Engineering a Mutation in the Heparin Binding Pocket of the Human Fibroblast Growth Factor

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are family of proteins that belong to a group of growth factors that are found in mammals and play an important role in angiogenesis, differentiation, organogenesis, and tissue repair. In summary, their main functionality is involved in cell division and proliferation. Because FGFs plays such a vital role in cell proliferation, they are mainly involved in the process of wound healing and injuries. FGF binds to its ligand, heparin—a heavily sulfated glycosaminoglycan. The binding of heparin to FGF occurs through electrostatic interactions, specifically between the negatively charged sulfate groups on heparin and positively charged residues such as arginine and lysine in the heparin binding pocket of FGF. FGF1, a prototype of the FGF family, has many potential applications since it is heavily involved in wound healing, however, FGF1 does not remain active for very long when it is not bound to heparin. With this in mind, this research project focuses on increasing the half-life of FGF1 while maintaining its stability. To achieve this objective, residue threonine at position 137, which is located near the heparin binding pocket was mutated to glutamic acid. Preliminary biophysical characterization of the mutant FGF1 protein has been discussed in this dissertation

Individuals with Substance Use Disorders: Lived Experiences, Perceptions of Daily Life, and Behavioral Health Services

There are macro and micro level impacts associated with substance use disorders ranging from significant spending by the United States government at a societal level, to changes in neuroanatomical structures and body functions, as well as psychosocial and functional impacts for the individual. While occupational therapy practitioners are approved behavioral health service providers research indicates there is a lack of understanding regarding the need for and role of occupational therapy for individuals with substance use disorders. This study utilized a phenomenological qualitative design to learn about the lived experiences, as well as the perceptions of daily life and current behavioral health services, of individuals with substance use disorders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants, recruited through convenience sampling. Results showed participants’ lived experiences included a pervasive cycle of drug and/or alcohol use, chronic emotional distress, and varying motivators for sobriety. Participants’ daily lives included occupying time with meaningful activity, giving up control, and meeting expectations by fulfilling roles and responsibilities. Most participants lived in the moment and presented with difficulty establishing long-term goals. While participants felt their current behavioral health services were meeting their immediate needs, they expressed a desire for individuality and trust from counselors. Based on these findings, occupational therapy’s role may be the provision of client-centered services focusing on long term health and wellness, adaptive habits and use of time, and facilitating planning and achievement of long-term occupational goals in order to foster enhanced success in maintaining sobriety

Inter- and intra-annual C and N isotopic variability of C3 and C4 grasses in a temperate-humid dune environment

Seasonal and annual variations in foliar δ13C and δ15N of a C3 grass Ammophila breviligulata and a C4 grass Calamovilfa longifolia from the sand dunes of Pinery Provincial Park in southern Ontario, Canada were investigated to assess isotopic variability at a single site within a temperate-humid climatic zone. This work quantifies seasonal δ13C and δ15N variation, tests for correlation of δ13C and δ15N with weather parameters, and evaluates the isotopic responses of these grasses to location within the dune system. Throughout the 2014 growing season, there was ~ 1 to 2 ‰ change in δ13C and ~ 3 to 4 ‰ change in δ15N that was related to plant development. Foliar δ13C and δ15N are significantly correlated to total summer precipitation amount and, under some conditions, temperature. The foliar isotopic variations are too small, however, to affect paleoclimatic interpretation of such proxies within such a climatic regime

Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness analysis in normal, ocular hypertensive, and primary open angle glaucoma: an optical coherence tomography study

Background: To correlate the findings of optical coherence tomography (OCT) evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in primary open angle glaucoma, ocular hypertensive and normal eyes.Methods: A 34 consecutive normal, 26 consecutive ocular hypertensives and 40 consecutive glaucomatous eyes underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including applanation tonometry, disc evaluation, gonioscopy and perimetry. Thickness of the RNFL around the optic disc was determined with 3.4 mm diameter-wide 3D 2000 TOPCON OCT. Average and segmental RNFL thickness values were compared among all groups.Results: Of the 100 eyes enrolled, the mean RNFL thickness was significantly less in glaucomatous eyes (83.165±15.938) than in normal’s (102.42±15.2) and ocular hypertensive’s (100.45±7.38). RNFL, average thicknesses in all four quadrants in POAG patients were significantly decreased compared with the OHT and the control groups.Conclusions: RNFL measurement with SD-OCT could provide important information for detection of early stages of glaucoma. (pre-perimetric glaucoma) as well as help in evaluating progression of glaucoma

Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in Patients with Opioid Use Disorders in Primary Care: Evidence for Efficacy

Aim: To investigate effective, non-pharmacological brief interventions (BIs) in the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) process for patients with opioid use disorders (OUDs) in primary care settings.Background: In recent years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has created the evidence-based practice known as SBIRT to identify, reduce and prevent problematic use of alcohol and illicit drugs (“SBIRT”, n.d.). While awareness of this process has risen, there has been a concentration in applying this process to patients with alcohol misuse in acute care areas. With the national opioid crisis on the rise and SUDs prohibiting proper care of chronic conditions, there is a need to identify effective BIs in primary care that do not require further professional licensure credentials or education. Method: A thorough review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar and PsychInfo as data sources (n=14). Findings: Mixed results were found for effective, non-pharmacological BIs. Themes of using motivational interviewing and computerized programs as the BI were found in the studies; however, not all yielded effective outcomes that linked patients to treatment. More research is needed to determine efficient, cost effective interventions in primary care settings.Keywords: opioid use disorder, substance use disorder, SBIRT, brief intervention, primary careBachelor of Scienc

Induction of somatic embryogenesis and genetic fidelity of endangered medicinal herb Curculigo orchioides Gaertn

An efficient regeneration system, through somatic embryogenesis was developed for Curculigo orchioides Gaertn - an endangered medicinal herb. Somatic embryos weredeveloped on MS medium containing 8 - 15μM BA from leaf explants. The highest, 69 % leafexplants responded in terms of embryogenic calli with average 8 embryos on MS mediumcontaining 8μM BA. Regenerated plantlets were transferred to autoclaved mixture of soil:sand: compost (1:1:1; v/v/v) for hardening. Genetic fidelity of somatic embryogenesis derivedregenerant was assessed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)

LOSSLESS METHOD FOR DATA HIDING IN ENCRYPTED IMAGE

ABSTRACT The concept presents an idea to embed data in an encrypted image by using an irreversible approach of data hiding or data hiding, aimed at secretly embedding a message into the data. Massage communication over internet facing problems like data security, copyright control, data size capacity, authentication etc. A new idea is to apply reversible data hiding algorithms on encrypted images by wishing to remove the embedded data before the image decryption. The aim of this dissertation is to create a secure data hiding technology. The data hiding and image encryption are done by using two different keys. That is encryption key and the data hiding key. So the receiver who has the data hiding key can retrieve the data embedded

Adverse drug reactions in a tertiary care teaching hospital in India: analysis of spontaneously reported cases

Background: Epidemiological data are limited regarding clinical characteristic of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in India.Aim: The aim was to assess ADRs with reference to the causative drugs, seriousness and their other clinical characteristics in Indian tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: A spontaneous reporting based ADR monitoring study was conducted over a period of 2 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) definition of an ADR and its seriousness was adopted. The organ system involvement was labeled by WHO-ADR terminology. ADRs were analyzed for causality by Naranjo’s algorithm, preventability by modified Schumock and Thornton’s criteria and types of reactions by Rawlins and Thompson classification. Subgroup analysis was performed between serious and non-serious reactions.Results: Of the total of 135 reactions reported 111 reactions from 97 patients were included for analysis. The incidences of overall and serious ADRs were 0.25 and 0.06 per 1000 patients, respectively. The most commonly implicated organ systems were skin and appendages (52.25%). The major causative drug classes were antimicrobials (40.28%), central nervous system (23.61%) and autacoids (15.97%). About two-thirds of the reactions (65.77%) were classified as probable and one-tenth (8.10%) as preventable. The factors significantly associated with serious reactions were age group 40-60 years (odds ratio [OR]: 5.51), parenteral drugs (OR: 2.96), central and peripheral nervous system disorders (OR: 5.06), body as a whole - general disorders (OR: 9.05) and acute onset reactions (OR: 52.62).Conclusion: Antimicrobials are common causative agents. Cohort study is recommended to confirm the risk factors of serious ADRs in Indian population

Exploring the mysteries of blast induced traumatic brain injury with a custom device

Introduction: Exposure from blast-pressure waves caused by explosive devices have resulted in traumatic brain injuries (TBI) with a variety of symptoms (e.g., tinnitus, depression, coordination, and impaired motor abilities). Blast exposure causes tearing, shredding, and rotational forces on brain structures. This pathology is more prominent in cells at the edge of structures with varying density or in neurons with extensive physical volume or dendritic processes. Understanding the unique pathophysiology of TBI may be critical for appropriate treatment of these injuries. Our lab developed a blast-pressure wave device to produce a supersonic energy wave at 20 psi. This wave is identical to a mild exposure to an explosive device without the secondary effects of shrapnel or heat. Objectives: Animals were tested with a novel blast-pressure wave device to determine whether the method would produce symptoms similar to other animal TBI experiments or human TBI patients. Methods: Animal behavior was tested for tinnitus with acoustic startle tests, depression with forced swim tests, and motor function with free-field tests before and after blast-pressure wave exposure. For each behavioral test, the behavior for each animal was compared to its own normal (pre-blast exposure) measures to determine if alterations in behavior (symptoms) developed due to the blast-exposure. Behavioral measures and the rate of symptom development were compared for the blast-exposed animal group versus a control group that were exposed to the sound but not the energy of the blast-pressure wave. Results: The results indicate that the blast-pressure wave device is able to provide consistent supersonic blast pressure-waves that can inflict TBI in a rodent model. Blast-exposed animals exhibited long-term symptoms of depression and tinnitus that were not expressed in control animals. These symptoms persisted for over 3 months. No motor impairments were observed in either the control or blast-exposed groups. Conclusions: The developed blast-pressure wave device is a reliable method for induction of a mild traumatic brain injury for TBI experiments. Induced TBI symptoms in our rodent populations were similar to human symptoms associated with mild blast-pressure wave exposure. Therefore, these methods provide a valid experimental model for examining both pathology and potential therapies for TBI