Medical Sciences Commons^™

The Role And Mechanism Of Erythrocyte Invasion By Francisella Tularensis, Deanna M. Schmitt, Rebecca Barnes, Taylor Rogerson, Ashley Haught, Leanne K. Mazzella, Matthew Ford, Tricia Gilson, James W.-M. Birch, Anders Sjöstedt, Douglas S. Reed, Jonathan M. Franks, Donna B. Stolz, James Denvir, Jun Fan, Swanthana Rekulapally, Donald A. Primerano, Joseph Horzempa

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Francisella tularensis is an extremely virulent bacterium that can be transmitted naturally by blood sucking arthropods. During mammalian infection, F. tularensis infects numerous types of host cells, including erythrocytes. As erythrocytes do not undergo phagocytosis or endocytosis, it remains unknown how F. tularensisinvades these cells. Furthermore, the consequence of inhabiting the intracellular space of red blood cells (RBCs) has not been determined. Here, we provide evidence indicating that residing within an erythrocyte enhances the ability of F. tularensis to colonize ticks following a blood meal. Erythrocyte residence protected F. tularensis from a low pH environment similar to that of …

Pediatric Leukemia: Diagnosis To Treatment–A Review, Samantha C. Bernard, Ehab H. Abdelsamad, Paisley A. Johnson, Daniel L. Chapman, Madhukiran Parvathaneni

Faculty Works

Leukemia is cancer of the blood and bone marrow, it is the most common cancer found in children and is found to be more than one fourth of pediatric cancers. It causes white blood cells to become abnormal and the body to become weak. This deficiency in the immune system reduces the body's ability to fight infection or simple airborne illnesses, causing extensive treatment of common pathogens and cancer treatment. The present review covers all topics, from diagnosis to treatment of pediatric leukemia, as well as the stages of growth and physiological changes throughout the process. As leukemia has a …

Method For Alleviating Side Effects Of Retinoic Acid Therapy And/Or Improving Efficacy Without Interfering With Efficacy, Elaine L. Jacobson, Myron K. Jacobson, Russell Coyle, Hyuntae Kim, Donna L. Coyle

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Patents

The invention relates to the use of nicotinic acid alkyl esters, especially myristyl nicotinate, to inhibit side effects associated with retinoic acid therapy. Also a part of the invention is a method for improving skin cell differentiation by administering the nicotinic acid alkyl ester in an amount sufficient to increase expression of caspase 14 and filaggrin. Deficiencies in expression of these molecules can be treated in this way as well.

Representation Of Multiple Body Parts In The Missing-Hand Territory Of Congenital One-Handers., Avital Hahamy, Scott N Macdonald, Fiona Van Den Heiligenberg, Paullina Kieliba, Uzay Emir, Rafael Malach, Heidi Johansen-Berg, Peter Brugger, Jody C Culham, Tamar R Makin

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Individuals born without one hand (congenital one-handers) provide a unique model for understanding the relationship between focal reorganization in the sensorimotor cortex and everyday behavior. We previously reported that the missing hand's territory of one-handers becomes utilized by its cortical neighbor (residual arm representation), depending on residual arm usage in daily life to substitute for the missing hand's function [1, 2]. However, the repertoire of compensatory behaviors may involve utilization of other body parts that do not cortically neighbor the hand territory. Accordingly, the pattern of brain reorganization may be more extensive [3]. Here we studied unconstrained compensatory strategies under …

Week Of May 8, 2017, New York Medical College

InTouch

• Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2019 Celebrates and Reflects at White Coat Ceremony
• Lectureship Honors the Late Gabor Kaley, Ph.D.
• TCDM Hosts Pre-Dental Day
• Touro College of Dental Medicine Hosts ASDA/SPEA Event
• NYMC Collaborates for a Two-Week Global Bioethics Summer Program

Rat Hind Limb Nociceptive Withdrawal Response To Heat And Mechanical Stimuli Depends On Initial Position Of The Paw But Not Stimulus Location, Giavanna Verdi

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Mammals rapidly withdraw their hind limb in response to noxious stimulation, which is a protective movement known as the nociceptive withdrawal response (NWR). The NWR has been previously studied in spinalized, decerebrated and anesthetized non-human and human mammals; however, there is minimal information on the NWR in intact, unanesthetized non-human mammals.

The first specific aim was to identify the factors that determine the direction and magnitude of the NWR in intact, unanesthetized rats. Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that the location of stimulation and the initial position of the paw preceding the NWR will influence the direction and magnitude …

Dynamics Of Maternal And Infant Vitamin E Tocopherols During Nicu Hospitalization, Jana K. Wells

Theses & Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this prospective cohort is to investigate serum levels of vitamin E tocopherol isoforms (specifically alpha and gamma) in mothers and infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in relation to infant feeding modality.

METHODS: This was a prospective cohort of 34 mothers and their infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Samples of maternal and cord blood were collected at the time of delivery, and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was administered to the mother to measure maternal vitamin E tocopherol intake. After nutrition treatment of each feeding modality had been …

Vitamin D Supplementation In Allo-Hsct Patients, Bailey Nelson

Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Bone health is a serious concern for long-term survivors of Allo-HSCT due to multiple risk factors including steroids, chemotherapy, immunosuppressive drugs, and poor nutrition status1. Steroids have been long proven to have negative impact on bone health and the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) lists steroids as a contributing factor to osteoporosis and fractures. NOF guidelines recommend providing adequate daily vitamin D as a safe and inexpensive way to help reduce fracture risk1. Therefore, proper supplementation of vitamin D may increase the quality of life for patients post Allo-HSCT.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine if Allo-HSCT …

How An Alloreactive T-Cell Receptor Achieves Peptide And Mhc Specificity, Yuan Wang, Nishant K. Singh, Timothy T. Spear, Lance M. Hellman, Kurt H. Piepenbrink, Rachel H. Mcmahan, Hugo R. Rosen, Craig W. Vander Kooi, Michael I. Nishimura, Brian M. Baker

Food for Health: Publications

T-cell receptor (TCR) allorecognition is often presumed to be relatively nonspecific, attributable to either a TCR focus on exposed major histocompatibility complex (MHC) polymorphisms or the degenerate recognition of allopeptides. However, paradoxically, alloreactivity can proceed with high peptide and MHC specificity. Although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, the existence of highly specific alloreactive TCRs has led to their use as immunotherapeutics that can circumvent central tolerance and limit graft-versus-host disease. Here, we show how an alloreactive TCR achieves peptide and MHC specificity. The HCV1406 TCR was cloned from T cells that expanded when a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected HLA-A2− individual …

Biomarkers Of Acute Stroke Etiology (Base) Study Methodology., Edward C Jauch, Andrew D Barreto, Joseph P Broderick, Doug M Char, Brett L Cucchiara, Thomas G Devlin, Alison J Haddock, William J Hicks, Brian C Hiestand, Glen C Jickling, Jeff June, David S Liebeskind, Ted J Lowenkopf, Joseph B Miller, John O'Neill, Tim L Schoonover, Frank R Sharp, W Frank Peacock

Neuroscience Articles

Acute ischemic stroke affects over 800,000 US adults annually, with hundreds of thousands more experiencing a transient ischemic attack. Emergent evaluation, prompt acute treatment, and identification of stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack) etiology for specific secondary prevention are critical for decreasing further morbidity and mortality of cerebrovascular disease. The Biomarkers of Acute Stroke Etiology (BASE) study is a multicenter observational study to identify serum markers defining the etiology of acute ischemic stroke. Observational trial of patients presenting to the hospital within 24 h of stroke onset. Blood samples are collected at arrival, 24, and 48 h later, and RNA …

The Nephrotoxicity Of Vancomycin., Edward J. Filippone, Walter K. Kraft, John L. Farber

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Diagnostic Effectiveness Of High-Sensitivity Troponins, Sean R. Bodin, Jacqueline Ramirez

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Background: Acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) are a leading cause of death in the United States. The key to increasing survivability is early recognition to expedite the proper treatment modalities. In conjunction with the clinical presentation and electrocardiograms, the use of cardiac biomarkers is exponentially important in not only recognizing a cardiac event but also determining the extent of injury. Advancement in laboratory technology has led to the development of high-sensitive troponin (hs-troponin) assays which can detect smaller cardiac troponin serum levels compared to conventional troponin assays. This implies that the use of hs-troponin assays is more effective in the …

Methadone Versus Buprenorphine-Naloxone As A Treatment For Opiod Dependent Individuals, Danielle T. Billings, Ashley Tromblay

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Objective: To investigate if buprenorphine/naloxone compared to methadone improves treatment retention and effectiveness among opioid dependent individuals. Design: Systematic literature review. Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed and Scopus using the terms methadone, buprenorphine-naloxone and opioid dependence. In PubMed the following filters were applied: humans, English, randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis. Studies that had opioid dependent subjects, treatments comparing buprenorphine-naloxone and methadone and outcomes measures of treatment retention and efficacy were included. Results: Otiashvili et al. found that daily observed doses of methadone and buprenorphine-naloxone were effective in reducing illicit buprenorphine and other illicit opioid use. Kamien et al. found …

Coordinated Pluralism As A Means To Facilitate Integrative Taxonomies Of Cognition, Jacqueline Anne Sullivan

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. The past decade has witnessed a growing awareness of conceptual and methodological hurdles within psychology and neuroscience that must be addressed for taxonomic and explanatory progress in understanding psychological functions to be possible. In this paper, I evaluate several recent knowledge-building initiatives aimed at overcoming these obstacles. I argue that while each initiative offers important insights about how to facilitate taxonomic and explanatory progress in psychology and neuroscience, only a “coordinated pluralism” that incorporates positive aspects of each initiative will have the potential for success.

Comparing Nebivolol And Spironolactone In The Treatment Of Heart Failure With A Preserved Ejection Fraction, Caroline Joseph, Alison Fenter

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Objective: To assess the efficacy of improving diastolic dysfunction with the use of nebivolol, a selective beta-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, as compared to spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, in the treatment of diastolic heart failure. To assess whether or not these medications have a favorable outcome in terms of improving exercise capacity in patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF). Design: Systematic Literature Review. Methods: Searches in PubMed and the JMU online library database using mesh terms that included “diastolic heart failure”, “nebivolol”, and “spironolactone”. In order to narrow down relevant articles, filter terms included “humans”, …

Guanylate Cyclase C As A Target For Prevention, Detection, And Therapy In Colorectal Cancer., Allison A. Aka, Jeff A. Rappaport, Amanda M. Pattison, Takami Sato, Adam E. Snook, Scott A. Waldman

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and new strategies to prevent, detect, and treat the disease are needed. The receptor, guanylate cyclase C (GUCY2C), a tumor suppressor expressed by the intestinal epithelium, has emerged as a promising target. Areas covered: This review outlines the role of GUCY2C in tumorigenesis, and steps to translate GUCY2C-targeting schemes to the clinic. Endogenous GUCY2C-activating ligands disappear early in tumorigenesis, silencing its signaling axis and enabling transformation. Pre-clinical models support GUCY2C ligand supplementation as a novel disease prevention paradigm. With the recent FDA approval of the …

Safety And Immunogenicity Of The Na-Gst-1 Hookworm Vaccine In Brazilian And American Adults., David J Diemert, Janaína Freire, Vanderson Valente, Carlos Geraldo Fraga, Frederico Talles, Shannon Grahek, Doreen Campbell, Amar Jariwala, Maria Victoria Periago, Martin Enk, Maria Flávia Gazzinelli, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Robert Hamilton, Jill Brelsford, Anna Yakovleva, Guangzhao Li, Jin Peng, Rodrigo Correa-Oliveira, Peter Hotez, Jeffrey Bethony

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Necator americanus Glutathione-S-Transferase-1 (Na-GST-1) plays a role in the digestion of host hemoglobin by adult N. americanus hookworms. Vaccination of laboratory animals with recombinant Na-GST-1 is associated with significant protection from challenge infection. Recombinant Na-GST-1 was expressed in Pichia pastoris and adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide adjuvant (Alhydrogel) according to current Good Manufacturing Practice. Two Phase 1 trials were conducted in 142 healthy adult volunteers in the United States and Brazil, first in hookworm-naïve individuals and then in residents of a N. americanus endemic area in Brazil. Volunteers received one of three doses of recombinant …

Chlamydia Hijacks Arf Gtpases To Coordinate Microtubule Posttranslational Modifications And Golgi Complex Positioning., Jordan Wesolowski, Mary M. Weber, Agata Nawrotek, Cheryl A. Dooley, Mike Calderon, Claudette M. St Croix, Ted Hackstadt, Jacqueline Cherfils, Fabienne Paumet

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

The intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis develops in a parasitic compartment called the inclusion. Posttranslationally modified microtubules encase the inclusion, controlling the positioning of Golgi complex fragments around the inclusion. The molecular mechanisms by which Chlamydia coopts the host cytoskeleton and the Golgi complex to sustain its infectious compartment are unknown. Here, using a genetically modified Chlamydia strain, we discovered that both posttranslationally modified microtubules and Golgi complex positioning around the inclusion are controlled by the chlamydial inclusion protein CT813/CTL0184/InaC and host ARF GTPases. CT813 recruits ARF1 and ARF4 to the inclusion membrane, where they induce posttranslationally modified microtubules. Similarly, both …

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Outpatient Care: The Effect Of A Standardized Collaborative Medication Reconciliation Process, Traci R. Pulliam

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Pediatric patients are at an increased risk for medication errors and can benefit from processes that facilitate and promote medication safety (Stone et al., 2010). Medication reconciliation (Med Rec) is a valuable tool in improving patients’ medication safety and reducing adverse drug events (The Joint Commission, 2015). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to improve the accuracy of the Med Rec process in a Midwestern pediatric hematology/oncology outpatient clinic by developing, promoting, and evaluating a standardized, collaborative Med Rec process. The Stetler EBP model guided the implementation of the intervention, with the goal of integrating current evidence …

Kinetic Studies Of Dna Repair Enzyme Alkbh2, Michael R. Vittori

Senior Honors Projects

The genomes of living organisms are under constant bombardment from various sources, including chemical modification stemming from processes within the organisms themselves or from exogenous agents, and from radiation. These sources of genomic damage may induce structural changes in the genome’s most basic functional units, the nucleotides that comprise DNA. Damage to an organism’s DNA may result in the production of dysfunctional or nonfunctional proteins. Failure to repair such damage may result in the compounding of successive mutations within the organism’s genome, the pathogenesis of cancer and various genetic disorders in humans. To ensure their viability, organisms have developed unique …

Sensory Processing In Autism Spectrum Disorders And Fragile X Syndrome-From The Clinic To Animal Models., D Sinclair, B Oranje, K A Razak, S J Siegel, S Schmid

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Brains are constantly flooded with sensory information that needs to be filtered at the pre-attentional level and integrated into endogenous activity in order to allow for detection of salient information and an appropriate behavioral response. People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) are often over- or under-reactive to stimulation, leading to a wide range of behavioral symptoms. This altered sensitivity may be caused by disrupted sensory processing, signal integration and/or gating, and is often being neglected. Here, we review translational experimental approaches that are used to investigate sensory processing in humans with ASD and FXS, and …

Online Neural Monitoring Of Statistical Learning., Laura J Batterink, Ken A Paller

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

The extraction of patterns in the environment plays a critical role in many types of human learning, from motor skills to language acquisition. This process is known as statistical learning. Here we propose that statistical learning has two dissociable components: (1) perceptual binding of individual stimulus units into integrated composites and (2) storing those integrated representations for later use. Statistical learning is typically assessed using post-learning tasks, such that the two components are conflated. Our goal was to characterize the online perceptual component of statistical learning. Participants were exposed to a structured stream of repeating trisyllabic nonsense words and a …

Toll Like Receptor 4 Stimulation Increases Scavenger Receptor A Expression On Murine Macrophages, Mackenzie L. Guthrie

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Sepsis is the body’s response to an overwhelming infection and is a serious consequence of critical illness. It can cause tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Sepsis continues to have an unacceptably high mortality rate, due to the lack of effective treatments. Specific therapeutic targets for sepsis remain elusive since the complex functional changes that result in a septic state remain poorly understood. Macrophage Scavenger Receptor A (SRA, CD204) is a surface receptor that binds negatively charged, endogenous and exogenous ligands. We have discovered that SRA plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of sepsis. We have shown that mice …

Optimal Nutrition And The Ever-Changing Dietary Landscape: A Conference Report., A Shao, A Drewnowski, D C Willcox, L Krämer, Christopher G Lausted, M Eggersdorfer, J Mathers, J D Bell, R K Randolph, R Witkamp, J C Griffiths

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The field of nutrition has evolved rapidly over the past century. Nutrition scientists and policy makers in the developed world have shifted the focus of their efforts from dealing with diseases of overt nutrient deficiency to a new paradigm aimed at coping with conditions of excess-calories, sedentary lifestyles and stress. Advances in nutrition science, technology and manufacturing have largely eradicated nutrient deficiency diseases, while simultaneously facing the growing challenges of obesity, non-communicable diseases and aging. Nutrition research has gone through a necessary evolution, starting with a reductionist approach, driven by an ambition to understand the mechanisms responsible for the effects …

Lymphoid Hematopoiesis And The Role Of B-Cells In Transgenic Mouse Model Of Sickle Cell Disease, Christina Cotte

University Scholar Projects

Sickle cell disease (SCD) has been shown to be associated with decreased baseline immunity and thus increased susceptibility to infection. I sought to discern possible causes of this by looking into the correlations between SCD and hematopoiesis, the immune system and the neuroendocrine system, and ultimately by conducting experiments surrounding the impaired immune system of SCD. These experiments focused on the potential causes and effects of the diminution of B-1a cells in the SCD spleen. Adoptive transfers, infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae, and histologic imaging were conducted to establish if the diminution of the B-1a cells in the SCD spleen …

Chat Expression In Chlamydia Muridarum-Infected Female Murine Genital Tract, Hallie Sartain

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent agent of bacterial sexually transmitted infections in the world. However, a profuse number of cases are unreported, as the infection is often asymptomatic. Sequelae such as pelvic inflammatory disease, an increased risk of cervical cancer, premature birth, and perinatal infections in pregnant women can occur. Inflammation occurs in the body in response to infection or injury. Although inflammation can lead to some unwanted secondary effects, such as pain, it serves to return the body to homeostasis by restoring injured tissues and eliminating pathogens. One recently identified connection between the central nervous system and the …

Sigma1 Targeting To Suppress Aberrant Androgen Receptor Signaling In Prostate Cancer., Jeffrey D. Thomas, Charles G. Longen, Halley M. Oyer, Nan Chen, Christina M. Maher, Joseph M. Salvino, Blase Kania, Kelsey N. Anderson, William F. Ostrander, Karen E. Knudsen, Felix J. Kim

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Suppression of androgen receptor (AR) activity in prostate cancer by androgen depletion or direct AR antagonist treatment, although initially effective, leads to incurable castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) via compensatory mechanisms including resurgence of AR and AR splice variant (ARV) signaling. Emerging evidence suggests that Sigma1 (also known as sigma-1 receptor) is a unique chaperone or scaffolding protein that contributes to cellular protein homeostasis. We reported previously that some Sigma1-selective small molecules can be used to pharmacologically modulate protein homeostasis pathways. We hypothesized that these Sigma1-mediated responses could be exploited to suppress AR protein levels and activity. Here we demonstrate that …

Week Of May 1, 2017, New York Medical College

InTouch

• AOA Iota Chapter Celebrates Annual Lecture and Induction Banquet
• D.P.T. Class of 2017 Celebrates at Thirteenth Annual Doctoral Project Presentation Day
• NYMC Reflects on Yom Hashoah
• AMWA presents 2017 Gender Equity Faculty Award to Susan Rachlin, M.D.
• Turkeys Return to Campus

Optical Imaging Of Metabolic Adaptability As A Biomarker For Metastatic Potential In Breast Cancer Cells, Mason G. Harper

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breast cancer metastasis is the main cause for mortality in breast cancer patients. However, knowledge of metastatic recurrence is limited, and there is a need to understand metastatic recurrence in order to treat breast cancer patients more effectively. Highly invasive metastatic breast cancer has shown to exhibit metabolic adaptability, transitioning from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation in the presence of microenvironmental stress. NADH and FAD are naturally occurring cofactor products during glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, respectively, and they are of particular importance during these metabolic processes due to their endogenous fluorescence. Measuring the ratio of fluorescence intensities of these cofactors through …

Characterization Of Murine Breast Cancer Cell Lines For Anti-Cancer Vaccine, Haven N. Frazier

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States (1). While treatments involving radiation and chemotherapy currently exist, disease must be detected early in order for the treatments to be somewhat effective, and there is no effective treatment after metastasis occurs (2). Additionally, current therapies do not mitigate tumor immunosuppression. Decreasing the tumor-associated immunosuppressive conditions while activating antitumor immunity could prevent recurrence and metastasis, possibly leading to an effective treatment for cancer (3). Tumor cell vaccines could possibly address this issue and have become a …