Medical Physiology Commons^™

Piriformis Syndrome With A Variant Presentation, Roberto Chuapoco, Ryan E. Linford

Annual Research Symposium

Piriformis syndrome has long been a diagnostic quandary due to its tendency to present as other nerve-related conditions. Piriformis syndrome is commonly caused by entrapment of the sciatic nerve as it travels through the greater sciatic foramen due to hypertrophy of the piriformis muscle. However, its constellation of symptoms, including radiating pain down the thigh, can easily be mistaken for lumbosacral radiculopathy. This case report aims to address the misdiagnosis of piriformis syndrome which has prolonged pain for many patients and increased the cost of medical care. It demonstrates a 76-year-old female with a confounding presentation of piriformis syndrome: buttock …

Alcohol Impairs Bioenergetics And Differentiation Capacity Of Myoblasts From Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Female Macaques, Danielle E. Levitt, Brianna L. Bourgeois, Keishla M. Rodríguez-Graciani, Patricia E. Molina, Liz Simon

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Alcohol misuse and HIV independently induce myopathy. We previously showed that chronic binge alcohol (CBA) administration, with or without simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), decreases differentiation capacity of male rhesus macaque myoblasts. We hypothesized that short-term alcohol and CBA/SIV would synergistically decrease differentiation capacity and impair bioenergetic parameters in female macaque myoblasts. Myoblasts from naïve (CBA−/SIV−), vehicle [VEH]/SIV, and CBA/SIV (N = 4–6/group) groups were proliferated (3 days) and differentiated (5 days) with 0 or 50 mM ethanol (short-term). CBA/SIV decreased differentiation and increased non-mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) versus naïve and/or VEH/SIV. Short-term alcohol decreased differentiation; increased maximal and non-mitochondrial …

Cannabidiol Exposure During Gestation Leads To Adverse Cardiac Outcomes Early In Postnatal Life In Male Rat Offspring, Daniel Hardy, Kendrick Lee, Steven Laviolette, David Natale, Sebastian Vanin

Data and Test Instruments

Studies indicate that *7% of pregnant individuals in North America consume cannabis in pregnancy. Pre-clinical studies have established that maternal exposure to D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; major psychoactive component in cannabis) leads to fetal growth restriction and impaired cardiac function in offspring. However, the effects of maternal exposure to cannabidiol (CBD; major non-euphoric constituent) on cardiac outcomes in offspring remain unknown. Therefore, our objective is to investigate the functional and underlying molecular impacts in the hearts of offspring exposed to CBD in pregnancy.

Change In Basic Pulmonary Function In Response To Altitude Change, Holly Radke, Mitchell Rush

Annual Research Symposium

Purpose: This study aims to determine if there is a lasting effect in lung function when an individual relocates from an area of low elevation to an area of high elevation.

Methods: Our study monitored changes in pulmonary function over time after individuals moved from a region of low elevation (1,000 feet above sea level or lower) to a higher elevation area (4,500 feet above sea level in Provo, Utah). We followed incoming students to Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine from places of elevation lower than 1,000 feet. Spirometry was used to assess forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory …

Early Renal Denervation Attenuates Cardiac Dysfunction In Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction, Jake E. Doiron, Zhen Li, Xiaoman Yu, Kyle B. Lapenna, Heather Quiriarte, Timothy D. Allerton, Kashyap Koul, Andrew Malek, Sanjiv J. Shah, Thomas E. Sharp, Traci T. Goodchild, Daniel R. Kapusta, David J. Lefer

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The renal sympathetic nervous system modulates systemic blood pressure, cardiac performance, and renal function. Pathological increases in renal sympathetic nerve activity contribute to the pathogenesis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We investigated the effects of renal sympathetic denervation performed at early or late stages of HFpEF progression. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male ZSF1 obese rats were subjected to radiofrequency renal denervation (RF-RDN) or sham procedure at either 8 weeks or 20 weeks of age and assessed for cardiovascular function, exercise capacity, and cardiorenal fibrosis. Renal norepinephrine and renal nerve tyrosine hydroxylase staining were performed to quantify denervation …

Effects Of Metformin On Glucose Metabolism And Mitochondrial Function In Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Pilot Randomized Trial, Elizabeth R.M. Zunica, Elizabeth C. Heintz, Wagner S. Dantas, R. Caitlin Hebert, Ma Kayla Tanksley, Robbie A. Beyl, Edward C. Mader, John P. Kirwan, Christopher L. Axelrod, Prachi Singh

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased risk for diabetes, and standard treatment with positive airway pressure (PAP) device shows inconsistent effects on glucose metabolism. Metformin is known to treat and prevent diabetes, but its effects on skeletal muscle mitochondrial function are not completely understood. Here, we evaluate the effects of metformin on glucose metabolism and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in patients with OSA. Sixteen adults with obesity (50.9 ± 6.7 years, BMI: 36.5 ± 2.9 kg/m2) and moderate-to-severe OSA were provided with PAP treatment and randomized to 3 months of placebo (n = 8) or metformin (n = …

Cannabidiol Exposure During Rat Pregnancy Leads To Labyrinth-Specific Vascular Defects In The Placenta And Reduced Fetal Growth, Daniel B. Hardy, David R C Natale, Kendrick Lee

Physiology and Pharmacology Publications

Introduction: Cannabis use is increasing among pregnant people, and cannabidiol (CBD), a constituent of cannabis, is often perceived as ‘‘natural’’ and ‘‘safe’’ as it is non-intoxicating. In utero, cannabis exposure is associated with negative health outcomes, including fetal growth restriction (FGR). The placenta supplies oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, and alterations in placental development can lead to FGR. While there has been some investigation into the effects of D9-THC, there has been limited investigation into the impacts of in utero gestational CBD exposure on the placenta. Methods: This study used histological and transcriptomic analysis of embryonic day (E)19.5 rat …

Share Cannabidiol Exposure During Gestation Leads To Adverse Cardiac Outcomes Early In Postnatal Life In Male Rat Offspring., Daniel B. Hardy, Steven R. Laviolette, Kendrick Lee, David Rc Natale

Physiology and Pharmacology Publications

Introduction: Studies indicate that *7% of pregnant individuals in North America consume cannabis in pregnancy. Pre-clinical studies have established that maternal exposure to D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; major psychoactive component in cannabis) leads to fetal growth restriction and impaired cardiac function in offspring. However, the effects of maternal exposure to cannabidiol (CBD; major non-euphoric constituent) on cardiac outcomes in offspring remain unknown. Therefore, our objective is to investigate the functional and underlying molecular impacts in the hearts of offspring exposed to CBD in pregnancy. Methods: Pregnant Wistar rats were exposed to either 3 or 30mg/kg CBD or vehicle control i.p. daily from …

Ogilvie's Syndrome: Acute Colonic Pseudoobstruction. A Review For Residents., Tyler Bayliss, Caleb Clark, Errington C. Thompson

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Ogilvie's syndrome (acute colonic pseudoobstruction) was first described in 1948. Acute colonic pseudoobstruction can occur in a variety of clinical settings, including postsurgical, obstetrics, pelvic surgery, critical care and sepsis. Clinicians need to recognize the syndrome early. Colonic distention without evidence of obstruction can be seen on plain films of the abdomen or CT scan. Successful therapies, including bowel rest, neostigmine and colonoscopic decompression, have been used. Avoiding respiratory compromise from abdominal distention and colonic perforation of the primary goals of treatment. Surgical intervention should be reserved for patients who are refractory to medical treatment or develops signs and symptoms …

Formulation Of Preservation Solutions For Model Generation With In Vivo Tissue Morphology, Holly Pickett

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Activation Of Renal Epithelial Na+ Channels (Enac) In Infants With Congenital Heart Disease, Laura Ortmann, Shyam Sundar Nandi, Yulong Li, Hong Zheng, Kaushik K. Patel

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to measure the concentration and activity of urinary proteases that activate renal epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) mediated Na

METHODS: Urine samples from infants undergoing cardiac surgery were collected at three time points: T1) pre-operatively, T2) 6-8 h after surgery, and T3) 24 h after diuretics. Urine was collected from five heathy infant controls. The urine was tested for four proteases and whole-cell patch-clamp testing was conducted in renal collecting duct M-1 cells to test whether patient urine increased Na

RESULTS: Heavy chain of plasminogen, furin, and prostasin were significantly higher in cardiac patients prior to …

Examining The Impact Of Firearm Recoil During A Round Of Trap Shooting On Neurometabolic Changes Associated With Traumatic Brain Injury, Lakota Jones

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The CDC identifies concussion as a blunt, blow, or jolt to the head resulting in brain injury. Shooting sports do not impose a direct blow to the head but instead inflict rapid acceleration to the brain via recoil transfer. Exposure to rapid, repetitive recoil may cause physiological disturbances in the brain, therefore resulting in mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Chronic recoil transfer and overpressure exposure influencing neurometabolic changes of TBI have yet to be measured. The objective of this study was to examine kinetic energy experienced in trap and skeet shooters following one round of shooting in comparison to neurometabolic …

The Impact Of Local Physiology On The Corrosion Of Orthopedic Alloys, Madison Nicole Brown

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Introduction. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is used in the treatment of end-stage osteoarthritis of the knee. It is one of the most common elective surgeries performed with predictions expecting significant increases in the number of procedures performed over the next decade. However, the patient satisfaction rate after TKA is as low as 80%. Cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCrMo) is regularly used for TKA protheses due to the alloy’s mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and corrosion resistance. The corrosion resistance of this alloy relies on a passive oxide layer. This oxide layer can be impacted by phagocytic cells which can leave pits and craters on implant …

Pathophysiologic Consequences Of Pericardial Adipose Tissue Assessed By Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Sauyeh K. Zamani

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Obesity is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease; however, the exact mechanism remains incompletely understood. Conventional metrics, like body mass index, fail to represent fat distribution and its impact on health. A growing body of literature suggest differences between subcutaneous and visceral fat in relation to cardiovascular risk. This specificity has also been extended to the fat surrounding the heart, collectively known as pericardial fat, which includes epicardial adipose tissue (EAT)— located between the myocardium and the visceral layer of the pericardium— and paracardial adipose tissue (PAT)—found outside the parietal pericardium in the mediastinum. Importantly, these two depots have distinct …

Physiological Adaptation/Phenotypic Plasticity: A Vital Core Concept From The Medical And Health Care Perspective, Thad E. Wilson, Kristen Metzler-Wilson

UK CARES Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Outpatient Fall Prevention In Ambulatory Adults 65 Years Old And Over, Dorothy L. Osborne-White

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: In the United States (U.S.), falls are the leading cause of injury among adults 65 and over, resulting in 36 million falls yearly (Moreland et al., 2020). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2023), one in four older adults experiences a fall each year. Falls are the world's second most prominent cause of accidental deaths (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults (Moreland et al., 2020).

Methods: A quality improvement project that included a fall bundle was implemented in a primary clinic. A …

Synthetic Neuroactive Steroids Targeting Gaba-A Receptors As A Potential Therapy For Contraceptive-Associated Mood Disorders, Alexandria A. Davis

Scripps Senior Theses

4-10% of women who use hormonal oral contraceptives (HOCs) discontinue use after experiencing symptoms of anxiety, irritability, and depression in the first 3 months of administration. Previous studies have acknowledged a relationship between HOCs and emotional dysregulation but have not identified mechanisms by which HOCs have this effect. As a result, effective treatment options for HOC-induced mood disorders are lacking. Current theories implicate combined-HOCs, particularly those containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (EE-LNG), in reducing neuroactive steroid levels. Specifically, HOC users show decreases in allopregnanolone, a positive allosteric modulator associated with neuronal inhibition and emotional regulation. The objective of this study …

Innate And Adaptive Immune System Consequences Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Tatlock H. Lauten, Tamara Natour, Adam J. Case

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

In the field of psychiatry, biological markers are rarely, if ever, used in the diagnosis of mental health disorders. Clinicians rely primarily on patient histories and behavioral symptoms to identify specific psychopathologies, which makes diagnosis highly subjective. Moreover, therapies for mental health disorders are aimed specifically at attenuating behavioral manifestations, which overlooks the pathophysiological indices of the disease. This is highly evident in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) where inflammation and immune system perturbations are becoming increasingly described. Further, patients with PTSD possess significantly elevated risks of developing comorbid inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases, which are likely linked …

Chemoreflex Sensitization Occurs In Both Male And Female Rats During Recovery From Acute Lung Injury, Kajal Kamra, Irving H. Zucker, Harold D. Schultz, Han-Jun Wang

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Introduction: Sex-specific patterns in respiratory conditions, such as asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, obstructive sleep apnea, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, have been previously documented. Animal models of acute lung injury (ALI) have offered insights into sex differences, with male mice exhibiting distinct lung edema and vascular leakage compared to female mice. Our lab has provided evidence that the chemoreflex is sensitized in male rats during the recovery from bleomycin-induced ALI, but whether sex-based chemoreflex changes occur post-ALI is not known. To bridge this gap, the current study employed the bleomycin-induced ALI animal model to investigate sex-based differences in chemoreflex activation during …

Using Phosphatidylethanol As An Adjunct To Self-Reported Alcohol Use Improves Identification Of Liver Fibrosis Risk, Pamela M. Murnane, Majid Afshar, Gabriel Chamie, Robert L. Cook, Tekeda Ferguson, Lamia Y. Haque, Karen R. Jacobson, Amy C. Justice, Theresa W. Kim, Mandana Khalili, Evgeny Krupitsky, Kathleen A. Mcginnis, Patricia Molina, Winnie R. Muyindike, Bronwyn Myers, Veronica L. Richards, Kaku So-Armah, Scott Stewart, Mark S. Sulkowski, Phyllis C. Tien, Judith A. Hahn

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: Accurate assessment of alcohol use informs prevention and management of liver disease. We examined whether phosphatidylethanol (PEth, an alcohol metabolite) blood concentrations are associated with liver fibrosis risk independently of self-reported alcohol use, among persons with and without HIV. Methods: We pooled individual-level data from 12 studies from the United States, Russia, Uganda, and South Africa with PEth, AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption), and FIB-4 measurements. We conducted mixed-effects logistic regression of the relationship between PEth and AUDIT-C as continuous variables (after checking linearity), with high FIB-4 ( ≥ 2.67). We divided PEth (range 0-1000) by 83.3 to …

Molecular Determinants Of Trp Channel Gating, Briar J. Bell

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) ion channels are a family of proteins that contribute to a myriad of physiological functions. They have been extensively studied since their discovery 35 years ago; however, there are still many questions regarding the mechanisms by which they function. This family of proteins is characterized by a generally shared structure: an intracellular N terminus featuring ankyrin repeats, six transmembrane helices including the pore domain, a re-entrant loop and TRP helix, and an intracellular C terminus with varying structure. Each of these regions has been implicated in the regular function of TRPs, while mutations that alter trafficking …

Validating Osteological Correlates For The Hepatic Piston In The American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis), Clinton A. Grand Pre, William Thielicke, Raul E. Diaz, Brandon P. Hedrick, Ruth M. Elsey, Emma R. Schachner

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Unlike the majority of sauropsids, which breathe primarily through costal and abdominal muscle contractions, extant crocodilians have evolved the hepatic piston pump, a unique additional ventilatory mechanism powered by the diaphragmaticus muscle. This muscle originates from the bony pelvis, wrapping around the abdominal viscera, extending cranially to the liver. The liver then attaches to the caudal margin of the lungs, resulting in a sub-fusiform morphology for the entire ‘‘pulmo-hepatic-diaphragmatic’’ structure. When the diaphragmaticus muscle contracts during inspiration, the liver is pulled caudally, lowering pressure in the thoracolumbar cavity, and inflating the lungs. It has been established that the hepatic piston …

Editorial; Biophysics Approaches To Investigate Multi-Organ Alcohol-Induced Damage, Janos Paloczi, Youngchan Kim

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Abstinence Restores Cardiac Function In Mice With Established Alcohol-Induced Cardiomyopathy, Joshua M. Edavettal, Nicholas R. Harris, Sarah E. Cohen, Janos Paloczi, Bysani Chandrasekar, Jason D. Gardner

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy (ACM) has a poor prognosis with up to a 50% chance of death within four years of diagnosis. There are limited studies investigating the potential of abstinence for promoting repair after alcohol-induced cardiac damage, particularly in a controlled preclinical study design. Here, we developed an exposure protocol that led to significant decreases in cardiac function in C57BL6/J mice within 30 days; dP/dt max decreased in the mice fed alcohol for 30 days (8054 ± 664.5 mmHg/s compared to control mice: 11,188 ± 724.2 mmHg/s, p < 0.01), and the dP/dt min decreased, as well (−7711 ± 561 mmHg/s compared to control mice: −10,147 ± 448.2 mmHg/s, p < 0.01). Quantitative PCR was used to investigate inflammatory and fibrotic biomarkers, while histology was used to depict overt changes in cardiac fibrosis. We observed a complete recovery of function after abstinence (dP/dt max increased from 8054 ± 664 mmHg/s at 30 days to 11,967 ± 449 mmHg/s after abstinence, p < 0.01); further, both inflammatory and fibrotic biomarkers decreased after abstinence. These results lay the groundwork for future investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying recovery from alcohol-induced damage in the heart.

Fundamental Neurochemistry Review: The Role Of Enteroendocrine Cells In Visceral Pain, Annie Londregan, Tyler D. Alexander, Manuel Covarrubias, Scott A. Waldman

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

While visceral pain is commonly associated with disorders of the gut-brain axis, underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons innervate visceral structures and undergo hypersensitization in inflammatory models. The characterization of peripheral DRG neuron terminals is an active area of research, but recent work suggests that they communicate with enteroendocrine cells (EECs) in the gut. EECs sense stimuli in the intestinal lumen and communicate information to the brain through hormonal and electrical signaling. In that context, EECs are a target for developing therapeutics to treat visceral pain. Linaclotide is an FDA-approved treatment for chronic constipation that …

Using Noninvasive Calibrated Cuff Plethysmography To Observe The Effects Of Cold-Water Immersion On Arterial Compliance, Rita M. Grigorian

Biomedical Engineering: Graduate Reports and Projects

As the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases continues to exponentially grow in populations across the globe, the necessity of determining underlying factors, effective methods of diagnoses, and universally available preventive measures also grows. Early detection of endothelial dysfunction, a proven precursor of cardiovascular diseases, can be extremely impactful in encouraging preventative measures and early intervention before medical conditions become chronic. In recent years, ice plunging, a form of cryotherapy involving full body immersion in cold water, has gained popularity within circles of fitness and health practitioners, gaining the interest of people of all backgrounds. Certain parallels observed between the human physiological …

Physiological And Biomechanical Response To Indoor Cycling With And Without The Ability To Sway, Alina P. Swafford

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Bicycles have been around since the early 19th century. Since the invention of the bicycle, it has taken on several purposes. People have used bicycles as a means of transportation, leisure, exercise, and sport. The number of individuals who participate in a cycling event per year has increased. With the increase in popularity, research related to cycling has also increased. Research related to the physiology and biomechanics of cycling are of particular areas of interest. Balance is a crucial component of understanding why we cycle a certain way. Some research has labeled balancing on a bicycle as cycling sway. …

Prefrontal Cortex Glutamatergic Adaptations In A Mouse Model Of Alcohol Use Disorder, Mahum T. Siddiqi, Dhruba Podder, Amanda R. Pahng, Alexandria C. Athanason, Tali Nadav, Chelsea Cates-Gatto, Max Kreifeldt, Candice Contet, Amanda J. Roberts, Scott Edwards, Marisa Roberto, Florence P. Varodayan

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) produces cognitive deficits, indicating a shift in prefrontal cortex (PFC) function. PFC glutamate neurotransmission is mostly mediated by α-amino-3‑hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid-type ionotropic receptors (AMPARs); however preclinical studies have mostly focused on other receptor subtypes. Here we examined the impact of early withdrawal from chronic ethanol on AMPAR function in the mouse medial PFC (mPFC). Dependent male C57BL/6J mice were generated using the chronic intermittent ethanol vapor-two bottle choice (CIE-2BC) paradigm. Non-dependent mice had access to water and ethanol bottles but did not receive ethanol vapor. Naïve mice had no ethanol exposure. We used patch-clamp electrophysiology to measure …

Traumatic Stress-Induced Increases In Anxiety-Like Behavior And Alcohol Self-Administration Are Mediated By Central Amygdala Crf1 Neurons That Project To The Lateral Hypothalamus, Marcus M. Weera, Daniel A. Webster, Rosetta S. Shackett, Federica Benvenuti, Jason W. Middleton, Nicholas W. Gilpin

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Avoidance stress coping, defined as persistent internal and/or external avoidance of stress-related stimuli, is a key feature of anxiety- and stress-related disorders, and contributes to increases in alcohol misuse after stress exposure. Previous work using a rat model of predator odor stress avoidance identified corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling via CRF type-1 receptors (CRF1) in the central amygdala (CeA), as well as CeA projections to the lateral hypothalamus (LH) as key mediators of conditioned avoidance of stress-paired contexts and/or increased alcohol drinking after stress. Here, we report that CRF1-expressing CeA cells that project to the LH are preferentially activated in male …

Elongation Of Very Long Chain Fatty Acids-3 (Elovl3) Is Activated By Zhx2 And Is A Regulator Of Cell Cycle Progression, Kate Townsend Creasy, Hui Ren, Jieyun Jiang, Martha L. Peterson, Brett T. Spear

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (Zhx2) are transcriptional regulators of liver gene expression with key functions in embryonic development as well as tissue regeneration in response to damage and disease, presumably through its control of target genes. Previous microarray data suggested that elongation of very long chain fatty acids-3 (Elovl3), a member of the ELOVL family of enzymes that synthesize very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), is a putative Zhx2 target gene. VLCFAs are core component of ceramides and other bioactive sphingolipids that are often dysregulated in diseases and regulate key cellular processes including proliferation. Since several previously identified Zhx2 …