Medical Toxicology Commons^™

Effects Of Alternative Chemotherapeutic Agents On Thyroid Cancer Cell Line Ml-1, Husref Rizvanovic

MSU Graduate Theses

Though differentiated thyroid carcinomas have decent prognosis when detected early, radioactive iodine (RAI) resistant and advanced thyroid cancers are still difficult to treat with existing therapies. Better therapeutic agents are needed. Studies have shown that aggressive thyroid cancers (ML-1) express the extracellular matrix protein, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2). MMP-2 has been linked to metastasis and aggressiveness of several cancers and has been shown to play a crucial role in tumor invasion. Chlorotoxin is a selective MMP-2 receptor agonist, and Saporin is a well-known ribosome-inactivating protein used for anti-cancer treatment; however, these two agents have never been studied when conjugated together. I …

Analysis Of The Soil Lead Contamination Issue Of South Chattanooga, Tesros Cherian

Honors Theses

Childhood lead poisoning is an ongoing health threat despite actions taken by governmental bodies to remove lead from gasoline, paint, and other various household objects in which lead is found. In South Chattanooga specifically, lead has been found in the soil at such a level it is considered a public health threat, especially to children under the age of six. This situation has caused the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to name the South Chattanooga area as a Superfund site known as the Southside Chattanooga Lead Superfund site. This designation has resulted in multiple community meetings between EPA officials and Chattanooga …

Protection Against Ionizing Radiation And Chemotherapy Toxicity Via Latexin Regulation, Gary Van Zant, Ying Liang, Yi Liu

Internal Medicine Faculty Patents

The present invention relates to methods for protecting against damage caused by radiation and/or chemotherapy, and methods for treating bone marrow damage by reducing/ inhibiting Latexin expression and/or Latexin activity. The methods comprise administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antagonist that reduces expression and/or activity of latexin, wherein latexin is a latexin polynucleotide variant and/or a latexin polypeptide variant that binds to the antagonist.

Renal Safety And Racial Disparity In Patients On Antiviral Treatment For Chronic Hepatitis B, Matthew Miller, Sindhuri Benjaram, Raya Kutaimy, Paul Naylor, Elizabeth May, Murray Ehrinpreis, Milton Mutchnick

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background:

Many African Americans (AA) are chronically infected with Hepatitis B (HBV). While antiviral therapy is highly effective, clinical trials suggest a treatment-related decline in kidney function is possible. Given that chronic HBV predominately affects Asians worldwide, most studies have contained few AA patients. We evaluated these treatment-related kidney function changes in our predominately AA patient population.

Methods:

From 225 HBV patients, we identified 42 patients who were not co-infected with HIV or HCV, had a recent visit, and at least one earlier visit (before Jan 2017). If on treatment with antivirals it must have been for at least 2 …

A Phantom Of The Past: Withdrawal From Meprobamate Presenting With Focal Seizures., Thomas M. Zink, John E. Erickson

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Meprobamate (Miltown, Equinil) is a sedative-hypnotic medication that first gained popularity as an anxiolytic and later as a muscle relaxant. It is a major metabolite of the more commonly used muscle relaxant carisoprodol (Soma). In vitro and electroencephalogram studies demonstrated that meprobamate modulates gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, similar to barbiturates. Withdrawal from meprobamate manifests in symptoms ranging from mild anxiety to severe autonomic instability and death. Meprobamate is rarely prescribed, but is still given to a small subset of elderly patients.

Clinical findings: In this case of meprobamate withdrawal, the patient initially displayed altered mental status and recurrent seizures …

The Role Of Neural Precursor Cell Expressed Developmentally Down-Regulated Protein 9 In Enhanced Aggressiveness Of Hexavalent Chromium Transformed Bronchial Epithelial Cells, Peter Van Wie

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is classified as a confirmed human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research and Cancer (IARC) and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Chronic exposure to (Cr(VI)) causes malignant cell transformation in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells. These Cr(VI)-transformed cells exhibit a highly aggressive phenotype including increased migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. The Cas family protein neuronal precursor developmentally down regulated protein 9 (NEDD9/Cas-L/HEF1) was dramatically overexpressed in Cr(VI)-transformed cells compared to normal BEAS-2B cells. Knockdown of NEDD9 by its shRNA reduced migration and invasion in vitro measured by migration and invasion assays. shNEDD9 reduced tumor formation …

The Effects Of Autophagy And Senescence On Sensitivity To Cisplatin In Head And Neck Cancer, Zara H. Siddiqui

Theses and Dissertations

While current treatments in cancer, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can generally be effective in eliminating disease in patients, there also exists the possibility of recurrence of cancer cells over time. In patients diagnosed with locally advanced head and neck carcinoma, about 50-60% develop a loco-regional recurrence within two years, and 20-30% of patients develop metastatic disease at distant sites in the body [5]. On a cellular level, one mechanism for this survival may be that natural mechanisms such as autophagy and senescence play a role in allowing cells to survive after undergoing treatment. One standard of care chemotherapy for …

Use Of Botulinum Toxin In Central Nervous System Disorders, Julie Puvogel, Paige Torbet, Jourdan Ujlaki, Rebecca Worden, Lindsey Peters

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin that is produced by Clostridium botulinum. At one time, this toxin was only seen as a lethal substance, but now scientists have found many medical uses for it. There are eight distinctive toxins (A-H), but only A and B currently have clinical uses. Botulinum toxin A has three different versions that are U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved: onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®), abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport®), incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin®). Botulinum toxin B is also FDA approved as rimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc®). The toxins work by inducing reversible, local, dose-dependent chemodenervation by inhibiting acetylcholine release from presynaptic terminals. These drugs are approved …

A Pharmacist's Role In Educating On The Health Risks Of Smoking During Pregnancy And Helping Patients With Smoking Cessation, Alexandra Herman, Cassandra Hacker, Emily Wells, Brian Heilbronner, Brittany L. Long

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

While many people know smoking causes cancer, heart disease and other major health problems, smoking during pregnancy causes additional fetal health complications including birth defects, premature birth and infant death. Cigarettes contain carbon monoxide and nicotine, both of which can cause a decrease in oxygen delivery to the fetus' developing tissues causing organs like the brain, lungs, kidneys and ears not to develop properly. If children are exposed to these toxins through secondhand smoke after birth, they are more likely to experience severe health problems such as ear infections, cataracts, lung cancer and heart disease. It is also known that …

Latest Trends In The Heroin Epidemic And The Responsibility Of The Pharmacist In Controlling Heroin Abuse, Alexandra Herman, Cassandra Hacker, Emily Wells, Sabrina Hamman, Manoranjan D'Souza

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Over the last few years, there has been an exponential increase in morbidity and mortality associated with heroin abuse. The current rise in heroin abuse and overdose is attributed to widespread use and abuse of prescription opioids, which can produce significant euphoric effects in humans. In fact, reports suggest that heroin abusers initially become addicted to prescription opioids but subsequently switch to heroin because it is cheaper and more easily available than prescription opioids. Over the years, the purity of heroin available for illicit use has been on the decline. Smugglers and heroin vendors have started mixing heroin with other …

Medication Overdoses In The Emergency Department: Oral Hypoglycemic Agents, Atypical Antipsychotic Agents, Beta-Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, And Digoxin, Brooke Marlowe, Tara Tokar, Kayti Kintner, Kelsey Fink, Grant Walliser

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

The number of medication toxicities has been steadily increasing with more patients presenting to the emergency department for both intentional and unintentional overdoses. Oral hypoglycemics, atypical antipsychotics, betablockers, calcium channel blockers and digoxin overdoses are some of the more common medication toxicities health care professionals may see in practice. Toxic doses of oral hypoglycemic agents, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and digoxin have more definitive options for treatment, while atypical antipsychotic overdoses are managed with supportive care. Pharmacists in particular play a pivotal role in identifying presenting symptoms and recommending appropriate treatment options in toxicological emergencies.

Drugs Of Abuse: A Review Of Tramadol Abuse, Brittany Crowe, Tiffany Kneuss, Benjamin Finley, Kelsey Fink, Manoranjan S. D'Souza

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in America. Among the different prescription drugs being abused, analgesics are the most commonly abused group of drugs. In the last few years, there is increasing evidence of abuse of tramadol, which is an atypical, centrally acting opioid analgesic. The increasing abuse of tramadol has prompted regulatory authorities to strengthen the product labeling of tramadol with respect to its abuse potential. Furthermore, several states have added tramadol to their controlled substances list. In this article, we will review the pharmacology of tramadol and some of the preclinical and clinical studies that …

Multiple Path Particle Dosimetry For Prediction Of Mouse Lung Deposition Of Nanoaerosol Particles, Mohammed Ali

Mohammed Ali

Nanoaerosolized particle (dia.<200 >nm) antibiotic inhalation therapy was tested to treat pneumonic tularemia in mice caused by Francisella novicida infection. Very limited experimental techniques are available to properly estimate inhaled doses and distribution of the drug inside the mouse lungs. To overcome this problem, computational simulation of particle deposition based on the Multiple Path Particle Dosimetry (MPPD) model was employed to simulate in vivo experimental conditions which included nasal breathing with whole body exposure to the antibiotic in the form of nano-aerosolized medicine. The deposition results were compared with several in vivo experimental data reported in literature; and satisfactory agreements …

Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Macrophage Activation: An Insight Into The Mechanism Of Thioredoxin-Mediated Immune Activation, Chontida Yarana, Hannah Thompson, Luksana Chaiswing, D. Allan Butterfield, Heidi L. Weiss, Subbarao Bondada, Sara S. Alhakeem, Suriyan Sukati, Daret K. St. Clair

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) generated from redox active anticancer drugs are released into the extracellular environment. These EVs contain oxidized molecules and trigger inflammatory responses by macrophages. Using a mouse model of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced tissue injury, we previously found that the major sources of circulating EVs are from heart and liver, organs that are differentially affected by DOX. Here, we investigated the effects of EVs from cardiomyocytes and those from hepatocytes on macrophage activation. EVs from H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes (H9c2 EVs) and EVs from FL83b mouse hepatocytes (FL83 b EVs) have different levels of protein-bound 4-hydroxynonenal and thus different immunostimulatory effects …

Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior As A Predictor Of Radiologic Technologists' Use Of Patient Radiation Protection Best Practices: A Regional Study, Brenda L. Boyd

Brenda Boyd, PhD

Problem. A growing concern exists that patients are receiving an increase in radiation exposure while undergoing medical imaging exams. According to a March 2009 report by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), the U.S. population's total exposure to ionizing radiation has nearly doubled over the past two decades. With the introduction of new digital radiology equipment, patient dose is on the rise. Possible reasons for a radiologic technologist's behavior include: influence by availability or lack of equipment, policies, social pressure, attitudes, and a safety culture. Little research has been done in this area, specifically with applying a …

N-Glycosylation-Defective Splice Variants Of Neuropilin-1 Promote Metastasis By Activating Endosomal Signals, Xiuping Huang, Qing Ye, Min Chen, Aimin Li, Wenting Mi, Yuxin Fang, Yekaterina Y. Zaytseva, Kathleen L. O'Connor, Craig W. Vander Kooi, Side Liu, Qing-Bai She

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is an essential transmembrane receptor with a variety of cellular functions. Here, we identify two human NRP1 splice variants resulting from the skipping of exon 4 and 5, respectively, in colorectal cancer (CRC). Both NRP1 variants exhibit increased endocytosis/recycling activity and decreased levels of degradation, leading to accumulation on endosomes. This increased endocytic trafficking of the two NRP1 variants, upon HGF stimulation, is due to loss of N-glycosylation at the Asn150 or Asn261 site, respectively. Moreover, these NRP1 variants enhance interactions with the Met and β1-integrin receptors, resulting in Met/β1-integrin co-internalization and co-accumulation on endosomes. This provides persistent …

A Distinct Pattern Of Sterile Inflammation Induced By Zinc Oxide Nanowires., Ruqaih Salem Alghsham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in nanotechnology. Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) become an increasingly important area in nanotechnology. Recent developments in ENMs have drawn commercial and research attention in many areas such as agriculture, medicine, and Industry. High-aspect ratio zinc oxide nanowires (ZnONWs) have become one of the most significant ENMs due to their remarkable physical properties which makes them useful in a wide-range of applications. However, questions have been raised about ZnONW safety uses and biological consequences. In this dissertation, we investigated the inflammatory potential of ZnONWs in mouse models. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to ZnONW …

Data From: Docosahexaenoic Acid Consumption Impedes Early Interferon- And Chemokine-Related Gene Expression While Suppressing Silica-Triggered Flaring Of Murine Lupus, Abby D. Benninghoff, James Pestka

Browse all Datasets

The dataset contains five files of tabular data with an accompanying README file.

Supplementary file 1: Customized probe annotation file for the Nanostring nCounter Mouse PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel (catalog # 115000142). This file is provided as supporting material for a journal article.

Supplementary file 2: Microsoft Excel document with output from nSolver for differential expression analyses for pairwise comparisons noted by each named sheet. This data set is supporting material for a journal article.

Supplementary file 3: Microsoft Excel document with output from nSolver for global and directed significance scores for immune pathways. This data set is supporting material …

A Case Report Of Water Hemlock Poisoning, Blue Butterfield, Alicia Bond Md, Dan Meyer, Gary Diperna, Tamas Peredy Md

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Water hemlock poisoning is an uncommon cause of seizures, gastrointestinal upset, and renal failure. This poisoning occurs infrequency and is likely to go unrecognized without a proper history and consideration in the differential diagnosis.

Clinical Findings: A 23-year-old male with an unremarkable past medical history presented to the emergency department after being found unresponsive at a farm where he was employed. He had several tonic-clonic seizures en route. Initial evaluation was unremarkable and included toxicology screening, lumbar puncture, and brain imaging.

Main diagnoses, therapeutics, interventions, and outcomes: The patient was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and antivirals with a suspected …

Microrna Regulation Of Epigenetic Modifiers In Breast Cancer, Brock Humphries, Zhishan Wang, Chengfeng Yang

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

Epigenetics refers to the heritable changes in gene expression without a change in the DNA sequence itself. Two of these major changes include aberrant DNA methylation as well as changes to histone modification patterns. Alterations to the epigenome can drive expression of oncogenes and suppression of tumor suppressors, resulting in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. In addition to modifications of the epigenome, microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation is also a hallmark for cancer initiation and metastasis. Advances in our understanding of cancer biology demonstrate that alterations in the epigenome are not only a major cause of miRNA dysregulation in cancer, but that miRNAs …