South Dakota State University
Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information ExchangeNot a member yet
29044 research outputs found
Sort by
Computational Characterization of Extracellular Electro-Osmotic Flow During Tissue Repair
Electrical stimulation (ES) therapy promotes the healing of chronic epidermal wounds and suppresses the degeneration of articular cartilage. Despite the success of ES therapy, the underlying mechanisms by which ES promotes tissue repair are largely unknown, preventing the standardization and optimization of treatments. One proposed mechanism involves electro-osmotic flow (EOF), electrically driven water flow generated within close proximity to the cell surface. EOF induces the transport of macromolecules and removes metabolic wastes and inflammatory molecules from these dense tissues through interstitial flow. This dissertation investigates the application of weak electric fields (EFs) to non-excitable cells and the generation of EOF using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Multiphysics models. The overarching goal is to analyze the effectiveness and limitations of EOF to identify essential parameters of treatments. Computational Fluid Dynamics is used to better understand and quantify mechanisms of EOF, in vivo, by studying spatial effects, optimum external applied electric field magnitude, concentration effects, and charge density distributions. The Multiphysics simulations created are used to develop a process for comparing the effects of pressuredriven flow and EOF at cellular levels to predict how they will influence tissue creation. These results are used to study the limitations of extracellular fluid flow by investigating changes in temperature, stresses, concentration gradients, and computational constraints. Using computational flow models allows for better insight into understanding the mechanisms for stimulating EOF and ultimately helps create an optimized treatment plan for patients undergoing electrotherapies for tissue repair
The Effect of Social Determinants of Health on End-Stage Kidney Disease Mortality Across Diverse Adult Populations: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the influence of social determinants of health (SDOH) on End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) mortality among diverse racial populations. Given the high morbidity and mortality associated with ESKD, understanding the impact of various SDOH factors across different racial groups is crucial for improving patient outcomes.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify studies reporting on the relationship between SDOH and ESKD mortality using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) format. Citations were collated in EndNote 21 and screened in Covidence by two independent reviewers, with inter-rater reliability assessed using Cohen’s kappa. Eligible studies involved U.S. adults over 18, measuring at least one SDOH, diagnosed with ESKD, and initiating dialysis. Methodological quality was appraised using JBI instruments by two independent reviewers, with discrepancies resolved through discussion or a third reviewer. All studies were included for data extraction regardless of quality scores. Data, including author, publication year, sample sizes, effect sizes, confidence intervals, and outcomes, were extracted using Covidence. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion or with a third reviewer, and authors were contacted for missing data. The meta-analysis primarily included studies reporting hazard ratios, using a random effects model to calculate pooled estimates and confidence intervals to accommodate between-study heterogeneity. For education, a fixed effects model was used due to significance in the results of the model.Results: A total of 1,828 studies were initially identified, and after thorough screening and application of eligibility criteria, 85 studies were included in the systematic review. The findings indicate that White populations have a higher risk of dying from ESKD compared to racial minorities, even after accounting for various social determinants of health (SDOH). Specifically, the risk of ESKD mortality was 19% lower in Black populations (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.77-0.85), 38% lower in Asian populations (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.59-0.66), and 16% lower in Native American populations (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.80-0.87) compared to White populations. Hispanic populations had a 26% lower risk compared to Non-Hispanic White populations (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.53-1.03) and a 9% lower risk compared to Non-Hispanic populations (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.78-1.10), though these findings were not statistically significant. Additionally, urban patients experience an 8% lower risk of ESKD mortality compared to rural patients (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.88-0.96). Higher education levels were associated with a 10% lower risk of ESKD mortality (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83-0.97). Conclusion: The study demonstrates that social factors like race, insurance, education, and location significantly impact ESKD mortality. White patients have higher mortality rates, while minorities experience severe complications despite receiving equal care. Uninsured rural patients also have higher mortality rates. Higher education and urban living lead to improved outcomes. Targeted policies and infrastructure improvements are vital to address these disparities
Plant Pathways Associated with Competition for Soybean Root Colonization by \u3cem\u3eBradyrhizobium\u3c/em\u3e Strains
Nitrogen is a crucial nutrient for the growth and development of plants. Legume crops like soybeans develop symbiotic associations with soil bacteria from the genus, Bradyrhizobium to obtain fixed nitrogen. In this mutualistic association, rhizobia are released into root nodules that provide a compatible environment for rhizobia to grow and fix nitrogen (Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation (SNF)). A caveat in such beneficial associations is the competition between different rhizobium strains in soil for infection and nodule occupancy. The elite inoculant strains encounter competition by indigenous rhizobial population in the soil to infect and nodulate a susceptible legume host, because of which they often fail to infect and occupy root nodules, affecting the overall nitrogen fixation efficiency in legume hosts. In response to this, host plants might employ sanction mechanisms to favor nodulation by more beneficial rhizobium strains over less beneficial ones. The goal of this study was to evaluate the host plant responses towards rhizobia competition for nodulation at the phenotypic and molecular level using several rhizobium strain combinations with varying nitrogen fixation capacities/efficiencies. For this purpose, we utilized a split-root system approach, which allows studying plant responses by simultaneously inoculating separate root halves of the same host plant with different strains. Our initial experiments with high-capacity nitrogen fixing and non-fixing B.diazoefficiens strains (USDA 110 and USDA 126 respectively) at endpoint revealed that host plants can favor USDA 110 while imposing sanctions on USDA 126 during nodulation. Here we performed parallel inoculations of these strains at three-time points to determine when the sanctions are initiated by the host. To further determine the gene expression patterns in these root halves over time, we conducted a time-course transcriptomic analysis and identified differential expression of several nodulation, phytohormone, and clock-related genes/pathways. Subsequently, we conducted timecourse experiments using combinations of intermediate-capacity fixer (USDA 140) which indicated that soybeans may not show preference for nodulation between high-capacity strain, USDA 110, and 140 or with USDA 140 and the non-fixing strain, USDA 126. Instead, we observed differences only in the nodule bacteroid density from USDA 126 and 140 combinations which suggested that host sanctions might be implemented against the non-fixer post nodulation. Additionally, we evaluated host responses with parallel inoculations of two Bradyrhizobium elkanii strains, one with a high nitrogen-fixation capacity (USDA 83) and the other with a low nitrogen-fixing capacity (USDA 26). Results from this study showed no difference in overall nodule numbers between the strains at 21 days post-inoculation. We further tested host responses to different Bradyrhizobium species (diazoefficiens vs. elkanii strains) wherein we observed that soybeans sanctioned USDA 126 when in competition with USDA 26 at the nodulation level. However, with USDA 110 vs. USDA 26 combination, we neither observed differences in nodule numbers nor bacteroid densities, suggesting that the host plants do not select against the lowcapacity strain, USDA 26. Previously, transcriptomic analysis of USDA 110 and 126 root halves at endpoint suggested that the Autoregulation of Nodulation (AON) pathway might be involved in such sanctioning. Here, we validated this using nod 1-3 mutant plants defective in AON pathway. Overall, our study provides evidence for potential host sanctioning mechanisms that soybeans might employ against poor/low-capacity nonnitrogen fixers at different levels and stages depending on the strain combinations
2,3,4 Trihydroxybenzoic Acid, A Plant Secondary Metabolite Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth
Nature offers many sources such as fruits, beverage crops, vegetables, herbs, spices, tea, dark chocolate, and wine, that are rich in hydroxybenzoic acids (HBAs). They are a prominent phenolic acids with excellent biochemical and antioxidant properties. Due to the vast dietary health benefits of HBAs such as anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, immunoregulatory, antimicrobial, antithrombotic, antidiabetic, anticancer properties and cardioprotective capabilities, they are attracting the attention of physicians and researchers alike to understand their mechanisms of action. It is anticipated that the understanding of the role of HBAs for their greater use in diet/supplements is beneficial to reverse common illnesses such as inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Hydroxybenzoic acids are compounds that contain a carboxylic group and one or more of OH groups, attached to the benzene ring. The most extensively studied HBA is salicylic acid (2-hydroxybenzoic acid; 2-HBA), which is abundantly present in plants such as the willow tree. The other plant derived HBAs studied include 2,3-dihydrobenzoic acid (2,3-DHBA, pyrocatechuic acid), 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4-DHBA, b-resorcyclic acid), 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHBA, gentisic acid), 2,6- dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,6-DHBA, g-resorcyclic acid), 3,4- dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHBA, proto-catechuic acid), 3,5- dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,5-DHBA, a-resorcyclic acid), 3,4,5- Trihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4,5-THBA, gallic acid), and 2,4,6- trihydrobenzoic acid (2,4,6-THBA). All these are secondary metabolites present in plants in either free form or conjugated with other compounds. Hydroxybenzoic acids are also produced from parent compounds such as flavonoids, though an increase in temperature while heating/cooking, spontaneous degradation, or through microbial degradation in the gastrointestinal tract. It is believed that consumption of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has immense health benefits including the prevention of colorectal cancer. Literature is enormous on the ability of flavonoids to decrease the occurrences of colorectal cancers; however, the mechanisms are not clearly established. Some researchers proposed that the parent flavonoid compounds directly act on specific proteins on target cells to inhibit cell growth; however, other researchers propose that the HBAs produced from the degradation of flavonoids are responsible for the observed growth inhibitory properties. Since flavonoids are relatively unstable compounds and can easily degrade to generate HBAs, it is likely that HBAs are major contributors to inhibition of cancer cell growth. Studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that several of the HBAs show growth inhibitory properties on colon cancer cell growth in vitro. Hydroxybenzoic acids also appear very selective in their action. For example, 2,4,6-THBA, 3,4,5- THBA, 3,4-THBA and 2,5-THBA showed the capacity to inhibit HCT-116 and HT-29 colon cancer cell growth; the inhibitory properties were not observed when 2,4-DHBA, 2,6-DHBA and 4-HBA were used in in vitro experiments. This suggested that the number and position of OH groups in the benzoic acid structure are important determinants in HBAs ability to inhibit cancer cell growth. Sensitivity of the cancer cells to HBAs were also different, for example, complete inhibition of the HCT-116 cells required 250 μM concentration of 3,4-DHBA; interestingly, with 3,4,5-THBA, only 30 μM concentration of the compound was sufficient to cause complete inhibition (32). 2,3,4-THBA is a plant metabolite present in several fruits and vegetables including Adzuki beans. This bean variety is a major cultivar in southeast Asia. Information on the ability of 2,3,4-THBA to inhibit cancer cell growth was not available in literature until we started this study. Based on the data available from our laboratory on other HBAs, we hypothesized that 2,3,4-THBA may have the ability to inhibit cancer cell growth. The present study was carried out as a part of a pilot study to determine the ability of 2,3,4-THBA to inhibit the growth in HCT 116 colon cancer cells and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We observed that 2,3,4-THBA is a potent inhibitor of cell growth in both HCT-116 and MDA-MB-231 cells, although a greater sensitivity of this compound was observed in MDA-MB-231 cells as compared to HCT-116 cells. Consistent with growth inhibition, in HCT- 116 cells, treatment with 2,3,4-THBA caused an increase in cyclindependent kinase inhibitors, p27 and p21. Although the observations require additional studies to confirm the findings, the data suggest that 2,3,4-THBA present in plants exhibits cancer cell growth inhibitory properties, and therefore has the potential for additional investigations as an anti-cancer agent
Orchidaceae: Platanthera dilatata
Platanthera dilatata is a perennial herb growing 15-70 cm tall. The mostly alternate, lanceolate leaves are cauline, 3-20 cm long and up to 3 cm wide with a pointed tip. the inflorescence is a loose to densely packed raceme, 5-25 cm long with 10-50 flowers, subtended by lanceolate floral bracts 5-40 mm long. The white flowers have 2 broad petal-like sepals that flare laterally, 4-8 mm long. Two lateral petals and an upper sepal form a hood, 4–6 mm long. The lower lip is narrower than the side sepals and initially curves up, touching the tip of the hood, and then flowing downward forming a sac-like to slender spur. The fruit is an ellipsoid capsule 8–15 mm long and 3-4 mm wide. White bog orchid is fairly rare in SD. It blooms in July in swampy forests and wooded bogs in and around Lawrence County in the State.
Synonym: Habeneria dilatatahttps://openprairie.sdstate.edu/nativeplant/1249/thumbnail.jp
The Influence of By-O-Reg+ Beef, an Oregano-based Essential Oil Supplement, on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Meat Quality of Finishing Beef Steers
The objective of this thesis was to determine the influence of an oregano-based essential oil (OEO; By-O-Reg+ Beef), on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of beef steers finished in an all-natural program. Yearling steers were allotted to 16 pens (n = 8 pens per treatment, 8 steers per pen). Treatments included: 1) control (CON) fed no oregano-based essential oil and 2) group fed 4 g/steer daily of By-O-Reg+ Beef. Steers were harvested on day 149 of the feeding period. Standard carcass data was collected and instrumental color (L*, a*, b*) was recorded. Strip loins were collected from a subsample of carcasses (n = 62; 4 animals closest to mean live body weight per pen). Purge loss and pH were recorded and strip loins were fabricated into steaks. One steak was utilized for proximate composition analysis. Four steaks were assigned to age for 4, 7, 14 or 21 days for Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF) analysis. One steak was overwrapped with oxygen permeable film and placed in simulated retail display for 10 days for evaluation of objective color (L*, a*, b*), subjective color, and discoloration. Three steaks were aged for 4, 7, or 10 days for analysis of lipid oxidation. Treatment did not influence (P \u3e 0.05) growth performance, carcass traits, liver score, initial color, purge loss, or proximate composition. Striploins from the OEO treatment had increased pH values (P = 0.0279) compared to CON. No treatment by day interaction (P \u3e 0.05) was observed for WBSF, objective color, subjective color score, or discoloration during the retail display period. However, WBSF decreased (P \u3c 0.0001) over the aging period. Further, L* values increased (P \u3c 0.001) from day 0 to day 10, while a* values and b* values decreased (P \u3c 0.0001) during the display period. Similarly, subjective color scores increased (P \u3c 0.0001) indicating samples appeared darker as display dates increased. Lipid oxidation also increased (P \u3c 0.0001) over the display period. These data indicate that the inclusion of an oregano-based essential oil has limited impact on the growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of steers
Apiaceae: Cicuta maculata
Cicuta maculata is a rhizomatous perennial herb with a hollow erect stem that can reach a height of 2 meters. The base of the stem is swollen, containing several chambers separated by well-developed transverse partitions, and usually mottled with purple blotches. The alternate compound bi to tripinnate leaves may be up to 40 cm long and are made up of lance-shaped, pointed, serrated leaflets. Each shiny green leaflet is 2 to 10 cm long. The inflorescences of loose compound umbels are attached to terminal and lateral branches on peduncles that exceed the leaves. The white flowers are similar in appearance to other species in the carrot family. The fruit is an oval, flattened 3-4 mm schizocarp that turns tan-brown when mature. Water hemlock flowers from July through September in wet meadows, roadside ditches, pond margins, open marshes, and freshwater swamps throughout South Dakota.https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/nativeplant/1217/thumbnail.jp