Digital Commons Network^™

Revised Model For Antibiotic Resistance In A Hospital, Ruhang Pei

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis we modify an existing model for the spread of resistant bacteria in a hospital. The existing model does not account for some of the trends seen in the data found in literature. The new model takes some of these trends into account. For the new model, we examine issues relating to identifiability, sensitivity analysis, parameter estimation, uncertainty analysis, and equilibrium stability.

Influence Of The Anti-Hiv Drug Elvitegravir On Chlamydial Development And The Characterization Of Chlamydial Polymorphic Membrane Protein Expression In Herpes Simplex Virus (Hsv)/C. Trachomatis Co-Infected Cells, Hena Yakoob

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial agent of sexually transmitted infections worldwide and a common co-infection in AIDS patients. Chlamydial genital tract infections are often asymptomatic; therefore many infections go untreated and result in complications like chronic inflammation, ectopic pregnancy, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Chlamydia share a unique developmental cycle and under stress, can enter a state known as persistence, in which the bacteria are noninfectious but still viable. Removal of the stressor allows the chlamydiae to re-enter and complete the developmental cycle. Exposure to low-dose quinolones can cause the chlamydiae to enter persistence and halt the developmental cycle. …

Characterization Of A Sample Population Of Dental Hygiene Patients With And Without Periodontal Disease As Determined Through Fatty Acid And Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Caitlin R. Jackson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study was designed to compare the fatty acid and fruit and vegetable intake of people with and without periodontal disease. Periodontal disease affects approximately 15 percent of the developed world population. Participants filled out a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for both fruit and vegetable and fat intake. A sample of whole blood (EDTA) was collected to determine the fatty acid profile of participants’ red blood cell (RBC) membrane. This analytical procedure determines the average fatty acid intake of the participant over the previous 90 to 120 days. Participants were classified as case (n=10, patients diagnosed with periodontal disease) or …

Nurse’S Perceptions Of Visitor’S Adherence To Transmission-Based Precautions, Jocelyn K. Spenillo

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Transmissions based precautions are measures implemented in various clinical health care settings as a means to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases and decrease instances of healthcare acquired infections (HAI). HAI’s result in increased cost to hospitals, longer hospitalization for patients, increased patient suffering, and fatal patient outcomes. While staff member adherence to transmissions based precautions are mandated through various organizations and hospital policies, a review of literature indicates little research has been conducted regarding visitor compliance with transmission-based precautions. The potential implications in healthcare from visitor non-adherence acquired infections are unknown; revealing a gap in literature and supporting the …

2015-March-06-Kingsport Alliance For Continued Learning, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

No abstract provided.

2015-February-03-Goodkin Re-Elected To Serve With Aids Clinical Trial Group Network, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

No abstract provided.

Human Brucellosis Occurrences In Inner Mongolia, China: A Spatio-Temporal Distribution And Ecological Niche Modeling Approach, Peng Jia, Andrew Joyner

ETSU Faculty Works

Background: Brucellosis is a common zoonotic disease and remains a major burden in both human and domesticated animal populations worldwide. Few geographic studies of human Brucellosis have been conducted, especially in China. Inner Mongolia of China is considered an appropriate area for the study of human Brucellosis due to its provision of a suitable environment for animals most responsible for human Brucellosis outbreaks. Methods: The aggregated numbers of human Brucellosis cases from 1951 to 2005 at the municipality level, and the yearly numbers and incidence rates of human Brucellosis cases from 2006 to 2010 at the county level were collected. …

2015-January-16-Dr. Mckenzie To Bring Expertise To Jcchc, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

No abstract provided.

Biological Sciences Newsletter - January 2015, Department Of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University

Biological Sciences Newsletters

No abstract provided.

2015-Etsu Research Team Studying Possible Link Between Drug Side Effects, Genetic Makeup, Bill Gatton College Of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, University Marketing And Communication, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

JOHNSON CITY A new team of collaborators at East Tennessee State University has received a grant to study the possible connection between genetic traits and side effects of a drug used to treat HIV.

Right now, there are more than one million people diagnosed with HIV in the United States, said Dr. Sam Harirforoosh, associate professor at the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy at ETSU and principal investigator for the project. Currently, there are 25 medications available to treat HIV and a number of combinations of those drugs.

One such combination medication, Stribild, was approved to treat HIV in 2012 …

Cellular And Molecular Mechanisms Of Fungal Β-(1→6)-Glucan In Macrophages, Ilka Noss, Tammy R. Ozment, Bridget M. Graves, Michael D. Kruppa, Peter J. Rice, David L. Williams

ETSU Faculty Works

Over the last 40-yr, the majority of research on glucans has focused on β-(1→3)-glucans. Recent studies indicate that β-(1→6)-glucans may be even more potent immune modulators than β-(1→3)-glucans. Mechanisms by which β-(1→6)-glucans are recognized and modulate immunity are unknown. In this study, we examined the interaction of purified water-soluble β-(1→6)-glucans with macrophage cell lines and primary peritoneal macrophages and the cellular and molecular consequences of this interaction. Our results indicate the existence of a specific β-(1→6)-glucan receptor that internalizes the glucan ligand via a clathrin-dependent mechanism. We show that the known β-(1→3)-glucans receptors are not responsible for β-(1→6)-glucan recognition and …

2014-December-19-Dr. Don Hoover Awarded Nih Grant For Research, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

No abstract provided.

2014-December-18-$1.85m Nih Grant, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

No abstract provided.

Regulation Of C-Reactive Protein Gene Expression And Function, Avinash N. Thirumalai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human C-reactive protein (CRP) is the prototypic acute phase protein whose serum concentration increases rapidly during inflammation. CRP is also associated with atherosclerosis; it is deposited at lesion sites where it may interact with modified lipoproteins. There are 2 major questions regarding CRP: 1. How is the serum concentration of CRP regulated? 2. What are the functions of CRP in atherosclerosis?

Our first aim was to determine the role of the constitutively expressed transcription factor Oct-1 in regulating CRP gene expression. We found that Oct-1 overexpression inhibited (IL-6+IL-1β)- induced CRP gene expression; maximal inhibition required the binding of Oct-1 to …

Cd100 Up-Regulation Induced By Interferon-Α On B Cells Is Related To Hepatitis C Virus Infection, Yu He, Yonghong Guo, Yun Zhou, Ying Zhang, Chao Fan, Guangxi Ji, Yu Wang, Zhiyuan Ma, Jianqi Lian, Chunqiu Hao, Zhi Q. Yao, Zhansheng Jia

ETSU Faculty Works

Objectives: CD100, also known as Sema4D, is a member of the semaphorin family and has important regulatory functions that promote immune cell activation and responses. The role of CD100 expression on B cells in immune regulation during chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains unclear. Materials and Methods: We longitudinally investigated the altered expression of CD100, its receptor CD72, and other activation markers CD69 and CD86 on B cells in 20 chronic HCV-infected patients before and after treatment with pegylated interferon-alpha (Peg-IFN-α) and ribavirin (RBV) by flow cytometry. Results: The frequency of CD5+ B cells as well as the expression …

Mathematical Modeling Of Immune Responses To Hepatitis C Virus Infection, Ivan Ramirez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An existing mathematical model of ordinary differential equations was studied to better understand the interactions between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the immune system cells in the human body. Three possible qualitative scenarios were explored: dominant CTL response, dominant antibody response, and coexistence. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to rank model parameters for each of these scenarios. Therapy was addressed as an optimal control problem. Numerical solutions of optimal controls were computed using a forward-backward sweep scheme for each scenario. Model parameters were estimated using ordinary least squares fitting from longitudinal data (serum HCV RNA measurements) given in …

2014-October-21-Etsu Hosts Ebola Discussion As Part Of Infectious Disease Course, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

No abstract provided.

2014 September 29 - Graduate Council Minutes, College Of Graduate And Continuing Studies, East Tennessee State University

Graduate Council Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

Gene Expression Profiling Identifies Irf4-Associated Molecular Signatures In Hematological Malignancies, Ling Wang, Zhi Q. Yao, Jonathan P. Moorman, Yanji Xu, Shunbin Ning

ETSU Faculty Works

The lymphocyte-specific transcription factor Interferon (IFN) Regulatory Factor 4 (IRF4) is implicated in certain types of lymphoid and myeloid malignancies. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its interactions with these malignancies are largely unknown. In this study, we have first profiled molecular signatures associated with IRF4 expression in associated cancers, by analyzing existing gene expression profiling datasets. Our results show that IRF4 is overexpressed in melanoma, in addition to previously reported contexts including leukemia, myeloma, and lymphoma, and that IRF4 is associated with a unique gene expression pattern in each context. A pool of important genes involved in B-cell development, oncogenesis, …

2014-September-05-Kruppa, Nih Grant, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

No abstract provided.

2014-August-05-Senior Scientist Hired, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

No abstract provided.

2014-July-25-Biomedical Research Center, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

ETSU News

No abstract provided.

2013-2014 - Graduate Council Annual Report, College Of Graduate And Continuing Studies, East Tennessee State University

Graduate Council Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

2013-2014 Department Of Internal Medicine Scholarly Activity Report, Quillen College Of Medicine, East Tennessee State University

Quillen College of Medicine Scholarly Activity Reports

No abstract provided.

Vitamin D Status And Demographic And Lifestyle Determinants Among Adults In The United States (Nhanes 2001-2006), Yan Cao, Katie L. Callahan, Sreenivas P. Veeranki, Yang Chen, Ying Liu, Shimin Zheng

ETSU Faculty Works

This study looked at risk factors associated with vitamin D levels in the body among a representative sample of adults in the U.S., NHANES III (2001-2006) data were used to assess the relationship between several demographic and health risk factors and vitamin D levels in the body. The Baseline-Category Logit Model was used to test the association between vitamin D level and the potential risk factors age, education, ethnicity, poverty status, physical activity, smoking, alcohol, obesity, diabetes and total cholesterol with both genders. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were significantly associated with age, race, education, physical activity, obesity, diabetes and …

"Nursing Contamination: Wearing Scrubs In Public", Kemble Green

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nurses are frequently seen in public in their “scrubs,” which could mean that contaminated clothing is being brought into the community, thereby posing an infection risk. The purpose of this study is to investigate if and which contaminants are present on the fabrics and the actions nurses are taking to eliminate contamination risks.

Eleven scrub tops were worn on hospital units over one twelve-hour shift. The contaminated scrubs and three control tops were then swabbed and used to inoculate agar plates. After incubation, colonies were counted, streaked onto nutrient and Mannitol-salt agar for isolation, and incubated. Using API Staph strips …

Dietary Counseling Practices And Perceived Barriers Among Utah Dental Hygienists, Natalie F. Carlson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Diet related factors are associated with the 2 most prevalent oral diseases- caries and periodontal disease. Furthermore, there is growing evidence of a synergistic link between nutrition, systemic health, and oral health. Regardless of this evidence and in spite of recommendations by dental associations, researchers have shown the majority of dental professionals are consistently excluding nutritional screenings and dietary counseling in their dental services. The purpose of this study was to examine the nutritional screening and dietary counseling practices of Utah dental hygienists and to evaluate possible associations between various factors influencing the implementation of nutritional services. Surveys were collected …

Evaluation Of Key Components Of Draft Guidelines For The National Weather Service Tsunamireadytm Community Program, Colleen Scott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program partnered with the National Weather Service (NWS) in 2000 to create the TsunamiReady^TM (TR) Community program. TR is designed to help communities in coastal areas plan and prepare for tsunamis. To achieve TR recognition communities must meet certain criteria including specific emergency planning and management actions within the categories of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

This study’s purpose was to evaluate the acceptability and usefulness of key components of a proposed revised set of TR Community program guidelines. Research was guided by the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) using Community Based Participatory Research methods …

2014 April 22 - Medical Student Education Committee Minutes, Medical Student Education Committee, East Tennessee State University

Medical Student Education Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Commonly Prescribed Β-Lactam Antibiotics Induce C.Trachomatis Persistence/Stress In Culture At Physiologically Relevant Concentrations, Jennifer Kintner, Dawn Lajoie, Jennifer Hall, Judy Whittimore, Robert V. Schoborg

ETSU Faculty Works

Chlamydia trachomatis, the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease agent worldwide, enters a viable, non-dividing and non-infectious state (historically termed persistence and more recently referred to as the chlamydial stress response) when exposed to penicillin G in culture. Notably, penicillin G-exposed chlamydiae can reenter the normal developmental cycle upon drug removal and are resistant to azithromycin-mediated killing. Because penicillin G is less frequently prescribed than other ß-lactams, the clinical relevance of penicillin G-induced chlamydial persistence/stress has been questioned. The goal of this study was to determine whether more commonly used penicillins also induce C. trachomatis serovar E persistence/stress. All penicillins …