INTRODUCTION: HIV/AIDS is a global health problem, with Sub-Saharan Africa the most affected. “Neuro-AIDS” refers to the extensive neuropathological manifestations of the disease. Neuroimaging of the HIV-infected individual plays a fundamental role in their work-up. Limited resources, however, drive the development of imaging protocols based on clinical signs. ‘Confusion’ may or may not represent a significant presenting sign and needs to be investigated, as it is the basis of referral of a significant number of patients for CT scanning. AIM: To determine the frequency of positive findings of head CT in HIV-infected adults presenting with confusion with/without associated neurology, and correlate them with the degree of immunosuppression, presence of CSF abnormality and their ARV therapy status. METHOD: CT brain scans of adult patients, who were HIV-positive and presented with confusion in Johannesburg, Gauteng, were retrospectively reviewed. The neurological status, CD4 counts, LP results and their ARV therapy status were documented. RESULTS: 30% of our HIV-infected patients presented with confusion. There were 156 patients who were included. CT scans were abnormal in 81%. We found that ‘associated neurology’ was a weak predictor for abnormal CT, making it a poor screening tool. A positive LP was predictive of infection (p=0.04 for focal infection, p=0.03 for infected surface collection) and infarction (p<0.01) on CT. CD4 count, LP results and ARV therapy were found to be abnormal in the majority of patients. CONCLUSIONS: CT was abnormal in the majority of HIV-infected patients presenting with confusion. Neurology was an unreliable clinical indicator. A positive LP was a good predictor for CT evidence of infection and infarction. The clinical parameters such as CD4 counts, LP results and ARV therapy, were abnormal in the majority of patients. If any of these parameters are abnormal in a patient with a normal CT, we believe this should motivate for further imaging with MRI.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Feb. 17, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Cone snails are carnivorous marine mollusks, utilizing their neuropeptide-rich venom for prey capture. The venom of Conus brunneus, a wide-spread Eastern Pacific vermivore, has not been extensively studied. In the current work, peptides from the dissected venom were characterized and tested using preliminary bioassays. Six peptides (A-F) were isolated and tested. Three peptide identities were determined by comparison with previously reported data: bru9a (A), bru3a (F), and an a-conotoxin (E). Preliminary screening in a stroke-related model of induced glutamate excitotoxicity in primary neuronal cells and PC12 cell cultures indicated potential neuroprotective activity of peptide fractions A, D, and F. Further testing is necessary to determine and verify structure, activity, target, and mechanism of action of the promising peptides from C. brunneus, which may prove effective neuropharmacological agents to treat stroke. / by Rebecca A. Crouch. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

This thesis describes the development of an systems biology method to study transcriptional programs that are activated during early and late phases of cell-fusion mediated reprogramming, as well as an implementation of systems-level analysis using reverse-engineered regulatory networks to study CNS disorders like Alcohol Addiction, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and Parkinson's Disease (PD). The results will show an unprecedented view into the mechanisms underlying complex processes and diseases, and will demonstrate the predictive power of these methodologies that extended far beyond their original contexts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 126-144).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-114).

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Feb. 7, 2008). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 97 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.