Digital Commons Network^™

Ecthyma Gangrenosum In An Immunocompromised Patient Without Detectable Bacteremia, Jonathan Miles, Alex Mari, Matthew Crabtree, Vinod Nambudiri, Jilian Sansbury

Dermatology

Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) is typically pathognomonic of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia among immunocompromised patients, particularly with underlying malignancy. Recently, other pathogens and clinical histories have been implicated, challenging the classic picture of patients with EG. The cutaneous findings in patients follow a pattern of lesion progression from indurated pustules and hemorrhagic vesicles evolving to necrotic ulcers with central black eschar and surrounding erythema. While lesions typically occur on the perineum or lower extremities, their presence has also been described elsewhere. Herein, we describe a case of an immunocompromised man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma actively undergoing chemotherapy presenting with …

The Kentucky Cabinet For Health And Family Services’ Response To The Hepatitis A Virus Outbreak In Kentucky: An Idea Model Analysis, Rachel Leigh Cato

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The hepatitis A crisis in Kentucky is unprecedented compared to other states. With thousands of hospitalizations and over 60 deaths in the state of Kentucky alone, there is a need to evaluate the government’s response to the hepatitis A virus (HAV) epidemic. Therefore, the instructional risk communication messages that are being conveyed by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (KCHFS) are instrumental in the education and action plans of Kentuckians who are at risk of contracting HAV.

This study utilizes the IDEA Model Thematic Analysis Codebook as a guide to analyze the KCHFS’ risk communication regarding the hepatitis …

Improving Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates In High Risk Patients Across Multiple Specialty Divisions, Rachel Moran, Julia G. Harris, Claire Olsen, Rana El Feghaly, Liset Olarte, Douglas Blowey, Luke A. Harris

Posters

Pediatric patients with deficient immune systems or certain chronic medical conditions have an increased risk of acquiring invasive pneumococcal disease.

The 23-valent pneumococcal (PPSV23) vaccine provides protection against 23 pneumococcal serotypes and is recommended for patients aged 2 years or older who are high-risk for invasive pneumococcal disease.

Unfortunately, many high-risk patients are not properly vaccinated due to lack of provider knowledge or understanding of accountability between primary care and specialty providers.

The goal of this project was to improve PPSV23 vaccination rates by 10-20% across multiple Children's Mercy Kansas City specialty divisions.

Bridging The Gap On Schistosomiasis: A Cross-Sectional Study Examining The Knowledge Gap And Common Attitudes And Practices Regarding S. Mansoni Infections Among Varying Education Levels In Luanda K’Otieno, Western Kenya, Kathy Zhang

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Background: Schistosomiasis is considered one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most effective strategy for schistosomiasis control is through preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel (PZQ). In order to successfully control morbidity rates, the WHO recommends mass treatment targeting high risk groups, such as school-age children and adults considered to be at risk.

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the effects of the National School-Based Deworming Programme (NSBDP) on knowledge of schistosomiasis and subsequent prevalence rates and intensity. A total of 43 residents in Luanda K’Otieno were interviewed, and 34 of …

An Analysis Of The Rajasthan Public Health System’S Response To The 2019 Dengue Insurgence, Luke Bryan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Dengue virus is in a pandemic status and is a major public health issue in the modern world. The mosquito-borne disease is largely prevalent in Asia and specifically India, where more than half of the states are considered to have complete presence of the dengue virus. The intricate infrastructure of the Indian public health system looks for dengue cases at all levels and reports to the integrated disease surveillance programme (IDSP).

Analyses of the IDSP and trends of dengue cases was done in response to dengue outbreaks throughout the state. Geographic information system (GIS) maps were created to evaluate a …

Treatment Of Podoconiosis With Complicating Polyinfections Within Rural African Villages: A Case Study, Amanda R. Beering, Abigail R. Florence, Soon Bahrami Md

Journal of Refugee & Global Health

This case study aims to provide a treatment plan for the treatment of podoconiosis with complicating polyinfections in a resource poor setting. A second objective is to help healthcare providers teach preventive measures to villagers in affected regions.

Coccidioidomycosis: Medical And Spatio-Temporal Perspectives, Nikias Sarafoglou, Rafael Laniado-Laborin, Menas Kafatos

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Coccidioidomycosis (CM) is a disease of major public health importance due to the challenges in its diagnosis and treatment. To understand CM requires the attributes of a multidisciplinary network analysis to appreciate the complexity of the medical, the environmental and the social issues involved: public health, public policy, geology, atmospheric science, agronomy, social sciences and finally humanities, all which provide insight into this population transformation.

In section 1 of this paper, we describe the CM-epidemiology, the clinical features, the diagnosis and finally the treatment.

In section 2, we highlight the most important contributions and controversies in the history of the …

West Nile Virus: An Old Tale, New Mystery, Seetha Venkateswaran, Patricia Gilford

Family Medicine

• West Nile Virus (WNV), belongs to the Flavivirus family, is considered an endemic disease in many states including Florida.
• In the last decade, the virus has been prominently reported in the Southern and Midwest States.
• The disease is most prevalent during the summer to fall month periods due to elevated temperatures leading to enhanced vector transmission.
• WNV is acquired via the bite of an infected mosquito particularly the Culex species, and is considered as the vector for the disease.
• Equines and humans are incidental hosts of WNV and disease transmission from these sources are rare. There are various human risk …

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis In A Traveler: A Case Report, Sarah Al-Obaydi Md, Nemer Dabage Md, James Demaio Md

Internal Medicine

Leishmaniasis, a vector-borne infection transmitted by sandflies, is endemic throughout the Mediterranean basin and the tropics. We present a case diagnosed in Florida after overseas travel.

Nitrofurantoin Induced Lung Toxicity: A Rare Adverse Effect, Farrah Chilet Md, Nour Tlimat Md, Salman Muddassir Md

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Seaweeds As Nutraceuticals For Health And Nutrition, Emer Shannon, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam

Articles

Throughout human history, seaweeds have been used as food, folk remedies, dyes, and as mineral-rich fertilisers. Seaweeds as nutraceuticals or functional foods with dietary benefits beyond their fundamental macronutrient content are now a major research and industrial development concept. The occurrence of dietary and lifestyle related diseases, notably type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer, and metabolic syndrome has become a health epidemic in developed countries. Global epidemiological studies have shown that countries where seaweed is consumed on a regular basis have significantly fewer instances of obesity and dietary-related disease. This review outlines recent developments in seaweed applications for human health from …

Occupied, Judy Diamond, Tom Floyd, Rebecca Smith, Ann Downer-Hazell, Martin Powell, Nick Poliwko, Angie Fox, Amy Spiegel, Patricia Wonch Hill, Julia Mcquillan

Zea E-Books Collection

Our bodies are home to more microbes than human cells. The balance of helpful to harmful microbes in our bodies can make us sick or healthy. The Biology of Human project focuses on helping people understand themselves by exploring scientific principles that underlie modern research in human biology. Biology of Human is an alliance of science educators, artists, science writers, and biomedical researchers working to increase public understanding about viruses and infectious disease. In this comic, Daniel and Miguel find themselves in the world of the microbes, where they meet the Roid (Bacteroides), Longo biffi (Bifidobacterium longum), E. …

Our Envirome, Spring/Summer 2019, Issue 40

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Incidence And Prevalence Of Francisella Noatunensis Subsp. Orientalis (Fno) Pathogenic Infections In Feral Hawaiian Tilapia, Daquille Peppers

Biology Theses

Aquaculture has become a major food source for many countries and continues to grow each year. However, many of the fishes that are farmed are susceptible to pathogenic infections such as Francisellosis, a bacterial infection that contributes to disease and high mortality rate in many populations of farmed and wild fish around the world. In 1994, feral and farmed populations of tilapia (e.g. Oreochromis mossambicus) on Oahu, Hawaii were found to be infected with a novel Francisellosis strain, Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno). To prevent the spread of this pathogen, the Hawaii Department of Aquaculture (HDOA) initiated …

Natural Autoantibodies: Origin, Function And Utility For Diagnosis Of Disease, Abhirup Sarkar

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Autoantibodies (aAbs) by the simplest definitions have been described as antibodies against self-antigens and were exclusively associated with autoimmune diseases. Eventually, studies demonstrated that they are abundant in the blood of all human sera, regardless of age, gender, or the presence or absence of disease, and were thus named as ‘natural autoantibodies’. The underlying reason for their ubiquity has remained elusive, but we have hypothesized that they are responsible for clearing blood-borne cell and tissue debris generated under conditions of health and disease. To test this, we chose to use two widely different disease model systems, namely neurodegenerative diseases and …

Elucidating Immune Signaling Of Influenza A Virus And Aspergillus Fumigatus Co-Infections Through Pioneered Model Development, Meagan Danyelle Rippee-Brooks

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Bacterial co-infections with influenza A virus (IAV) are extremely serious and life-threatening. However, there exists limited understanding about the importance of fungal infections with IAV. Clinical case reports indicate that fungal co-infections do occur and suggest the IAV pandemic of 2009 had a propensity to predispose patients to secondary fungal infections more than previous IAV strains. IAV-fungal co-infections are marked by high mortality rates of 47 to 61% in previously healthy individuals between the ages of 20 and 60. Yet, the variables involved in this co-infection remain undetermined. I achieved effective recapitulation of this co-infection using a C57Bl/6 murine (mouse) …

Environmental Sampling Techniques For Herd-Level Surveillance Of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus, Jaden Carlson

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Control of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) relies on resource-intensive individual animal sampling to detect and remove persistently infected (PI) cattle. Herd-level surveillance tools would be useful for herds with unknown BVDV status and for monitoring herds with BVDV-free status. The overall objective of this thesis is to explore the viability of BVDV surveillance at a herd-level using samples collected without handling individual animals. The first objective was to determine the feasibility of using stable flies as a sampling tool to detect BVDV. The second objective was to determine the feasibility of using drinking water to detect BVDV. To accomplish …

Early Life Child Micronutrient Status, Maternal Reasoning, And A Nurturing Household Environment Have Persistent Influences On Child Cognitive Development At Age 5 Years: Results From Mal-Ed, Benjamin J J. Mccormick, Stephanie A. Richard, Laura E. Caulfield, Laura L. Pendergast, Jessica C. Seidman, Beena Koshy, Reeba Roshan, Rita Shrestha, Erling Svensen, Muneera Rasheed

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Child cognitive development is influenced by early-life insults and protective factors. To what extent these factors have a long-term legacy on child development and hence fulfillment of cognitive potential is unknown.
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relation between early-life factors (birth to 2 y) and cognitive development at 5 y.
Methods: Observational follow-up visits were made of children at 5 y, previously enrolled in the community-based MAL-ED longitudinal cohort. The burden of enteropathogens, prevalence of illness, complementary diet intake, micronutrient status, and household and maternal factors from birth to 2 y were extensively measured …

Investigation Of Microbiota In Health And Disease Of Poultry, Bishnu Adhikari

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The microbiotas play vital roles in health and diseases of both humans and animals. 16S rRNA genes sequence analysis is one of the most popular and commonly used methods in the analysis of microbiotas associated with hosts. In this dissertation, the microbiotas of chickens (broilers, breeders, and layers) and turkeys were evaluated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Characterization of the culturable subpopulations of Lactobacillus in the chicken gut can serve as a valuable resource for probiotic development. In Chapter 2, Lactobacillus subpopulations recovered on MRS from chicken gut were defined comprehensively for the first time using 16S rRNA gene profiling, …

How Acceptable Is The Hiv/Aids Self-Testing Among Women Attending Immunization Clinics In Effurun, Southern Nigeria, Wasiu Olalekan Adebimpe, Doraebikeme Ebikeme, Olubukunola Omobuwa, Edward Oladejo

Marshall Journal of Medicine

HIV testing remains the gateway to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support interventions. In Nigeria, a significant proportion of the populations do not know their HIV status. HIV self-testing done without the help of a healthcare provider could remove identified barriers to HIV testing, and close gaps in HIV treatment and prevention cascades. This study set out to assess the knowledge and acceptability of hiv self-testing (HIVST) among women of child bearing age attending immunization clinics in Effurun, Nigeria. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 357 women of child-bearing age selected using multistage sampling technique. Research instrument used was …

Development Of Novel Zika And Anthrax Viral Nanoparticle Vaccines, Elizabeth Henderson

KGI Theses and Dissertations

Vaccines protect against numerous infectious diseases and prevent millions of deaths annually, but there are still many infectious diseases for which no licensed vaccine exists. Developing a new vaccine requires balancing safety and efficacy, and viral nanoparticle (VNP) vaccines possess both of these characteristics. The work herein demonstrates how tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) nanoparticles can serve as a platform to create candidate vaccines for Zika virus (ZIKV) and anthrax. In the first study, a ZIKV-specific epitope was genetically fused to TMV to create a safe and inexpensive vaccine that proved highly immunogenic in mice and led to the discovery of …

“I Don’T Want To Look Sick Skinny”: Perceptions Of Body Image And Weight Loss In Hispanics Living With Hiv In South Texas, Jordan W. Abel, Omar Allen, Delia Bullock, Erin Finley, Elizabeth Walter, Phillip Schnarrs, Barbara S. Taylor

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Objective: Obesity is rising in people with HIV (PLWH) and Hispanics. Both HIV and obesity are associated with cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Our goal is to understand perceptions of body image and lifestyle in Hispanics with HIV to adapt interventions appropriately.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 Hispanic PLWH and 6 providers. Purposive sampling selected patient participants across weights and genders. Interviews were coded and analyzed using grounded theory, comparing perspectives between patients with and without obesity, and patients and providers.

Results: Participants felt obesity and diabetes were “normal” in the community. Patients exhibited understanding of healthy diet …

Transmissible Dermatological Diseases Affecting Syrian Refugees In Lebanon, Nisrine Kawa, Edith Hanna, Abdul Rahman Bizri

Journal of Refugee & Global Health

The Syrian war led many to seek shelter in Lebanon, creating a major refugee crisis. Displaced populations in crowded unequipped settlements are vulnerable to infectious diseases. The burden and incidence of various transmissible skin conditions affecting Syrian refugees in Lebanon and their impact on the Lebanese public health system were evaluated. Literature regarding these conditions among Syrian refugees in host countries, and epidemiological data from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health Surveillance Unit and primary health-care network were reviewed. Lebanon has witnessed skin disorder outbreaks associated with the Refugee crisis, mainly leishmaniasis, scabies and lice infestations with little data about …

Short Relative Leg Length Is Associated With Overweight And Obesity In Mexican Immigrant Women, Mireya Vilar-Compte, James Macinko, Beth C. Weitzman, Carlos M. Avendaño-Villela

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Prior research suggests that undernutrition and enteric infections predispose children to stunted growth. Undernutrition and infections have been associated with limited access to healthy diets, lack of sanitation, and access barriers to healthcare - all associated with human rights. Stunting has also been documented to be a major determinant of subsequent obesity and non-communicable diseases. Short leg length relative to stature during adulthood seems to be a good proxy indicator tracking such barriers, and has been reported to be associated with adverse health effects during adulthood. Our objective was to examine the association between relative leg length (as measured …

A High Throughput Assay For The Detection Of Stimulator Of Interferon Genes (Sting) Agonists, Michael J. Ingling

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

The innate immune system includes a menagerie of different cell types, each with a different role in the process of monitoring the body for invaders and presenting gathered debris (antigen) to the adaptive immune system. Somatic cells have intracellular receptors for the same purpose. Cancer cells, however, have avoided these methods of detection despite, in many cases, the tumor’s immunogenic traits. Immuno-oncology is a field dedicated to the immunological traits of tumors, more recently finding ways of instigating an immune response against tumors. In this regard, STING, a receptor of cyclic dinucleotides (CDN), has come to the forefront of immuno-oncology. …

Clinical Emergency Care Research In Low-Income And Middle-Income Countries: Opportunities And Challenges, Adam R. Aluisio, Shahan Waheed, Peter Cameron, Jermey Hess, Shevin Jacob, Niranjan Kissoon, Adam C. Levine, Asad Mian, Shammi Ramlakhan, Hendry R. Sawe, Junaid Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

Disease processes that frequently require emergency care constitute approximately 50% of the total disease burden in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Many LMICs continue to deal with emergencies caused by communicable disease states such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria and meningitis, while also experiencing a marked increase in non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and trauma. For many of these states, emergency care interventions have been developed through research in high-income countries (HICs) and advances in care have been achieved. However, in LMICs, clinical research, especially interventional trials, in emergency care are rare. Furthermore, there exists minimal research on …

Development Of A Prolyl Endopeptidase Expression System In Lactobacillus Reuteri To Reduce The Clinical Manifestation Of Celiac Disease, Kara Lynn Jew

Master's Theses

Celiac Disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that emerges due to the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in a variety of common grains such as wheat, rye, and barley. Approximately 1 in 100 individuals in the US suffer from CD, making it the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder (Ciclitira et. al., 2005). These proline-rich gluten peptides are resistant to proteolysis and accumulate in the duodenum of the small intestine. Once in the duodenum, these peptides illicit an autoimmune response resulting in villous atrophy. Current treatment for CD requires a rigorous adherence to a gluten-free diet. Nevertheless, gluten-containing grains are …

Recurrent Perianal Wart Therapy With 90% Trichloroacetate (Tca) Solution In Aids Patients, Sri Linuwih Sw Menaldi, Ika Anggraini, Hanny Nilasari

Journal of General - Procedural Dermatology and Venereology Indonesia

Background: Being the most commonly found sexually-transmitted infection (STI), anogenital warts are mainly caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) type 6 and 11. These infections are often recurrent, leading to loss of time and medical expenses. Various therapeutic modalities can be chosen singularly or in combination with varying results. Treatments with less responsive results usually occur when acquired comorbidities are present, such as HIV infection.

Case Illustration: A 28-year-old homosexual male was reported to have a recurrent perianal wart for the duration of eight months. He was also diagnosed with AIDS and pulmonary tuberculosis. Initially, patient was treated …

Dapsone Hypersensitivity Syndrome Overlaps Reversal Reaction In Leprosy Patient, Chesia Christiani Liuwan, Medhi Denisa, M Yulianto Listiawan

Journal of General - Procedural Dermatology and Venereology Indonesia

Background: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease that primarily involves the skin and peripheral nerve and is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Clinical features may vary depending on the patient’s immune response. Reversal reaction due to increased immunity is common after treatment in patients with borderline leprosy. Dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome (DHS) is an adverse effect from dapsone therapy that may occur in 5-6 weeks to 6 months after initial treatment.

Case Illustration: A 47-year-old female complained of a spreading red patches on the skin of her trunk and extremities for three weeks duration. She also felt itchiness and …

Role Of Gp120 Glycosylation In Sexual Transmission Of Hiv, Yingxue Sun, Adam Meadows, Najwa Zebian, Eric Arts, Carole Creuzenet

Western Research Forum

Background:

In chronic HIV patients, the viral populations are genetically diverse due to mutations introduced by the viral reverse transcriptase during HIV replication. However, more than 80% new infections result from single transmission founder (TF) viruses; therefore, targeting the TFs is key to control AIDS worldwide.

Gp120 is a glycosylated envelope protein required for HIV infection, propagation, and transmission. Glycans on gp120 influence HIV infectivity through their interactions with lectins, the carbohydrate-binding immune proteins in the host mucosa. To transmit sexually, viruses must overcome the lectin traps to access more target T cells.

Hypothesis:

TF viruses are less likely to …