Medical Sciences Commons^™

Methods And Compositions For The Treatment Of Psoriasis, Kenneth A. Foon, Malaya Chatterjee

Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics Faculty Patents

This invention provides methods of treating psoriasis which entail eliciting an immune response in an individual against an antigen aberrantly expressed in psoriatic tissue, such as a ganglioside, in an individual. The anti-ganglioside immune response is elicited by administration of an antigen such as a ganglioside, an anti-idiotype moiety for a ganglioside, or a polynucleotide encoding an anti-idiotype moiety. Also described is a strategy for developing additional compositions for psoriasis. The compositions elicit an immunological response against a target antigen present on psoriatic tissue, which in turn can be detected using antibody affinity-purified from the serum of the treated subject. …

Latent Activity Of Curcumin Against Leishmaniasis In Vitro, Danish Saleheen, Syed Atif Ali, Khalid Ashfaq, Anwar Ali Siddiqui, Ajmal Agha, Muhammad Masoom Yasinzai

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

In this study the anti-proliferative effect of curcumin (curcuma longa) that is the active ingredient of ground dried rhizome has been studied against three local and three reference leishmanial strains, Leishmania major, Leishmania tropica and Leishmania infantum (Pakistani isolate). Curcumin has shown an average IC50 of 5.3mM against promastigotes of various leishmanial strains which is much lower as compared with pentamidine that is one of the basic treatments against leishmaniasis. The main draw back attributed to these assays performed on promastigotes is the heterogeneity of results compared with those obtained with intracellular amastigotes or with in vivo effect. We also …

Prevalence Of Various Upper Extremity Disorders In Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Versus Patients Without Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Daniel C. Buda

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background and Purpose: Increasingly larger numbers of patients present with repetitive strain injuries of the upper extremities, especially carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A large number of these patients appear to have more than one upper extremity condition. The purpose of this study was to determine the probability that a patient diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome will also be diagnosed with other upper extremity and/or cervical spine disorders.

Subjects: A group of 188 subjects diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and a group of 203 subjects without carpal tunnel syndrome were selected through a chart review of patients at Loma Linda …

Increased Responsiveness Of Hypoxic Endothelial Cells To Fgf2 Is Mediated By Hif-1 Alpha-Dependent Regulation Of Enzymes Involved In Synthesis Of Heparan Sulfate Fgf2-Binding Sites, Jian Li, Nicholas W. Shworak, Michael Simons

Dartmouth Scholarship

Binding of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) to its high affinity receptors requires the presence of specific heparan sulfate (HS) moieties on the cell surface that act as coreceptors. To determine the contribution of cell-surface HS to modulation of FGF2-dependent cell growth, we studied the changes in the cell mass and FGF2 binding of endothelial cell HS under normoxic and hypoxic conditions in vitro. Both large vein and cardiac microvascular endothelial cells cultured under hypoxic conditions demonstrated an increase in the ratio of cell-surface HS to chondroitin sulfate (CS), as well as an increase in the number of low affinity …

Spectral And Temporal Processing In Human Auditory Cortex, Deborah A Hall, Ingrid Johnsrude, Mark P Haggard, Alan R Palmer, Michael A Akeroyd, A Quentin Summerfield

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Hierarchical processing suggests that spectrally and temporally complex stimuli will evoke more activation than do simple stimuli, particularly in non-primary auditory fields. This hypothesis was tested using two tones, a single frequency tone and a harmonic tone, that were either static or frequency modulated to create four stimuli. We interpret the location of differences in activation by drawing comparisons between fMRI and human cytoarchitectonic data, reported in the same brain space. Harmonic tones produced more activation than single tones in right Heschl's gyrus (HG) and bilaterally in the lateral supratemporal plane (STP). Activation was also greater to frequency-modulated tones than …

Osmosensitive Release Of Neurotransmitter Amino Acids: Relevance And Mechanisms, Herminia Pasantes-Morales, Rodrigo Franco, Lenin Ochoa, Benito Ordaz

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Hyposmolarity activates amino acid efflux as part of the corrective volume process in a variety of cells. This review discusses the mechanism of amino acid release in brain cells preparations. Results present evidence of substantial differences between the efflux of taurine and that of GABA and glu-tamate, which besides a possible role as osmolytes, have a main function as synaptic transmitters. The differences found concern the efflux time course, the sensitivity to Cl^– channel blockers, the modulation by tyrosine kinases, the influence of PKC and the effect of cytoskeleton disruptive agents. While taurine efflux features fit well with the …

Cd8+-T-Cell Immunity Against Toxoplasma Gondii Can Be Induced But Not Maintained In Mice Lacking Conventional Cd4+ T Cells, Lori Casciotti, Kenneth H. Ely, Martha E. Williams, Imtiaz A. Khan

Dartmouth Scholarship

T-cell immunity is critical for survival of hosts infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Among the cells in the T-cell population, CD8⁺ T cells are considered the major effector cells against this parasite. It is believed that CD4⁺ T cells may be crucial for induction of the CD8⁺-T-cell response against T. gondii. In the present study, CD4^−/− mice were used to evaluate the role of conventional CD4⁺ T cells in the immune response against T. gondii infection. CD4^−/− mice infected with T. gondii exhibited lower gamma interferon (IFN-γ) messages in the majority of their …

Method For Enhancing Protective Cellular Responses To Genotoxic Stress In Skin, Elaine L. Jacobson, Myron Jacobson

Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences Faculty Patents

The present invention is directed to methods of using pro-NAD agents capable of enhancing the dermal and epidermal skin cell NAD content. These pro-NAD agents may be administered topically, orally, or parenterally to enhance DNA repair and other protective responses to DNA damage. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising pro-NAD agents that effectively elevate intracellular NAD content. Finally, the invention relates to the method of using the pro-NAD agents to treat disorders such as sunburn and other skin deterioration that results from DNA damage in skin cells.

Genes Encoding Several Poly (Adp-Ribose) Glycohydrolase (Parg) Enzymes, The Proteins And Fragments Thereof, And Antibodies Immunoreactive Therewith, Myron Jacobson, Elaine L. Jacobson, Jean-Christoph Amé, Winston Lin

Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences Faculty Patents

The isolation and characterization of cDNAs encoding poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) enzymes and the amino acid sequences of PARGs from several species are described. PARG is involved in the cellular response to DNA damage and its proper function is associated with the body's response to neoplastic disorder inducing agents and oxidative stress. Expression vectors containing the cDNAs and cells transformed with the vectors are described. Probes and primers that hybridize with the cDNAs are described. Expression of the cDNA in E. coli results in an enzymatically active protein of about 111 kDa and an active fragment of about 59 kDa. Methods …

Phosphoglycan Messengers And Their Medical Uses (Lipidemia), Khalid M. Elased, Khalid A. Gumaa, Hassan Rahmoune, Thomas Rademacher

Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty Publications

Phosphoglycan messengers (PGMs) which are carbohydrate derivatised phosphatidyl cyclitols are disclosed, together with the finding that these substances are biologically active, e.g. in lowering blood glucose levels. These compounds are distinct from GPI-anchors disclosed in the prior art as these GPI-anchors are protein linked and are not biologically active.

Phosphoglycan Messengers And Their Medical Uses (Sle), Khalid M. Elased, Khalid A. Gumaa, Hassan Rahmoune, Thomas Rademacher, J. B. De Souza

Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty Publications

PPhosphoglycan messengers (PGMs) which are carbohydrate derivatised phosphatidyl cyclitols are disclosed, together with the finding that these substances are biologically active, especially in modulating plasma cholesterol, plasma triglycerides and/or high density lipoprotein levels and/or modulating the LDL:HDL ratio, and for the treatment of lipodystrophy or dyslipidemia. These compounds are distinct from GPI-anchors disclosed in the prior art as these GPI-anchors are protein linked and are not biologically active.

Pkcα Translocation And Actin Remodeling In Contracting A7r5 Smooth Muscle Cells, Chenwei Li

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Recent research indicates that protein kinase C (PKC) plays an important role in smooth muscle contraction. Because PKC activation and specificity of substrate phosphorylation is believed to be associated with the relocalization of the enzyme to specific cell sites, we first investigated the subcellular translocation of PKCα in A7r5 smooth muscle cells by confocal microscopy through use of standard immunohistologic staining and PKCα - enhanced green fluorescent protein (PKCα -EGFP) fusion protein expression. PKCα was diffusely distributed throughout the cytosol in the unstimulated A7r5 cell. Upon stimulation with phorbol 12, 13 dibutyrate (PDBu), PKCα was translocated primarily to either the …

Characterization Of Host-Bacteria Interactions Contributing To Group B Streptococcus Colonization, Jennifer Marie Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of life-threatening bacterial infections during the first three months of life. GBS is also a frequent cause of maternal postpartum infections. Both types of infections stem from maternal vaginal and/or rectal colonization with GBS in the perinatal period. Limited information is available concerning how the colonization process occurs and what role the host immune system may play in the establishment of persistent colonization by GBS. The complex interactions between the immune system and GBS normally should end in clearance of the bacteria. However, since colonization by GBS occurs in a large number …

Gravistimulation Of Pisum Sativum And Expression Of The Cell Membrane Expansin Proteins, Sherrine A. Ibrahim

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This thesis research investigates the regulation of gene expression in pea stems (Pisum sativum) after changes in orientation to gravity (gravistimulation). Specifically, this project examines the changes in extracellular soluble proteins due to gravistimulation in pea seedlings. This change in gravity alters the cellular growth pattern, which can be directly linked to enzymatic activity resulting in the expression of cell wall loosening proteins called expansins. This loosening of the cell wall matrix subsequently increases elasticity in growing cells, thus leading to an upward curvature of the stems. These changes in enzymatic activity and gene expression are crucial for …

Glutamine Uptake By Neurons: Interaction Of Protons With System A Transporters, Farrukh A. Chaudhry, Dietmar Schmitz, Richard J. Reimer, Peter Larsson, Andrew T. Gray, Roger Nicoll, Michael Kavanaugh, Robert H. Edwards

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Astrocytes provide the glutamine required by neurons to synthesize glutamate and GABA. However, the mechanisms involved in glutamine transfer from glia to neurons have remained poorly understood. Recent work has implicated the System N transporter SN1 in the efflux of glutamine from astrocytes and the very closely related System A transporters SA1 and SA2 in glutamine uptake by neurons. To understand how these closely related proteins mediate flux in different directions, we have examined their ionic coupling. In contrast to the electroneutral exchange of H⁺ for Na⁺ and neutral amino acid catalyzed by SN1, we now show that …

Dynamic Equilibrium Between Coupled And Uncoupled Modes Of A Neuronal Glutamate Transporter, Lars Borre, Michael Kavanaugh, Baruch I. Kanner

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

In the brain, the neurotransmitter glutamate is removed from the synaptic cleft by (Na⁺ + K⁺)-coupled transporters by an electrogenic process. Moreover, these transporters mediate a sodium- and glutamate-dependent uncoupled chloride conductance. In contrast to the wild type, the uptake of radiolabeled substrate by the I421C mutant is inhibited by the membrane-impermeant [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl]methanethiosulfonate and also by other sulfhydryl reagents. In the wild-type and the unmodified mutant, substrate-induced currents are inwardly rectifying and reflect the sum of the coupled electrogenic flux and the anion conductance. Remarkably, the I421C mutant modified by sulfhydryl reagents exhibits currents that are non-rectifying …

Actiononaias Ligamentina As A Biomonitor In The Green River: An Unique Approach For Analysis Of Environmental Impacts, Robert Kirkland

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Biomonitoring has become an important component in bioassessment programs. It is used to maintain high water quality standards, and determine contaminant levels and biological affects in areas that have been heavily disturbed. The objectives of this research were 1) to improve and apply certain modern biomonitoring techniques and 2) to locate possible contaminant sources affecting the flora and fauna of the Green River and of Mammoth Cave. Actinonaias ligamentina (Lamarck, 1819), a freshwater mussel, was used for interpretation of these impacts as well as refinement of biomonitoring techniques. The mussels were collected in the Lawler Bend region of the Green …

Effect Of Charge On The Deposition Of Electrostatically Charged Inhalable Aerosol In Lung Model, Divey Saini, C. U. Yurteri, N. Grable, Robert A. Sims, Malay K. Mazumder

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Inhalable drugs are widely used for treating lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis. The aerosol particles in these inhalable drugs may be charged electrostatically. The deposition of these inhaled therapeutic aerosol particles in the different regions of the lung depends on the particle aerodynamic diameter, electrostatic charge distribution, particulate number density, breathing rate, aerodynamics of the lung, ambient temperature, and relative humidity (RH). The primary mechanisms for lung deposition of inhaled particles are impaction, gravitational settling, diffusion, interception, and electrostatic attraction. To simulate lung deposition, electrostatically charged aerosol particles are introduced through a throat section into a …

Synthesis And Chemistry Of Naphthalene Annulated Trienyl Iron Complexes: Potential Anticancer Dna Alkylation Reagents, Traci Means

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Iron complex chemistry that opens a new door to the medicinal and pharmaceutical worlds is the aim of this research. Specifically, ortho-quinone methide moieties are intermediates in several antitumor drugs and have been identified as bioreductive alkylators of DNA. In our research, a class of iron compounds has been targeted to resemble these quinone methides. It is hoped that these new compounds could be modified to provide a window of opportunity toward the discovery of a selective mode of drug delivery. We have focused our efforts on generating a reactive transition metal complexed 5-membered ring analog of o-quinone methide based …

Determination Of Alpha-I Antitrypsin Genetic Deficiency In Duodenal Ulcer By Polymerase Chain Reaction, A Shahid, H Qureshi, S J. Zuberi, Anwar Ali Siddiqui, T Sultana, M A. Waqar

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Objective: To confirm alpha-I-AT deficiency status in duodenal ulcer using a combination of PCR and restricted enzyme digestion.

Methods: Fifty patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer and hundred controls with no signs of the disease were included. Alpha-i-AT phenotypes were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction enzyme digestion.

Results:Alpha-I-AT concentration in duodenal ulcer patients showed a mean value of 2.12 ± 0.11g/1 (range: 0.52-3.95 g/1, p

Conclusion: Alpha-1 AT deficiency was found in 10% of duodenal ulcer patients. DNA analysis more accurately resolved the phenotypes as S and Z mutations (JPMA 52:545; 2002).

Factors Influencing Immunization Status In Primary Care Clinics, David Page, Jan Meires, Amy B. Dailey

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background and Objectives: National standards and goals for childhood immunization rates are well established. Yet, despite clear standards and goals, physicians do not achieve the desired rate (90%) for immunization coverage. This study examined factors related to immunization status for 2-year-old children in pediatric and family practice settings.

Methods: Specially trained personnel used computer software to audit 2,552 records from 42 practices in Northeast Florida throughout 1997–1999. Immunization records were judged as either complete or incomplete, and factors related to immunization status were studied. Clinic type and 18 immunization practice standards were reviewed for effect on immunization status.

Results: The …

Comparison Of The Effects Of Three Forms Of Individualized Education On Asthma Knowledge In Asthmatic Patients, Rezan Demi̇ralay

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

This study was carried out to compare the effects of three forms of individualized education (verbal, written, and verbal-written) on asthma knowledge in asthmatic patients. For this purpose, a randomized double blind controlled study was conducted with 62 adults with asthma followed-up at the outpatient clinic of Chest Diseases and Tuberculosis of the Faculty of Medicine of Suleyman Demirel University. Patients were randomized to the verbal (n:20), written (n:20), and verbal-written (n:22) education groups. Knowledge of asthma was measured at the baseline and 2 months after education. Before education, knowledge of asthma was low in the three education groups. The …

Medical, Social And Legal Implications Of Treating Nausea And Vomiting Of Pregnancy, Robert L. Brent

The Selected Works of Robert Brent

This article will deal with medical, social, and legal implications of treating nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP). Clinical problems occur when the symptoms become exaggerated and result in debilitation, dehydration, and hospitalization. The treatment of NVP in its early stages has the implication that it will prevent the more serious complications, including hospitalization. Therapeutic modalities discussed in this conference that have been used or are being tested are primarily symptomatic treatments (antihistamines, Bendectin (Merrell Dow; Cincinatti, Ohio), phenothiazines, hyponosis, accupressure, relaxation behavioral modification, audiogenic feedback training, newer medications, diet, and nutritional support). Bendectin is probably the most studied medication …

Small Glutamine-Rich Protein/Viral Protein U–Binding Protein Is A Novel Cochaperone That Affects Heat Shock Protein 70 Activity, Peter C. Angeletti, Doriann Walker, Antonito T. Panganiban

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Molecular chaperone complexes containing heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 and Hsp90 are regulated by cochaperones, including a subclass of regulators, such as Hsp70 interacting protein (Hip), C-terminus of Hsp70 interacting protein (CHIP), and Hsp70-Hsp90 organizing factor (Hop), that contain tetratricopeptide repeats (TPRs), where Hsp70 refers to Hsp70 and its nearly identical constitutive counterpart, Hsc70, together. These proteins interact with the Hsp70 to regulate adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and folding activities or to generate the chaperone complex. Here we provide evidence that small glutamine-rich protein/viral protein U–binding protein (SGT/UBP) is a cochaperone that negatively regulates Hsp70. By “Far-Western” and pull-down assays, SGT/UBP …

Mechanisms Counteracting Swelling In Brain Cells During Hyponatremia, Herminia Pasantes-Morales, Rodrigo Franco, Benito Ordaz, Lenin D. Ochoa

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Water gain in the brain consequent to hyponatremia is counteracted by mechanisms that initially include a compensatory displacement of liquid from the interstitial space to cerebrospinal fluid and systemic circulation and subsequently an active reduction in cell water accomplished by extrusion of intracellular osmolytes to reach osmotic equilibrium. Potassium (K⁺), chloride (Cl^–), amino acids, polyalcohols, and methylamines all contribute to volume regulation, with a major contribution of ions at the early phase and of organic osmolytes at the late phase of the regulatory process. Experimental models in vitro show that osmolyte fluxes occur via leak pathways …

Bacteriological Effects Of Xylitol And Different Carbohydrate Containing Diets In Swiss Albino Rats Inoculated With Streptococcus Mutans Ccug 6519, Fahi̇nur Ertuğrul, Rengi̇n Eltem, Bora A. Ataman

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The aim of the study was to investigate the bacteriological effects of different diets by Streptococcus mutans counts on 50 Swiss albino rats inoculated with Streptococcus mutans CCUG 6519 serotype c. A powdered form of standard basal diet meeting rats' nutritional needs was used in combination with diets containing different percentages of starch, sucrose and xylitol for 90 days. Dental plaque samples were collected at the end of the experiment and S. mutans and total bacterial counts were determined. S. mutans and total bacterial counts in plaque samples were the highest in the sucrose group and the differences were statistically …

An Alternative Method To The Volume Estimation Of Cavities With Irregular Surface In The Cadaver: Measuring Right Cardiac Ventricle Of The Fetus By Using Mercury, Zeli̇ha Kurtoğlu, M. Haluk Uluutku

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To find the volume of irregular cavities in cadavers, many researchers have used different methods including filling with any fluid and calculating the volume by usingcomplex geometrical formulas. All of these have some difficulties and disadvantages. In this paper, filling cavities with mercury is presented as an alternative method for volume estimation of the cavities. The volumes of 22 right cardiac ventricles were found by using mercury in 27-34 week-old fetuses. The method was proposed as an easy and sensitive method for volume estimation and comparison of the cavities in the cadaver.

Does Malnutrition During The Lactation Period Affect The Growth Of Bones And Teeth? -A Morphometric Study In Rats, Taner Zi̇ylan, Khalil Awadh Murshed, Aynur Emi̇ne Çi̇çekci̇başi

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To evaluate the effect of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) on the growth of the mandible and incisor teeth as well as to know if the malnutrition produces modifications in the time of the eruption of the teeth in malnourished rats during the lactation period, animals were divided into experimental and control groups. Experimental pups fed by one mother's milk were doubled in their number to be twice to those of the control pups fed by one mother's milk (Park method). The animals were sacrificed at 20 and 40 days of age, and the body and total lengths of the mandible, and …

Serum Total Homocysteine And Premature Coronary Heart Disease: Prospective Study In Middle Aged Patients, Abdi̇ Bozkurt, Yüksel Gökel, Mesut Demi̇r, Ayhan Usal, Sali̇h Çeti̇ner

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Homocysteine was found to be an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease in many epidemiological studies. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between total homocysteine levels and premature coronary artery disease events. A case - control study was carried out in patients aged 35 to 50 years with angiographically shown coronary heart disease and in age and sex matched control subjects with normal coronary angiography. Samples from 38 patients with coronary heart disease, and their paired controls were analyzed for homocysteine. Plasma homocysteine was measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Mean serum total homocysteine …

Effect Of Low Dietary Zinc Intake And Experimental Diabetes On The Zinc And Carbohydrate Metabolism In Rats, Zine Kechrid, Nazan Demi̇r, Cherif Abdennour, Noureddine Bouzerna

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the effect of low dietary zinc intake and experimental diabetes (IDDM) on the zinc and carbohydrate metabolism, 8-week-old male wealing normal albino (Wistar) rats were fed diets containing either adequate (54mg/kg) or low zinc (1mg/kg) quantities for one week. Ten rats from each group (n=20) were then intraperitoneally injected with alloxan to induce diabetes. The rats were sacrificed after a further three weeks. Body weight gain and food intake were recorded regularly. On day 28, after an overnight fast, the animals were sacrificed and blood glucose, serum insulin, serum cholesterol concentrations, liver glycogen contents, and femur and pancreatic …