Medical Sciences Commons^™

Central Activation Of Orl-1 Receptors In Heart Failure Models, Jeffrey Angell

Theses & Dissertations

Heart failure is a prevalent and debilitating disease associated with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide and is the leading cause of death in the United States. While various therapeutic strategies have been developed and approved to manage heart failure, exploration of novel targets and mechanisms are essential for improving patient outcomes. This thesis investigates the therapeutic potential of the central activation of opioid receptor-like 1 (ORL-1) by nociceptin in a rodent heart failure model.

Furthermore, this study aims to elucidate the central mechanisms underlying nociceptin induced cardiovascular and renal effects in heart failure. This involves investigating neuronal pathways and …

Cystic Duct Morphology And Heister Valves: A Cadaveric Study, Cierra R. Goerish

Theses & Dissertations

Continued occurrence of cholelithiasis, gallstones, commonly results in cholecystectomy, removal of the gallbladder. Having a comprehensive anatomical, histological, and physiological knowledge of the biliary apparatus is imperative in clinical medicine today. Additionally, the functionality of cystic duct (CD) Heister valves (HV) has been speculatory since being reported in 1732. This study summarizes the morphology, orientation, and variability of the gross biliary system and provides data to help justify HV functionality.

Cadaveric dissection was utilized for gross observation and analysis of the biliary system. The angulation of the CD was found primarily as an acute angle; however, obtuse angulation could be …

Gene Expression Profiling Of Mapk Pathway Inhibitor Resistance In Cutaneous Melanoma: Can Bioinformatics Be Used To Select Better Melanoma Cell Lines?, Stephen Luebker

Theses & Dissertations

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and incidence has continued to increase. Half of all melanomas have a BRAF V600E mutation and respond to MAPK pathway inhibitors, including BRAF inhibitor therapy or BRAF/MEK inhibitor combination therapy, but nearly all patients develop treatment resistance. Melanoma cell lines produce variable results as models of MAPK pathway inhibitor resistance. To better understand how the genomic similarity of a melanoma cell line to patient-derived tumors affects resistance mechanisms, differences in DNA mutations and copy-number alterations were compared between melanoma cell lines profiled by the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia and cutaneous melanoma tumors …

Understanding The Chondrogenic Potential Of Articular Chondrocytes, Krishna Sarma

Theses & Dissertations

Articular cartilage is a smooth, visco-elastic, aneural, avascular tissue made of water, an exquisitely organized framework of proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, and collagen fibrils and articular chondrocytes. It’s beautiful organization and composition provide it with the flexibility and strength to cover, protect and lubricate the ends of long bones in a diarthrodial joint. Cartilage homeostasis relies on articular chondrocytes to translate the mechanical forces of daily activity into efficient remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Age, joint injury, or other insulting factors can progressively incapacitate articular chondrocytes, resulting in cartilage lesions that devolve to degenerative joint disease. Therefore, the central idea explored in …

Gross Anatomy Dissection Videos: Effect On Student Dissection Confidence And Laboratory Examination Scores, Kevin J. Selting

Theses & Dissertations

As medical colleges across the world experience cadaver shortages, faculty shortages, and decreased time allotted to teaching gross anatomy, a need for different teaching modalities has emerged. New ways of teaching are being studied to optimize efficiency and to acquire the same, or better, student outcomes as before the previously mentioned variables became prevalent. This was the stimulus for our research. Dissection videos were made, closely adhering to the dissections performed by Physician Assistant, Physical therapy, and Medical students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). The current Gross Anatomy course at UNMC involves four written examinations covering material …