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B vitamins are of interest in preventative and protective strategies in cardiovascular disease. However, the safety and efficacy of B vitamins has been questioned. Previous research from this group has demonstrated that B6 supplementation alone or in combination with folic acid and B12 reduces angiogenic response. This study determined the effect of vitamin B6 deficiency on the angiogenic response after ischemia in vivo and in vitro using a rodent model. Results indicated that vitamin B6 deficiency enhanced the early angiogenic response by increasing blood flow in vivo after an ischemic event. In vitro measurements demonstrated that vitamin B6 deficiency influenced endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) function and angiogenic growth factor release early after ischemia. In conclusion, B6 deficiency appears to have a modest effect on increasing blood flow and angiogenic markers after ischemia. Additional research is needed to further characterize the impact of lowered vitamin B6 on angiogenesis and its mechanisms.

B vitamins are of interest in preventative and protective strategies in cardiovascular disease. However, the safety and efficacy of B vitamins has been questioned. Previous research from this group has demonstrated that B6 supplementation alone or in combination with folic acid and B12 reduces angiogenic response. This study determined the effect of vitamin B6 deficiency on the angiogenic response after ischemia in vivo and in vitro using a rodent model. Results indicated that vitamin B6 deficiency enhanced the early angiogenic response by increasing blood flow in vivo after an ischemic event. In vitro measurements demonstrated that vitamin B6 deficiency influenced endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) function and angiogenic growth factor release early after ischemia. In conclusion, B6 deficiency appears to have a modest effect on increasing blood flow and angiogenic markers after ischemia. Additional research is needed to further characterize the impact of lowered vitamin B6 on angiogenesis and its mechanisms.

Graduation date: 1980

Thesis--Auburn University, 2005. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 32-35).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1941. / Typescript. Includes abstract and vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-53).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1964. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: l. 67-73.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition characterised by a collection of signs and symptoms indicative of focal median nerve dysfunction within the anatomical confines of the carpal tunnel at the wrist. The syndrome appears to be multifactorial in its aetiology. It has been asociated with certain systemic disorders, (e. g. Diabetes Mellitus, Acromegaly), factors related specifically to the movements and actions of the wrists and hands, (e.g., repetitive manual work, prolonged pinching and grasping and the use of vibratory hand held tools) and other conditions or characteristics which are systemic in nature but do not necessarily represent diseases (e. g. pregnancy, side effects to certain drugs). Recent reports suggest that vitamin B6 deficiency might play a role in the development of CTS. A review of the literature has shown there to be a paucity of analytical epidemiological data concerning these hypothesized risk factors. A study was therefore undertaken to investigate the association between a set of risk factors identified in the literature, (including low vitamin B6 status) and CTS. The study design selected was that of a pair matched case-control study. In this way, associations between aspects of CTS, aspects of vitamin B6 status and other hypothesized risk factors were examined. Thirty four cases were identified (electrophysiologically) and these were matched (for sex and age +/-3 years) with controls attending physiotherapy departments for accidental injuries involving the lower half of the body. Data were collected at interview, examination, and using a self administered questionnaire. Venous blood samples were also obtained from 32 cases and 20 controls. Vitamin B6 status was assessed using an enzyme stimulation assay, (Erythrocyte Glutamate Oxaloacetic Transaminase or EGOT). No statistically significant differences between the cases and controls regarding any aspects of vitamin B6 status were evident. These findings were confirmed by comparison with a group of fifty healthy volunteer subjects, (university staff). The need for further elucidation regarding the possible role of vitamin B6 in the treatment is highlighted. Cases statistically outnumbered controls with respect to the performance of repetitive manual work (p=0.019; exposure odds ratio = 5.0) and participation in leisure pursuits (p=0.03; exposure odds ratio = 2.75) involving the use of the hands. This supports the findings of other studies reported in the literature. The cases reported significantly more oedema (p=0.04; exposure odds ratio 3.0) and stiffness, (p=0.001) than the controls. A significant impairment in the range of movement of the index finger was noted. Certain of these symptoms have been reported to occur in groups of CTS sufferers and improve upon vitamin B6 therapy. The implications of these and other findings are discussed in the light of the current knowledge of the many hypothesized risk factors.

The numbers and species of coliforms and group D streptococci isolated from water samples taken from above and below a sewer outfall by the membrane filtration method were compared. In addition, group D streptococci obtained from a variety of clinical sources were also speciated. The numbers of coliforms below the outfall were shown to increase by a factor of 36, whereas group D streptococci below increased by a factor of 150, as compared with the counts above. Speciation of the isolates indicated that Escherichia coli and Enterobacter species were the most common Coliform species from both sampling sites. Streptococcus faecalis strains were the most prevalent group D streptococci from below the outfall and from clinical sources whereas Streptococcus faecium var casseliflavus strains predominated above. The determination of the Faecal Coliform (FC) to Faecal Streptococci (FS) ratios indicated that pollution in both sites was mainly from human origin. The "in vitro" susceptibility of all isolates to antibacterial agents was tested by the agar dilution method. Chloramphenicol and trimethoprim were most active against all coliform isolates, followed by tetracycline, cephalexin, sulphamethoxazole, ampicillin and streptomycin in that order. Drug resistant coliforms were encountered from both sampling sites, and a significant number of multiple drug-resistant coliforms, particularly E. coli were detected. Both E. coli and Enterobacter species from below the outfall showed a statistically significant increase in resistance to ampicillin, and E. coli strains from below the outfall also showed a statistically significant increase in resistance to stilphamethoxazole as compared with isolates from above. Ampicillin and penicillin were the most active drugs against all species of group D streptococci. Of the two aminoglycosides tested gentamicin was more active than streptomycin. Erythromycin was highly active against more than half of the strains. Tetracycline resistance was most frequent followed by Streptomycin. Streptococcus bovis and Streptococcus equinus strains were, in general, more susceptible to the drugs tested than were the other species. Streptococcus faecium strains displayed the widest range of resistance to the drugs tested. No multiple-drug-resistant group D streptococci species were encountered above the outfall, but a few isolates from below and from clinical sources were multiple-drug-resistant. Statistical analysis showed no significant increase in drug resistance between isolates from above as compared with isolates from below. Conjugation studies indicated that for both groups of organisms, the drug resistance markers were transferable. Curing experiments with acridine orange showed a very low capacity of the agent to eliminate the R-factors from these bacteria.

Vitamin B6 was discovered almost 90 years ago, and since then it has received a lot of interest from the scientific community due to its role in human health and its impact on several biochemical processes. One of the most interesting aspect of vitamin B6 studied in the past decade is its role in cancer. From the research on this subject so far, the following can be suggested: early-stage cancer cells have a higher vitamin B6 content than normal cells due to its role in metabolic processes. As the cancer makes progress, there is a change in vitamin B6 activation and trapping in the cell, decreasing the amount of active vitamin B6 in the cell in order to resist cell death. From these conclusions, we can see that vitamin B6 could potentially be an interesting radiotracer to use for diagnosis and staging of cancers. One of the most predominant form of imaging which is done nowadays to detect and diagnose cancers is Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. Research on PET imaging is driven by the potential of new radiotracers which can be added to the current arsenal of tools for the fight against cancer. Therefore, this project focuses on the attempted synthesis of two potential radiotracers derived from vitamin B6 based on the insertion of fluorine-18. None of the two proposed radiotracers were successfully synthesized but we successfully synthesized one cold standard and difluorinated pyridoxine with cold conditions similar to radiochemistry. The main issues which were faced were the degradation of the potential precursors when attempting fluorination, the lack of reactivity of intermediates for the formation of precursors and an acetyl migration leading to the wrong precursors. By using a milder fluorination strategy to avoid degradation (room temperature, no free fluoride source: AgF2 as fluorinating agent), the 6-Fluoropyridoxine cold standard was synthesized. By changing the protection strategy (not using any acetyl groups), acetyl migration was avoided which led to the synthesis of a difluorinated pyridoxine using mild conditions (room temperature). The difluorination was also successful using harsher conditions (heat). There is still a lot of work to do to synthesize a radiotracer derived from vitamin B6 but there are some signs that this may be possible with additional work.