Adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) neurons are unable to extend axons after injury, partially owing to the inhibitory myelin and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) present in the environment. A neuron's intrinsic state is also important for determining its regenerative potential. Peripheral nervous system (PNS) neurons, unlike their CNS counterparts, have increased ability to regrow their axons after injury, even in the presence of inhibitory molecules. With the goal of discovering novel regeneration associated genes, we have isolated the genes differentially expressed by PNS neurons. We then developed a high throughput neuronal transfection method to test whether these genes were sufficient to modify neurite growth in vitro. Using high content screening, we measured the ability of cerebellar neurons to initiate neurite outgrowth on inhibitory and permissive substrates. This combination of technologies (subtractive hybridization, microarray, high throughput electroporation and high content screening) allowed phenotypic examination of neurons after the overexpression of over a thousand genes. Additionally, kinases and phosphatases were assayed for their ability to modify neurite outgrowth in hippocampal neurons. Results from both of these large unbiased screens confirmed many of the existing candidates for neurite growth during development and regeneration. We also discovered many novel genes which promoted neurite outgrowth such as GPX3, EIF2B5, RBMX, CHKA, IRF6, and PKN2. To accurately interpret the large volume of data, new methods of analysis were performed. Finally, we developed novel techniques that took advantage of public databases to cluster genes and determine whether those clusters produced robust changes in neurite growth. In summary, we have provided a vast repository of functional data to study axon development and regeneration after injury as well as developing the tools needed to interpret that data.

Photorefraction is a technique that has been used in the past two decades for pediatric vision screening. The technique uses a digital or photographic camera to capture the examinee‟s retinal reflex from a light source that is located near the camera‟s lens. It has the advantages of being objective, binocular and low cost, which make it a good candidate for pediatric screening when compared to other methods. Although many children have been screened using this technique in the U.S., its sensitivity and other disadvantages make it unacceptable for continued use. The Adaptive Photorefraction system (APS) was developed at the Center for Laser Applications (CLA) at the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) to correct the problems in the existing PS devices. APS was designed to determine quantitatively binocular refractive errors and strabismus and to accomplish these tasks objectively, without the need of medical professionals, and it is capable of performing these objectives and reporting the digitally recorded results within one- to-two minutes. In this dissertation, two APS prototypes were constructed, and measurements were performed using both an artificial eye and human subjects. Binocular measurements of refractive error were determined, and the effects of the variation of pupil-size and gaze angle were determined. After initial corrections for ocular scattering effects, measurement of the binocular refractive error of forty human subjects was achieved, and in the myopic region with uncertainty of the method was 0.6 diopter. Ocular alignment determinations were achieved, and using a novel cover-uncover test, strabismus detection was demonstrated.

Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York at Buffalo, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 45-46). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Also available online.

Cancer is one of the major causes of death in the western world. Resistance to anti-cancer drugs and diagnostic difficulties are major obstacles to successful treatment. This thesis describes studies based on microarray expression analysis and high-throughput compound screening for identification of resistance mechanisms, drug targets and diagnostic markers. In paper I-IV, we applied global expression analysis and measurements of drug response in a human tumor cell line panel to identify drug targets and resistance mechanisms. In paper I, we identified gene transcript levels that correlate with drug resistance and sensitivity. Both well known and new potential markers and mechanisms were identified. In paper II, we showed that STAT1 activity is associated with cross-resistance to both doxorubicin and radiation in vitro and that fludarabine can counteract STAT1 activity and reduce resistance. In Paper III-IV, cell lines were exposed to a compound library consisting of more than thousand different substances in a high-throughput screening effort. These studies revealed that cell line models of squamous cell carcinoma (Paper III) and drug resistant myeloma (Paper IV) are sensitive to phosphodiesterase inhibitors and glucocorticoids respectively. The target molecules for these drugs were over-expressed at the mRNA level and constitute likely explanations for the observed drug potency. In paper V, we identified mRNA markers for the distinction between two types of thyroid tumors, thyroid follicular adenomas and thyroid follicular carcinomas, by means of microarray expression analysis. Our results indicated that distinction between the two tumor types is possible with a small number of markers.

No description available.

Våld kan vara självförvållat, interpersonellt eller kollektivt. Våld i nära relationer mot kvinnor förekommer i alla länder oberoende av social-, ekonomisk-, religiös- eller kulturell tillhörighet och resulterar i kortsiktig och långvarig ohälsa för den utsatta kvinnan i form av bland annat posttraumatisk stress, fysiska skador och låg självkänsla.Sjuksköterskan ska enligt rådande lagar och riktlinjer ge stöd och hjälp för att främja och återställa hälsa, förebygga sjukdom och lindra lidande. Sjuksköterskan har därför ett ansvar att uppmärksamma och hjälpa de våldsutsatta kvinnorna.Screening används för att i ett tidigt skede upptäcka individer i riskzonen för ohälsa. De screeninginstrument som används ska vara valida och reliabla. Mellan år 1979 och 2003 utformades 33 olika screeninginstrument för våld i nära relationer, däremot finns ännu ingen ”Gold standard” för att se till att validiteten upprätthålls. I Sverige idag finns inga screeningprogram för våld i nära relationer mot kvinnor.

No description available.

The purpose of the present study was to construct and validate a brief screening instrument to support parent(s) and preschool/kindergarten teachers in monitoring and screening for cognitive impairment and/or delay in preschoolers. The target population of interest is all preschoolers <i>at-risk</i> for poor psychosocial and school outcomes due to chronic and acute dysfunction of the central nervous system (CNS). The accessible populations of interest to the present study are pediatric cancer survivors, preschoolers with alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND), being preterm low birth weight, and/or diagnosed with various learning disabilities. The past practice of waiting until an <i>at-risk</i> child experienced poor school outcomes before being referred for cognitive assessment toward tailoring an intervention is no longer defensible. For the present study, a 61-item screening instrument (18 memory items, 19 verbal ability items, 15 attention items, and 9 demographic items) was pilot tested with parents, playschool teachers, and kindergarten teachers to rate preschoolers on overt behaviours associated with cognitive functioning. A criterion-referenced framework was used to establish a performance standard and set a cut score based on a sample of 151 normally functioning preschoolers aged 4:0- to 5:11-years. The various empirical and substantive analyses conducted resulted in a revised scale of 28 items (10 memory, 11 verbal ability, and 7 attention) titled, <i>Screening Test for the Early Prediction of School Success</i> (STEPSS). Given the need for a future study to validate the STEPSS with clinical groups of preschoolers, the screening instrument is intended to provide the empirical evidence needed to refer <i>at-risk</i> preschoolers for assessment with more comprehensive cognitive batteries. Constructing and validating the STEPSS is important for two reasons: 1) to fill a gap in the types of instruments available for monitoring and assessing cognitive functioning in <i>at-risk</i> preschool populations; and 2) to alleviate the current delay in targeting interventions for preschoolers because of the practice of depending upon the school system to monitor and identify poor cognitive functioning.

No description available.