Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluating Cardiovascular Dysfunction During Increased Activity And Exercise Rehabilitation Following Incomplete Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury In The Adult Rat., Kathryn A. Harman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in whole-body dysfunction. While the majority of SCI research is focused on improving locomotor function after injury, cardiovascular (CV) disease continues to be the leading cause of morbidity in the chronic SCI patient population. The combination of injury-induced destruction of autonomic pathways, maladaptive plasticity within lumbosacral circuits, and the progressive decline in physical fitness contribute to the poor CV status of SCI individuals. Currently, there is little emphasis on implementing appropriately-timed acute rehabilitation techniques aimed to curtail maladaptive remodeling and improve CV outcomes. Furthermore, no pre-clinical or clinical studies have investigated the most appropriate time-course …

The Role And Regulation Of Inhibitor Of Kappa B Kinase In The Impaired Monocyte Response., Norman James Galbraith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trauma, major surgery and systemic infection can lead to a subsequent immunosuppressed state which can predispose patients to nosocomial infection and death. Approximately a sixth of patients will have impaired monocyte function, as determined by decreased HLA-DR expression or decreased TNF-α production in response to ex-vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. This project aimed to develop an in-vitro model of impaired monocyte function using isolated monocytes from healthy volunteers, to study the effect of monocyte impairment on IκK signaling, and determine the role of IκK in the impaired monocyte response. These studies have provided the following results:

1. Monocytes treated with low dose …

The Role Of Nicotine, A7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors And Extracellular Matrix Remodeling In Pulmonary Fibrosis., Glenn Ward Vicary

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The median survival for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients from diagnosis is a dismal 3 years. This condition is characterized by pulmonary fibroproliferation and excess production and disordered deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins resulting in obliteration of the original tissue architecture, loss of lung function and eventual death due to respiratory failure. The main hindrance to the development of effective treatments against pulmonary fibrosis is the late detection of its progression and is often of unknown cause. Tobacco smoke represents the most important environmental factor linked to the development of pulmonary fibrosis, with over 60% of IPF patients current …

Dynamic Host-Pathogen Interactions Result In Fungal Epitope Unmasking, Alex Hopke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Molecular camouflage is used by a diverse set of pathogens to disguise their identity and avoid recognition by protective host receptors. The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans is a good example, as it masks the inflammatory component β-glucan in its cell wall to evade detection by the immune receptor Dectin-1. Interestingly, it has been seen that β-glucan becomes unmasked during infection in vivo, though the underlying mechanisms remained unclear. Exposure levels of this epitope may be important, as Dectin-1 mediates protection from some strains of C. albicans and alterations in the organization and composition of the Candida cell wall …

Radiography Students: Factors Contributing To Their Stress And Methods Of Coping, Kayla A. Rosenbaum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

College students experience high levels of stress, especially those in health care programs. The purpose of this study was to determine what factors contribute to Tennessee radiography student stress levels and the methods by which they cope with stress. Additionally, do demographic factors affect radiography student stress levels? The research was conducted February 4 to March 30, 2016. A survey was distributed to students in a radiography program at two and four year colleges in Tennessee. Participants were asked questions on factors that influence their stress levels, coping strategies, and health issues experienced in the past year. Descriptive statistics, independent …

Developing A More Clinically-Relevant Mouse Model Of Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity., Cierra N. Sharp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cisplatin is a nephrotoxic chemotherapeutic that causes acute kidney injury (AKI) in 30% of patients. Although recovery can occur after one episode of cisplatin-induced AKI, studies have indicated multiple episodes may lead to the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD), an irreversible disease with no current treatments. The standard mouse model of cisplatin-induced AKI consists of one, high dose of cisplatin (> 20 mg/kg) that is lethal to the animal three days later. This model doesn’t accurately reflect the repeated dosing regimen patients receive, and doesn’t allow for long-term outcome studies of pathologies associated with CKD. We have developed a …

Multipurpose Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Electrospun Fibers For The Prevention Of Hiv-1 And Hsv-2 Infections., Kevin Tyo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexually transmitted infections affect hundreds of millions of worldwide. Both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1 and -2) and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) remain incurable, urging the development of new prevention strategies. While current prophylactic technologies are dependent on strict user adherence to achieve efficacy, there is a dearth of delivery vehicles that provide discreet and convenient administration, combined with prolonged-delivery of active agents. To address these needs, we created electrospun fibers (EFs) comprised of FDA-approved polymers, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(DL-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL), to provide sustained-release and in vitro protection against HIV-1 and HSV-2. PLGA and PLCL EFs, incorporating the antiretroviral, tenofovir …

Spirituality And Psychological Well-Being Among Als Caregivers: Hope And Perceived Stress As Mediators, Bridget R. Jeter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The empirical study of the salutary relationship between spirituality/religiousness and psychological well-being is burgeoning. However, mechanisms of this association have received less empirical attention. Theory suggests that spirituality/religiousness may lead to positive psychological characteristics such as hope, which may function as a means of coping in the context of a significant stressor or stressful situation. The perceived burden and stress associated with caring for individuals with chronic illnesses such as ALS is significant, and caregivers may be at risk for increased symptoms of depression, symptoms of anxiety, somatic symptoms, and other deleterious psychological well-being related outcomes. Within the context of …

Sa-4-1bbl As A Modulator Of Innate, Adaptive, And Regulatory Immunity : Implications For Cancer Prevention And Treatment., Hampartsoum Barsoumian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

SA-4-1BBL is a recombinant costimulatory molecule that is active in its soluble form and has pleiotropic effects on the functions of innate, adaptive, and regulatory immune cells. We have previously shown that SA-4-1BBL makes CD4+ T conventional cells (Tconvs) resistant to suppression by CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs). The mechanistic basis of this observation is the subject of this study. We demonstrate that Tconvs, but not Tregs, are the direct targets of SA-4-1BBL-mediated evasion of Treg suppression without contribution from antigen presenting cells (APCs). SA-4-1BBL engagement with its receptor, 4-1BB, on Tconvs resulted in the production of high levels of …

Modulation Of Cardiac Kv Currents By Kvbeta2 And Pyridine Nucleotides., Peter Joseph Kilfoil

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Myocardial voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels regulate the resting membrane potential and the repolarization phase of the action potential. Members of the Kv1 and Kv4 family associate with ancillary subunits, such as the Kvβ proteins, that modify channel kinetics, gating and trafficking. Previous investigation into the function of cardiac β subunits demonstrated that Kvβ1 regulates I_to and I_K,slow currents in the heart, but the role of Kvβ2 in the myocardium remains unknown. In heterologous expression systems, Kvβ2 increases surface expression of Kv1 channels, shifts the activation potential of Kv1 channels to more polarized voltages, and increases the inactivation of …

Positive Deviance, Contraceptive Self-Efficacy And Social Desirability In Sexually Active Adolescent Females : A Mixed Methods Approach., Ashley D. Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Unintended pregnancy is an issue that impacts women of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses. It also impacts the child that results and the society in which they live. In the United States, adolescents experience unintended pregnancy more than adolescents in other countries. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the factors that contribute to successful contraceptive use among adolescent females (ages 13-18) seeking reproductive health services at a local family planning clinic. The theoretical framework of contraceptive self-efficacy (CSE) was used to frame this understanding. The exploration was conducted in three ways: a critical review of the literature …

The Influence Of Mir-99a On Mtor Signaling Regulation In Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines., Jonathan Rice

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cause of death. These are staggering statistics for a disease that can essentially be cured if caught early and the pathology is favorable to therapeutic intervention. There is currently a drastic decrease in five year survival as the cancer stage increases from locally confined disease to metastatic disease. These statistics suggest that although some strides have been made with colon cancer screening and early intervention, there is still much room for improvement in both screening and treatment of CRC. One of the pathways that have …

Longitudinal Examination Of Perceived Stress And Depression Symptomology In Division I Student-Athletes, Bobby Daigle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

CONTEXT: Concussions are all too prevalent in amongst athletes. Concussions make up almost 5 percent of all collegiate athletic injuries. Concussions have been linked with many long lasting effects including depression and increased stress or anxiety.

OBJECTIVE: To longitudinally examine post-concussion depression and stress levels in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 athletes.

DESIGN: Descriptive longitudinal study.

SETTING: National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate athletics.

PARTICIPANTS: Concussed and uninjured Division I collegiate athletes, ages 18-22, competing in football, women’s soccer, baseball, softball, and women’s track.

INTERVENTION(S): Participants completed the CES-D at baseline, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months …

Clinical Characteristics Of Active Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability, Mary Elizabeth Winningham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ankle sprains, specifically to the lateral ligament complex, are one of the most common injuries seen during athletic participation and may lead to chronic ankle instability (CAI).¹ Residual symptoms of CAI can include feelings of giving way and instability as well as, persistent weakness, pain during activity, and self-reported disability, which may affect postural control and functional performance.² The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between perceived kinesiophobia and dorsiflexion range of motion (DROM), measures of dynamic postural control, and measures of functional performance, within active individuals with CAI. Thirty-seven physically active …