Physiology Commons^™

Systematic Pan-Cancer Analysis Of Somatic Allele Frequency., Liam Spurr, Muzi Li, Nawaf Alomran, Qianqian Zhang, Paula Restrepo, Mercedeh Movassagh, Chris Trenkov, Nerissa Tunnessen, Tatiyana Apanasovich, Keith A Crandall, Nathan Edwards, Anelia Horvath

Pharmacology and Physiology Faculty Publications

Imbalanced expression of somatic alleles in cancer can suggest functional and selective features, and can therefore indicate possible driving potential of the underlying genetic variants. To explore the correlation between allele frequency of somatic variants and total gene expression of their harboring gene, we used the unique data set of matched tumor and normal RNA and DNA sequencing data of 5523 distinct single nucleotide variants in 381 individuals across 10 cancer types obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We analyzed the allele frequency in the context of the variant and gene functional features and linked it with changes in …

Examining The Potential Role Of Gpr18 And Gpr119 In Learning And Memory, Brandon Anderson, James Kranewitter-Call, Dr. Jeffrey Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many mental disorders plague our society. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have greatly impacted many victims and their families. Despite the seriousness and pervasiveness of Alzheimer’s, there is still no effective treatment for it nor the accompanying dementia. GPR18 and GPR119 are G-protein coupled receptors (GPRs) and have been identified in the central nervous system, but their functional role is unknown. Many successful drugs target GPR proteins, so examining these GPRs’ function in the brain could lead to potential targets leading to innovative medical advances.

Memory is dependent on a molecular process called synaptic plasticity. In synaptic plasticity, the strength of …

Effect Of Exercise And Hypoxia On Plasma Telomerase, Charli D. Aguilar

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is the enzyme that adds telomeric sequences to the end of linear chromosomes. Exercise has shown to upregulate acutely leukocyte TERT after just 30 minutes of running on a treadmill at 80% of VO2max (Denham et al., 2016). Hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is also a mediator of TERT in in vitro (Nishi et al., 2004). Moderate acute exposure to hypoxia was associated with substantial increases in plasma TERT in a recent study on rats (Wang et al., 2014). The specific aim of the current study was to identify if acute hypoxia upregulates plasma TERT …

The Impact Of An External Load Of Football Equipment On Dynamic Balance As Assessed By The Modified Star Excursion Balance Test, Thomas J. Denehy, Timothy F. Marshall, Kim Spaccarotella, Walter Andzel

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(4): 797-805, 2018.Ankle sprains are common injuries, especially for football players, and may result in ankle instability, which can limit performance and increase injury risk. Ankle stability return to play criteria is often assessed under loaded conditions, even though previous research suggests loaded conditions affect dynamic balance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate dynamic balance under loaded conditions. A modified Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), incorporating anterior, posterior medial and posterior lateral reach directions under the loaded condition of NCAA Division III football equipment was evaluated. Thirty male collegiate football players completed …

Forward Genetic Screen To Identify Novel Genes Involved In Nhej Dna Repair, Taylor Brown, Dr. Jonathan Alder

Journal of Undergraduate Research

DNA contains all the information a cell needs to grow, divide, differentiate, and survive. It also dictates how and when a cell should die. DNA damage (particularly double strand breaks i.e. DSBs) may lead to cell death and/or disease. To circumvent DNA breaks, cells use various DNA repair mechanisms including non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). My ORCA research project focused on identifying novel genes involved in NHEJ. I did this by performing a forward genetic screen (FGS) that tested every known gene in the genome for involvement in NHEJ.

Disruption Of Neonatal Cardiomyocyte Physiology Following Exposure To Bisphenol-A., Manelle Ramadan, Meredith Sherman, Rafael Jaimes, Ashika Chaluvadi, Luther Swift, Nikki Gillum Posnack

Pharmacology and Physiology Faculty Publications

Bisphenol chemicals are commonly used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics, polyvinyl chloride plastics, resins, and thermal printing applications. Humans are inadvertently exposed to bisphenols through contact with consumer products and/or medical devices. Recent reports have shown a link between bisphenol-a (BPA) exposure and adverse cardiovascular outcomes; although these studies have been limited to adult subjects and models. Since cardiac physiology differs significantly between the developing and adult heart, we aimed to assess the impact of BPA exposure on cardiac function, using a neonatal cardiomyocyte model. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were monitored to assess cell viability, spontaneous beating rate, beat …

Exotic Properties Of A Voltage-Gated Proton Channel From The Snail Helisoma Trivolvis, Sarah Thomas, Vladimir V. Cherny, Deri Morgan, Liana R. Artinian, Vincent Rehder, Susan M. E. Smith, Thomas E. Decoursey

Faculty Articles

Voltage-gated proton channels, HV1, were first reported in Helix aspersa snail neurons. These H+ channels open very rapidly, two to three orders of magnitude faster than mammalian HV1. Here we identify an HV1 gene in the snail Helisoma trivolvis and verify protein level expression by Western blotting of H. trivolvis brain lysate. Expressed in mammalian cells, HtHV1 currents in most respects resemble those described in other snails, including rapid activation, 476 times faster than hHV1 (human) at pHo 7, between 50 and 90 mV. In contrast to most HV1, activation of HtHV1 is exponential, suggesting first-order kinetics. However, the large …

Histidine168 Is Crucial For Δph-Dependent Gating Of The Human Voltage-Gated Proton Channel, Hhv1, Vladimir V. Cherny, Deri Morgan, Sarah Thomas, Susan M. E. Smith, Thomas E. Decoursey

Faculty Articles

We recently identified a voltage-gated proton channel gene in the snail Helisoma trivolvis, HtHV1, and determined its electrophysiological properties. Consistent with early studies of proton currents in snail neurons, HtHV1 opens rapidly, but it unexpectedly exhibits uniquely defective sensitivity to intracellular pH (pHi). The H+ conductance (gH)-V relationship in the voltage-gated proton channel (HV1) from other species shifts 40 mV when either pHi or pHo (extracellular pH) is changed by 1 unit. This property, called ΔpH-dependent gating, is crucial to the functions of HV1 in many species and in numerous human tissues. The HtHV1 channel exhibits normal pHo dependence but …

Till Death Do Us Part: The Marriage Of Autophagy And Apoptosis., Katrina F Cooper

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Autophagy is a widely conserved catabolic process that is necessary for maintaining cellular homeostasis under normal physiological conditions and driving the cell to switch back to this status quo under times of starvation, hypoxia, and oxidative stress. The potential similarities and differences between basal autophagy and stimulus-induced autophagy are still largely unknown. Both act by clearing aberrant or unnecessary cytoplasmic material, such as misfolded proteins, supernumerary and defective organelles. The relationship between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and autophagy is complex. Cellular ROS is predominantly derived from mitochondria. Autophagy is triggered by this event, and by clearing the defective organelles effectively, …

Reliability And Validation Of The Hexoskin Wearable Bio-Collection Device During Walking Conditions, Jeffrey Montes, John C. Young, Richard D. Tandy, James W. Navalta

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(7): 806-816, 2018. To evaluate if the Hexoskin smart shirt (HxS) would produce valid and reliable measurements for heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (V_E), step count (SC), and energy expenditure (EE) when compared to a Polar T-31 heart rate monitor, an Applied Electrochemistry Moxus Metabolic System, and a manual step count. A two-day walking treadmill protocol with participants walking for 3 minutes at 3 speeds (1.5mph, 2.5mph, 3.5mph, 0% grade) was performed. Forty-nine volunteers participated the first day, forty-six on the second, thirty-one were used for reliability. Values calculated for …

Strength And Stability Analysis Of Rehabilitated Anterior Cruciate Ligament Individuals, Jeffrey J. Cervenka, Meredith Decker, Mark D. Ricard, Joshua Beaty, Logan Ruhde

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(1): 817-826, 2018.The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) serves as a vital stabilizer for the human knee, yet it is one of the most injured ligaments in the body. Function of the knee is restored through reconstruction and physical therapy, but long term functional deficits persist in some individuals. To better understand the influence of post rehabilitation outcomes on dynamic balance performance, this study evaluated bilateral differences in strength and stability in 11 participants who have rehabilitated from an ACL reconstruction or repair. The Y-Balance Test and an isokinetic strength assessment using the Biodex dynamometer …

Searching For Potential Binding Partners Of Arabidopsis Β-Amylase9 Using Yeast 2-Hybridization, Sheikh Hossain

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

In plants, starch is a major carbon and energy storage compound. Starch is made as a product of photosynthesis while plants are in light and is degraded at night. Our lab is interested in the cellular mechanism of starch degradation in plants and for our studies we use Arabidopsis thaliana as a model. β-amylases are primarily responsible for the hydrolysis of starch in plants and a total of nine β-amylases genes are encoded in Arabidopsis thaliana. These nine genes are identified as BAM1-9. BAM9 is located in the chloroplast where starch is located, and is present …

Validity And Reliability Of The Ymca Submaximal Cycle Test Using An Electrically Braked Ergometer, Justin Kidd

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Purpose: To test the effect of using an electrically braked ergometer on the validity and reliability of the YMCA submaximal cycle test.

Methods: 22 male and 13 female subjects ages 19 to 31 completed one maximal treadmill test and four submaximal cycle tests to measure and estimate VO_2max, respectively. The maximal tests involved recording heart rate and VO₂ during graded exercise until volitional fatigue; an actual max was verified when two out of the following criteria: respiratory Exchange Ratio > 1.1, VO₂ plateau (< 150 ml/min increase in VO₂ during final stage), and achievement of 90% age-predicted HR max (or completed …

Role Of Eps15 Homology Domain-Containing Protein 4 (Ehd4) In The Kidney, Shamma Rahman

Theses & Dissertations

In the kidney, endocytic recycling regulates the abundance of channels and transporters in the membrane of the tubular epithelium, and thereby controls the kidney’s ability to regulate water homeostasis. In recent years, a family of proteins called Eps15 homology domain-containing (EHD) proteins has emerged as important regulators of the endocytic recycling pathway. Mammals express four paralogs of EHD proteins, EHD1-4, that are expressed in different tissues. Although EHD4 is expressed in the kidney, the specific physiological role of EHD4 in the kidney remains unknown. Therefore, this dissertation was focused to elucidate the physiological role of EHD4 in the kidney. In …

Mechanisms For The Potassium Sparing Effects Of Furosemide In Mice On High Potassium Diets, Bangchen Wang

Theses & Dissertations

Because of its cardio-protective benefits, diets that are low in Na⁺ and high in K⁺ are often warranted in conjunction with use of diuretics such as furosemide for treating hypertension. It is critical to understand how such diets influence the diuretic actions on renal K⁺ handling in order to choose the best drug for patients.

Furosemide is a commonly used K-wasting diuretic. It increases urinary K⁺ excretion by increasing distal Na⁺ delivery that stimulates K⁺ secretion. However, in wild-type mice (WT) adapted to an alkaline low Na⁺ high K⁺ diet (LNaHK), both …

An Examination Of Preimplantation Embryos And Endometrium Developed During Induced Aluteal Cycles In The Mare, Chelsey Audra Leisinger

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Changes to the embryonic environment that occur within the first few days of development can have significant effects on subsequent fetal development. The following studies investigate the effects of progesterone-deprivation during the early preimplantation period in the mare. The first study described embryo morphology (diameter, stage, and quality grade) collected from mares with induced aluteal cycles. The second study evaluated the effect of induced aluteal cycles on the future fertility of embryo collections as a potential method for cycle manipulation of embryo donor mares. The third study characterized embryonic and endometrial transcript expression of progesterone-mediated transcripts as well as those …

Diet Induced Obesity Alters Muscle Spindle Afferent Function In Adult Mice, Lubayna Elahi, Krystle Shamai, Adam Abtahie, Adam Cai, Shreejit Padmanabhan, Martina Bremer, Katherine A. Wilkinson

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Populations with obesity are more likely to fall and exhibit balance instability. The reason for this is likely multifactorial, but there is some evidence that sensory function is impaired during obesity. We tested the hypothesis that muscle proprioceptor function is compromised in a mouse model of diet induced obesity. An in vitro muscle-nerve preparation was used to record muscle spindle afferent responses to physiological stretch and sinusoidal vibration. We compared the responses of C57/Bl6 male and female mice on a control diet (10% kcal fat) with those eating a high fat diet (HFD; 60% kcal fat) for 10 weeks (final …

Pyruvate Kinase Isoform M2 Influences Autophagy And Related Processes In Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells, Matthew Lin

University Scholar Projects

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer that affects ~14 million people in the world. Like all cancers, HCC is a disease that arises from unstinted cellular growth initiated by genetic alterations, metabolic changes, and dysregulation in key cellular pathways. Of interest is the relationship between metabolism and cell proliferation/degradation for therapeutic targeting. Pyruvate kinase M2 is a dimeric, glycolytically inactive isoform of the final enzyme involved in glycolysis, that is often upregulated in cancerous tissue. It is thought that the enzymatic function of PKM2 outside of glycolysis contributes to the biosynthesis of anabolic intermediates used …

The Effects Of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation On Swimming Performance In Collegiate Swimmers 2018, Christopher Daniel Mosconi

Master's Theses

The desire for performance enhancement is a common goal amongst athletes. Recently a number of studies have reported various performance enhancing effects of dietary nitrate (NO3-) via beetroot juice (BRJ) supplementation. Research has indicated that the various performance enhancing effects of BRJ can be attributed to a decrease resting systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and submaximal volume of oxygen consumption (VO2), while increasing vasodilation and mitochondrial efficiency. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether BRJ supplementation improves swimming performance in collegiate level swimmers. Methods: Eight collegiate trained swimmers underwent a double-blind 5-day chronic supplementation …

Aspects Of Weight Management In Ncaa Division Iii Collegiate Wrestlers 2018, Matthew Martone B.S., Cscs

Master's Theses

Objective: The purpose of this study was to observe the weight management habits of division III collegiate wrestlers during the week leading up to a competition. Methods: Subjects reported to the lab on Monday morning after an overnight fast. Subjects were measured for height and weight and were asked to provide urine and blood samples for analysis of hydration and creatine kinase activity, respectively. Throughout the week, subjects were weighed in and out of practice to monitor daily weight fluctuations. Subjects also self-recorded all food and drink consumption throughout the 5-day period. On Saturday morning, approximately 1 hour before weigh-ins …