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Challenges And Opportunities In Glioblastoma And Immunovirotherapy With Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1, Dagoberto Estevez-Ordonez Jan 2023

Challenges And Opportunities In Glioblastoma And Immunovirotherapy With Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1, Dagoberto Estevez-Ordonez

All ETDs from UAB

This dissertation covers data from published and pre-published studies exploring challenges and opportunities in the treatment of malignant glioma with emphasis in glioblastoma and oncolytic immunovirotherapy with an oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) designed to induce expression of IL-12, M002 (murine IL-12) and M032 (human IL-12).It starts with the report of a study that uncovered important racial and socioeconomic disparities experienced by patients with glioblastoma treated in Alabama. Notable results also include the unexpected finding of increased survival in African American patients with glioblastoma even after controlling for factors associated with survival and socioeconomic disparities. The implications of …


The Effects Of Genetics, Sex, And Physical Activity On Organismal Fitness, Heidi Johnson Jan 2023

The Effects Of Genetics, Sex, And Physical Activity On Organismal Fitness, Heidi Johnson

All ETDs from UAB

Physical activity is an integral part of health in most organisms; however, depending on the amount and type of physical activity, the results may be either protective or harmful. We see this in human populations where sedentary behaviors can lead to dangerous health conditions while repeated strenuous exercise can lead to long-term damage. Additionally, genetic background and sex influence the physiological response to physical activity, but the exact mechanisms of these interactions are still not well understood. The importance of physical activity patterns extends beyond humans. In model organisms, physical activity has been observed to have many significant impacts in …


Breast Cancer Metastasic Potential Mediated By Cd44/Hyaluronic Acid Signaling And Strains In The Tumor Microenvironment, Adam David Kotar Jan 2023

Breast Cancer Metastasic Potential Mediated By Cd44/Hyaluronic Acid Signaling And Strains In The Tumor Microenvironment, Adam David Kotar

All ETDs from UAB

Mechanical stimulation has been found to be an important regulator of nearly all biological processes, from maintaining normal homeostatic conditions to promoting pathological mechanisms of multiple diseases including cancer. While our knowledge of cancer continues to grow, our current models often lack the biophysical forces that are present in the body which could explain why numerous promising therapeutic agents discovered in research fail to translate into clinical efficacy. This study aims to demonstrate that breast cancer progression is mediated by strains in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in conjunction with trans-membranous glycoprotein receptor, CD44. There are many different sources of strain …


Parenting Through A Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Analysis Of Covid-19’S Impact On Stress, Coping, Resiliency, And Mental Health Among University Student-Parents, Jordin Ann Lane Jan 2023

Parenting Through A Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Analysis Of Covid-19’S Impact On Stress, Coping, Resiliency, And Mental Health Among University Student-Parents, Jordin Ann Lane

All ETDs from UAB

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of university students and continues to have a profound impact to this day. The transition from in-person traditional courses to online courses and campus closures, coupled with feelings of isolation, fear of contracting COVID-19, and uncertainty of the future has further intensified the mental health of college students. The effects of federal and state regulations, such as stay-at-home orders, influenced the mental health and general well-being of many Americans, specifically those who take on a dual role as a student and a parent. Unfortunately, literature pertaining to the effects …


Time-Restricted Feeding Modulates Dgat2 Expression In Cardiac And Skeletal Muscle, Yiming Guo Livelo Jan 2023

Time-Restricted Feeding Modulates Dgat2 Expression In Cardiac And Skeletal Muscle, Yiming Guo Livelo

All ETDs from UAB

Circadian disruption caused by aging, genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors can lead to compromised cardiac and skeletal muscle function and potentially accelerate the progression of metabolic diseases. Time-restricted feeding/eating (TRF/TRE, referred to as TRF hereafter), a dietary intervention that confines food intake within a consistent window of the day, has pleiotropic benefits from flies and mice to humans. However, the effectiveness of TRF on heart and muscle in the context of various metabolic challenges such as circadian disruption and obesity is largely unknown. Current insights into the mechanisms of TRF are primarily based on multi-omics approaches, particularly transcriptomes; however, limited …


Molecular Imaging To Evaluate Tumor Heterogeneity And Guide Treatment Of Breast Cancer, Yun Lu Jan 2023

Molecular Imaging To Evaluate Tumor Heterogeneity And Guide Treatment Of Breast Cancer, Yun Lu

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Molecular imaging plays an important role in predicting and evaluating treatment response and revealing the underlying biological mechanisms in the cancer field. Especially, PET imaging serves as a valuable tool for comprehending the tumor microenvironment (TME), allowing us to track tumor metabolism, proliferation, receptor expression, and immune infiltration. In this comprehensive study, three distinct aspects of cancer research were explored using molecular imaging techniques.The first study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the fluorescence ubiquitination cell cycle indicator (FUCCI) system with fluorescence in vivo imaging compared to 3'-Deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine ([18F]-FLT) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in assessing cancer cell proliferation. …


Lateral Ridge Augmentation Using Allograft Bone Particles Hydrated With Or Without Recombinant Human Platelet-Derived Growth Factor: A Clinical And Histological Randomized Controlled Trial, Lauren Miele Jan 2023

Lateral Ridge Augmentation Using Allograft Bone Particles Hydrated With Or Without Recombinant Human Platelet-Derived Growth Factor: A Clinical And Histological Randomized Controlled Trial, Lauren Miele

All ETDs from UAB

Lateral ridge augmentation is a common procedure to increase the width of bone in preparation for a dental implant. A certain thickness of bone is necessary for implant health, making ridge augmentation procedures necessary for many patients. Research into the use of growth factors in ridge augmentation is ongoing, but few studies have examined the use of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor homodimer (rhPDGF-BB) in ridge augmentation. This study examines histologic, clinical, and patient reported outcomes when horizontal ridge augmentation is completed using freeze dried bone allograft hydrated in rhPDGF-BB or saline and a resorbable crosslinked collagen membrane. Histologic results …


Functional Analysis Of Mandibular Movements In Three Different Groups Including Patients With Total Joint Replacements, Previous Orthognathic Surgery, And A Control Group, Adriana Morales Buendia Jan 2023

Functional Analysis Of Mandibular Movements In Three Different Groups Including Patients With Total Joint Replacements, Previous Orthognathic Surgery, And A Control Group, Adriana Morales Buendia

All ETDs from UAB

Purpose: To Assess mandibular movements, including mouth opening, lateral excursion, and protrusion among patients with total joint replacements and orthognathic surgery compared to healthy control participants with no known TMJ disorders. Methods: Fifty-two subjects from 18 to 66 years of age were included in this cross-sectional study, distributed in three groups: patients with total joint replacement (n = 16), patients who underwent orthognathic surgery (n=17), and healthy control subjects (n = 19) to quantitatively determine whether there is statistically significant difference among the groups regarding opening, lateral excursion, and protrusion movements. The non-invasive system SiCAT JMT+ device was used to …


Accuracy Of "Reading" Untraced Lateral Cephalometric Radiographs Among Practicing Orthodontists, Shannon Rea Jan 2023

Accuracy Of "Reading" Untraced Lateral Cephalometric Radiographs Among Practicing Orthodontists, Shannon Rea

All ETDs from UAB

Objective: To determine if orthodontic clinicians are able to ascertain diagnostic information from untraced lateral cephalometric radiographs. Materials and Methods: A survey consisting of 5 cases was presented to practicing orthodontists. Each case presented a lateral cephalometric radiograph and included ten questions requiring the respondent to make clinical judgments and approximations of the following variables: skeletal classification, maxilla and mandibular skeletal relationship, SNA, SNB, ANB, vertical skeletal classification, FMA, molar relationship, maxillary incisor proclination, and mandibular incisor proclination. 46 responses were collected and analyzed. Results: Case 3, the normodivergent, Skeletal Class I patient had the highest percentage of correct answers …


Comparison Of Flexural Strength, Fracture Toughness, And Color Stability Of Cad/Cam 3d-Printed Denture Base Materials To Milled And Conventional Heat-Polymerized Materials: An In Vitro Study, Yamen Safadi Jan 2023

Comparison Of Flexural Strength, Fracture Toughness, And Color Stability Of Cad/Cam 3d-Printed Denture Base Materials To Milled And Conventional Heat-Polymerized Materials: An In Vitro Study, Yamen Safadi

All ETDs from UAB

Digitalization of the design and manufacturing of complete dentures streamlines the clinical and laboratory processes and provides increased efficiency and enhanced denture quality.[1, 2] The two most common CAD/CAM techniques for denture base manufacturing are additive (3D-printing) and subtractive (milling) manufacturing. Milled denture bases have been proven to be comparable in their physical and mechanical properties to conventional heat-polymerized denture bases,[3-6] and in many studies found to be superior to 3D-printed denture bases.[7-13] However, 3D-printing offers many advantages over milling that appeal to both clinicians and dental technicians related to investment and operational costs, maintenance, speed of manufacturing, diversity of …


Comparison Of Radiological Signs To Clinical Symptoms In Children With Jia. A Pilot Study, Shubham Sharma Jan 2023

Comparison Of Radiological Signs To Clinical Symptoms In Children With Jia. A Pilot Study, Shubham Sharma

All ETDs from UAB

JIA, which stands for juvenile idiopathic arthritis, is a group of chronic inflammatory joint diseases that usually occur in children under the age of 16 and last for at least six weeks1–5. It is one of the most common chronic joint diseases in childhood1 and affects up to 150 out of every 100,000 children worldwide6. This condition has no identifiable cause and is different from adult rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, JIA can have a significant negative impact on the lives of these young children, causing disability and impairing their daily activities. TMJ involvement is more common than previously believed in JIA …


Exercise-Driven Epigenetic And Transcriptomic Changes In An Experimental Model Of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Silvienne C. Sint Jago Jan 2023

Exercise-Driven Epigenetic And Transcriptomic Changes In An Experimental Model Of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Silvienne C. Sint Jago

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Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a neurological disease marked by recurring unprovoked seizures originating from temporal lobe structures and is frequently associated with cognitive deficits. Exercise holds promise as a therapeutic approach to alleviate seizures and cognitive impairments in TLE. However, the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms by which exercise influences pathways related to seizure activity and cognition in the context of TLE still need to be understood. Neuronal network formation relies on the regulation of gene expression, which can lead to either an increase or a decrease in the production of essential proteins involved in neuronal signaling. Genes are …


Pathophysiological Metabolic Alteration In Lung Injury And Fibrosis, Samuel Robert Smith Jan 2023

Pathophysiological Metabolic Alteration In Lung Injury And Fibrosis, Samuel Robert Smith

All ETDs from UAB

Lung injury and lung repair are two sides of the same coin, for where injury occurs, repair must follow. Lung fibrosis occurs when this repair process is dysfunctional and becomes trapped in a chronically incomplete state. The studies described here examine each side of this coin to ask the question of whether metabolism has a role in the pathophysiology of acute lung damage following severe trauma or in the chronic progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In the first half of this work, we investigated the impact that severe lung injury and infection exert on the flux of metabolites in …


"'Wimpy White Boy Syndrome': Does It Exist In The Nicu?", Brittany Nicole Stewart Jan 2023

"'Wimpy White Boy Syndrome': Does It Exist In The Nicu?", Brittany Nicole Stewart

All ETDs from UAB

“Wimpy White Boy Syndrome” (WWBS) is a social phenomenon and belief that exists in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where white boys fare the worst and Black girls fare the best. However, this belief is based on little to no empirical evidence and contradicts the majority of the research that documents Black Americans tend to have worse health outcomes than white Americans. Utilizing electronic medical record data from a Southern, regional, and level IV neonatal intensive care unit, this research project explored racial differences in length of hospital stay, mortality, and resource allocation among low and very low birthweight …


Neuropeptide Y Overexpression In The Presence Of P23h Rhodopsin Mutation, Jean Sun Jan 2023

Neuropeptide Y Overexpression In The Presence Of P23h Rhodopsin Mutation, Jean Sun

All ETDs from UAB

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a 36-amino acid peptide, has been found to be the most abundant neuropeptide in the central nervous system, and it is widespread across mammalian species. NPY plays a dual role as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in the nervous system. NPY functions as a multifaceted neuromodulator through binding NPY receptors (NPYRs). NYP interacts with NPYRs and regulates various activities, such as cell growth, neurogenesis, neuroprotection, mitochondrial behaviors, food intake, anxiety, and addiction formation. In terms of NPY’s neuroprotective potential, NPY inhibits neuronal death signaling, thus preventing apoptosis, and displays anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. Additionally, it influences metabolism by …


Social Vulnerability And Trust Associated With African American Secondary Syphilis Cases Reported In Alabama, United States, 2020-2022, Givanta Tribit Jan 2023

Social Vulnerability And Trust Associated With African American Secondary Syphilis Cases Reported In Alabama, United States, 2020-2022, Givanta Tribit

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause serious health problems, including neurological disorders, blindness, and fetal abnormalities. Routine STI screenings can help prevent its spread. Despite effective treatments, syphilis cases have risen sharply in the last decade, particularly among marginalized communities. Understanding the ecological and contextual factors contributing to syphilis incidence could inform prevention efforts and improve healthcare outcomes for all. Methods: Retrospective secondary data analyses, at the county level, from 2020 to 2022, were conducted to assess for mean differences among social vulnerability index (SVI) scores, SVI scores by four primary categories, Black Belt regional …


Impact Of Alcohol Intoxication On Pedestrian Risk-Taking Behaviors, Yixin Wang Jan 2023

Impact Of Alcohol Intoxication On Pedestrian Risk-Taking Behaviors, Yixin Wang

All ETDs from UAB

In the United States, motor vehicle crashes account for approximately 21.8% of unintentionaldeaths, and 17.2% of these crashes involved the death of a pedestrian in 2020. Two preventable factors that impact pedestrian fatalities are alcohol intoxication and smartphone distraction. Approximately 30% of fatal pedestrian crashes involve a pedestrian with a BAC of at least 0.08, and distraction is a commonly observed risk factor that was shown to impair crossing performance in virtual environments. The present research considers both distraction and intoxication as risk factors for pedestrian safety, examining both risk factors in isolation as well as their interactional effects on …


A Qualitative Descriptive Study Exploring Infertility Help-Seeking Among African American Women, Andrea G. Wells Jan 2023

A Qualitative Descriptive Study Exploring Infertility Help-Seeking Among African American Women, Andrea G. Wells

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BACKGROUND: Failure to achieve pregnancy (infertility) affects over 6 million women ages 15–44 in the United States. African American women have more difficulty getting pregnant than White women but are less likely to seek help for infertility. According to the current research, there are several factors (cost, insurance coverage, etc.) that create difficulty for women to seek help to get pregnant. However, little is known about the factors that influence or impede infertility help-seeking among African American women. The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators to infertility help-seeking among African American women.METHODS: Factors affecting infertility …


Select Lipid Signaling. Derived From T-Cells Is An Important Contributor To Type 1 Diabetes Development, Tayleur White Jan 2023

Select Lipid Signaling. Derived From T-Cells Is An Important Contributor To Type 1 Diabetes Development, Tayleur White

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We reported that Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2β (iPLA2) contributes to type 1 diabetes (T1D) development; however, the impact of lipid signaling from T-cells is unknown. To address this, we first administered splenocytes from NOD, NOD.iPLA2+/- (NOD.HET), or NOD.iPLA2-/- (NOD.KO) mice to 4-week-old NOD.scid recipients. As expected, T1D onset was rapid in NOD cell recipients and 100% by 12 weeks. However, onset was delayed by 1-3 weeks in NOD.HET or NOD.KO cell recipients and only 60% became diabetic, suggesting a role for T-cell iPLA2. Next, to establish importance of iPLA2 in CD4 or CD8 cells, purified cells were administered to NOD.scid mice. …


Neighborhood Disadvantage, Sleep Quality, And Shift Work: The Reasons For Geographic And Racial Differences In Stroke (Regards) Study, Rebecca Williams Jan 2023

Neighborhood Disadvantage, Sleep Quality, And Shift Work: The Reasons For Geographic And Racial Differences In Stroke (Regards) Study, Rebecca Williams

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The first study used data (n=14,609) from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) to test the associations among Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and self-reported total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and number of restless nights within the last week. The second study (n=12,496) tested the associations among ADI, shift work status, and restlessness.Regression models were fit to examine associations between ADI and SE or TST or restlessness, as well as assess the relation between ADI and SE in clinically meaningful categories. Moderation analyses indicated whether sex or race impact the association between ADI and sleep. …


Creating Cool And Equitable Communities: A Comprehensive Study On Urban Heat Island Mitigation And Health Equity In Birmingham, Alabama, Bhuvana Sai Kumar Yandra Jan 2023

Creating Cool And Equitable Communities: A Comprehensive Study On Urban Heat Island Mitigation And Health Equity In Birmingham, Alabama, Bhuvana Sai Kumar Yandra

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Abstract: Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) represent a severe hazard to people's health and quality of life, particularly in areas of cities with dense and at-risk populations. This integrative research aims to reduce the burden of UHIs caused by climate change and mitigate associated health risks and inequalities in Birmingham, Alabama. The study identifies areas most impacted by UHI effects and loss of vegetation and provides remediation strategies to combat these issues. In addition, the research expands to identify socioeconomically disadvantaged and health-vulnerable communities needing intervention to improve their quality of life. Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) trap heat, alter local climates …


Roles Of Dietary Bioactive Compounds In Gut Microbiota Modulation And Epigenetic Regulation In The Prevention Of Breast Cancer, Huixin Wu Jan 2023

Roles Of Dietary Bioactive Compounds In Gut Microbiota Modulation And Epigenetic Regulation In The Prevention Of Breast Cancer, Huixin Wu

All ETDs from UAB

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. The average risk of a woman developing BC is about 13% according to American Cancer Society. Various genetic-related risk factors including inherited mutations of genes, and lifestyle-related risk factors such as physical inactivity, obesity, aging, smoking, and air pollution have been studied for cancer prevention and treatment. The currently existing treatment methods such as chemotherapy and neoadjuvant systemic therapy can induce adverse effects on patients. Therefore, cancer prevention has been of great interest to the society. Numerous …


The Role Of Tissue- And Cell-Type-Specific Expression And Regulation In Setbp1-Associated Diseases, Jordan Hailey Whitlock Jan 2023

The Role Of Tissue- And Cell-Type-Specific Expression And Regulation In Setbp1-Associated Diseases, Jordan Hailey Whitlock

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SET binding protein 1 (SETBP1) encodes a transcription factor (TF) participating in diverse cellular processes. SETBP1 is an epigenetic hub associated with variants linked to three distinct diseases. Germline variants cause rare pediatric Schinzel Giedion Syndrome (SGS) and SETBP1 haploinsufficiency disorder (SETBP1-HD), featuring multisystemic abnormalities and neurodegeneration or milder brain issues with hypotonia, respectively. On the other hand, somatic variants contribute to hematological malignancies and adult cancer. To understand tissue-specific SETBP1 mechanisms, public RNA-sequencing data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project were analyzed. SETBP1 and targets were broadly expressed across 31 adult human tissues, revealing three distinct expression patterns: transcription …


Richard H. Shryock’S “Empiricism Versus Rationalism In American Medicine, 1650-1950”: A Commentary, Michael A. Flannery Jan 2023

Richard H. Shryock’S “Empiricism Versus Rationalism In American Medicine, 1650-1950”: A Commentary, Michael A. Flannery

Libraries Professional Work

Shryock's analysis of medical progress outlines the transition from crude empiricism and dogmatic rationalism to scientific empiricism. This shift, though non-linear, advanced medicine through controlled experiments, fostering breakthroughs like penicillin. Scientific empiricism improved public health and influenced the return to systemic concepts, particularly through genetic medicine and chronic disease research.


Veterans Invited To Register For New Virtual Arts Workshops, Shannon Thomason Dec 2022

Veterans Invited To Register For New Virtual Arts Workshops, Shannon Thomason

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December 20, 2022 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham Dec 2022

December 20, 2022 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

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All Of Us Research Program Returns Genetic Health-Related Results To Participants, Alicia Rohan Dec 2022

All Of Us Research Program Returns Genetic Health-Related Results To Participants, Alicia Rohan

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Uab Rated Among Best Hospitals For Maternity Care By U.S. News, Hannah Echols Dec 2022

Uab Rated Among Best Hospitals For Maternity Care By U.S. News, Hannah Echols

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2022 In Review: In Case You Missed These Stories, Reporter Staff Dec 2022

2022 In Review: In Case You Missed These Stories, Reporter Staff

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2022 In Review: A Banner Blazer Year, Reporter Staff Dec 2022

2022 In Review: A Banner Blazer Year, Reporter Staff

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