Thesis (M.D.)--University of Pennsylvania, 1807. / Microform version available in the Readex Early American Imprints series.

This document only includes an excerpt of the corresponding thesis or dissertation. To request a digital scan of the full text, please contact the Ruth Lilly Medical Library's Interlibrary Loan Department (rlmlill@iu.edu).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 1921. / "Private edition, distributed by the University of Chicago libraries, Chicago, Illinois." "Reprinted from the Journal of infectious diseases, vol. 29, no. 5." LC copy replaced by microfilm. Also available on the Internet.

Human rhinovirus (HRV) is responsible for the majority of common cold infections and asthma exacerbations. HRV predominantly replicates in the epithelial cells of the upper airway, where common cold symptoms are produced. However, HRV also enters the lower airway, encountering the epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages thought to produce inflammatory responses during HRV-induced asthma exacerbations. Notably, alveolar macrophages release inflammatory mediators such as MCP1/CCL2 and RANTES/CCL5 in response to HRV despite the fact that limited if any HRV replication occurs in these cells. The present study seeks to address the mechanism by which alveolar macrophages are susceptible but not permissive to HRV replication and to identify the step in the HRV replication cycle that restricts HRV to abortive replication in macrophages. Evidence presented herein demonstrates that major-group (ICAM-1 tropic) HRV replicate with limited success in cell line-derived macrophages, whereas minor-group (LDLR tropic) HRV do not replicate in these monocyte-lineage cells. In contrast, neither major- nor minor-group HRV replicate in primary human PBMC-derived macrophages. Capsid swap experiments demonstrated that difference in replicative capacity between major- and minor-group HRV is mediated at the level of permissiveness rather than susceptibility. RNA- Seq gene expression studies identified candidate host genes that may act to regulate HRV replication. These RNA-Seq studies also revealed positive- and negative-sense HRV RNA genomes in monocyte-lineage cells, suggesting that abortive HRV replication takes place within them. Overexpressing interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) implicated in restricting the replication of poliovirus did not affect the accumulation of HRV RNA. Further study will continue to investigate the differences between major- and minor-group HRV responsible for differential replication success in cell-line derived macrophages and characterize the point(s) in the HRV replication cycle at which replication is blocked in primary macrophages. The ultimate goals of these studies are to reveal vulnerabilities in the HRV replication cycle and to identify host factors whose expression might be pharmacologically altered to attenuate HRV infection, thereby providing novel treatment options for controlling the common cold and HRV-induced asthma exacerbations.

Some species of sundew (Drosera spp.), harvested from the wild for use in homeopathic cold remedies, are now endangered. This research consisted of two experiments in hydroponic production of sundew. The first investigated the effects of four nitrogen (N) fertilization levels (0.0, 5.1, 25.5 or 51.0 mg/L added N) and three harvest methods (after two months, four months, and sequential harvest at two and four months) on the growth of Drosera adelae (F. Muell.). In addition, the effect of N on the production of a medicinal active ingredient in D. adelae was examined. The second experiment investigated effects of the same nitrogen treatments in combination with three substrates (long fiber sphagnum, peat or rockwool) on growth. The growth rate of D. adelae was greatest at low levels of nitrogen fertilization, and slowed after two months of growth. Plants that were sequentially harvested had the lowest growth rate among all the harvest method treatments. Young plants and plants that received little or no N fertilizer had a greater water concentration than the other plants. Substrate and N level interacted, but generally peat and rockwool produced greater yields than did sphagnum. The medicinal compound plumbagin and a similar but unidentified compound were detected in the leaf extracts of D. adelae. However, whether N fertilization influenced the concentration of these compounds remains inconclusive.

No description available.

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / Upper Respiratory tract viral infections (URTIs), such as influenza and the common cold, are a group of common infections in the human population. They have a seemingly mild nature, but studies have found them to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide (Wat, 2004). In the western world, the majority of pre-school childrenconsult a doctor for a respiratory infection at least once a year. Conventional medical treatment options are said to be limited, and antibiotics are often unnecessarily prescribed.The frequency of antibiotic prescriptions has caused a resistance of pathogenic bacteria against these antibiotics, and this in turn, has become a major threat to treatment (Schönbeck et al., 2005). A traditional South African herb, Pelargonium sidoides (P. sidoides), has been shown to have antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties in many investigations (Brendler, 2009). No studies have been done to date assessing the efficacy of P. sidoides as a prophylactic for influenza and the common cold in children. This study aimed at establishing the efficacy of Linctagon® Syrup in the prevention of colds and influenza in pre-school children. The study was a double- blind, placebo–controlled study whereby thirty healthy children aged four to six years old were placed into two groups using matched pairs according to gender. Fifteen participants were allocated to the experimental group whereby the Linctagon® Syrup was taken for the duration of the study. The other fifteen participants were allocated in the placebo group for the duration of the study and given a placebo syrup. Parents / guardians were requested to read the Participant Information Leaflet (Appendix B), and sign the Participant Details and Consent Form (Appendix C,) and the participants were requested to sign the Participation of Minor Assent Form (Appendix D). On day 0, the parents / guardians signed the forms and the initial visit took place. The researcher conducted an ear, nose, throat and respiratory examination on each participant and vital signs were measured. The medication was randomised by an independent person at Nativa Laboratories. Each participant received two 150ml bottles of either the Linctagon® syrup or placebo syrup, and parents / guardians were advised on how to administer the medication (Appendix E), by the researcher. The participants were required to take 2.5ml twice daily for a period of sixty days. A Weekly Progress Questionnaire (Appendix F) was handed to the parents / guardians of each child, and they were requested to fill them in over an eight week period. This questionnaire assessed the wellness of the child for the duration of the study and involved a 4-point rating system to assess the severity of symptoms for both influenza and the common cold. Weekly telephone calls were made to the participants’ parents / guardians to follow up on progress. A final visitation occurred on day 60, and included the collection of the questionnaires. The parents / guardians were requested to fill in a score card at the end of the study, rating the effectiveness of Linctagon® Syrup in the prevention of colds and influenza in their child (Appendix G). The data was statistically analysed by Statkon at the University of Johannesburg by means of non-parametric tests, namely: descriptive data, Cochran’s test, Chi-square test, cross tabulation, Mann-Whitney U test and the Friedman test. The research study determined that Linctagon® Syrup did not have a statistically significant effect in the prevention of influenza and the common cold in children, in support of the null hypothesis. Linctagon® Syrup also had no effect on reducing the incidence, frequency or duration of symptoms in those children who became ill, however this may be due to the relativity low dosage prescribed. Further large scale studies are recommended to validate these results.The score card (subjective rating on the efficacy of the syrup) showed a statistically significant result between the two groups, in favour of the treatment group.

This study investigated the relationship between specific psychosocial factors and susceptibility to the common cold in a sample of 124 distance runners. A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess the role of life events, coping, hardiness, training workload and competition frequency in the athlete's risk of infection. Using correlational statistical techniques, it was found that the magnitude of recent life changes and the avoidance coping strategy of denial were positively related to self-reported symptoms of the common cold. Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation was observed between hardiness and symptom duration scores. However, approach coping, training workload and competition frequency were not significantly related to the dependent measures. The results of this study suggest that certain stress-related psychosocial factors are associated with susceptibility to the common cold in distance runners. Several strategies for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in this group are implied by these findings. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

This study investigated the relationship between specific psychosocial factors and susceptibility to the common cold in a sample of 124 distance runners. A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess the role of life events, coping, hardiness, training workload and competition frequency in the athlete's risk of infection. Using correlational statistical techniques, it was found that the magnitude of recent life changes and the avoidance coping strategy of denial were positively related to self-reported symptoms of the common cold. Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation was observed between hardiness and symptom duration scores. However, approach coping, training workload and competition frequency were not significantly related to the dependent measures. The results of this study suggest that certain stress-related psychosocial factors are associated with susceptibility to the common cold in distance runners. Several strategies for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in this group are implied by these findings. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)