Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2009. / Typescript (photocopy). "January, 2009." Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-227). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Iowa, 2007. / Supervisor: Aloysius Klingelhutz. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-153).

No description available.

Since the discovery of mycotoxins in food, the thrust of biochemical and toxicological research has been carried out on animals which has proven to be uncoordinated and not easily extrapolated to humans. Over the last decade, there have been increasing pressures to review and reduce the use of animals in experimental toxicological studies. Consequently in this study aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (Zea) and their epoxide derivatives have been evaluated using in vitro assays. The HepG2, A549 and Hela cell lines were used for assessing the cytotoxicity, effects on cellular metabolism and sites of action of AFB1, Zea and their derivatives. The cytotoxicity of these mycotoxins was evaluated using the methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) reduction assay. Cells, treated with mycotoxins were prepared for transmission electron mlcroscopy (TEM), immunocytochemistry (ICC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal and light microscopy. From the cytotoxicity assay it was found that the epoxide derivatives were more toxic than the parent toxin when exposed to HepG2 cells with no significant differences in toxicity levels in A549 and Hela treated cells. Both epoxide derivatives displayed a regression of hepatoma cell proliferation at high doses (25ug/ml) while lower concentrations (<12.5ug/ml) enhanced cell growth. Microscopy analyses showed distinct cellular alterations. When exposed to AFB1 (12.5ug/ml) hepatoma cells showed prominent ultrastructural alterations such as areas of cytoplasmic lysis and increased numbers of secondary lysosomes while cells exposed to Zea (l2.5ug/ml) displayed numerous ovoid mitochondria and proliferation of rough endoplasmic reticulum which is indicative of enhanced protein synthesis. The presence of label in toxin treated cells is suggestive of the effects of these mycotoxins. Such cellular changes may lead to altered metabolism and cell function. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1996.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Fumonisin B1 (FB1), potentially cytotoxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins are common contaminants of agricultural commodities in South Africa and thus could be detrimental to the human immune system. Many of the cytotoxic effects of AFB1 require its bioactivation to an epoxide, which will bind covalently to macromolecules to form protein and DNA adducts. Fumonisin B1 is a competitive inhibitor of sphingosine and sphinganine N aceyltransferase, which are key components in the pathways for sphingolipid biosynthesis. Accumulation of free sphingoid bases, which are both cytotoxic and mitogenic, could provide a plausible explanation for the toxicity and carcinogenicity of FB1. The cytotoxic effects of AFB1 and FB1 on normal human lymphocytes, individually and in combination were assessed using the methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) bioassay. Two different methods of treatment were used, the treatment of isolated normal human lymphocytes for 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours and whole blood treated for 12 hours. Flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy were used to determine whether AFB1 and FB1 (5uM and 50uM), individually or in combination, were capable of inducing apoptosis, necrosis or nuclear fragmentation in isolated lymphocytes and whole blood treated for 12 hours. DNA damage was evaluated using the comet assay. The results showed that AFB1routinely induced higher levels of cytotoxicity in isolated lymphocytes than FB1. In the combination treatment, the mitogenic properties of FB1 appeared to partially counteract the cytotoxic effect exerted by AFB1. When whole blood was treated with the same concentration and ratio of toxin, FB1 was shown to be more cytotoxic than AFB1. The combination treatment of whole blood was shown to be cytotoxic in a dose dependent manner. The toxins appeared to exert a greater cytotoxic effect, when treated in combination than individually at higher concentrations. Aflatoxin B1 induced increased levels of apoptosis and necrosis in isolated lymphocytes while treatment with the FB1 resulted in increased levels of apoptosis at both concentrations. Treatment with the combination also resulted in increased levels of apoptosis. The levels of apoptosis were reduced in whole blood lymphocytes when compared to isolated lymphocytes. However, treatment with AFB1 and FB1 resulted in increased levels of apoptosis. Both AFB1 and FB1 are capable of inducing nuclear fragmentation. Treatment with FB1 (5uM and 50uM) resulted in greater degree of fragmentation than AFB1. The most nuclear fragmentation was induced by the 5uM combination treatment. The 50uM combination treatment of isolated lymphocytes induced the most DNA damage. As both toxins are common contaminants and have been known to coexist, this could be a potential area of concern for public health. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 2008. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 46-05, page: 2719. Adviser: Asha Kapadia. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alberta, 2010. / A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on April 24, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Orientador: João Ernesto de Carvalho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-25T17:18:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Zafred_RafaelRosolenTeixeira_M.pdf: 2402931 bytes, checksum: 1695b8ad500015e973737d3b719cde53 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Astronium fraxinifolium Schott., conhecido popularmente como "Gonçalo Alves", é uma espécie vegetal característica de regiões tropicais e tem sua distribuição no Cerrado Brasileiro, possui o caule e as folhas ricos em substâncias tânicas. Relatados populares indicam a utilização de A. fraxinifolium no tratamento de diarreias, disenterias, anti-séptico, anti-microbiano, antihemorrágico, cicatrizante, anti-inflamatório e antiulcerogênico. Devido o uso popular e a insuficiência de dados na literatura, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar as potenciais atividades farmacológicas desta espécie em modelos experimentais in vitro (atividade antiproliferativa em cultura de células) e in vivo (toxicidade aguda, modelos de nocicepção, inflamação e tumor sólido murino) O material vegetal (cascas do caule e folhas) obtido das coletas foram secos e triturados, o pó obtido foi utilizado para obtenção dos extratos por maceração mecânica e sistema Soxhlet. Estes foram avaliados conforme seu rendimento e demonstraram a presença de taninos hidrolisáveis, como compostos majoritários, e flavonoides. No teste realizado em cultura de células tumorais e não tumorais de diferentes origens os extratos apresentaram, em sua maioria, uma ação citostática na maior concentração testada (250µg/mL). Por outro lado, nos testes relacionados com atividade antinociceptiva extrato bruto das folhas demonstrou atividade nas doses de 100 e 200mg/Kg no modelo da formalina em ambas as fases. Nos modelos inflamatórios (úlcera induzida por indometacina, edema de pata induzido por carragenina e edema de orelha induzido por óleo de cróton) as doses de 100 e 200mg/Kg, no modelo de edema de pata induzido por carragenina, e as doses de 150 e 300mg/Kg, no modelo de edema de orelha induzido por óleo de cróton, demonstraram atividade anti-inflamatória. Considerando que aproximadamente 25% dos tumores estão relacionados com inflamações crônicas, o extrato das folhas de A. fraxinifolium foi avaliado no modelo experimental do tumor sólido de Ehrlich no flanco, demonstrando inibição do crescimento tumoral na dose de 100mg/Kg. Sendo assim, os resultados experimentais sugerem que a espécie A. fraxinifolium possui atividade antiinflamatória dos componentes do extrato bruto, corroborando com sua utilização popular. Além de promover inibição do crescimento tumoral indicando que os componentes do extrato podem atuar em outros processos além do inflamatório. Porém, outros estudos necessitam ser realizados para identificar a classe de compostos que promoveram as atividades farmacológicas da espécie / Abstract: Astronium fraxinifolium Schott., popularly known as "Gonçalo Alves", is a species characteristic of tropical regions with their distribution in the Brazilian Cerrado, has stems and leaves rich in tannic substances. Reported the use of folk medicinal indicate A. fraxinifolium in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, antiseptic, anti-microbial, antihaemorrhagic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory and antiulcerogenic. Due to popular use and insufficient data in the literature, this study aimed to evaluate potential pharmacological activities of this species in vitro experimental models (antiproliferative activity in cell culture) and in vivo (acute toxicity models of nociception, inflammation and tumor solid murine) The plant material (stems and leaves) samples were obtained from dried and crushed, the powder obtained was used to obtain the extracts, mechanical maceration and soxhlet system. These were evaluated according to their yield and showed the presence of hydrolyzable tannins, as main compounds, and flavonoids. Testing conducted on cultured tumor and non-tumor cells of different origins, the extracts showed mostly a cytostatic action at the highest concentration tested (250?g/mL). Moreover, in tests related antinociceptive crude extract of the leaves showed activity at doses of 100 and 200mg/Kg in the formalin model in both phases. In inflammatory models (indomethacin-induced ulcer, paw edema induced by carrageenan and ear edema induced by croton oil) doses of 100 and 200mg/Kg in paw edema induced by carrageenan model, and the doses of 150 and 300mg/kg, in the ear edema induced by croton oil model, demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity. Considering that approximately 25% of tumors are associated with chronic inflammation, the extract of A. fraxinifolium was assessed in the experimental model of Ehrlich solid tumor in the flank, demonstrating inhibition of tumor growth at a dose of 100mg/kg. Thus, experimental results suggest that the species A. fraxinifolium has anti-inflammatory component of the crude extract activity, confirming its popular use. In addition to promoting tumor growth inhibition indicating that extract components can act in addition to other inflammatory processes. However, other studies should be performed to identify the class of compounds that promoted the pharmacological activity of the species / Mestrado / Fármacos, Medicamentos e Insumos para Saúde / Mestre em Biociências e Tecnologia de Produtos Bioativos

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have the unique ability to differentiate into 200 or so somatic cell types that make up the adult human being. The use of human iPS cells to study development and disease is a highly exciting and interdependent field that holds great promise in understanding and elucidating mechanisms behind cellular differentiation with future applications in drug screening and cell replacement studies for complex and currently incurable cellular degenerative disorders. The recent advent of iPS cell technology allows for the generation of patient-specific cell lines that enable us to model the progression of a disease phenotype in a human in vitro model. Differentiation of iPS cells toward the affected cell type provides an unlimited source of diseased cells for examination, and to further study the developmental progression of the disease in vitro, also called the “disease-in-a-dish” model. In this study, efforts were undertaken to recapitulate the differentiation of distinct retinal cell affected in two highly prevalent retinal diseases, Usher syndrome and glaucoma. Using a line of Type III Usher Syndrome patient derived iPS cells efforts were undertaken to develop such an approach as an effective in vitro model for studies of Usher Syndrome, the most commonly inherited disorder affecting both vision and hearing. Using existing lines of iPS cells, studies were also aimed at differentiation and characterization of the more complex retinal cell types, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and astrocytes, the cell types affected in glaucoma, a severe neurodegenerative disease of the retina leading to eventual irreversible blindness. Using a previously described protocol, the iPS cells were directed to differentiate toward a retinal fate through a step-wise process that proceeds through all of the major stages of neuroretinal development. The differentiation process was monitored for a period of 70 days for the differentiation of retinal cell types and 150 days for astrocyte development. The different stages of differentiation and the individually derived somatic cell types were characterized by the expression of developmentally associated transcription factors specific to each cell type. Further approaches were undertaken to characterize the morphological differences between RGCs and other neuroretinal cell types derived in the process. The results of this study successfully demonstrated that Usher syndrome patient derived iPS cells differentiated to the affected photoreceptors of Usher syndrome along with other mature retinal cell types, chronologically analogous to the development of the cell types in a mature human retina. This study also established a robust method for the in vitro derivation of RGCs and astrocytes from human iPS cells and provided novel methodologies and evidence to characterize these individual somatic cell types. Overall, this study provides a unique insight into the application of human pluripotent stem cell biology by establishing a novel platform for future studies of in vitro disease modeling of the retinal degenerative diseases: Usher syndrome and glaucoma. In downstream applications of this study, the disease relevant cell types derived from human iPS cells can be used as tools to further study disease progression, drug screening and cell replacement strategies.