HPD Research Day | February 16, 2018

51 Atrium – Poster 46 12:15-1:15 p.m. Conditional Knockout of Polarity Complex (Atypical) aPKC Reveals an Anti-inflammatory Function Mediated by NF-κB Anastasia Mashukova, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, College of Medical Sciences, Nova Southeastern University Pedro J. Salas, University of Miami Objective. This study was conducted to investigate anti-inflammatory role of atypical PKC (aPKC) in the intestinal epithelium. Background. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a complex multi-causal condition arising from a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental challenges by intestinal bacteria. The intestinal epithelium constitutes the essential barrier against the potentially damaging factors and agents which exist in the gut lumen. It has been established that in IBD multiple proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF alpha, signal on the intestinal epithelium causing activation of the innate immunity pathways such as NF-kB. In turn, these pathways cause disassembly of the tight junctions and permeabilization of the intestinal barrier resulting in persistent inflammation. Our interest in the possible role of aPKC in inflammatory pathways was sparked when we observed that aPKC was deeply down-regulated in intestinal epithelia in samples from IBD patients. Methods. We used aPKC flox/flox mouse to obtain a conditional knockout in intestinal epithelia. We were able to achieve full aPKC down-regulation in small intestine villi and colon surface epithelium. Results. The results show that aPKC is dispensable for polarity after cell differentiation. At the same time aPKC defect resulted in increased NF-κB activity and elevated expression of proinflammatory cytokines. In contrast, expression of anti-inflammatory IL-10 decreased. Conclusion. We conclude that epithelial aPKC acts upstream of multiple mechanisms that participate in the inflammatory response in the intestine, including, but not restricted to, NF-κB. Grants. This study was partially funded by a President's Faculty Research and Development Grant to A. Mashukova. Atrium – Poster 47 12:15-1:15 p.m. Characterization of the Tissue Dielectric Constant of Skin Basal Cell Carcinoma Harvey N. Mayrovitz, Ph.D., Professor, College of Medical Sciences, Nova Southeastern University Paige Spagna, OMS-II, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University Luke Killpck, D.O., St. Josephs Mercy Livingston Dermatology Residency Training Program, PGY-III Stuart Gildenberg, MD, St. Josephs Mercy Livingston Dermatology Residency Training Program, Faculty David Altman, MD, St. Josephs Mercy Livingston Dermatology Residency Training Program, Faculty Objective. To characterize the tissue dielectric constant (TDC) of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Background. In vitro dielectric constant measures of cancerous-tumors have shown differences compared to non-cancerous tumors. But, TDC values of BCC in vivo has not been characterized. Methods. In 30 patients, TDC of skin lesions to be biopsied was measured prior to biopsy at 300 MHz via the open ended coaxial line method to a depth of 0.5 mm. Lesion measurements were compared to values on non-affected skin. Patient age (mean ± SD) was 71.9±15.5 (35-95 years) with 19 males and 11 females included. Results. Biopsy results showed BCC for all 30 lesions of which 2/3 were classified as nodular and 1/5 as infiltrative. TDC values measured on lesions were overall significantly less than measured on contralateral non-affected skin (22.1±15.7 vs. 37.4±14.3, p < 0.0001). However, in four cases TDC values were greater on the lesions. These tended to be lesions that were either ulcerated or edematous. However, initial preliminary comparisons of measurements on non-cancerous lesions (n=10) indicate that average percentage differences between lesions and control skin are about 40% for both cancerous and non-cancerous lesions. Conclusions. Although significant differences in TDC values are found between BCC skin lesions and non- affected skin, the fact that there is so far, no clear separation between cancerous and non-cancerous differences, cautions that TDC measurements may have inadequate selectivity as a useful detection method. An increase in the number of non-cancerous lesion comparison measurements may provide further insight into this issue. Presenting in Ft. Myers 12:15-1:15 p.m. Stay Connected With Your Baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Linda McCash, Ph.D., Associate Professor, College of Nursing, Nova Southeastern University Andrea Barth, BSN Nursing Student, College of Nursing, Nova Southeastern University