Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Access To And Utilization Of Primary Care: A Synthesis, Klaire M. Johnson

Kentucky Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Barriers to access and utilization of primary care affect nearly 9% of the nation’s population (USDHHS, n.d.a). These barriers are important to evaluate for members of the aging population due to increased need for health care as a result of chronic conditions and falls. Research indicates that access for the aging population is affected by a variety of factors, including: transportation, non-financial barriers, and internal factors. Issues surrounding current delivery of care, such as a workforce shortage of primary care physicians, have compounded the problem even further. While this issue has begun to be addressed through the Affordable Care Act, …

The Price Of “Normal”: Masking In The Autistic Community, Phyllis Elizabeth Holloway

Online Theses and Dissertations

The Autistic community has a rich history that often includes poor mental health outcomes due to the increased stress and anxiety surrounding the push to have “normal” social skills. On Twitter, many autistic people utilize a hashtag to connect with others in the online Autistic community. This qualitative study analyzes the Twitter hashtag, #ActuallyAutistic, to understand masking and camouflaging from the autistic point of view. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to perform this analysis. The themes found emphasize the need for professionals to increase their understanding of the Autistic community’s value and contributions. By improving the ability of non-autistic …

An Assessment Of Disinfection-Related Water Chemistry At Public Pools And Spas In Louisville, Kentucky, Thomas Gerding, Tim Wilder, Jason W. Marion

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The growth in the number of pools to more than 7.4 million in the U.S. has been accompanied by a rise in recreational water illnesses (RWIs). Effective pool management, though, can mitigate RWI risks. Inadequate management presumably occurs more frequently where training is less formalized and/or pool operation is a minor aspect of the job of the responsible pool manager(s). During summer 2018, weekly evaluations were performed at public venues in Louisville, Kentucky. Disinfectant levels and other items were monitored and compared with venue-specific (pool or spa) criteria. Among 1,312 venue surveys, 1,173 (89.4%) met criteria and 139 (10.6%) did …

Assessment Of Indiana Bat Reproductive Condition, Recapture Trends, And Temperatures Of Artificial Roosts In Kentucky, Michaela L. Rogers

Online Theses and Dissertations

Recovery of bat species impacted by white-nose syndrome (WNS) will necessarily require population growth. I assessed reproductive capability of the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) in Kentucky, where WNS was first detected in hibernacula in April 2011. Due to loss of fat reserves associated with WNS infection, coupled with the energetic expenditures associated with pregnancy, I hypothesized mass of reproductively-active females captured during the maternity season would decrease across my data collection period (2017-2019). Further, I predicted that reproductive rates in the study population would be lower than historic rates for Kentucky. Mist net surveys around artificial maternity roosts at …

The Effects Of A 40-Minute Bout Of Aerobic Exercise On State Anxiety In College Age Individuals, Rachael Dozier

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if a forty-minute bout of aerobic exercise would decrease the state anxiety and heart rate of college aged individuals. This study was prompted due to the higher levels of anxiety in college aged individuals found in literature (Silva & Tucci, 2018). Specifically, college students need healthy alternatives to cope with their anxiety instead of turning to alcohol. Heightened levels of anxiety in this age range have been shown to increase negative coping habits, such as drinking, drugs, and eating disorders. These negative habits not only affect the individual physically, but also can …

Effects Of Alpha-Gpc And Huperzine-A On Short Term Memory, Anaerobic Power Output, Post Exhaustion Compared To Caffeine And Placebo In Healthy College Age Students, John P. Isaacs

Online Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The use of multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements has been steadily on the rise in the fitness industries. Companies make claims about improvements in performance both physically and cognitively for users but seldom provide research to back up the claims made about the ingredients or dosages. Purpose: To examine the effects of Huperzine-A and Alpha-GPC on short term memory and anaerobic power output, post exhaustion compared to caffeine and placebo in healthy college age students. Methods: The study was conducted as a double blind, placebo controlled, randomized design on 62 healthy adults (N=62 height 68.4 ± 3.5 in., weight 78.5 ± …

It's About Communities: The Commitment To Promoting A Culturally Competent Environmental Health Workforce, Clint Pinion Jr., Leslie D. Mitchell, Jason W. Marion

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Environmental health and public health are profoundly local. The Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP) firmly agrees and for this reason, it is important to have local environmental health experts who know the pulse of their communities. AEHAP believes in supporting the advanced scientific education of environmental health in these communities through people from these communities. Accordingly, AEHAP has sought to promote and support accredited environmental health programs among a diverse cross-section of the U.S. higher education landscape. AEHAP’s students are diverse in many ways, including socioeconomically, racially, ethnically, and culturally. The value of this approach enhances the overall …

Understanding Regenerative Medicine And Its Position In Healthcare, Tyler F. Ward

Kentucky Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Abstract: Regenerative medicine is an emerging field of the healthcare industry that has the potential to treat a myriad of health conditions. Induced pluripotent stem cells, human embryonic stem cells, and tissue engineering are a few of the treatment methods that may be delivered by healthcare professionals in personalized medicine. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval is necessary within the United States before any of these treatment options are available. Specific cellular therapies are currently undergoing clinical trials and it may be years before approval is acquired. The National Institute of Health is proactively working to ensure that healthcare policies, …

Assessment Of Temperature And Ultraviolet Radiation Effects On Sunburn At An Inland U.S. Beach: A Cohort Study, Jason W. Marion, Jiyoung Lee, James Rosenblum, Timothy J. Buckley

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Background

Increases in outdoor temperature may lead to increases in sunburn, outdoor exposure, and skin cancer in human populations.

Objective

This study aimed to quantify sunburn incidence and risk for Ohio beachgoers exposed to varying outdoor conditions.

Methods

Sunburn incidence data were obtained through a prospective cohort study at East Fork Lake (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA). Recruitment occurred over 26 weekend days. Beach interviews and follow-up telephone interviews obtained exposure and health information. New sunburns were self-reported 8–9 days post-enrollment. Survey data were paired with ultraviolet radiation (UVR) index and temperature data for statistical analysis.

Results

Among 947 beachgoers, new sunburns …

Gene Knockout Of Prfa And The Arginine Deiminase Pathway In Listeria Monocytogenes, Kearstin Edmonds

Online Theses and Dissertations

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive facultative intracellular pathogen. This species is a common cause of food-borne illness outbreaks with high fatality rates. L. monocytogenes is known to produce a number of virulence factors, including enzymes and toxins, which are involved in the disease process. The arginine deiminase pathway has the ability to regulate acidic environments by converting arginine to ammonia, ornithine, and ATP. With the help of a membrane-bound antiporter, the ornithine is transported out of the cell while the ammonia is converted to ammonium. The ATP by-product can also be used with the F0F1-ATPase system to help maintain homeostasis. …

The Acute Effects Of Alpha-Gpc On Hand Grip Strength, Jump Height, Power Output, Mood, And Reaction-Time In Recreationally Trained, College-Aged Individuals, Josey Lucas Cruse

Online Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: While alpha-GPC has received recent praise as a mental and physical performance enhancement supplement, very limited research on this topic exist, and no current studies examine alpha-GPC in collegiate-aged trained individuals. This study hopes to bridge the gap in the current research literature on the topic of alpha-GPC ingestion in young healthy adults in the cognitive and anaerobic paradigms, potentially shedding new light on the theoretical synergistic effect of caffeine and alpha-GPC.

Purpose: To investigate and identify the acute effects of alpha-GPC ingestion on performance testing (hand-grip strength, jump height, force kinetics, rate of force development) & reaction time …

Trends In The Environmental Health Job Market For New Graduates, Jason W. Marion, Timothy J. Murphy Phd, Anne Marie Zimeri Phd

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The question of whether the job market can support future graduates of environmental health programs remains an important and difficult question for environmental health programs, current and prospective students, parents, and other stakeholders. Our previous report using 2014 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics demonstrated anticipated growth and higher than average pay in the profession through at least 2022 for baccalaureate degree holders (Marion & Sinde, 2015). Growth in the profession does not necessarily translate into job availability if the market is saturated with job candidates. While university programs produce graduates, local health departments (LHDs) have suffered tremendous …

Students Can Be Important Link Between Academia And Practice, Jason W. Marion, Charles D. Treser

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Editor’s Note: In an effort to promote the growth of the environmental health profession and the academic programs that fuel that growth, NEHA has teamed up with the Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP) to publish two columns a year in the Journal. AEHAP’s mission is to support environmental health education to ensure the optimal health of people and the environment. The organization works hand in hand with the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) to accredit, market, and promote EHAC-accredited environmental health degree programs. AEHAP focuses on increasing the environmental health workforce, supporting students and …

Molecular Basis Of Sex Differences In Cardiac Hypertrophy And Heart Failure, Maya James

Online Theses and Dissertations

Transforming growth factor beta ligands and receptors are known to be pro-hypertrophic and pro-fibrotic factors in the heart, and are known to contribute to the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. It is well established that premenopausal females possess a lower incidence of these pathologies. We and others have observed a greater level of fibrosis in male hearts compared to female hearts in rodent models of cardiac hypertrophy. It is well established that estrogen is cardioprotective in that it can prevent the development of cardiac hypertrophy, as well as abrogate the development of heart failure following sustained cardiac hypertrophy. …

Development And Evaluation Of A Firefighter Physical Performance Program For Undergraduate Fire And Safety Students, Jessica Ann Moody

Online Theses and Dissertations

The number one on-duty cause of death in the fire service is heart attacks. The International Association of Firefighters and the International Association of Fire Chiefs teamed up to create the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). Fire departments across the nation will have consistent physical performance tests to hire more physically capable candidates as part of the Wellness-Fitness Initiative (International Association of Fire Fighters, 2014).

Eastern Kentucky University is a nationally recognized school for its fire science program; however students are not required to take educational classes to better prepare them for physical performance tests. Students starting in a training …

Questionable Validity Of The Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Metric Used For Value-Based Purchasing, Lindsay E. Calderon, Kevin T. Kavanagh, Mara K. Rice

Biological Sciences Faculty and Staff Research

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) occur in 290,000 US hospital patients annually, with an estimated cost of $290 million. Two different measurement systems are being used to track the US health care system's performance in lowering the rate of CAUTIs. Since 2010, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) metric has shown a 28.2% decrease in CAUTI, whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention metric has shown a 3%-6% increase in CAUTI since 2009. Differences in data acquisition and the definition of the denominator may explain this discrepancy. The AHRQ metric analyzes chart-audited data and reflects both catheter …

The Effect Of Antibiotics On Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm Production, Courtney Paige Turpin

Online Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become an increasing burden worldwide. A highly resistant species is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a nosocomial pathogen that produces a biofilm that enhances its resistance. This project examined the possibility of using bacteriocin, an internal protective toxin produced by some species of bacteria, as a potential treatment for resistant bacteria. In this study, standard broad spectrum antibiotics were used to treat P. aeruginosa to prevent biofilm formation. The biofilm was then analyzed to determine if the biofilm is inhibited or facilitated by each treatment. Optimal concentrations of antibiotics were determined to be effective at a concentration of 0.07mg/mL for …

Effects Of A Six-Week Functional Training Program On Fitness And Body Composition Of Fire Science Majors, Kristen Anne Lebrun

Online Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The leading cause of on duty death of firefighters is sudden cardiac events. Current research has shown the effects of fire physical training programs on firefighters, but has not researched fire specific physical training programs for the fire science major population. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a six-week functional program on fitness and body composition of fire science majors. Methods: Fire science college students (N = 16) volunteered to take part in a six-week fire specific fitness program. The subjects that fully completed the study (N = 12) were randomly assigned to …

Characterization Of Contaminants On Firefighter"S Protective Equipment A Firefighter's Potential Exposure To Heavy Metals During A Structure Fire, Donald F. Gagas

Online Theses and Dissertations

This research measured heavy metals, specifically cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead, on the surface of the firefighters bunker gear. Despite the fact that many studies have been conducted regarding the presence of organics in smoke emissions from structure fires, very few studies have investigated the extent of heavy metal emissions found during a structure fire. Using a wipe test procedure samples were collected from firefighters following a structure fire and analyzed for metals. Three locations on the bunker gear were used, the knee, elbow, and chest areas. The results showed that varying amounts of cadmium, chromium, copper and lead adhere …

Educational Professionals' Current Knowledge Of Concussions And Return To Learn Implementation Practice, Michelle Kuzma

Online Theses and Dissertations

Purpose of Project: The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge level and return-to-learn concussion management guidelines for secondary school educational professionals.

Methods: Surveys were distributed to 1,334 middle and high school educational professionals. Surveys included questions regarding basic demographics, teaching and coaching experience, personal concussion experiences, general concussion knowledge, and knowledge of return-to-learn guidelines. Results: Survey response rate was 15.7% (N=210). The mean teaching experience was 13.9±8.6yr and 46.4% had previous or current coaching experience. Overall 25.8% of respondents had taken a class/clinic on concussion recognition. Of those that coached, only 49.0% took a class on concussion …

The Relationship Between Tort Reform And Medical Utilization, Kevin T. Kavanagh, Lindsay Calderon, Daniel Saman

Biological Sciences Faculty and Staff Research

NTRODUCTION: The hidden cost of defensive medicine has been cited by policymakers as a significant driving force in the increase of our nation's health-care costs. If this hypothesis is correct, one would expect that states with higher levels of tort reform will have a decrease in Medicare utilization and that medical utilization will decrease after tort reform is enacted.

METHODS: State-level reimbursement data for years 1999 to 2010 (the last year available) was obtained from the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. Medical tort rankings for the 50 states were obtained from the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) and correlated with state …

The Use Of Surveillance And Preventative Measures For Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infections In Surgical Patients, Kevin T . Kavanagh, Lindsay Calderon, Daniel Saman, Said Abusalem

Biological Sciences Faculty and Staff Research

The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) found that Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is associated with up to 375,000 infections and 23,000 deaths in the United States. It is a major cause of surgical site infections, with a higher mortality and longer duration of care than Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. A multifactorial bundled approach is needed to control this epidemic, with single interventions unlikely to have a significant impact on attenuating MRSA infection rates.
Active surveillance has been studied in a wide range of surgical patients, including surgical intensive care and non-intensive care units; cardiac, vascular, orthopedic, obstetric, head and …

Much Work Still To Be Done To Prevent Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections, Kevin T. Kavanagh, Lindsay Calderon, Daniel Saman

Biological Sciences Faculty and Staff Research

Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) are all too common and often fatal events. To estimate the number of preventable CLABSIs, the authors analyzed SIR (Standardized Infection Ratio) and the number of CLABSI data from Hospital Com-pare. Several studies have suggested that an SIR of 0.35 may be achievable. If all institutions were able to perform at this level, then almost 50% of CLABSI would be prevented.

Smooth Muscle-Specific Expression Of Calcium-Independent Phospholipase A2 (Ipla2 ) Participates In The Initiation And Early Progression Of Vascular Inflammation And Neointima Formation, Shu Liu, Zhongwen Xie, Qingwei David Zhao, Huan Pang, John Turk, Lindsay E. Cormier, Wen Su, Guogang Zhao, Haifei Xu, Ming Gong, Zhenheng Guo

Biological Sciences Faculty and Staff Research

Background: The role of iPLA 2 β as a regulator of inflammatory signaling and neointima formation is unknown.

Result: Smooth muscle-specific expression of iPLA 2 β exacerbates proinflammatory cytokine production, macrophage infiltration, and neointima formation.

Conclusion: Smooth muscle-specific iPLA 2 β participates in the initiation and early progression of vascular inflammation and neointima formation.

Significance: iPLA 2 β may represent a novel therapeutic target for attenuating vascular inflammation and restenosis.