Medical Specialties Commons^™

Radiosensitization Of Head & Neck Carcinoma Cells By Linifanib, A Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, Heng-Wei Hsu

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Tumor angiogenesis is a hallmark of advanced cancers and promotes invasion and metastasis. Over 90% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) express angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Since radiotherapy is one of the most commonly used treatments for HNSCC, it is imperative to identify the interactions between antiangiogenic therapy and radiotherapy, and to develop combination therapy to improve clinical outcome. The mechanisms between antiangiogenic agents and ionizing radiation are complicated and involve many interactions between the vasculature, tumor stroma and tumor cells. The proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells rely on angiogenesis/blood vessel formation. …

The Morbidity & Mortality Of Prevalent Heart Failure, Jennifer Kwon

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The first study population included 292 unselected consecutive patients from the LLUMC heart failure clinic who were enrolled in the study from January to July 2006 and were followed up through the end of December 2010. The treatment policy at the clinic was to uptitrate dosages of beta-adrenergic blockade (β-blockers), angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) to the most tolerable levels in order to reach target dosages, as recommended by the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA). Patients were classified into systolic heart failure (ejection fraction (EF) < 40%) or diastolic heart failure (EF≥40%). All dosages of β-blockers, ACEi and ARB were extracted through chart reviews and were used as the main predictors of the patients' survival. Results from analyses showed that reaching target dosages of β-blockers and ACEi/ARB may increase survival when compared to not reaching target among the systolic HF population (HR_{β_biockers}= 0.64, 95% CI 0.26-1.56 and HR_ACEi/ARB=0.50, …

Relationship Of Vitamin D Levels To Blood Pressure In A Biethnic Cohort, Rosario O. Sakamoto

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Serum hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] has been well-accepted as not an ordinary vitamin but a pro-hormone that has many benefits beyond its well-known effects on bone. Cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension remain a huge health burden and Blacks have been recognized to have higher prevalence of hypertension compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Despite increasing evidence of the benefits of vitamin D on blood pressure control, there is much more to be learned about the relationship of serum 25(OH)D to blood pressure among different ethnicities.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine whether vitamin D serum 25(OH)D levels were …

Self-Reported Exercise And Risk Of Osteoporosis In Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy, Lori J. Mennen-Winchell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Prostate cancer is stimulated to grow in response to testosterone. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) leads to chemical castration and suppression of prostate cancer cell production. Testosterone levels less then 300ng/ml decreases bone mineral density and could result in osteoporosis. Studies have shown that during the first year of ADT, fracture risk, mainly in hips and spine increases about 50%. In men, 40% of hip fractures result in death. Exercise may reduce the risk of osteoporosis and thus contribute to the prevention of hip and other fractures. There is limited data regarding whether exercise is associated with a reduced risk of …

Ricin B Chain-Insulin Fusion Protein Immunomodulation Of Type 1 Diabetes, James Edward Carter Iii

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a debilitating chronic inflammatory disease of the insulin-producing pancreatic islet β-cells that results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Attempts to suppress Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases such as T1D by mucosal delivery of autoantigens for immunotolerization have yielded only partial success. Attainment of satisfactory levels of sustained immunological tolerance remains to be accomplished. To restore self-tolerance requires delivery of sufficient amounts of autoantigen to stimulate regulatory T helper cells that function to survey the gut and induce tolerance to consumed antigens such as food. Oral delivery of autoantigens has previously been shown to …

Radiation-Induced Glutamate Transport Alterations In Neuron-Astrocyte Coupling, Martha Celia Sanchez

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Exposure of the central nervous system (CNS) to ionizing radiation is known to result in behavioral, cognitive, and motor deficits - effects similar to those seen in many neurodegenerative disorders. Neurons and astrocytes, two principal cell types in the brain, coexist as an interdependent metabolic unit via the neurotransmitter glutamate. Disruption of this metabolic coupling would have widespread effects within the CNS, therefore it is hypothesized that ionizing radiation impairs glutamate transport and metabolism, and increases oxidative stress, ultimately impairing neuron-astrocyte coupling. We propose to investigate the mechanism and determine the impetus for radiation-induced neurotoxicity by measuring the temporal sequence …

The Association Between Lifestyle Factors And Inflammatory Markers, Kerry Ann Stonebrook

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. While smoking, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels are established risk factors for CVD, inflammation is being evaluated as a potential independent risk factor. A key cytokine regulator of the inflammatory response, interleukin-1 (IL-1), has emerged as playing a particularly important role at the genetic level in determining the degree to which the inflammation pathway is turned on. How an individual’s genetic make-up affects inflammation, CVD risk, and response to lifestyle intervention is an area of research that is in …

The Acute Effects Of Nut Ingestion On Plasma Levels Of Polyphenol Compounds, Biomarkers Of Antioxidant Status, And Lipid Peroxidation, Setareh Torabian Esfahani

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Nuts are rich sources of polyphenolic compounds and nutrients, which have antioxidant capacity. To assess the acute effect of treatment diet (75% of energy from nuts (walnut or almond) and control diet (habitual diet with no nut consumption) in healthy subjects on plasma total phenol content, antioxidant capacity and plasma lipid peroxidation. Thirteen subjects participated in the crossover design study. After an overnight fast, walnut, almond and a control diet, in form of smoothies, were consumed by the study subjects. Each subject participated on three occasions one week apart, consuming one of the smoothies each time. Blood samples were obtained …

Il-10 And Alveolar Bone Loss, Abdulaziz Saud Al-Rasheed

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine with anti-inflammatory activities. IL-10 knockout (KO) mice exhibit severe intestinal inflammation in the presence of normal gut flora. We hypothesized that IL-10 KO mice would also be susceptible to inflammatory periodontal disease resulting in alveolar bone loss (ABL). The purpose of this study was to compare naturally occurring ABL in IL-10 KO and wild type (WT) mice. Twelve IL-10 KO and 12 WT mice, age-(7 months) and sex-(male) matched, were used. Half of the mice were on 129/SvEv and half on C57BL/6J background. Animal heads were defleshed and treated to remove all organic material. ABL …

Studies On The Purification And Role Of Igfbp-5 Protease In Bone, H. Garrett Rush Thompson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone density and deterioration of mineralized bone leading to enhanced susceptibility to fracture. Several growth factors have been implicated in the coupling of formation to resorption during the bone remodeling process. The net bone forming activity of many growth factors has prompted numerous studies focused on the regulation of osteoblast cell proliferation, differentiation and activity. The current study focuses on the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system, an important growth factor system involved in the regulation of bone formation and bone resorption.

IGF binding protein -5 (IGFBP-5), the most abundant IGF binding protein in …

The Role Of Gap Junctions In Congenital Diseases Of The Heart, Scott Henry Britz-Cunningham

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Gap junctions are thought to have a crucial role in the synchronized contraction of the heart and in embryonic development. Connexin43, the major protein of gap junctions in the heart, is targeted by several protein kinases that regulate myocardial cell-cell coupling. We hypothesized that mutations altering sites critical to this regulation would lead to functional or developmental abnormalities of the heart.

Methods. Connexin43 DNA from 25 normal subjects and 30 children with a variety of congenital heart diseases was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Mutant DNA was expressed in cell culture and examined for its effect …

Regeneration In Periodontal Defects With Rhbmp-2 : A Dosage Study, Paola Guglielmoni

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been shown to induce bone formation in ectopic and orthotopic sites. This inductive capability has led to their evaluation as possible adjuncts in periodontal reconstructive therapy. Indeed, studies have reported periodontal regeneration following surgical implantation of recombinant human BMP-2. This study evaluated regeneration of alveolar bone and cementum following periodontal reconstructive surgery including implantation of a construct consisting of sterile lyophilized rhBMP-2 in buffer adsorbed onto an absorbable collagen sponge. Critical size mandibular supra-alveolar periodontal defects were surgically created, and an incomplete block design was used to evaluate the regenerative potential of rhBMP-2 at 0.05, …

A Model Using Radiation And Pws4-Htnf-Α Gene Therapy For Treatment Of Glioblastomas, Angelo G. Baher

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The efficacy of radiotherapy for cancer is limited by the dose that can be safely delivered to the tumor without causing debilitating side effects. In addition, successful treatment of highly malignant tumors such as glioblastomas is likely to require adjunctive therapies to enhance tumor response to radiation. Previous studies have shown immunomodulation and a synergestic reduction in tumor volume of malignant tumors when tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) protein is administered prior to radiation. The major goal of the present investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of pWS4-human TNF-α (pWS4-hTNF-α), a new plasmid construct that expresses human TNF-α protein, together with …

Autonomic Nervous System And Cholesterol Transport, Yuan-Line Hung

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The effect of autonomic nervous system on cholesterol transport is of clinical interest because the relationship between lipoprotein metabolism and atherogenesis is expressed in coronary artery disease.

Generally speaking, beta blockers increase serum VLDL level but decrease both HDL and HDL₂ cholesterol levels without affecting the LDL in humans. We are unaware of reports concerning the effects of metoprolol on lipoprotein metabolism nor comparison of the effects of metoprolol and propranolol in the unhandled rat model. In part I we employed the unhandled rats to compared the effects of these 2 drugs administered with the drinking water in order …

Dietary And Hormonal Evaluation Of Men At Risk For Prostate Cancer, Donald J. Pusateri

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Relationships between dietary nutrients and plasma and fecal estrone, estradiol-17β, testosterone, and plasma prolactin levels were studied in young Seventh-day Adventist men: 18 nonvegetarians (NV), 20 lacto-ovovegetarians (LOV), and 15 vegans (V). Blood samples and 3 d dietary records were obtained. Contemporaneously collected diet composites and stool samples were analyzed for fiber. The vegetarians consumed significantly more fiber than the omnivores, while NVs and LOVs consumed more saturated fat than the Vs. Although plasma steroid hormone status did not differ, the Vs had significantly higher fecal estrogen levels than the NVs or LOVs. Plasma prolactin levels were significantly higher in …

Decreased Triiodothyronine Binding To The Hepatic Nuclear Thyroid Hormone Receptor In The Diabetic Mouse, Thomas J. Dewind

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The diabetic C57BL/KsJ-db m mouse has abnormal thyroid hormone levels and indications of thyroid hormone resistance. To investigate the basis of these abnormalities, the hepatic nuclear thyroid hormone receptor was extracted with 0.4 M KCl, 1.1 mM MgCl₂, 20 mM Tris/HCl, pH 7.9 from hepatocyte nuclei of normal C57BL/KsJ, heterozygous C57BL/KsJ-db m (db/m), and diabetic C57BL/KsJ-db m (db/db) mice. Normal and heterozygous mice were grouped together as the controls. Triiodothyronine (T₃) binding studies at 4°C using nitrocellulose filtration to separate free T₃ from receptor bound T₃ demonstrated an …

Insulin And Glucagon Responses To Dietary Protein In Diabetic And Nondiabetic Men, Monica L. Blomstedt

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Five men with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and fourteen nondiabetic men, were given test meals with soy protein, casein or additional carbohydrate in place of protein. Blood levels of insulin, glucagon, glucose and lipids were measured at fasting, one-half hour and two hours postprandial. To all meals, the nondiabetic subjects responded with a quick rise of the insulin level which decreased at two hours. In contrast, the diabetics showed a significantly lower insulin response at one-half hour (p < 0.05), but a tendency to higher levels at two hours. The same pattern was observed in the insulin to glucagon ratio. No significant difference between the meals was found in regard to insulin or glucagon responses, suggests that a sustained, although delayed postprandial insulin response, may be a precursor to the higher cholesterol and increased risk for cardiovascular disease among diabetics.

Sprague-Dawley Rats Fed Milk Or Beef Protein : Differences In Response To 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine Carcinogenesis, Stanley W. L. Ng

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Colon cancer is responsible for a high percentage of cancer deaths in developing countries, and there is convincing epidemiological evidence that meat protein and fat in the diet increase the incidence of this form of cancer. An animal tumor model which has been used by many investigators interested in colon cancer is the 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-rat or DMH-mouse tumor model. In previous work done in this laboratory the DMH-BALB/c mouse tumor model was used to compare the production of colon tumors in mice fed a diet using non-fat powdered milk as a source of protein with those in mice fed beef …

Lipoprotein Lipase Inhibitor Removal During Ultrafiltration Of Renal Failure Patients, Alisa Minear

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Plasma samples were obtained from seven hypertriglyceridemic (>150 mg/dl) chronic renal failure patients before and after regular hemodialysis. The effect of the plasma on the lipolytic activity of bovine milk lipoprotein lipase was investigated. The lipoprotein lipase activity, as measured by release of C¹⁴-labeled free fatty acid from triglyceride, was decreased 8-67% when incubated with uremic plasma as compared to the control plasma (44 mg/dl triglyceride). The inhibition noted prior to hemodialysis did not appear to be alleviated by the dialysis but subsequent treatment with an isolated ultrafiltration technique did appear to remove an inhibitory substance as …

A Study Of The Effect Of Varying Serum Phenylalanine Levels On Changes In Intelligence Quotient, Darlene Imai Manullang

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Data from thirty medical records of phenylketonuric children under treatment were investigated to determine at which serum phenylalanine level (0-3.9 mg. %, 4-7.9 mg %, 8-11.9 mg. %, greater than 12 mg. %) there would be the greatest increase in intelligence. The children involved in the study were divided into the following groups according to the age dietary treatment was initiated: 0 through 5 months, 6 through 11 months, 12 through 23 months, and over 2 years of age.

Among 6 patients who were placed on the diet during the first 5 months of life, it appears that the optimal …

A Review Of Drug Addiction And A Study Of Its Relation To Carbohydrate Metabolism, Eppie Chung Hartsuiker

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The specter of addiction eventually involves everyone of the community. It is a three-fold problem of socio-economic, psychological, and physiological factors. The least understood is the physiological or biochemical aspect of addiction.

It has been postulated that an upset in carbohydrate metabolism may be a biochemical cause of addiction. Several avenues were employed to investigate this possible cause of addiction.

1. A diet survey was conducted and revealed a greater consumption of refined carbohydrates, confections and alcoholic beverages in addicts.

2. Five-hour oral glucose tolerance tests were performed on 7 addicts and 12 non-addicts. These tests revealed that there were decreased glucose …

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Intravenous Procaine During Thoracic Surgery, Forrest E. Leffingwell

Medical Arts and Sciences: A Scientific Journal of the College of Medical Evangelists

Surgery on the heart and paracardial structures or traction on the hilus of the lung may initiate serious arrhythmias which can result in death if not promptly controlled. Procedures involving the pericardium are particularly apt to be followed by severe derangements of rhythm. Thus anesthesiology is faced with another challenge.

It is now evident that the intravenous administration of procaine has become a valuable addition to the armamentarium of the anesthesiologist in his endeavor to preserve the integrity of the thread of life while the surgeon carries out his heroic assignment without restrictions.

The Central Action Of Procaine, Clarence W. Olsen

Medical Arts and Sciences: A Scientific Journal of the College of Medical Evangelists

Procaine was introduced as a local anesthetic with advantage over cocaine, especially as regards relative freedom from dangerous central effects. It [now] appears that when procaine hydrochloride is injected intravenously, the indications of a central effect are more emphatic when the solution is given rather rapidly.

Probably some of the central effects of procaine can be obtained with local infiltration. This is, of course, generally admitted when untoward results occur, but it should also be considered in connection with the favorable effects. Macpherson recently expressed the idea that in some cases we are getting the beneficial effects of procaine injection …

A Resume Of Intravenous Procaine Therapy, Fred B. Moor

Medical Arts and Sciences: A Scientific Journal of the College of Medical Evangelists

Summary:

1. The intravenous injection of procaine hydrochloride for a variety of clinical conditions constitutes a surprising new chapter in therapeutics.

2. With adequate precautions as to dosage and rate of administration, procaine can be safely given by the intravenous route in concentrations of 0.1 to 1 per cent.

It has been used successfully for serum sickness, the pruritis of jaundice, trauma of soft tissues, bones and joints, in the prevention and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias during intrathoracic surgery, for the relief of pain in osteoarthritis, for the control of pain during the dressing of burns, for postoperative pain, and …