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The complete search strategies of "Efficacy and safety of transanal endoscopic operation in benign rectal tumors"
No full textComplete search strategies for the systematic review and meta-analysis titled: "Efficacy and safety of transanal endoscopic operation in benign rectal tumors
The Impact of Cross-Sector Collaboration on Economic Development
No full textCross-sector collaboration is a valuable tool to address difficult societal challenges. Solving societal problems within boundaries, or sector silos, is a decreasing trend. Collaboration, particularly cross-sector collaboration, is emerging as an effective method for addressing social challenges. However, executing cross-sector collaborations can be difficult based on the differences between the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Differences, in the form of internal forces and external pressures, can be prohibitive to the collaboration or put a strain on the collaboration. Given the importance of cross-sector collaboration, further research on how to sustain cross-sector collaboration can provide more consensuses on collaborative practices, which could lead to more robust results to some of our society's most challenging issues. Economic development, a social issue that most nations, regions, or local communities discuss and invest in, can be positively affected by cross-sector collaboration through successful sustainability. This research focused on a business incubator, a form of economic development that involved local partner organizations in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Through the lens of participants in the business incubator, leaders from partner organizations from different sectors that support the business incubator, and members of stakeholder organizations that support the business incubator, this study focused on the collaborative experience and the outcomes, consequences, and effects of collaboration. Ultimately, this study advances extant research by providing some insight into how to mitigate risks for the benefit of sustaining the cross-sector collaboration
MODULATING MMP-9 SUBSTRATE PREFERENCE TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION POST-MI
No full textWorldwide, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is escalating, with myocardial infarction (MI) significantly contributing to the heightened rates of morbidity and mortality. Notably, one in every four MI patients progress to heart failure (HF). Following an MI, the left ventricle (LV) undergoes extensive alterations in both its structure and function, a phenomenon referred to as LV remodeling. The inflammatory response triggered by MI can exacerbate ventricular remodeling, culminating in chamber dilation, progressive dysfunction, and an elevated risk of HF. The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a crucial role in post-MI wound healing, with proteolytically-released ECM fragments, known as matricryptins, exhibiting significant biological activity. In this dissertation, we conducted an extensive examination of the roles of a cardiac collagen matricryptin in the acute inflammatory response that follows infarction, placing a specific emphasis on how this matricryptins alters remodeling of the ECM. Previous work from our lab showed this matricryptin, p1159, significantly reduces long-term cardiac remodeling post-MI. Our objective was to determine whether p1159 beneficial effects stem from alterations to the acute inflammatory response, identifying it as a viable anti-inflammatory strategy for the treatment of cardiac remodeling. Additionally, this approach aimed to determine if exogenous delivery of p1159, as a competitive substrate of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, is sufficient to mitigate MMP-9 proteolysis of cardiac ECM post-MI. Since MMP-9 directly correlates with mortality and morbidity in MI patients, identification of a novel modulator of MMP-9 proteolytic activity could lead to a new therapeutic strategy aimed at mitigating cardiac dysfunction. In the first study presented in this thesis, we explored the impact of the collagen-derived matricryptin p1159 on the initiation, progression, and resolution of inflammation following MI, aiming to identify potential therapeutic targets to mitigate adverse LV remodeling. Utilizing a rodent model of MI, we meticulously measured various inflammatory markers, assessed the infiltration, numbers, and phenotype of leukocytes, and quantified both systemic and local levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines from day 3 (D3) and day 5 (D5) post-MI in both adult males and females. These time points are known for presenting peak levels of neutrophils and macrophages, respectively, post-MI in rodents. Our study showed that while matricryptin p1159 treatment does not change the number of infiltrating leukocytes into the LV post-MI, it altered both neutrophil and macrophage phenotype by reducing expression of pro-inflammatory molecules. Surprisingly, our study did not reveal sex-dependent differences. In the second study of this thesis, we aimed to understand how alterations in the substrate profile of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Utilizing Terminal Amine Isotopic Labeling of Substrates (TAILS) proteomics, we compared and quantified the peptidome in mice treated with either control vehicle or the matricryptin p1159. Through this study, we sought to address three pivotal questions: 1) Is p1159 a competitive substrate of MMP-9 in vivo? By modulating MMP-9 proteolytic capacity, as opposed to inhibiting the enzyme, can we effectively reduce adverse LV remodeling post-MI?; 3) What are the molecular and cellular consequences of reducing MMP-9 activity on myocardial substrates in the immediate post-MI response? Here, we demonstrate p1159 treatment significantly reduced formation of naturally cleaved peptides, particularly at D3 post-MI, suggesting that p1159 presence decreases proteolysis of endogenous substrates. Specifically, p1159 treated LVs presented reduced formation of known MMP-9 products, showing that p1159 can act as a competitive substrate of MMP-9 in vivo. Our study opens a new research avenue for the MMP world and offers a novel approach to modulate proteases' capacity without inhibition to preserve their beneficial roles. Furthermore, this research demonstrated how omics approaches can be applied to fundamental research questions, providing insights that can be later translated into clinical settings
Research study aims to advance benefits of precision nutrition
No full textMedical and dietetic students often co-author a column for the Daily Reflector under Dr. Kolasa's byline. The students research the topic a reader or patient has asked. Dr. Kolasa reviews their draft for technical accuracy, patient friendly language, people first language. She fact checks the study or other evidence-based reference the student provides. If a physician review is appropriate, Dr. Kolasa requests a colleague from ECU physicians to review the article. The final draft is submitted to the Reflector with the editor having the final say. The headline is written by the Reflector headline writer. The food and nutrition column has run weekly since 1987. Starting in 2020, in addition to the Daily Reflector, the article is published in daily and weekly papers owned by the Adams Publishing Group East (https://adamspg.com)This is a weekly Q and A newspaper column under the byline of Dr. Kathy Kolasa. Today's column is about the future of precision medicine and the NIH's All of Us effort that will revolutionize both precision nutrition and precision medicine.Non
Livermush Full of Nutrients, but Enjoy in Moderation
No full textMedical and dietetic students often co-author a column for the Daily Reflector under Dr. Kolasa's byline. The students research the topic a reader or patient has asked. Dr. Kolasa reviews their draft for technical accuracy, patient friendly language, people first language. She fact checks the study or other evidence-based reference the student provides. If a physician review is appropriate, Dr. Kolasa requests a colleague from ECU physicians to review the article. The final draft is submitted to the Reflector with the editor having the final say. The headline is written by the Reflector headline writer. The food and nutrition column has run weekly since 1987. Starting in 2020, in addition to the Daily Reflector, the article is published in daily and weekly papers owned by the Adams Publishing Group East (https://adamspg.com)This is a weekly Q and A newspaper column under the byline of Dr. Kathy Kolasa. Today's column is on the nutritional profile of livermush
Investigating Co-planning and Co-teaching in Higher Education Statistics
No full textCo-planning and co-teaching are relatively new in comparison to the field of education. Initially, it was used as a method of collaboration between general education teachers and special education teachers. In recent years, the math education department at East Carolina University has pushed for student teaching to implement the co-teaching model in their internships.
As educators, we should strive to implement new methods that can assist with creating an environment that promotes growth within new educators, and co-teaching is an accessible and effective method. My findings will illustrate the benefits of implementing a co-teaching model regarding the development of my own teacher identity, course development, and the effect that co-teaching has on students
Animals at the zoo make me emotional: Can animal behavior affect visitor conservation behaviors?
No full textZoos are a popular form of entertainment where viewing animals is used to promote conservation. Research has explored the efficacy of zoos promoting pro-conservation behavior (PCB) as well as how zoos shape the viewing experience to promote conservation goals. Studies have found visitors' viewing and interactions with animals create empathy-based reactions creating a sense of connection with the animal which can be linked to pro-conservation behavioral intentions (PCBI). In turn, PCBI has been found to link to PCB post-visit but is under-researched. Additionally, visitors' emotions have been found to influence engagement in PCB; however, this relationship is still not fully understood. The purpose of this study is to explore visitors' emotional responses to animal activity and how this influences PCBI. A total of 241 zoo visitors were surveyed regarding the animal they found to be most interesting during their visit, reactions to the viewing experience, PCBI, and PCB they performed prior and during their visit. Results revealed that animal behaviors have an effect on the zoo visitor's connection to that animal. There was a positive relationship between visitor connection to animals and PCBI. Retail-related PCB is encouraged in zoos as part of promoting conservation as well with results revealing that most onsite PCB was retail-related
Calcium Phenotyping and Ionophores in mus musculus Sperm
No full textSperm capacitation is the process of maturation of a sperm cell for fertilization, defined by several key events. Capacitated sperm display a hyperactive motility state and release their acrosomal vesicles. These changes promote the ability of an individual sperm cell to find and fuse with the egg. Currently, the intracellular changes that occur during capacitation are poorly understood. However, it is known that calcium ion and bicarbonate concentration in the environment are key signaling molecules that effect change. Calcium and bicarbonate are transported into the cell by several membrane transport proteins, including the testis-specific CatSper and a Ca2+/HCO3- cotransporter. Here, we examine changing intracellular calcium concentrations in response to environmental conditions using spectral plate assays and flow cytometry in order to further our understanding of the capacitation signal mechanism. Indo-1 dye was used to fluorescently measure intracellular calcium in response to the ionophores ionomycin and A23187
Nutrient Enrichment Effects on Wetland Soil Bacterial Traits
No full textSoil microbiomes participate in nutrient transformations that result in bioavailable nutrients for maintaining global biodiversity. However, land use change and industrialization modify environmental conditions that influence bacterial interactions, ultimately altering microbial diversity and plant-microbe relationships. For example, nutrient enrichment from atmospheric deposition onto low-nutrient but high-biodiversity ecosystems is increasing. We hypothesize that this nutrient enrichment will modify species interactions between bacterial species and between bacteria and plants from cooperative to competitive ways. We tested this hypothesis using soil bacteria isolated from a long-term wetland fertilization experiment (Greenville, North Carolina, USA). This ecological experiment (est. 2003) examines how nutrient additions (N-P-K fertilizer) and disturbance (by mowing) affect wetland plants and microbial community structure and function. We measured growth rates and compared antibiotic resistance trends for bacteria in the genera Bacillus isolated from fertilized/mowed and unfertilized/mowed plots. Results have revealed that nutrient enrichment tends to increase soil bacterial growth rates. The results from this work will help us understand how human activities that involve indirect nutrient enrichment influence wetland soil microbiomes and plant-microbe associations
Whole-Body Metabolic Flexibility is Discordant with Skeletal Muscle Metabolism
No full textMetabolic disease continues to be a worldwide problem that affects all ages, sexes, and socioeconomic statuses. The development of metabolic disease is multifactorial with both genetic and environmental components. Because of this, interest has grown in the early identification of individuals susceptible towards the development of metabolic disease. Metabolic flexibility has gained standing as a metric of metabolic health and can be defined as the ability to appropriately adapt substrate utilization in response to substrate availability. Skeletal muscle (SkM) is a regulator of metabolic flexibility as it is the primary tissue responsible for post-prandial substrate handling, and metabolic inflexibility can be seen in the SkM of individuals with metabolic disease. As Western style diets are proportionally heavy in fats and implicated in the development of obesity, metabolic flexibility with lipids is of particular interest. High-fat diets (HFDs) are a common and successful approach for distinguishing differences in metabolic flexibility with lipids across populations. Some evidence exists for metabolic inflexibility in healthy, lean individuals, which suggests metabolic flexibility may be an innate component of SkM. Studies of individuals with overweight allow insight into the intrinsic characteristics of SkM that promote the development of metabolic disease, yet this population remains largely understudied. The current study aimed to assess metabolic flexibility in a population of healthy individuals with overweight with a 3-day HFD. In chapter 2, we show that the participants studied are sedentary, have overweight, and do not display evidence of dysglycemia or dyslipidemia. Participants did not differ in dietary habits before or during the diet. Metabolic flexibility was calculated as the change in SkM homogenate palmitate oxidation with the high-fat diet. Metabolically flexible individuals show almost a two-fold increase in palmitate oxidation with the diet, while inflexible individuals decrease oxidation by about one-third of pre-diet rates, and this occurs without any changes to pyruvate oxidation. Metabolic flexibility was not associated with skeletal muscle fiber type. The change in the respiratory quotient during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp is a classical approach towards assessing metabolic flexibility; we found that this was not associated with metabolic flexibility when measured as the change in palmitate oxidation in homogenates with the diet. Additionally, flexible and inflexible participants did not differ in mitochondrial function. Taken together, this indicates that metabolic flexibility is an innate component of SkM and can be seen prior to any clinical evidence of metabolic disruption, and metabolic flexibility is not associated with either muscle fiber type or mitochondrial function. In chapter 3, we utilized primary human skeletal muscle stem cells (HSkMCs) of the same cohort of participants studied in chapter 2. We show that a 3-day HFD does not result in changes in HSkMC metabolism measured by substrate oxidation, glycogen synthesis, and protein content of mitochondrial markers and PGC1a. Cells were additionally incubated with a lipid cocktail for 24 hours, which has been shown to help distinguish differences in metabolic flexibility in HSkMCs. Even with lipid treatment, no effect of the HFD was seen. Although participants were stratified based off the change in palmitate oxidation seen in SkM homogenates, a main finding was that HSkMCs of flexible individuals show enhanced glucose metabolism seen as higher glucose oxidation efficiency. Interestingly, measures of HSkMC lipid metabolism did not associate with similar measures of homogenate lipid metabolism. Together, these data provide novel findings demonstrating that metabolic inflexibility is present in SkM prior to detection at the whole-body level and occurs without any clinical markers of metabolic disturbance