Life Sciences Commons^™

Learn First, Practice Second Approach To Increase Health Professionals’ Nutrition-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, And Self-Efficacy., Madison E. Santella

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a “learn first, practice second” intervention on the nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy of multidisciplinary health professionals in West Virginia, specifically highlighting the Mediterranean Diet. Data was captured via online surveys at four time points (Baseline, Post-education, Post-immersion, Follow Up). All information was self-reported. This approach consisted of 16 weeks of online education, 2 weeks of cultural immersion in Tuscany, Italy, and a 7 month return to practice period. Data were analyzed using JMP Version Pro 12.2 and SAS Version 9.3 for Windows. Repeated measures ANOVA with irregular spacing …

Autologous Skin Cell Spray-Transplantation As An Innovative Alternative To Autologous Split- Thickness Skin Grafts For Deep Partial Thickness Burn Wounds: An Integrative Literature Review, Alexandria M. Beaudet

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Burn wounds tend to be a critical problem with a complicated healing process. Although advancements have been made and the treatment of burn wounds has improved significantly, the healing process for deep-partial thickness burn wounds remains problematic. The purpose of this thesis is to review the available literature on an innovate biotechnology, autologous skin cell-spray transplantation, to more effectively treat burn wounds and potentially other injuries in the future. This study was conducted by critically researching and comparing (N=7) peer-reviewed research articles focusing not only on burn wounds using traditional treatments, but also the treatment of burn wounds using revolutionary …

Using Fundamental Properties Of Light To Investigate Photonic Effects In Condensed Matter And Biological Tissues, Laura A. Sordillo

Dissertations and Theses

Light possesses characteristics such as polarization, wavelength and coherence. The interaction of light and matter, whether in a semiconductor or in a biological sample, can reveal important information about the internal properties of a system. My thesis focuses on two areas: photocarriers in gallium arsenide and biomedical optics. Varying the excitation wavelength can be used to study both biological tissue and condensed matter. I altered the excitation wavelengths to be in the longer near-infrared (NIR) optical windows, in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) range, a wavelength region previously thought to be unusable for medical imaging. With this method, I acquired high …

Dna Methylation Of The Clusterin Promoter: Associations With Alzheimer’S Disease Risk And Related Phenotypes, Madeline Peretti

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background

In 2017 approximately 50 million people worldwide were living with dementia. With Alzheimer’s disease (AD), accounting for 50-70% of dementia cases making this debilitating disease, with no current effective prevention, treatment or cure, a critical healthcare concern. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified a number of risk genes for late onset AD (LOAD); Apolipoprotein E (APOE), a gene involved in the cholesterol/lipid pathway is considered the gene with the greatest risk. The third most associated AD risk gene is Clusterin (CLU), is also involved in the cholesterol/lipid pathway. CLU has been implicated in both …

Evidence-Based Practice Self-Study Education Program For Staff Nurses On Genomics, Nancy L. Norman-Marzella

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurses routinely obtain genomic data when collecting family health histories. However, they report low confidence in their knowledge and understanding of genomics and the genetically engineered medications prescribed for their patients. The purpose of this project was the development and implementation of an evidence-based online education program about genetics and genomics to increase the nurses' understanding and ability to provide competent care for their patients receiving treatments based on the science of genomics. Knowles's principles of adult learning theory guided the development and delivery of the online education project to 12 medical-surgical registered nurses employed in a hospital in the …

Improving Dopamine Monitoring With Ncam And The Effects Of Intranasal Oxytocin On Dopamine Signaling In The Rat Brain, Darren Earl Ginder

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Dopamine (DA) is a neurohormone highly involved in learning and memory. Oxytocin (OXT), another neurohormone, has also been implicated in learning and memory. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) is a method used for the real-time examination of DA neurotransmission in the brain. Implanting FSCV electrodes is an invasive technique that likely results in an inflammatory response (i.e. gliosis) that can restrict FSCV recording of DA signals. Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) may reduce gliosis and potentially improve the ability of FSCV electrodes to monitor DA signaling. Chapter 1 Methods: FSCV electrodes were coated with NCAM and implanted in the rat brain. …

Akt Expression And Lactose Synthesis During Heat Exposure In Saanen Goat, Nungnuch Saipin

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

In tropical countries, high ambient temperature (HTa) is a fundamental factor that cause a decline in the mammary gland function in dairy animals. Dairy animals fed under HTa decreased milk yield (MY) as well as milk compositions. The current study focuses on the effect of HTa to decrease milk synthesis from natural and in vitro HTa condition. The first experiment was performed to investigate the effect of HTa from the natural condition in early lactating Saanen goat, 2-4 weeks of postpartum (2 PP-4 PP). Five animals were investigated during the winter season as control ambient condition. Six animals as the …

Nutritional Status And Dietary Perceptions In Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Adjuvant Chemotherapy, Wipapak Raksawongsa

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Colorectal cancer treatment usually involves surgical resection following by adjuvant chemotherapy. Pathology and treatment are major causes of malnutrition. Therefore, this group of patients should receive specific nutritional counseling. Changes in eating behavior occur when the patients perceive the benefits of changes. Dietary perceptions information is useful in nutrition care. The aim of this prospective study was to examine the effect of individualized nutritional counseling on the nutritional status and dietary perceptions of 35 colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital from March to November 2019. The data were collected during the first to the third …

Studies Of Beta-Cardiotoxin From King Cobra Venom On Rat Cardiac Functions: Effect On Isolated Single Cardiomyocyte, Tuchakorn Lertwanakarn

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Beta-cardiotoxin (ß-CTX), a novel protein isolated from the King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) venom has previously been proposed as a beta-blocker candidate. However, cellular mechanisms of ß-CTX on cardiomyocyte is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ß-CTX on isolated rat cardiomyocyte function and the cardiac myofibrillar activity, and to explore involvement of ß-adrenergic receptor (ß-AR) signaling pathway. ß-CTX was isolated and purified using two-step chromatographic method and confirmed by N-terminal sequencer. The function of ß-CTX on cardiomyocyte was compared to propranolol in 3 conditions, basal state, with isoproterenol (ISO), and with forskolin (FSK). ß-CTX exhibited more potency than …

Effects Of Astaxanthin Supplementation On Biological Parameters In Thai Healthy Volunteers, Chuenjai Sratongfaeng

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant, is widely used as a dietary supplement to promote several health benefits. However, the effects of long-term supplementation on general biological parameters in healthy adults is still insufficient. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of 12-week astaxanthin supplementation on blood glucose, lipid profile and hematological parameters in healthy volunteers. Thirty-three healthy participants (16 in the experimental group and 17 in the placebo group) were enrolled in the study. The participants in the experimental group were supplemented with 4 mg/day of astaxanthin while those in the placebo group were supplemented with soybean oil …

Alternative Treatment Options For Controlling Anthelmintic-Resistant Haemonchus Contortus Populations In South Dakota Sheep Herds, Adam Sarah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Haemonchus contortus is a common economically important gastrointestinal nematode that obliges the survival and productivity of small ruminants, especially sheep and goats. Anthelmintic resistance is a primary challenge in ruminant health management programs in preventing and controlling the H. contortus populations; therefore, there is a great necessity in finding and developing natural plant products for use as alternatives to commercial anthelmintics for controlling H. contortus in pastured sheep and goats. This dissertation has three major aims conducted in three separate studies: the first in vivo one was to evaluate the extended effect of a springtime, combined-treatment with 3 anthelmintics having …

The Left Ventricular Functions And Heart Rate Variability In Dogs With Pulmonic Valvular Stenosis, Ploypanut Trikhun

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Pulmonic valvular stenosis (PS) is one of the most common congenital heart diseases in dogs that can lead to the cardiac maladaptation. Also, PS can affect the cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS). However, clinical information regarding to systolic function and cardiac ANS alteration in PS dogs had not been fully elucidated. The objectives of this study were to evaluate cardiac electrical property, left ventricular (LV) function, and to assess cardiac ANS from heart rate variability (HRV) analysis in PS dogs compared with healthy dogs. The dogs in this study were divided into 2 groups, PS dogs (n=13) and healthy control …

Evaluations Of Health In Sympatric Free-Ranging Saguinus Imperator And Leontocebus Weddelli Using Neopterin, Urinalysis, And Blood Chemistry Analyses, Alexandra J. Sacco

All Master's Theses

This thesis is composed of one journal-ready article and one chapter that includes a preliminary interpretation of data for later publication. In summary, this thesis proposes the use of three different methods of evaluating the health status of New World Monkeys: urinary neopterin measurement, blood chemistry analyses, and urinalysis. Chapter II addresses the question of whether or not the neopterin molecule, a biomarker for cell-mediated immune system activation, is conserved across primate taxa. To do so, we collected urine samples across three New World Monkey (NWM) families including captive Leontopithecus rosalia and Pithecia pithecia, and wild populations of Leontocebus …

Characterization Of The Microbial Phosphonate-Activating Pntc Enzymes, Kyle Rice

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

New strategies are urgently needed to combat infectious diseases in an era of rising antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, an emerging appreciation for the human microbiome’s role in maintaining health motivates discovery of species-specific antibiotics that minimally disrupt our native bacterial communities. Small molecule modifications to bacterial cell surfaces represent a potentially rich source of new targets for next generation antibiotics, as these molecules mediate virulence and evasion of the host immune response. Phosphocholine (PCho) is a rare cell surface modification that contributes to virulence, and modifications with phosphonates like 2-aminoethylphosphonate (AEP) are even more unusual and therefore provide opportunities for species- …

Total Energy Intake And Self-Selected Macronutrient Distribution During Wildland Fire Suppression, Alexander N. Marks, Joseph A. Sol, Joseph W. Domitrovich, Molly R. West, Brent C. Ruby

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Introduction: Wildland firefighters (WLFF) work long hours in extreme environments resulting in high daily total energy expenditure (TEE). Increasing work shift eating episodes and/or providing rations that promote convenient feeding has shown augmented self-selected work output, as has regular carbohydrate (CHO) consumption. It remains unclear how current WLFF feeding strategies compare to more frequent nutrient delivery. Our study’s aim was to determine WLFFs’ self-selected field total energy intake (TEI), composition, and patterns feeding during wildland fire suppression shifts.

Methods: 86 WLFF (16 female, 70 male; 27.5 ± 6.4 yr) deployed to fire incidents across the United States throughout the 2018 …

An Analysis Of Beverage Consumption In The United States Using The National Health And Examination Survey 2007-2017, Sean Morris

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) are liquids sweetened with various forms of added sugar. They are the leading source of calories and added sugar in the American diet (Drewnowski & Rehm, 2014; National Cancer Institute, 2016; Powell, Chriqui, Khan, Wada, & Chaloupka, 2013). The health and nutrition literature has increasingly identified added sugars and SSBs as a key potential contributor to a host of public health issues including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (Johnson et al., 2009; Malik, Popkin, Bray, Despres, & Hu, 2010; Vartanian, Schwartz, & Brownell, 2007). Concern about these public health crises has recently animated regional …

Association Of Sickle Cell Trait With Exertional Rhabdomyolysis And Atrial Fibrillation., Daniel R. Douce

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Sickle cell trait (SCT), sickle cell disease’s carrier status, is a common genetic variant found in many people of African, South Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean descent. While overall considered a benign carrier status, it has been associated with an increased risk of several diseases, including exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER), and chronic kidney disease. While epidemiological evidence links SCT with ER, the actual pathophysiological mechanism less understood. Additionally, while there is an increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) documented in people with sickle cell disease, studies in individuals with SCT are lacking.

The objectives of this thesis are twofold: The first …