Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Altered Dietary Behaviour During Pregnancy Impacts Systemic Metabolic Phenotypes, Charlotte E. Rowley, Samantha Lodge, Siobhon Egan, Catherine Itsiopoulos, Claus T. Christophersen, Desiree Silva, Elizabeth Kicic-Starcevich, Therese A. O’Sullivan, Julien Wist, Jeremy Nicholson, Gary Frost, Elaine Holmes, Nina D’Vaz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Rationale: Evidence suggests consumption of a Mediterranean diet (MD) can positively impact both maternal and offspring health, potentially mediated by a beneficial effect on inflammatory pathways. We aimed to apply metabolic profiling of serum and urine samples to assess differences between women who were stratified into high and low alignment to a MD throughout pregnancy and investigate the relationship of the diet to inflammatory markers. Methods: From the ORIGINS cohort, 51 pregnant women were stratified for persistent high and low alignment to a MD, based on validated MD questionnaires. 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the …

Osteoarthritis (Oa), Ashley Smith

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis that millions of people struggle with in their day to day lives. OA is often observed in an outpatient pain management setting as it is considered an unavoidable disease process expected in aging individuals. OA is a costly, painful, and debilitating disease. OA goes further than physically limiting patients, it can even affect mental and emotional stability. Although there is not an available cure for OA, there are many preventative manageable treatment options available. Education, evaluation and management of OA is important to be knowledgeable about in order to help patients …

Biomarkers Of Inflammation And Oxidative Stress In The Prediction And Management Of Acute Coronary Syndrome, Udaya Ralapanawa, Sivakanesan R

Health Sciences

The assessment of patients presenting with chest pain or symptoms indicative of cardiac ischemia remains a diagnostic challenge. Many types of research have focused on the search for ideal biological markers for the rapid detection of cardiac cell injuries. Markers of inflammation and oxidative stress are the way forward. At present, the biomarker most widely used for diagnosing acute coronary syndrome is cardiac troponin though it has some limitations. Apart from cardiac troponin, several other biomarkers, especially inflammation and oxidative stress markers in acute coronary syndrome, have been investigated. However, most of them still require validation in further studies. As …

Pulmonary Inflammation And Injury Triggered By Spine Surgery In Recovered Covid-19 Patients Demand Consideration, Luciano Rodrigo Lopes, Silvana Kertzer Kasinski

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

Examining The Relationship Of Physical Activity, Inflammation & Adiposity On Physical Function With Gender Differences, Jeanne Hlebichuk

Dissertations (1934 -)

Older adults are a rapidly growing segment of the population in the United States. The ability to maintain physical function declines with age and is a critical factor that contributes to living independently. Physical activity has been shown to slow declines in physical function and decrease chronic inflammation. Increases in adipose tissue and decreases in muscle mass are associated with aging. The increase in adipose tissue produces inflammatory markers that can negatively impact older adults’ health. Males and females’ biological changes with aging have been hypothesized to differ. The purposes of this study were to :1) examine the relationship between …

Asthma, Rachel Webber

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

This poster will investigate the pathophysiology of Asthma, and the importance of understanding how asthma is developed. The pathophysiologic relationship between the immune system, inflammation and asthma occurrence is explored in this poster. Asthma is caused by many environmental and genetic factors that lead to inflammatory mechanisms in the airway. There are many different risk factors that can cause an increased likelihood of developing asthma, such as childhood illness, pollutants, obesity, poor nutrition, and having allergies. There are many risk factors for the development of asthma, and cases across the world continue to grow. Although there is not an exact …

Aging: The Impact Of Diet And Inflammation, Morgan Wiland-Gress

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

The immune system is a complex cohesive network. It requires every cell to work efficiently at maintaining homeostasis. It also prevents and repairs damage from internal and external pathogens. Recent research has focused on the concept of inflammaging, which is defined as age-related changes that occur in the immune system leading to dysfunction. The current understanding is that inflammaging contributes to the development of chronic diseases including; Type II Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, Cancer, autoimmune disorders, neurological disorders, Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease. The underlying pathophysiology of inflammaging is chronic inflammation and the imbalance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators. This imbalance leads …

Behavioral Symptoms, Inflammation And Cortisol: Relationship To Cardiac Health And Quality Of Life In Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients, Deborah Anne Sindewald

Dissertations

Background: The experience of a cardiac event is associated with psychological stress, which is often accompanied by depressive mood, fatigue and sleep disturbance (i.e., psycho-behavioral symptoms). To assist in recovery, cardiac patients can participate in a structured rehabilitation program, which provides monitored exercise and health education. There is limited knowledge, however, as to the extent to which cardiac rehabilitation reduces psycho-behavioral symptoms; nor is there knowledge of the association of these symptoms with stress-related biological mediators. Cortisol and inflammatory mediators (e.g., interleukin 6; IL-6) contribute to cardiovascular disease, and are also associated with greater stress perception, depressive mood, fatigue, and …

The Effects Of A Plant-Based Diet On Inflammation Of Patients With Cardiac Disease, Rachel L. Butcher

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cardiac disease is the primary cause of death in the United States of America (CDC, 2017). Despite ongoing efforts and investments to improve cardiac health in the United States, most of the population will suffer from cardiovascular diseases. There is a multitude of research supporting that diet can contribute to cardiac disease, but it is less known that diet can greatly contribute to regulation and reversal of cardiovascular disease processes (Huang et al., 2012; Satija et al., 2017; Kim et al., 2019). Existing research supports the efficacy of plant-based diets to manage and reverse certain cardiac diseases (Tuso et al., …

Effects Of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression On Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (Doms) In Long Distance Runners, Shane N. Draper, Emily L. Kullman, Kenneth E. Sparks, Kathleen Little, Joan Thoman

Nursing Faculty Publications

© 2020, Western Kentucky University. All rights reserved. The purpose of this study was to observe the effectiveness of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) on reducing C-reactive protein (CRP) and DOMS after long distance running. Ten distance runners, five males and five females, ages 20-53 years performed two 20mile runs at 70% VO2 max. Each run was followed by either no treatment (control) or IPC treatment for five consecutive days. For the IPC run, participants were treated for one hour immediately following the run and daily for five more days thereafter. On control runs, participants did not receive any treatment. Serum …

Associations Between Psychosocial Stressors, Genes, And Cardiovascular Disease In At-Risk Adults, Kaitlin Voigts Key

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Psychosocial stressors have a significant adverse impact on cardiovascular health. While better medical treatments and increased emphasis on healthy lifestyle have improved cardiovascular health for many in the United States over the past 50 years, there are persistent inequities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates, with the highest rates among populations burdened by chronic exposure to psychosocial stressors such as discrimination and anxiety, among others. Genetic factors may interact with these stressors further influencing the rates of CVD in these populations. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine associations among psychosocial stressors and other CVD risk factors, and the influence …

Gouty Arthritis, Erin Dutt

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Gout is an arthritic condition that can lead to destruction of the affected joints. Often the main complaint is severe pain of the big toe but could affect other joints. Due to the frequency of this condition, the family nurse practitioner (FNP) could easily encounter it in family practice. What causes the joint destruction is the deposit monosodium urate crystals (MSU) along a joint due to hyperuricemia. Not only can gout cause permanent joint damage, it also increases the risk for kidney damage. Treatment will be aimed at managing acute attacks and lowering serum uric acid (SUA) levels. Controlling modifiable …

Relationships Among Optimism, Inflammation, And Stroke Recovery, Yun-Ju Lai

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Objective: Post-stroke inflammation is detrimental to the brain and results in an unfavorable recovery. Optimism has been associated with lower inflammation and better health outcomes among people with medical conditions, but no studies have assessed this association in the stroke population. The overall goals were to examine the relationships among optimism, stroke severity, physical disability, and inflammation during hospitalization and evaluate the relationships among optimism, inflammation, and stroke recovery over the three-month post-stroke period.

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of data collected from the BioRepository of Neurological Diseases biobank. Outcomes included optimism, stroke severity, physical recovery, and inflammatory …

Behavioral Symptom Clusters, Inflammation, And Quality Of Life In Chronic Low Back Pain Patients, Anitha Saravanan

Dissertations

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent condition, often involving an inflammatory process. Those with CLBP frequently experience behavioral symptoms, including depressed mood, fatigue, and sleep disturbance, which may exacerbate pain and reduce quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this study was to identify behavioral symptom clusters (depressive mood, fatigue, poor sleep) in individuals with CLBP, and to determine whether there are differences in pain, QOL and inflammation (plasma IL-6) based on cluster membership. CLBP patients (N=69; age = 56±13 years) completed measures of pain, depressive mood, fatigue, sleep, and QOL. Blood was obtained for IL-6 measurement. LCA …

Lipids, Reactive Oxygen Species, And Health, Heather Bowen

DNP Research Projects

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Coronary artery disease (CAD), where plaque builds up to create atherosclerosis, puts patients at risk for heart attack or stroke. Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) have been implicated as a source of oxidative stress that can lead to the development of CAD, and diets high in fat potentiate this occurrence. As certain fats are heated and experience chemical and physical degradation, they cause an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, various forms of cancer, and CVD. This research study, based on CREATION Health ideals, aimed to evaluate the …

The Impact Of Maternal Nutrition During Pregnancy On Inflammation And Birth Outcomes, Lori Ogden

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

More than 85% of American adults do not consume recommended amounts of fruits or vegetables. Preterm birth and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are common adverse conditions affecting pregnancy and are leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Preterm birth affects nearly 10% of all births in the United States and is on the rise, as are hypertensive disorders, which have increased by 25% over the last two decades. Pregnancy is a state of controlled inflammation, and dysregulation has been linked to preterm birth and other adverse gestational outcomes. A healthy diet is recommended in pregnancy, but little is …

Pathophysiology Of Osteoarthritis, Lara Stover

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint diseases worldwide, and especially in the United States. This disease can cause chronic pain and disability, and can impair a patient’s quality of life and ability to perform activities of daily living. There are many different factors that can contribute to the development, progression, and severity of OA. Chronic inflammation and the inflammatory response is the primary pathological process that contributes to the development of OA. With the number of cases of OA expected to increase in the United States, it is important that primary care providers have an understanding of …

Vagal Mediated Heart Rate Variability And Cognitive Impairments In Hiv-Seropositive Women, William C. Nicholson

All ETDs from UAB

Regardless of sufficient viral suppression, HIV exerts an ongoing inflammatory process that promotes chronic autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction, accelerates physiological aging, and increases the risk of developing a spectrum of cognitive disorders (known as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders [HAND]). Given this, identifying pathological mediators of this inflammatory response could provide insight into the mechanisms driving HAND. The vagus nerve (indexed by vagal-mediated heart rate variability [vmHRV]) could provide such a mediator as it regulates ANS activity via reciprocal cardio-neural pathways, which regulate inflammation and homeostasis. Vagal dysfunction is associated with persistent inflammatory signaling (e.g., stress or inflammatory-based disorders [such as …

Pathophysiology And Pathogenesis Of Endometriosis, Kathryn Vaubel

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

No abstract provided.

Endometriosis, Jessica Workman

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Many people have heard about endometriosis but not a lot is understood about the condition. Endometriosis is a condition where endometrium, tissue that lines the uterus, grows outside the uterus. This tissue can grow around the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowels, and bladder. When this occurs, the surrounding tissue becomes inflamed, swollen and irritated which causes scarring. The resulting lesions impede the function of the organs that they surround. The inflammation and tissue damage can lead to bleeding and painful discomfort.

There is much debate over the exact cause of endometriosis and how to best treat the condition. It is also …

The Effects Of Super-Fruits Including Montmorency Tart Cherries And Pomegranate On The Human Body: A Literature Review, Keeley D. Forrester

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This literature review explores several published articles that report results related to health benefits of super-fruits including Montmorency tart cherries and pomegranate. Research suggests that Montmorency tart cherry supplementation may have the ability to relieve pain by decreasing inflammation, prevent gout flare ups by reducing uric acid levels in the bloodstream, relieve insomnia with natural exogenous melatonin, and lessen symptoms of muscle damage from physical exertion by decreasing oxidative stress. Studies have also shown that pomegranate supplementation may have the ability to help prevent obesity by helping to decrease body weight and fat production and improving insulin sensitivity as well …

Examining Hiv-Associated Symptom Burden And Microbial Translocation In The Veterans Aging Cohort Study: A Secondary Data Analysis, Natalie Lynn Wilson

All ETDs from UAB

The pathophysiological effects of HIV infection, including inflammation, contribute to symptom burden and poor clinical outcomes. Within the gut associated lymph tissue, immune activation leads to dysfunction of the gastrointestinal epithelial barrier and subsequent movement of microbial products from the gut into the blood. The translocation of microbial products from the gut into the blood circulation has been identified as a key contributor to HIV disease progression and chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation has been associated with various symptoms including symptoms commonly reported in HIV disease. However, it is unknown if these symptoms are associated with inflammation related to microbial translocation. …

Bidirectional Psychoneuroimmune Interactions In The Early Postpartum Period Influence Risk Of Postpartum Depression, Elizabeth J. Corwin, Kathleen Pajer, Sudeshna Paul, Nancy Lowe, Mary Weber, Donna O. Mccarthy

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

More than 500,000 U.S. women develop postpartum depression (PPD) annually. Although psychosocial risks are known, the underlying biology remains unclear. Dysregulation of the immune inflammatory response and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis are associated with depression in other populations. While significant research on the contribution of these systems to the development of PPD has been conducted, results have been inconclusive. This is partly because few studies have focused on whether disruption in the bidirectional and dynamic interaction between the inflammatory response and the HPA axis together influence PPD. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that disruption in the inflammatory-HPA axis …

Serum Zinc Concentration And C-Reactive Protein In Individuals With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: The Positive Living With Hiv (Polh) Study (Biological Trace Element Research), Krishna Poudel, Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar

Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar

Gout, Lorrie Listebarger

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Gout is a syndrome caused by an inflammatory response creating an over production of uric acid increasing uric acid levels in the blood and body fluids. Gout is defined as a disorder resulting from tissue deposition of MSU crystals (in joints, bursae, bone, and certain other soft tissues, such as ligaments, tendons and occasionally, skin) and/or crystallization of uric acid within the renal collecting system (tubules and renal pelvis) that typically occurs in acid urine” (Terkeltaub & Edwards, 2013, p. 20). Gout is among the oldest diseases affecting approximately 3.9% of adults in America (Terkeltaub & Edwards, 2013, p. xv). …

The Impact Of Prenatal Depressive Symptoms, Intimate Partner Relationship, And Immune Status On Postpartum Depression, Julia J. Hall

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

The prevalence of depression during pregnancy in the U. S. is approximately 13%. Poor quality of the intimate partner relationship is significantly correlated with depression during pregnancy. The adverse effects of antenatal depression have been widely documented. The relationship between the intimate partner relationship and depression during pregnancy has not been well delineated in the literature. Little data exist regarding the impact of prenatal immune status on risk for postpartum depression. Due to limited evidence, there is a critical need to examine the relationship among trimester specific cytokines, quality of the intimate partner relationship, and antenatal depressive symptoms on risk …

Serum Zinc Concentration And C-Reactive Protein In Individuals With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: The Positive Living With Hiv (Polh) Study, Krishna Poudel, Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson, Kalpana Poudel-Tandukar

Elaine Marieb College of Nursing Faculty Publication Series

Low zinc levels and chronic inflammation are common in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Zinc deficiency may promote systemic inflammation, but research on the role of zinc in inflammation among HIV-positive individuals taking account of antiretroviral therapy is lacking. We assessed the association between serum zinc and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration in a cohort of HIV-positive individuals. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 311 HIV-positive individuals (177 men and 134 women) aged 18–60 years residing in Kathmandu, Nepal. High-sensitive or regular serum CRP concentrations were measured by the latex agglutination nephelometry or turbidimetric method, and zinc concentrations were …

Differences In Inflammatory Markers Between Nulliparous Women Admitted To Hospitals In Preactive Vs Active Labor, Jeremy L. Neal, Jane M. Lamp, Nancy Lowe, Shannon L. Gillespie, Loraine T. Sinnott, Donna O. Mccarthy

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To determine whether labor-associated inflammatory markers differ between low-risk, nulliparous women in preactive vs active labor at hospital admission and over time.

Study Design

Prospective comparative study of low-risk, nulliparous women with spontaneous labor onset at term (n = 118) sampled from 2 large Midwestern hospitals. Circulating concentrations of inflammatory markers were measured at admission and again 2 and 4 hours later: namely, neutrophil, and monocyte counts; and serum inflammatory cytokines (interleukin -1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10) and chemokines (interleukin-8). Biomarker concentrations and their patterns of change over time were compared between preactive (n = 63) and active …

Symptoms, Cytokines, And Quality Of Life Of Patients With Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Debra Kelly

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a serious complication following allo-HSCT characterized by immune dysregulation, organ dysfunction, risk for infection, and distressing symptoms. Complications may include scleroderma, hepatic dysfunction and bronchiolitis obliterans. Advances in allo-HSCT for many hematologic dyscrasias (e.g. acute and chronic leukemias, aplastic anemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome) have improved survival which has generated a renewed focus on survivorship issues. Distressing symptoms are noted as negatively impacting quality of life (QoL). The relationship between inflammation and behavioral responses may impact symptoms. Examining patterns and levels of inflammation with symptoms is relevant. Objective: The aims of this study were to …

Nutrition Intervention To Decrease Symptoms In Patients With Advanced Heart Failure, Terry A. Lennie, Debra K. Moser, Martha J. Biddle, Darlene Welsh, Geza G. Bruckner, D. Travis Thomas, Mary Kay Rayens, Alison L. Bailey

Nursing Faculty Publications

For a majority of patients with advanced heart failure, there is a need for complementary, non-pharmacologic interventions that could be easily implemented by health care providers to provide palliative care. Three major pathologic pathways underlying heart failure symptoms have been identified: fluid overload, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Prior research has demonstrated that three nutrients-sodium, omega-3 fatty acids, and lycopene-can alter these pathologic pathways. Therefore, the purposes of this study are to test the effects of a 6-month nutrition intervention of dietary sodium reduction combined with supplementation of lycopene and omega-3 fatty acids on heart failure symptoms, health-related quality of life, …