RSS 1.0Faculty, Student Works School of Dentistry
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A multimodal system for lipid A structural analysis from a single colonyipid A, the hydrophobic anchor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent sepsis-inducing molecule that stimulates human immune responses. The structural diversity of lipid A is correlated both with pathogenic capability and adaptation to the unique bacterial growth environments. Thus, understanding the structure of lipid A is important in fundamental microbiology and host-pathogen interactions. Previously, our group developed Fast Lipid Analysis Technique (FLAT) which employs an on-surface extraction combined with conventional Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometer (MALDI-MS), allowing for rapid structural characterization of lipid A directly from raw biomass of bacterial cells. Here, we employ tandem MS in both polarities, negative-ion (FLATn) and positive-ion (FLATn+) modes, to elucidate the structure of lipid A of various Gram-negative bacteria form single colonies.
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A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF PREDOCTORAL DENTAL STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES WITH SERVICE-LEARNINGThe purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to understand predoctoral dental students’ lived experiences with service-learning (SL) in general dentistry and explore how these experiences influence their perceptions of community service and future professional practice. Purposive sampling will be used to identify predoctoral students from dental schools with SL rotations that satisfy the study criteria. A SL rotation in this study is defined as an experiential learning approach that aims to encourage civic awareness and participation. The sample for this study is senior predoctoral dental students enrolled in an accredited dental school program in the United States that participate in a SL clinical rotation during their dental education training. Data will be collected by performing virtual semi-structured interviews. Data analysis includes an iterative process and inductive approach where a thematic framework is developed to create an initial list of codes and analyze data to develop themes and descriptions of the participants’ experiences and report the essence of the phenomenon. SL experiences in dental schools vary in their organization, structure, type of assessments used, length of the experience, and type of learning site. It is not clear whether students get comparable SL experiences that might impact their perspectives on community service and future professional practice. In addition, this study will expand the understanding of Mezirow’s (2000) transformative learning theory and add to the base of the theoretical literature. Particularly, dental students SL clinical experiences might present a disorienting dilemma which is connected to the initiation of the transformative learning process.
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Metformin and other metabolic inhibitors attenuate neuropathic pain and tumor growth in mice with paraneoplastic syndrome and CIPNChemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and paraneoplastic neurological syndrome are two conditions that can cause significant pain and discomfort in cancer patients. CIPN is a common side effect of certain chemotherapeutics and can result in numbness, tingling, and pain. Paraneoplastic neurological syndrome, on the other hand, is a rare disorder that occurs when cancer-fighting antibodies attack parts of the nervous system. Both neuropathies can persist which can adversely affect the quality of life and the rehabilitation of cancer patients. Unfortunately, therapies that can alleviate tumor or chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain that do not interfere with tumor growth do not currently exist. The main goal of this study was to identify a therapeutic strategy that can achieve both anti-tumor and analgesic effects. The chemotherapeutic, bortezomib, has been shown to induce aerobic glycolysis in sensory neurons which lead to bortezomib-induce neuropathic pain. Aerobic glycolysis is also a hallmark of cancer cells, suggesting a common metabolic vulnerability. Paraneoplastic neuropathies are commonly associated with lung cancers. Hence, we used Lewis Lung Carcinoma cells (LLC1) to develop a mouse model of paraneoplastic neuropathy. We hypothesized that blocking metabolic pathways could alleviate CIPN and paraneoplastic neuropathic pain without compromising on tumor control. To test our hypothesis, we demonstrated that mice implanted with LLC1 developed significant allodynia. Treatment with bortezomib attenuated tumor growth but exacerbated the neuropathic pain. However, co-treatment with metformin, which blocks bortezomib- induced aerobic glycolysis in sensory neurons and prevents CIPN, attenuated both tumor growth and neuropathic pain. Similarly, inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase with oxamate and dichloroacetate respectively, also reduced tumor growth and pain. These results suggest that targeting metabolic pathways is a promising strategy to improve oncologic outcomes and alleviate neuropathic pain in cancer patients.
