Lentivirus-mediated gene therapy has curative potential for a variety of disorders, however, insertional oncogenesis still remains a concern. One approach to increase safety of such treatment modalities is to include a ‘cell fate control safety cassette’ in lentiviral vectors (LVs), enabling pharmacological control over the survival of gene-modified cells (GMCs). Two novel LVs with engineered expression of truncated cell surface molecules (CD19 or LNGFR) fused to a ‘cell fate control’ gene (TmpkF105YR200A) were constructed. Results demonstrated these safety cassettes could be used to control the survival of GMCs in a murine xenogeneic leukemia models. For treatment of Fabry disease, a bicistronic LV containing the fusion safety element and therapeutic α-galactosidase A was constructed. Transduction with this vector restored enzyme activity in Fabry patient’s fibroblasts. These collective results demonstrate that this approach is sufficient to eradicate GMCs, and when combined with a corrective cDNA can provide therapeutic benefit for Fabry disease.

Lentivirus-mediated gene therapy has curative potential for a variety of disorders, however, insertional oncogenesis still remains a concern. One approach to increase safety of such treatment modalities is to include a ‘cell fate control safety cassette’ in lentiviral vectors (LVs), enabling pharmacological control over the survival of gene-modified cells (GMCs). Two novel LVs with engineered expression of truncated cell surface molecules (CD19 or LNGFR) fused to a ‘cell fate control’ gene (TmpkF105YR200A) were constructed. Results demonstrated these safety cassettes could be used to control the survival of GMCs in a murine xenogeneic leukemia models. For treatment of Fabry disease, a bicistronic LV containing the fusion safety element and therapeutic α-galactosidase A was constructed. Transduction with this vector restored enzyme activity in Fabry patient’s fibroblasts. These collective results demonstrate that this approach is sufficient to eradicate GMCs, and when combined with a corrective cDNA can provide therapeutic benefit for Fabry disease.

The Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI) was investigated as a potential tool for determining stellar elemental abundances. The FPI is a tunable narrow-band filter that makes it possible to obtain hundreds of stellar spectra simultaneously without the overhead associated with other multi-object spectroscopy techniques. This thesis used simulations and previously acquired data to investigate the FPI and develop data reduction techniques. Using observations of a CaII spectral line, an algorithm was created for fitting a Voigt profile to the spectrum segments. The values for radial velocity & equivalent width were compared to the values found by the group who supplied the data and found to agree well for the radial velocity values but there was some definite scatter in the equivalent width. These differences are attributed to different placement of the continuum level in the spectra. This curve-fitting script was modified to allow the fitting of synthetic spectra to simulated data. In this way it was possible to investigate how precise the abundance determination will be using the Robert Stobie Spectrograph's FPI mode. Large simulations showed that it will be possible to determine abundances to uncertainties of ±0.1 dex. This is an excellent result and should mean that future work using the FPI will give the results desired for large-scale s-process elemental abundance determination in globular cluster stars.

Potsdam, Universiẗat, Diss., 2008.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-79). Also available via the Internet.

A doença de Fabry é um erro inato do metabolismo causado pela deficiência da enzima α-galactosidase A. Esta proteína é codificada por um gene localizado na região Xq21.33-Xq22, sendo uma doença lisossômica de depósito ligada ao cromossomo X. É uma doença rara, com freqüência estimada de 1 caso para 40.000 indivíduos masculinos. Os sinais clínicos são causados pelo acúmulo de glicoesfingolipídeos, predominantemente globotriaosilceramida. O acúmulo de globotriaosilceramida leva a complicações vasculares e insuficiência renal, entre outros sinais e sintomas. Apesar de ser uma doença ligada ao X, a doença de Fabry pode afetar mulheres e apresenta uma grande variabilidade na expressão clínica, o que dificulta o diagnóstico da doença e causa uma subestimativa da sua prevalência. Este estudo teve como objetivo principal avaliar a acurácia do ensaio enzimático da α- galactosidase A em amostras de sangue impregnado em papel filtro. Este método, que pode ser usado em triagens populacionais para a doença de Fabry, foi comparado com o método padrão de confirmação diagnóstica, a medida da atividade da α-galactosidase A em plasma. O objetivo secundário foi estimar através desse método a freqüência da doença de Fabry em pacientes brasileiros, do sexo masculino, que estavam recebendo hemodiálise. Para avaliar a acurácia do método, foram estudados 22 controles positivos e 124 controles negativos. Verificamos uma sensibilidade de 100%, especificidade de 90,3% (IC95%: 84,1 a 94,7%), valor preditivo positivo de 64,7% (IC95%: 48,6 a 80,2%) e valor preditivo negativo de 100%. No estudo de prevalência da doença de Fabry em pacientes em tratamento com hemodiálise, foram incluídos 1712 pacientes do sexo masculino, com confirmação do diagnóstico em três casos (freqüência de 0,18% - IC95% 0,05 a 0,48% - quase 100 vezes superior a estimada na população em geral). Concluímos que a medida da atividade da α-galactosidase A em amostra de sangue impregnado em papel filtro apresenta acurácia suficiente para ser utilizado na triagem de pacientes com suspeita de doença de Fabry, incluindo triagem de grupos de alto risco como é o caso dos pacientes em hemodiálise. / Fabry disease is an inborn error of metabolism caused by the deficiency of α- galactosidase A. This protein is encoded by a gene mapped on the Xq21.33-Xq22 region, being an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder. It is a rare disease, with an estimated incidence of 1 case in each 40.000 males. Clinical features are caused by the accumulation of a glycosphingolipids, predominantly globotriaosylceramide. The accumulation of globotriaosylceramide leads to vascular complications and renal insufficiency, among other signs and symptoms. Despite being X-linked, Fabry disease can affect women, and has a great variability in clinical expression, which brings difficulty to the diagnosis and leads to underestimates of its prevalence. This study had the main objective of establishing the accuracy of the assay of α- galactosidase A activity in dried blood filter paper samples. This method, which could be used in screening for Fabry disease, was compared to the standard diagnostic method, the assay of α-galactosidase A activity in plasma samples. The secondary objective was to estimate, with this method, the prevalence of Fabry disease in a sample of Brazilian males patients receiving hemodyalisis. To evaluate the accuracy of the method, it was studied 22 patients with Fabry disease and 124 controls without Fabry disease. On the accuracy studies we observed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 90.3% (CI95%: 84.1 to 94.7%), positive predictive value of 64.7% (CI95%: 48.6 to 80.2%) and negative predictive value of 100%. On the study of prevalence of Fabry disease in male patients in hemodyalisis, we found three affected cases among 1712 patients investigated. The prevalence on this group of patients was estimated as 0.18% (CI95%: 0.05 a 0.48%) – almost 100 times the expected in the general population. From these results, we conclude that the assay of α-galactosidase A activity in dried blood filter paper has enough accuracy to be used in the screening of Fabry disease, including the screening of high-risk groups patients as the ones on hemodyalisis.

A doença de Fabry é um erro inato do metabolismo causado pela deficiência da enzima α-galactosidase A. Esta proteína é codificada por um gene localizado na região Xq21.33-Xq22, sendo uma doença lisossômica de depósito ligada ao cromossomo X. É uma doença rara, com freqüência estimada de 1 caso para 40.000 indivíduos masculinos. Os sinais clínicos são causados pelo acúmulo de glicoesfingolipídeos, predominantemente globotriaosilceramida. O acúmulo de globotriaosilceramida leva a complicações vasculares e insuficiência renal, entre outros sinais e sintomas. Apesar de ser uma doença ligada ao X, a doença de Fabry pode afetar mulheres e apresenta uma grande variabilidade na expressão clínica, o que dificulta o diagnóstico da doença e causa uma subestimativa da sua prevalência. Este estudo teve como objetivo principal avaliar a acurácia do ensaio enzimático da α- galactosidase A em amostras de sangue impregnado em papel filtro. Este método, que pode ser usado em triagens populacionais para a doença de Fabry, foi comparado com o método padrão de confirmação diagnóstica, a medida da atividade da α-galactosidase A em plasma. O objetivo secundário foi estimar através desse método a freqüência da doença de Fabry em pacientes brasileiros, do sexo masculino, que estavam recebendo hemodiálise. Para avaliar a acurácia do método, foram estudados 22 controles positivos e 124 controles negativos. Verificamos uma sensibilidade de 100%, especificidade de 90,3% (IC95%: 84,1 a 94,7%), valor preditivo positivo de 64,7% (IC95%: 48,6 a 80,2%) e valor preditivo negativo de 100%. No estudo de prevalência da doença de Fabry em pacientes em tratamento com hemodiálise, foram incluídos 1712 pacientes do sexo masculino, com confirmação do diagnóstico em três casos (freqüência de 0,18% - IC95% 0,05 a 0,48% - quase 100 vezes superior a estimada na população em geral). Concluímos que a medida da atividade da α-galactosidase A em amostra de sangue impregnado em papel filtro apresenta acurácia suficiente para ser utilizado na triagem de pacientes com suspeita de doença de Fabry, incluindo triagem de grupos de alto risco como é o caso dos pacientes em hemodiálise. / Fabry disease is an inborn error of metabolism caused by the deficiency of α- galactosidase A. This protein is encoded by a gene mapped on the Xq21.33-Xq22 region, being an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder. It is a rare disease, with an estimated incidence of 1 case in each 40.000 males. Clinical features are caused by the accumulation of a glycosphingolipids, predominantly globotriaosylceramide. The accumulation of globotriaosylceramide leads to vascular complications and renal insufficiency, among other signs and symptoms. Despite being X-linked, Fabry disease can affect women, and has a great variability in clinical expression, which brings difficulty to the diagnosis and leads to underestimates of its prevalence. This study had the main objective of establishing the accuracy of the assay of α- galactosidase A activity in dried blood filter paper samples. This method, which could be used in screening for Fabry disease, was compared to the standard diagnostic method, the assay of α-galactosidase A activity in plasma samples. The secondary objective was to estimate, with this method, the prevalence of Fabry disease in a sample of Brazilian males patients receiving hemodyalisis. To evaluate the accuracy of the method, it was studied 22 patients with Fabry disease and 124 controls without Fabry disease. On the accuracy studies we observed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 90.3% (CI95%: 84.1 to 94.7%), positive predictive value of 64.7% (CI95%: 48.6 to 80.2%) and negative predictive value of 100%. On the study of prevalence of Fabry disease in male patients in hemodyalisis, we found three affected cases among 1712 patients investigated. The prevalence on this group of patients was estimated as 0.18% (CI95%: 0.05 a 0.48%) – almost 100 times the expected in the general population. From these results, we conclude that the assay of α-galactosidase A activity in dried blood filter paper has enough accuracy to be used in the screening of Fabry disease, including the screening of high-risk groups patients as the ones on hemodyalisis.

A doença de Fabry é um erro inato do metabolismo causado pela deficiência da enzima α-galactosidase A. Esta proteína é codificada por um gene localizado na região Xq21.33-Xq22, sendo uma doença lisossômica de depósito ligada ao cromossomo X. É uma doença rara, com freqüência estimada de 1 caso para 40.000 indivíduos masculinos. Os sinais clínicos são causados pelo acúmulo de glicoesfingolipídeos, predominantemente globotriaosilceramida. O acúmulo de globotriaosilceramida leva a complicações vasculares e insuficiência renal, entre outros sinais e sintomas. Apesar de ser uma doença ligada ao X, a doença de Fabry pode afetar mulheres e apresenta uma grande variabilidade na expressão clínica, o que dificulta o diagnóstico da doença e causa uma subestimativa da sua prevalência. Este estudo teve como objetivo principal avaliar a acurácia do ensaio enzimático da α- galactosidase A em amostras de sangue impregnado em papel filtro. Este método, que pode ser usado em triagens populacionais para a doença de Fabry, foi comparado com o método padrão de confirmação diagnóstica, a medida da atividade da α-galactosidase A em plasma. O objetivo secundário foi estimar através desse método a freqüência da doença de Fabry em pacientes brasileiros, do sexo masculino, que estavam recebendo hemodiálise. Para avaliar a acurácia do método, foram estudados 22 controles positivos e 124 controles negativos. Verificamos uma sensibilidade de 100%, especificidade de 90,3% (IC95%: 84,1 a 94,7%), valor preditivo positivo de 64,7% (IC95%: 48,6 a 80,2%) e valor preditivo negativo de 100%. No estudo de prevalência da doença de Fabry em pacientes em tratamento com hemodiálise, foram incluídos 1712 pacientes do sexo masculino, com confirmação do diagnóstico em três casos (freqüência de 0,18% - IC95% 0,05 a 0,48% - quase 100 vezes superior a estimada na população em geral). Concluímos que a medida da atividade da α-galactosidase A em amostra de sangue impregnado em papel filtro apresenta acurácia suficiente para ser utilizado na triagem de pacientes com suspeita de doença de Fabry, incluindo triagem de grupos de alto risco como é o caso dos pacientes em hemodiálise. / Fabry disease is an inborn error of metabolism caused by the deficiency of α- galactosidase A. This protein is encoded by a gene mapped on the Xq21.33-Xq22 region, being an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder. It is a rare disease, with an estimated incidence of 1 case in each 40.000 males. Clinical features are caused by the accumulation of a glycosphingolipids, predominantly globotriaosylceramide. The accumulation of globotriaosylceramide leads to vascular complications and renal insufficiency, among other signs and symptoms. Despite being X-linked, Fabry disease can affect women, and has a great variability in clinical expression, which brings difficulty to the diagnosis and leads to underestimates of its prevalence. This study had the main objective of establishing the accuracy of the assay of α- galactosidase A activity in dried blood filter paper samples. This method, which could be used in screening for Fabry disease, was compared to the standard diagnostic method, the assay of α-galactosidase A activity in plasma samples. The secondary objective was to estimate, with this method, the prevalence of Fabry disease in a sample of Brazilian males patients receiving hemodyalisis. To evaluate the accuracy of the method, it was studied 22 patients with Fabry disease and 124 controls without Fabry disease. On the accuracy studies we observed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 90.3% (CI95%: 84.1 to 94.7%), positive predictive value of 64.7% (CI95%: 48.6 to 80.2%) and negative predictive value of 100%. On the study of prevalence of Fabry disease in male patients in hemodyalisis, we found three affected cases among 1712 patients investigated. The prevalence on this group of patients was estimated as 0.18% (CI95%: 0.05 a 0.48%) – almost 100 times the expected in the general population. From these results, we conclude that the assay of α-galactosidase A activity in dried blood filter paper has enough accuracy to be used in the screening of Fabry disease, including the screening of high-risk groups patients as the ones on hemodyalisis.

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