Medical Sciences Commons^™

In Vivo Analysis Of The Natural Diversity Of The Igr Ires Family And Characterization Of The Role Of Ribosomal Protein S25 In Ires-Mediated Translation, Marla Ilene Hertz

All ETDs from UAB

Translation of the majority of eukaryotic mRNAs is initiated upon recognition of its 5' cap structure by translation initiation factors in so-called cap-dependent translation. Cap-dependent translation is repressed during cell stress and translation initiation by internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) predominates. IRESs, located in the 5' untranslated region of specific mRNAs, recruit the ribosome independent of the 5' cap and are essential regulatory elements in many RNA viruses and cellular messages. The dysregulation of cellular IRESs has been linked to cancer because they regulate the expression of genes involved in growth, development and stress response. In comparison to cap-dependent translation, …

Protein Modifications And The Response To Oxidized Lipids In Cardiovascular Cells, Ashlee Higdon

All ETDs from UAB

Free radical catalyzed oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as arachidonic acid is increased in cardiovascular disease states, including atherosclerosis and heart failure. Oxidized lipids have been extensively studied and found to recapitulate several key steps in atherogenesis. However, clinical trials with antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol have been less promising than originally predicted. Now appreciated as more than just biomarkers of disease, lipid peroxidation products have been shown to have roles in pathogenesis as well as physiology. Of particular interest are reactive lipid species that possess electrophilic carbonyls enabling them to act in a receptor-independent manner. To date, the …

Pax5 Controls B Lineage Specific Gene Expression Program Through Association With The Nuclear Matrix, Sang Yong Hong

All ETDs from UAB

Pax5 is an essential regulator for B lineage cell development and controls hundreds of positive and negative target genes. The nuclear matrix (NM) has long been proposed to provide a dynamic structural support for biological reactions inside of the nucleus, including DNA replication, RNA transcription, and RNA splicing. Although Pax5 binding sites have been identified in numerous Pax5 target genes, it is not clear how Pax5 controls so many target genes. In this dissertation, I demonstrate that Pax5 association with the NM is essential for regulation of the B lineage specific gene expression program. In part I, I found that …

Myosin Ii In Hippocampal Synapses: Regulation Of Synaptic Plasticity, Strength And Actin Dynamics By Two Distinct Isoforms, Maria Dolores Rubio

All ETDs from UAB

Cytoskeletal actin filaments underlie dendritic spine plasticity, critical for several forms of learning and memory. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that regulate actin dynamics is essential to elucidate memory formation pathways. Myosins, a superfamily of actin binding proteins, have emerged as candidates for regulation of actin dynamics in the brain. Several myosin class II isoforms have been identified in brain, but their individual contribution to synaptic activity is still unknown. Based on the finding that myosin IIB regulates actin polymerization in the growth cone of developing neurons and that it is necessary for maintenance of dendritic spine structure, I hypothesized that …

The Natural History Of Sivcpz Infection In Wild Living Chimpanzees, Rebecca Steele Rudicell

All ETDs from UAB

Simian immunodeficiency virus of chimpanzees (SIVcpz) is the immediate precursor to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), but even the most basic aspects of SIVcpz infection in its natural host are unknown. Here, we present the first comprehensive analysis of the natural history of SIVcpz infection in wild living chimpanzees. Using non-invasive (feces and urine based) methods, we studied two unique chimpanzee populations in Tanzania: the famous chimpanzees of Gombe National Park and the savanna chimpanzees of Ugalla, located about 135 km southeast of Gombe. Gombe chimpanzees are endemically infected with SIVcpz, and the park's established research infrastructure provides a …

Human Cytosolic Sulfotransferase 2b1b: Structure, Function And Expression In Human Brain, Emily D. Salman

All ETDs from UAB

The human cytosolic sulfotransferases are a family of phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes that conjugate a sulfonate moiety from 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to a hydroxyl moeity on a substrate. SULT2B1b catalyzes the sulfation of hydroxysteroids as well as many xenobiotics; and is expressed extra-hepatically. SULT2B1b is a unique SULT because it has amino (N)- and carboxy (C)-terminal peptide extensions, undergoes post-translational modification, and is localized in both the cytosol and nucleus. Analysis of SULT2B1b revealed that the N- and C-terminal extensions of SULT2B1b are predicted to be intrinsically unstructured peptides. Size exclusion chromatography has revealed that SULT2B1b is enzymatically active as …

The Role Of Cd19 In Follicular Dendritic Cell Activation, Riley Croom Myers

All ETDs from UAB

Germinal Centers (GC) are organized foci in secondary lymphoid organs of birds and mammals and are the principle sites of memory B cell generation and plasma cell formation. GC concentrate antigen within follicles to facilitate recognition by responding B cells to promote somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation. Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) reside within the light zones of GC and serve to facilitate B cell interactions with antigen, as well as B cell selection, proliferation, and survival. The work contained within this dissertation addresses the collaborative interactions between B cells and FDC. FDC within an active, GC-containing follicle express an array …

Role Of The Cystine/Glutamate Exchanger In Glioma Cell Biology, Toyin Adeyemi Ogunrinu

All ETDs from UAB

Changes in the glioma microenvironment including oxygen (O2) levels, supply of amino acid such as L-glutamate and L-cystine and glutathione (GSH) concentrations play a critical role in glioma biology. Previous data from our laboratory and others have implicated the L-cystine/L-glutamate exchanger, system xc- in the invasion and proliferation of cancers including glioma. The central aim of this dissertation was to characterize the contribution of L-cystine uptake, GSH synthesis and L-glutamate release to migration and proliferation of glioma cells. In my first study, I examined the role of system xc- mediated L-glutamate release on glioma migration. I show that activation of …

Multivariate Anti-Inflammatory Approaches To Rescue Neurogenesis And Cognitive Function In Aged Animals, Sandra Antonieta Acosta

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Aging is considered the number one risk factor to develop neuropathologies such as memory loss, senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease. Neurodegenerative diseases tend to start during adulthood, and aggravate over time, making them difficult to prevent and to treat. In the Unites States, demographic studies by U.S. Bureau of the Census have determined that our aging population of >65 years is expected to increase from the present 35 million to 78 million in 2030. This would result, not only to an increase of …

The Effects Of Pre-Exercise Carbohydrate Supplementation On Resistance Training Performance During An Acute Resistance Training Session, Kelly Raposo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

It appears that "carbohydrate loading" may enhance the performance of resistance training, but studies on CHO supplementation prior to a resistance-training bout are limited and have resulted in conflicting findings. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of pre-exercise CHO supplementation on high-intensity (>75% 1RM) resistance training performance for resistance-trained women during an acute bout of resistance exercise. METHODS: Thirteen resistance trained female participants (21.9 ± 4.8 yrs; 64.5 ± 3.0 in; 137.0 ± 14.8 lbs) came to the Exercise and Performance Nutrition Laboratory on three separate occasions; the day of the Familiarization Trial (FT) and the two Exercise Testing sessions …

Repeated Binge Pattern Ethanol Administration During Adolescence Or Adulthood: Long-Term Changes In Voluntary Ethanol Intake And Mesolimbic Dopamine Functionality In Male Rats, Antoniette Michelle Maldonado-Devincci

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Binge alcohol consumption is a rising concern in the United States, especially among adolescents as during this developmental period alcohol use is usually initiated and has been shown to cause detrimental effects on brain structure and function. These findings have been established through the use of binge models in animals, where animals are repeatedly administered high doses of ethanol typically over a period of three or four days. While such work has examined the effects of a four-day and repeated three-day binge, there has been almost no work conducted aimed at investigating the long-term behavioral and neurochemical and/or functional consequences …

The Effect Of Various Carbohydrate Supplements On Postprandial Blood Glucose Response In Female Soccer Players, Nina Pannoni

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of different types of carbohydrates on blood glucose response in collegiate soccer athletes at rest. This will help to determine the effectiveness of a carbohydrate supplement in providing sustained energy and maintained performance if ingested prior to a soccer match. METHODS: In a cross-over design, 10 female collegiate soccer players (n= 10, age 20.10 ± .99 years, height 65.55 ± 2.77 inches, weight 64.12 ± 8.36 kilograms) from the University of South Florida reported to the laboratory on five separate occasions after an overnight fast. Once a baseline blood …

Differential Effects Of Isoflurane And Propofol Anesthesia On Neurogenesis In Young And Aged Rats, Diana Marcela Erasso

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Worldwide, millions of young and elderly patients receive procedures that could not be performed without the use of anesthetics. Unfortunately, emerging animal and human data suggest an association between exposure to general anesthesia and impairment of cognitive function in pediatric and geriatric patients. Recent laboratory data have shown that general anesthetics are potentially damaging to the developing and aging brain. However, the mechanism by which this happens is still unknown. General anesthetics affect learning and memory, a brain function involving neural plasticity. An important form of neural plasticity receiving attention is postnatal neurogenesis. This process is highly regulated and involved …

The Role Of Hiv-1 Proteins In Alzheimer's Disease Pathology, Brian Nelson Giunta

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Prevalence of HIV-associated cognitive impairment is rising, the worst form of which is HIV-associated dementia (HAD). The disease is fuiled by a chronic innate type pro-inflammatory response in the brain which is highly dependent upon the activation of microglia. We first created an in vitro model of HAD composed of cultured microglial cells synergistically activated by the addition of IFN-gamma and the HIV-1 coat glycoprotein, gp120. This activation, as measured by TNF-alpha and NO release, is synergistically attenuated through the alpha7nAChR and p44/42 MAPK system by pretreatment with nicotine, and the cholinesterase inhibitor, galantamine. As these medications have been FDA …

Geriatric Experience Following Cardiac Arrest At Six Interventional Cardiology Centers In The United States 2007-2011, David B. Seder Md, Nainesh Patel Md, John A. Mcpherson Md, Paul W. Mcmullan Md, Karl B. Kern Md, Barbara T. Unger Rn, J Browning, Sudip Nanda Md, Facp, Melkon Hacobian Md, Michael B. Kelley Md, Niklas Nielsen Md, Phd, Michael R. Mooney Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Activities Involved In Cag/Ctg Repeat Instability, Nelson Lap Shun Chan

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

CAG/CTG repeat instability is associated with at least 14 neurological disorders, including Huntington’s disease and Myotonic dystrophy type 1. In vitro and in vivo studies have showed that CAG/CTG repeats form a stable hairpin that is believed to be the intermediate for repeat expansion and contraction.

Addition of extra DNA is essential for repeat expansion, so DNA synthesis is one of the keys for repeat expansion. In vivo studies reveal that 3’ CTG slippage with subsequent hairpin formation (henceforth called the 3’ CTG slippage hairpin) occurs during DNA synthesis. It is proposed that hairpin tolerance machinery is activated because prolonged …

Role Of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (Ace2) In Obesity-Associated Hypertension, Manisha Gupte

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine whether adipocytes express ACE2 and its role in obesity-associated hypertension with diet-induced obesity.

To determine if ACE2 was expressed in adipose tissue and its regulation in the setting of diet-induced obesity, we fed male mice either a low fat (LF) or high fat (HF) diet acutely (1 week) or chronically ( 4 months). We demonstrated that ACE2 was regulated specifically in adipose tissue with consumption of a HF diet. However, with chronic HF feeding adipose ACE2 was dysregulated resulting in activation of the systemic RAS and increased blood pressure.

To determine the …

Call-Fleming Syndrome: More Than A Crazy Migraine, Erin M. Conahan Rn, Cnrn, Claranne Mathiesen Rn, Msn, Cnrn

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Cement Pulmonary Embolism: A Common And Potentially Serious Complication Of Vertebroplasty, Brigid Hallinan Do, Yehia Y. Mishriki Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Giant Cell Arteritis Presenting With Bilateral Axillary Artery Occlusions, Vertebral Artery Stenosis And Left Internal Mammary Artery Graft Stenosis, Rashmi Sharma Md, J Patrick Kleaveland Md, Marie S. O’Brien Do

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Interval Division Of Education In The Navigation Of Breast Cancer Patients, Jane Zubia Rn, Ocn, Cbpn I-C, Laura Beaupre Bsn, Ocn, Cbpn-Ic, Diane Mchugh Bsn, Ocn, Cbpn-Ic, Raizalie Roman-Rosado Bsn, Ocn, Cmsrn, Nadesda Mack Rn, Bsn, Mba, Ocn

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Unusual Case Of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (Ttp) In Capnocytophaga Canimorsus Bacteremia, Nicole W. Tong Do

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

When We’Re All Together, The Patient Knows It: Creating An Interdisciplinary Learning Community In Palliative Medicine, Krista M. Hirschmann Phd, Daniel Ray Md, Elissa Foster Phd

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Wii: A Novel Approach To Improving Balance And Function In Persons With Parkinson’S Disease, Jolene Hammer Pt, Sandra M. Tremblay Pt, Ms, Cws, Mscs, Amy L. Kerstetter Pt, Peter J. Barbour Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Risk Factors Affecting Surgical Outcomes In Patients Undergoing Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest During Aortic Surgeries: A 10-Year Study, Bree Ann Young, James K. Wu, Martin E. Matsumura Md, Sanjay M. Mehta Md, Theodore G. Phillips Md, Michael F. Szwerc Md, Gary W. Szydlowski Md, Raymond L. Singer Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

P16 Ink4a Immunocytochemistry On Cell Blocks As An Adjunct To Cervical Cytology: Potential Reflex Testing On Specially Prepared Cell Blocks From Residual Liquid-Based Cytology Specimens, Vinod B. Shidham, Ravi Mehrotra, George Varsegi, Krista L. D'Amore, Bryan Hunt, Raj Narayan

Department of Pathology

Background: p16 INK4a (p16) is a well-recognized surrogate molecular marker for human papilloma virus (HPV) related squamous dysplasia. Our hypothesis is that the invasive interventions and related morbidities could be avoided by objective stratification of positive cytologic interpretations by p16 immunostaining of cell block sections of cytology specimens.

Materials and Methods: Nuclear immunoreactivity for p16 was evaluated in cell block sections in 133 adequate cases [20 negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy, 28 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), 50 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), 21 atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H), and 14 atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance …

Regional Expression Of Hoxa4 Along The Aorta And Its Potential Role In Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, John H. Lillvis, Robert Erdman, Charles M. Schworer, Alicia Golden, Kimberly Derr, Zoran Gatalica, Laura A. Cox, Jianbin Shen, Richard S. Vander Heide, Guy M. Lenk, Leigh Hlavaty, Li Li, James R. Elmore, David P. Franklin, John L. Gray, Robert P. Garvin, David J. Carey, Wayne D. Lancaster, Gerard Tromp, Helena Kuivaniemi

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

The infrarenal abdominal aorta exhibits increased disease susceptibility relative to other aortic regions. Allograft studies exchanging thoracic and abdominal segments showed that regional susceptibility is maintained regardless of location, suggesting substantial roles for embryological origin, tissue composition and site-specific gene expression.

Results

We analyzed gene expression with microarrays in baboon aortas, and found that members of the HOX gene family exhibited spatial expression differences. HOXA4 was chosen for further study, since it had decreased expression in the abdominal compared to the thoracic aorta. Western blot analysis from 24 human aortas demonstrated significantly higher HOXA4 protein levels in thoracic …

Lack Of An Association Of Mir-938 Snp In Iddm10 With Human Type 1 Diabetes, Xiaofan Mi, Hongzhi He, Yangxin Deng, Abert M. Levin, Jin-Xiong She, Qing-Sheng Mi, Li Zhou

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a newly discovered type of small non-protein coding RNA that function in the inhibition of effective mRNA translation, and may serve as susceptibility genes for various disease developments. The SNP rs12416605, located in human type 1 diabetes IDDM10 locus, changes the seeding sequence (UGU[G/A]CCC) of miRNA miR-938 and potentially alters miR-938 targets, including IL-16 and IL-17A. In an attempt to test whether miR-938 may be a susceptibility gene for IDDM10, we assessed the possible association of the miR-938 SNP with T1D in an American Caucasian cohort of 622 patients and 723 healthy controls by TaqMan assay. …

Targeted Identification Of Metastasis-Associated Cell-Surface Sialoglycoproteins In Prostate Cancer, Lifang Yang, Julius O. Nyalwidhe, Sigi Guo, Richard R. Drake, O. John Semmes

Bioelectrics Publications

Covalent attachment of carbohydrates to proteins is one of the most common post-translational modifications. At the cell surface, sugar moieties of glycoproteins contribute to molecular recognition events involved in cancer metastasis. We have combined glycan metabolic labeling with mass spectrometry analysis to identify and characterize metastasis-associated cell surface sialoglycoproteins. Our model system used syngeneic prostate cancer cell lines derived from PC3 (N2, nonmetastatic, and ML2, highly metastatic). The metabolic incorporation of AC₄ManNAz and subsequent specific labeling of cell surface sialylation was confirmed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Affinity isolation of the modified sialic-acid containing cell surface proteins …