| The Role of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in the Immunotherapy of HER2/neu-Positive Breast Carcinomas |
Oct 2009 |
|
| Authors:
Johanna K Morales; Maciej Kmieciak; Masoud H Manjili; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
 | We have found myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) to be the major inhibitors of adoptively transferred anti-HER2/neu T cells in vivo. Depletion of these cells results in tumor inhibition coupled with increased anti-HER2/neu antibody titers. Significantly, we have found that the combination of the chemotherapeutic drug gemcitabine, which selectively inhibits MDSC, with adoptive immunotherapy results in complete tumor rejection, elevated antibody titers, and immunological memory capable of rejecting further tumor challenge. ... |
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| Doping Asymmetry Problem in ZnO: Current Status and Outlook. A Review of Experimental and Theoretical Efforts Focused on Achieving P-Type ZnO Suitable for Light-Emitting Optoelectronic Devices for the Blue/Ultraviolet Spectral Range |
24-Apr-2009 |
12 pages |
| Authors:
Hadis Morkoc; Vitaliy Avrutin; Donald Silversmith; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
 | ZnO has gained considerable interest recently as a promising material for a variety of applications. To a large extent, the renewed interest in ZnO is fueled by its wide direct band gap (3.3 eV at room temperature) and large exciton binding energy (60 meV) making this material, when alloyed with e.g. Cd and Mg, especially attractive for light emitters in the blue/UV spectral region. Unfortunately, as with other wide-gap semiconductors, ... |
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| Terahertz Generation in GaN/AlGaN Superlattices |
28 Feb 2009 |
32 pages |
| Authors:
Hadis Morkoc; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Nitride semiconductors based heterostructures have so far been exploited for electronic devices utilizing transport parallel to heterointerfaces. However, the vertical transport and its understanding in this heterostructure system are nascent. Heterojunction bipolar transistors have fundamental problems having to do with low base p-doping in terms of bipolar transistor standards and inferior emitter quality because of the poor quality Mg doped underlying base layer. The PnP variety is even worse. In ... |
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| Corrosion Modeling, Simulations and Assessment through Intelligent Computations |
Feb-2009 |
35 pages |
| Authors:
Ramana M Pidaparti; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| INTELLIGENT CORROSION DAMAGE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (ICDAS). A multi-disciplinary approach: Image Processing; Computer Vision; Material Mechanics; Artificial Intelligence; Structural Analysis/Methods; Mathematics. |
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| Self Assembled Semiconductor Quantum Dots for Spin Based All Optical and Electronic Quantum Computing |
17-Apr-2008 |
27 pages |
| Authors:
Hadis Morkoc; Supriyo Bandyopadhyay; Alison Baski; Shiv Khanna; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| This project involved the study of self-assembled quantum dots as hosts for spin based qubits. Both semiconductor quantum dots, nanowires, and organic quantum dots were studied and the spin relaxation times were measured. The organic Alq3 appears to have very long longitudinal spin relaxation time of nearly 1 second at a temperature of 100 K, and a nearly temperature independent transverse relaxation time > 3 nsec in the range 2-300 ... |
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| Sildenafil and Phosphofiesterase-5 Inhibitors to Reduce Cardiotoxicity and Enhance the Response of Breast Tumors to Doxrubicin |
01-Mar-2008 |
12 pages |
| Authors:
David A Gewirtz; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| In our studies of the interaction between sildenafil and adriamycin in breast tumor cells and cardiomyocytes, we have made the following observations. In breast tumor cells: 1. Sildenafil fails to protect various breast tumor cell lines against the toxicity of adriamycin. 2. Sildenafil moderately enhances the response to adriamycin in breast tumor cells .3. Sildenafil does not alter the extent of DNA damage induced by adriamycin in breast tumor cells. ... |
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| Defining the Regulation of Telomerase Through Identification of Mammary-Specific Telomerase Interacting Proteins |
01-Jun-2007 |
15 pages |
| Authors:
Shawn E Holt; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Telomerase activity is associated with over 90% of human breast cancers and is necessary for continued tumor cell growth, making it an ideal target for inhibition therapy. However, pharmacologic inhibitors of telomerase have not been as effective as expected. As such, our objective here is to identify novel telomerase interacting proteins and define their functional relationship to telomerase in order to provide additional targets for telomerase inhibition in breast cancer. ... |
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| Development of a Cytochrome c Oxidase Based Sensor for Monitoring Respiration and Metabolism |
JUN 2007 |
8 pages |
| Authors:
Fred M. Hawkridge; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Electrodes modified with bilayers that incorporate cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), the terminal enzyme in mammalian respiration, will be studied as biosensors for cyanide. This CCO modified electrode has an architecture that exhibits robust response behavior and stability that mimics the in vivo behavior of this enzyme. These CCO modified electrodes remain active on storage in buffer, can withstand exposure to temperatures as extreme as 80 deg C (176 deg F) ... |
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| The Role of Sphingosine Kinase 2 in Apoptosis of Human Breast Cancer Cells |
MAY 2007 |
21 pages |
| Authors:
Heidi Sankala; Sarah Spiegel; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Two isoforms of sphingosine kinase (SphK) catalyze the formation of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Whereas, SphK1 stimulates cell growth and survival, it was found that when overexpressed in mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts SphK2 enhances caspase-dependent apoptosis in response to serum deprivation, independently of S1P receptors. Sequence analysis revealed that SphK2 contains a 9 amino acid motif similar to that present in BH3-only proteins. Studies showed that the BH3-only domain and catalytic activity ... |
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| Mechanism of Telomerase Inhibition Using a Small Inhibitory RNAs and Induction of Breast Tumor Cell Sensitization |
APR 2007 |
53 pages |
| Authors:
Kennon R. Poynter; Shawn E. Holt; L. W. Elmore; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme minimally composed of an RNA template (hTR) and a catalytically active protein subunit (hTERT), synthesizes telomeric repeats onto chromosome ends and is obligatory for continuous tumor cell proliferation, as well as malignant progression of breast cancer cells. Telomerase is an attractive anti-cancer therapeutic target because its activity is present in over 90% of human cancers, including more than 95% of breast carcinomas, but undetectable in most ... |
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| Mechanism of Telomerase Inhibition Using Small Inibitory RNAs and Induction of Breast Tumor Cell Sensitivity |
01 MAR 2007 |
21 pages |
| Authors:
Kennon R. Poynter; Shawn Holt; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme composed of an RNA template (hTR) and a catalytically active protein subunit (hTERT), synthesizes telomeres after cell divisions and is obligatory for continuous tumor cell proliferation as well as malignant progression of breast cancer cells. Telomerase is an attractive anti-cancer therapeutic agent because telomerase activity is present in over 90% of human breast cancers but is undetectable in most normal somatic cells. Traditional therapies (surgery, chemotherapy, ... |
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| Synthesis of Multifunctional Materials |
SEP 2006 |
23 pages |
| Authors:
Hadis Morkoc; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Single-crystal PbTiO3 layers were grown on (001) SrTiO3 substrates by molecular beam epitaxy using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. Phase composition and structural properties of the films were examined as a function of growth parameters. It was found that single-phase PbTiO3 films grew epitaxially at substrate temperatures of 600 degrees C and higher, whereas layers grown at lower temperature contained PbO inclusions. Growth of Pb(ZrTi)O3 (PZT) films by molecular beam ... |
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| Stimulation of Breast Tumor Cell Proliferative Recovery by the Peptide Hormone Erythropoietin |
AUG 2006 |
16 pages |
| Authors:
David Gewirtz; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy who were also treated with erythropoietin (EPO) had a shortened lifespan compared to patients receiving chemotherapy alone. We believe that these outcomes may be a result of EPO interfering with the effectiveness of chemotherapy either by inducing cytoprotective signaling pathways through the EPO receptor, which had been identified on breast tumor cells and/or stimulating growth of dormant breast tumor ... |
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| Lysophosphatidic Acid Regulation and Roles in Human Prostate Cancer |
AUG 2006 |
78 pages |
| Authors:
Sarah Spiegel; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| The bioactive phospholipids, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and phosphatidic acid (PA), regulate pivotal processes related to the pathogenesis of cancer. We characterized a novel lipid kinase, designated acylglycerol kinase (AGK), that phosphorylates monoacylglycerol and diacylglycerol to form LPA and PA, respectively. Confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation suggest that AGK is localized to the mitochondria. AGK expression was up-regulated in prostate cancers compared with normal prostate tissues from the same patient. Expression ... |
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| Susceptibility to Radiation Induced Apoptosis and Senescence in p53 Wild Type and p53 Mutant Breast Tumor Cells |
JUL 2006 |
22 pages |
| Authors:
Gerald DeMasters; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) and vitamin D3 analogs such as EB 1089 potentiate the response to ionizing radiation in breast tumor cells. The current studies address the basis for this interaction by evaluating DNA damage and repair, the impact of interference with reactive oxygen generation, the involvement of p53 and caspase 3, signaling through c-myc, as well as the induction of senescence and multiple modes of cell death. EB 1089 failed ... |
|
| Development of a Cytochrome C Oxidase-Based Sensor for Monitoring Respiration and Metabolism |
JUN 2006 |
10 pages |
| Authors:
Fred M. Hawkridge; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Electrodes modified with bilayers that incorporate cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) the terminal enzyme in mammalian respiration will be studied as biosensors for cyanide. This CCO modified electrode has an architecture that exhibits robust response behavior and stability that mimics the in vivo behavior of this enzyme. These CCO modified electrodes remain active on storage in buffer can withstand exposure to temperatures as extreme as 8OoO (I 76oF) and have a ... |
|
| Defining the Regulation of Telomerase Through Identification of Mammary-Specific Telomerase Interacting Proteins |
JUN 2006 |
12 pages |
| Authors:
Shawn E. Holt; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Telomerase activity is associated with over 90% of human breast cancers and is necessary for continued tumor cell growth, making it an ideal target for inhibition therapy. However, pharmacologic inhibitors of telomerase have not been as effective as expected. As such, our objective here is to identify novel telomerase interacting proteins and define their functional relationship to telomerase in order to provide additional targets for telomerase inhibition in breast cancer. ... |
|
| The Role of Sphingosine Kinase 2 in Apoptosis of Human Breast Cancer Cells |
MAY 2006 |
20 pages |
| Authors:
Heidi Sankala; Sarah Spiegel; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| The sphingolipid metabolite sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is the ligand for a family of five specific G protein-coupled receptors (S1P1-5)that regulate a wide variety of important cellular functions, including growth, survival, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and cell motility. However, whether it also has an intracellular action is still a matter of debate. S1P is formed by the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of sphingosine catalyzed by types 1 and 2 sphingosine kinase (SphK). Many studies have shown ... |
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| Molecular Mechanisms of Prostate Cancer Progression |
JAN 2006 |
35 pages |
| Authors:
Shawn E. Holt; Lynne W. Elmore; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| To define the mechanisms involved in prostate cancer progression we have found that molecular chaperones are elevated causing increased telomerase activity. In order to determine the importance of the chaperones during prostate cancer progression we proposed 2 specific aims: 1-define whether ectopic chaperone expression results in transformation and 2-determine whether chaperones are targets for prostate cancer therapy. The hsf-1 transcription factor was over-expressed in non-tumorigenic prostate cells resulting in increased ... |
|
| Preliminary Studies Examining Near Ultraviolet Fluorescence and Raman Spectroscopy for Tissue Interrogation of Shock |
31 DEC 2005 |
5 pages |
| Authors:
James Terner; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Non-invasive methods for the measurement of tissue oxygen saturation have long been sought for the detection of impending shock and the adequacy of resuscitation. Current methods such as those that require insertion of a catheter into the pulmonary artery or superior vena cava have attendant risks to the patient. Gastric tonometry, though considered to be minimally invasive, still requires insertion of a nasogastric tube into the stomach. We have found ... |
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| Quantitative Studies of Sublingual PCO2 as a Resuscitation End-Point in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemorrhagic Shock |
30 SEP 2005 |
6 pages |
| Authors:
Pao Ivatury; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| This clinical study is examining the relationship between sublingual PCO2 (PslCO2) to real-time changes in microcirculatory blood flow of the sublingual mucosa in victims of traumatic and hemorrhagic shock. This relationship will assist in understanding the direct effects of blood loss on sublingual perfusion and thus PslCO2 as a reflection of this. The study is also comparing the sensitivity and specificity of PslCO2 to detect compensated shock states and the ... |
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| Combined Inhibition of Chk1 and MEK1/2 Leads to Tumor Cell Death In Vivo |
SEP 2005 |
56 pages |
| Authors:
Paul Dent; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| In vitro colony formation studies demonstrated that UCN-01 and the MEK1/2 inhibitor PD184352 interacted to synergistically kill human mammary carcinoma cells (MDA-MB- 231, MCF7) . Athymic mice were implanted in the rear flank with either MDA-MB-231 or MCF7 cells and tumors permitted to form to a volume of 100 mm(exp 3) prior to a two day exposure of either Vehicle, PD184352 (25 mg/kg), UCN-01 (0.1-0.2 mg/kg) or the drug combination. ... |
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| Multimodality Image-Guided HDR/IMRT in Prostate Cancer: Combined Molecular Targeting Using Nanoparticle MR, 3D MRSI, and 11C Acetate PET Imaging |
AUG 2005 |
5 pages |
| Authors:
Karen Kurdziel; Michael Hagan; Jeffrey Williamson; Donna McClish; Panos Fatouros; Jerry Hirsch; Rhonda Hoyle; Kristin Schmidt; Dorin Tudor; Jie Liu; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| The purpose of the award was to provide funding for the development of a multimodality prostate cancer clinical trial. A clinical protocol was developed along with a supporting infrastructure to begin the trial. A submission for funding under the DOD Prostate Cancer Clinical Trial Award mechanism; however the project was not funded. Submission under an alternative funding mechanism is pending collection of more preliminary data and optimization of C-11 acetate ... |
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| Preliminary Studies on the Effects of Androstenetriol Induced Immunomodulation in the Treatment of Traumatic Shock |
31 MAY 2005 |
13 pages |
| Authors:
Roger M. Loria; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Specific Aim 1: Examine the ability of androstenetriol to improve survival in a rodent model of combined hemorrhage and tissue injury (traumatic shock). Hypothesis 1: The use of androstenetriol shortly after the onset of traumatic shock will improve survival in a rodent model of combined hemorrhage and tissue injury (traumatic shock). Specific Aim 2: Examine the ability of androstenetriol to modulate the immune and inflammatory response systemically and in multiple ... |
|
| Mechanism of Telomerase Inhibition Using Small Inhibitory RNAs and Induction of Breast Tumor Cell Sensitization |
APR 2005 |
15 pages |
| Authors:
Kennon Poynter; Shawn Holt; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme composed of an RNA template (hTR) and a catalytically active protein subunit (hTERT), synthesizes telomeres after cell divisions and is obligatory for continuous tumor cell proliferation as well as malignant progression of breast cancer cells. Telomerase is an attractive anti-cancer therapeutic agent because telomerase activity is present in over 90% of human breast cancers but is undetectable in most normal somatic cells. Traditional therapies (surgery, chemotherapy, ... |
|
| Lysophosphatidic Acid Regulation and Roles in Human Prostate Cancer |
JAN 2005 |
68 pages |
| Authors:
Sarah Spiegel; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a major mitogen in serum that regulates an array of cellular processes related to pathogensis of cancer, especially ovarian, prostate and breast cancer. Interest in LPA has accelerated recently with the discovery that it is a ligand of a family of three G protein coupled cell surface receptors. Prostate cancer cells express these LPA receptors and it has been suggested that their expression correlates with more ... |
|
| Molecular Mechanisms of Prostate Cancer Progression |
JAN 2005 |
57 pages |
| Authors:
Shawn E. Holt; Lynne W. Elmore; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| In studies to define the mechanisms involved in the progression of immortal, non-tumorigenic prostate cells to a tumorigenic state, we have found that molecular chaperones are elevated, which causes increased telomerase activity. In order to determine the importance of the chaperone increase during prostate cancer progression, we have taken a 2-pronged approach, using both genetic and pharmacologic approaches: 1-define whether ectopic chaperone expression results in transformation, and 2-determine whether chaperones ... |
|
| Role of Brca1 in Nonhomologous DNA End Joining |
SEP 2004 |
11 pages |
| Authors:
Lawrence F. Povirk; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| To examine the possible role of the breast cancer susceptibility factor BRCA1 in the nonhomologous end joining pathway of DNA double-strand break repair, an assay to detect both accurate and inaccurate end joining events in intact cells was devised. A fusion gene of green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and neomycin resistance (nec) was constructed with a linker containing cleavage sites for the enzymes BcgI and 1-Scel. EcgI induces two simultaneous breaks, ... |
|
| MTA1-Regulated Gene Expression: New Markers of Breast Cancer Metastasis |
SEP 2004 |
26 pages |
| Authors:
Peter O'Connell; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Doctors examine primary tumors and nearby lymph nodes to assess cancer spread, as node-positive breast tumors require obligatory chemotherapy. Most breast cancers are "node-negative" (confined to the breast), but, if left untreated, one fourth of these patients die from occult systemic disease ("micrometastasis"). Women with node-negative breast tumors that overexpress metastasis-associated 1 (MTA1) protein had recurrence risks identical to women with systemic disease (RR 2.7, p = 0.0006). For the ... |
|
| Feasibility Studies in Development of a Temporary Implantable Lactate Sensor Biochip for Monitoring During Hemorrhage |
APR 2004 |
46 pages |
| Authors:
Anthony Guiseppi-Elie; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Lactate levels have been found to correlate with the severity of injury, including hemorrhage and whole body hypoxia. The ability to monitor in vivo lactate in the interstitium is possible but current methods are either not clinically feasible for prolonged measurement or are unreliable because they suffer from deleterious effects of endogenous interference and fouling. |
|
| Regulation of Sphingosine Kinase in Prostate Cancer Cells |
MAR 2004 |
14 pages |
| Authors:
Michael W. Maceyka; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and its product sphingosine 1-phosphate have been shown to promote cell growth and inhibit apoptosis of tumor cells (reviewed in 1) . SphK1 has been shown to be responsible for radioresistance of certain prostate cancer cells 2. To better understand SphK1 regulation, we undertook a two-hybrid screen for SphK1-interacting proteins. In the first report period, we focused on one of these interactors, aminoacylase 1. This work ... |
|
| Lysophosphatidic Acid Regulation and Roles in Human Prostate Cancer |
JAN 2004 |
59 pages |
| Authors:
Sarah Spiegel; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Originally known for its pedestrian role as an intermediate in intracellular lipid metabolism, LPA is now recognized as a potent lipid mediator that evokes growth-factor-like responses and regulates an array of cellular processes related to pathogenesis of cancer. These include stimulating proliferation by increasing cell cycle progression, enhancing cell survival, stimulating motility and inducing tumor cell invasion, and regulating neovascularization. Progress in understanding LPA actions has accelerated with the discovery ... |
|
| Molecular Mechanisms of Prostate Cancer Progression |
JAN 2004 |
14 pages |
| Authors:
Shawn E. Holt; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| In studios to define the mechanisms involved in the progression of immortal non tumorigenic prostate cells to a tumorigenic state, we have found that molecular chaperones are elevated along with telomerase activity. Elevated chaperone function results in an increase in telomerase assembly and is associated with prostate cancer progression. In order to determine the importance of the chaperone increase, we are investigating, both genetically and pharmacologically, whether ectopic chaperone expression ... |
|
| Investigation of Structural and Electrical Defects in GaN/AlGaN structures and MODFETs |
2004 |
24 pages |
| Authors:
Hadis Morkoc; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| In this project, main goal was to focus on MODFET structures to understand the sources of improvements and the sources of degradations. In order to reach one of the objectives, the GaN templates grown by MOCVD was followed by c-beam evaporation of Ti layer. By the means of in-situ nitridation in hydrogen and ammonia environment inside the MOCVD system this Ti layer was converted into an effective nano-network of TiN ... |
|
| Consequences of Prolonged Hemorrhage on Oxygen Delivery to Skeletal Muscle Microcirculation |
OCT 2003 |
58 pages |
| Authors:
Roland N. Pittman; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| The purpose of the proposal is to characterize global hemodynamics and microcirculatory oxygen transport in skeletal muscle in an animal model of severe (40 mm Hg), prolonged (4 hours) hemorrhagic hypotesion (HH) . The target pressure and length of hemorrhage were set in the Army's original request for proposals. Arterial and venous blood pressures, gases, acid-based status, glucose, lactate, electrolytes, hemoglobin, 02 delivery and consumption were measured before and up ... |
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| Functional Characterization of Primary Mammary Cells with Life Span Extension Using Ectopic Telomerase |
AUG 2003 |
25 pages |
| Authors:
Shawn E. Holt; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| The objective of the document is to define the changes/differences in gene expression patterns between normal, diploid mammary epithelial cells, both young and approaching senescence, telomerase-expressing mammary cells, and spontaneously immortalized mammary lines. |
|
| Determining Effects of Genes, Environment, and Gene X Environment Interaction That Are Common to Breast and Ovarian Cancers Via Bivariate Logistic Regression |
JUL 2003 |
54 pages |
| Authors:
Viswanathan Ramakrishnan; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| A new method for the simultaneous genetic analysis of two or more discrete traits such as the presence of breast and ovarian cancers in twins was developed. A generalized estimation equations (GEE) logistic regression model was used for the modeling. A shared trait is defined for two discrete traits based upon explicit patterns of trait concordance and discordance within twin pairs; this shared trait is assessed for the influence of ... |
|
| Request for Mask Aligner and Upgrade for a Reactive Ion Etcher |
14 JUN 2003 |
12 pages |
| Authors:
Hadis Morkoc; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| A mask aligner model Suss MJB3 UV/IR Mask Aligner to support our on going research was proposed for acquisition and the proposal was approved. An upgrade package for an RIB system was also proposed. However, due to limited funds only the funds for the mask aligner was made available. Consequently, the RIB upgrade portion of the proposed activity was not implemented. The mask aligner got ordered, received, and brought on ... |
|
| Bio-Hemostat - Acute Treatment Modality for High Pressure Hemorrhage |
APR 2003 |
24 pages |
| Authors:
Marcus E. Carr Jr.; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Bleeding from an artery is difficult to control due to the high pressures found in the arterial system. Hemorrhage is especially problematic in penetrating wounds where the bleeding source may not be apparent. Tourniquets that are routinely used to treat such wounds can cause multiple complications. We are developing a device which, when exposed to aqueous solutions, rapidly generates pressure in a confined space. In this report, we summarize the ... |
|
| Regulation of Sphingosine Kinase in Prostate Cancer Cells |
MAR 2003 |
9 pages |
| Authors:
Michael W. Maceyka; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and its product sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) have been shown to promote cell growth and inhibit apoptosis of tumor cells (reviewed in (1)). Moreover, sphingosine kinase has been shown to be responsible for radioresistance -of certain prostate cancer cells (2). In an effort to understand the regulation of SphK1, we undertook a two-hybrid screen for SphK1-interacting proteins. We found eleven potential interactors. Over the course of the ... |
|
| Lysophosphatidic Acid Regulation and Roles in Human Prostate Cancer |
JAN 2003 |
58 pages |
| Authors:
Sarah Spiegel; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a major mitogen in serum that regulates an array of cellular processes related to pathogenesis of cancer, especially ovarian, prostate and breast carcinomas. LPA stimulates proliferation by increasing cell cycle progression and suppression of apoptosis, as well as enhancing tumor cell invasion and angiogenesis (1, 2). Several reports have shown that LPA can transactivate the EGF tyrosine kinase receptor (3-5) by stimulating metalloproteinase processing of proHB-EGF ... |
|
| Molecular Mechanisms of Prostate Cancer Progression |
JAN 2003 |
18 pages |
| Authors:
Shawn E. Holt; Lynn W. Elmore; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| In studies to define the mechanisms involved in the progression of immortal, non-tumorigenic prostate cells to a tumorigenic state, we have found that molecular chaperones are elevated along with telomerase activity. Elevated chaperone function results in an increase in telomerase assembly. In order to determine the importance of the chaperone increaser we are investigating, both genetically and pharmacologically, whether ectopic chaperone expression results in transformation and if chaperones are targets ... |
|
| Functional Characterization of Primary Mammary Cells With Life Span Extension Using Ectopic Telomerase |
AUG 2002 |
8 pages |
| Authors:
Shawn E. Holt; Lynn W. Elmore; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| In studies to define the changes in gene expression after expression of telomerase in normal human breast epithelial cells using microarray, we have focused on obtaining appropriate cell strains and lines for use with Affymetrix arrays in order to compare with spotted arrays from commercially available sources. Thus far, although still quite preliminary, our data indicate a relationship between the life span extended cells and the spontaneously immortal cells rather ... |
|
| Radiosensitization of Human Mammary Carcinoma Cells by Specific Inhibition of Signal Transduction Cascades |
AUG 2002 |
61 pages |
| Authors:
Paul Dent; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| We investigated the impact of combined exposure to the check-point abrogator (UCN-01) in conjunction with MEK1/2 inhibitors upon survival of mammary carcinoma cells. Treatment of cells with UCN-01 resulted in prolonged activation of the MAPK pathway. Inhibition of MEK1/2 caused modest reductions in basal MAPK activity and suppressed UCN-01-stimulated MAPK activity below that of MEK1/2 inhibitor alone. Significantly, combined, but not individual, exposure of cells to UCN-01 and MEK1/2 inhibitors ... |
|
| The Effect of Emotional Disclosure Interventions on Psychological and Physical Well-Being of Breast Cancer Patients |
JUL 2002 |
6 pages |
| Authors:
Melissa I. Figueiredo; Elizabeth Fries; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States and thus it is important to study the psychosocial impact or treating this disease. A large body of literature supports the health benefits associated with both written and oral disclosure of emotional traumas in healthy populations. The proposed research is a controlled, randomized trial to test the effectiveness of two types of emotional disclosure ... |
|
| Bio-Hemostat-Acute Treatment Modality for High Pressure Hemorrhage |
APR 2002 |
15 pages |
| Authors:
Marcus E. Carr Jr; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Bleeding from an artery is difficult to control due to the high pressures found in the arterial system Hemorrhage is especially problematic in penetrating wounds where the bleeding source may not be apparent. Tourniquets that are routinely used to treat such wounds can cause multiple complications. We are developing a device which, when exposed to aqueous solutions, rapidly generates pressure in a confined space. In this report, we summarize the ... |
|
| Request for Critical Equipment to Pursue Semiconductor Research at Virginia Microelectronics Center (VMC) |
MAR 2002 |
21 pages |
| Authors:
Hadis Morkoc; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| An assortment of instruments to support our on going research was proposed for acquisition and the proposal was approved. They consisted of a Tektronix TDS 800 Sampling Scope with one optical head (80C03) and two electrical heads for dual channel operation (SOEO1), a Keithley model 4200 DC parameter Analyzer, a Westbond wire bonder, which is capable of wedge and bond bonding with piezoelectric motion controls, and design and manufacturing of ... |
|
| Fluorescence Remote Sensing and Plant Stress |
20 DEC 2001 |
19 pages |
| Authors:
Donald R. Young; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| The project objective was to determine the degree of plant stress detectable with remote fluorescence measurements in response to application of the stressors: salinity, drought, herbicide, organophosphate-based pesticide, and trampling. All experiments were conducted with Phragmites australis (common reed), a weedy wetland grass common throughout the mid-Atlantic region. The degree of stress was quantified through measured changes in photosynthetic rate, leaf pigment concentrations, stomatal conductance and leaf xylem pressure potential. ... |
|
| Neural Network for Visual Search Classification |
25 OCT 2001 |
|
| Authors:
H. Raju; R. S. Hobson; P. A. Wetzel; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
|
| Visual search describes the process of how the eyes move in a visual field in order to acquire a target. Visual search needs to be quantified to improve future search strategies. This paper describes a hybrid neural network used to perform visual search classification. The neural network consists of a Learning vector quantization network (LVQ) and a single layer perceptron. The objective of this neural network is to classify the ... |
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| Mechanisms of Ras Control of Mammary Tumor Properties in Transgenic Mice |
OCT 2001 |
6 pages |
| Authors:
Jolene J. Windle; VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIV RICHMOND
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| Expression of activated ras has been correlated with increased tumor resistance to apoptosis. We have previously demonstrated that tumors arising in MMTV-ras mice display low levels of spontaneous apoptosis and are resistant to the induction of apoptosis by chemotherapeutic agents. The goal of this project is to determine the role of two major ras effectors, raf1 and PI3K, in mediating tumor resistance to apoptosis. Transgenic mice expressing either constitutively activated ... |
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