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Schneider, Kirstie (May 18, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Purpose: To compare handwriting legibility among professions. Methods: A convenience sample, stratified by gender, of 20 right-handed volunteers each from 7 occupations, rapidly wrote the sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” in <17 seconds. Legibility was scored by two methods. The number of malformed individual letters were visually judged by a single blinded investigator. Four investigators, blinded to subject characteristics, independently rated the global legibility of the writing samples on a 4-point scale: poor, fair, good, and excellent. Raters were tested with the kappa statistic. Characteristics and scores were compared using logit regression and post-hoc Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Scoring methods were compared by Spearman’s correlation. The study was powered to detect a difference of 25% across occupations. Results: Among 70 males and 70 females, with ages 18-64 years and 12-28 years of education, only education differed among groups. Legibility scores did not differ significantly by occupation, age or education. But legibility was significantly and consistently better in women. Description: Public Health and Outcome I 8:44 AM Abstract 170 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/66 Files in this item: 1
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Duncan, Jennifer; Gajewski, Byron (May 19, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: As nursing homes become a dominant setting for death in the United States, palliative care must be integrated into daily nursing home practices. Improvements in this area will be better evaluated if researchers can assess the degree to which nursing homes provide palliative care. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and validate a measure of palliative care in nursing homes. Items for the Palliative Care Process Measure were written to represent one of three broad conceptual domains: cognitive, e.g., knowledge related to common symptoms of dying residents; affective, e.g., attitudes toward death; and actions, e.g., interventions at the end of life. Seventy-nine items were tested in 24 nursing homes with direct care staff (N = 717). Following revision of the instrument based on theoretical and empirical methods including factor analysis, 21 items comprised 5 subscales representing the affective and action domains. The 5 subscale model resulted in a CFI of .93, indicating excellent fit of the model to the data. Cronbach’s alphas for the subscales ranged from .55 to .78. An additional 14 criterion-referenced items addressed the knowledge domain. Evidence for construct validity was demonstrated by the ability of subscales to discriminate among staff and facilities and by hypothesis testing with an additional sample of 5 nursing homes (N = 26 staff). While evaluation of the tool is ongoing, the Palliative Care Process Measure provides an innovative instrument for researchers to study relationships between palliative care processes and resident outcomes at the end of life. Description: Public Health and Outcome I Room G025 Dykes 8:32 AM Abstract 121 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/70 Files in this item: 1
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Swift, Marcie (May 19, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: An Objective Standardized Clinical Examination (OSCE) was initially described and used in evaluating medical student’s abilities to take a history, perform a physical examination, and provide patient management. There are three main components to the OSCE: 1) The format of the exam is highly structured, 2) The scoring systems are objective. 3) The exam utilizes standardized patients to interact with the students taking the exam. This study examines a musculoskeletal OSCE in 1st year doctoral physical therapy students. The purpose of this study is to determine the reliability of this evaluation tool. 12 physical therapy students volunteered for this study. There were a total of 6 examiners. Four of the examiners were on-site examiners and were in the same room with the examinees on the day of the exam. Each on-site examiner scored 3 students. Two of the examiners were video examiners and scored all 12 students. Thus, each student received 3 different scores on their performance. Pearson correlation coefficient, ICCs and Cronbach’s were applied to analyze the strength of relationship between examiners for OSCE scores. The data indicates there were moderate to strong relationships for station and total scores between examiners. Knowledge regarding the reliability of OSCEs in physical therapy education is lacking. The results from this preliminary study provide promising data of a reliable and objective tool that can be used in physical therapy education programs to evaluate student’s clinical performance on practical exams. Description: Public Health and Outcomes I Room G025 Dykes 9:08 AM URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/71 Files in this item: 1
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Lichtenhan, Jeffery (May 19, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Sensory neural hearing loss results from damage to various cochlear structures and/or auditory nerve fibers. However, current clinical diagnostic tests cannot differentiate between cochlear and neuronal pathology. The effectiveness of future treatments such as cochlear hair cell regeneration and stem cell transplantation in the inner ear requires information about the site of pathology. The long-term objective of this research is to develop clinical identifiers of anatomic structures that have been compromised in cases of sensory neural hearing loss. Our current approach is to utilize the compound action potential (CAP), which is a stimulus-evoked electrical response of numerous auditory nerve fibers. The CAP is conceptualized as the combination of the probability of neuronal discharge across all auditory nerve fibers [P(t)] with the profile of an action potential from a single auditory nerve fiber [U(t)]. In vivo estimates of P(t) and U(t) can be obtained by combining functional descriptors of P(t) and U(t) to provide an analytic equation of the CAP, which is fit to physiologic CAPs. Here we seek to translate this technique previously developed in normal hearing and hearing-impaired gerbils to human application by characterizing P(t) and U(t) from normal human ears. P(t) and U(t) from CAPs were examined at multiple stimulus levels. Results illustrate that it is possible to apply to human CAPs the analytic treatment that was developed in gerbil. Description: Public Health and Outcome I Room G025 Dykes 9:20 AM Abstract 185 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/72 Files in this item: 1
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Iyamu, Efe (May 19, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Currently, hydroxyurea (HU), a potent inducer of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F), is the only approved drug for the management of sickle cell disease (SCD).Although the mechanism of induction of Hb F by HU is still unknown, but studies have shown that HU increases Hb F synthesis in response to activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), which increases the production of NO. The deficiency in NO due to increased arginase levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of SCD. In this study, we determined the effects of HU on the arginase and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities in SCD (N=23) patients and normal control (N = 12) subjects. The results showed that the arginase activity in patients who were on HU therapy were significantly lower than those in SS patients who were not on HU therapy (3.8 ± 1.2 vs 6.6 ± 2.4 U/gHb) and the arginase activity was comparable with those of HbAA volunteers. The NOS activity was higher in patients who were on HU therapy than those who were not on HU therapy (0.72 ± 0.4 vs 0.35 ± 0.15 nmole/ml/min). These data suggest that one of the beneficial effects of HU in vivo may involve the suppression of arginase activity and a concomitant induction of NOS activity, hence an increased production of NO. The outcome of this study may lead to development of improved NO based treatment for SCD. Description: Clinical Studies I Room G026 Dykes 8:20 AM Abstract 115 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/73 Files in this item: 1
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Rao, Sunitha; Walia, Damandeep (May 19, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disorder involving the salivary glands and lacrimal glands. Salivary glandinvolvement may be detected by noninvasive imaging studies such as Ultrasound. Ultrasound is less expensive and moreavailable than other forms of imaging. The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the utility of high resolution ultrasound inthe non-invasive diagnosis of SS. We enrolled 20 subjects in this study. 10 had SS (9 female and 1 male) and 10 were control subjects (10 female). Theclinical diagnosis of SS was previously established by the presence of auto antibodies such as anti-SS-A (Ro), anti-SS-B (La)or minor salivary gland biopsy. The mean ages for the control group (55.6 + 14.5) and patients with SS (53.9 + 17.5) weresimilar. After obtaining informed consent, high resolution ultrasound images of the parotid and submandibular glands wereobtained. Two physicians, blinded to the subjects’ identity and clinical history, interpreted the images. The images were graded on a 4point scale: 1 definitely normal, 2 probably normal, 3 probably abnormal or 4 definitely abnormal. 9 out of 10 controlsubjects were rated as normal by interpreter 1 (mean score of 1.6). 5 out 10 control subjects were rated as normal byinterpreter 2 (mean score of 2.5). 9 out of 10 subjects with SS were rated as abnormal by both interpreters (mean scores of3.5 and 3.6). The findings in this small series suggest that ultrasound is sensitive for the non-invasive diagnosis of SS. Description: Clinical Studies I Room G026 Dykes 8:32 AM Abstract 124 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/74 Files in this item: 1
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Al-momani, Murad (May 19, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Background: Electrocochleography (ECochG), a technique for recording the stimulus-related potentials of the inner ear and auditory nerve, is widely used in the diagnosis of Meniere’s disease (MD). Unfortunately, the sensitivity of ECochG in the general Meniere’s population is only around 60%. Our laboratory has developed new protocols for recording and interpreting the electrocochleogram that are designed to improve this value. Purpose: This study compared several features of the human electrocochleogram that are used in the diagnosis of MD to determine which feature (or combination of features) is the most sensitive to this particular disorder. Methodology: ECochG results from 208 patients suspected of having MD were compared to the eventual diagnosis, as determined by their referring physicians. ECochG features analyzed for this purpose included the click-evoked amplitudes of the cochlear summating potential (SP) and auditory nerve action potential (AP), AP-N1 latency, and the SP/AP amplitude and area ratios. SP amplitude to toneburst (TB) stimuli also was measured. Results and conclusion: Measurement of the SP/AP amplitude ratio leads to a sensitivity of 66%, slightly better than what has been reported in the literature. Measurement of the SP/AP area ratio, however, improves the sensitivity of ECochG to 92%. None of the other features, either individually or in combination, were statistically significant on the overall sensitivity of ECochG. Thus, the SP/AP area ratio is the most sensitive feature of ECochG in the diagnosis of MD. In addition, the recording time of ECochG can be shortened by eliminating measurement of the SP to TB stimuli. Description: Clinical Studies I Room G026 Dykes 8:44 AM Abstract 129 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/75 Files in this item: 1
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Swink, Jason (May 19, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: The repair of injuries to tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissue is performed in hospitals every day. The standard method of tendon repair involves bringing the edges of the severed tendon in contact and suturing them together. Generally, both a core stitch and an epitenon stitch are used. The core stitch provides strength and the epitenon holds the edges in very close proximity, to facilitate healing. Currently, the stitches are performed by hand by a surgeon, and perform very well. This goal of this project was to design a tool to automatically suture, in order to speed up the process, and to provide a high degree of reproducibility and resolution. RESULTS: A machine was designed, using the Autodesk Inventor software for drafting. The initial design accounted for only an epitenon stitch. Preliminary work was performed on construction of a scaled-up model of the machine. Although a testable model has not been completed, the major mechanical impediments have been solved. CONCLUSION: A working model can be constructed from the completed design. It will perform with great fidelity and speed the tiny stitches required to repair a severed flexor tendon. More work is required to discover the ideal materials for all parts, as well as to build a testable model. Once a model is available, a study can be performed to compare repaired tendon strength with a tendon repaired by hand. Description: Clinical Studies I Room G026 Dykes 8:56 AM Abstract 118 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/76 Files in this item: 1
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Zahradnik, Erin (May 19, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Introduction. Alpha activity during wakefulness is thought to represent perceptual disengagement and a state of relaxation. Patients with primary insomnia (PIs) have often been observed exhibiting less alpha activity during the transition from wakefulness to sleep. This suggests that such patients are less able to perceptually disengage and/or relax during sleep initiation. Because there are few controlled studies that evaluate peri-sleep onset alpha activity in PIs as compared to good sleeper (GS) subjects, the present study was undertaken to address this issue. Methods. Data from 30 PIs and 18 GSs were used for the present analysis. Alpha activity was analyzed in two ways: first, average relative power density for the 15 minutes prior to and following sleep onset was compared for the two groups using 2 T-tests; second, serial T-tests were used to compare the groups for each of the individual time points. Results. PIs exhibited significantly less alpha activity for the average 15 minutes prior to sleep onset (17% vs. 25%,p = 0.03). Following sleep onset the group averages were comparable (8.6% vs. 8.9%, p.=0.76). The serial T-test results suggest that these differences occur most reliably within the 2-5 minutes that precede sleep onset. Conclusion. These findings are consistent with the clinical observation that PIs tend to exhibit less alpha activity prior to sleep onset. What remains to be determined is the manner in which this form of alpha suppression is associated with sleep initiation problems. Description: Clinical Studies I G026 Dykes 9:20 AM Abstract 107 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/77 Files in this item: 1
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Branstetter, Jo Ellen (May 19, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Purpose: To explore the impact of childhood chronic illness/disability on family communication patterns. Method: Sixty interviews (30 parent/sibling dyads, selected) done upon completion of an intervention study (N = 252) provided data for this report; with semi-structured interview guides, parents and siblings were interviewed separately. Transcriptions of the interviews were analyzed using qualitative methods. Line by line analysis was used to identify codes, categories, and themes reflecting the content, significance, and impact of chronic illness, and an intervention on family communication patterns.Findings: Four themes emerged from the data: (1) Giving Voice: A process of positive movement in communication through which the internal self gains voice to express feelings, wants, needs, concerns, fears, and questions; (2) Communication: A Reflection of Relationships and Roles: A reflection of the dependent nature of roles and relationships experienced internally, manifested externally, and reflected in individual and family communication; (3) Staying Connected: A dynamic process of valuing communication, remaining available for communication and regulating the content and quality of communication to strengthen family adaptation and cohesion; and (4) Struggling for Normalcy: A process of problem-solving that culminated in shared meaning of the illness/disability experience. A conceptual model was developed to illustrate the interrelationships among the themes. Implications/Conclusions: Findings may be used by health care providers to strengthen communication patterns, adaptation, and cohesion in families of children with chronic illness/disability. Description: Cinical Studies I Room G026 Dykes 9:32 AM Abstract 110 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/78 Files in this item: 1
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Bu, Pengli (May 19, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Retinoids refer to natural and synthetic derivatives of vitamin A, which play multiple roles in embryogenesis, development, vision, homeostasis as well as proliferation and apoptosis. In the current study, a panel of 13 retinoids was screened to detect their apoptosis inducing effect on a human hepatoma cell line Huh-7. Huh-7 cells were treated with each retinoid (10 µM) for 72 hours in serum free medium. After every 24 hours, floating cells were collected and fresh medium plus retinoids were added. Attached cells were harvested after 72 hours followed by cell number counting. Proteins extracted from floating cells and attached cells were subjected to Western blot analysis to detect the cleavage/activation of caspase-3, which is a hallmarker of on-going apoptosis. After 72 hours treatment, except β-carotene, 12 out of 13 retinoids tested caused cell number decrease. Among those 12 retinoids, fenretinide and 13-cis-retinol decreased cell number most markedly, 68% and 62% respectively. Western blot results indicated that there was strong caspase-3 cleavage in fenretinide- and 9-cis-retinoic acid-treated cells, although weak caspase-3 cleavage was also detected in other retinoids treated cells. Hoechst 33342 and Propidium Iodide double staining also suggested there was nuclear DNA condensation in fenretinide-treated Huh-7 cells after 24 hour. Based on those results, we conclude that fenretinide and 9-cis-retinoic acid decreased cell number by causing apoptosis mediated by caspase-3 activation in human hepatoma cell line Huh-7. The same screening will be conducted on different hepatoma cell lines and the underlying molecular mechanism will be further pursued. Description: Molecular and Cell Biology I Room G027 Dykes 8:32 AM Abstract 207 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/79 Files in this item: 1
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Alipui, Didier (May 22, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Prostate Cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the US. Activation of androgen receptor (AR) has been shown to play a critical role in the initiation, maintenance and progression of prostate cancer. In an attempt to identify novel components of androgen signaling pathway leading to AR transactivation, we investigated the involvement of G-protein a-subunits in AR transactivation using androgen-responsive luciferase (ARE-LUC) reporter assay. Overexpressing Ga proteins such as Ga12, Gas, Gai, Gaq showed various effect on the basal activity or a physiological level of androgen (R1881)-induced ARE-LUC reporter activities. Only Gas enhanced the basal activity of the reporter. Active Gq significantly reduced androgen-induced ARE-LUC reporter activity, but active Ga12 and Gas enhanced reporter activities. In siRNA-mediated knockdown experiments, we found that siRNAs against Ga12 and Gas reduced R1881-induced ARE-LUC reporter activities while siRNAs for Gai and Gaq showed less effect. Finally, we found that treatment with Ga12 and Gas siRNAs abolished androgen-induced PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase) activation, which was required for AR transactivation. More studies involving G proteins and PI3K are undertaken to further elucidate the mechanism of AR transactivation. Description: Molecular and Cell Biology I Room G027 Dykes 8:56 AM Abstract 204 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/82 Files in this item: 1
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Ting, Alison (May 22, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Breast and ovarian cancer are leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women, responsible for over 56,000 fatalities annually in the United States. Women at increased risk for breast cancer are often also at increased risk for ovarian cancer, reflecting common risk factors for both diseases. Studies of ovarian cancer prevention are limited as compared to those of breast cancer primarily due to difficulties in ovarian tissue sampling and low incidence of the disease. However, this may be overcome by developing dual target prevention drugs. In the present study, three common breast cancer carcinogen models [7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA), N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and estradiol (E2)] were combined with local ovarian DMBA administration to induce progression to breast and ovarian cancer concurrently in the rat. Six months after the initial treatment, E2/DMBA-treated rats showed the most pronounced histological changes consistent with dual cancer development. E2/DMBA-treated rats had mammary hyperplasia, atypia, ductal carcinoma in situ and/or invasive adenocarcinoma, and 50% of them developed preneoplastic changes in the ovary (ovarian surface hyperplasia and/or inclusion cyst formation) as well. These changes were accompanied by a decreased estrogen receptor alpha expression and elevated Ki-67 and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in both mammary glands and ovaries as examined by immunohistochemistry. Mammary gland morphology was normal in vehicle controls while hyperplasia was observed in DMBA/DMBA and MNU/DMBA-treated rats; ovarian preneoplastic changes were seldom observed in any of these rats. These studies provide a useful model for investigation of concurrent breast and ovarian cancer development and prevention. Description: Molecular and Cell Biology I Room G027 Dykes 9:08 AM Abstract 205 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/83 Files in this item: 1
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Chennault, Rachel (May 22, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Cranial sutures represent growth centers that permit calvarial bone growth during embryonic and postnatal life. This bone growth is accomplished through a series of tissue interactions involving the brain, suture mesenchyme, osteogenic fronts, and underlying dura mater. In order for the sutures to allow further bone growth, they must remain patent (non-fusing), so that bone may be formed at the edges of the developing osteogenic fronts. Two common human congenital deformities result from abnormal suture formation and maintenance. The first, Craniosynostosis, occurs when sutures fuse prematurely during development, resulting in a severely malformed skull. This disorder has been linked to mutations in several genes important during development, such as FGFR1-3, MSX2, and TWIST. Cleidocranial Dysplasia (CCD) results from failure to close the sagittal suture, and the anterior and posterior fontanelles remain patent. Previous studies have shown that the variable severity of phenotypes arises from key mutations in the DNA-binding regions of RUNX2, a gene known to be critical to bone formation. In our lab, a mouse cranial suture phenotype has been identified in Hoxb1 adults and embryonic mutants.The edges of the opposing parietal bones at the site of the sagittal suture appear rounded in mutant embryos, similar to the human and mouse CCD phenotypes (Mundlos et al, 1997; Otto et al, 1997). In addition, we have noted in adult Hoxb1+/- mice that the lambdoid and coronal sutures fail to form properly. For these reasons, I propose that Hoxb1 plays an important role in patterning calvarial bone during development. Description: Molecular and Cell Biology I Room G027 Dykes 9:32 AM Abstract 220 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/84 Files in this item: 1
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Griffin, Darcy (May 22, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: The existence of monosynaptic connections between primary motor cortex neurons and motoneurons is well established (Lemon and Porter, 1993). These Corticomotor (CM) neurons and the signals they carry are integral to understanding mechanisms underlying movement execution. Such a direct synaptic connection is assumed to drive motoneuron activity and ultimately muscle activity during skilled movements. If this is the case, the activity of a CM cell would be expected to covary closely with that of its target muscles during voluntary movement. To test this hypothesis, the presence of postspike facilitation (PSpF) in spike-triggered averages of electromyographic (EMG) activity was used to identify cortical neurons with excitatory synaptic linkages to motoneurons. Cell-target muscle covariation was quantified by plotting the average firing rate of each CM cell against the EMG activity of each of its facilitated target muscles. The Spearman’s Correlation Coefficient, obtained from the resulting scatter plot, was used to quantify the covariation of CM cell and target muscle activity. The majority of cell-target muscle pairs covaried positively during the task (83.5%). The strength of covariation between the activity of CM cell-target muscle pairs was related to 1) the magnitude of PSpF (r = .26, P < .01) and 2) mean CM cell firing rate (r = .22, P < .01). Our data establishes the existence of correlation between CM cell and target muscle activity and for the first time demonstrates that the strength of CM cell-target muscle correlation varies as a function of the strength of the CM synaptic linkage. Description: Neuroscience I Room 1028 Dykes 8:32 AM Abstract 132 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/85 Files in this item: 1
SRF2006_Covariation.ppt (8.143Mb) -
Richards, Toni (May 22, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Quinpirole sensitization is used as an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a psychiatric disorder characterized by excessive, repetition of an obsession and/or compulsion. Clorgyline, an MAOA inhibitor, modifies the quinpirole-sensitized behavioral response by a mechanism apparently unrelated to its activity at MAOA. Thus, clorgyline pretreatment extends this animal model by simulating variations seen in human OCD symptomology. Alterations in regional neuronal activity produced by quinpirole in quinpirole-sensitized rats with or without clorgyline pretreatment were assessed on the basis of LCGU using the [14C]-2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) method. Adult, male Long-Evans rats (180-200 g, n = 9-10/group) were injected with clorgyline (1 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline 90-minutes prior to an injection of quinpirole (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline, 1 set of injections given every third day. The 2-DG procedure was initiated 60-minutes after an eleventh set of injections in freely moving rats. LCGU was determined by quantitative autoradiography. In quinpirole-sensitized rats, LCGU was decreased in a number of limbic, cortical, and motor regions and in the raphe magnus nucleus (P<0.05 v. controls). Quinpirole-sensitized rats pretreated with clorgyline had similar alterations in LCGU, but LCGU was also decreased in the piriform cortex and septal area (P<0.05 v. controls), was not decreased in the raphe magnus nucleus, and was increased in the locus coeruleus compared to quinpirole alone (P<0.05). This implicates altered activity of the limbic, serotonergic, and especially the noradrenergic systems in the modified behavioral response to quinpirole with clorgyline pretreatment and speculatively in the variations seen in human OCD symptomology. Description: Neuroscience I Room 1028 Dykes 8:44 AM Abstract 142 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/86 Files in this item: 1
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Ralya, Andrew (May 23, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: There are sex differences in the sensory experience of pain. For example, the incidence of chronic pain syndromes is higher in women than in men. Studies of gonadal steroid modulation of pain have, to date, focused on the activational effects of estrogen in adult females. However, little is known about the activational effects of male gonadal hormones on nociception. We hypothesize that endogenous testosterone and/or its metabolites, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or estrogen, have an activational effect on nociception in males. To determine the specific contribution of male gonadal hormones to sex differences in pain sensation, gonadectomized (GDX) or intact control male rats were evaluated for nociceptive behaviors in three models of pain: acute thermal or mechanical, persistent inflammatory, or chronic neuropathic injury. Using a thermal analgesiometer and von Frey monofilaments, there was no significant difference between GDX and naïve rats for acute thermal or mechanical nociceptive hind paw withdrawal thresholds. However, following subcutaneous injection of formalin into the hind paw as a persistent inflammatory stimulus, naïve rats showed significantly more hind limb flinches than GDX rats. Following unilateral spared nerve injury (SNI) as a chronic pain model, mechanical withdrawal thresholds of the contralateral paw were significantly higher in sham-GDX (intact) rats than GDX rats. The results from these specific pain models suggest that endogenous male gonadal hormones may have complex modulatory effects in persistent or chronic, but not acute pain states. Description: Neuroscience I Room 1028 Dykes 8:56 AM Abstract 200 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/87 Files in this item: 1
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Jones, Karra (May 23, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a common complication of both diabetes mellitus type I and II. DN has traditionally been described as a “dying-back” neuropathy, where the distal ends of sensory axons degenerate and denervate peripheral tissues. Patients with DN can show a loss of large- and/or small-diameter sensory fibers. When large fibers are involved, the patients exhibit proprioceptive deficits and impaired balance. Muscle spindles are innervated by both sensory and motor neurons and send proprioceptive information about the muscle to the central nervous system. To date, no studies have specifically addressed the innervation of muscle spindles in the setting of DN. We hypothesize that diabetes-induced denervation of muscle spindles underlies, in part, the development of proprioceptive abnormalities in DN. To test this hypothesis, we utilize a mouse model of type I diabetes induced by streptozotocin. To explore the relationship between muscle spindle deficits and proprioception, we are evaluating the proprioceptive abilities of control and diabetic mice using a rotorod, which tests coordination and balance. In addition, muscle spindle innervation is evaluated in the gastrocnemius muscle using immunohistochemical techniques. Using antibodies against S46 to visualize spindle bag fibers and neurofilament heavy chain to visualize sensory and motor axons innervating the spindles, and bungarotoxin to label the neuromuscular junction, the sensory (Ia and II) and motor (gamma) innervation of the spindle is assessed. Overall, these results will provide important information about the relationship between muscle spindles and proprioceptive deficits in DN. Description: Neuroscience I Room 1028 Dykes 9:08 AM Abstract 197 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/88 Files in this item: 1
09_08_Jones_197.ppt (1.111Mb) -
Hersperger, Stephen (May 23, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) annually affects 1.5 million individuals in the United States and associated costs soar to over $56 billion. Despite its widespread burden, relatively little is known about how to reduce the damage that occurs after TBI, and most attempts to develop successful therapies have failed. A large percentage of TBI patients are over the age of 75, but it remains to be discovered how a person’s age impacts the level and nature of the biological responses to the injury: edema, inflammation, necrosis, and apoptosis. The purpose of this project was to aid in the development of a murine model of age-related TBI damage and repair. Methods: Brains from mice with unilateral cortical injuries were sectioned on a cryostat. Sections were processed using immunohistochemical procedures with antibodies to astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), inflammatory mediator phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (pJNK), and the apoptosis marker activated Caspase-3. Tissues were also processed with Fluoro-Jade B, a marker for degenerating neurons. The methods were fine-tuned to provide a high signal/background ratio. Results: A significantly improved signal/background ratio was obtained following repeated optimizing trials, and procedural details were formulated to allow reproducible, highly specific results. High-contrast Fluoro-Jade B signals specific to neurons and highly localized anti-GFAP and anti-activated Caspase-3 signals were obtained in injured tissues. Conclusions: Fluoro-Jade B is useful for identifying dying neurons following TBI, while GFAP and Caspase-3 antibodies are useful markers for studying signals related to tissue damage. Further study will characterize the locations and quantify the extent of these signals and seek to determine their relationship to injury severity and age. These data should prove useful in advancing our understanding of the mechanisms of age-related TBI damage and repair. Description: Neuroscience I Room 1028 Dykes 9:32 AM Abstract 141 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/89 Files in this item: 1
09_32_Hersperger_141.ppt (4.810Mb) -
Burkett, Gena (May 23, 2006)[more][less]
Abstract: The ability to swallow is particularly affected in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and the ability to swallow safely continues to decline as the disease progresses. Evaluation of the swallowing capabilities of individuals with ALS varies among speech-language pathologists (SLPs). There are no standard practice guidelines for evaluation of swallowing dysfunction (dysphagia) in ALS. It is not clear whether most SLPs who assess the swallowing function of individuals with ALS use behavioral methods (i.e., evaluation of clinical signs and symptoms of dysphagia), instrumental measures (e.g., videofluoroscopic swallow study), or a combination of behavioral and instrumental methods. There are 34 ALSA/MDA Research and Clinical Centers in the USA. SLPs at these Centers are more likely to evaluate a higher volume of individuals with ALS than SLPs in other settings. Results of surveys containing questions about swallowing evaluation of persons with ALS sent to the SLPs at these 34 Centers will be reported. Description: Public Health and Outcome II Room G025 Dykes 10:00 AM Abstract 196 URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2271/94 Files in this item: 1
10_00_Burkett_196.ppt (113.6Kb)
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