Zugl.: Trier, Univ., Diss., 2004

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1940.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1948.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1940.

This prodrome sought to define through research, the material. composition, historic foundations, significance and technical development of glass as a window-glazing material for ecclesiastical, and later secular purposes, and examining thus its determining role in the development of architecture. The history and techniques of stained glass, an art-form linked more than any other to the mythology and dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, were traced; its history is thus one with that of the church, rising to its greatest glory during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and declining from the late fifteenth to the seventeenth centuries. The iconography of the church was examined, and the development of window and tracery types discussed through reference to pertinent examples on both sides of the English Channel. Subjects, stylistic and technical factors, sources of reference, ecclesiastical influences, were all within the context of social and political history . viewed. Intro., p. 1-2.

No description available.

The purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is an ionotropic adenosine triphosphate(ATP) receptor which is closely linked with pathological conditions in the central nervous system (CNS). Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors with presently no cures. The roles of the P2X7R in these diseases have not been previously studied and in this work, I have used the rat C6 glioma as an experimental model system to investigate expression and function of the P2X7R in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro study has examined expression of the P2X7R in C6 cells and the involvement of this receptor in mediating cell functional responses. C6 glioma cells were found to express the P2X7R at both mRNA and protein levels. The P2X7Ragonist, 2', 3 '-(benzoy1-4-benzoy1)-ATP (BzATP) induced an increase in intracellularCa2+ concentration, an effect which was largely inhibited by periodate-oxidized ATP(OxATP), an irreversible P2X7R antagonist. BzATP treatment of C6 cells also resulted in ethidium bromide dye uptake indicating pore formation was induced byP2X7R activation. Chronic exposure of C6 cells to BzATP showed up-regulation of several pro-inflammatory factors including the chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) and the angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) suggesting the P2X7R in C6 cells is involved in mediating inflammation in tumors. In addition, BzATP treatment was found to enhance wound-induced cell migration, an effect which was inhibited in the presence of OxATP, or another P2X7R antagonist, Brilliant Blue G (BBG). The in vivo study examined whether pharmacological modulation of P2X7R with BBG altered tumor growth. C6 glioma cells were implanted into the striatum of rat brain and in situ P2X7R expression was shown to be associated with glioma cells and resident microglia. Preliminary results have indicated that inhibition of P2X7R leads to a reduced volume of brain tumors formed by transplanted C6 cells. The overall results from this study demonstrate the novel finding that C6 glioma cells express functional P2X7R and suggest pharmacological modulation of theP2X7R could serve as an effective strategy to inhibit the development and progression of brain tumors.

The corneal epithelium is a vital tissue which must retain its integrity to preserve vision and protect against harmful bacterial infections and other insults. Corneal disease represents the second most common cause of world blindness after cataract.1 Examination of this tissue is therefore important in any ophthalmic routine, and in particular in contact lens practice where an increased number of factors, such as lens material, lens fit, care solution and contamination may directly affect its integrity. The ocular surface cell collection apparatus (OSCCA) allows safe and efficacious collection of human corneal epithelial cells2 and may provide the ability to examine cytological changes to the human cornea during lens wear. The overall objective of this project was to demonstrate the efficacy and reliability of the OSCCA as a tool to collect human corneal epithelial cells and examine cytological changes to the human cornea. This was achieved by characterizing the phenotype and viability status of cells collected from the ocular surface using the OSCCA and by comparing the obtained results with samples collected using other non-invasive techniques. There was a high level of uncertainty whether or not the cells collected were in fact corneal or conjunctival epithelial cells. Chapter 2 and 3 showed the Hoechst and PI were not optimal stains to measure the viability status of cells collected with the OSCCA because there was an unanticipated overlap of the fluorescence from PI+ nucleated cells into the blue spectrum and the Hoechst stained both live and dead cells. Chapter 4 looked at other cytological stains and concluded that the LIVE⁄DEAD® Viability⁄Cytotoxicity Kit (calcein AM/ethidium homodimer-1) was the most appropriate stain to use with the OSCCA collected cells due to the lack of overlap between stains. Chapter 3 showed that cells that stained with sodium fluorescein stained with only Hoechst and not PI. Since Hoechst stains live and early apoptotic cells and PI stains cells that are late stage apoptotic, necrotic and dead cells, we can conclude that sodium fluorescein stains live and early apoptotic cells. Similarly in chapter 5 it was found that cells that stained with sodium fluorescein stained exclusively with calcein blue AM and not ethidium homodimer-1.

The purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is an ionotropic adenosine triphosphate(ATP) receptor which is closely linked with pathological conditions in the central nervous system (CNS). Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors with presently no cures. The roles of the P2X7R in these diseases have not been previously studied and in this work, I have used the rat C6 glioma as an experimental model system to investigate expression and function of the P2X7R in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro study has examined expression of the P2X7R in C6 cells and the involvement of this receptor in mediating cell functional responses. C6 glioma cells were found to express the P2X7R at both mRNA and protein levels. The P2X7Ragonist, 2', 3 '-(benzoy1-4-benzoy1)-ATP (BzATP) induced an increase in intracellularCa2+ concentration, an effect which was largely inhibited by periodate-oxidized ATP(OxATP), an irreversible P2X7R antagonist. BzATP treatment of C6 cells also resulted in ethidium bromide dye uptake indicating pore formation was induced byP2X7R activation. Chronic exposure of C6 cells to BzATP showed up-regulation of several pro-inflammatory factors including the chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) and the angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) suggesting the P2X7R in C6 cells is involved in mediating inflammation in tumors. In addition, BzATP treatment was found to enhance wound-induced cell migration, an effect which was inhibited in the presence of OxATP, or another P2X7R antagonist, Brilliant Blue G (BBG). The in vivo study examined whether pharmacological modulation of P2X7R with BBG altered tumor growth. C6 glioma cells were implanted into the striatum of rat brain and in situ P2X7R expression was shown to be associated with glioma cells and resident microglia. Preliminary results have indicated that inhibition of P2X7R leads to a reduced volume of brain tumors formed by transplanted C6 cells. The overall results from this study demonstrate the novel finding that C6 glioma cells express functional P2X7R and suggest pharmacological modulation of theP2X7R could serve as an effective strategy to inhibit the development and progression of brain tumors.

The corneal epithelium is a vital tissue which must retain its integrity to preserve vision and protect against harmful bacterial infections and other insults. Corneal disease represents the second most common cause of world blindness after cataract.1 Examination of this tissue is therefore important in any ophthalmic routine, and in particular in contact lens practice where an increased number of factors, such as lens material, lens fit, care solution and contamination may directly affect its integrity. The ocular surface cell collection apparatus (OSCCA) allows safe and efficacious collection of human corneal epithelial cells2 and may provide the ability to examine cytological changes to the human cornea during lens wear. The overall objective of this project was to demonstrate the efficacy and reliability of the OSCCA as a tool to collect human corneal epithelial cells and examine cytological changes to the human cornea. This was achieved by characterizing the phenotype and viability status of cells collected from the ocular surface using the OSCCA and by comparing the obtained results with samples collected using other non-invasive techniques. There was a high level of uncertainty whether or not the cells collected were in fact corneal or conjunctival epithelial cells. Chapter 2 and 3 showed the Hoechst and PI were not optimal stains to measure the viability status of cells collected with the OSCCA because there was an unanticipated overlap of the fluorescence from PI+ nucleated cells into the blue spectrum and the Hoechst stained both live and dead cells. Chapter 4 looked at other cytological stains and concluded that the LIVE⁄DEAD® Viability⁄Cytotoxicity Kit (calcein AM/ethidium homodimer-1) was the most appropriate stain to use with the OSCCA collected cells due to the lack of overlap between stains. Chapter 3 showed that cells that stained with sodium fluorescein stained with only Hoechst and not PI. Since Hoechst stains live and early apoptotic cells and PI stains cells that are late stage apoptotic, necrotic and dead cells, we can conclude that sodium fluorescein stains live and early apoptotic cells. Similarly in chapter 5 it was found that cells that stained with sodium fluorescein stained exclusively with calcein blue AM and not ethidium homodimer-1.