Medical Specialties Commons^™

Resistance Of Blastocystis Hominis Cysts To Chlorine, M Zaki, V Zaman, N A. Sheikh

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

No abstract provided.

Lead Activation Of A Developmentally Regulated Calcium Channel In Rat Hippocampal Nerve Terminals, Troy E. Rhodes

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Low level lead (Pb²⁺) exposure may produce lasting deficits in learning and memory by altering calcium (Ca²⁺) dependent processes. Isolated presynaptic nerve terminals from rat hippocampus were loaded with the intracellular (Ca²⁺) indicator Fura-2. The changes in cytoplasmic free calcium ([Ca²⁺]_i) were measured by stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy following depolarization with elevated potassium on a millisecond time scale (Lentzner et al., 1992). Depolarization promoted a rapid increase in Ca²⁺_i which occured in two kinetically distinguishable phases: a fast component, representing the activity of rapidly inactivating Ca²⁺ channels (τ …

Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis: Infection With Pigmented Fungi, I N. Soomro, A Kennedy

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

No abstract provided.

Neuronal Toxicity Of Humoral Factors From Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy And Mechanism Of Neuronal Death On Cultured Adrenergic Neurons: Studies Of Autoimmune Pathogenesis In Diabetic Neuropathy, Dong Liu

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Diabetic neuropathy is an extremely common medical problem because of the high frequency of diabetes and its complications. Diabetic neuropathy consists of not one, but many patterns of nerve injury, each potentially with its own discrete pathogenic mechanisms. Evidence is accumulating that indicates autoimmunity plays a role in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. However, the significance of immunopathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy is as yet unclear.

Using the N1E-115 mouse neuroblastoma cell line (NB) as a model of the adrenergic autonomic neuron, we found that sera of IDDM patients with neuropathy inhibit growth and differentiation of adrenergic neurons in culture (Pittenger et al, …

The Effects Of Lowering Cholesterol On Vasodilation, Maria Christi Hardt

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Endothelial dysfunction has been found prior to any signs of atherosclerotic plaque formation in patients with a variety of risk factors for atherosclerosis. Elevated serum cholesterol has repeatedly been associated with endothelial dysfunction as demonstrated by impaired vasoreactivity to vasodilating stimuli.

The aim of this research was to determine whether short term lowering of serum cholesterol levels by life style changes or by cholesterol lowering medication could reverse or reduce the endothelial dysfunction. The brachial artery diameter was measured by high-resolution ultrasound at rest and during reactive hyperemia pre and postintervention. Fifty-three subjects with cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dl were …

Identification Of A Brazil-Nut Allergen In Transgenic Soybeans, Julie A. Nordlee, Steve L. Taylor, Jeffrey A. Townsend, Laurie A. Thomas, Robert K. Bush

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Background: The nutritional quality of soybeans (Glycine max) is compromised by a relative deficiency of methionine in the protein fraction of the seeds. To improve the nutritional quality, methionine-rich 2S albumin from the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) has been introduced into transgenic soybeans. Since the Brazil nut is a known allergenic food, we assessed the allergenicity of the 2S albumin.

Methods: The ability of proteins in transgenic and nontransgenic soybeans, Brazil nuts, and purified 2S albumin to bind to IgE in serum from subjects allergic to Brazil nuts was determined by radioallergosorbent tests (four …

A Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Elisa) For The Quantitation Of Peanut In Foods, S. L. Taylor, Julie A. Nordlee, S. L. Hefle

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Peanuts are one of the most allergenic foods known. Strict avoidance of peanut by peanut-allergic individuals is difficult and often unsuccessful. Peanut proteins have previously been found in nonpeanut foodstuffs prepared on shared processing equipment, and such carryover contamination increases the risk of occurrence of allergic reactions. Immunoassays offer a specific, sensitive, and rapid technique to detect and quantitate small amounts of proteins in food systems.

A sandwich-type, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of peanut protein in foods. Selected food samples were ground and extracts prepared by overnight extraction in 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline, followed …

Allergenic Foods, Susan L. Hefle, Julie A. Nordlee, Steve L. Taylor

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Virtually all food allergens are proteins, although only a small percentage of the many proteins in foods are allergens. Any food that contains protein has the potential to cause allergic reactions in some individuals. However, a few foods or food groups are known to cause allergies on a more frequent basis than other foods. At a 1995 consultation on food allergies sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization, a group of international experts confirmed that peanuts, soybeans, crustacea, fish, cow’s milk, eggs, tree nuts, and wheat are the most common allergenic foods. These foods are responsible for more than 90% …

Phase Ia/Ib Trial Of Anti-Gd2 Chimeric Monoclonal Antibody 14.18 (Ch L4.18) And Recombinant Human Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor (Rhgm-Csf) In Metastatic Melanoma, James Murray, Eugenie Kleinerman, Shu-Fang Jia, Michael Rosenblum, Omar Eton, Antonio Buzaid, Sewa Legha, Merrick Ross, Lora Thompson, Mansoor Saleh

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

We performed a phase Ia/Ib trial of chimeric anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody 14.18 (ch14.18) in combination with recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) to determine the maximum tolerated dose as well as immunologic and biologic responses to the regimen. Sixteen patients with metastatic malignant melanoma received escalating doses of ch14.18 (15-60 mg/m2) administered intravenously for 4 h on day 1. Twenty-four hours later, subcutaneous injections of rhGM-CSF were administered daily for a total of 14 days. Significant side effects were related to ch14.18 infusion and consisted of moderate to severe abdominal and/or extremity pain, blood pressure changes, headache, nausea, diarrhea, peripheral …

Numerical Chromosome Abnormalities In Sperm From Oligoasthenoteratozoospermic Patients And Fertile Males, Myung-Geol Pang

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Artificial fertilization protocols have been developed which bypass natural barriers for reproduction. One aspect of infertility which has received little attention is the potential importance of aneuploidy in sperm. To more clearly understand the cytogenetic make-up of sperm from OAT patients, multi-probe, multi-color FISH was performed to determine aneuploidy.

The introduction of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has revolutionized protocols used in in vitro fertilization centers. The pregnancies resulting from ICSI suggest an increased frequency of sex chromosome aneuploidy in livebirths. Preliminary data by others' suggest that sperm tail swelling patterns following hypo-osmotic swelling (HOST) can be predictive of fertilizing ability. …

Selective Increases In Antibody Isotypes And Immunoglobulin G Subclass Responses To Secreted Antigens In Tuberculosis Patients And Healthy Household Contacts Of The Patients, R Hussain, G Dawood, N Abrar, Z Toossi, A Minai, M Dojki, J J. Ellner

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antibodies (immunoglobulin M [IgM], IgE, IgG, and IgG subclasses) were determined in 164 tuberculosis patients (pulmonary involvement, n = 135; lymph node involvement, n = 29), 59 healthy household contacts (HC), and 51 healthy endemic donors (EC) by a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for reactivity with culture filtrate. Among the isotypes, significant differences between tuberculosis patient groups with either pulmonary or lymph node involvement and healthy control groups (HC and EC) were detected only for IgG (P < 0.001) and IgG1 (P < 0.001) antibodies. Pulmonary patients also showed a significant difference with IgM (P < 0.01) and IgE (P < 0.05) antibodies. HC showed elevation of only IgM antibodies compared with EC, indicating that IgM antibodies may be an indicator of recent infection with M. tuberculosis. These results suggest that the switching of IgM antibody response to IgG1 is a critical event in disease progression. Polyclonal IgG1, IgG3, and IgE antibodies also showed significant elevation (P < 0.05) in patients compared with EC. A strong correlation (rho = 0.254; P < 0.003) was observed between M. tuberculosis-specific IgG1 and polyclonal IgG1 in patients, suggesting that activations of antigen-specific and polyclonal antibodies are related events. No correlation was found between IgG1 antibodies and purified protein derivative skin test results. Since IgG1 antibody responses to culture filtrate are present only after disease establishment, IgG1 responses could provide a useful diagnostic marker of disease.

Biochemical And Molecular Characterization Of The Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (Psma), John Karl Troyer

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer death in males in the United States. Additionally, the number of deaths attributed to prostate cancer is increasing at a rate of approximately 8% a year. Development of new diagnostic and therapy strategies are needed in order to improve the life expectancy of patients with this disease. One tool which may allow for improvements in prostate cancer diagnosis and therapy is the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 7E11-C5.3 which was first described in 1987. Since then, the antigen recognized by MAb 7E11-C5.3 has been named the prostate specific …

A 55 Year Old Diabetic Presenting With A Rash And Polyneuropathy, S Hyder, H Rasool, H Naqvi, Naila Kayani

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

No abstract provided.

Identification And Characterization Of Mitochondrial Dna Variants In Alzheimer's Disease, Natasha Singh Hamblet

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that affects a significant portion of the human population regardless of ethnicity or gender. A mitochondrial hypothesis of AD has been proposed based on a number of studies which establish altered oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and ATP synthesis in AD tissue. ATP demand is most prevalent in the brain; damage to OXPHOS could severely impair brain metabolism, thereby leading to a decline in cognitive function. Four out of five complexes in the OXPHOS pathway are partly encoded by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA); thus, this may be a crucial site of lesions that alter brain …

In Vitro Expression Of Human Zona Pellucida Protein 3, Chih-Wei Chen

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Human zona pellucida protein 3 (hZP3) is the putative receptor on the zona pellucida of the mature oocyte that recognizes and binds sperm, and therefore plays a critical role in fertilization.

A full length cDNA of hZP3 (1278 bp) was amplified from the human ovary mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The hZP3 cDNA was subcloned into PSK and pREP4 expression vectors. The cDNA of hZP3 was further characterized by restriction mapping, PCR, auto-sequencing and Southern blot analysis by using an internal oligonucleotide probe, and found to be identical to the one reported by J. Dean. Using autosequencing, 289 …

A Model Of Cytomegalovirus Association With The Development Of Heart Graft Atherosclerosis, Evan Skowronski

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The development of graft atherosclerosis in heart transplant recipients has been associated with the development of post-transplant cytomegalovirus infection. The mechanism of this involvement, however, remains unclear. I undertook a study to determine the role of cytomegalovirus in the development of graft atherosclerosis. First, a rapid method of detecting cytomegalovirus based on capillary polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis was employed to determine the presence of cytomegalovirus in a wide variety of clinical samples. Detection of cytomegalovirus is a lengthy procedure under normal conditions, and timely detection of cytomegalovirus in transplant recipients may allow intervention early enough to block the …

Persistent Oral Dyskinesias Induced By Long-Term Haloperidol Treatment Is Dissociated From Changes In Neostriatal B(Max) And Mrna Content For Dopamine D(2) Receptors, Nuoyu Huang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to the presumed associations of dopamine (DA) receptor supersensitivity phenomena in both long-term neuroleptic-treated tardive dyskinetic rats and neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine (n6-OHDA)-lesioned rats, we studied the influence of haloperidol on n6-OHDA-lesioned rats. At 3 days after birth rats received 6-OHDA-HBr (200 $\mu$g, bilateral intracerebroventricularly; desipramine pretreatment, 20 mg/kg, 1h) or vehicle. Two months later haloperidol (1.5/kg/day $\times$ 2 days/week for 4 weeks, then 1.5 mg/kg/day, every day for 10 months) was added to the drinking water. Spontaneous oral activity of intact and n6-OHDA-lesioned rats receiving haloperidol was reached and maintained at significantly higher levels after 15 weeks of haloperidol treatment. …

Moraxella (Branhamella) Catarrhalis: A Molecular Epidemiology Study, Lyndell R. Gill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis is the third-most-frequently isolated microorganism associated with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis in patients during their stay at the Mountain Home VA Medical Center (MHVAMC). In order to develop a practical, epidemiologically-meaningful typing method for M. (B.) catarrhalis, we tested two methods based on analysis of chromosomal DNA for typeability, reproducibility, and ability to differentiate between unrelated strains (discriminatory power, D). M. (B.) catarrhalis isolants from MHVAMC from 7/1/87-6/30/88 were grown overnight in broth and embedded in agarose. DNA was isolated by standard methods. The DNA was subjected to: (1) restriction endonuclease digestion (with either Bgl II …

Indomethacin Reduces Splenic Red Pulp Macrophage Populations In Female New Zealand White Rabbits, Thane S. Thurmond

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In an effort to elucidate the mechanism by which indomethacin (IN) attenuates the stimulatory effect of estradiol (E$\sb2$) on rabbit splenic red pulp macrophages (RPM), thirty-nine female New Zealand White rabbits were divided into 10 groups: ovariectomized (OVX), OVX/IN at 0.1 and 5.0 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day; sham OVX (SOVX), SOVX/IN at 0.1 and 5.0 mg/kg bw/day; OVX/25 mg E2, OVX/25 mg E$\sb2$/IN at 0.1 and 5.0 mg/kg bw/day; intact Control. Quantitative changes in RPM population in response to the treatments were measured using a 0 to 4 histologic grading scale. Estradiol treatment resulted in increased RPM grade when compared …

Microwave Oven--Not Only For Cooking, S Pervez

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

No abstract provided.

Media Components Influence Viral Gene Expression Assays In Human Fetal Astrocyte Cultures, Micheline Mccarthy, Charles Wood, Larisa Fedoseyeva, Scott R. Whittemore

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

In vitro neurovirological studies of viral infectivity or viral gene expression may be confounded by the mulHple neural cell types and/or fibrob last contamination present in early passage cultures prepared from dissociated human central nervous system (eNS) tissue. We have developed highly enriched astrocyte cultures for neurovirological study by culturing in a serum-free defined medium, 816, supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). Subculture in this medium selects against fibroblast proliferation and favors sustained proliferation of a highly enriched glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cell population. These astrocytes support productive replication of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and transient expression of transfected CMVand …

Localisation Of The Gene For A Novel Form Of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease In An Isolated Population, Kaite Honeyman

Theses : Honours

Localising the gene for a previously undescribed autosomal recessive form of CMT involved the use of a relatively new approach to rapid genome screening based on the identification of segments which are inherited identical by descent (IBD) from common founding ancestors. It is most feasible for populations which have been founded relatively recently (say less than 25 generations) and which have remained relatively isolated either geographically or culturally. The method is not suitable for highly inbred populations, that is with first and second cousin matings, as many segments will be inherited by chance. It appears to be a suitable screening …

Seroprevalence Of Toxoplasma Gondii In Domestic Animals In Pakistan, M Zaki

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infections among food animals in South-West Pakistan was measured by serological examination using a commercial latex agglutination test (LAT). In all 262 blood samples, from 100 cattle, 40 sheep, 58 goats and 64 chickens, were collected from the city abattoir. Titers considered diagnostically significant (> or = 1:64) were detected in 25% of cattle and 2.5% of sheep. None of the goats and chickens presented seropositivity for anti-toxoplasma antibodies. The study suggests the need for further investigations to determine the impact of these findings on the human population.

Phase Ii Trial Of Murine Monoclonal Antibody D612 Combined With Recombinant Human Monocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (Rhm-Csf) In Patients With Metastatic Gastrointestinal Cancer, Mansoor Saleh, Michael Khazaeli, Richard Wheeler, Pat Bucy, Tiepe Liu, Michael Everson, David Mun, Jeff Schlom

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

In a Phase II study, 14 patients with metastatic gastrointestinal cancer received the mAb D612 (40 mg/m2, days 4, 7, and 11) in combination with recombinant human monocyte colony-stimulating factor [(rhM-CSF) 80 ug/kg/days 1-14]. The combined treatment was well tolerated and resulted in characteristic biological activity associated with each of the agents. Thus, 10 of 14 patients experienced D612-associated secretory diarrhea, which responded to the prostaglandin inhibitor Indomethacin in 5 of 7 patients. rhM-CSF therapy was associated with peripheral mono- cytosis (peak absolute monocyte count, 1444 ±394/mm3) and thrombocytopenia (nadir count, 78 ±10/nim '). Monocyte surface marker analysis revealed a …

Cd16+ Monocytes In Patients With Cancer: Spontaneous Elevation And Pharmacologic Induction By Recombinant Human Macrophage Colony- Stimulating Factor, Mansoor Saleh, Goldman Samuel, Lobuglio Albert, Beall Arthur, Sabio Hernan, Mccord Melissa, Minasian Lori, Alpaugh Katherine, Weiner Louis, Munn David

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

The small subset of circulating monocytes that express the maturation- associated CD16 antigen has recently been reported to be elevated in patients with bacterial sepsis. We now show that this novel CD16+ monocyte population is also spontaneously expanded in patients with cancer. We studied 14 patients with metastatic gastrointestinal carcinoma enrolled in a clinical trial of recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhMCSF) plus monoclonal antibody D612. We found that before any cytokine treatment, 12 of 14 patients constitutively displayed significant elevations in both the percentage and the absolute number of CD16+ monocytes, as compared with both normal subjects and ill …

Symptoms Six Weeks After Covid-19 Are Reduced Among Us Health Care Personnel Receiving Additional Vaccine Doses During The Omicron Period, December 2021-April 2022., Nicholas M. Mohr, Ian D. Plumb, Eliezer Santos León, Malea Pinckney, Karisa K. Harland, Anusha Krishnadasan, Karin F. Hoth, Fernand Rwamwejo, John P. Haran, Melissa Briggs-Hagen, Eric Kontowicz, David A. Talan

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that subsequent doses of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine are associated with lower incidence of COVID-19-like symptoms at 6 weeks after infection.

METHODS: This study was a case-control analysis of health care personnel in an ongoing multicenter COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness study. We enrolled participants at the time of COVID-19-like symptoms between December 19, 2021, and April 27, 2022, which corresponded to the early Omicron-predominant period after original monovalent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 additional vaccination doses became available. Our outcome was self-reported symptoms completed 6 weeks after …

Peculiar Histopathological Features Of Giardiasis In Distal Duodenal Biopsies, Z Abbas, A A. Qureshi, H Sheikh, S M. Jafri, A H. Khan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Histological changes in 20 Giardia positive duodenal biopsies (Group A) were compared with 50, Giardia negative duodenal biopsies (Group B), taken during the same period. Stool examinations in Group B were negative for Giardia. Surface epithelium, villous and crypt architecture and cellular infiltrates were examined and compared between the groups. Atrophic changes in the villi were more common in Group A as compared to B(P < 0.0001). Intraepithelial neutrophil infiltration (P < 0.001), infiltration of the lamina propria with plasma cells (P < 0.5), and presence of eosinophils in the lamina propria (P < 0.001) were significant findings in group A. Some of the changes were related to the density of Giardia colonization e.g., the goblet cell depletion (P < 0.05) and the density of plasma cell infiltration in lamina propria (P < 0.01). Erosions and ulcerations were less commonly seen in group A. Thus we conclude that giardiasis manifests its peculiar features in the distal duodenal mucosa and a biopsy of this region is an important diagnostic tool for detection of this disease.

Stab Wounds To Rat Brains : Demyelination, Remyelination And The Cellular Response, Particularly Of Oligodendrocytes, Xie Dangci

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The present body of knowledge concerning the results of central nervous system injury is incomplete and controversial. The role of oligodendrocytes, the cells involved in phagocytosis, the stages of demyelination, and the evidence for remyelination are of interest. Following stab wounds to rat brain cortex, corpus callosum and hippocampus, the animals were examined at 4,7,11,18,23,29,45,60 and 70 days postoperation (dpo). To help in the identification of cells immunocytochemical markers for astrocytes and immature oligodendrocytes were used. These were labels for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and myelin/oligodendrocyte specific protein (MOSP) respectively. Light and electron microscopy were correlated using conventionally prepared …

Short And Long Term Effects Of Proton Microbeam Irradiation : In The Lateral Geniculate Nucleus Of Felis Domesticus, Chad Sherwood Reder

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Little is known of the effects of proton irradiation on neural tissue. A 1.0 mm microbeam was used on the cat lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) to quantify the short term (< 3 months) and long term (< 9 months) effects of radiation damage. The LGN is a large structure with well defined afferent, efferent, and receptive field properties.

Electrophysiological and histological techniques were used to examine the effects of the microbeam at 60, 40, and 16 Gy, administered as a single bolus. Recordings of light evoked responses in the LGN were obtained using microelectrodes in nine animals within 12 weeks of irradiation, and 6 animals within 36 weeks of irradiation. Receptive fields were mapped onto a tangent screen using standard receptive field techniques. Histological measures included afferent …

A Thyroid Hormone-Regulated Gene In Xenopus Laevis Encodes A Type Iii Iodothyronine 5-Deiodinase., Donald L. St Germain, Robert Schwartzman, Walburga Croteau, Akira Kanamori, Zhou Wang, Donald D. Brown, Valerie Galton

Dartmouth Scholarship

The type III iodothyronine 5-deiodinase metabolizes thyroxine and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine to inactive metabolites by catalyzing the removal of iodine from the inner ring. The enzyme is expressed in a tissue-specific pattern during particular stages of development in amphibia, birds, and mammals. Recently, a PCR-based subtractive hybridization technique has been used to isolate cDNAs prepared from Xenopus laevis tadpole tail mRNA that represent genes upregulated by thyroid hormone during metamorphosis. Sequence analysis of one of these cDNAs (XL-15) revealed regions of homology to the mRNA encoding the rat type I (outer ring) 5'-deiodinase, including a conserved UGA codon that encodes selenocysteine in …