Medical Sciences Commons^™

Method For Inhibition Of Photocarcinogenesis Or Photoimmunosuppression Using Niacin, Elaine L. Jacobson, Helen L. Gensler

Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences Faculty Patents

The invention is directed to novel methods for the suppression of photocarcinogenesis and photoimmunosuppression in mice. The novel methods comprises the step of administering to a subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising niacin and a pharmaceutical carrier.

Activation Of Ca2+-Activated K+ Channels And Cell Migration By Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor In Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Cells., Min Jin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor (HGF/SF) stimulates migration of various cells and has been linked via Met tyrosine kinase signaling to transformation and the metastatic phenotype. HGF/SF-Met signaling also plays a role in malignancy. Migration of transformed MDCK-F cells depends on activation of a charybdotoxin (ChTX)-sensitive, volume-activated membrane K⁺ current. Patch-clamp electrophysiology and transwell migration assays were used to study the effects of HGF/SF on membrane K⁺ currents and cell migration in MDCK II cells. HGF/SF activated membrane K⁺ currents that increased over 24 hr, and these could be modulated by altering intracellular free calcium concentration [Ca^{2+ …}

Dose-Response Effects Of Lithium On Spatial Memory In The Black Molly Fish., Thomas Kyle Creson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lithium continues to be widely prescribed for the management of bipolar disease, yet cognitive impairment-related side effects promote noncompliance of the treatment regimen. We have introduced a novel animal model, the black molly fish, to study dose-response effects of lithium on short-term (STM) and long-term (LTM) memories. We developed a method utilizing capillary ion analysis (CIA), to measure plasma and brain lithium levels employed in our behavioral studies. We then developed an appropriate testing environment to ascertain learning capacities of these fish. We established that black mollies could adequately perform a forced-choice spontaneous alternation (SA) task used extensively in rodents …

Mentha (Lamiaceae) Phylogenetic Analysis Using Chloroplast Trnl-Trnf And Nuclear Ribosomal Dna Its Sequences, Jiranan Bunsawatt

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Mentha (Nepetoideae, Lamiaceae) is a taxonomically complex genus that includes economically important members such as spearmint and peppermint and species of global conservation interest. Mentha is considered challenging systematically due to its high incidence of polyploidy, diverse morphology, variation in base chromosome number, and frequent interspecific hybridization. Our objectives were to test the monophyly of Mentha and each of its traditionally recognized sections, assess phylogenetic relationships of the Mentha species, test hypotheses of hybridization for the putative stabilized allopolyploids (M spicata and M. canadensis), and determine the ancestral base chromosome number using DNA sequence data from the chloroplast trnL-trnF and …

Review Of "The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate: Science, Ethics, And Public Policy (Basic Bioethics)," Edited By Suzanne Holland, Karen Lebacqz, And Laurie Zoloth, James Steele

The University of New Hampshire Law Review

[Excerpt] "Perhaps like others, I started "The Human Embryonic Stem Cell Debate" not knowing many of the finer points of embryonic stem cell research, but I certainly had an opinion. This issue is far more complex than I had initially imagined. The editors do a commendable effort of compiling a sample of the innumerable arguments surrounding the debate."

A New Immunoassay For Quantification Of A Novel Cancer Antigen In Serum And Immunostaining Of Carcinoma Tissues And Cultured Cells Revealing The Antigenic Cellular Location., Emily Christine Mcduffee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is 1) to examine the presence of the antigen in serum by employing a newly developed ELISA immunoassay that quantifies the total antigen and bound antigen (antigen-antibody complex) using polyclonal chicken antibodies directed against an IgM-binding epitope of the new antigen, and 2) to determine the location of the antigen in carcinoma and normal cells. Sera from healthy volunteers (n = 147) and cancer patients (n = 26) were compared for both bound and total antigen concentrations using the new ELISA. Healthy volunteers were subdivided into three groups: those with a personal history of cancer …

Roles And Regulation Of Nf-Κb In Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Transformed Cells, Takeshi Shimamura

Dissertations

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is overexpressed in various cancer cells and the overexpression may be correlated with the prognosis of several types of cancers. Binding of PDGF to its receptors induces receptor dimerization and subsequent autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues in the receptor’s cytoplasmic domains. The phosphorylated tyrosine residues interact with the secondary signaling molecules to initiate signaling cascades that trigger cellular changes by affecting downstream effectors. In our recent publication, we have shown that a NF-κB mediates the transformation of mouse fibroblast cells overexpressing PDGF B chain. Though there is a significant correlation between PDGF stimulation and NF-κB activity, it …

The Cd154/Cd40 Interaction Required For Retrovirus-Induced Murine Immunodeficiency Syndrome Is Not Mediated By Upregulation Of The Cd80/Cd86 Costimulatory Molecules, Kathy A. Green, W. James Cook, Arlene H. Sharpe, William R. Green

Dartmouth Scholarship

C57BL/6 (B6) mice infected with LP-BM5 retroviruses develop disease, including an immunodeficiency similar to AIDS. This disease, murine AIDS (MAIDS), is inhibited by in vivo anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody treatment. The similar levels of insusceptibility of CD40^−/− and CD154^−/− B6 mice indicate that CD154/CD40 molecular interactions are required for MAIDS. CD4⁺ T and B cells, respectively, provide the CD154 and CD40 expression needed for MAIDS induction. Here, the required CD154/CD40 interaction is shown to be independent of CD80 and CD86 expression: CD80/CD86^−/− B6 mice develop MAIDS after LP-BM5 infection.

Executive Functions In Preschool Children Born Preterm: Application Of Cognitive Neuroscience Paradigms, K. A. Espy, M. M. Stalets, M. D. Mcdiarmid, T. E. Senn, M. F. Cwik, A. Hamby

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory: Faculty Publications

Although children born preterm are at risk for neuropsychological impairments at school age and adolescence, including difficulties with visual motor integration, spatial/constructional skills, attention, arithmetic, and nonverbal executive functions, specific neuropsychological outcome has not been investigated adequately in preschoolers. Application of cognitive neuroscience tasks offers the opportunity to characterize early executive functions in young children born preterm. In a preliminary sample of 29 preschool children born preterm (M birth gestational age=32.4 weeks), executive function outcome was compared to that of fullterm controls by contrasting performance on two prototypic delayed-response-type paradigms, Delayed Alternation and Spatial Reversal. Preschoolers born preterm correctly retrieved …

Individual Differences In The Development Of Executive Function In Children: Lessons From The Delayed Response And A-Not-B Tasks, K. A. Espy, P. M. Kaufmann

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory: Faculty Publications

An explosion of research activity in the area of attention, memory, and executive function has been noted since the mid-1980s (Lyon & Krasnegor, 1996). The bulk of this activity, however, has focused on the examination of group differences in executive skills, with less attention devoted to the manner by which individual children differ in executive skills from their peers. This chapter explores individual differences from a developmental perspective, that is, by returning to the emergence of basic executive functions and tracing the subsequent manifestations by examining the individual patterns of change. Therefore, it first reviews the history of executive function …

Confirmatory Factor Analysis Of The Behavior Rating Inventory Of Executive Function (Brief) In A Clinical Sample, G. G. Gioia, P. K. Isquith, P. D. Retzlaff, K. A. Espy

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory: Faculty Publications

Evidence for the validity of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF; Gioia, Isquith, Guy, & Kenworthy, 2000) based on internal structure was examined in a sample of children with mixed clinical diagnoses via maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analysis. Four alternative factor models of children's executive function, based on current theories that posit a unidimensional versus fractionated model (Rabbitt, 1997; Shallice & Burgess, 1991), using the revised 9-scale BRIEF configuration that separates two components of the Monitor scale, were examined for model fit. A 3-factor structure best modeled the data when compared directly with 1-, 2-, and 4-factor models. …

"Getting Into The Mouths" Of Preschoolers: A Method For Obtaining Buccal Samples For Later Genotyping, K. A. Espy, A. F. Hamby

Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory: Faculty Publications

A new procedure is described by which to obtain buccal samples from preschool children for research investigations that include genotyping. Called the "Lollipop Tasting Game", the procedure involves three mason jars which were filled about halfway with water. Granulated sugar was added to each jar to make a noticeably sweet solution. Red food coloring was added to the first jar, a small bit of reconstituted lemon juice and yellow food coloring were added to the second jar, and finally, a bit of vanilla and blue food coloring were added to the last jar. The examiner dips cotton swabs in the …

Toxoplasma Gondii Induces Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor And Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Secretion By Human Fibroblasts: Implications For Neutrophil Apoptosis, Jacqueline Y. Channon, Kristin A. Miselis, Laurie A. Minns, Chaitali Dutta, Lloyd H. Kasper

Dartmouth Scholarship

Human neutrophils are rescued from apoptosis following incubation with once-washed, fibroblast-derived Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites. Both infected and uninfected neutrophils are rescued, implicating a soluble mediator. In this study we investigated the origin and identity of this soluble mediator. Neutrophils were incubated either with purified tachyzoites or with conditioned medium derived from T. gondii-infected human fibroblasts. Conditioned medium was found to be a potent stimulus that delayed neutrophil apoptosis up to 72 h, whereas purified and extensively washed tachyzoites had no effect. Delayed apoptosis correlated with up-regulation of the neutrophil antiapoptotic protein, Mcl-1, and the neutrophil interleukin 3 receptor alpha subunit …

Topical Micronutrient Delivery System And Uses Of Thereof, Elaine L. Jacobson, Myron Jacobson, Jaber G. Qasem, Hyuntae Kim, Moonsun Kim

Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences Faculty Patents

The invention involves methods and compositions useful in delivering micronutrients to cells. By formulating the micronutrient in the form of an ester that is convertible to the active form of the micronutrient, one can combine it with a co-ester that inhibits esterases, so that the micronutrient can reach the targeted cells prior to degradation. Both methods and compositions are described.

The Influence Of Warning Label Presentation In Memory Recognition Of Aging Adults, Brian J. Call

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Research indicates that hundreds of thousands of people are injured each year as a result of poor communication between medical personnel, warning label information, and consumers when taking over the counter or prescription medication. Typically, as adults age, they are increasingly responsible for remembering the hazards of taking medications. If inadequate information exists in memory in regards to side effects, dosage, and other warnings, the likelihood of improper usage will increase. Because aging adults typically have a reduction in cognitive resources, it was hypothesized that older adults would require the aid of additional warning information to assist in the retrieval …

Supervised Treatment Interruption (Sti) In An Urban Hiv Clinical Practice: A Prospective Analysis, Joseph L. Yozviak Do, Facp, Peter Kouvatos Do, R Eric Doerfler Np, Cch, William C. Woodward Do

Department of Medicine

Background: In acute HIV-1 infection, STI may induce immunologic control of HIV-1 replication. Several prospective trials of STI in chronic HIV-1 infection have been less encouraging. A previously presented retrospective analysis of our patients showed that in those with a significant CD4 increase (>200 cells) on antiretroviral therapy (ART), 2 or more interruptions may significantly lower viral set point. This prospective study describes STI in a cohort of patients.

Methods: 10 patients with either a positive response to therapy interruption retrospectively or those expressing interest in the strategy who met inclusion criteria (VL BLQ on ART, good adherence, robust …

Histological Evaluation Of Cryopreserved Ovaries In Autologous Abdominal Transplant To NaïVe, Outbred, Cd1, Mice, Wentia Elissa Ford

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

This study showed that fresh and frozen-thawed mouse ovaries would maintain viable primordial or primary follicles post-autologous transplantation. Furthermore, with appropriate hormonal stimulation, these early-stage follicles were shown to develop into Graafian follicles containing a metaphase II antral ovum. Partially sliced ovaries were transplanted into the abdominal cavity of naive, outbred, CD1, white mice. Hormonal stimulation with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) one week after the autologous transplantation stimulated variable degrees of follicle and ovum maturation within the ovarian tissue. There were no major morphological differences observed between the four groups, three treatment and one …

Mechanism Of Toxt-Dependent Transcriptional Activation At The Vibrio Cholerae Tcpa Promoter, Robin R. Hulbert, Ronald K. Taylor

Dartmouth Scholarship

The AraC homolog ToxT coordinately regulates virulence gene expression in Vibrio cholerae. ToxT is required for transcriptional activation of the genes encoding cholera toxin and the toxin coregulated pilus, among others. In this work we focused on the interaction of ToxT with the tcpA promoter and investigated the mechanism of ToxT-dependent transcriptional activation at tcpA. Deletion analysis showed that a region from −95 to +2 was sufficient for ToxT binding and activation, both of which were simultaneously lost when the deletion was extended to −63. A collection of point mutations generated by error-prone PCR revealed two small regions required …

Current Issues In Forensic Dna Profiling, Dan E. Krane

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Clinical And Epidemiological Correlates Of Genotypes Within The Mycobacterium Avium Complex Defined By Restriction And Sequence Analysis Of Hsp65, Sandra C. Smole, Fionnuala Mcaleese, Jutamas Ngampasutadol, C. Fordham Von Reyn, Robert D. Arbeit

Dartmouth Scholarship

Species identification of isolates of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) remains a difficult task. Although M. avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare can be identified with expensive, commercially available probes, many MAC isolates remain unresolved, including those representing Mycobacterium lentiflavum as well as other potentially undefined species. PCR restriction analysis (PRA) of the hsp65 gene has been proposed as a rapid and inexpensive approach. We applied PRA to 278 MAC isolates, including 126 from blood of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, 59 from sputum of HIV-negative patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 88 from environmental sources, and 5 pulmonary isolates from …

Coupling Of Termination, 3′ Processing, And Mrna Export, C. M. Hammell, Stefan Gross, Daniel Zenklusen, Catherine V. Heath, Francoise Stutz, Claire Moore, C. N. Cole

Dartmouth Scholarship

In a screen to identify genes required for mRNA export in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we isolated an allele of poly(A) polymerase (PAP1) and novel alleles encoding several other 3′ processing factors. Many newly isolated and some previously described mutants (rna14-48, rna14-49, rna14-64, rna15-58, and pcf11-1 strains) are defective in polymerase II (Pol II) termination but, interestingly, retain the ability to polyadenylate these improperly processed transcripts at the nonpermissive temperature. Deletion of the cis-acting sequences required to couple 3′ processing and termination also …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Hydroxyapatite-Collagen Biocomposite Materials, Vuk Uskoković, Nenad Ignjatović, Nadejda Petranović

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Hydroxyapatite-collagen composite is a prosperous biomaterial in reconstructive surgery for the reparation of defects within human hard tissue. Within this research, three-dimensional blocks of HAp/collagen composite biomaterial were synthesized by homogenizing the HAp/collagen mixture by cold and hot (T=60oC) pressing (P=49 MPa). The changes in the system were followed by using thermal analysis (DSC & TGA), FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The identification and kinetic analysis of appearing phase transition were done. FT-IR spectrum of the biocomposite shows that neither cold nor hot pressing had significant influence on the individual components of the composite. SEM of the fracture …

Defective Cd19-Dependent Signaling In B-1a And B-1b B Lymphocyte Subpopulations., Goutam Sen, Hsin-Jung Wu, Gabriel Bikah, Chandrasekar Venkataraman, Darrell A Robertson, E Charles Snow, Subbarao Bondada

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Peritoneal and pleural cavities in mice and humans contain a unique population of B-lymphocytes called B-1 cells that are defective in B cell antigen receptor (BCR) signaling but have an increased propensity to produce autoantibodies. Several molecules such as Btk, Vav, and CD19 known to be important for BCR signaling have been shown to be critical for the development of B-1 cells from undefined precursors. Here we demonstrate that B-1 cell unresponsiveness to BCR cross-linking is in part due to defective signaling through CD19, a molecule known to modulate signaling thresholds in B cells. The defective CD19 signaling is manifested …

Informed Consent For Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials: A Survey Of Clinical Investigators, Peter J. Whitehouse

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

High-Resolution Physical Map For Chromosome 16q12.1-Q13, The Blau Syndrome Locus., Xiaoju Wang, Helena Kuivaniemi, Gina Bonavita, Charlene J Williams, Gerard Tromp

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The Blau syndrome (MIM 186580), an autosomal dominant granulomatous disease, was previously mapped to chromosome 16p12-q21. However, inconsistent physical maps of the region and consequently an unknown order of microsatellite markers, hampered us from further refining the genetic locus for the Blau syndrome. To address this problem, we constructed our own high-resolution physical map for the Blau susceptibility region. RESULTS: We generated a high-resolution physical map that provides more than 90% coverage of a refined Blau susceptibility region. The map consists of four contigs of sequence tagged site-based bacterial artificial chromosomes with a total of 124 bacterial artificial chromosomes, …

Remodeling Of Organelle-Bound Actin Is Required For Yeast Vacuole Fusion, Gary Eitzen, Li Wang, Naomi Thorngren, William Wickner

Dartmouth Scholarship

Actin participates in several intracellular trafficking pathways. We now find that actin, bound to the surface of purified yeast vacuoles in the absence of cytosol or cytoskeleton, regulates the last compartment mixing stage of homotypic vacuole fusion. The Cdc42p GTPase is known to be required for vacuole fusion. We now show that proteins of the Cdc42p-regulated actin remodeling cascade (Cdc42p --> Cla4p --> Las17p/Vrp1p --> Arp2/3 complex --> actin) are enriched on isolated vacuoles. Vacuole fusion is dramatically altered by perturbation of the vacuole-bound actin, either by mutation of the ACT1 gene, addition of specific actin ligands such as latrunculin …

The Signaling Pathway Of Oxysterol Induced Apoptosis In Chinese Hamster Ovary (Cho)-K1 Cells., Lin Yang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Apoptosis, a form of genetically programmed cell death, plays a key role in regulation of cellularity of the arterial wall. During atherogenesis, improper apoptosis may cause abnormalities of arterial morphogenesis, wall structural stability, and metabolisms. It has been well established that vascular cells undergo apoptosis after uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). Thus, an analysis of the signaling pathway of apoptotic induction by oxLDL is of value in understanding the development of atherosclerotic plaque. In order to elucidate the signaling pathway of apoptosis induced by oxLDL, we have used Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells treated with a potent oxysterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol …

Hiv Tat Protein Activates Endothelial Cells Through Nfκb And Map Kinase Pathways., Jason L. Henry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

HIV infection has been shown to predispose patients to accelerated development of heart disease. One mechanism for this pathology may involve endothelial activation either by HIV itself or by its secreted proteins, gp120 (a viral envelope protein) and tat (a protein that upregulates transcription of viral genes). We have studied the effects of gp120 and tat on signaling and production of inflammatory cytokines by Human Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells (HPAEC). HPAEC were stimulated at varying time points with combinations of gp120, tat, and monokines (IL-1β and TNFα). Cell lysate fractions were analyzed for MAP Kinase activity and NFκB activation, and …

Kalirin Dbl-Homology Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor 1 Domain Initiates New Axon Outgrowths Via Rhog-Mediated Mechanisms, Victor May, Martin R. Schiller, Betty A. Eipper, Richard E. Mains

Life Sciences Faculty Research

The large multidomain Kalirin and Trio proteins containing dual Rho GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) domains have been implicated in the regulation of neuronal fiber extension and pathfinding during evelopment. In mammals, Kalirin is expressed predominantly in the nervous system, whereas Trio, broadly expressed throughout the body, is expressed at a lower level in the nervous system. To evaluate the role of Kalirin in fiber initiation and outgrowth, we microinjected cultured sympathetic neurons with vectors encoding Kalirin or with Kalirin antisense oligonucleotides, and we assessed neuronal fiber growth in a serum-free, satellite cell-free environment. Kalirin antisense oligonucleotides blocked the …

Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitis And Inflammation In The Absence Of Interleukin-12, Burkhard Becher, Brigit G. Durell, Randolph J. Noelle

Dartmouth Scholarship

IL-12 is considered a critical proinflammatory cytokine for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). IL-12 is a heterodimer composed of a p35 subunit and a common p40 subunit shared by other cytokines. Both IL-12 p40^–/– and p35^–/– mice fail to produce IL-12 p70 heterodimer. However, in contrast to p40^–/– mice, p35^–/– mice are highly susceptible to the induction of EAE, establishing that IL-12 p70 is not essential for the development of EAE. When compared with wild-type mice, both p40^–/– and p35^–/– mice show deficiencies in primary …