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Investigating the Role of Ca2+ and the Acto-myosin Mechanism on the Human MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line
Get PDFCancer cells have shown to exhibit enhanced potential to metastasize via increased actin-myosin crossbridge formation, which requires increased Ca2+ influx via the voltage-gated calcium channels.
This then leads to the activation of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). MLCK then phosphorylates myosin light chain and forms the actin-myosin cross bridges
Additionally, the PI3-Kinase/Akt pathway is critical for cell survival and division, which works from the activation of Akt through phosphorylation of PI,4,5BP by PI-3 kinase.
These two critical cell survival pathways have been extensively studied in the field of breast cancer cell research and my research is primarily focused on investigating the role of VGCC, MLCK and PI-3 kinase on MCF-7 cell viability by using pharmacological inhibitors to assess significant changes in morphology and cell survival via microscopy and MTT assays
Metagenomic analysis reveals gestational diabetes mellitus-related microbial regulators of glucose tolerance.
No full textAIMS: Recent studies have suggested a possible association between microbiota and gestational diabetes (GDM). However, the results are inconsistent. Our objective was to investigate further the relationship between GDM and microbiota and verify the potential microbial marker.
METHODS: Two complementary approaches were used for the demonstration. First, we compared the gut microbial composition of 23 GDM patients and 26 non-GDM ethnically Chinese Han pregnant women, by using whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing of their stool samples collected at the third trimester. Second, we used Q-PCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) to evaluate the gut microbial composition in the stool samples from another cohort of 150 Chinese pregnant women (113 Control and 37 GDM), to further confirm the potential microbial marker.
RESULTS: The gut microbiota of GDM women show lower albeit not statistically significant (p = 0.18) alpha diversity at the species level than non-GDM women. However, the species-level beta-diversity or between-sample diversity measured by Bray-Curtis distance shows significant differences (p \u3c 2.2e-16) between the two groups. The species Bacteroides dorei positively correlated with both OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) 0-Hour (p = 0.0099) and OGTT 1-Hour (p = 0.0070). There is a similar trend between Bacteroides sp. 3_1_33FAA and both OGTT 0-Hour (p = 0.014) and OGTT 1-Hour (p = 0.0101) response variables. The species Alistipes putredinis negatively correlated with OGTT 1-Hour (p = 0.0172) and OGTT 2-Hour (p = 0.0147). Q-PCR validation further confirmed the association between the glucose tolerance loci of Bacteroides dorei and OGTT response.
CONCLUSIONS: Gut microbiome is related to the diabetic status of Chinese women during pregnancy. Specific species such as Bacteroides dorei associate with glucose response and could be potential monitoring and therapeutic microbial markers for GDM
Developing a Fluorescence Assay to Test the Effects of Saccharin on Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacteria
No full textBeta-carotene Conversion to Vitamin A Delays Atherosclerosis Progression by Reducing Very-Low Density Lipoprotein Lipidation
No full textA positive association between beta-carotene (BC)-rich food intake and a reduction in metabolic disorder incidence, including heart disease, is prevalent in humans. Similarly, preclinical research finds dietary BC supplementation to reduce atherosclerosis progression. These beneficial outcomes are attributed to the antioxidant effects of BC and/or its role as retinoic acid precursor, which is produced by the activity of the enzyme beta-carotene oxygenase 1 (BCO1). To ascertain how BC reduces atherosclero-sis progression, and the mechanisms involved we utilized Ldlr-/- mice lacking the en-zyme BCO1 (Bco1-/-). BC-fed Ldlr-/- mice showed a significant reduction in plaque size when compared to control diet, which positively correlated with a decrease in plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels (approximately 35% for both). These mice showed delayed atherosclerosis progression, determined by the total macrophage (CD68+ cells) and lipid content (ORO staining) in the plaque, which could not be explained by the effect of vitamin A in the intestinal cholesterol absorption, measured using the fecal dual-isotope ratio method. We also observed for the first time that in the absence of BCO1 (Ldlr-/-/Bco1-/- mice), the beneficial effects of BC on atherosclerosis were abro-gated, implicating vitamin A production in atherosclerosis, and discarding any role of the parent BC in this process. To elucidate the mechanism of action behind the effects of BC on atherosclerosis progression, we used radioisotope labeling techniques to perform lipoprotein production assays in hepatocytes exposed to retinoic acid, the active metabolite derived from BC. We show that retinoic acid decreases VLDL cholester-ol and triglyceride lipidation (approximately 25% for both) without affecting VLDL particle number. Similarly, a single dose of retinoic acid was sufficient to reproduce the effects observed in cell culture, unveiling retinoic acid and its precursor BC as important modulators of VLDL secretion. Overall here we demonstrate that BC, a retinoic acid precursor in mammals, reduces atherosclerosis progression by reducing hepatic lipoprotein secretion, providing a mechanistic explanation to the positive effects of BC intake in humans
Expanding Renal Transplant Selection Criteria to Include HIV Infected Candidates
Get PDFBackground and Review of Literature: Renal transplantation has a significant survival benefit over dialysis and is the recommended treatment modality for ESRD in the eligible HIV infected candidate. However, there are multiple disparities in accessing renal transplant among this group including restrictive selection criteria as determined by individual transplant centers. Only 20% of potentially eligible HIV infected candidates progress towards activation to the renal transplant waiting list in comparison to 73% of their non-HIV infected counterparts. Purpose: Ensure equitable access to renal transplant by modifying the existing selection criteria at a faith-based institution to include eligible HIV infected candidates for renal transplantation. Methods: A single center, prospective observational cohort study was conducted to determine the influence of modifying selection criteria to include eligible HIV infected individuals with ESRD in reducing disparities for access to renal transplantation. As the theoretical framework, Lewin\u27s Change Management model served to assess organizational readiness and permanency of selection criteria modification. Implementation Procedure: 329 dialysis units were notified in writing of the modified selection criteria with instructions on referring patients for renal transplantation. A comparative analysis of the volume of HIV infected ESRD patient referrals, evaluations, listings and transplants six months prior to and three months post. intervention was performed. Conclusions: Six HIV infected patients with ESRD were referred for renal transplantation postintervention which correlated to a 200% increase by volume. 33% advanced to the evaluation phase. None of the participants were activated to the waiting list or received a transplant. Additional observation is warranted to establish the efficacy or modifying selection criteria in increasing the access of HIV infected ESRD patients to renal transplantation
Effects of Mentoring on Job Satisfaction
Get PDFBackground: Hospitals have experienced nursing shortages and high rates of turnover for years. Healthcare organizations have sought answers to these problems, such as stressful work environments, lateral violence, perceived lack of support and general job dissatisfaction. Hospitals\u27 nursing workforce is being affected in a large way; therefore, a solution is needed. Hospitals around the United States and in other countries have instituted mentoring programs to increase job satisfaction and increase nursing job retention. Objective: The purpose of this project was to implement and assess the effectiveness of a mentoring program at a Midwestern Hospital. Methods: A mentoring program was developed that paired new employees with a mentor who had been employed by the organization for a minimum of one year. The mentor-mentee pairs attended a training session at the beginning of the project and then met monthly. The Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) was utilized as a pre and post-survey to assess the effect of the mentoring program. Results: There was 100% mentee participation in the pre-survey with a mean MSQ score of 86; only 42% mentees participated in the post survey, with a mean MSQ score of 83. Nurse turnover rate prior to the implementation of the project was 9.09%; this rate dropped to 4.54% after the project. Conclusion: The mentoring intervention helped the mentees to establish supportive relationships with established nurses. Program protocol was not strictly followed exhibited by several deviations including low response to the post-survey. Due to low post-survey responses, the effect of the intervention could not be adequately evaluated. Although there was not 100% participation in the completion of the post-intervention questionnaires the responses received indicated a positive effect