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2019

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Articles 121 - 150 of 27253

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Education Strategies For The Interdisciplinary Team Of An Early Mobility Protocol, Malori Paplow Dec 2019

Education Strategies For The Interdisciplinary Team Of An Early Mobility Protocol, Malori Paplow

Nursing Capstones

Implementation of early mobility protocols in the intensive care unit has been well documented to prevent multiple complications associated with prolonged immobility and to improve patient outcomes. Expectations to implement evidence-based healthcare is growing and the most difficult steps in the process is education and implementation, and it is often left to busy nursing leaders who may be unprepared for the challenge. The literature provides little direction for nurses regarding when to use specific educational strategies when implementing an early mobility protocol, especially amongst the interdisciplinary team. The purpose of this paper is to create an evidence-based education plan for …


Teaching Methodologies For Improved Student Engagement In Online Or Distance Education Courses, Erin Williams Dec 2019

Teaching Methodologies For Improved Student Engagement In Online Or Distance Education Courses, Erin Williams

Nursing Capstones

Research demonstrates the importance of learner engagement and social presence achievement of student learning outcomes and increased student satisfaction. However, little guidance is available to educators on how to create effective online and distance education courses that are engaging, interactive, student-centered, and effective. A literature review was completed to determine which online and/or distance education teaching methodologies are best for improving student engagement, and therefore improving student outcomes. Thirteen articles published between January 2014 and December 2019 were identified from a search of two databases. Ten of these articles were further analyzed according to the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework. …


Training And Support Of Unit Preceptors_A Literature Review Of Most Successful Tools, Corinne E. Jones Dec 2019

Training And Support Of Unit Preceptors_A Literature Review Of Most Successful Tools, Corinne E. Jones

Nursing Capstones

With nurses entering the workforce in the millions, preceptors are used to educate and train preceptees in clinical settings. A knowledge-practice gap exists when preceptors are put into their roles without any training regarding how to perform their preceptor duties. While preceptor education is desired among preceptors, there are no set standards for how preceptor training is delivered or what content is included. This paper reviews current literature and synthesizes results to form general guidelines regarding how best to deliver preceptor education and concept themes to be included in preceptor education. The databases CINAHL, PsycINFO, and ERIC were searched for …


Improving Patient Communication With Bedside Medical Interpreters: Nursing Education Focus On Providing Culturally Competent Care, Molly Murch Dec 2019

Improving Patient Communication With Bedside Medical Interpreters: Nursing Education Focus On Providing Culturally Competent Care, Molly Murch

Nursing Capstones

Patient-centered care is achieved through effective communication between the patient and the healthcare team members. The purpose of this independent study project is to show that the increasing cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity in the United States healthcare system has resulted in an increased need for professionally trained medical interpreters, as well as the continued need to educate pre-licensure nursing students on the importance of providing culturally competent care. This paper will first focus on Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients in healthcare. Information discussed will include data on the number of LEP patients who require healthcare, laws protecting LEP patients, …


Preoperative Smoking Cessation Education Plan For Patients And Health Care Professionals, Amy Anderson Dec 2019

Preoperative Smoking Cessation Education Plan For Patients And Health Care Professionals, Amy Anderson

Nursing Capstones

Surgical site infections are an undesired consequence of surgery. Smoking has been identified as a risk factor for developing a postoperative infection (Anderson, 2019). Patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery should be required to be tobacco-free for at least four weeks before surgery. Health care organizations can implement a preoperative smoking cessation program within their facility to assist patients in achieving this requirement. To do so, an education plan is needed to effectively disseminate the main components of the program to both patients and health care professionals. The efficacy of the education plan can be exponentially increased by selecting learning strategies …


Community-Based Responses To Negative Health Impacts Of Sexual Humanitarian Anti-Trafficking Policies And The Criminalization Of Sex Work And Migration In The Us, Heidi Hoefinger, Jennifer Musto, P.G. Macioti, Anne E. Fehrenbacher, Nicola Mai, Calum Bennachie, Calogero Giametta Dec 2019

Community-Based Responses To Negative Health Impacts Of Sexual Humanitarian Anti-Trafficking Policies And The Criminalization Of Sex Work And Migration In The Us, Heidi Hoefinger, Jennifer Musto, P.G. Macioti, Anne E. Fehrenbacher, Nicola Mai, Calum Bennachie, Calogero Giametta

Publications and Research

System-involvement resulting from anti-trafficking interventions and the criminalization of sex work and migration results in negative health impacts on sex workers, migrants, and people with trafficking experiences. Due to their stigmatized status, sex workers and people with trafficking experiences often struggle to access affordable, unbiased, and supportive health care. This paper will use thematic analysis of qualitative data from in-depth interviews and ethnographic fieldwork with 50 migrant sex workers and trafficked persons, as well as 20 key informants from legal and social services, in New York and Los Angeles. It will highlight the work of trans-specific and sex worker-led initiatives …


Safety Of Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Angioplasty For Femoropopliteal Peripheral Artery Disease, Kenneth Ouriel, Mark A. Adelman, Kenneth Rosenfield, Dierk Scheinert, Marianne Brodmann, Constantino Peña, Patrick Geraghty, Arthur Lee, Roseann White, Daniel G. Clair Dec 2019

Safety Of Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Angioplasty For Femoropopliteal Peripheral Artery Disease, Kenneth Ouriel, Mark A. Adelman, Kenneth Rosenfield, Dierk Scheinert, Marianne Brodmann, Constantino Peña, Patrick Geraghty, Arthur Lee, Roseann White, Daniel G. Clair

2010-2019 OA Pubs

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess safety outcomes of femoropopliteal drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty using patient-level data from the Lutonix clinical program.

BACKGROUND: A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of heterogenous trials and summary-level data identified increased long-term mortality in patients treated with paclitaxel-coated balloons and stents.

METHODS: We evaluated DCB angioplasty (n = 1,093) and uncoated balloon angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty [PTA]) (n = 250) outcomes in LEVANT 1 (The Lutonix Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon for the Prevention of Femoropopliteal Restenosis), LEVANT 2 (Moxy Drug Coated Balloon vs. Standard Balloon Angioplasty for the Treatment of Femoropopliteal Arteries), and …


Chloroviruses, James L. Van Etten, Irina V. Agarkova, David D. Dunigan Dec 2019

Chloroviruses, James L. Van Etten, Irina V. Agarkova, David D. Dunigan

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Chloroviruses are large dsDNA, plaque-forming viruses that infect certain chlorella-like green algae; the algae are normally mutualistic endosymbionts of protists and metazoans and are often referred to as zoochlorellae. The viruses are ubiquitous in inland aqueous environments throughout the world and occasionally single types reach titers of thousands of plaque-forming units per ml of native water. The viruses are icosahedral in shape with a spike structure located at one of the vertices. They contain an internal membrane that is required for infectivity. The viral genomes are 290 to 370 kb in size, which encode up to 16 tRNAs and 330 …


Colorants In Cheese Manufacture: Production, Chemistry, Interactions, And Regulation, Prateek Sharma, Annalisa Segat, Alan L. Kelly, Jeremiah J. Sheehan Dec 2019

Colorants In Cheese Manufacture: Production, Chemistry, Interactions, And Regulation, Prateek Sharma, Annalisa Segat, Alan L. Kelly, Jeremiah J. Sheehan

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Colored Cheddar cheeses are prepared by adding an aqueous annatto extract (norbixin) to cheese milk; however, a considerable proportion (∼20%) of such colorant is transferred to whey, which can limit the end use applications of whey products. Different geographical regions have adopted various strategies for handling whey derived from colored cheeses production. For example, in the United States, whey products are treated with oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide and benzoyl peroxide to obtain white and colorless spray‐dried products; however, chemical bleaching of whey is prohibited in Europe and China. Fundamental studies have focused on understanding the interactions between colorants …


Aminorex Identified In Horse Urine Following Consumption Of Barbarea Vulgaris; A Preliminary Report, George Maylin, Clara Fenger, Jacob Machin, Sucheta Kudrimoti, Rodney Eisenberg, Jonathan D. Green, Thomas Tobin Dec 2019

Aminorex Identified In Horse Urine Following Consumption Of Barbarea Vulgaris; A Preliminary Report, George Maylin, Clara Fenger, Jacob Machin, Sucheta Kudrimoti, Rodney Eisenberg, Jonathan D. Green, Thomas Tobin

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Background: Aminorex, (RS)-5- Phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-amine, is an amphetamine-like anorectic and in the United States a Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA] Schedule 1 controlled substance. Aminorex in horse urine is usually present as a metabolite of Levamisole, an equine anthelmintic and immune stimulant. Recently, Aminorex identifications have been reported in horse urine with no history or evidence of Levamisole administration. Analysis of the urine samples suggested a botanical source, directing attention to the Brassicaceae plant family, with their contained GlucoBarbarin and Barbarin as possible sources of Aminorex. Since horsepersons face up to a 1 year suspension and a $10,000.00 fine for an Aminorex …


Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - December 22, 2019, Lindsey Lyle Dec 2019

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - December 22, 2019, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the December 22, 2019 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's Newsletter - Watercooler.

Contents Include:

USA Health chief medical officer chairs national trauma meeting


Design And Biological Evaluation Of Colchicine-Cd44-Targeted Peptide Conjugate In An In Vitro Model Of Crystal Induced Inflammation, Khalid A. Zoghebi, Emira Bousoik, Keykavous Parang, Khaled A. Elsaid Dec 2019

Design And Biological Evaluation Of Colchicine-Cd44-Targeted Peptide Conjugate In An In Vitro Model Of Crystal Induced Inflammation, Khalid A. Zoghebi, Emira Bousoik, Keykavous Parang, Khaled A. Elsaid

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis due to the joint deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. Phagocytosis of MSU crystals by tissue macrophages results in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Colchicine use in gout is limited by severe toxicity. CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed in tissue macrophages and may be involved in gout pathogenesis. The P6 peptide is a 20-amino acid residue peptide that binds to CD44. We hypothesized that the conjugation of colchicine to the P6 peptide would reduce its off-target cytotoxicity while preserving its anti-inflammatory effect. …


Rates Of Benign Heart Tumors Diagnosed In Florida Hospitals: 1988-2012, Robert B. Hood, Elliott Smith, Richard B. Early, Zachary Weber, Sharona B. Ross, Alexander S. Rosemurgy Ii, Randall E. Harris Dec 2019

Rates Of Benign Heart Tumors Diagnosed In Florida Hospitals: 1988-2012, Robert B. Hood, Elliott Smith, Richard B. Early, Zachary Weber, Sharona B. Ross, Alexander S. Rosemurgy Ii, Randall E. Harris

Florida Public Health Review

No abstract provided.


A Drive To Driven Model Of Mapping Intraspecific Interaction Networks., Libo Jiang, Jian Xu, Mengmeng Sang, Yan Zhang, Meixia Ye, Hanyuan Zhang, Biyin Wu, Youxiu Zhu, Peng Xu, Ruyu Tai, Zixia Zhao, Yanliang Jiang, Chuanju Dong, Lidan Sun, Christopher H. Griffin, Claudia Gragnoli, Rongling Wu Dec 2019

A Drive To Driven Model Of Mapping Intraspecific Interaction Networks., Libo Jiang, Jian Xu, Mengmeng Sang, Yan Zhang, Meixia Ye, Hanyuan Zhang, Biyin Wu, Youxiu Zhu, Peng Xu, Ruyu Tai, Zixia Zhao, Yanliang Jiang, Chuanju Dong, Lidan Sun, Christopher H. Griffin, Claudia Gragnoli, Rongling Wu

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Faculty Papers

Community ecology theory suggests that an individual's phenotype is determined by the phenotypes of its coexisting members to the extent at which this process can shape community evolution. Here, we develop a mapping theory to identify interaction quantitative trait loci (QTL) governing inter-individual dependence. We mathematically formulate the decision-making strategy of interacting individuals. We integrate these mathematical descriptors into a statistical procedure, enabling the joint characterization of how QTL drive the strengths of ecological interactions and how the genetic architecture of QTL is driven by ecological networks. In three fish full-sib mapping experiments, we identify a set of genome-wide QTL …


Patient Satisfaction With Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Services, Trupti Dhumal Dec 2019

Patient Satisfaction With Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Services, Trupti Dhumal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Patient satisfaction is considered as an important indicator in the evaluation of healthcare quality across an array of treatments and services. It is deemed vital especially in the field of substance use disorder (SUD) research due to an increased emphasis on understanding patients’ perceptions regarding their treatment and the attributes that drive their progress towards recovery. Despite the potential value, gaps have been recognized in the exploration of these satisfaction-related assessments among patients undergoing SUD treatment in residential rehabilitative settings. Thus, there is a need for understanding the dimensions contributing to satisfaction which would facilitate the development of …


Determining Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies Utilizing A Delphi Approach, Tracey Chan Dec 2019

Determining Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies Utilizing A Delphi Approach, Tracey Chan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Competency-based education (CBE) has been recommended for nurse practitioner (NP) education. To implement CBE, existing NP core competencies need to be reduced in number and refined.

Purpose: This study refined and reduced redundancy in the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) NP core competencies through the consensus of experts in NP practice. This study used the current NP Core Competencies (NONPF, 2017), the Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice (AACN, 2006), and the Common Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Doctoral-Level Competencies,(AACN, 2017a) …


Characterization Of The Effect Of Exercise Dose And Integrative Nonpharmacological Therapies In The Treatment Of Chronic Pain, Anna M. Polaski Dec 2019

Characterization Of The Effect Of Exercise Dose And Integrative Nonpharmacological Therapies In The Treatment Of Chronic Pain, Anna M. Polaski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chronic pain includes debilitating conditions affecting large populations of people throughout the world. These diseases are further complicated by comorbid psychological disorders which make chronic pain conditions difficult to treat. Nonpharmacological treatment options have more recently become an important mainstay of effective therapies and are currently being used to supplement or replace traditional pharmacological treatment methods. Exercise-based therapies in particular are of interest due to their demonstrated success in reducing pain symptoms as well as improving psychological outcomes. Dose is an important factor in being able to effectively prescribe treatments in the context of specific exercise interventions and specific pain …


Perspectives Of Occupational Therapy Practitioners On Benefits And Barriers On Providing Occupational Therapy Services Via Telehealth, Taylor Corey Dec 2019

Perspectives Of Occupational Therapy Practitioners On Benefits And Barriers On Providing Occupational Therapy Services Via Telehealth, Taylor Corey

Student Capstone Papers

The purpose of this project is to gain a better understanding of the provider’s perspectives about the strengths and barriers of occupational therapy (OT) services provided via telehealth. Based on the evidence that will be collected through surveys and interviews, this research can help determine specific factors on whether or not therapist choose to provide services through telehealth. Centered around those perspectives of telehealth, the results can help explore more in depth on the issues and concerns therapists have regarding telehealth as a service delivery model.


Microbial Communities In Human Milk Relate To Measures Of Maternal Weight, Sara N. Lundgren, Juliette C. Madan, Margaret R. Karagas, Hilary G. Morrison, Anne G. Hoen, Brock C. Christensen Dec 2019

Microbial Communities In Human Milk Relate To Measures Of Maternal Weight, Sara N. Lundgren, Juliette C. Madan, Margaret R. Karagas, Hilary G. Morrison, Anne G. Hoen, Brock C. Christensen

Dartmouth Scholarship

The process of breastfeeding exposes infants to bioactive substances including a diversity of bacteria from breast milk as well as maternal skin. Knowledge of the character of and variation in these microbial communities, as well as the factors that influence them, is limited. We aimed to identify profiles of breastfeeding-associated microbial communities and their association with maternal and infant factors. Bilateral milk samples were collected from women in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study at approximately 6 weeks postpartum without sterilization of the skin in order to capture the infant-relevant exposure. We sequenced the V4–V5 hypervariable region of the bacterial …


Determining Levers Of Cost-Effectiveness For Screening Infants At High Risk For Peanut Sensitization Before Early Peanut Introduction, Matthew Greenhawt, Marcus Shaker Dec 2019

Determining Levers Of Cost-Effectiveness For Screening Infants At High Risk For Peanut Sensitization Before Early Peanut Introduction, Matthew Greenhawt, Marcus Shaker

Dartmouth Scholarship

Importance Early peanut introduction reduces the risk of developing peanut allergy, especially in high-risk infants. Current US recommendations endorse screening but are not cost-effective relative to other international strategies.

Objective To identify scenarios in which current early peanut introduction guidelines would be cost-effective.

Design, Setting, and Participants This simulation/cohort economic evaluation used microsimulations and cohort analyses in a Markov model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of early peanut introduction with and without peanut skin prick test (SPT) screening in high-risk infants during an 80-year horizon from a societal perspective. Data were analyzed from April to May 2019.

Exposures High-risk infants with …


The Ethical Justification Of Increasing Awareness Of Preventive Medicine Among Healthcare Professionals, Patients And The General Public In The United States, Karishma Ether Moazzam Dec 2019

The Ethical Justification Of Increasing Awareness Of Preventive Medicine Among Healthcare Professionals, Patients And The General Public In The United States, Karishma Ether Moazzam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While practiced for centuries, preventive medicine has received increased attention during the recent times. Preventive medicine has a distinct mission to protect, promote, and maintain health as well as to prevent diseases, disabilities, and premature deaths. It aims to fulfill its mission through the combined form of clinical intervention and health promotion. In the recent years, preventive medicine has begun to lean more towards the clinical interventions, taking away from the health promotion. This imbalance has caused preventive medicine to lose its effectiveness in fulfilling its mission. One of the leading causes for such imbalance is the lack of proper …


Caregiver Perspectives On Telehealth: A Service Delivery For Occupational Therapy, Rebecca Johnston Dec 2019

Caregiver Perspectives On Telehealth: A Service Delivery For Occupational Therapy, Rebecca Johnston

Student Capstone Papers

Telehealth; also known as telerehabilitation, telecare, telemedicine, teletherapy, and telepractice; is an emerging healthcare service that is utilized in various healthcare facilities with a span of ages, conditions, and locations (World Federation of Occupational Therapy [WFOT], 2014). Telehealth utilizes information and communication technologies to deliver services to a patient when the healthcare provider is not in the same location (WFOT, 2014). Telehealth can provide an online platform for evaluations, consultations, monitoring, supervision, and intervention with patients and other professionals (WFOT, 2014).

Telehealth is an emerging method of delivering occupational therapy (OT) services to various populations, including: children and youth; productive …


The Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Tubacin Mitigates Endothelial Dysfunction By Up-Regulating The Expression Of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase., Jihui Chen, Jian Zhang, Noor F. Shaik, Bing Yi, Xin Wei, Xiao-Feng Yang, Ulhas P. Naik, Ross Summer, Guijun Yan, Xinyun Xu, Jianxin Sun Dec 2019

The Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Tubacin Mitigates Endothelial Dysfunction By Up-Regulating The Expression Of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase., Jihui Chen, Jian Zhang, Noor F. Shaik, Bing Yi, Xin Wei, Xiao-Feng Yang, Ulhas P. Naik, Ross Summer, Guijun Yan, Xinyun Xu, Jianxin Sun

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

Endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) plays a critical role in the maintenance of blood vessel homeostasis. Recent findings suggest that cytoskeletal dynamics play an essential role in regulating eNOS expression and activation. Here, we sought to test whether modulation of cytoskeletal dynamics through pharmacological regulation of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6)-mediated tubulin deacetylation affects eNOS expression and endothelial function in vitro and in vivo.Wefound that tubulin acetylation inducer (tubacin), a compound that appears to selectively inhibit HDAC6 activity, dramatically increased eNOS expression in several different endothelial cell lines, as determined by both immunoblotting and NO production assays. Mechanistically, we found …


Evaluation Of A Technology-Based Survivor Care Plan For Breast Cancer Survivors: Pre-Post Pilot Study., Talya Laufer, Bryan Lerner, Anett Petrich, Anna Quinn, Leah Ernst, Alicin Roop, Janet Knoblauch, Nick C. Leasure, Rebecca J. Jaslow, Sarah Hegarty, Amy Leader, Andrea Barsevick Dec 2019

Evaluation Of A Technology-Based Survivor Care Plan For Breast Cancer Survivors: Pre-Post Pilot Study., Talya Laufer, Bryan Lerner, Anett Petrich, Anna Quinn, Leah Ernst, Alicin Roop, Janet Knoblauch, Nick C. Leasure, Rebecca J. Jaslow, Sarah Hegarty, Amy Leader, Andrea Barsevick

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: As of 2016, almost 16 million individuals were cancer survivors, including over 3.5 million survivors of breast cancer. Because cancer survivors are living longer and have unique health care needs, the Institute of Medicine proposed a survivor care plan as a way to alleviate the many medical, emotional, and care coordination problems of survivors.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study for breast cancer survivors was undertaken to: (1) examine self-reported changes in knowledge, confidence, and activation from before receipt to after receipt of a survivor care plan; and (2) describe survivor preferences for, and satisfaction with, a technology-based survivor care plan. …


Characterizing The Combination Of Rpa Inhibitors With Parp Inhibitors In High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, Yat Tang Dec 2019

Characterizing The Combination Of Rpa Inhibitors With Parp Inhibitors In High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, Yat Tang

Theses & Dissertations

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) is the most common and deadly gynecologic malignancy. HGSC patients with BRCA1/2 mutations have homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), requiring parallel pathways to maintain genome integrity (e.g., PARP1, PARP2). Approximately 50% of ovarian carcinomas are estimated to exhibit HRD. For the remaining 50% and the large percentage of HRD patients with acquired or innate resistance to single-agent PARP inhibitors, there is a need to develop alternative therapeutic strategies.

Replication Protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric protein crucial for genome maintenance. Phosphorylation of RPA in DNA damage response (DDR) is a negative regulator of DNA end resection. …


Enhancing The Identification Of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Lung Disease, Bryant England Dec 2019

Enhancing The Identification Of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Lung Disease, Bryant England

Theses & Dissertations

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that predisposes afflicted individuals to reduced quality of life, physical disability, and premature mortality. While joint involvement is the primary manifestation of RA, extra-articular features including lung disease are responsible for a significant portion of the excess mortality. In this dissertation I demonstrate the contribution of chronic lung diseases to premature mortality in RA, contrasting with the more widely recognized comorbidity in RA of cardiovascular disease. Then, I establish that a novel serum biomarker, anti-malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde adduct (MAA) antibody, is associated with the presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in RA subjects. Further …


The Development Of Hyaluronan-Based Contract Agents For The Intraoperative Detection Of Pancreatic Tumors, Bowen Qi Dec 2019

The Development Of Hyaluronan-Based Contract Agents For The Intraoperative Detection Of Pancreatic Tumors, Bowen Qi

Theses & Dissertations

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is highly lethal and surgical resection is the only potential curative treatment for the disease. Tumor-specific intraoperative fluorescence imaging could improve staging and surgical resection, thereby improving prognosis. In the first study, hyaluronic acid derived NPs with physico-chemically entrapped indocyanine green, termed NanoICG, were utilized for intraoperative near infrared fluorescence detection of pancreatic cancer. NanoICG accumulated significantly in an orthotopic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma model with safety profile both in vitro and in vivo. To maximize tumor signal, while minimizing signal in healthy pancreas and RES capture of macromolecules, in the next study, we describe the rational …


Charge-Based Optimization Of Neurotensin For Neurotensin-Receptor-1 Targeting Utilizing A One-Bead One-Compound Peptide Library Approach, Trey Neeley Dec 2019

Charge-Based Optimization Of Neurotensin For Neurotensin-Receptor-1 Targeting Utilizing A One-Bead One-Compound Peptide Library Approach, Trey Neeley

Theses & Dissertations

Neurotensin-receptor-1 (NTSR1) is regularly overexpressed in various cancers and contributes to the proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of tumors. NTSR1-targeting vectors have demonstrated promise in both diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Unfortunately, the relatively poor in vivo metabolic stability and high renal uptake and retention of NTSR1-targeted compounds have hampered the translation to the clinic. In this research, we utilized a one-bead one-compound (OBOC) peptide library approach to make targeted modifications at the naturally charged residues of an NTS (4-13) sequence to discover an NTS derivative with comparable affinity to NTSR1, acceptable in vivo stability, and tolerable renal retention. Subsequent …


Identification Of More Potent And Efficacious Analogs Of The Novel Host-Derived Immunostimulant Ep67, Abdul Alshammari Dec 2019

Identification Of More Potent And Efficacious Analogs Of The Novel Host-Derived Immunostimulant Ep67, Abdul Alshammari

Theses & Dissertations

EP67 is a human C5a-derived decapeptide agonist of C5a Receptor 1 (C5aR1/CD88) that selectively activates mononuclear phagocytes over neutrophils to stimulate protective innate and adaptive immune responses while potentially minimizing neutrophil-mediated toxicity. Two N-alkyl amino acids Pro7 and N-methyl-Leu8 (nme-Leu8) within EP67 induce structural changes that increase potency and selective activation of mononuclear phagocytes over neutrophils. Cis/trans isomerization at these positions, however, likely limits the activity of EP67 and low coupling efficiency between Pro7 and nme-Leu8 increases scale-up costs for clinical use. Thus, the goals of this study were to …


Burden And Risk Of Non-Aids Defining Cancers In Hiv-Infected Persons Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy, Brittney L. Dickey Dec 2019

Burden And Risk Of Non-Aids Defining Cancers In Hiv-Infected Persons Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy, Brittney L. Dickey

Theses & Dissertations

The burden of cancers not previously associated with an HIV infection, called non-AIDS defining cancers (NADCs), have increased in the years since highly active anti-retroviral therapy has been introduced. The studies in this dissertation attempted to quantify this burden via incidence and mortality compared to the general population. Further, an assessment of risk factors and creation of a predictive risk model, a nomogram, were utilized to better understand how factors associated with demographics, lifestyle, and immune response affected risk for an NADC diagnosis once therapy was initiated and HIV better controlled. Standardized incidence and mortality ratios showed that burden of …