A5002846783- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Anesthesia and Pain Management
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Hemoglobin structure and function
- Medical Education and Admissions
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Innovations in Medical Education
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Pain Management and Placebo Effect
- Diversity and Career in Medicine
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
- Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Baylor College of Medicine
2023
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
2014-2023
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
2019
Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
2013
Chronic pain caused by insults to the CNS (central neuropathic pain) is widely assumed be maintained exclusively central mechanisms. However, chronic hyperexcitablility occurs in primary nociceptors after spinal cord injury (SCI), suggesting that SCI also depends upon continuing activity of peripheral sensory neurons. The present study rats (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) found persistent upregulation protein, but not mRNA, for a voltage-gated Na<sup>+</sup> channel, Nav1.8, expressed almost...
Sensory neurons detect mechanical forces from both the environment and internal organs to regulate physiology. PIEZO2 is a mechanosensory ion channel critical for touch, proprioception, bladder stretch sensation, yet its broad expression in sensory suggests it has undiscovered physiological roles. To fully understand physiology, we must know where when PIEZO2-expressing force. The fluorescent styryl dye FM 1-43 was previously shown label neurons. Surprisingly, find that vast majority of...
Abstract Ongoing pain has been linked to ongoing activity (OA) in human C-fiber nociceptors, but rodent models of pain-related OA have concentrated on allodynia rather than pain, and generated non-nociceptive Aβ fibers nociceptors. Little is known about how or nociceptor generated. To define neurophysiological alterations underlying OA, we used isolated dorsal root ganglion neurons that continue generate after removal from animals displaying pain. We subclassify as either spontaneous solely...
Available treatments for neuropathic pain have modest efficacy and significant adverse effects, including abuse potential. Because oxidative stress is a key mechanistic node pain, the authors focused on master regulator of antioxidant response-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related 2 (NFE2L2; Nrf2)-as an alternative target pain. The tested whether dimethyl fumarate (U.S. Food Drug Administration-approved treatment multiple sclerosis) would activate NFE2L2 promote activity to reverse behaviors...
Graduate schools around the United States are working to improve access science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in a manner that reflects local national demographics. The admissions process has been focus of examination, as it is potential bottleneck for entry into STEM. Standardized tests widely used part decision-making process; thus, we examined Record Examination (GRE) two models applicant review: metrics-based review holistic understand whether affected demographics at...
Abstract Studies using rodent models of neuropathic pain use sham surgery control procedures that cause deep tissue damage. Sham surgeries would thus be expected to induce potentially long-lasting postsurgical pain, but little evidence for such has been reported. Operant tests voluntary behavior can reveal negative motivational and cognitive aspects may provide sensitive tools detecting pain-related alterations. In a previously described operant mechanical conflict test involving lengthy...
Chronic pain following spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with electrical hyperactivity (spontaneous and evoked) in primary nociceptors. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling an important contributor to nociceptor excitability, knockdown of the cAMP effector, exchange protein activated by (EPAC), has been shown relieve pain-like responses several chronic models. To examine potentially distinct roles each EPAC isoform (EPAC1 2) maintaining pain, we used rat mouse models...
Significance EHEC bacteria have been implicated in numerous outbreaks of serious foodborne illnesses. activates virulence factors that promote gut colonization upon host ingestion by relying the sensation mechanical stimuli created when adhere to intestinal tissue and fluid flows past bacterial membrane following adhesion. We found regulator GrlA genes response mechanosensation. In planktonic bacteria, is bound physically separated from its DNA targets. When mechanically stimulated, released...
Abstract Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is critically involved in the pathophysiology of chronic pain. However, mechanisms BDNF action on specific neuronal populations spinal superficial dorsal horn (SDH) requires further study. We used treatment (200 ng/ml, 5–6 days) defined-medium, serum-free organotypic cultures to study intracellular calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i ) fluctuations. A detailed quantitative analysis these fluctuations using Frequency-independent biological signal...
Abstract Extracting biological signals from non-linear, dynamic and stochastic experimental data can be challenging, especially when the signal is non-stationary. Many currently available methods make assumptions about structure (e.g., periodic, sufficient recording time) modify raw in pre-processing using filters and/or transformations. With an agnostic approach to analysis as a goal, we implemented detection algorithm Python that quantifies dimensional properties of waveform deviations...
Zebrafish larvae are translucent, allowing in vivo analysis of gut development and physiology, including motility. While recent progress has been made measuring motility larvae, challenges remain which can influence results, such as how data interpreted, opportunities for technical user error, inconsistencies methods.
The effects of long‐term sensitization (LTS) training on defensive responses in Aplysia are well understood behaviorally and cellularly. Conversely, LTS training's feeding only marginally understood. 24 h after training, the tail‐siphon withdrawal reflex is enhanced and, concomitantly, suppressed. goal this study was to characterize central pattern generator (CPG). During biting, nerves controlling radula protraction, closure, retraction express patterns buccal motor activity (BMPs)...
Abstract Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is critically involved in the pathophysiology of chronic pain. However, mechanisms BDNF action on specific neuronal populations spinal superficial dorsal horn (SDH) requires further study. We used treatment (200 ng/ml, 5-6 days) defined-medium, serum-free organotypic cultures to study intracellular calcium ([Ca2+] i ) fluctuations. A detailed quantitative analysis these fluctuations using Frequency-independent biological signal identification...