Medical Specialties Commons^™

The Accuracy Of Nitrous Oxide Passive Dosimeters As Compared With An Infra-Red Spectrographic Reference Method, Susan Allen

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Nitrous oxide is a gas often used in dental, surgical and veterinary operations as an anesthetic agent. Employees stationed in proximity of fugitive gas emissions may potentially suffer adverse health effects from chronic exposure to this agent. Passive dosimeters can be worn in the breathing zone of potentially affected personnel during exposure periods, then later analyzed to quantify nitrous oxide exposure. This study sought to establish the accuracy of several commercially available passive monitoring devices for nitrous oxide by comparison against an infra-red spectrophotometric reference method.

Immunohistochemical Evaluation Of Small Round Cell Tumors Of Childhood, Sajid H. Shah, Irshad N. Soomro, M. Shahid Siddiqui, Shahid Pervez, Sheema H. Hassan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective:

This study was done to evaluate the pediatric undifferentiated small round cell tumors with immunohistochemical staining.

Setting:

The present study included consecutive cases of small round cell tumors which were diagnosed in children (<15 years) in the section of Histopathology at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi during the period of two years.

Methods:

The group of undifferentiated small round cell tumors were evaluated immunohistochemically by using a panel of antibodies on sections from routinely processed, formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue blocks.

Results:

The category of undifferentiated small round cell tumors included rhabdomyosarcoma (23.2%), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (17.9%), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (16.1%), neuroblastoma (14.2%), Ewing’s sarcoma (10.7%) in order of frequency. Osteosarcoma (Small cell variant), retinoblastoma and medulloblastoma comprised …

Insulinlike Growth Factor 1- And 2-Augmented Collagen Gel Repair Of Facial Osseous Defects, James S. Toung, Roy C. Ogle, Raymond F. Morgan, William H. Lindsey

School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Publications

BACKGROUND: Defects of the facial bone structure are common problems for the facial plastic surgeon. Native type 1 collagen gels (T1CGs) have been shown to mediate repair of facial critical-size defects in rat models.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of T1CG augmented with insulinlike growth factor (IGF) 1, IGF-2, and a combination of IGF-1 and IGF-2 on the repair of facial critical-size defects in a rodent model.

METHODS: Twenty-four retired male breeder Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals. Facial critical-size defects were created by removing the nasalis bones with a bone-cutting drill. Defects were treated with …

Clinico-Morphological Pattern Of Intracranial Tumors In Children, Sajid H. Shah, Irshad N. Soomro, Akbar S. Hussainy, S H. Hassan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective:
The objective of present study was to observe the histopathological pattern of intracranial tumors in children (< 15 yrs) and to correlate the site of lesion along with the histological diagnosis.
Setting:
The study included consecutive cases of intracranial tumors diagnosed in children (< 15 yrs.) in the section of histopathology at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi during the period of three years.
Methods:
The initial histological evaluation of these lesions was performed on H and E stained section of paraffin embedded tissue. Special stains and immunohistochemical analysis was done whenever indicated.
Results:
During the study period, fifty-four cases of intracranial tumors were diagnosed in children. The age ranged from 1-1/2 years to 4 years with male to female ratio of 1.1:1. Astrocytoma comprised 39% of all intracranial tumors of childhood. Medulloblastoma …

Induction Of Integral Membrane Pam Expression In Att-20 Cells Alters The Storage And Trafficking Of Pomc And Pc1, Giuseppe D. Ciccotosto, Martin R. Schiller, Betty A. Eipper, Richard E. Mains

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) is an essential enzyme that catalyzes the COOH-terminal amidation of many neuroendocrine peptides. The bifunctional PAM protein contains an NH2-terminal monooxygenase (PHM) domain followed by a lyase (PAL) domain and a transmembrane domain. The cytosolic tail of PAM interacts with proteins that can affect cytoskeletal organization. A reverse tetracycline-regulated inducible expression system was used to construct an AtT-20 corticotrope cell line capable of inducible PAM-1 expression. Upon induction, cells displayed a time- and dose-dependent increase in enzyme activity, PAM mRNA, and protein. Induction of increased PAM-1 expression produced graded changes in PAM-1 metabolism. Increased expression of …

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 …

Expression, Isolation And Purification Of Human Zona Pellucida Protein 3, Ting-Fung Chi

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Mammalian fertilization involves interactions of sperm surface receptors with the ligands of the zona pellucida, an extracellular matrix surrounding the ovulated oocytes. In humans, the zona pellucida is composed of three major glycoproteins. One of them, ZP3, participates in the primary sperm binding and in the subsequent triggering of the spermatozoa's acrosome reaction. Studies on the role of this specific protein in the human fertilization process are hampered by the limited amount of available biologically functional proteins.

By use of a pcDNA 3.1(+) expression vector, a transfecting-vector was constructed containing a 1.3 kb histidine tagged hZP3 cDNA. This histidine tagged …

Mouse Embryo Development In The Presence Of Capsaicin, Carlos Santiago Villar-Gosalvez

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Capsaicin is the pungent agent found in hot peppers of the Capsicum genus. It is a potent neurotoxin that stimulates the degranulation and degeneration of C-afferent neurons. Capsaicin is widely used as a food condiment and medicine. Human exposure of capsaicin can exceed levels shown to be neurotoxic in laboratory animals. Additionally, capsaicin can cross the blood/placenta barrier and affect an embryo in utero. In order to assay the potential for toxicity to human embryos, mouse embryos were exposed to capsaicin and the effect of the capsaicin on embryo development was measured. Embryos were co-cultured in Krebs medium with 1% …

Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (Lif): Murine Preimplantation Embryo Development, Implantation Rates, And Skeletal Development, Michael Hayes Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine which demonstrates perplexing physiological effects. It has been demonstrated that LIF is essential for implantation in mice. Little is known relating to the manner by which LIF effects pre-implantation and post-implantation development. The objectives of this project were to determine the effects LIF on pre-implantation development, to determine the effects that it may have on implantation rates, successful pregnancy rates, and resorption rates, and to determine the effects that LIF has on the skeletal development of mice. For the embryo transfer experiments, embryos were exposed to test compounds in the transfer medium …

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 …

Detection Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Paraffin Embedded Intestinal Tissue Specimens By Polymerase Chain Reaction: Characterization Of Is6110 Element Negative Strains, Tariq Moatter, Shaper Mirza, Mohammad Shahid Siddiqui, Irshad Nabi Soomro

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Tuberculosis is still one of the most widespread infection known to mankind. Although lung is the predominant site of disease, a sizeable population in Pakistan gets intestinal disease. Clinical presentation, radiologic and endoscopic examination provide clues to the diagnosis. However, a definitive diagnosis requires biopsy material with granulomas and/or caseation complemented by acid fast staining and culture. There are many occasions when biopsy material is scanty and even in some intestinal resection cases histologic evaluation fails to confirm or rule out tuberculosis. Therefore, an investigation was conducted to assess the efficacy of PCR in the detection of mycobacterial DNA in …

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, …

Reaction-Diffusion Models Of Cancer Dispersion, Kim Yvette Ward

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

The phenomenological modeling of the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of one-dimensional models of cancer dispersion are studied. The models discussed pertain primarily to the transition of a tumor from an initial neoplasm to the dormant avascular state, i.e. just prior to the vascular state, whenever that may occur. Initiating the study is the mathematical analysis of a reaction-diffusion model describing the interaction between cancer cells, normal cells and growth inhibitor. The model leads to several predictions, some of which are supported by experimental data and clinical observations $\lbrack25\rbrack$. We will examine the effects of additional terms on these characteristics. …

Pressure-Induced Intracellular Signaling In Isolated Arteries, Victor A. Miriel

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The ability of cells to respond to mechanical stimuli has been studied through a variety of techniques in numerous cell types. The cells of the vascular wall have adapted to specific mechanical stresses through the activation of intracellular signaling pathways which result in cell-specific responses such as hypertrophy, hyperplasia, proliferation, and migration. Vascular smooth muscle of the arteries have been shown to be sensitive to mechanical stimuli such as stretch, and pressure.

This study attempts to add to the current knowledge of mechanotransduction by utilizing the isolated artery preparation. This preparation allows for the study of vascular smooth muscle signal …

The Role Of Glycoconjugates In Mediating Human Fertilization And Induction Of Fetomaternal Tolerance, Manish S. Patankar

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Using the hemizona assay (HZA), a in vitro sperm-egg binding assay, we show that specific glycoconjugates known to inhibit immune cell interactions mediated by the selectins, potently block human sperm-egg binding. The selectin ligand sialyl Lewis^x inhibits sperm binding in the HZA by 60% at a concentration of 1 mg/ml. Our data indicates that glycodelin-A, a endometrial glycoprotein known to block sperm-egg binding in the HZA at low concentrations expresses unusual fucosylated lacdiNAc type glycans. The fucosylated lacdiNAc type sugars have been previously shown to be 15-20 fold more potent ligands of E-selectin. Glycodelin-S a seminal plasma glycoform of …

Predicting Prognosis In Lung Cancer: Use Of Proliferation Marker, Ki67 Monoclonal Antibody, I N. Soomro, J Holmes, W F. Whimster

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

An investigation was carried out to assess the prognostic significance of proliferation marker Ki67 in a group of lung cancer patients treated by surgery (limited disease). Tissue was not available for Ki67 immunostaining in inoperable group. The diagnosis is established by bronchial biopsy which does not carry enough tissue for frozen section and counting. This study is supplemented by estimating the prognostic significance of histological sub-types in the operable group and in a group of inoperable patients with extensive disease. These are usually treated by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. In all, 267 patients were studied including 105 treated by surgery. These …

Evaluation Of The Role Of Fructosamine As An Indicator Of Diabetic Control, Katherine Hooley

Theses

Diabetes mellitus, a common metabolic disease, is characterised by excess circulating glucose concentrations. Such a hyperglycaemic status provides the stimulus for irreversible glycation (non-enzymatically post-translational) of structural and functional proteins. Protein glycation, although a cause of complication (neuropathy, micro/macrovascular disease), provides a time-averaged index of diabetes status and control. In particular, glycated plasma proteins analysis, i.e., the fructosamine assay, has received favourable response due to its speed, simplicity, low cost, and ease of automation. However, lack of standardisation and a universally-accepted calibrant has limited technical and subsequent clinical confidence in fructosamine analysis. In response, a comprehensive technical evaluation (including novel …

Comparison Of Beta-Adrenoceptor Coupled Camp Production In Cultured Human Mononuclear Leukocytes And Myometrial Cells, Yu-Li Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

$\beta\sb2$-Adrenoceptor ($\beta\sb2$-AR) agonists, such as terbutaline, are used as tocolytic agents in the treatment of preterm labor. $\beta$-Adrenoceptor stimulation relaxes myometrium through specific receptors coupled through Gs to adenylyl cyclase (AC) that catalyzes the conversion of ATP to cAMP. The purpose of this study was to compare $\beta$-adrenoceptors and cAMP production in cultured human leukocytes and myometrial cells, and to determine the importance of $\beta$-adrenoceptors and cAMP production in isoproterenol-induced myometrial relaxation. $\sp{125}$I-iodopindolol was used to assess $\beta$-adrenoceptor affinity and number cAMP levels were analyzed before and after stimulation by isoproterenol, AlF$\sb4\sp-$, forskolin, and PGE$\sb1$. Isometric recording was used to …

Phosphorylation Of Elongation Factor 1 And Ribosomal Protein S6 By Multipotential S6 Kinase And Insulin Stimulation Of Translational Elongation, Y W Chang, J A Traugh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Stimulation of protein synthesis in response to insulin is concomitant with increased phosphorylation of initiation factors 4B and 4G and ribosomal protein S6 (Morley, S. J., and Traugh, J. A. (1993) Biochimie 75, 985-989) and is due at least in part to multipotential S6 kinase. When elongation factor 1 (EF-1) from rabbit reticulocytes was examined as substrate for multipotential S6 kinase, up to 1 mol/mol of phosphate was incorporated into the alpha, beta, and delta subunits. Phosphorylation of EF-1 resulted in a 2-2. 6-fold stimulation of EF-1 activity, as measured by poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis. The rate of elongation was also …

An Evaluation Of The Sensitivity Of Subjects With Peanut Allergy To Very Low Doses Of Peanut Protein: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Food Challenge Study, Jonathan O'B. Hourihane, Sally A. Kilburn, Julie A. Nordlee, Susan L. Hefle, Steve L. Taylor, John O. Warner

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The minimum dose of food protein to which subjects with food allergy have reacted in double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges is between 50 and 100 mg. However, subjects with peanut allergy often report severe reactions after minimal contact with peanuts, even through intact skin.

Objective: We sought to determine whether adults previously proven by challenge to be allergic to peanut react to very low doses of peanut protein.

Methods: We used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge of 14 subjects allergic to peanuts with doses of peanut ranging from 10 μg to 50 mg, administered in the form of …

Mucinous Cystadenoma Of The Urinary Bladder, I N. Soomro, A T. Rashid

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

No abstract provided.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Of The Prefrontal Cortex Delays Contralateral Endogenous Saccades, Tony Ro, Avishai Henik, Liana Machado, Robert D. Rafal

Publications and Research

The contributions of the superior prefrontal cortex (SPFC) and the superior parietal lobule (SPL) in generating voluntary endogenous and reflexive visually guided saccades were investigated using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Subjects made choice saccades to the left or right visual field in response to a central arrowhead (endogenous go signal) or a peripheral asterisk (exogenous go signal) that were presented along with a single TMS pulse at varying temporal intervals. TMS over the SPFC increased latencies for saccades made in response to an endogenous go signal toward the contralateral hemifield. No effects were observed when the go signal was exogenous …

Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase And Growth Factor Regulation Of Flow-Mediated Vascular Remodeling, David Anthony Tulis

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

This study was designed to characterize structural remodeling of male Wistar rat mesenteric arteries exposed to elevated blood flow in vivo for 1, 3, or 7 days. A series of arterial ligations induced blood flow increases in ileal and second-order branch arteries compared to same animal control vessels. Neither mean carotid nor local mesenteric arterial pressures changed significantly pre- to post-ligation. The primary flow-mediated force in both vessels was shear stress with possible involvement of acute stretch-induced wall stress in the ileal artery. Significant luminal expansion and medial wall hypertrophy occurred in the ileal and second-order arteries in a time-dependent …

Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Analysis Of Human Embryos Derived From In Vitro And In Vivo Matured Oocytes, Constance Descisciolo

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Despite adequate hormonal stimulation, oocytes collected for the purpose of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer display several levels of nuclear maturity. Preovulatory or mature oocytes, technically those that are Metaphase I or II, are inseminated shortly after aspiration and assessed for fertilization the following day. Prophase I oocytes, also called germinal vesicle-bearing or immature oocytes, require a 24-36 hour period in culture before being exposed to spermatozoa. During this time, the majority of Prophase I oocytes complete nuclear maturation in vitro, progressing from germinal vesicle breakdown through first polar body extrusion. If inseminated, many in vitro matured oocytes fertilize …

The Cellular And Molecular Dynamics Of The Queuosine Modification In Transfer Rna: Definition, Modulation, Deficiencies And Effect Of The Queuosine Modification System, Rana C. Morris

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The presence of the queuosine modification in the wobble position of tRNA^asn, tRN^asp, tRNA^his, and tRNA^tyr is associated with a decrease in cellular growth rate, an increase in the ability to withstand environmental stress, and differentiation of pleuripotent cells into mature phenotypes. The loss of this normal modification is strongly correlated with neoplastic transformation and tumor progression of a wide variety of cancers.

The "normal" system for formation of the queuosine modification in tRNA was studied in human fibroblast cell cultures and in mouse, rat and human liver tissues. The queuosine modification system …

Oral Cancer Screening, Damon Omar Watson

Honors Theses

Cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx have increased throughout the decades. Since oral cancer represents a small percentage of the total cancers in the United States, it is often overlooked. Though this is the case, the results of this cancer can be devastating. To address this issue, an Oral Cancer Screening was organized on August 14, 1996 at the West Michigan Cancer Center in Kalamazoo. This was a joint collaboration between the author, the West Michigan Cancer Center, and the Kalamazoo Valley Dental Society. This event allowed research to take place concerning the data obtained. Confidential results and information …

Differential Endometrial Responses Of Primates Vs Rodents: Screening For Antiproliferative Effects Of Antiprogestins, David Williams Burleigh

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The antiprogestin, mifepristone, has previously been shown to noncompetitively inhibit estrogen-induced endometrial proliferation in nonhuman primates (van Uem et al., 1989; Wolf et al., 1989b; Neulen et al., 1990; Neulen et al., 1996). For both economical and ethical reasons, we are encouraged to identify comparative laboratory rodent models which can substitute the need to use primate models. In the following study, we compared capabilities of the rat uterine weight bioassay versus a primate uterine bioassay, to identify the noncompetitive antiestrogenic/antiproliferative effects of mifepristone.

Long-term ovariectomized monkeys were exposed to exogenous 17β-estradiol (E2) and mifepristone in doses and regimes already demonstrated …

Interleukin-2 Fusion Protein: An Investigational Therapy For Interleukin-2 Receptor Expressing Malignancies, Jean Nichols, Foss Francine, Kuzel Timothy, Lemaistre Charles Fred, Platanias Leonidas, Ratain Mark, Rook Alain, Mansoor Saleh, Schwartz Gary

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

DAB3s91L-2 is an interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) specific fusion protein with a molecular weight of 58 kD containing the enzymatic and translocation domains of diphtheria toxin (DT) and human IL-2. This fusion protein is able to direct the cytocidal action of the DT enzymatic region only to cells which bear the IL-2R. The human IL-2R exists in three forms: low, intermediate and high affinity. The high-affinity form is believed to be the biologically relevant form on mature, activated T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes and monocytes. DAB3sgIL-2 is able to bind selectively to the high-affinity IL-2R in a concentration-dependent manner, and once bound is internalised …

503 Phase I Radioimmunotherapy (Rit) Study Of 90y-Cc49 Monoclonal Antibody (Mab) Therapy In Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (Nsclc), Francisco Robert, Ruby Meredith, Michael Khazaeli, Charles Russell, William Grizzle, John Newsome, Mansoor Saleh

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

503 Phase I radioimmunotherapy (RIT) study of 90Y-CC49 monoclonal antibody (MAb) therapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) × Close The Infona portal uses cookies, ie strings of text saved by a browser on the user's device. The portal can access those files and use them to remember the user's data, such as their chosen settings (screen view, interface language, etc.), or their login data. By using the Infona portal the user accepts automatic saving and using this information for portal operation purposes. More information on the subject can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms …

Gross And Histological Features Of A Myofascial Trigger Point In The Upper Trapezius, Kathryn E. Levee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to precisely locate, in living humans, a myofascial trigger point associated with the upper portion of the trapezius muscle (TrP1) that refers pain to the head and neck and to determine if this point is associated with anatomical structures. This study is descriptive and utilizes data from measurements of the location of TrP1 in relation to anatomical landmarks, of pressure sensitivity overlying the trigger point and electromyography recordings in localizing the trigger point. Information obtained from living humans was used to determine anatomical correlation to structures in cadavers. Results indicated there is little variability …