tick-borne zoonoses have been reported to occur in southern Africa based mainly on case reports: Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever caused by Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus; ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia ruminantium, Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum; babesiosis caused by Babesia microti; relapsing fever caused by Borrelia duttonii and rickettsioses caused by Rickettsia africae, Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia conorii. The …

Effect Of A Lateral Wedge Insole Over A One Week Period In A Healthy Population, Sarah E. Sudheimer

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Medial knee osteoarthritis is a disease that is projected to affect approximately 45% of the U.S. population and is associated with significant morbidity, chronic pain, and limited activity. Laterally wedged insoles are used as an intervention to laterally shift the mechanical axis of the limb and decrease the external knee adduction moment, possibly indicating a shift in load distribution to the lateral compartment of the knee. The aim of this study was to examine the acute effects of a laterally wedged insole in those with valgus and normally aligned knees and to determine prolonged effects after the insole was worn …

In Vitro Selection Of Chloroquine Tolerant Plasmodium Falciparum Parasites, Daniel A. Daley

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Malaria is among the most devastating human diseases, and a majority of lethal cases are caused by the protozoan parasite, Plasmodiumfalciparum. The emergence of multi-drug resistant P.falciparum is a major obstacle to malaria control and is highlighted by the abandonment of chloroquine (CQ) as a first-line treatment of P.falciparum infections worldwide. Chloroquine resistance (CQR) is associated primarily with mutations in the transmembrane digestive vacuole protein, PfCRT. However, CQR P.falciparum parasites harboring the same mutant pfcrt allele vary in their CQ response, suggesting the CQ response is multigenic in nature. No gene outside of pfcrt is completely associated with CQR. Thus, …

Patterns Of Gene Expression From Human Costal Cartilage In Relation To The Chest Wall Deformity Pectus Carinatum, Janna E. Grubbs

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Cartilage deformities within the human chest wall, specifically pectus excavatum (PE) and pectus carinatum (PC) are common (1/400-1/1000) and yet, despite their clinical significance, are some of the least studied disorders pertaining to cartilage [1]. The costal cartilage connecting "false ribs" 8-10 to the sternum is often abnormally grown and can lead to formation of a severely sunken "funnel" chest (PE) or push outwards to form a "pigeon" chest (PC). Both conditions can have impact on the diaphragm, heart, lungs, and psychological function. An established ratio of PE and PC in males to females is 4:1, indicating a sex-linked male …

Novel Architecture Of Costal Cartilage And Implications In Chest Wall Deformities, Anthony J. Asmar

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Costal cartilage is a type of hyaline cartilage that forms rod-like structures that connect the ribs to the sternum. Deformation of costal cartilage is observed in the chest wall deformities, pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum. Pectus excavatum involves a sternal displacement causing a depression of the chest while pectus carinatum causes a protrusion of the chest. As costal cartilage is not a widely studied tissue, this leaves little knowledge into possible factors involved in the pathogenesis of pectus deformities. Costal cartilage in these deformities has been described as being weakened and may implicate proteoglycans which play an important role in …

Experiences Of Kenyan Healthcare Workers Providing Services To Men Who Have Sex With Men: Qualitative Findings From A Sensitivity Training Programme, Elise M. Van Der Elst, Evans Gichuru, Anisa Omar, Jennifer Kanungi, Zoe Duby, Miriam Midoun, Sylvia Shangani, Susan M. Graham, Adrian D. Smith, Eduard J. Sanders, Don Operario

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Introduction

Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Kenya are at high risk for HIV and may experience prejudiced treatment in health settings due to stigma. An on-line computer-facilitated MSM sensitivity programme was conducted to educate healthcare workers (HCWs) about the health issues and needs of MSM patients.

Methods

Seventy-four HCWs from 49 ART-providing health facilities in the Kenyan Coast were recruited through purposive sampling to undergo a two-day MSM sensitivity training. We conducted eight focus group discussions (FGDs) with programme participants prior to and three months after completing the training programme. Discussions aimed to characterize HCWs’ challenges in …

Late Developing Mammary Tumors And Hyperplasia Induced By A Low-Oncogenic Variant Of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (Mmtv) Express Genes Identical To Those Induced By Canonical Mmtv, Robert D. Bruno

School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Publications

Background: The canonical milk-transmitted mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) of C3H mice (C3H-MMTV) rapidly induces tumors in 90% of infected animals by 8 months of age. Pro-viral insertions of C3H-MMTV into genomic DNA results in the overexpression of common core insertion site (CIS) genes, including Wnt1/10b, Rspo2, and Fgf3. Conversely, infection by either the endogenous Mtv-1 virus (in C3Hf) or the exogenous nodule-inducing virus (NIV) (in Balb/c NIV) induces premalignant mammary lesions and tumors with reduced incidence and longer latency than C3H-MMTV. Here, we asked whether Mtv-1/NIV affected the expression of core CIS genes.

Findings: We confirmed the presence of …

Synergistic Effects Of Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields Combined With Low Concentration Of Gemcitabine On Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Vitro, Jing Wang, Jinsong Guo, Shan Wu, Hongqing Feng, Shujun Sun, Jie Pan, Jue Zhang, Stephen J. Beebe

Bioelectrics Publications

Treatment of cancer often involves uses of multiple therapeutic strategies with different mechanisms of action. In this study we investigated combinations of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) with low concentrations of gemcitabine on human oral cancer cells. Cells (Cal-27) were treated with pulse parameters (20 pulses, 100 ns in duration, intensities of 10, 30 and 60 kV/cm) and then cultured in medium with 0.01 mu g/ml gemcitabine. Proliferation, apoptosis/necrosis, invasion and morphology of those cells were examined using MTT, flow cytometry, clonogenics, transwell migration and TEM assay. Results show that combination treatments of gemcitabine and nsPEFs exhibited significant synergistic activities …

Analyzing The Effects Of Policy Options To Mitigate The Effect Of Sea Level Rise On The Public Health And Medically Fragile Population: A System Dynamics Approach, Rafael Diaz, Joshua Behr, Anna Jeng, Hua Liu, Franceso Longo

VMASC Publications

A critical question related to climate change concerns to how rising sea level will affect underserved populations and medically fragile population in coastal zones and floodplains. As sea levels rise, coastal waters will regain near-tidal areas and co-mingle with human-made pollutants, resulting from decades of industrial and commercial activity. This poses potential threat and risks to public health and the environment. It is critical that decision makers will initiate a process of parsing resources to the mitigation and management of these issues. The purpose of this research is to model the inherent dynamics of this process and understand how near-term …

Decorin Expression, Straw-Like Structure, And Differentiation Of Human Costal Cartilage, Michael W. Stacey, Janna Grubb, Anthony Asmar, Julie Pryor, Hani Elsayed-Ali, Ali Beskok, Diganta Dutta, Annie Fecteau, Alice Werner, Dennis A. Darby, Robert Kelly

Bioelectrics Publications

Costal cartilage is much understudied compared with the load-bearing cartilages. Abnormally grown costal cartilages are associated with the inherited chest wall deformities pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum resulting in sunken and pigeon chests, respectively. A lack of understanding of the ultrastructural and molecular biology of costal cartilage is a major confounder in predicting causes and outcomes of these disorders. This study analyzed the structure of marginal human costal cartilage (ribs 6-10) through scanning electron and atomic force microscopes and identified the presence of straw-like structures running longitudinally. We also demonstrated that chondrocytes tend to occur singly or as doublets and …

Use Of Optimal Control Models To Predict Treatment Time For Managing Tick-Borne Disease, Holly D. Gaff, Elsa Schaefer, Suzanne Lenhart

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Tick-borne diseases have been on the rise recently, and correspondingly, there is an increased interest in implementing control measures to decrease the risk. Optimal control provides an ideal tool to identify the best method for reducing risk while accounting for the associated costs. Using a previously published model, a variety of frameworks are assessed to identify the key factors influencing mitigation strategies. The level and duration of tick-reducing efforts are key metrics for understanding the successful reduction in tick-borne disease incidence. The results show that the punctuated nature of the tick's life history plays a critical role in reducing risk …

Early Diagnosis Of Pulmonary Embolism: Review And Cost-Effectiveness Analysis, Efstathios Polychronopoulos

Health Services Research Dissertations

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious, life-threatening thrombotic disease, which results in considerable health and economic consequences each year for the United States. These consequences include a toll of 83,000 deaths and an economic impact between 1,5 and 5 billion. Approaches to strategy selection by physicians and other health-care specialists are based mainly upon cost, technology availability, and cultural tolerance regarding radiation exposure. The purpose of this study was to determine the most cost-effective diagnostic strategy with patients suspected of PE among several strategies currently used by examining their detection failure rates. This objective was met by (a) assessing parameter …

Comparative Study Of Long-And Short-Pulsed Electric Fields For Treating Melanoma In An In Vivo Mouse Model, Xinhua Chen, Xinmei Chen, Karl H. Schoenbach, Shusen Zheng, R. James Swanson

Bioelectrics Publications

A mouse melanoma model was set up with green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in vivo. With the same energy, long- (1 ms) and short- (300 ns) pulsed electric fields were delivered to two melanomas injected into the same mouse. The tumor growth and green fluorescence were followed up to compare the different treatment efficacy of long and short pulses. After two days post treatment, short pulse-treated tumors showed a significantly lower tumor volume compared with long pulse-treated tumors (n=8, p

United Airways Disease Among Florists, Muge Akpinar-Elci, Omur C. Elci, Aygul Odabasi

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Previously we observed an excess risk for occupational asthma among florists with rhinitis. To further evaluate the link between upper and lower airways, we investigated united airways disease in the same occupational group. Occupational history, symptoms and atopy were investigated among 128 florists. Age-, smoking-, and gender-adjusted risks were calculated using logistic regression models comparing symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. The prevalence of work-related rhinitis symptoms was 13.3%, conjunctivitis symptoms and asthma-like symptoms were 14.1%. We observed an excess risk of work-related asthma symptoms among florists with work-related conjunctivitis (OR: 8.5, 95% CI: 2.4-29.9) and rhinitis (OR: 13.1, 95% CI: 3.0- …

Mathematical Model To Assess The Relative Effectiveness Of Rift Valley Fever Countermeasures, Holly Gaff, Colleen Burgess, Jacqueline Jackson, Tianchan Niu, Yiannis Papelis, David Hartley

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Mathematical modeling of infectious diseases is increasingly used to explicate the mechanics of disease propagation, impact of controls, and sensitivity of countermeasures. The authors demonstrate use of a Rift Valley Fever (RVF) model to study efficacy of countermeasures to disease transmission parameters. RVF is a viral infectious disease that propagates through infected mosquitoes and primarily affects animals but also humans. Vaccines exist to protect against the disease but there is lack of data comparing efficacy of vaccination with alternative countermeasures such as managing mosquito population or destroying infected livestock. This paper presents a compartmentalized multispecies deterministic ordinary differential equation model …

Estimating The Reproductive Numbers For The 2008-2009 Cholera Outbreaks In Zimbabwe, Zindoga Mukandavire, Shu Liao, Jin Wang, Holly Gaff, David L. Smith, J. Glenn Morris Jr.

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Cholera remains an important global cause of morbidity and mortality, capable of causing periodic epidemic disease. Beginning in August 2008, a major cholera epidemic occurred in Zimbabwe, with 98,585 reported cases and 4,287 deaths. The dynamics of such outbreaks, particularly in nonestuarine regions, are not well understood. We explored the utility of mathematical models in understanding transmission dynamics of cholera and in assessing the magnitude of interventions necessary to control epidemic disease. Weekly data on reported cholera cases were obtained from the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (MoHCW) for the period from November 13, 2008 to July 31, …

Ixodes Affinis (Acari: Ixodidae) In Southeastern Virginia And Implications For The Spread Of Borrelia Burgdorferi, The Agent Of Lyme Disease, Robyn M. Nadolny, Chelsea L. Wright, Wayne L. Hynes, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Holly Gaff

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Ixodes affinis Neumann is a hard-bodied (ixodid) tick known to be a competent vector for Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, and agents of other human diseases (Keirans et al. 1999). Ixodes affinis has been reported in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina and throughout coastal North Carolina (Clark et al. 1998, Harrison et al. 2010). Harrison et al. (2010) indicated that I. affinis was established throughout the coastal plain of North Carolina up to the Virginia border and suggested that I. affinis might occur in Virginia.

Exercise And Type 2 Diabetes: The American College Of Sports Medicine And The American Diabetes Association: Joint Position Statement, Sheri R. Colberg, Ronald J. Sigal, Bo Fernhall, Judith G. Regensteiner, Bryan J. Blissmer, Richard R. Rubin, Lisa Chasen-Taber, Ann L. Albrigjht, Barry Braun

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Although physical activity (PA) is a key element in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes, many with this chronic disease do not become or remain regularly active. High-quality studies establishing the importance of exercise and fitness in diabetes were lacking until recently, but it is now well established that participation in regular PA improves blood glucose control and can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes, along with positively affecting lipids, blood pressure, cardiovascular events, mortality, and quality of life. Structured interventions combining PA and modest weight loss have been shown to lower type 2 diabetes risk by up …

Variable Number Of Tandem Repeat Polymorphisms (Vntrs) In The Acan Gene Associated With Pectus Excavatum, Michael W. Stacey, Serina Neumann, Ashley Dooley, Kara Segna, Robert Kelly, Donald Nuss, Anne Kuhn, Michael Goretsky, Annie Fecteau, Aimee Pastor, Virginia Proud

Bioelectrics Publications

No abstract provided.

Balance Training Reduces Falls Risk In Older Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes, Steven Morrison, Sheri R. Colberg, Mita Mariano, Henri K. Parson, Arthur I. Vinik

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE - This study assessed the effects of balance/strength training on falls risk and posture in older individuals with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Sixteen individuals with type 2 diabetes and 21 age-matched control subjects (aged 50-75 years) participated. Postural stability and falls risk was assessed before and after a 6-week exercise program.

RESULTS - Diabetic individuals had significantly higher falls risk score compared with control subjects. The diabetic group also exhibited evidence of mild-to-moderate neuropathy, slower reaction times, and increased postural sway. Following exercise, the diabetic group showed significant improvements in leg strength, faster reaction times, …

Adjacent Slice Prostate Cancer Prediction To Inform Maldi Imaging Biomarker Analysis, Shao-Hui Chuang, Xiaoyan Sun, Lisa Cazares, Julius Nyalwidhe, Dean Troyer, O. John Semmes, Jiang Li, Frederic D. Mckenzie, Nico Karssemeijer (Ed.), Ronald M. Summers (Ed.)

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men in US [1]. Traditionally, prostate cancer diagnosis is made by the analysis of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and histopathological images of biopsy samples under microscopes. Proteomic biomarkers can improve upon these methods. MALDI molecular spectra imaging is used to visualize protein/peptide concentrations across biopsy samples to search for biomarker candidates. Unfortunately, traditional processing methods require histopathological examination on one slice of a biopsy sample while the adjacent slice is subjected to the tissue destroying desorption and ionization processes of MALDI. The highest confidence tumor regions gained from the …

Ekg Tracking For Augmented Standardized Patient Virtual Pathology Stethoscope Heart Auscultation, Sujith Surendran

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In recent years, a lot of research has focused on improving the clinical skills of medical students and medical practitioners using standardized patients. Standardized patients (SP's) are used by the medical students and physicians in place of mannequins for a more realistic experience. SP's are real people trained to simulate specific illnesses and conditions to a high degree of accuracy which makes it difficult for the medical students to distinguish them from real patients. This research will enhance the capabilities of the standardized patients by providing a non-invasive, natural, harmless and realistic appearing tracking method for placing virtual pathologies using …

The Role Of Human Endogenous Retroviruses In Renal Cell Carcinoma, Michele D. Tisdale

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Human endogenous retroviruses make up approximately 8-9% of the human genome. A number of expressed HERVs, those that are actively transcribing, have been associated with various cancers. Suppression mechanisms that control HERV expression often fail or become more permissive in tissues where expression should be restricted. Previous studies have identified HERV expression in breast cancer tissues, whereas normal tissue HERV expression remained suppressed. In addition, studies of DNA hypermethylation have correlated with the ability to contribute to cancer development. Hypermethylation of several tumor suppressor genes occurs frequently in cancers and alterations in promoter regions could contribute to the development of …