Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, San Francisco, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-05, Section: B, page: 2370. Adviser: Donald E. Ganem.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-11, Section: B, page: 7128. Adviser: Benita Katzenellenbogen. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, San Francisco, 2010. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 71-05, Section: B, page: . Adviser: Mark S. Anderson.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, San Francisco, 2009. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-10, Section: B, page: 5937. Advisers: Renee A. Reijo Pera; Michael S. German.

<p> Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a recessive genetic disease resulting from mutation in the dystrophin gene that causes loss of the <i>dystrophin </i> protein, which is known to be found in muscle and brain tissue. In muscle, dystrophin is located in the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC), which has been shown to aid in force transduction across the sarcolemma (Turrina <i> et al,</i> 2013). DMD patients suffer from a progressive degeneration of muscles leading to loss of ambulation, and a shortened lifespan. Dystrophic muscle is characterized by cycles of degenerating fibers, fibrosis, increased fat deposition, split fibers, and hyaline fibers. Glucocorticoids (GC) are the most effective treatment of DMD, but these drugs only slow the progression of the disease and are known for their severe adverse effects. Skeletal muscle regeneration has been shown to be a spatio-temporally regulated process. Our laboratory has developed the theory that the cause for the failure of regeneration in dystrophic muscle is the result of inappropriate cross-talk between areas that are at different stages of regeneration. Furthermore, we hypothesize that glucocorticoids are effective due to their ability to resynchronize gene expression. In order to test our theory, we have developed a model of asynchronous regeneration in healthy muscle by creating cross-talk using multiple injuries with myotoxins. We found that placing injuries 10 days apart produced muscle histology with many of the features of dystrophic muscle. In the future, we can use this model to test the effectiveness of glucocorticoid treatment in resynchronization. As glucocorticoids are also an endogenous hormone, we sought to determine if their secretion was inherently altered in mdx mice. We found that mdx mice have a significantly dampened circadian endogenous glucocorticoid rhythm of secretion compared to wildtype mice. We also found that administering glucocorticoids in line with circadian rhythm of the endogenous hormone improves muscle histology. In the future, we could use more animals in a longer trial to determine if a chronotherapeutic approach to treatment of dystrophin-deficiency improves efficacy and decreases side effects of glucocorticoids. As dystrophin is expressed in regions of the brain responsible for glucocorticoid regulation, it is possible that lack of dystrophin is directly responsible for the change in endogenous glucocorticoid secretion. This is an important novel hypothesis that should be examined in the future.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Brown University, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

<p> Ring canals are made from arrested cleavage furrows, and provide direct cytoplasmic connections among sibling cells. They are well documented for their participation in Drosophila oogenesis, but little is known about their role in several somatic tissues in which they are also found. Using a variety of genetic tools in live and fixed tissue, I demonstrate that the &sim;250 nm diameter somatic ring canals permit rapid intercellular exchange through somatic ring canals by diffusion. Additionally, intercellular diffusion of protein was observed between cells with highly disparate levels of mRNA transcript, suggesting a possible role for ring canals in smoothing gene expression within a tissue. I also used a novel combination of markers to evaluate the extent of protein movement within mitotic clones and across clone boundaries in ovarian follicle cells and imaginal discs, providing evidence of robust movement of GFP between the two sides of mitotic clones and frequently into non-recombined cells. These data suggest that, depending on the experimental setup and proteins of interest, inter-clonal diffusion of protein may alter the interpretation of clonal data in follicle cells. Our work illustrates the lack of cytoplasmic autonomy in these tissues and suggests a role for somatic ring canals in promoting homogeneous protein expression within the tissue.</p>

Thèse (M.Sc.)--Université de Sherbrooke (Canada), 2008. / Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 1 février 2007). In ProQuest dissertations and theses. Publié aussi en version papier.

FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Introdução: O ângulo de fase (AF) é um marcador de integridade celular e tem sido associado com a massa muscular e força, entretanto, não se sabe se o AF é preditor destes parâmetros e da sarcopenia em indivíduos que realizaram transplante renal. Objetivo: Associar o AF com a sarcopenia e seus componentes em pacientes transplantados renais. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo transversal com 129 transplantados renais em tratamento ambulatorial. O AF e a massa muscular estimada a partir da resistência por meio da equação de Janssen et al. foram avaliados por meio da bioimpedância elétrica Biodynamics® 450. Os participantes foram subdivididos de acordo com os valores da mediana do AF por sexo (6,1º para mulheres e 6,6º para homens). A força de preensão manual (FPM) foi avaliada com o dinamômetro Jamar® e a capacidade funcional foi avaliada pelo teste de caminhada de 4 metros. A sarcopenia foi diagnosticada segundo o critério do consenso europeu para diagnóstico de sarcopenia. Resultados: Os indivíduos com menor valor de AF apresentaram maior chance de ter a FPM alterada, após ajustes para sexo, idade, peso, estatura e uso de medicamentos imunossupressores (OR=3,71; IC 95%: 1,101-12,516). Entretanto, o AF não se associou com a sarcopenia (OR=1,25; IC 95%: 0,486-3,239), massa muscular (OR=0,52; IC 95%: 0,185-1,440) e capacidade funcional (OR=1,61; IC 95%:0,341- 7,647). Conclusão: O AF foi associado com a FPM, porém não se associou com a sarcopenia e seus outros componentes. Estes resultados sugerem que o AF pode ser utilizado como preditor da força muscular de transplantados renais, mas não de sarcopenia. / Background: Phase angle (PhA) is a cell health marker and has been associated with muscle mass and strength in non-kidney disease individuals. However, it is unknown whether PhA is a predictor of sarcopenia and its components in kidney transplantation patients. Aim: The aim of the present study was to associate the PhA with sarcopenia and its components in kidney transplantation patients. Methods: One hundred and twenty nine kidney transplantation individuals were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Phase angle and muscle mass were obtained using bioelectrical impedance. Handgrip strength (HGS) was performed with a hand dynamometer; and the functional capacity with 4-meter walking test. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the European Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for Sarcopenia. Participants were subdivided according to the median values of PhA (6.1º and 6.6º for women and men, respectively). Results: Individuals with lower PhA values showed higher odds to present low HGS (OR = 3.71; 95% CI: 1.101-12.516), after adjustments for sex, age, weight, height, and use of immunosuppressive drugs. However, lower PhA was not associated with sarcopenia (OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 0.486-3.239), low muscle mass (OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.185- 1.440), and functional capacity (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 0.341-7.647). Conclusion: Phase angle was associated with HGS but not with sarcopenia and its other components. These results suggest that PhA can be used as a possible predictor of muscle strength in kidney transplantation patients. Keywords: Bioelectrical impedance; Muscle strength; Kidney transplantation; Cell health / Dissertação (Mestrado)