Medical Sciences Commons^™

The Feigned Annoyance And Frustration Test To Activate The Sympathoadrenal Medullary System, Ted W. Gehrig Iii, Lee S. Berk, Robert I. Dudley, Jo A. Smith, Lida Gharibvand, Everett B. Lohman Iii

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

When perceived as threatening, social interactions have been shown to trigger the sympathoadrenal medullary system as well as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis resulting in a physiologic stress response. The allostatic load placed on human health and physiology in the context of acute and chronic stress can have profound health consequences. The purpose of this study was to develop a protocol for a lab-based stress stimulus using social-evaluative threat. While several valid, stress-stimulating protocols exist, we sought to develop one that triggered a physiologic response, did not require significant lab resources, and could be completed in around 10 min. We included 53 …

Study Protocol: Identifying Transcriptional Regulatory Alterations Of Chronic Effects Of Blast And Disturbed Sleep In United States Veterans, Molly J. Sullan, Kelly A. Stearns-Yoder, Zhaoyu Wang, Andrew J. Hoisington, Adam D. Brenoweth, Walter Carr, Yongchao Ge, Hanga Galfalvy, Fatemah Haghighi, Lisa A. Brenner

Faculty Publications

Injury related to blast exposure dramatically rose during post-911 era military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is among the most common injuries following blast, an exposure that may not result in a definitive physiologic marker (e.g., loss of consciousness). Recent research suggests that exposure to low level blasts and, more specifically repetitive blast exposure (RBE), which may be subconcussive in nature, may also impact long term physiologic and psychological outcomes, though findings have been mixed. For military personnel, blast-related injuries often occur in chaotic settings (e.g., combat), which create challenges in the immediate assessment of …

Six-Month Report Assessing The Feasibility And Effectiveness Of Amniotic Membrane Injections In Patients With Short, Anterior, Urethral Strictures, Nicholas Pryde, Jack Vernocke, Aron Liaw, Michael Sessine, Nivedita Dhar

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction: Urethral stricture treatment has high recurrence rates and adjunct injectable agents have been explored. Amniotic membranes (AM) promote apoptosis of pro-inflammatory cells, prevent differentiation of pro-fibrotic cells, and decrease scar formation. These tissues generated interest in reconstructive urethral surgery. Thus, we performed urethral dilation combined with micronized AM injection in urethral scar tissue for treatment of urethral stricture.

Materials and Methods: Adult males with strictures ≤12Fr in diameter and ≤2 cm in length, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ≥11 and maximum flowrate <15 ml/s. Reconstituted 100mg micronized AM was injected at the time of urethral dilation. Primary study end point was anatomical success (≥14Fr by cystoscopy) at 6 months. Secondary end points were questionnaires, flow rate, and post void residual. Outcomes assessed at baseline, 5 days, 14 days, 3 months, and 6 months post-injection. Safety was analyzed.

Results: Ten men, mean age of 52 ± 15 years, were included. There were 7 patients with …

Impact Of Strokes: The Burden Of Care, Post-Cva Fatigue & Caregiver Role Strain, Tanya G. Schlemmer

Nursing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Strokes and cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs) and related disease events are an unfortunate circumstance that inflicts individuals around the world and impacts people every day as individuals and their caregivers. The consequences of these strokes or CVA events are life-changing for all those involved. As a result of long-term disability related to strokes, the caregiver may undergo many emotional, psychological, and physical factors that impact their daily lives. There is a relatively short period of time to react to the necessary change and as a result there may be differences in coping associated with these unexpected health circumstances. Many stoke …

Artificial Intelligence Frameworks To Detect And Investigate The Pathophysiology Of Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (Sans), Joshua Ong, Ethan Waisberg, Mouayad Masalkhi, Sharif Amit Kamran, Kemper Lowry, Prithul Sarker, Nasif Zaman, Phani Paladugu, Alireza Tavakkoli, Andrew G Lee

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) is a unique phenomenon that has been observed in astronauts who have undergone long-duration spaceflight (LDSF). The syndrome is characterized by distinct imaging and clinical findings including optic disc edema, hyperopic refractive shift, posterior globe flattening, and choroidal folds. SANS serves a large barrier to planetary spaceflight such as a mission to Mars and has been noted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a high risk based on its likelihood to occur and its severity to human health and mission performance. While it is a large barrier to future spaceflight, the underlying …

The Role Of Gut Dysbiosis In The Loss Of Intestinal Immune Cell Functions And Viral Pathogenesis, Farzaneh Fakharian, Siva Thirugnanam, David A. Welsh, Woong Ki Kim, Jay Rappaport, Kyle Bittinger, Namita Rout

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The gut microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining overall health and immune function. However, dysbiosis, an imbalance in microbiome composition, can have profound effects on various aspects of human health, including susceptibility to viral infections. Despite numerous studies investigating the influence of viral infections on gut microbiome, the impact of gut dysbiosis on viral infection and pathogenesis remains relatively understudied. The clinical variability observed in SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal influenza infections, and the presence of natural HIV suppressors, suggests that host-intrinsic factors, including the gut microbiome, may contribute to viral pathogenesis. The gut microbiome has been shown to influence the …

The Effect Of Genetic Taste Status On Swallowing: A Literature Review, Theresa S. Lee, Angela M. Dietsch, Rana H. Damra, Rachel W. Mulheren

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Purpose

Swallowing and taste share innervation pathways and are crucial to nutritive intake. Individuals vary in their perception of taste due to factors such as genetics; however, it is unclear to what extent genetic taste status influences swallowing physiology and function. The purpose of this review article is to provide background on genetic taste status, review the evidence on the association between genetic taste status and swallowing, and discuss research and clinical implications.

Method

A comprehensive literature review was conducted using search terms related to swallowing and genetic taste status. Studies were included if they investigated the main effect of …

Metals And Metal Complexes In Diseases With A Focus On Covid-19: Facts And Opinions, Agnieszka Ścibior, Manuel Aureliano, Alvin A. Holder, Juan Llopis

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

In the present Special Issue on “Metals and Metal Complexes in Diseases with a Focus on COVID-19: Facts and Opinions”, an attempt has been made to include reports updating our knowledge of elements considered to be potential candidates for therapeutic applications and certain metal-containing species, which are extensively being examined towards their potential biomedical use due to their specific physicochemical properties. The Special Issue compiles data on the role of metals in COVID-19 and focuses on other illnesses and biological processes that affect metal metabolism. It consists of eight manuscripts, including five review articles and three original research papers (Figure …

Sleep Problems In Old Age: Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor To The Rescue, Sho Inami, Dinis J.S. Afonso, Kyunghee Koh

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Upregulation Of Cell Surface Glycoproteins In Correlation With Kshv Lana In The Kaposi Sarcoma Tumor Microenvironment, Sara R. Privatt, Owen Ngalamika, Jianshui Zhang, Qinsheng Li, Charles Wood, John T. West

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

HIV-associated epidemic Kaposi sarcoma (EpKS) remains one of the most prevalent cancers in sub-Saharan Africa despite the widespread uptake of anti-retroviral therapy and HIV-1 suppression. In an effort to define potential therapeutic targets against KS tumors, we analyzed previously published KS bulk tumor transcriptomics to identify cell surface biomarkers. In addition to upregulated gene expression (>6-fold) in the EpKS tumor microenvironment, biomarkers were selected for correlation with KSHV latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) expression. The cell surface glycoprotein genes identified were KDR, FLT4, ADAM12, UNC5A, ZP2, and OX40, as well as the endothelial lineage determinants Prox-1 and CD34. Each protein …

The Effects Of Exercise On The Lipid Profile Of Extracellular Vesicles, Tesha Kerr

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We sought to ascertain the effect of different types of exercise (aerobic training and resistance training) on the lipid profile of extracellular vesicles. Thus, we had participants perform bouts of AT and RT and rest (control) and collected blood samples from them immediately after (timepoint 0) and 30 minutes after (timepoint 30) exercise. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) were isolated from plasma of participants using cushioned-density gradient ultracentrifugation (C-DGUC). Small EV size, morphology, and protein markers were determined using nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and western blot, respectively. Additionally, we performed untargeted lipidomics on the sEV isolate. We found that …

H2s, Sg-1002, Protects Against Myocardial Oxidative Damage And Hypertrophy In Vitro Via Induction Of Cystathionine Β-Synthase And Antioxidant Proteins, Rahib K. Islam, Erinn Donnelly, Erminia Donnarumma, Fokhrul Hossain, Jason D. Gardner, Kazi N. Islam

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Endogenously produced hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is critical for cardiovascular homeostasis. Therapeutic strategies aimed at increasing H2S levels have proven cardioprotective in models of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF). The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of a novel H2S prodrug, SG-1002, on stress induced hypertrophic signaling in murine HL-1 cardiac muscle cells. Treatment of HL-1 cells with SG-1002 under serum starvation without or with H2O2 increased the levels of H2S, H2S producing enzyme, and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), as well as antioxidant protein levels, such as super oxide dismutase1 (SOD1) and catalase, and additionally decreased oxidative …

Massive Loss Of Proprioceptive Ia Synapses In Rat Spinal Motoneurons After Nerve Crush Injuries In The Postnatal Period, Ariadna Arbat-Plana, Sara Bolívar, Xavier Navarro, Esther Udina, Francisco J. Alvarez

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) induce the retraction from the ventral horn of the synaptic collaterals of Ia afferents injured in the nerve, effectively removing Ia synapses from α-motoneurons. The loss of Ia input impairs functional recovery and could explain, in part, better recovery after PNIs with better Ia synaptic preservation. Synaptic losses correlate with injury severity, speed, and efficiency of muscle reinnervation and requires ventral microglia activation. It is unknown whether this plasticity is age dependent. In neonates, axotomized motoneurons and sensory neurons undergo apoptosis, but after postnatal day 10 most survive. The goal of this study was to analyze …

Fast Blue And Cholera Toxin-B Survival Guide For Alpha-Motoneurons Labeling: Less Is Better In Young B6sjl Mice, But More Is Better In Aged C57bl/J Mice, Hasan Farid, Weston B. Gleford, Lori L. Goss, Teresa L. Garrett, Sherif M. Elbasiouny

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Fast Blue (FB) and Cholera Toxin-B (CTB) are two retrograde tracers extensively used to label alpha-motoneurons (α-MNs). The overall goals of the present study were to (1) assess the effectiveness of different FB and CTB protocols in labeling α-MNs, (2) compare the labeling quality of these tracers at standard concentrations reported in the literature (FB 2% and CTB 0.1%) versus lower concentrations to overcome tracer leakage, and (3) determine an optimal protocol for labeling α-MNs in young B6SJL and aged C57Bl/J mice (when axonal transport is disrupted by aging). Hindlimb muscles of young B6SJL and aged C57Bl/J mice were intramuscularly …

Yoga And Mindfulness For Social-Emotional Development And Resilience In 3–5 Year-Old Children: Non-Randomized, Controlled Intervention, Alessandra N. Bazzano, Yaoyao Sun, Yuanhao Zu, Julia M. Fleckman, Emma A. Blackson, Tejal Patel, Angie Shorty-Belisle, Keith H. Liederman, Cody Roi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Early childhood is the key life course period for development of social-emotional skills, providing the foundation for school readiness and resilience in later life. Age-appropriate yoga and mindfulness programs may contribute to the development of critical skills in children. Young children from minoritized communities that face structural racism and health disparities may benefit from programs that support social-emotional development and contribute to future academic success. Systematic reviews of yoga interventions for young children have indicated the potential for effectiveness in supporting social-emotional development, executive function, and physical activity. However, studies of yoga and mindfulness with non-White children are sparse …

Fatty Acid Therapy And Implications For Spinal Cord Injury Treatment: A Literature Review, Philippe J. Dentino

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Introduction: Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) are catastrophic injury to spinal neurons that cause a tremendous socioeconomic and public health burden on individuals globally. The role of fatty acids in treatment of SCI is not well understood and poorly standardized across treatment provision. This review seeks to explore the role of fatty acids in neurorecovery and propose emerging themes in SCI treatment with fatty acids.

Methods: A PICO was designed and online databases were searched for relevant articles. A total of 55 studies were deemed appropriate for the review and summarized into thematic elements including ) Cellular Transport 2) Neuroprotection 3) …

A Rare Case Of Covid Encephalitis In A Vaccinated Patient, Christian Pena, Hari Movva, Hector Arredondo, Alberto Pena, Erik Hinojosa, Michael Rotko, Jorge Nadal, Michelle Lopez

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Background and Purpose: SARS-CoV-2 infection is known to cause primarily respiratory symptoms, however, neurological disorders such as anosmia and stroke have been seen. Encephalitis is a rare complication of COVID-19 with a reported incidence of less than 1%¹. Most patients develop both COVID-19 symptoms and encephalitis symptoms during the same period¹. In addition, the majority of reports are from patients with no prior vaccination. Here, we present a case of encephalitis 2 weeks after mild COVID-19 in a fully vaccinated male.

Case Presentation: A 68-year-old Hispanic male was brought to the ED due to new onset gaze deviation, generalized tonic …

The Safety And Efficacy Of Pravastatin In The Treatment Of Preeclampsia, Miranda Shelly, Tara Riley

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: Assess the efficacy of pravastatin in the prevention or treatment of preeclampsia in women who are at risk. Design: Systematic literature review. Methods: A search was performed using Pubmed utilizing the terms preeclampsia and pravastatin. The results were limited to studies that were double blind and placebo controlled and that occurred in the last 5 years. Results: None of the studies found statistical significance in the rate of preeclampsia between the experimental and control groups. Only one study found statistically significant differences in fetal birth weight and age at delivery. The other two studies found no differences between groups …

Worried Sick: Understanding The Implications Of Stress On A Physiological Level, Julia Saia

Senior Honors Theses

Stress is prevalent among many individuals in today’s society. A literature review was conducted to investigate the physiological effects of stress, including the biomarkers of stress and how these interact with various body systems. The stress response is a protective mechanism to prepare the body to adequately respond to a perceived threat. However, when this response is prolonged, it begins to have a maladaptive effect on the body and can cause more harm than good. This literature review sought to compile what is known regarding the general effects of chronic stress and its impact on the nervous, immune, digestive, and …

Motoneuron Excitability Dysfunction In Als: Pseudo-Mystery Or Authentic Conundrum?, Sherif M. Elbasiouny

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), abnormalities in motoneuronal excitability are seen in early pathogenesis and throughout disease progression. Fully understanding motoneuron excitability dysfunction may lead to more effective treatments. Yet decades of research have not produced consensus on the nature, role or underlying mechanisms of motoneuron excitability dysfunction in ALS. For example, contrary to Ca excitotoxicity theory, predictions of motoneuronal hyper-excitability, normal and hypo-excitability have also been seen at various disease stages and in multiple ALS lines. Accordingly, motoneuron excitability dysfunction in ALS is a disputed topic in the field. Specifically, the form (hyper, hypo or unchanged) and what role …

Artificial Gravity Partially Protects Space-Induced Neurological Deficits In Drosophila Melanogaster, Amber M. Paul, Siddhita D. Mhatre, Janani Iyer, Juli Petereit, Roberta M. Dolling-Boreham

Publications

Spaceflight poses risks to the central nervous system (CNS), and understanding neurological responses is important for future missions. We report CNS changes in Drosophila aboard the International Space Station in response to spaceflight microgravity (SFmg) and artificially simulated Earth gravity (SF1g) via inflight centrifugation as a countermeasure. While inflight behavioral analyses of SFmg exhibit increased activity, postflight analysis displays significant climbing defects, highlighting the sensitivity of behavior to altered gravity. Multiomics analysis shows alterations in metabolic, oxidative stress and synaptic transmission pathways in both SFmg and SF1g; however, neurological changes immediately postflight, including neuronal loss, glial cell count alterations, oxidative …

Non-Invasive Transcutaneous Spinal Dc Stimulation As A Neurorehabilitation Als Therapy In Awake G93a Mice: The First Step To Clinical Translation, Morgan M. Highlander, Sherif M. Elbasiouny

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Spinal direct current stimulation (sDCS) modulates motoneuron (MN) excitability beyond the stimulation period, making it a potential neurorehabilitation therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a MN degenerative disease in which MN excitability dysfunction plays a critical and complex role. Recent evidence confirms induced changes in MN excitability via measured MN electrophysiological properties in the SOD1 ALS mouse during and following invasive subcutaneous sDCS (ssDCS). The first aim of our pilot study was to determine the clinical potential of these excitability changes at symptom onset (P90-P105) in ALS via a novel non-invasive transcutaneous sDCS (tsDCS) treatment paradigm on un-anesthetized SOD1-G93A mice. …

Suppression Of Store-Operated Calcium Entry Channels And Cytokine Release By Cannabinoids, J. Ashot Kozak

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Healthy Exosomes And Their Effects On Diabetic Cardiomyocytes, Miguel A. Garza, Genaro A. Ramírez-Correa, Maria Lourdes Garza-Rodríguez, Andres J. Medina

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Extracellular Vesicles, and more specifically, exosomes, are essential for effective cell-to-cell communication in a wide variety of tissues. In the last couple of decades, these nanovesicles have been proven to be active participants and regulators in many disease processes; therefore, their therapeutic effects have been widely studied and proven in various cardiovascular diseases both, in vitro and in vivo. Thus, this study aims at assessing the effects of running healthy mice exosomes on cardiomyocyte and cardiac tissue samples obtained from diabetic mice. Here, we successfully extract exosomes from mice plasma and detect their presence through the use of anti-CD9 and …

The Role Of Microglia In Neuroinflammation Of The Spinal Cord After Peripheral Nerve Injury, Tana S. Pottorf, Travis M. Rotterman, William M. Mccallum, Zoë A. Haley-Johnson, Francisco J. Alvarez

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Peripheral nerve injuries induce a pronounced immune reaction within the spinal cord, largely governed by microglia activation in both the dorsal and ventral horns. The mechanisms of activation and response of microglia are diverse depending on the location within the spinal cord, type, severity, and proximity of injury, as well as the age and species of the organism. Thanks to recent advancements in neuro-immune research techniques, such as single-cell transcriptomics, novel genetic mouse models, and live imaging, a vast amount of literature has come to light regarding the mechanisms of microglial activation and alluding to the function …

Il-10 And Tgf-Β Increase Connexin-43 Expression And Membrane Potential Of Hl-1 Cardiomyocytes Coupled With Raw 264.7 Macrophages, Cora B. Cox, Mike Castro, Thomas L. Brown, Nancy J. Bigley

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Cardiac resident macrophages facilitate electrical conduction by interacting with cardiomyocytes via connexin-43 (Cx43) hemichannels. Cx43 is critical for impulse propagation and coordination between muscle contractions. Cardiomyocyte electrophysiology can be altered when coupled with noncardiomyocyte cell types such as M2c tissue-resident macrophages. Using cocultures of murine HL-1 cardiomyocytes and RAW 264.7 macrophages, we examined the hypothesis that cytokine signals, TGF-β1 and IL-10, upregulate Cx43 expression at points of contact between the two cell types. These cytokine signals maintain the macrophages in an M2c anti-inflammatory phenotype, mimicking cardiac resident macrophages. The electrophysiology of cardiomyocytes was examined using di-8-ANEPPS potentiometric dye, which reflects …

Parkinson's Disease And Exercise: Steps Into A Hopeful Future, Jacob Barker

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

In the world of medicine and disease interventions, exercise is too often underlooked as a viable form of treatment or complementary treatment to medication. This is especially true with Parkinson’s Disease, a disease that attacks the basal ganglia of the brain and impairs neuromuscular function. In my analysis, I read a perspective from a PD patient, Gerry Hill, who has struggled with the disease himself and how he used physical activity to aid in his battle with the disease for both physical and psychological aid. Additionally, I performed research to understand how exercise benefits function within the brain. Aerobic exercise, …

Acute Oxygen-Sensing Via Mitochondria-Generated Temperature Transients In Rat Carotid Body Type I Cells, Ryan J. Rakoczy, Clay M. Schiebrel, Christopher N. Wyatt

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

The Carotid Bodies (CB) are peripheral chemoreceptors that detect changes in arterial oxygenation and, via afferent inputs to the brainstem, correct the pattern of breathing to restore blood gas homeostasis. Herein, preliminary evidence is presented supporting a novel oxygen-sensing hypothesis which suggests CB Type I cell “hypoxic signaling” may in part be mediated by mitochondria-generated thermal transients in TASK-channel-containing microdomains. Distances were measured between antibody-labeled mitochondria and TASK-potassium channels in primary rat CB Type I cells. Sub-micron distance measurements (TASK-1: 0.33 ± 0.04 µm, n = 47 vs TASK-3: 0.32 ± 0.03 µm, n = …

The Anti-Inflammatory Agent Bindarit Attenuates The Impairment Of Neural Development Through Suppression Of Microglial Activation In A Neonatal Hydrocephalus Mouse Model, Eri Iwasawa, Farrah N. Brown, Crystal Shula, Fatima Kahn, Sang Hoon Lee, Temugin Berta, David R. Ladle, Kenneth Campbell, Francesco T. Mangano, June Goto

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Neonatal hydrocephalus presents with various degrees of neuroinflammation and long-term neurologic deficits in surgically treated patients, provoking a need for additional medical treatment. We previously reported elevated neuroinflammation and severe periventricular white matter damage in the progressive hydrocephalus (prh) mutant which contains a point mutation in the Ccdc39 gene, causing loss of cilia-mediated unidirectional CSF flow. In this study, we identified cortical neuropil maturation defects such as impaired excitatory synapse maturation and loss of homeostatic microglia, and swimming locomotor defects in early postnatal prh mutant mice. Strikingly, systemic application of the anti-inflammatory small molecule bindarit significantly supports healthy …

Ethanol And Opioids Do Not Act Synergistically To Depress Excitation In Carotid Body Type I Cells, Ryan J. Rakoczy, Kajal Kamra, Yoon-Jae Yi, Christopher N. Wyatt

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

The combination of opioids and ethanol can synergistically depress breathing and the acute ventilatory response to hypoxia. Multiple studies have shown that the underlying mechanisms for this may involve calcium channel inhibition in central neurons. But we have previously identified opioid receptors in the carotid bodies and shown that their activation inhibits calcium influx into the chemosensitive cells. Given that the carotid bodies contribute to the drive to breathe and underpin the acute hypoxic ventilatory response, we hypothesized that ethanol and opioids may act synergistically in these peripheral sensory organs to further inhibit calcium influx and therefore inhibit ventilation.

Methods …