Medical Biochemistry Commons^™

Factors Affecting Production Of Scopulariopsis Brevicaulis Spores For Use In Self-Healing Concrete, Lu-Kwang Ju, Ahsanul Kabir Sumon

University Research

Concrete durability is compromised by its susceptibility to cracking, necessitating innovative solutions like self-healing concrete (SHC). Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is capable of biomineralization and its spores were found to hold high potential for use in SHC. Realizing this potential requires clean and effective production of S. brevicaulis spores, which remains unexplored. Here the factors and processes conducive to high productivity of S. brevicaulis spores were investigated. Suitability of cheap, renewable soy-based substrates: soy molasses (SM), soy hull (SH), and soy flour (SF) were first evaluated, and SH was found suitable. The comparison of SH-based solid-state fermentation (SSF) with submerged fermentation (SmF) …

Mucin4 (Muc4) Antibody Labeled With An Nir Dye Brightly Targets Pancreatic Cancer Liver Metastases And Peritoneal Carcinomatosis, Sunidhi Jaiswal, Siamak Amirfakhri, Javier Bravo, Keita Kobayashi, Abhijit Aithal, Sumbal Talib, Kavita Mallya, Maneesh Jain, Aaron M. Mohs, Robert M. Hoffman, Surinder K. Batra, Michael Bouvet

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of deaths related to cancer. It is a highly aggressive malignancy and often metastasizes quickly to other parts of the body and organs. The most effective cure is surgical resection, which also is limited by tumor identification and clear tumor margin visualization. Previously, we used MUC4 antibodies labeled with IRDye800CW (anti-MUC4-IR800) to target primary human pancreatic cancer in orthotopic cell line mouse models.

METHODS: In the present study, we established a pancreatic cancer liver metastasis mouse model by implanting a tumor fragment in the liver and a peritoneal carcinomatosis mouse model by …

Carbon Monoxide Releasing Polymeric Micelles, Riya Joshi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Carbon monoxide (CO), traditionally known as a toxic gas, has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent due to its cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilatory properties. This study explores the development of CO-releasing polymeric micelles as a controlled delivery system for biomedical applications. Using ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), we synthesized diblock copolymers incorporating CO-releasing moiety diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) with hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) to enhance solubility and stability of the overall CO releasing system. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electron microscopy (EM) confirmed the formation of well-defined micelles, while fluorescence assays demonstrated efficient CO release with the use of Iridium photocatalyst under 470 …

Extracellular Matrix Repair And Organization Of Chronic Infected Diabetic Wounds Treated With Methacrylated Chitosan-Based Hydrogels, Nic D. Leipzig, Shahrzad Abri, Hannah A. Durr, Samuel D. Salinas

University Research

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a multifactorial medical problem that require multifaceted approaches for effective healing. Most research on DFU healing has concentrated on promoting wound closure, with less emphasis on the quality of repaired tissue. This is problematic, however, since quality of the repaired tissues can have potential to improve wound healing outcomes and limit re-ulceration. If more functionally active dermis replaces the lost tissue, this can effectively maximize strength, organization, and overall structure of the plantar surface. Additionally, DFUs commonly show multi-strain infection, which further exacerbates the non-healing status of these wounds. Treatment of chronic wounds can be …

Knowledge Discovery In Databases Of Proteomics By Systems Modeling In Translational Research On Pancreatic Cancer, Mathilde Resell, Elisabeth Pimpisa Graarud, Hanne-Line Rabben, Animesh Sharma, Lars Hagen, Linh Hoang, Nan T. Skogaker, Anne Aarvik, Magnus K. Svensson, Manoj Amrutkar, Caroline S. Verbeke, Surinder K. Batra, Gunnar Qvigstad, Timothy C. Wang, Anil Rustgi, Duan Chen, Chun-Mei Zhao

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

BACKGROUND: Knowledge discovery in databases (KDD) can contribute to translational research, also known as translational medicine, by bridging the gap between

METHODS: This framework includes the data collection of a composition model (various research models), processing model (proteomics) and analytical model (bioinformatics, artificial intelligence/machine leaning and pattern evaluation), knowledge presentation, and feedback loops for hypothesis generation and validation. We applied this workflow to study pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

RESULTS: We identified the common proteins between human PDAC and various research models

CONCLUSIONS: This systems modeling workflow can be a valuable method for KDD, facilitating knowledge discovery in translational targets in …

Steps Toward Clinical Validation Of Exhaled Volatile Organic Compound Biomarkers For Hypoglycemia In Persons With Type 1 Diabetes., Mark Woollam, Paula Angarita-Rivera, Sanskar Thakur, Ali Daneshkhah, Amanda P Siegel, Dana S Hardin, Mangilal Agarwal

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

Persons with type 1 diabetes (T1D) must track/control their blood glucose (BG) levels to avoid hypoglycemic events (BG <  70 mg/dL), which in the most severe cases can lead to seizures or even death. Canines may lead the way toward innovative testing solutions, as they can be trained to identify hypoglycemia simply and noninvasively by smelling exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs). To identify breath-based biomarkers of hypoglycemia, samples were collected during two consecutive summers at a diabetes camp (Cohort 1 and Cohort 2), and VOCs were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Conserved VOCs between the two cohorts were identified, but individual VOCs alone had low accuracies for detection. Therefore, supervised multivariate statistical analysis was undertaken to identify a biosignature in the training data set (Cohort 1) that could detect hypoglycemia with higher accuracy (sensitivity = 94.8%/specificity = 95.0%). When this model was blindly tested on Cohort 2, hypoglycemia was classified with sensitivity = 90.0%/specificity = 89.9%. Ultimately, this study makes strides toward clinical validation through verifying biomarkers of hypoglycemia in hundreds of breath samples. These results may be translated to design a sensor array that could be integrated into a portable breathalyzer to increase glycemic control in persons with T1D.

Implementation Of A Health Care Transition Pathway For Children And Adults With Inborn Errors Of Metabolism: A Pilot Project, Brittany M. Murray

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Children with medically complex diseases require highly specialized care by a highly specialized team. Those with rare disease, including inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs), are a medically complex population and face significant challenges undergoing the health care transition from a child/family-centered model to an adult/patient-centered model of care. The project site follows patients with IEMs in the Metabolism Program, but previously did not have a coordinated process and had insufficient resources for patients/families for the health care transition.

Methods: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method was utilized as the model for improvement. Due to the complexity of the population and time …

Antifreezing Hydrogels From Mechanisms, Strategies, To Applications, Jie Zheng, Dong Zhang, Hong Cheng, Yanxian Zhang

University Research

Antifreezing hydrogels have emerged as an innovative solution for maintaining functional performance and mechanical integrity in subzero environments, offering a robust alternative to traditional water-free antifreezing materials that often fail under wet and cold conditions. These water-rich hydrogels leverage their porous, crosslinked, polymeric networks, which serve as the structural basis for implementing two parallel strategies: the incorporation of antifreezing additives (peptides/proteins, salts, ionic liquids, and organics) and the meticulous engineering of polymer systems and network structures for manipulating the water–ice phase equilibrium to significantly enhance antifreezing properties. This review synthesizes recent findings to provide a fundamental overview of the important …

Ion-Dna Interactions As A Key Determinant Of Uracil Dna Glycosylase Activity., Sharon N Greenwood, Alexis N Dispensa, Matthew Wang, Justin R Bauer, Timothy D Vaden, Zhiwei Liu, Brian P Weiser

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Because of their ubiquitous presence, ions interact with numerous macromolecules in the cell and affect critical biological processes. Here, we discuss how cations including Mg²⁺ alter the enzymatic activity of a DNA glycosylase by tuning its affinity for DNA. The response of uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG2) to Mg²⁺ ions in solution is biphasic and paradoxical, where low concentrations of the ion stimulate the enzyme, but high concentrations inhibit the enzyme. We analyzed this phenomenon by modeling experimental data with a statistical framework that we empirically derived to understand molecular systems that display biphasic behaviors. Parameters from our statistical …

St6galnac-I Regulates Tumor Cell Sialylation Via Nectin2/Muc5ac-Mediated Immunosuppression And Angiogenesis In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Muthamil Iniyan Appadurai, Sanjib Chaudhary, Ashu Shah, Gopalakrishnan Natarajan, Zahraa W. Alsafwani, Parvez Khan, Dhananjay D. Shinde, Subodh M. Lele, Lynette M. Smith, Mohd W. Nasser, Surinder K. Batra, Apar Kishor Ganti, Imayavaramban Lakshmanan

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Glycosylation controls immune evasion, tumor progression, and metastasis. However, how tumor cell sialylation regulates immune evasion remains poorly characterized. ST6GalNAc-I, a sialyltransferase that conjugates sialic acid to the glycans in glycoproteins, was overexpressed in an aggressive-type KPA (KrasG12D/+ Trp53R172H/+ Ad-Cre) lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) model and patient samples. Proteomic and biochemical analysis indicated that ST6GalNAc-I mediated NECTIN2 sialylation in LUAD cells. ST6GalNAc-I-deficient tumor cells cocultured with T cells were more susceptible to T cell-mediated tumor cell killing, indicating a key role for NECTIN2 in T cell dysfunction. Mice injected with St6galnac-I-knockdown syngeneic cells showed reduced lung tumor incidence and Nectin2/Tigit-associated immunosuppression. …

Structural And Molecular Basis Of Pcna-Activated Fan1 Nuclease Function In Dna Repair, F. Li, A. S. Phadte, M. Bhatia, S. Barndt, A.R. Monte Carlo, Iii, C.F.D. Hou, R. Yang, S. Strock, A. Pluciennik

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

FAN1 is a DNA dependent nuclease whose proper function is essential for maintaining human health. For example, a genetic variant in FAN1, Arg507 to His hastens onset of Huntington's disease, a repeat expansion disorder for which there is no cure. How the Arg507His mutation affects FAN1 structure and enzymatic function is unknown. Using cryo-EM and biochemistry, we have discovered that FAN1 arginine 507 is critical for its interaction with PCNA, and mutation of Arg507 to His attenuates assembly of the FAN1-PCNA complex on a disease-relevant extrahelical DNA extrusions formed within DNA repeats. This mutation concomitantly abolishes PCNA-FAN1-dependent cleavage of such …

Relationships Between Health Behaviors And Markers Of Oxidative Stress And Inflammation On Blood Pressure, Alison M. Godfrey

Honors Scholar Theses

Background. Young adulthood is a period when cardiometabolic risk factors begin to emerge. Developing cardiometabolic risk early can increase the risk and severity of chronic illness across the lifespan. Despite this, young adults are often understudied particularly as it relates to major cardiometabolic risk factors such as blood pressure (BP) and risk of hypertension. Hypertension is a public health crisis and early indicators of hypertension risk should be more thoroughly researched. Therefore, the purpose of the presented thesis is to examine BP in young adults and two potential pathways by which risk may emerge in young adults; inflammation (C-Reactive …

Exploring Intracellular Signaling Responses To Ks18, A Potent Mcl-1 Inhibitor, In Multiple Myeloma, Emily Nelson, Omar S Al-Odat, Dhruti A. Brahmbhatt, Tulin Budak-Alpdogan, Subash Jonnalagadda, Manoj Kumar Pandey

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Multiple myeloma (MM), a cancer of plasma B cells, is a hematological malignancy in which patients inevitably relapse and develop drug resistance. Mcl-1, a member of the anti-apoptotic subgroup of Bcl-2 family proteins, plays a critical role in the progression of multiple myeloma and contributes significantly to drug resistance. Elevated Mcl-1 expression is observed in approximately 52% of MM patients at diagnosis, increasing to 81% at relapse. Given its driving role in disease progression and therapy resistance, Mcl-1 inhibition has emerged as a promising therapeutic target, prompting ongoing research into the development and clinical evaluation of Mcl-1 inhibitors, particularly for …

The Impact Of An Iron-Rich Diet On Fatigue In Menstruating Women With Non-Anemic Iron Deficiency, Meagan Seraydar, Lauren Latimer, Sam Miragliatto

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Fatigue without diagnosed anemia is prevalent in menstruating women, with iron deficiency being a potential contributor. While iron supplementation is a standard intervention, dietary sources of iron may offer a sustainable alternative. This study aims to assess the impact of an iron-rich diet on fatigue levels in menstruating women. A 12-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted, assigning participants to either an iron-rich diet group or a control group following their usual diet without specific iron recommendations. Fatigue will be measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) at baseline, six weeks, and twelve weeks, alongside iron status biomarkers, including …

Short-Course Subcutaneous Alemtuzumab Induces Clinical Responses In Relapsed T-Cell Large Granular Leukemia, Miguel Ruiz, Zachary Braunstein, Eric Mclaughlin, Anjali Mishra, Pierluigi Porcu, Jonathan E. Brammer

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Associations Between B Vitamin Interactions With Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids And Cognitive Function Among Cognitively Healthy Older People As Modified By Amyloid Status And Sex, Chuliang Zhao, Karen A. Abbott, Chinedu Momoh, Geraint Price, Oliver J. K. Robinson, Sujin Kang, Celeste A. De Jager Loots

Brain and Mind Institute

Background/Objectives: Nutrients such as vitamin B12, folate (B9), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may independently influence cognitive health, but their combined effects and interactions remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of B12, folate, and PUFAs, including their interactions, on cognitive function in cognitively healthy older adults, considering effect modification by sex and amyloid-beta status.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from 321 participants aged 60–85 y enrolled in the UK CHARIOT–PRO SubStudy. Dietary intake was assessed using the Scottish Collaborative Group Food Frequency Questionnaire, and cognitive performance was measured via the Repeatable Battery …

Synthetic Protein Mimetic Based Therapies For Neurodegeneration, Nicholas H. Stillman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are crucial for the regulation of a majority of, if not every fundamental cellular process. Despite their role in regular biological processes, dysregulated and/or aberrant protein-protein interactions (aPPIs) are often related to the onset of disease including cancer, viral infection, and amyloid diseases. aPPIs have historically been deemed ‘undruggable’ due to their large surface area and lack of a binding cavity; however, today, more than 40 disease-related aPPIs have been targeted with small molecules and several of those have reached clinical trials.

A class of synthetic protein mimetics called oligopyridylamides (OPs) has been shown to inhibit disease-related …

Roles Of The Survivin Bir Domain In Cellular Apoptosis And Proliferation: An In Silico Study, Silviatun Nihayah, Septelia Inawati Wanandi, Linda Erlina, Resda Akhra Syahrani

Makara Journal of Science

Survivin is an antiapoptotic protein that is highly expressed in cancer cells. We investigated the dual roles of the Bacu-lovirus IAP Repeats (BIR) domain within survivin, encompassing both apoptosis and proliferation, through an in silico study. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of survivin was analyzed using Cytoscape software. Functional enrichment (FE) analysis and data from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used to identify the implicated signaling pathways. The binding affinity of the BIR domain with the targeted proteins was visualized via molecular docking analysis. Drawing insights from the PPI network and FE analysis, we identified two …

Renal Transplant Recipients And Complicated Utis: A Path Toward Next-Generation Care, Rob E. Carpenter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers diagnostic potential in managing complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in renal transplant recipients by enabling precise pathogen identification and resistance profiling. Integrating NGS into care protocols can improve graft preservation, reduce hospitalizations, and support antimicrobial stewardship. Policies should prioritize its adoption, while research explores cost-effectiveness and clinical outcomes. Medical education must emphasize NGS to prepare clinicians for advanced diagnostic approaches, fostering improved patient outcomes and innovative care solutions. Please cite this paper as: Carpenter RE. Renal transplant recipients and complicated UTIs: a path toward next-generation care. Renal transplant recipients face a heightened risk of complicated urinary …

Exploring The Mechanisms Of Varicella-Zoster Virus Pathogenesis And Its Potential Role In Oncogenesis, Fernando Cisneros, Blake Martin

Research Symposium

Background: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a highly prevalent pathogen primarily recognized for causing chickenpox during primary infection and herpes zoster (HZ), also known as shingles, upon reactivation. While post-infectious complications of VZV, such as encephalitis, pneumonia, and post-herpetic neuralgia, are well-established, recent large population-based studies suggest that HZ may increase the risk of occult cancers. Emerging evidence suggests that VZV may modulate key oncogenic pathways, such as the inhibition of apoptosis, alteration of cell cycle regulatory enzymes, and interference with immunosurveillance, which could potentially promote cancer development. These findings indicate that VZV’s role in cancer biology may involve direct cellular …