Anatomy Commons^™

Pain Assessment And Possible Mechanism Of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, Wing Yin Lau

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Muscle pain is felt during exercise or daily activities for several days after performing unaccustomed exercise, which is referred to as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Many people experience DOMS, but its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. One of the challenges in the investigation of DOMS is its subjective nature, which makes the assessment ambiguous, thus establishing a standardised protocol is necessary. The present thesis scrutinised muscle pain assessments (Study 1, Study 2), developed a new assessment of muscle pain focusing on muscle fascia (Study 3), and investigated why DOMS is reduced after the second than the first bout …

The Interaction Between Atp13a2 And Alpha-Synuclein In Mice, Emily Ribak Dirr

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Abnormal accumulation of the presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein (aSyn) is associated with both familial and sporadic forms of Parkinson's disease. ATP13A2 is a lysosomal protein involved in protein degradation, including aSyn. Mice with a loss of ATP13A2 function develop age-related sensorimotor impairments and, in the brain, enhanced lipofuscin and insoluble aSyn accumulation. To further examine the potential interaction between aSyn and ATP13A2, aSyn overexpressing mice (aSyn) were crossbred with Atp13a2-defeicient (13a2) mice. Wildtype (WT), 13a2, aSyn, and double mutant aSyn/13a2 mice were generated and tested behaviorally at 3 ages. Sensorimotor function and cognition were examined using a battery of behavioral tests. …

Ia Afferent Connectivity With Glycinergic Interneurons In Early Postnatal Mice, Brenna Colleen Gosky

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

In animals proprioceptive Ia afferents enable the animal to sense the location, orientation and movement of its limbs in space. These Ia afferents make connections with many different types of neurons within the spinal cord such as; motor neurons, Ia Inhibitory interneurons, and other interneurons. Ia Afferents connect with IaINs that project to antagonist muscle MNs to ensure that contraction of the antagonist muscle group is inhibited. For example the quadriceps Ia afferents contact IaINs that contact PBST motor neurons to inhibit excitation and thus contraction. The way in which the connectivity of these Ia afferents is established is not …

A Simplified Score To Quantify Comorbidity In Copd, Nirupama Putcha, Milo A. Puhan, M. Bradley Drummond, Meilan K. Han, Elizabeth A. Regan, Nicola A. Hanania, Carlos H. Martinez, Marilyn Foreman, Surya P. Bhatt, Barry Make, Joe Ramsdell, Dawn L. Demeo, R. Graham Barr, Stephen I. Rennard, Fernando Martinez, Edwin K. Silverman, James Crapo, Robert A. Wise, Nadia N. Hansel

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

IMPORTANCE: Comorbidities are common in COPD, but quantifying their burden is difficult. Currently there is a COPD-specific comorbidity index to predict mortality and another to predict general quality of life. We sought to develop and validate a COPD-specific comorbidity score that reflects comorbidity burden on patient-centered outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the COPDGene study (GOLD II-IV COPD), we developed comorbidity scores to describe patient-centered outcomes employing three techniques: 1) simple count, 2) weighted score, and 3) weighted score based upon statistical selection procedure. We tested associations, area under the Curve (AUC) and calibration statistics to validate scores internally with outcomes …

A Divisive Shuffling Approach (Vista) For Gene Expression Analysis To Identify Subtypes In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Jörg Menche, Amitabh Sharma, Michael H. Cho, Ruth J. Mayer, Stephen I. Rennard, Bartolome Celli, Bruce E. Miller, Nick Locantore, Ruth Tal-Singer, Soumitra Ghosh, Chris Larminie, Glyn Bradley, John H. Riley, Alvar Agusti, Edwin K. Silverman, Albert-László Barabási

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: An important step toward understanding the biological mechanisms underlying a complex disease is a refined understanding of its clinical heterogeneity. Relating clinical and molecular differences may allow us to define more specific subtypes of patients that respond differently to therapeutic interventions.

RESULTS: We developed a novel unbiased method called diVIsive Shuffling Approach (VIStA) that identifies subgroups of patients by maximizing the difference in their gene expression patterns. We tested our algorithm on 140 subjects with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and found four distinct, biologically and clinically meaningful combinations of clinical characteristics that are associated with large gene expression …

Bioengineered Hearts, Rivky Loeb

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Heart disease is one of the highest causes for fatality in the world. Although many such diseases can be treated by a heart transplant, this in itself can cause countless problems. Aside from the high demand for donor hearts, there is the risk of the patient’s immune system rejecting the transplanted heart. A bioengineered heart would reduce the need for donor hearts, and thus save countless lives. Finding a suitable scaffold, obtaining appropriate cells, and ensuring that the tissue will function properly are the main focuses in creating an artificial heart. While most of the studies done have been concentrated …

Apoptotic Neurodegeneration In The Developing Human Brain: Possible Role Of General Anesthetics In Its Genesis, And Of L-Carnitine In Its Reversal, Yisroel Yitzchok Rosenfeld

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Recent studies suggest that general anesthetic (GA) agents administered to developing rats, through its mechanism as an NMDA antagonist or a GABAa mimetic, may damage developing neural cells by inducing a higher rate of programmed cell death (apoptosis). Similar heightened degeneration was also apparent in higher primates such as the monkey. This warrants strong concern, as every year thousands of pregnant women and children below 1 year of age undergo a surgical procedure in which GAs are used. A spike in neuroapoptosis may lead to long term cognitive deficiencies lingering into adulthood. Are humans vulnerable to these affects? Different pathways …

Fluid Flow Shear Stress Over Podocytes Is Increased In The Solitary Kidney., Tarak Srivastava, Gianni E. Celsi, Mukut Sharma, Hongying Dai, Ellen T. Mccarthy, Melanie Ruiz, Patricia A. Cudmore, Uri S. Alon, Ram Sharma, Virginia A. Savin

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Glomerular hyperfiltration is emerging as the key risk factor for progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Podocytes are exposed to fluid flow shear stress (FFSS) caused by the flow of ultrafiltrate within Bowman's space. The mechanism of hyperfiltration-induced podocyte injury is not clear. We postulated that glomerular hyperfiltration in solitary kidney increases FFSS over podocytes.

METHODS: Infant Sprague-Dawley rats at 5 days of age and C57BL/6J 14-week-old adult mice underwent unilateral nephrectomy. Micropuncture and morphological studies were then performed on 20- and 60-day-old rats. FFSS over podocytes in uninephrectomized rats and mice was calculated using the recently published equation …

American And Brazilian Children With Primary Urolithiasis: Similarities And Disparities., Maria Goretti Moreira Guimarães Penido, Marcelo De Sousa Tavares, Milena Maria Moreira Guimarães, Tarak Srivastava, Uri S. Alon

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Objectives. Considering the differences in location, socioeconomic background, and cultural background, the aim of this study was to try to identify possible factors associated with the increased incidence of urolithiasis by comparing American and Brazilian children with stones.
Methods. Data of 222 American and 190 Brazilian children with urolithiasis were reviewed including age, gender, body mass index, imaging technique used (ultrasound and computed tomography), and 24-hour urine volume and chemistries.
Results. There were no differences between age and gender at diagnosis. Brazilian children were leaner but in no population did obesity rate exceed that of the general population. Ultrasound was …

Alterations And Specifications Of Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption: A Review, Genevieve Kocoloski, Anne R. Crecelius

Health and Sport Science Faculty Publications

This review describes oxygen consumption, both in terms of a goal of weight management and aerobic training. It introduces excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and the benefits that can come from it. EPOC can aid in weight management as a means to continue to expend energy even after exercise has ceased. This review also discusses the many determinants of EPOC and analyzes the effects of various conditions on the elevated consumption. Such conditions include duration and intensity of exercise, training status, and supplementation. Later discussed are the possible underlying mechanisms and how they are responsible for EPOC. Although they have …

Hearing Loss And The Structure Of The Ear, Molly Rannebarger

A with Honors Projects

This is a PowerPoint presentation given by a student on the structure of the ear, causes of hearing loss and available solutions.

Dopamine And Glutamate Dysfunction In A Rodent Model Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Implications For Future Neuropharmacology, Erin M. Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders of childhood. It is theorized to be caused by catecholamine dysfunction in the striatum (Str) and frontal cortex (FC). The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) has been used as a model for ADHD because of its attention deficits, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. Prior studies of dopamine (DA) in the Str and FC have revealed conflicting results in the SHR compared to control, indicative of a need for a better understanding of DA dynamics in this model. In addition to the DA hypothesis, studies have begun implicating glutamate in the etiology of ADHD. …

Attenuating Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain By Repurposing Pioglitazone And D-Cycloserine In The Novel Trigeminal Inflammatory Compression Mouse Model, Danielle N. Lyons

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Approximately 22% of the United States population suffers from a chronic orofacial pain condition. One such condition is known as trigeminal neuropathic pain frequently reported as continuous aching and burning pain, often accompanied by intermittent electrical shock-like sensations. Dental procedures or trauma are known causes of peripheral trigeminal nerve injury and inflammation. Patients who have this type of facial pain also suffer from emotional distress. For these reasons, trigeminal neuropathic pain needs to be studied in more detail to improve the understanding of the etiology and maintenance of this condition, as well as to develop effective treatment strategies. The first …

Neuromuscular Factors Affecting Stretch-Induced Torque Loss, Gabriel Siqueira Trajano

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The mechanisms underpinning the immediate torque loss induced by acute, static muscle stretching are still not clear. The current research was designed to examine the neuromuscular factors influencing this torque loss. In Study 1, the contributions of central versus peripheral factors to the stretch-induced torque loss were investigated. Measures of central drive, including the EMG amplitude normalised to the muscle compound action potential amplitude (EMG:M), percent voluntary activation (%VA) and first volitional wave amplitude (V:M), and measures of peripheral function, including the twitch peak torque and 20:80 Hz tetanic torque ratio were made before, and immediately and 15 min after …

Chemopreventive Effects Of Pterostilbene In Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cells, Phillip A. Zook

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Recent studies find that pterostilbene (PTS) exhibits more favorable drug properties and similar chemopreventive effects to its structural analogue resveratrol (RSV). However, few studies describe the activity of PTS in prostate cancer (PCa). Here, we conducted cell count experiments to assess the effects of PTS on metastatic PCa cell viability and to compare the potency of PTS to RSV in this respect. We also performed experiments to assess the effects of PTS on the androgen receptor (AR) and AR-mediated events. We used qPCR to measure the mRNA levels of the androgenresponsive gene (ARG), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and Western blots to …

The Benefits Of Breastfeeding, Avery Kordus

Senior Honors Theses

Breastfeeding research is plentiful, and the majority of the literature shows that breast milk is the superior form of infant nutrition except in the rare circumstances of infant metabolic disorders, maternal drug use, or positive HIV status. In comparison to formula, breast milk provides improved cognition, development, behavior, bonding, nutrition, digestion, immunity, and long-term health with fewer diseases and conditions in infants. Mothers are benefited by breastfeeding through bonding, faster weight loss, and reduction in certain cancers and conditions. Breast milk contains the proper amount of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, and is also specialized for each infant and …

Comparison Of Corded And Cordless Handpieces On Forearm Muscle Activity, Procedure Time And Ease Of Use During Simulated Tooth Polishing, Gayle Mccombs, Daniel M. Russell

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: Dental professionals suffer from a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). Dental hygienists in particular have a high prevalence of pain in the forearms and hands. The objective of this study was to compare 1 cordless handpiece to 2 corded handpieces during simulated tooth polishing in terms of the muscle loads (recorded as electromyography (EMG) activity), duration of polishing procedure, and dental hygienist opinion about ease of use. Methods: EMG was used to quantify muscle electrical activity of 4 forearm muscles during simulated dental polishing with 2 corded handpieces (HP-A and HP-B) and 1 cordless handpiece (HP-C). A …

Stem Cells As A Cure For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Chaya K. Hirsch

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disease which affects approximately 30,000 Americans at any given time (alsa.org, 2010). The etiology of this terminal disease unfortunately remains an unsolved mystery and has therefore severely limited the ability to find a cure. The use of stem cells to regenerate neurons has been vastly studied and have produced very promising results. However, its practicality as a cure or treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, is greatly compromised. Three different therapies involving stem cells were examined, Embryonic Stem Cells (ESC), induced pluripotent stem cells, (iPSC) and direct reprogramming of adult …

The Hormones Of The Placenta, Shaya Oratz

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The human pregnancy begins with fertilization and implantation. As the embryo evolves and develops within the uterus of the mother, the placenta is formed. The placenta is a transient organ that develops to meet and accommodate specific needs during pregnancy. Its two major functions are the exchange of nutrients and gases between the mother and fetus and its role as an endocrine unit. Through the production and release of many hormones the placenta works to regulate the many necessary physiological changes in the mother in order to maintain the pregnancy, meet the needs of the developing fetus and prepare the …

Is Pulse-Dye Laser Therapy An Effective Treatment For Burn Scars?, Slade G. Rankin

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not pulse-dye laser therapy is an effective treatment for burn scars.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of two randomized controlled trials and one case series study published in 1998, 2003, and 2012.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized controlled trials and one case series study published after 1997 were obtained using Medline and PubMed

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Symptoms of pruritus, pain, and burning sensation measured for improvement by patient survey of pain scales and parent’s reports of complaints in pediatric patients with symptoms by way of pain scales and medication requests. …