The Pharmacological and Cognitive Effects of Propranolol on CD-1 Mice

The Pharmacological and Cognitive Effects of Propranolol on CD-1 Mice Jennifer Hindieh, William Hoefer, Grace Rossi, Christopher McAllister Long Island University Post Campus, Psychology Department, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Currently, 31 million people in the United States have chronic kidney disease; with high blood pressure being the 2nd leading cause of kidney disease, and about 70 million people in the United States have high blood pressure. The importance of studying the conditions becomes more prevalent as the average individual, of recent times, has a diet consisting of preservatives, artificial ingredients, which in turn leads to a more consistent weight gain over time. For years medical professionals have recommended not only a complete lifestyle change for those that suffer from the aforementioned conditions, but have also prescribed beta-blockers for an even more effective control of high blood pressure. According to Consumer Reports, Propranolol is the 3rd most prescribed beta- blocker in the United States, even though many researchers concluded that the full physiological and cognitive effects are still widely unknown for such a heavily prescribed medication. While the blood pressure benefits of propranolol are for certain, other negative side effects have been reported but not widely studied such as severe cognitive deficits, especially over time and in the elderly, weight gain, as well as abnormal kidney function. After acute injections of propranolol over a 7-day period, subjects will be exposed to a noninvasive blood pressure machine, urinalysis, as well as a radial arm maze to test for cognitive deficits. The purpose of my study is to investigate, the overall positive and negative effects of the beta- blocker propranolol on the body, specifically on blood pressure, body weight and kidney function

Flexural Analysis of 3D Printed Members

Flexural analysis of a beam is the determination of the bending capacity of the beam when it is undergoing a load causing the beam to bend. 3D printed plastic beams have not been characterized and analyzed yet. However, this research characterizes 3D-printed PLA beams and provides projects for future researchers. The literature describes several fields that utilizes 3D-printing. In this research, we introduce an innovative approach to investigate the flexural properties of a 3D printed composite beam, made of PLA and locally available soil. The flexural testing will determine the behavior and mechanical properties of the 3D printed beams. The flexural properties of the beams were analyzed by following ASTM D790, Standard Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastic and Electrical Insulation Material. Then design enhancements were done to improve the beams’ flexural capacity and overall strength. In this research, it was discovered that incorporating sand in the beam reduces the flexural capacity of the beams. Also, that the flexural behavior of the PLA beams is similar to non-reinforced timber beams

Advances of stem cell based-therapeutic approaches for tendon repair

Tendon injuries are significant clinical problems. Current treatments often result in incomplete repair or healing, which may lead to reduced function and rupture. Stem cell-based therapy is a promising intervention for tendon repair. In this article, we attempt to provide a brief overview on the recent progress in the field, current understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the approach, and the potential of stem cell-based therapies beyond cell implantation. We conclude the review by sharing our viewpoints on the challenges, opportunities, and future directions of this approach. The translational potential of this article: This paper reviews recent progress on stem cell-based therapeutic approaches for tendon repair, which highlights its translational potential and challenges

Myeloperoxidase-Oxidized LDL Activates Human Aortic Endothelial Cells through the LOX-1 Scavenger Receptor

Cardiovascular disease as a result of atherosclerosis is a leading cause of death worldwide. Atherosclerosis is primarily caused by the dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells and the subendothelial accumulation of oxidized forms of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Early observations have linked oxidized LDL effects in atherogenesis to the lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) scavenger receptor. It was shown that LOX-1 is upregulated by many inflammatory mediators and proatherogenic stimuli including cytokines, reactive oxygen species (ROS), hemodynamic blood flow, high blood sugar levels and, most importantly, modified forms of LDL. Oxidized LDL signaling pathways in atherosclerosis were first explored using LDL that is oxidized by copper (Cuox-LDL). In our study, we used a more physiologically relevant model of LDL oxidation and showed, for the first time, that myeloperoxidase oxidized LDL (Mox-LDL) may affect human aortic endothelial cell (HAEC) function through the LOX-1 scavenger receptor. We report that Mox-LDL increases the expression of its own LOX-1 receptor in HAECs, enhancing inflammation and simultaneously decreasing tubulogenesis in the cells. We hypothesize that Mox-LDL drives endothelial dysfunction (ED) through LOX-1 which provides an initial hint to the pathways that are initiated by Mox-LDL during ED and the progression of atherosclerosis