Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Dietary Patterns On Health Outcomes In African American Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients, Dina Angela Tallman

Wayne State University Dissertations

In the United States, African Americans (AA) suffer a disproportionate burden of ESRD, accounting for 35% of all dialysis patients, and are 3.7 times more likely to progress to ESRD than whites. This increase in CKD risk is partially attributed to higher rates of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. Paradoxically, once on hemodialysis, AA have a survival advantage over whites, likely due to multiple factors including nutritional status, inflammation, psychosocial status, and genetic variation.

Although both the dialysis procedure and pharmacological treatments are effective at reducing the uremic toxin load, HD patients are still encouraged to adhere to strict …

Investigation Of The Role For Methyl-Cpg Binding Protein 2 Variant Mbd2_V2 In Cancer Stem Cells And Obesity-Associated Cancers, Emily A. Teslow

Wayne State University Dissertations

Obesity is a risk factor for both TNBC and PCa, and pro-inflammatory features associated with obesity, including upregulated production of ROS, promote CSCs. Previously published work from the Bollig-Fischer laboratory established that TNBC CSCs could be inhibited by neutralizing ROS in culture with H2O2 targeted antioxidants. In this report, antioxidant treatment resulted in the downregulation of mRNA splicing variant MBD2_v2. MBD2_v2 was highly expressed in CSCs versus bulk TNBC cells and supported self-renewal in vitro. As obesity is coupled with increased ROS, we hypothesized that obesity could drive CSCs via MBD2_v2 expression. The work presented in this thesis addressed this …

Characterizing Novel Radiologic And Pathologic Tissue-Based Risk Factors For Breast Cancer In African American Women With Benign Breast Disease, Asra N. Shaik

Wayne State University Dissertations

African American women (AAW) suffer a higher breast cancer mortality burden than women of other ethnicities in the US. More likely to be diagnosed with aggressive subtypes resistant to therapy and with rapidly fatal course than European American women (EAW), AAW may benefit greatly from earlier detection of breast cancers. However, it remains difficult to predict with a high degree of accuracy which women will develop breast cancer. Current risk assessment is especially poor for AAW, where models consistently underestimate risk in the subset of women with a prior biopsy. Risk assessment can be improved with the inclusion of new …

Self-Efficacy: Understanding African American Male Students Pathways To Confidence In Mathematics, Lisa Ann Williams

Wayne State University Dissertations

This dissertation is about the stories of African American male undergraduate students who have experienced success in mathematics. Bandura’s (1997) social cognitive theory and Tillman’s (2000) culturally sensitive research approach which promotes qualitative methods, recognizes ethnicity, and positions culture as central to the research were applied. Student interviews, parent interviews, teacher interviews, and mathematical autobiographies were used to investigate African American men self-efficacy, the sources of their beliefs, and societal factors that impacted their motivation and academic achievement in mathematics.

The descriptive portraits and the interviews revealed five broad themes: (1) college experiences, (2) K-12 experiences, (3) access and equity, …

Urban African American Youths' Academic Performance As Related To Fathers' Involvement During Development, Travis A. Goldwire

Wayne State University Dissertations

Father involvement in the context of urban African American youth was examined using a subsample (n = 556) of a large cohort of participants followed longitudinally through development. Data was collected at regular intervals (e.g., Age 7, 14, 19 and young adult). Young adults (n = 93) were surveyed for retrospective accounts of their fathers’ involvement in their lives before age 18. In the young adult data collection phase (the main subject of this project), most participants reported varying levels and frequency of involvement from their fathers while growing up, including helping at school, providing social support, and encouraging academic …

The Experiences Of Black American Older Adults Managing Pain: A Nursing Ethnography, Sheria Grice Robinson

Wayne State University Dissertations

Introduction: Pain can negatively affect quality of life for Black elders. They are less likely to report pain concerns and have voiced pain needs adequately met. To better understand the pain management experiences and concerns of Black elders, an ethnographic study was completed within an urban, low-income, elder housing facility. Methods: 106 participants completed a questionnaire comprised of a demographic tool, the PROMIS Global Health Scale (PROMIS), the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and the Psychological Stress Measure (PSM-9). Additionally, participant observation, informal interviews, and 20 formal recorded interviews with individuals identified as having pain were completed. Qualitative and frequency analysis …

Understanding Racial Differences In Aspiration Realization: Middle Income, Middle Class, And College-Going Behaviors, Omari Jackson

Wayne State University Dissertations

It is well documented that African Americans attend college at a lower rate than whites. However, African Americans' rate of aspiring to attend college is not lower than whites; rather their aspirations are higher than those of whites. Because there is such disparity between African American's educational aspirations and attainment, further investigation into this paradox is necessary. Literature shows that membership in the middle class generally equips one with greater resources that prepare them for college. If such research is accurate, middle class African American students should possess college preparatory resources and attend college. Because this is not the case, …

Perceived Familial Socialization And Ethnic Identity: Factors Associated With Physical Activity, Eating Behavior Patterns, And Social Physique Anxiety In African American Middle Adolescents, Nutrena H. Tate

Wayne State University Dissertations

Purpose: African American adolescents experience higher rates of obesity and have an increased risk of obesity related diseases than Caucasian American adolescents. Despite culturally sensitive obesity preventive interventions, obesity rates are increasing within the African American adolescent population. Current obesity interventions claim to be culturally sensitive, but do not address how ethnic identity and parental influences on body image and body change may affect the efficacy of the interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine the sociocultural factors related to weight behaviors and cognitions in African American adolescents. Differences based on socioeconomic status (SES), gender, and residential status …

Higher Than Those Of Their Race Of Less Fortunate Advantages:Race, Ethnicity, And West Indian Political Leadership In Detroit's African American Community, 1885-1940, Kathryn Lorraine Beard

Wayne State University Dissertations

This dissertation explores West Indian immigrants in the city of Detroit and their leadership of key institutions in the African American community from 1885 to 1940. This work is divided into two parts, with the Great Migration as the line of demarcation. The research method consists largely of collective biographies and a survey of periodicals, census records, and records generated by the institutions that had West Indian leaders. The dissertation concludes that West Indian immigrants perceived middle-class status and ethnicity as a means of distinguishing themselves from their African American counterparts, but race became a more significant factor as more …

A Qualitative Study On African American Males' Perceptions Of Reading, Phyllis Marie Stallings

Wayne State University Dissertations

African American male students begin experiencing failure when they enter fourth grade. At this grade, the curriculum becomes more focused, students are expected to complete high-stakes standardized tests, teachers become more distant, and students are expected to become independent learners. Many African American male students are not ready for this transformation. They may not have developed the reading skills needed to understand text books for social studies and science, and are deficient in regard to the math skills needed for problem solving. Understanding which factors are contributing to African American male student failure is important, especially in determining if these …

Effect Of Dimethylarginine Dimethylaminohydrolase In The Development Of Salt Sensitivity, Samar Abdulla Nasser

Wayne State University Dissertations

Salt sensitivity is associated with a rise in blood pressure (BP) occurring during sodium loading and/or a fall in BP during sodium restriction that exceeds random fluctuations in BP. Salt sensitivity is more common in African American than Caucasian hypertensives and is also present, in normotensive African Americans. The mechanism or mechanisms resulting in salt-sensitive hypertension are multiple and include both activation of the renin angiotensin system via increases in angiotensin II and reductions in the endogenous vasodilator, nitric oxide (NO). An important means of NO downregulation is through asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous NO inhibitor, which is largely metabolized …

The Impact Of Self-Efficacy, Locus Of Control, And Perceived Parental Influence On The Academic Performance Of Low And High Achieving African-American High School Students, Frances Ernestine Curtis-Fields

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of self-efficacy, locus of control, and perceived parental influence on the academic achievement of African-American high school students from low socioeconomic levels. A nonexperimental, descriptive research study was used to collect the data needed to address the research questions posed for this study. High school students enrolled in one high school in a large urban school district were asked to participate in the study. These students completed three instruments, Self in School, Importance of Parent Involvement, and the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility questionnaire (IAR), along with a short demographic survey developed …

Perceptions Of Sexuality By African American Patients On Hemodialysis, Merry Ann Stewart

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

PERCEPTIONS OF SEXUALITY BY AFRICAN AMERCIAN PATIENTS ON HEMODIALYSIS

by

MERRY STEWART

May 2010

Advisor: Dr. Ramona Benkert

Major: Nursing

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Sexuality is central to who we are as sentient beings and transcends physical sex acts. Sexuality concerns are reported as common for individuals receiving hemodialysis; yet, sexuality-related research for this population has been limited to a focus on altered physical sexuality. Little is known about the effects of hemodialysis on perceptions of personal identity, family-social roles as men or women, and intimate relationships. African Americans make up a disproportionate percentage of chronic hemodialysis patients and …

Spirituality And Spiritual Self-Care: Expanding Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory, Mary Louise White

Wayne State University Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to extend the theory of self-care deficit nursing by including specific constructs of religion, spirituality, and spiritual self-care practices within the structure suggested by Orem's self-care deficit nursing theory. Based on an extensive literature review, practice experience, and a discovery theory-building approach, a new mid-range theory called White's theory of spirituality and spiritual self-care (WTSSSC) was developed. To begin to test this mid-range theory, empirical indices of many of the main concepts were identified from prior studies and one new instrument (the Spiritual Self-Care Practice Scale) was developed. Hypothesized relationships among the main concepts …

The Experience Of Chronic Pain As Described By African American Indigent Adults Attending An Urban Primary Care Clinic, Jamie Alexandra Crawley

Wayne State University Dissertations

Background: Inadequate chronic pain control has far-reaching implications including costs for missed time at work; utilization of health care resources and reduced quality of life. People at highest risk for inadequate pain control include indigent adults and minorities. Newman's theory health as expanding consciousness views the chronic pain experience as a life pattern within health. Qualitatively examining chronic pain from participants' perspectives may improve chronic pain care.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of chronic pain as described by African American indigent adults attending an urban, primary care clinic.

Methods: 13- participants (7 men and …