Publications by authors named "Laura E Dean"

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), such as PCB52, are hazardous environmental contaminants present in indoor and outdoor environments. Oral PCB exposure affects the colon microbiome; however, it is unknown if inhalation of PCBs alters the intestinal microbiome. We hypothesize that sub-acute inhalation of PCB52 affects microbial communities depending on the location in the (GI) gastrointestinal tract and the local profiles of PCB52 and its metabolites present in the GI tract following mucociliary clearance and biliary or intestinal excretion.

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Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is associated with developmental neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative disorders; however, the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis are unknown. Existing literature has focused mainly on using neurons as a model system to study mechanisms of PCB-mediated neurotoxicity, overlooking the role of glial cells, such as astrocytes. As normal brain function is largely astrocyte-dependent, we hypothesize that astrocytes play an important role in PCB-mediated injury to neurons.

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Chiral polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are environmentally relevant developmental neurotoxicants. Because their hydroxylated metabolites (OH-PCBs) are also neurotoxic, it is necessary to determine how PCB metabolism affects the developing brain, for example, in mouse models. Because the cytochrome P450 isoforms involved in the metabolism of chiral PCBs remain unexplored, we investigated the metabolism of PCB 91 (2,2',3,4',6-pentachlorobiphenyl), PCB 95 (2,2',3,5',6-pentachlorobiphenyl), PCB 132 (2,2',3,3',4,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl), and PCB 136 (2,2',3,3',6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl) using liver microsomes from male and female -null, -null, and wild-type mice.

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Study Design: Prospective clinical trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if an upright positional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol could produce reliable spinal curvature images and measurements compared with traditional radiograph.

Summary Of Background Data: Concerns about the oncological potential from cumulative doses of ionizing radiation in children and adolescents being monitored for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) initiated a search for radiation-free diagnostic imaging modalities, including MRI.

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Study Design: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Objective: To compare the relative rates of pulmonary recovery and maximal pulmonary function with surgical approach.

Summary Of Background Data: Anterior versus posterior spinal fusion (ASF, PSF) for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has been debated.

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