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The Effect Of L-Citrulline Supplementation On Blood Pressure: An Updated Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Vraj Amin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cardiovascular disease remains one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States and has remained as the leading cause of death. Large Mendelian randomization studies have found significant correlations between high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, high blood pressure is the single most important independent risk factor for CVD. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of L-citrulline on blood pressure to determine whether it could be advised as an effective treatment for high blood pressure. L-citrulline is a naturally occurring amino acid that readily converts to L-arginine within the human body. L-arginine …

Split Catalytic Probes For The Detection Of Monkeypox Virus, Jaehyun Ahn

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The COVID-19 outbreak highlighted the important role that diagnostic tests play in the healthcare system. To reduce the impact of infectious disease outbreaks, the development of rapid and cost-effective point-of-care-tests (POCTs) is crucial. With the dissemination of the Monkeypox (Mpox) virus, it became a necessity to produce POCTS that are inexpensive and easy to use. This work explored the construction of two colorimetric assays that aim to detect Mpox genetic signatures. One is based on the split-peroxidase-like deoxyribozyme probes (sPDz), while the other utilizes a cascade system of split RNA-cleaving deoxyribozyme (sDz) and peroxidase-like deoxyribozyme (PDz). Both rely on catalytic …

Role Of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response In Parainfluenza Virus Acute To Persistent Infections, Lauren L. Abbitt

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Persistent viral infections are a major health concern, with persistently infected (PI) cells being a source of continued shedding of virus and generation of viral mutants. Here, we hypothesized that cells persistently infected with the enveloped virus parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) would show altered expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress proteins and increased resistance to death caused by drug-induced ER stress. To test this, lysates of mock-infected, PIV5 acute-infected, and PIV5 PI human lung A549 cells were collected and levels of ER stress proteins were compared. Western blotting revealed that immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein (BiP/GRP78) was present in higher …

Acute Myocardial Infarction Among People Living With Hiv: Comparing Immunological And Virological Control By Hispanic Ethnicity Of The All Of Us Research Program Participants, Eugenio Reina

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In the United States, individuals of Hispanic ethnicity receive disproportionately lower-quality healthcare. These healthcare disparities exacerbate unequal access to quality healthcare services, including disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care. Research on the role of ethnicity on the CVD outcomes of people living with HIV (PLWH) has been limited. We hypothesize that immunological (CD4+ cell count) and virological (HIV viral load) control may play a role in the development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) among PLWH, and that Hispanic ethnicity may worsen these outcomes.

To verify our hypotheses, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study to investigate …

An Examination Of Lung Cancer Treatment Characteristics On Lung Cancer Patients With Co-Existing Heart Disease, Elias Rhanime

Honors Undergraduate Theses

With the rising rates of heart disease incidents in the United States and the increase in lung cancer deaths as well, many individuals suffer and get their treatments compromised due to these diseases. Especially considering that many lung cancer and heart disease patients are over 70 years of age, treatment options and success rates drop significantly. Due to this, a great concern is raised for patients with co-existing heart disease and lung cancer. This was a case-control study that assessed lung cancer treatment options and success rates for patients with co-existing heart disease. We used research papers that discussed lung …

Stress, Coping, And Disease Awareness With Metabolic Disease Risk: A Longitudinal Cohort Study, Chelsea Anestal

Honors Undergraduate Theses

College students undergo stressors (e.g., potential financial strain, changes in workload or location), which may precipitate metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk associated with obesity and high blood pressure. Concerning rises in young adult obesity and type 2 diabetes, prompt study into MetS risk factor prevalence and awareness in youthful populations transitioning to new environments, such as college. This study assessed perceived stress, coping resources, and disease awareness differences in the first time on campus and final-year students associated with MetS risk factors (elevated body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure). We hypothesized lower stress perception, lower weight gain and blood …

Diabetes Mellitus Among Black/African Americans: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Epigenetic Research, Eliana Jacobs

Honors Undergraduate Theses

During their lifetime, Black/African Americans have a higher likelihood of developing the diabetes mellitus metabolic disorder than other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. While research indicates that socioeconomic status, diet, and obesity factor into race disparities, the epigenetics field additionally identifies historical and contemporary racism as contributors to race disparities. This study is a qualitative analysis that examines a sample of health science research articles that use an epigenetics approach to understand diabetes among Black/African Americans. I analyzed the extent and mechanisms through which articles subtly reproduce dominant stereotypes of Black/African Americans and diabetes through representations of …

The Relationship Between Sarcopenia And Diabetes Among Different Ethnic Groups, Rachel K. Williams

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Sarcopenia and diabetes are two conditions that reflect ongoing changes in global health trends: aging and obesity. Sarcopenia affects approximately 10-40% of the global population and type II diabetes affects around 415 million individuals (6.28% globally), with obesity contributing to a majority of the cases. Currently, approximately 9.3% of the population (727 million individuals) is aged 65 years or older; this number is predicted to reach 16% of the global population (around 1.5 billion individuals) in 2050. Many developed countries are undergoing demographic population pyramid rearrangements whereby an increasingly aging population must be supported by a shrinking youth cohort. Sarcopenia …

Use Of Mechanical Pronation Beds In Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome In The Intensive Care Unit: An Integrative Review Of The Literature, Amanda St. John

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The increasing rate of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) reinforces the need for additional resources to assist clinical staff with an individual's care and recovery. Pronation therapy involves physically rotating an individual from the posterior position to the prone position. Pronation therapy has successfully been used for individuals diagnosed with ARDS in Intensive Care Units for decades. However, manual pronation maneuvers by staff members poses risks for those who are critically ill and risk of physical injury to caregivers. Mechanical pronation beds have revolutionized the art of pronation therapy, minimizing risks, and decreasing possibility of kinking or pulling out life …

Role Of Rela In Dormancy And Toxr Proteolysis In Vibrio Cholerae, Zachary J. Malaussena

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Vibrio cholerae, the etiological agent of the severe diarrheal disease cholera, is an enteric pathogen that can be found in aquatic ecosystems when not colonizing the human gastrointestinal tract. Under adverse environmental conditions, V. cholerae is capable of entering dormant states that increase its survival during these ecological fluctuations. In these states, V. cholerae slows its metabolic activity and exhibits drastically altered gene expression and morphology. Stressors that lead to entry into these states vary from nutrient limitation, suboptimal pH, or antimicrobials. Cells in these dormant states are highly resistant to antimicrobials and cannot be detected using standard microbiological techniques …

Developing A Targeted Ultrasound-Responsive Nanobubble-Based Gene Delivery System For Osteoporosis Treatment, Angela Shar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The overall goal of this project was to develop, optimize, and test an ultrasound-responsive targeted nanobubble for delivering osteoporosis-related silencing genes such as Cathepsin K small interfering RNA (CTSK siRNA) for osteoporosis treatment. The nanobubbles were synthesized using an in situ sonochemical method. The nanobubble (NB) is composed of a gas core made from perfluorocarbon, stabilized with albumin, encapsulated with CTSK siRNA, and embedded with alendronate (AL) for bone targeting (CTSK siRNA-NB-AL). Following its development, the responsiveness of CTSK siRNA-NB-AL to a therapeutic ultrasound probe was examined. The results of biocompatibility tests with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells proved …

Modeling And Analysis Of Covid-19 And Dynamical Systems In Biology And Physics, Vladimir Grbic

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In this paper, we study various examples of dynamical systems found in nature and extract the necessary concepts to build upon. Then, we develop and propose a new deterministic model for COVID-19 propagation. Our model should serve two purposes. First, we will approximate the infected and deceased individuals after a given time during the pandemic. Then, using a linearized subsystem describing infectious compartments about the disease- free equilibrium (DFE), we will determine the basic reproductive number (R0) by the next-generation matrix method.

The Fighting Journey Of A Premature Baby: A Systemic Review Of Developmental And Neurological Complications Of The Premature Baby, Dana Patel

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Prematurity is a worldwide problem. Every year, 15 million babies are born prematurely, and 1 million of those babies die because of related complications. The surviving premature babies are struggling to hold on to their lives, and even when they do live, most of them end up having various complications to survive and get stronger. There are physical complications faced on their journey such as having underdeveloped lungs, pneumonia, obesity, sepsis, retinopathy of prematurity, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, asthma, wheezing, bronchiolitis, cerebral palsy, and motor impairment. They can also develop mental and behavioral health complications such as depression, seizures …

Sequence-Independent Assay For Hiv Viral Load Quantitation, Omar El Merhebi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Although nucleic acid tests (NATs) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exhibit many advantages, such as early detection and viral load quantification, over immunological assays, their widespread use is limited by their demand for high-level infrastructure, sophisticated equipment, and advanced staff competence. Furthermore, when quantifying viral loads of patients, it has been reported that these assays can underestimate viral quantities by 22- to 100-fold due to primer-template mismatches in more divergent HIV subtypes. Therefore, we have developed a cost-effective and sequence-independent assay for the detection and quantification of HIV utilizing a modified nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) protocol coupled to an …

Using A Lubricin Reporter Cell To Test Current Vs. Optimized Media Compositions, Sean M. Kennedy

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Osteoarthritis is a joint disease characterized by the breakdown of articular cartilage. The field of tissue engineering is interested in developing methods to produce biological alternatives to current orthopedic procedures. Lubricin is a molecule which is important in the proper lubrication of articular cartilage. It is a challenge in the field of tissue engineering to produce cartilage with sufficient lubricin expression. Developing a reporter cell for lubricin allowed for a more efficient investigation of the conditions wh­­­ich may influence its expression. By comparing "optimized" and traditional media solutions, it was determined that the use of a previously reported type II …

Acoustic Detection Of Developmental Dysplasia Of The Hip In Models Representing Neonates, Pinak Raodeo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a condition that involves the dislocation of the head of the femur in the acetabulum of the pelvic bone. Although it may not interfere with a child's range of motion during infancy, DDH can cause various effects over time such as joint pain, abnormal gait, and even paralysis. It is crucial to catch this phenomenon early on so that permanent disability is not introduced to the patient. In this study, an excitation device was used to send a broadband frequency signal through a hip joint simulated by a 3D printed bone apparatus consisting …

High Rates Of Misdiagnosis Of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome And How To Reduce Them, Aliya Centner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) is a clinical diagnosis characterized by sudden onset of obsessive compulsive disorder and is considered a type of Autoimmune Encephalitis. Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder associated with Streptococcal Infection (PANDAS) is a subset of PANS characterized by a similar presentation but specifically results from infection by Group A β-hemolytic streptococcus. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential, as PANS can become a chronic condition. PANS and PANDAS are frequently misdiagnosed. There are a variety of differential diagnoses. The intent of this thesis is to evaluate differences in symptoms between PANDAS patients and those with a differential diagnosis …

Disparities In The 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic And Covid-19: A Literature Review, Yusuf Amawi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to identify causes of disparities in affliction (infection) and mortality for minority populations (Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and American Indian/Alaskan Natives) during the Swine Flu (H1N1) and COVID-19 (Sars-Cov-2) Pandemics. A literature review was conducted gathering peer-reviewed journal articles related to racial and socioeconomic disparities in affliction and mortality during both pandemics. The model of Blumenshine et al. (2008) was used as a guide for the analysis of this thesis, and measures of exposure, susceptibility, and treatment were hypothesized as causes for the disparities experienced by the minority populations during the two pandemics. Ultimately, it …

Covid-19 Infection In Hypertensive Patients In Correlation With Race, Elizabeth Durkin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Disparities in healthcare exist in the U.S., particularly between different racial categories. This study investigated the frequency of COVID-19 cases and hypertension cases among five different racial groups (White, Black, Asian, Native American, and Native Hawaiian). The study also examined the correlation between COVID-19 and hypertension. It was hypothesized that, because of genetic predisposition to certain diseases and existing socioeconomic barriers, Black populations would have the highest rates of both COVID-19 and hypertension. It was also proposed that a positive correlation exists between COVID-19 and hypertension frequency. To test this, the Kaiser Family Foundation's data for COVID-19 cases and race …

The Effects Of Roundup On The Life History, Stress Response, And Immune Function Of The Yellow Fever Mosquito, Aedes Aegypti, Lindsay E. Martin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, vectors for many human diseases, begin life as larvae developing in water, potentially exposed to runoff with herbicides and pesticides. This study serves as a novel investigation into the transstadial effects of exposure to Roundup on A. aegypti life history, immunity, and stress response and aims to account for these effects in an R0 model for vectorborne disease transmission. Prior work has shown that Roundup negatively affects mosquito life history. I hypothesized that larval exposure to the maximum sublethal dose of Roundup (7189µg/L) would negatively impact A. aegypti life history, immunity (candidate gene approach), and stress response …

The Effects Of A Plant-Based Diet On Inflammation Of Patients With Cardiac Disease, Rachel L. Butcher

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cardiac disease is the primary cause of death in the United States of America (CDC, 2017). Despite ongoing efforts and investments to improve cardiac health in the United States, most of the population will suffer from cardiovascular diseases. There is a multitude of research supporting that diet can contribute to cardiac disease, but it is less known that diet can greatly contribute to regulation and reversal of cardiovascular disease processes (Huang et al., 2012; Satija et al., 2017; Kim et al., 2019). Existing research supports the efficacy of plant-based diets to manage and reverse certain cardiac diseases (Tuso et al., …

Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles And Beneficial Bacteria: Two Novel Treatments For Eradicating Bacteria Associated With Prosthetic Infection?, Etta Conteh

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate new possible compounds that can be used to treat orthopedic implant infections caused by bacterial pathogens. Current treatment includes the use of antibiotics and the DAIR procedure, which stands for debridement, antibiotic therapy, irrigation, and retention. However, antibiotics are becoming less effective as a treatment due to bacteria gaining antibiotic resistance. Two bacterial species involved in orthopedic implant infections are P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. This thesis investigated cerium oxide nanoparticles and L. fermentum, a beneficial bacterium, as possible treatments to stop bacterial growth and the formation of biofilm. This …

The Relationship Between Community Health Worker Supply And The Rate Of Preventable Hospitalizations Of Rural Latinos With Diabetes, Danielle O. Mapp

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The ever-increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its associated healthcare costs in the United States has led to our healthcare system's need for cost-effective health resources and chronic disease management. The interventions of Community Health Workers (CHWs) can cost-effectively improve population health and prevent the unnecessary utilization of some medical services especially in rural, low-income, minority populations, where there is often limited access to healthcare. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the number of total CHWs in rural counties and the mean diabetes-related preventable hospitalization rates in Latino patients diagnosed with diabetes in those rural …

Development Of A Sox9 Reporter Cell For High-Throughput Chondrogenic Assessment, Alyssa R. Mickle

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease caused by the deterioration of articular cartilage and is a leading cause of disability in the United States and worldwide. Much current research into improved treatment for this disease is focused on tissue engineering through the growth of cartilage sheets made by articular chondrocytes. However, as chondrocytes proliferate in vitro, they also lose their ability to produce dense extracellular matrix, a necessary component of articular cartilage conferring mechanical strength. SOX9, a transcriptional activator, increases type II collagen expression, a key articular cartilage extracellular matrix component. Thus, SOX9 promotes an articular cartilage phenotype. Therefore, …

Detection Of Point Mutations Conferring Gentamicin Resistance In Escherichia Coli Using A Split-G4 Probe, Michael J. Greenberg

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The objective of this project was to develop a DNA hybridization sensor that can detect the presence of E. coli and reveal its resistance to the drug gentamicin. This probe will enable rapid and user-friendly diagnostics of E. coli infections and analysis of bacterial gentamicin-susceptibility profile by interrogation of a fragment of E. coli 16S rRNA bearing a substitution in the gentamicin-resistant cells. The sensor is promising for the point-of-care use to provide a timely UTI diagnostic solution. A quick diagnosis of E. coli infection and antibiotic resistance is crucial for treatment. To design a hybridization probe, we proposed a …

The Envelope Stress Response In Sedimentation-Resistant Escherichia Coli, Neel K. Shah

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Previous research discovered the existence of sedimentation-resistant mutants of E. coli. Genomic studies revealed that these mutants resisted sedimentation due to independent modifications to genes that influenced the Rcs signal transduction pathway, causing increased secretion of an exopolysaccharide capsule comprised primarily of colanic acid. The Rcs system is responsible for detecting envelope stressors; consequently, ampicillin and osmotic stress were used to perturb the cellular envelope and study the response of the mutants compared to wild-type cells. It was found that the overproduction of colanic acid in the mutants confers some resistance to envelope stress; however, the mutants still behaved …

Development Of Luminescent Tools For Use In The Study Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Krista A. Moore

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, is a growing problem worldwide due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant and extensively-drug resistant strains of the bacteria. A key to combatting the spread of these strains lies in the understanding of gene expression occurring in Mtb. This study focuses on the development and optimization of a luciferase-based bioluminescent transcriptional reporter that can be used to monitor gene expression in Mtb. The luminescent signal emitted from the reporter can be measured and correlated with the level of transcription of certain genes. This study focuses specifically on a gene called whiB7 which …

Investigating The Role Of Neuronal Aging In Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome, Katlin Marie Hencak

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is an X-linked late-onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by a noncoding trinucleotide repeat expansion in the FMR1 gene. This gene produces fragile x mental retardation protein (FMRP), an RNA binding protein whose targets are involved in brain development and synaptic plasticity. One of the proposed mechanisms of FXTAS pathogenesis is an RNA gain-of-function in which the repeat expansion causes toxic mRNA that sequesters important proteins in the cell, interfering with their functions. Another suggested method of pathogenesis is through a mutant protein called FMRpolyG. This protein results from repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation, in which the expanded …

A Meta-Analysis Of Neuromyelitis Optica Epidemiology In Latin American Nations, Brittany M. Zengotita

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is a rare, autoimmune, neurodegenerative disease selectively affecting the optic nerves and spinal cord. Relapsing NMO is nine times more prevalent in women than in men and approximately one-quarter of NMO patients have symptoms of another autoimmune disorder (National Institute of Health, 2019). NMO has not been linked to any genetic mutations and the cause of the disorder is unknown beyond the general understanding that the body produces anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4) which mistakenly attack cells in the nervous system. NMO affects roughly one percent of that of Multiple Sclerosis (4000-8000 patients total) in the United States, but …

Role Of Amyloid Precursor Protein In Neuroregeneration On An In Vitro Model In Alzheimer's Patient-Specific Cell Lines, Lina S. Bedoya Martinez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Alzheimer's disease (AD) leads to neurodegeneration resulting in cognitive and physical impairments. AD is denoted by accumulation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, known as tau, and extracellular plaques of the amyloid beta protein (Aβ). Aβ results from the proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β- and gamma-secretases in the amyloidogenic pathway. Although, Aβ has been widely studied for neurodegeneration, the role of APP in both, the healthy and diseased conditions, has not yet been entirely understood. The function that APP has in neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation, differentiation, and migration during adult neurogenesis has been previously studied. Additionally, …