Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy). "January 2006." Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the World Wide Web.

M.Sc. (Botany) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Class of 2005 Abstract / Objective: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively determine if individuals within the SAVAHCS home-based patient population with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus are receiving an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) based on recent evidence supporting its use in these patients. Research Design: A retrospective, chart review of 41 patients with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus from November 1, 2004 to December 31, 2005. Methodology: This was a retrospective, chart review of all patients within the SAVAHCS home-based population with an active diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Once the patients were identified, their clinical profiles were extracted from the VISTA computer system. The patients had data regarding age, gender, diabetes type, diagnoses of heart disease and hypertension, type of ACE- Inhibitor prescribed, blood pressure, HgbA1c, and height and weight in order to calculate body mass index (BMI). The patients were classified as either having or not having ACE-Inhibitor therapy. Results: The total number of diabetic patients currently receiving an ACE-Inhibitor was 24 (58.5%). This was significantly lower than the value of 80% predetermined (p=0.0352). Thirty-one patients were also found to have a diagnosis of hypertension (75.6%), with 18 of these patients having a prescription for an ACE-Inhibitor (43.9%). Four patients (9.8%) who were not currently on an ACE- Inhibitor had a documented history of cough induced by the use of these drugs. Clinical Relationships: ACE-Inhibitors are drug agents used to treat hypertension. They have also been shown to be of significant clinical value in diabetic patients, in both renal protective effects as well as to reduce cardiovascular risk, the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients.

No description available.

No description available.

LD2668 .T4 1948 D5 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1978 M68 / Master of Science

A heat stable protease was identified as the cause of textural degradation in cooked arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) muscle. Maximum proteolytic activity in the fish muscle was observed between 55°C and 60°C and myosin heavy chain appeared to be the primary substrate for the enzyme. Degradation of this myofibrillar protein at 55°C was extremely rapid and myosin heavy chain was completely hydrolyzed to peptide fragments smaller than actin, while actin itself was unaffected. A single strand 32kD proteolytic enzyme was extracted from the muscle and purified 125-fold. The enzyme was stable to freezing for up to 6 months. Activity of the semi-purified enzyme at 55°C was optimal against casein between pH 6.0 and 7.0. Sulfhydryl reagents p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid, iodoacetate, iodoacetamide and cystatin were effective in inhibiting enzyme activity in casein assays. The serine protease inhibitors phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride and trypsin-chymotrypsin inhibitor appeared to activate enzyme activity against casein. Adenosine triphosphate was also an activator. Arrowtooth flounder was then considered as a raw material for surimi, since the surimi process provides for repeated washing of the minced muscle and a final mixing step during which inhibitory substances can be conveniently added. Arrowtooth muscle was monitored at all stages of surimi production. There was no evidence of myosin degradation on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide electrophoretic gels at any time during surimi production or during the preparation of samples for testing. However, when the washed mince was incubated at 55°C, 12% residual proteolytic activity was observed. This level was sufficient to degrade the myosin component of surimi gels prepared from the control surimi to which no inhibitors had been added. The food grade substances tested for proteolytic inhibition were bovine blood plasma powder, egg white powder, whey protein concentrate, carrageenan and crude α₂-macroglobulin. Addition of plasma and/or egg white powders to control surimi resulted in a product that was comparable to pollock in functional properties as measured by gel strength, expressible moisture and fold tests. Electrophoretic comparison of surimi made with 1.0% or 2.0% plasma powder or egg white with surimi produced with 0.1% or 0.2% α₂-macroglobulin suggested that the plasma and egg white contributed gel enhancing effects in addition to protease inhibition. Carrageenan was not effective as either a protease inhibitor or gel enhancer. / Graduation date: 1992

This study elucidates the temporal expression and regulation of transglutaminase (TGase) and ornithine decarboxylase (ODCase) during cell proliferation and differentiation. In synchronized CHO cells, there were two peaks of TGase activity expressed in G₁ and a smaller peak of activity in mid S phase. ODCase exhibited a single peak of expression in mid G₁ which was inhibited by the administration of both cycloheximide and actinomycin D. In contrast, the increase in TGase activity was not inhibited at any time measured by administration of either cycloheximide or actinomycin D to these cells. TGase activity in CHO cells was not affected by the addition of analogs of cyclic AMP, whereas ODCase activity was increased at all times measured. Retinol administration increased TGase activity 1 hr after release in CHO cells and the activity remained elevated for 4 hr. Retinol administration resulted in the inhibition of ODCase expression in these cells. The administration of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) to mouse melanoma cells resulted in a biphasic increase of TGase activity and a single peak of ODCase activity within 7 hr. In melanoma cells, addition of cycloheximide abolished the first peak of TGase activity but not the second peak. Actinomycin D did not inhibit either peak of TGase expression. The administration of both cycloheximide and actinomycin D inhibited ODCase activity after MSH stimulation. Analogs of cyclic AMP, when added to log phase mouse melanoma cells, increased ODCase but not TGase activity at all points measured. In these cells, retinoic acid plus MSH markedly enhanced the activity of the initial TGase peak compared to MSH alone. ODCase expression was attenuated with retinoic acid plus MSH. Dexamethasone (DEX) induced the first peak of TGase activity but not the second peak seen with MSH administration alone. Administration of DEX resulted in a peak expression of ODCase activity approximately 30% of that seen with MSH alone. In general, chelation of extracellular calcium with EGTA totally blocked ODCase expression with MSH, retinoic acid or DEX. Partial or total ablation of TGase expression was seen with addition of MSH or retinoic acid, but very little inhibition of this enzyme was evident when EGTA was added with DEX or DEX plus MSH. Addition of calcium after all CA⁺⁺-blocks restored the expression of both enzymes.

Class of 2010 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: To comprehensively review medical literature and report angiotension converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-­‐I) adverse drug reactions including, incidences, mechanism of action, predisposing conditions, and report prevention and treatments. METHODS: This was a descriptive retrospective study of data related to ACE-­‐I adverse drug reactions other than ACE-­‐I induced cough. It was to review the ADR that accompany with the use of ACE-­‐I. Literature obtained through search engines MEDLINE and OVID SP available through the Arizona Health and Science Library at the University of Arizona. RESULTS: This comprehensive literature review looked at angioneurotic edema, orthostatic hypotension, hyperkalemia, and increased risk of bleeding and anaphylaxis with tPA and to a minor extent Elevated serum creatinine, and Teratogenicity. Angioneurotic edema (angioedema) reports initially estimated an incidence of 0.1 to 0.7%. A comprehensive review suggested the incidence was even lower at 0.1 to 0.2%, but the OCTAVE trial that specifically looked at angioedema as an endpoint estimated an incidence of ~0.7% although the study only had a 24-­‐week follow up. Most patients that discontinued treatment due to angioedema experienced symptom relief within 72 hours. The incidence of orthostatic hypotension from a study that followed patients on lisinopril was only 0.25%;moreover, a meta-­‐analysis by Agusti et al included 51 RCT that reported a relative risk of developing OH on an ACE-­‐I alone was 1.95. Hyperkalemia incidence reporeted varied from 1.1% to 10%; the more recent literature suggests a value near the lower end of this range. Elevated serum creatinine appears to occur early in ACE-­‐I treatment with discontinuation resolving in resolution. ACE-­‐I have been shown to be teratogenic during any trimester and should generally be avoided in pregnancy. There appears to be an increased risk of bleeding and anaphylactoid typer reactions when alteplase and ACE-­‐I are used simultaneously. Muravyov et al reported the viscosity of whole blood and plasma to be decreased after only three weeks of ACE-­‐I administration. CONCLUSIONS: With the continued increasing use of ACE-­‐Is and the drug class' ability to achieve therapeutic outcomes in a wide array of patient populations, it is important to better understand the processes and mechanisms behind the ADRs associated with ACE-­‐I therapy. A basic understanding of incidence rates and physiologic mechanisms will allow clinicians to properly assess the probability of causation and better treat patients who have experienced an ACE-­‐I induced ADR. However, an in-­‐depth level of understanding can help guide clinicians in making decisions that will hopefully decrease the amount of ADRs their patients experience or prevent their patients from developing ACE-­‐I related ADR altogether. It is important to note that, in most of the aforementioned ADR situations, treatment consists of ACE-­‐I discontinuation and avoidance of future exposures.