Anatomy Commons^™

Arterial Distribution Of The Human Aorta: An Examination Of The Evolutionary, Developmental, And Physiological Bases Of Asymmetry., Brandon Oddo, Cooker Storm

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The study of anatomy contends that “form follows function”; a disciplinary theme purporting that anatomical structures (i.e., cells, tissues, and organs) have a shape that serves its proper function. With this in mind, it is unclear why human arterial distribution off the aortic arch is asymmetrical, while the corresponding venous anatomy is symmetrical. We investigated the evolutionary, developmental, and physiological bases for the asymmetry of aortic arch branches in humans. First, we investigated the cardiovascular anatomy of ancestral species to determine if, and at what level, anatomical divergence (from aortic symmetry to asymmetry) occurs. Second, we examined the formation of …

Pathological Changes In Microvascular Morphology, Density, Size And Responses Following Comorbid Cerebral Injury, Zareen Amtul, Jun Yang, Ting-Yim Lee, David F. Cechetto

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Aberrations in brain microcirculation and the associated increase in blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permeability in addition to neuroinflammation and Aβ deposition observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and ischemia have gained considerable attention recently. However, the role of microvascular homeostasis as a pathogenic substrate to disturbed microperfusion as well as an overlapping etiologic mechanism between AD and ischemia has not been thoroughly explored. In this study, we employ temporal histopathology of cerebral vasculature in a rat model of β-amyloid (Aβ) toxicity and endothelin-1 induced-ischemia (ET1) to investigate the panorama of cerebral pathology and the protein expression on d1, d7, and d28 post-injury. The …

Changes In The Left Atrial-Esophageal Relationship With The Insertion Of An Esophageal Protective Device: A Cadaveric Imaging Study, Akmal Shahzad, Charys M. Martin, Michele L. Barbeau

Western Research Forum

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac rhythm disorder in North America and is frequently treated by a minimally invasive procedure called catheter ablation. A rare, but often fatal complication of this procedure is development of an atrial-esophageal fistula (AEF) due to the proximity of the esophagus to the left atrium (LA) of the heart. Esophageal protective devices may potentially mitigate the risk of developing an AEF but their impact on the relationship between the esophagus and LA is unknown. This study will investigate the relevant anatomical changes that occur upon insertion of an esophageal protective device.

Methods: 13 …

Aortoduodenal Fistula Forms From Primary Aortic Stump Graft In A Two-Time Multi-Visceral Transplant Patient With Presentation Of Gastrointestinal Bleed And Bowel Perforation: A Case Report, Brielle Corrente

Graduate Student Research Symposium

Usually not diagnosed until open laparotomy, aortoduodenalfistulas (ADF) are one of the rarest complications of intestinal transplant surgery. With an incidence rate of only 0.04% at autopsy and only 250 documented cases since the early 1800’s, aortoduodenal fistulas are the most deadly complications of intestinal transplantation with a mortality rate of 100% without surgical intervention. A 39 year old, two-time multi-visceral transplant African American female patient suffered from a primary aortoduodenal fistula formation in a primary modified multi-visceral transplant aortic stump graft site. With emergency open laparotomy repair, revascularization of the secondary multi-visceral transplant was performed, saving the life of …

Moderating Effect Of Cortical Thickness On Bold Signal Variability Age-Related Changes, Daiana R. Pur, Roy Eagleson, Anik De Ribaupierre, Nathalie Mella, Sandrine De Ribaupierre

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

The time course of neuroanatomical structural and functional measures across the lifespan is commonly reported in association with aging. Blood oxygen-level dependent signal variability, estimated using the standard deviation of the signal, or "BOLDSD", is an emerging metric of variability in neural processing, and has been shown to be positively correlated with cognitive flexibility. Generally, BOLDSD is reported to decrease with aging, and is thought to reflect age-related cognitive decline. Additionally, it is well established that normative aging is associated with structural changes in brain regions, and that these predict functional decline in various cognitive domains. Nevertheless, the interaction between …

The Effects Of Huntingtin-Lowering: What Do We Know So Far?, William F. Kaemmerer, Richard C. Grondin

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

Therapies targeting mutant huntingtin DNA, mRNA, and protein have a chance at becoming the first disease-modifying treatments for Huntington’s disease, a fatal inherited neurodegenerative disorder for which only symptom management treatments are available today. This review focuses on evidence addressing several key questions pertinent to huntingtin-lowering, ranging from the functions of wild-type huntingtin (wtHTT) that may be disrupted by huntingtin-lowering treatments through the various ways huntingtin can be lowered, the tolerability of wtHTT-lowering in mice and primates, what has been found in the Ionis Pharmaceutical safety trial of a huntingtin-lowering therapy, and to the question of how much mutant huntingtin …

How The Foot Modulates Its Mechanics During Uphill And Downhill Walking, Jeffrey M. Patterson, Kota Z. Takahashi

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

The foot's biomechanical role in walking on sloped surfaces is currently unclear. While previous biomechanics studies have examined the hip, knee, and ankle, the foot is oversimplified as a rigid-body segment. This oversimplification overshadows its complex structure and function. In this project, we use an innovative multi-segment foot model to explore how the foot adapts its mechanics to incline and decline walking. Preliminary results have revealed that the foot is capable of adapting its mechanical work profile to both incline and decline walking. Specifically, the foot can increase its positive work output (i.e., increased energy generation) during inclined walking to …

Estimating Variations In Metabolic Cost Within The Stride Cycle During Level And Uphill Walking, Arash Mohammadzadeh Gonabadi

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Indirect calorimetry provides the average cost of a stride cycle and prevents from identifying which part of the gait cycle causes increased metabolic cost in patients, however, recent simulation methods allow estimating the time profile of metabolic cost within the stride cycle. In this study, we compare the estimations of the time profile of the metabolic cost of two simulation methods for level and uphill walking. We used kinematic, kinetic and electromyography data from level and uphill walking (one participant) to estimate the time profiles of metabolic cost using the muscle-level metabolic model of Umberger using electromyography and kinematic data …

Ablation Of Both Cx40 And Panx1 Results In Similar Cardiovascular Phenotypes Exhibited In Cx40 Knockout Mice, Nicole M. Novielli-Kuntz, Meghan L. Jelen, Kevin Barr, Leon J. Delalio, Qingping Feng, Brant E. Isakson, Robert Gros, Dale Laird

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Connexins (Cxs) and pannexins (Panxs) are highly regulated large-pore channel-forming proteins that participate in cellular communication via small molecular exchange with the extracellular microenvironment, or in the case of connexins, directly between cells. Given the putative functional overlap between single membrane-spanning connexin hemichannels and Panx channels, and cardiovascular system prevalence, we generated the first Cx40(-/-)Panx1(-/-) mouse with the anticipation that this genetic modification would lead to a severe cardiovascular phenotype. Mice null for both Cx40 and Panx1 produced litter sizes and adult growth progression similar to wild-type (WT), Cx40(-/-) and Panx1(-/-) mice. Akin to Cx40(-/-) mice, Cx40(-/-) Panx1(-/-) mice exhibited …

Predicting Alzheimer’S Disease Progression Using Multi-Modal Deep Learning Approach, Garam Lee, Kwangsik Nho, Byungkon Kang, Kyung-Ah Sohn, Dokyoon Kim, Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition marked by a decline in cognitive functions with no validated disease modifying treatment. It is critical for timely treatment to detect AD in its earlier stage before clinical manifestation. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate stage between cognitively normal older adults and AD. To predict conversion from MCI to probable AD, we applied a deep learning approach, multimodal recurrent neural network. We developed an integrative framework that combines not only cross-sectional neuroimaging biomarkers at baseline but also longitudinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cognitive performance biomarkers obtained from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging …

Transforming Growth Factor-Β1 Decreases Β2-Agonist–Induced Relaxation In Human Airway Smooth Muscle, Christie A. Ojiaku, Elena Chung, Vishal Parikh, Jazmean K. Williams, Anthony Schwab, Ana Lucia Fuentes, Maia L. Corpuz, Victoria Lui, Sam Paek, Natalia M. Bexiga, Shreya Narayan, Francisco J. Nunez, Kwangmi An, Rennolds S. Ostrom, Steven S. An, Reynold A. Pannettieri Jr.

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Helper T effector cytokines implicated in asthma modulate the contractility of human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cells. We have reported recently that a profibrotic cytokine, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, induces HASM cell shortening and airway hyperresponsiveness. Here, we assessed whether TGF-β1 affects the ability of HASM cells to relax in response to β₂-agonists, a mainstay treatment for airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma. Overnight TGF-β1 treatment significantly impaired isoproterenol (ISO)-induced relaxation of carbachol-stimulated, isolated HASM cells. This single-cell mechanical hyporesponsiveness to ISO was corroborated by sustained increases in myosin light chain phosphorylation. In TGF-β1–treated HASM cells, ISO evoked markedly lower …

Differential Localizations Of Protein Phosphatase 1 Isoforms Determine Their Physiological Function In The Heart, Ruijie Liu, Christian Miller, Christiana D'Annibale, Kimberly Vo, Ashley Jacobs

Peer Reviewed Articles

Protein phosphatase 1 isoforms α, β, and γ (PP1α, PP1β, and PP1γ) are highly homologous in the catalytic domains but have distinct subcellular localizations. In this study, we utilized both primary cell culture and knockout mice to investigate the isoform-specific roles of PP1s in the heart. In both neonatal and adult cardiac myocytes, PP1β was mainly localized in the nucleus, compared to the predominant presence of PP1α and PP1γ in the cytoplasm. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of PP1α led to decreased phosphorylation of phospholamban, which was not influenced by overexpression of either PP1β or PP1γ. Interestingly, only cardiac-specific knockout of PP1β resulted …

The Effects Of Ocular Dominance On Visual Processing In College Students, William Alexander Holland

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

The role of ocular dominance in processing visual memory and analytic tasks is unknown. Research has variably showed both significant effects and no effect of ocular dominance on visual perception, motor control, and sports performance. The goal of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between ocular dominance and visual processing under a variety of computer gaming tasks. This was accomplished by first determining subjects’ ocular dominance through the Miles test, and then examining the subjects’ visual performance on four different Lumosity games under three conditions: left eye, right eye, and both eyes. Results suggest a relationship …

Fluctuation Of Primary Motor Cortex Excitability During Cataplexy In Narcolepsy, Bei Huang, Zhenying Qian, Zongwen Wang, Jihui Zhang, Kun Chen, Tao Xu, Jijun Wang, David F. Cechetto, Zhongxin Zhao, Huijuan Wu

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Objective Cataplexy is a complicated and dynamic process in narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) patients. This study aimed to clarify the distinct stages during a cataplectic attack and identify the changes of the primary motor cortex (PMC) excitability during these stages. Methods Thirty-five patients with NT1 and 29 healthy controls were recruited to this study. Cataplectic stages were distinguished from a cataplectic attack by video-polysomnogram monitoring. Transcranial magnetic stimulation motor-evoked potential (TMS-MEP) was performed to measure the excitability of PMC during quiet wakefulness, laughter without cataplexy, and each cataplectic stage. Results Based on the video and electromyogram observations, a typical cataplectic …

The Morphology And Evolution Of The Primate Brachial Plexus, Brian M. Shearer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Primate evolutionary history is inexorably linked to the evolution of a broad array of locomotor adaptations that have facilitated the clade’s invasion of new niches. Researchers studying the evolution of primates and of their individual locomotor adaptations have traditionally relied on bony morphology – a practical choice given the virtual non-existence of any other type of tissue in the fossil record. However, this focus downplays the potential importance of the many other structures involved in locomotion, such as muscle, cartilage, and neural tissue, which may each be influenced by separate selective forces because of their different roles in facilitating movement. …

Human Skeletal Muscle Macrophages Increase Following Cycle Training And Are Associated With Adaptations That May Facilitate Growth, R. Grace Walton, Kate Kosmac, Jyothi Mula, Christopher S. Fry, Bailey D. Peck, Jason S. Groshong, Brian S. Finlin, Beibei Zhu, Philip A. Kern, Charlotte A. Peterson

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

Skeletal muscle macrophages participate in repair and regeneration following injury. However, their role in physiological adaptations to exercise is unexplored. We determined whether endurance exercise training (EET) alters macrophage content and characteristics in response to resistance exercise (RE), and whether macrophages are associated with other exercise adaptations. Subjects provided vastus lateralis biopsies before and after one bout of RE, after 12 weeks of EET (cycling), and after a final bout of RE. M2 macrophages (CD11b+/CD206+) did not increase with RE, but increased in response to EET (P < 0.01). Increases in M2 macrophages were positively correlated with fiber hypertrophy (r = 0.49) and satellite cells (r = 0.47). M2c macrophages (CD206+/CD163+) also increased following EET (P < 0.001), and were associated with fiber hypertrophy (r = 0.64). Gene expression was quantified using NanoString. Following EET, the change in M2 macrophages was positively associated with changes in HGF, IGF1, and extracellular matrix genes. EET decreased expression of IL6 (P < 0.05), C/EBPβ (P < 0.01), and MuRF (P < 0.05), and increased expression of IL-4 (P < 0.01), TNFα (P < 0.01) and the TWEAK receptor FN14 (P < 0.05). The change in FN14 gene expression was inversely associated with changes in C/EBPβ (r = −0.58) and MuRF (r = −0.46) following EET. In cultured human myotubes, siRNA inhibition of FN14 increased expression of C/EBPβ (P < 0.05) and MuRF (P < 0.05). Our data suggest that macrophages contribute to the muscle response to EET, potentially including modulation of TWEAK-FN14 signaling.

Candidemia Following Ureteric Stent Placement In A Patient With Type 2 Diabetes Treated With Canagliflozin, Rishi Raj, Jon Hendrie, Aasems Jacob, Derick Adams

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

A 38-year-old female patient with well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with canagliflozin underwent ureteral stent placement for obstructive renal calculi. Ten days following ureteroscopy and ureteral stenting, she developed fevers and blood cultures grew Candida glabrata (C. glabrata). The patient was successfully treated with an extended course of broad-spectrum antibiotics and antifungal agents. The clinical presentation of candidemia is indistinguishable from bacteremia resulting in delay in diagnosis and treatment. Candiduria is commonly seen in patients with type 2 diabetes, however it rarely leads to candidemia in an otherwise healthy person following a relatively simple urologic procedure. Sodium-glucose …

Detection Of Active Caspase-3 In Mouse Models Of Stroke And Alzheimer's Disease With A Novel Dual Positron Emission Tomography/Fluorescent Tracer [68ga]Ga-Tc3-Ogdota., Valeriy G Ostapchenko, Jonatan Snir, Mojmir Suchy, Jue Fan, M.Rebecca Cobb, Blaine Chronik, Michael Kovacs, Vania F. Prado, Robert H.E. Hudson, Stephen H. Pasternak, Marco A.M. Prado, Robert Bartha

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Apoptosis is a feature of stroke and Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet there is no accepted method to detect or follow apoptosis in the brain in vivo. We developed a bifunctional tracer [Ga-68]Ga-TC3-OGDOTA containing a cell-penetrating peptide separated from fluorescent Oregon Green and Ga-68-bound labels by the caspase-3 recognition peptide DEVD. We hypothesized that this design would allow [Ga-68]Ga-TC3-OGDOTA to accumulate in apoptotic cells. In vitro, Ga-TC3-OGDOTA labeled apoptotic neurons following exposure to camptothecin, oxygen-glucose deprivation, and -amyloid oligomers. In vivo, PET showed accumulation of [Ga-68]Ga-TC3-OGDOTA in the brain of mouse models of stroke or AD. Optical clearing revealed colocalization of …

Dissociable Cognitive Impairments In Two Strains Of Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Mice Revealed By A Battery Of Object-Based Tests, Samantha D. Creighton, Ari L. Mendell, Daniel Palmer, Bettina E. Kalisch, Neil J. Maclusky, Vania F Prado, Marco A.M Prado, Boyer D. Winters

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Object recognition tasks detect cognitive deficits in transgenic Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models. Object recognition, however, is not a unitary process, and there are many uncharacterized facets of object processing with relevance to AD. We therefore systematically evaluated object processing in 5xFAD and 3xTG AD mice to clarify the nature of object recognition-related deficits. Twelve-month-old male and female 5xFAD and 3xTG mice were assessed on tasks for object identity recognition, spatial recognition, and multisensory object perception. Memory and multisensory perceptual impairments were observed, with interesting dissociations between transgenic AD strains and sex that paralleled neuropathological changes. Overreliance on the widespread …

Effects Of Prenatal Exercise On Fetal Heart Rate, Umbilical And Uterine Blood Flow: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Rachel J. Skow, Margie H. Davenport, Michelle Mottola, Gregory A. Davies, Veronica J. Poitras, Casey E. Gray, Alejandra Jaramillo Garcia, Nick Barrowman, Victoria L. Meah, Linda G. Slater, Kristi B. Adamo, Ruben Barakat, Stephanie-May Ruchat

Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Objective To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the influence of acute and chronic prenatal exercise on fetal heart rate (FHR) and umbilical and uterine blood flow metrics.

Design Systematic review with random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Data sources Online databases were searched up to 6 January 2017.

Study eligibility criteria Studies of all designs were included (except case studies) if published in English, Spanish or French, and contained information on the population (pregnant women without contraindication to exercise), intervention (subjective or objective measures of frequency, intensity, duration, volume or type of exercise, alone [“exercise-only”] or in combination with other …