Digital Commons Network^™

Decellularized Wharton's Jelly From Human Umbilical Cord As A Novel 3d Scaffolding Material For Tissue Engineering Applications., Sushma Jadalannagari, Gabriel Converse, Eric Buse, Michael Filla, Maria T. Villar, Antonio Artigues, Adam J. Mellot, Jinxi Wang, Michael S. Detamore, Richard A. Hopkins, Omar S. Aljitawi, C Mcfall

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

In tissue engineering, an ideal scaffold attracts and supports cells thus providing them with the necessary mechanical support and architecture as they reconstruct new tissue in vitro and in vivo. This manuscript details a novel matrix derived from decellularized Wharton's jelly (WJ) obtained from human umbilical cord for use as a scaffold for tissue engineering application. This decellularized Wharton's jelly matrix (DWJM) contained 0.66 ± 0.12 μg/mg sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and was abundant in hyaluronic acid, and completely devoid of cells. Mass spectroscopy revealed the presence of collagen types II, VI and XII, fibronectin-I, and lumican I. When seeded onto …

Activation And Expansion Of Natural Killer Cells For Cancer Immunotherapy With Ex21 Exosomes, Sara Khederzadeh

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In the field of cancer immunotherapy, NK cells are recognized for their ability to provide a form of innate immunity against tumor cells. However, the average abundance of NK cells in the blood can be as low as 5% of the total lymphocyte population. As a result, it has been a focus to find novel therapies to expand NK cells in vitro while subsequently enhancing the cytotoxicity of these cells. Previously-defined methods include the minimal expansion of NK cells with high levels of cytokines such as IL-2 and IL-15, as well as co-culturing NK cells with feeder cell populations that …

“The Co-Authors Of Pregnancy”: Leveraging Men’S Sense Of Responsibility And Other Factors For Male Involvement In Antenatal Services In Kinshasa, Drc, Michelle M. Gill, John Ditekemena, Aimé Loando, Vicky Ilunga, Marleen Temmerman, Franck Fwamba

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Despite efforts to improve male involvement (MI), few male partners typically attend antenatal care (ANC). MI in ANC and interventions to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission have been demonstrated to be beneficial for the HIV-positive mother and her child. This study aimed to explore factors influencing partner attendance and highlight interventions with potential to improve MI within a Congolese context.

Methods: This was an exploratory, qualitative study conducted in two urban and two semi-urban catchment areas of Kinshasa, DRC in June–September 2016. Two women-only and two men-only focus group discussions (FGDs) were held; participants were recruited from ANC clinics and …

Radiography Faculty Engaged In Online Education: Perceptions Of Effectiveness, Satisfaction, And Technological Self-Efficacy, Shirley J. Cherry, Bethany H. Flora

ETSU Faculty Works

Purpose To assess radiography faculty perceptions of the effectiveness of online courses.

Methods An original survey instrument was created by selecting items from 3 instruments used in prior research and adding unique questions designed to elicit demographic data from faculty. The sample included a national dataset of radiography faculty members employed in Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology–accredited programs in the United States.

Results Findings showed that faculty perceptions of online course effectiveness are not affected significantly by faculty position, type of institution, faculty age, or years of teaching experience. Positive perceptions of the effectiveness of online courses …

Genome-Scale Crispr-Cas9 Knockout Screen Identifies Huwe1 As A Modifier Of Egfr Dependence In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells, Jon Dimaina

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations can exhibit a strong dependence on mutant EGFR signaling for growth and survival. They are also sensitive to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which provide superior clinical benefits to conventional chemotherapy. However, despite initial response, most patients experience relapse with resistant tumors within a year. This study aims to identify modifiers of dependence on mutant EGFR signaling and the mechanisms by which they do so in order to improve therapeutic strategies and outcomes. A genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 genetic knockout screen was conducted to identify genes whose loss-of-function confer …

L’Expérience De Femmes Ayant Subi Une Grossesse Non Désirée Au Sénégal : Une Étude Qualitative, Fatou Mbow, Nafissatou Diop

Reproductive Health

Au Sénégal, l’avortement n’est autorisé que lorsque la vie de la mère est menacée. Depuis 2013, le Comité de plaidoyer pour l’accès à l’avortement médicalisé au Sénégal (plus connu sous le nom de « Taskforce ») mène des activités de plaidoyer pour une révision de la loi. L’avortement est maintenant plus ouvertement discuté, mais la voix des femmes victimes de grossesse non désirée n’est pas entendue. Cette étude documente l’expérience de ces femmes pour fournir des évidences pour le plaidoyer. L’autorisation de l'avortement médicalisée contribuera à respecter les droits humains et de santé des femmes, ainsi qu’à réduire les conséquences …

Senegal: Explorer Le Processus De La Collaboration Multisectorielle Mise En Place Pour L’Étude Qualitative, Fatou Mbow, Nafissatou Diop, Awa Diop Dabo, Awa Tounkara Cissé, Seynabou Ba Diakhaté

Reproductive Health

En 2015, STEP UP a mené une étude qualitative sur l’expérience de femmes ayant subi une grossesse non désirée suite à un viol ou inceste dans la région de Dakar, Sénégal, en partenariat avec le Comité de plaidoyer pour l’accès à l’avortement médicalisé, plus connu sous le nom de «Taskforce». L’objectif général de l’étude était de développer une meilleure compréhension de la vie de ces femmes et d’apporter leur voix au débat sur la légalisation de l’avortement médicalisé. Cette étude de cas examine les caractéristiques de la collaboration, comment elle a été efficace, les leçons apprises, et les recommandations formulées …

Introduction And Approval Of Menstrual Regulation With Medication In Bangladesh: A Stakeholder Analysis, Fauzia Akhter Huda, Sadia Afrin, Bidhan Krishna Sarker, Hassan Rushekh Mahmood, Anadil Alam

Reproductive Health

Despite the significant progress that the government of Bangladesh has made toward introducing menstrual regulation with medication (MRM) into the national health program, there has been no systematic documentation on the introduction of MRM in Bangladesh, and on the approval process of local manufacturing of the mifepristone-misoprostol combination for menstrual regulation. This Research Report presents findings from the stakeholder analysis which was initiated to document the entire process of introducing MRM in the country. Findings from key informant interviews indicated some crucial factors that facilitated the process; these are presented here according to a four-part policy analysis framework: context, content, …

Harmonizing National Abortion And Pregnancy Prevention Laws And Policies For Sexual Violence Survivors With The Maputo Protocol, Jill Thompson, Chi-Chi Undie, Avni Amin, Ronald Johnson, Rajat Khosla, Ian Askew, Leopold Ouedraogo, Triphonie Nkurunziza, Sarah Rich, Elizabeth Westley, Melissa Garcia

Reproductive Health

In April 2016, the Population Council, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Consortium for Emergency Contraception (ICEC) convened a three-day regional technical meeting aimed at helping participating countries meet their obligations under the Maputo Protocol to protect and promote the reproductive health rights of women and girls, with a special emphasis on survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence. Participants included representatives from six countries in sub-Saharan Africa—Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, and Zambia—as well as international and regional experts on reproductive health, law, and human rights. Presentations and discussions focused primarily on the prevention and management of …

Cardiac Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Mr Imaging Tracking Of Cell Survival Or Rejection In Mouse Models Of Cell Therapy, Ashley L. Pumphrey, Shaojing Ye, Zhengshi Yang, Jennifer Simkin, John C. Gensel, Ahmed Abdel-Latif, Moriel H. Vandsburger

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Purpose:

To examine whether cardiac chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging can be serially and noninvasively used to probe cell survival or rejection after intramyocardial implantation in mice.

Materials and Methods:

Experiments were compliant with the National Institutes of Health Guidelines on the Use of Laboratory Animals and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. One million C2C12 cells labeled with either europium (Eu) 10-(2-hydroxypropyl)-1,4,7-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (HP-DO3A) or saline via the hypotonic swelling technique were implanted into the anterior-lateral left ventricular wall in C57BL/6J (allogeneic model, n = 17) and C3H (syngeneic model, n = 13) mice. Imaging …

"The Co-Authors Of Pregnancy": Leveraging Men's Sense Of Responsibility And Other Factors For Male Involvement In Antenatal Services In Kinshasa, Drc, Michelle M. Gill, John Ditekemena, Aimé Loando, Vicky Ilunga, Marleen Temmerman, Franck Fwamba

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Background: Despite efforts to improve male involvement (MI), few male partners typically attend antenatal care (ANC). MI in ANC and interventions to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission have been demonstrated to be beneficial for the HIV-positive mother and her child. This study aimed to explore factors influencing partner attendance and highlight interventions with potential to improve MI within a Congolese context.
Methods: This was an exploratory, qualitative study conducted in two urban and two semi-urban catchment areas of Kinshasa, DRC in June–September 2016. Two women-only and two men-only focus group discussions (FGDs) were held; participants were recruited from ANC clinics and …

Testing A Novel 3d Printed Radiographic Imaging Device For Use In Forensic Odontology, Tara L. Newcomb, Ann M. Bruhn, Bridget Giles, Hector M. Garcia, M. Arch, Norou Diawara

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

There are specific challenges related to forensic dental radiology and difficulties in aligning X-ray equipment to teeth of interest. Researchers used 3D printing to create a new device, the combined holding and aiming device (CHAD), to address the positioning limitations of current dental X-ray devices. Participants (N = 24) used the CHAD, soft dental wax, and a modified external aiming device (MEAD) to determine device preference, radiographer's efficiency, and technique errors. Each participant exposed six X-rays per device for a total of 432 X-rays scored. A significant difference was found at the 0.05 level between the three devices ( …

From Froot Loops To Fitness: My Journey As An Educator And Person With Diabetes, Sheri R. Colberg

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

This article is adapted from the address of Dr. Colberg delivered as the recipient of the American Diabetes Association's Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award for 2016. She delivered the address in June 2016 at the association's 76th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, LA.

Adiponectin Partially Rescues High Glucose/High Fat-Induced Impairment Of Mitochondrial Biogenesis And Function In A Pgc-1Α Dependent Manner., H. Wang, W.-J. Yan, J.-L. Zhang, F.-Y. Zhang, C. Gao, Y.-J. Wang, W.B. Lau, L. Tao

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Plasma adiponectin (APN) levels are decreased in diabetic patients. Dysfunctional mitochondrial biogenesis is involved in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) pathogenesis, by unclear mechanisms. The present study determined (1) whether myocardial mitochondrial biogenesis was impaired in cardiomyocytes exposed to a high glucose/high fat (HGHF) medium (a T2DM in vitro model), (2) the effects of APN administration upon mitochondrial biogenesis in cardiomyocytes affected by HGHF incubation, and 3) the involved underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) were isolated and incubated in HGHF medium. Mitochondrial function was assessed by ATP content, and fluorescent microscopic analysis of myocardial apoptosis …

New Leadership Model For Family Physicians In The Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Pilot Study Across Selected Countries, Salman Rawaf, Waris Qidwai, Tam Khoja, Kashmira Nanji, Ny Kurashi, F Alnasir, Ma Al Shafaee, M Al Shetti, M Bashir, Nes Saad, S Alkaisi, W Halasa, H Al-Duwaisan, A Al-Ali, Tm Farahat, M Tarawneh, A Khathami, A Abutiheen, Iqbal Azam Syed, A Swaka

Department of Family Medicine

Background: Family Medicine is growing rapidly across the Eastern Mediterranean Region. However, it needs support in terms of overall health system development. This will require strong leadership in family medicine to implement the change required to improve current conditions.

Objective: To collect data that will support the development of a leadership program for the future family physicians in the region.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2016 to September 2016 in eight countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, (Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia). These countries were selected to obtain perceptions …

Practical Guide And Atlas For The Diagnosis Of Fungal Infections, Afia Zafar, Kauser Jabeen, Joveria Farooqi

Books

Laboratory diagnosis of fungal infections remains challenging in South East Asia as it is a neglected field in most diagnostic centres in the developing world. Initial microscopic examination of clinical specimens for the presence of fungal elements followed by growth and eventual identification of isolates up to genus and species levels are very basic and important services that must be provided by any clinical microbiology laboratory. These services have considerable impact on selection of appropriate antifungal therapy and ultimate reduction in morbidity and mortality. With the realisation of scarcity of this service and expertise in Pakistan, our group decided to …

Patient Characteristics Of The Accident And Emergency Department Of Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional, Prospective Analysis, Justin Guy Myers, Katherine M. Hunold, Karen Ekernas, Ali Wangara, Alice Maingi, Vincent Mutiso, Stephen Dunlop, Ian B K Martin

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background Resource-limited settings are increasingly experiencing a ‘triple burden’ of disease, composed of trauma, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and known communicable disease patterns. However, the epidemiology of acute and emergency care is not well characterised and this limits efforts to further develop emergency care capacity.

Objective To define the burden of disease by describing the patient population presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Kenya.

Methods We completed a prospective descriptive assessment of patients in KNH’s A&E obtained via systematic sampling over 3 months. Research assistants collected data directly from patients and their charts. …

In Patients Over Sixty Years Old With A Primary Hip Fracture, Is Home Based Therapy Effective For Restoring Functional Abilities?, Florence M. Fournier

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not homebased therapy is effective for restoring functional abilities in patients over sixty with a primary hip fracture.

STUDY DESIGN: This review consists of two RCTs and one randomized clinical trial published in the English language between the years 2014 and 20 15.

DATA SOURCES: Articles were published in peer reviewed journals and compared home-based therapy as an intervention following a primary hip fracture to individuals solely documentation of post-surgical care using Cochrane and PubMed databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The specific outcomes measured varied …

Do Submental Deoxycholic Acid Injections Reduce Submental Fat In Adult Patients Enough To Create A Significant Increase In Patient Satisfaction?, Alec W. Curry

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Submental deoxycholic acid injections reduce submental fat in adult patients enough to create a significant increase in patient satisfaction”

Study Design: Review of 3 double blind, randomized control trials that were selected based on their relevance to the clinical question.

Data Sources: All three peer-reviewed articles were found using PubMed and Cochrane Database. The keywords “ATX-101”, “submental fat”, and “deoxycholic acid” were used.

Outcomes Measured: Satisfaction with appearance in association with face and chin evaluated by a patient reported subject self-rating scale …

Does Increasing Speech Production And Language Acquisition Through Therapies Aimed At Emphasizing Speech Therapy Improve The Verbal Communication Capabilities In Autistic Children?, Jessica Olejnik

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this EBM review was to determine if increasing speech production & language acquisition through therapies which emphasized speech therapy, would improve verbal communication skills in autistic individuals.

Study Design: Three RCTs selected due to relevance to the proposed question and fulfillment of the requirement of measuring POEMs.

Data Sources: All articles were published in peer-reviewed journals via PubMed.

Outcome Measures: The Preschool Language Scale 4 and Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language was measured pre-intervention and 12 months later. The verbal production evaluation scale which measured phonology, pragmatics, prosody, and sematic features. The …

Mechanisms Of Hormonal Regulation Of Invasiveness And Metastasis Of Luminal Breast Cancer, Thomas Mcfall

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

MECHANISMS OF HORMONAL REGULATION OF INVASIVENESS AND METASTASIS OF LUMINAL BREAST CANCER

By

THOMAS MCFALL

December 2017

Advisor: Dr. Manohar Ratnam

Major: Cancer Biology

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Over 20% of breast cancer cases present with distal metastasis and they are predominantly of luminal subtypes. As luminal breast cancer is relatively indolent, it is believed that progression to metastasis must occur over many years, generally well into post-menopausal years. Unfortunately, very little is known about the mechanisms by which these hormone receptor positive tumors metastasize, likely in part due to their slow metastatic rates in animal model systems as …

In Vitro Three-Dimensional Skin Tissue Constructs, Tinashe Dereck Gombedza

Theses

Human skin provides fortification against peripheral threats which may compromise the integrity and health of the human body. Its presence as the largest human organ forms a protective barrier making it an effective first line of defence against pathogenic, chemical and physical damage. Tissue engineering technology has enabled the development of in vitro three-dimensional (3D) organotypic skin cultures in order to understand the skin's physiology and architecture. This advancement has enabled the use of 3D skin model platforms to study skin diseases and conditions as well as facilitate drug discovery, clinical research and cosmetic product development.

In this study, an …

Exploring The Impact Of A Training Programme On Acute Healthcare Professionals' Attitudes And Understanding Of Dementia, Orla Quirke

Theses

Acute healthcare professionals lack education and training in dementia care. This results in people with dementia having poorer outcomes when admitted to the acute healthcare setting. An overarching aim of The National Dementia Strategy (2014) is the provision of optimal care for people with dementia in all healthcare and community settings. In response to this, Dementia Elevator a national inter-professional suite of educational programmes were developed by Dublin City University and the Health Service Executive to help individuals, communities and health systems engage positively with people with dementia. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a four-hour dementia training …

Persuasive Interventions For Controversial Cancer Screening Recommendations: Testing A Novel Approach To Help Patients Make Evidence-Based Decisions., Barry Saver, Kathleen M Mazor, Roger Luckmann, Sarah L Cutrona, Marcela Hayes, Tatyana Gorodetsky, Nancy Esparza, Gonzalo Bacigalupe

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate novel decision aids designed to help patients trust and accept the controversial, evidence-based, US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations about prostate cancer screening (from 2012) and mammography screening for women aged 40 to 49 years (from 2009).

METHODS: We created recorded vignettes of physician-patient discussions about prostate cancer screening and mammography, accompanied by illustrative slides, based on principles derived from preceding qualitative work and behavioral science literature. We conducted a randomized crossover study with repeated measures with 27 men aged 50 to 74 years and 35 women aged 40 to 49 years. All participants saw …

Ion Channel Expression Patterns In Glioblastoma Stem Cells With Functional And Therapeutic Implications For Malignancy., Julia Pollak, Karan G Rai, Cory C Funk, Sonali Arora, Eunjee Lee, Jun Zhu, Nathan D Price, Patrick J Paddison, Jan-Marino Ramirez, Robert C Rostomily

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Ion channels and transporters have increasingly recognized roles in cancer progression through the regulation of cell proliferation, migration, and death. Glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) are a source of tumor formation and recurrence in glioblastoma multiforme, a highly aggressive brain cancer, suggesting that ion channel expression may be perturbed in this population. However, little is known about the expression and functional relevance of ion channels that may contribute to GSC malignancy. Using RNA sequencing, we assessed the enrichment of ion channels in GSC isolates and non-tumor neural cell types. We identified a unique set of GSC-enriched ion channels using differential expression …

Epidemiological Investigation Of Candida Species Causing Bloodstream Infection In Pediatric Small Bowel Transplant Recipients, Mallory J. Suhr, João Carlos Gomes-Neto, Nabaraj Banjara, Diana F. Florescu, David F. Mercer, Peter C. Iwen, Heather E. Hallen-Adams

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Small bowel transplantation (SBT) can be a life-saving medical procedure. However, these recipients experience high risk of bloodstream infections caused by Candida. This research aims to characterize the SBT recipient gut microbiota over time following transplantation and investigate the epidemiology of candidemia in seven pediatric patients. Candida species from the recipients’ ileum and bloodstream were identified by internal transcribed spacer sequence and distinguished to strain by multilocus sequence typing and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA. Antifungal susceptibility of bloodstream isolates was determined against nine antifungals. Twenty-two ileostomy samples harbored at least one Candida species. Fungemia were caused by Candida parapsilosis …

Type 2 Immune Responses In The Context Of Helminth Infection, Asthma, Dendritic Cells, And Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cell Function, Sheela Ruby Damle

Theses and Dissertations

Type 2 (T_H2) immune responses evolved to respond to helminth parasite infections by the production of T_H2 cytokines, which stimulate anti-helminth immunity. Macrophage migration inhibitor factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine, which is produced by many cell types. We demonstrate that mice deficient in MIF have enhanced clearance of a helminth parasite. MIF deficiency in CD4⁺ T cells was found to be the most important for mediating parasite clearance. We mimicked MIF deficiency by administering an inhibitor of the MIF tautomerase activity, sulforaphane, and this also increased parasite clearance (Section I).

T_H2 immune …

Intravenous Formulation Of Het0016 Decreased Human Glioblastoma Growth And Iimplicated Survival Benefit In Rat Xenograft Models, M Jain, N Gamage, M Alsulami, A Shankar, B Achyut, Austin Guo, A Arbab, A Arbab

NYMC Faculty Publications

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a hypervascular primary brain tumor with poor prognosis. HET0016 is a selective CYP450 inhibitor, which has been shown to inhibit angiogenesis and tumor growth. Therefore, to explore novel treatments, we have generated an improved intravenous (IV) formulation of HET0016 with HPssCD and tested in animal models of human and syngeneic GBM. Administration of a single IV dose resulted in 7-fold higher levels of HET0016 in plasma and 3.6-fold higher levels in tumor at 60 min than that in IP route. IV treatment with HPssCD-HET0016 decreased tumor growth, and altered vascular kinetics in early and late treatment groups …

The Role Of Social Networks In Breastfeeding Duration, Jordyn T. Wallenborn

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The United States has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the world. Studies hypothesize that inadequate social support from healthcare providers, family members, and employers may have contributed to the low breastfeeding rate. This study aims to: 1) examine the importance of each individual (father, maternal grandmother, paternal grandmother, obstetrician, and pediatrician) within the social support network on breastfeeding initiation and duration, 2) determine the relationship between type of prenatal care provider and time to breastfeeding cessation, and 3) examine the role of breastfeeding intention and confidence as mediators in the association between workplace support and breastfeeding …

Concussion Knowledge And Understanding In Ghsa Guardians, Chloe C. Salway

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Context: Concussions are a serious injury that could result in both short and long-term consequences, particularly if not recognized and managed appropriately. Concussion education has been implemented, mostly as a result of Concussion legislation. Coach and athlete concussion education has been evaluated in the literature, however the literature is scarce on parental concussion education.

Purpose: To assess concussion knowledge and understanding in guardians of Georgia High School Association (GHSA) student-athletes that completed the GHSA concussion awareness form, in comparison to those that received additional concussion education.

Methods: This study utilized a prospective cross-sectional descriptive research design. Participants were GHSA guardians …