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- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Heersink School of Medicine (7)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) School of Health Professions (4)
- Cystic fibrosis;electrostatics;mucin;mucociliary clearance;sialylation;SNSP113 (2)
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- Cord;Hyperbaric;Injury;Oxygen;Spinal;Therapy (1)
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Hope In Hyperbaric Medicine: A New Approach To Treat Neurological Injury, Lucas Andrew Lowe
Hope In Hyperbaric Medicine: A New Approach To Treat Neurological Injury, Lucas Andrew Lowe
All ETDs from UAB
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has emerged as a promising adjunctive treatment approach for various neurological diseases. This literature review explores the role of HBOT in the treatment of spinal cord injuries. The review discusses the mechanisms of action by which HBOT exerts its effects on neural tissues, such as oxygen delivery, anti-inflammatory actions and neuroprotection. The analysis also highlights the findings from cellular biology, animal studies and clinical trials, offering insights into the potential benefits of HBOT in improving neurological injury outcomes and enhancing patients' quality of life. Furthermore, it addresses the safety considerations and guidelines for the application of …
Investigating The Electrostatics Of Mucins As Key Contributors To Mucus Stasis In Cystic Fibrosis, Elex Skylar Rose
Investigating The Electrostatics Of Mucins As Key Contributors To Mucus Stasis In Cystic Fibrosis, Elex Skylar Rose
All ETDs from UAB
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes a channel responsible for the transport of chloride and bicarbonate ions across the apical cell surface. In the respiratory tract, defective CFTR results in viscous and adherent mucus that becomes static within the airway, which leads to chronic infections, progressive lung damage, and early mortality. Historically, CF mucus stasis has been attributed to significant airway dehydration; however, growing evidence has demonstrated that aberrant electrostatic properties of mucins also contribute to mucus stasis in CF. Mucins are large, polymeric glycoproteins …
Predictive Modeling Using Clinical Data And Compositional Microbiome Data, Li Zhang
Predictive Modeling Using Clinical Data And Compositional Microbiome Data, Li Zhang
All ETDs from UAB
This dissertation focuses on developing predictive modeling using data from two areas: clinical data and microbiome data. Compositional data in real life are mainly represented by relative proportions. With the advancement of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, researchers can now collect a large volume of metagenomic sequencing data, which is valuable for investigating associations between the microbiome and host diseases. Current methods for dealing with such data are either constrained by generalization or limited by application. In the first part, to address this, we propose Bayesian compositional generalized linear models for analyzing microbiome data (BCGLM). This model incorporates a structured regularized …
The Influence Of A Low Glycemic Load Diet On Appetite In Women With Pcos, Sarah Et Hoover
The Influence Of A Low Glycemic Load Diet On Appetite In Women With Pcos, Sarah Et Hoover
All ETDs from UAB
Dysregulated appetite may contribute to weight gain and high prevalence of comorbid obesity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), yet dietary recommendations to promote satiety and facilitate weight maintenance in this population remain scarce. The objective of this dissertation was to determine if women with PCOS have alterations in appetite-regulating hormones that can be manipulated by low glycemic load diet habituation to improve satiety. This was tested by secondary analyses of two randomized controlled dietary intervention trials in women with and without PCOS. First, we explored differences in women with and without PCOS during a standardized liquid meal test …
Investigating The Electrostatics Of Mucins As Key Contributors To Mucus Stasis In Cystic Fibrosis, Elex Skylar Rose
Investigating The Electrostatics Of Mucins As Key Contributors To Mucus Stasis In Cystic Fibrosis, Elex Skylar Rose
All ETDs from UAB
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes a channel responsible for the transport of chloride and bicarbonate ions across the apical cell surface. In the respiratory tract, defective CFTR results in viscous and adherent mucus that becomes static within the airway, which leads to chronic infections, progressive lung damage, and early mortality. Historically, CF mucus stasis has been attributed to significant airway dehydration; however, growing evidence has demonstrated that aberrant electrostatic properties of mucins also contribute to mucus stasis in CF. Mucins are large, polymeric glycoproteins …
Creating Cool And Equitable Communities: A Comprehensive Study On Urban Heat Island Mitigation And Health Equity In Birmingham, Alabama, Bhuvana Sai Kumar Yandra
Creating Cool And Equitable Communities: A Comprehensive Study On Urban Heat Island Mitigation And Health Equity In Birmingham, Alabama, Bhuvana Sai Kumar Yandra
All ETDs from UAB
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 …
Psychosocial And Physiological Correlates Of Chronic Pain In Persons Living With Hiv, Michael Owens
Psychosocial And Physiological Correlates Of Chronic Pain In Persons Living With Hiv, Michael Owens
All ETDs from UAB
Due to recent advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART), people living with HIV (PLWH) who respond well and remain adherent to their medication regimens are achieving “near normal” life expectancies. As a result, HIV is no longer considered a death sentence, but rather a chronic health condition to be managed. However, the longer a person lives with the virus, the more prone to HIV-associated chronic diseases he or she becomes. One particularly important health condition with the potential to significantly and negatively impact quality of life is chronic pain. The prevalence rates of chronic pain in PLWH are estimated to be …
Dietary Nitrate And The Oral Microbiome In Obesity, Health And Exercise, Christian E. Behrens
Dietary Nitrate And The Oral Microbiome In Obesity, Health And Exercise, Christian E. Behrens
All ETDs from UAB
Obesity ranks among the top growing health concerns worldwide. The prevalence of obesity at all life stages continues to rise with nearly 40% of adults and 35% of children/adolescents being affected. Equally troublesome is the increased risk for a number of comorbidities associated with obesity including cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and certain types of cancer. The successful treatment of obesity, particularly long-term, continues to prove challenging and is often met with limited success. This highlights the importance of continued investigation into alternative strategies that may reduce the incidence and severity of obesity and associated pathophysiologies. Regular physical …
Effects Of A Ketogenic Diet On Body Composition, Metabolic Health, And Quality Of Life In Ovarian And Endometrial Cancer Patients, Caroline Whitney Cohen
Effects Of A Ketogenic Diet On Body Composition, Metabolic Health, And Quality Of Life In Ovarian And Endometrial Cancer Patients, Caroline Whitney Cohen
All ETDs from UAB
Ketogenic diets (KDs) have garnered considerable research attention in recent years, having been investigated as a therapy for neurologic, metabolic, and even dermatologic diseases. Recent research has also focused on KDs as a potential intervention for cancer, with preclinical studies demonstrating profound effects such as inhibiting tumor growth, enhancing the effects of radiation and chemotherapy, and prolonging survival. However, to date few studies have been conducted in cancer patients. In order to determine if KDs might augment existing cancer treatment protocols, additional research is needed. Accordingly, the objective of this project was to conduct the first randomized, controlled trial examining …
Impact Of Environmental Exposures On Respiratory Health, Lawrence Rasmussen
Impact Of Environmental Exposures On Respiratory Health, Lawrence Rasmussen
All ETDs from UAB
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of COPD; similarly, individuals exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) are also vulnerable to COPD and other airway diseases; however, distinct molecular mechanisms involved in SHS-induced lung effects that result in COPD are poorly understood. Mucociliary clearance (MCC) is a primary lung defense against inhaled particulate matter and pathogens. Thus, understanding how inhaled irritants such as SHS disrupt MCC will promote improved scientific understanding and better public health initiatives to prevent respiratory illnesses. Using a variety of in vitro …
Postpartum Body Composition And Breast Milk Hormones, Camille Schneider
Postpartum Body Composition And Breast Milk Hormones, Camille Schneider
All ETDs from UAB
The prevalence of both adult and child obesity continues to rise. Children born to mothers with obesity have a greater risk for future obesity and chronic disease. There is an increasing body of literature suggesting that pregnancy and infancy are critical periods influencing the child’s risk for obesity. However, little is known about whether consumption of breast milk from an obese mother might influence the child’s metabolic programming and growth. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the association of maternal adiposity with insulin and leptin in breast milk and, in turn, whether breast milk insulin, leptin, and glucose …
Centrifugal Microfluidics For Label-Free Isolation Of Leukocytes Subpopulations From Whole Blood, Yuxi Sun
Centrifugal Microfluidics For Label-Free Isolation Of Leukocytes Subpopulations From Whole Blood, Yuxi Sun
All ETDs from UAB
Leukocytes carry critical information regarding the immediate immune and inflammation status of the patients. Analysis of leukocytes requires isolation from blood since the leukocytes only consist <1% of all blood cells. Commonly used isolation processes exploit physical or biochemical differences between different cell types to enable separations. Current isolation methods inevitably subject cells to physical or biochemical stress that can activate leukocytes and change their natural state. Thus, information contained within isolated leukocytes is a combination of the natural state of the cell and an artifact of the isolation process. Microfluidics which takes advantage of scaling effects within microscale structures can ensure rapid and gentle alternatives to conventional isolation methods and is ideal for sorting, and analysis of cells and particles. The precise control of flow/particles and scaling effects of microfluidics have been applied for blood cells sorting and isolation. However, the limited processing capability and throughput as well as complex fabrication and operations have hampered widespread adoption of these approaches for replacement of conventional methods. My goal was to develop a simple yet powerful microfluidic tool that enables rapid separation of leukocytes while ensuring sufficient throughput, and minimizing isolation process induced activation without the need any sample pre-processing. This project is divided into two specific aims: i) to miniaturize the conventional density gradient centrifugation using centrifugal microfluidics for PBMC isolation and evaluate separation efficiency and activation status of isolated cells in comparison to conventional techniques; ii) develop new approach for PBMC sorting using microfluidic phase partitioning to enable separation of cells based on differences in cell surface energy. For specific aim 1, PBMCs were isolated based on differences in densities using microfluidic density gradient centrifugation. We show that PBMCs can be isolated from 100µl whole blood within 5 minutes. Evaluation of leukocyte activation via profiling of expression of surface integrins and chemokine receptors shows that our microfluidic approach significantly reduced PBMC activation in comparison to conventional isolation approaches. In specific aim 2, we sought to isolate cells based on differenced in surface energy using two-phase partitioning of dextran (DEX) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Proof of concept demonstrations was accomplished using with polystyrene and silicon dioxide microbeads which represent a mixture of white blood cells and red blood cells. The DEX and PEG mixtures were introduced into a circular channel and phase separated under centrifugal force into unique DEX and PEG phases. The bead mixture was isolated via differences in their affinity to the two phases.
The Role Of Hur In Astrocytes In Spinal Cord Injury, Thaddaeus Kwan
The Role Of Hur In Astrocytes In Spinal Cord Injury, Thaddaeus Kwan
All ETDs from UAB
Neuroinflammation is a defining event during the acute phase of spinal cord injury (SCI). The inflammatory cascade is initiated by activated glial cells such as astrocytes and microglia in the milieu of the injured tissue through release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and reactive oxygen species. These soluble factors produce cytotoxicity to neurons and other cells either directly or indirectly by promoting permeabilization of the blood-spinal cord barrier, edema and subsequent ischemia. These factors also serve to recruit and activate additional glia and peripheral immune cells. The mRNAs of many of these soluble factors such as TNFα, IL-1β, CXCL1, and …
Development Of A 3d Microphysiologic Liver For Drug Toxicity Testing, Maryrose Kammer
Development Of A 3d Microphysiologic Liver For Drug Toxicity Testing, Maryrose Kammer
All ETDs from UAB
Development of almost all novel effective drug compounds is immensely expensive and time consuming. The process is slowed by the ineffectiveness of current toxicity testing methods, with 80% of drugs undergoing late-stage failure in clinical trials or post-market withdrawal. The leading cause of these failures and withdrawals is due to drug-induced liver injury. Much of drug metabolism occurs in the liver, but there are incredible differences among the metabolic pathways in humans, animal models, and two-dimensional testing platforms. Thus, the current methods are limited to accurately predict in vivo metabolic response of a novel compound. Three dimensional (3D) in vitro …
Human Cytosolic Sulfotransferase (Sult) 1b1 Half-Site Reactivity And The Identification And Characterization Of A Novel Variant Sult1b1 Isoform (L145v), Zachary Evan Tibbs
Human Cytosolic Sulfotransferase (Sult) 1b1 Half-Site Reactivity And The Identification And Characterization Of A Novel Variant Sult1b1 Isoform (L145v), Zachary Evan Tibbs
All ETDs from UAB
The human cytosolic sulfotransferases (hSULTs) are a fourteen-member family of phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a sulfonate moiety from 3’-phosphoadenosine 5’-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to a recipient substrate. SULT-mediated sulfation serves to deactivate physiological hormones and detoxify xenobiotics. SULT1B1 is primarily resident to the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and possibly peripheral white blood cells (WBCs), whereby it performs its supposed physiological role. The iso-form has the capacity to sulfate thyroid hormones, small phenols, and polyaromatic hy-drocarbons resulting in their inactivation, detoxification, and bioactivation/detoxification, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was used to show hSULT1B1 protein is present in periph-eral lymphocytes and neutrophils. Further, …
Examining Hiv-Associated Symptom Burden And Microbial Translocation In The Veterans Aging Cohort Study: A Secondary Data Analysis, Natalie Lynn Wilson
Examining Hiv-Associated Symptom Burden And Microbial Translocation In The Veterans Aging Cohort Study: A Secondary Data Analysis, Natalie Lynn Wilson
All ETDs from UAB
group of 50 women (group 1) received computer-tailored feedback with brief counseling.
Pathophysiology And Metabolic Dysfunction Following Polytrauma, Robert Mackay Akscyn
Pathophysiology And Metabolic Dysfunction Following Polytrauma, Robert Mackay Akscyn
All ETDs from UAB
Polytrauma, a combination of injuries to more than one body part or organ system, is common in modern warfare and in automobile and industrial accidents. The combination of injuries can include burn, fracture, hemorrhage, trauma to the extremities, and trauma to specific organ systems. These injuries are highly survivable when occurring singly. However, when they occur in combination the prognosis is worsened. To investigate the effects of combined injuries, we have developed a new and highly reproducible model of polytrauma. This model combines burn injury with soft tissue and gastrointestinal (GI) tract trauma. Male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to …
Poly(N-Vinylcaprolactam) Based Thermoresponsive Nanostructured Materials, Xing Liang
Poly(N-Vinylcaprolactam) Based Thermoresponsive Nanostructured Materials, Xing Liang
All ETDs from UAB
Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) is a temperature-responsive polymer displaying a low critical solution temperature (LCST) around 30 to 40℃ in aqueous solutions that is close to the human physiological temperature. In addition, compared to other ther-moresponsive polymers, PVCL is nontoxic and biocompatible. In this thesis, we will fo-cus on the synthesis, fabrication and characterization of PVCL-based thermoresponsive nanostructured materials, such as films, hydrogels and block copolymers and their poten-tial applications in biomedical and medical areas. In chapter 2, we report on nanothin multilayer hydrogels of cross-linked PVCL that exhibited distinctive and reversible thermoresponsive behavior. The single-component PVCL hydrogels were produced by selective …
The Relationship Between Sunlight And Cerebrovascular Health, Shia T. Kent
The Relationship Between Sunlight And Cerebrovascular Health, Shia T. Kent
All ETDs from UAB
Sunlight radiation may be related to stroke risk through increased vitamin D production. The latter has been associated with a number of conditions including stroke, cognitive function and cardiovascular disease. We performed three sets of analyses to determine whether higher levels of sunlight radiation were associated with lower rates of stroke incidence, all-cause mortality, and cognitive decline. We explored these relationships using the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, a national longitudinal cohort of 30,239 participants. We merged the participants' residential histories with a ground and satellite-derived NASA dataset to characterize 15-year average sunlight radiation and …
Role Of The Cardiomyocyte Circadian Clock In Modulating Myocardial Physiology And Pathophysiology, David Joseph Durgan
Role Of The Cardiomyocyte Circadian Clock In Modulating Myocardial Physiology And Pathophysiology, David Joseph Durgan
All ETDs from UAB
It is well established that multiple parameters of cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology exhibit diurnal variations. For example, human heart rate and blood pressure peak during the morning and trough in the evening. Similarly, there is a morning prevalence for the onset of multiple adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Traditionally these rhythms have been attributed to rhythms in neurohumoral stimulation. However recent identification of the circadian clock mechanism in cardiovascular relevant cell types, including the cardiomyocyte, has prompted investigation into its role in modulating myocardial physiology and pathophysiology over the course of the day. Preliminary …
Structural And Functional Studies Of Human Bile Acid Coa:Amino Acid N-Acyltransferase (Hbat), Erin Mary Shonsey
Structural And Functional Studies Of Human Bile Acid Coa:Amino Acid N-Acyltransferase (Hbat), Erin Mary Shonsey
All ETDs from UAB
No abstract provided.
Metabolism Of Neutrophil-Deprived Chlorinated Isoflavones, Tracy Lyn D'Alessandro
Metabolism Of Neutrophil-Deprived Chlorinated Isoflavones, Tracy Lyn D'Alessandro
All ETDs from UAB
Despite medical advances in both drug therapy and surgical techniques, Americans mostly die from heart disease. Many belong to the low- and middle-class families who do not have sufficient access to medical care due to its high costs. An alternative is the development of healthier lifestyles such as diet which may play a positive role in chronic disease management. Epidemiological and migratory studies suggest that soy plays a pivotal role in the decreased incidence of heart disease in East Asian countries, such as China, Japan, and Korea. The role of soy in cardiovascular disease progression has been the subject of …
Adenovirus As A Platform For Assembly And Targeted Delivery Of Gold Nanoparticles To Tumor Cells, Vaibhav Saini
Adenovirus As A Platform For Assembly And Targeted Delivery Of Gold Nanoparticles To Tumor Cells, Vaibhav Saini
All ETDs from UAB
Novel combinatorial strategies need to be explored to achieve tumor eradication. In this regard, viral vector based gene therapy and nanotechnology offer unique possibilities for cancer therapy. As an example, multifunctional adenoviral (Ad) vectors capable of targeting, imaging, and successful cancer gene therapy have been advanced into multiple clinical trials. Similarly, novel multifunctional gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been utilized for drug delivery, targeting, imaging, and hyperthermia tumor therapy. Therefore, to accrue the benefits of both gene therapy and nanotechnology for cancer therapy, we proposed to combine Ad vectors and AuNPs in a single multifunctional nanodevice. Towards this goal, herein, we …
The Role Of Mitochondrial Dysfunction And Type 2 Transglutaminase In The Pathogenesis Of Huntington's Disease., Qingmin Ruan
The Role Of Mitochondrial Dysfunction And Type 2 Transglutaminase In The Pathogenesis Of Huntington's Disease., Qingmin Ruan
All ETDs from UAB
No abstract provided.
Contributions Of The Left And Right Hemisphere To Ratio Scaling., Tracy S. Kretzmer
Contributions Of The Left And Right Hemisphere To Ratio Scaling., Tracy S. Kretzmer
All ETDs from UAB
No abstract provided.
The Role Of The Transcription Factors Pax5 And E47 In Early Lymphopoiesis., Claudiu Vasile Cotta
The Role Of The Transcription Factors Pax5 And E47 In Early Lymphopoiesis., Claudiu Vasile Cotta
All ETDs from UAB
No abstract provided.
Mechanisms And Countermeasures For Reduced Osteoblastogenesis And Enhanced Adipogenesis Of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Modeled Microgravity., Valerie E. Meyers
Mechanisms And Countermeasures For Reduced Osteoblastogenesis And Enhanced Adipogenesis Of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Modeled Microgravity., Valerie E. Meyers
All ETDs from UAB
No abstract provided.
Seasonality Of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, Donna Garland Robbins
Seasonality Of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, Donna Garland Robbins
All ETDs from UAB
Generalizability of possible seasonality of cardiovascular disease risk factors has not been demonstrated, and, if present, biologic mechanisms remain uncertain. This was addressed by examining cross-sectional seasonal variation in cardiovascular disease risk factors among Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) subjects, and cross-sectional and longitudinal seasonal variation in and interrelationships between lipids and thyroid hormone levels in a Lipid Variation Influence of Stress (LVIS) study subsample. Although crude analyses identified some significant seasonal variation in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, physical activity, maximum heart rate, caloric intake, triglycerides, body weight and blood pressure overall and/or among race/gender strata …
Role Of Epithelial Cd40 In Airway Inflammation., Stacie Marie Propst
Role Of Epithelial Cd40 In Airway Inflammation., Stacie Marie Propst
All ETDs from UAB
No abstract provided.
High-Frequency Coils For Clinical Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging And Spectroscopy., John Thomas Vaughan
High-Frequency Coils For Clinical Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging And Spectroscopy., John Thomas Vaughan
All ETDs from UAB
No abstract provided.