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Adenovirus Vectors As Potent Adjuvants In Vaccine Development, Kathleen Ann Mcguire

Dissertations

Due to their ability to activate the immune system, replication-defective Adenoviruses (Ad) are potential vaccine vectors for several pathogens. The proinflammatory response to Ad contributes to the response to vaccine antigens. We found that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an important signal in the proinflammatory response to Ad. We identified that serotype 5 adenovirus (Ad5) elicits ROS by inducing mitochondrial membrane damage, a process that is dependent on endosomal membrane rupture and Cathepsin release. This mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to NLRP3 inflammasome- and NFκB-dependent innate immune activation. The ROS-dependent inflammatory response likely contributes to the adaptive immune response by supporting DC …

Identification And Analysis Of Omentum Derived Suppressor Cells In Regards To Th17 Inhibition, Nick Huang

Dissertations

Omentum has been harnessed by surgeons for hundreds of years, providing an ideal environment for graft healing and acceptance. However, little is known about the cellular mechanisms that promote the tolergenic environment of the omentum. We examined the cellular composition and role of activated omentum in regards to T-cell immunomodulation. We then tested activated omentum as a cellular therapy in a mouse allogenic lung transplantation model.

Our findings demonstrated activated omentum is mostly comprised of non-hematopoietic cells resembling mesenchymal stem-like cells (MSCs) and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Activated omentum exhibited anti-inflammatory properties through suppression of Th1 and Th17, while …

Elucidating The Factors That Modulate The Distribution Of Avian Haemosporida Parasites Across A Community Of Hosts, Matthew Christopher Ikaika Medeiros

Dissertations

Parasites are heterogeneously distributed across host species, host populations, and host individuals within populations. A primary aim of infectious disease ecology seeks to uncover the factors that drive this heterogeneity. At a fundamental level, host infection is determined by exposure and susceptibility to a pathogen. My dissertation explores how evolutionary and ecological forces associated with these fundamental determinates of infection shape variation in parasite host breadth and host infection status. Here, I focus on a community of vector-borne avian Haemosporida parasites among suburban birds of Chicago, IL. These parasites exhibit strong variation in their distribution among available hosts, and provide …

Quantifying Value In Public Health: Using Economic Methods To Analyze System Change, Theresa M. Green

Dissertations

In this time of economic downturn, it is becoming increasingly important for organizations, including those in public health, to “prove their worth,” to show the value in improvement strategies. Health agencies have learned to discuss impact in terms of health outcome and mortality/morbidity measures. However, it is critical that these impacts are also expressed in a way that shows cost-efficiency and economic benefit especially for promising, evidence-based public health interventions. Although several methods of economic evaluation including cost-effective analysis, cost-utility analysis, or cost-benefit analysis and return on investment (ROI) have been used in social sciences and health research, fewer examples …

Role Of Msa In Immune Evasion, Persistence, And Protease Regulation In The Human Pathogenic Strains Of Staphylococcus Aureus, Maria Deepa Basco

Dissertations

Opportunistic pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus on entering the host can stay colonized at the foci of infection or evade the immune system to disseminate to other sites. In this study we investigated the regulatory influence of the modulator of sarA (msa) on immune evasion and host persistence, employing the hospital-acquired strain S. aureus UAMS-1 and community-acquired strain S. aureus USA300 LAC. In the murine sepsis model, mutation of the msa gene in LAC showed no change in dissemination of infection; however, in UAMS-1 a decrease in microbial load was observed in the lungs. Differential regulation by the msa gene was …

A Comparison Of Medication Managemnt Between Older And Younger Adults Living With Hiv, Judy A. Frain

Dissertations

The aims of this study were to examine whether there are differences in medication management between older and younger adults living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and to explore the relationship between age and personal factors including cognitive ability, depression and self-efficacy on medication management. The research utilized a descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional design to compare medication management between older and younger adults living with HIV and to describe differences in predictive factors of cognition, depression, and self-efficacy on medication management ability between older and younger adults living with HIV. Results indicate both older and younger adults have high rates of mild cognitive …

Move Montana: An Exercise Program For Children, Adolescents, And Their Families, Deanna Lynn Babb

Dissertations

Despite advances in medical science, the prevalence of obesity in the US has more than doubled in the last three decades, to over 72 million people (CDC, 2009). The purpose of this project was to pilot an exercise program that would increase physical activity in a group of adolescents and one of their parents or guardians. A convenient sample of 10 adults and eight adolescents returned surveys and exercised through the entire eight weeks (N = 18). Ten of the 18 participants (56%), six parents and four adolescents, reported increased frequency of exercise each week throughout the eight week period. …

A Mathematical Modeling Framework For Phlebotomist Scheduling And Blood Draw Assignments In Laboratory Medicine, Laquanda T. Leaven

Dissertations

Laboratory services in healthcare delivery systems play a vital role in inpatient care. Studies have shown that laboratory data affects approximately 65% of the most critical decisions on admission, discharge, and medication. Laboratory testing accounts for approximately 10% of hospital billing. Reducing laboratory costs would contribute to reducing total healthcare cost, which is one of the major goals for the U.S. healthcare delivery system. This research focuses on improving the performance of the hospital laboratory in a large hospital system. The intention of this study is to identify and then optimize the most critical stage to improve the entire laboratory …

Understanding The Behavior And Attitude Of Professional Athletes In Saudi Arabia Toward Dietary Supplements, Sulaiman O. Aljaloud

Dissertations

A dietary supplement is defined as a product taken orally that contains a "dietary ingredient" (vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, enzymes, etc.), and is intended to supplement one's diet. Dietary supplements include plant extracts and concentrates from foods. Supplements help provide required nutrients to fulfill nutritional levels for daily training or competitive performance, and can help remedy nutritional deficiencies. Therefore, it is important that sports professionals have a thorough knowledge of these supplement products. However, athletes need to be informed about the use and possible benefits, side effects, and risks associated with the use of dietary supplements. Four objectives guided …

Risk Perception In Cardiovascular Disease, Michelle Ellen Block

Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains among the leading causes of death in the United States despite widespread knowledge about risk factors as well as effective primary prevention strategies. Risk perception is a complex phenomenon that plays an important role in how persons view disease and ultimately how they make health behavior choices. This study is supported by the knowledge that few studies have examined how persons perceive cardiovascular risk or the variables thought to contribute to the formation of risk perception.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how accurately persons perceive personal risk for cardiovascular disease and identify …

Particulates Initiate Immune Response Via Inducing Oxidative Stress-Mediated Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation, Zhenyu Zhong

Dissertations

Liposomes are lipid particles formed by self-aggregated phospholipids. They are clinically used both as delivery vectors and immune adjuvants to treat many human infectious and cancerous diseases. However, how liposomes interact with host immune system remains poorly understood. Particularly, little is known about whether an innate immune receptor exists to sense liposomes. I hypothesize that liposomes activate NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages, which results in the release of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), a proinflammatory cytokine that plays a key role in innate and adaptive immune responses.

To test my hypothesis, I determined the ability of inducing IL-1β secretion from macrophages by differentially …

Phytochemical Investigation Of Lonchocarpus Species : A Search For Antioxidant Compounds, Caitlin E. Deskins

Dissertations

Natural product research plays a crucial role in the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of human diseases. One plant genus that has been shown to contain a variety of compounds with many different activities but has yet to be thoroughly investigated is the genus Lonchocarpus (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae). In this work, three species of Lonchocarpus from Monteverde, Costa Rica were investigated. Each of the species underwent antioxidant-guided fractionation to isolate compounds that are responsible for the extracts' antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using two antioxidant assays, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay and the ferric reducing ability of plasma …

Ligation-Dependent Multiplex Pcr With Bead-Based Array Detection Comprises A Clinically Adaptable Method Of Microrna Profiling, Bobbi Ellen Johnston

Dissertations

Ligation-dependent PCR, when coupled with a bead-based detection array, comprises a method of nucleic acid detection that utilizes enzymes and equipment already being employed successfully in clinical labs. The process can be multiplexed in order to generate a profile of the sequences of interest. When applied to microRNA profiling, the ligation step requires modification to improve the efficiency of the T4 DNA ligase employed. With optimization, the assay has the potential to distinguish and detect multiple microRNA species simultaneously, providing a clinically adaptable method for microRNA profiling. The flexibility of the assay format would allow modification for a nearly limitless …

Psychosocial Distress Mediates Immune Dysregulation Through Alterations In Global Epigenetic Patterns And Chromatin Remodeling Proteins, Karen Krukowski

Dissertations

Psychosocial distress, characterized by increased perceived stress, anxiety and mood disturbance, is a common response of women to a diagnosis of breast cancer (Northouse, 1992; Pettingale et al., 1988; Stark and House, 2000; Witek-Janusek et al., 2007). This psychosocial distress leads to activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and increased circulating glucocorticoids (GCs) (Chrousos, 2000; Chrousos and Gold, 1992; Schoneveld and Cidlowski, 2007). Increased psychosocial distress and increased HPA activation can lead to immune dysregulation consisting of reduced natural killer (NK) cell activity (NKCA) (Biondi, 2001; Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 1987; Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 2002; Witek-Janusek et al., 2008; Witek-Janusek et …

Characterization Of Chronic Glucocorticoid Exposure On Natural Killer Cell Function: A Model For Stress Induced Alterations On The Epigenetic Landscape, Justin Lee Eddy

Dissertations

Psychological stress can impact immune function through altered glucocorticoid production. Natural killer (NK) cells and their effector functions are particularly susceptible to both psychological stress as well as exogenous glucocorticoids. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of chronic glucocorticoid (GC) exposure on NK cells to investigate the immune dysregulation associated with periods of psychological stress.

Chronic in vitro treatment of the NK92 cell line produced a dichotomous NK phenotype with enhanced proinflammatory cytokine production yet reduced NK cell lytic activity (NKCA). This dichotomy was at the individual cell level where mRNA and protein levels for proinflammatory …

Ex Vivo Induction Of Human Regulatory T Cells, Kathleen Elizabeth Jaeger

Dissertations

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are indispensable in the human immune system in the maintenance of self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. The dysregulation of Treg number and/or function plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cancer, allergy and human autoimmune pathologies such as multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. The primary aim of this research was to determine the molecular mechanisms and cellular interactions which promote human Treg induction. From umbilical cord blood (UCB) samples, we found that antigen receptor stimulation of UCB T cells via a CD14+ monocyte population leads to a predominant induction of Tregs.

Further studies identified …

Defining A Role For Inducible Heat Shock Protein 70 (Hsp70i) In Mediating Autoimmune Vitiligo, Jeffrey Alan Mosenson

Dissertations

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by destruction of melanocytes, leaving 0.5% of the population with progressive depigmentation. Current treatments offer limited efficacy. Observations that heat shock proteins (HSPs) can serve as adjuvants in antitumor vaccines first suggested to us a link between HSPs and stress-induced vitiligo. Such proteins are marvelously well conserved throughout evolution, which has placed them in the spotlight for helping to understand the intriguing relationship between infection and immunity. Intracellularly, inducible heat shock protein 70 (HSP70i) is upregulated by stress and helps protect cells from undergoing apoptosis. In times of stress, melanocytes will secrete antigen bound …

Using Box-Jenkins Modeling Techniques To Forecast Future Disease Burden And Identify Disease Aberrations In Public Health Surveillance Report, Larry C. Garrett

Dissertations

The analysis of public health surveillance data to identify departures from historical patterns of disease is required to facilitate the timely identification of potential outbreaks. Using the Box-Jenkins forecasting model, this study examines the potential to predict future disease burden based upon the historical record within local public health jurisdictions. Box-Jenkins forecasting was developed as a direct result of forecast problems in the business, economic, and control-engineering applications, yet it has not been systematically examined for use with public heath surveillance data.

Box-Jenkins forecast models are constructed by stratifying 84,029 disease reports from the State of Utah by year (n …

Assessing The Feasibility And Perceptions Of Health Services For Refugees Of Resettlement Organizations, Heidi Jean Worabo

Dissertations

Background: Since 1975 the U.S. has resettled 2.6 million refugees who had to flee from their home countries. Many refugee resettlement organizations have developed different models of innovation to promote a smooth transition between previous foreign refugee camps to U.S. communities so that refugees swiftly become economically and socially self-sufficient. Providing refugees with health benefits and resources has been foremost priority upon arrival as they try to overcome health care barriers. Yet there is a lack of literature examining the impact of these health services and how they are perceived by the program recipients. Purpose: This scholarly project aimed to …

Host-Parasite Interactions In Galapagos Seabirds, Iris Ilena Levin

Dissertations

Parasites exhibit a wide range of life history strategies that contribute to different dispersal abilities, host specialization, transmission modes, life-cycle complexity and population structure. Understanding dispersal rates in hosts and parasites is instrumental in defining the scale at which coevolution may be occurring. In order to better understand how and when parasites move between different hosts, I studied a seabird – Hippoboscid fly ectoparasite (and vector) – Haemosporidian parasite system in the Galapagos Islands. I began by describing the Haemosporidian parasites of Galapagos seabirds, discovering a Plasmodium species parasite in Galapagos Penguins (Sphensicus mendiculus), and a new clade of Hippoboscid-vectored …

Genetic Variation In Potentially Virulent Vibrio Parahaemolyticus From The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Nicholas Felix Noriea Iii

Dissertations

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V_p) is a gram-negative bacterium found naturally in marine and estuarine environments. V_p is found in oysters including those which are later consumed by the public. Sub-populations of potentially virulent Vp contain specific virulence factors and are relevant human pathogens capable of causing gastroenteritis, wound infection, and death. The tdh and trh genes, both encoding hemolysins, have been correlated with the majority of clinical V_p isolates but have not been shown to be the definitive virulence factors.

A total of 146 V_p isolates from the northern Gulf of Mexico were collected and probed …

You Can Breastfeed But . . . : A Rhetorical Analysis Of Images And Commentary On Breastfeeding, Jonna Ziniel

Dissertations

This dissertation is a study of breastfeeding images and the commentary about those images, from a rhetorical perspective. Specifically, I use a feminist lens in order to analyze images of breastfeeding in both magazine and online environments, as well as online commentary about the images. I examine both celebrity and non-celebrity images of breastfeeding from popular pregnancy and parenting magazines, non-traditional parenting magazines, company web sites, and online articles and blog sites. Chapter one presents a statement of purpose, research questions, and an examination of the current literature pertinent to the study including sections on breastfeeding benefits, the sexualized woman's …

Clam (Corbicula Fluminea) As A Potential Sentinel Of Human Norovirus Contamination In Freshwater, Xunyan Ye

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and validate the use of the clam Corbicula fluminea as a sentinel of human noroviruses (HuNoV) contamination in freshwater. The first specific aim was to develop a new method to extract HuNoV RNA from contaminated bivalves (e.g. oysters, clams) that would be much faster than existing methods. The procedure developed includes an initial total RNA extraction using TRI Reagent, followed by HuNoV RNA concentration and purification using biotinylated probe-capture technology. HuNoV RNA is finally detected by real-time RT-PCR. Using bivalve homogenates spiked with HuNoV, 100 PCR detection units of the virus was …

Tobacco-Use Promotional Environment And Intrapersonal Environment: Predictors Of Smoking Intention Among Young Southern California Thai-American Adolescents, Arpakorn Magkunthod Phd, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

This study explores tobacco-use related environment, intrapersonal factors, and smoking initiation in Thai-American adolescents aged 10 to 16 living in Southern California. A purposive sample of 217 youth was recruited from seven Thai-community centers located in four counties of Southern California: The sample was fairly evenly distributed by gender with female (54.5%) and almost three quarters (70.9%) were born in the United States (70.9%). Age ranged from 10 to 16 years, with the mean age 12.71 years old (SD =1.835); 27% reported age of 11. Data were collected using the 97 item Teen Tobacco-Use Questionnaire. Findings indicated 12 participants (6.3%) …

Anxiety In Children/Youth With Bowel And Bladder Dysfunction And Their Parents: Impact Of Medical, Educational, And Psychosocial Factors, Leslie Cristen Lavergne

Dissertations

Children and youth with special health care needs are impacted both physically and psychologically by their medical condition. Furthermore, parents of children with special health care needs experience increased symptoms of anxiety related to their child’s condition. Literature suggests the negative impact may be lessened by providing psychosocial family-centered supports. This study investigated the anxiety levels of children with bowel and/or bladder dysfunction and their parents, finding the relationships of anxiety among mothers and child/youth, as well as mothers and fathers. No significant relationship was found among fathers and child/youth. Further, it explored the impact of medical, educational, and psychosocial …

Instituting An Oral Health Preventive Service Program, Including Fluoride Varnish, For Preschool Children Birth To Five Years In A Rural Health Clinic: A Clinical Scholarship Project, Carol Ann Berger

Dissertations

Abstract This project was designed to institute an oral health preventive program in a rural health clinic, in a dental provider shortage area, promoting oral health in preschool children birth to five years by: (a) instituting a program that supports the Missouri preventive service program in oral health, (b) promoting oral screenings and fluoride varnish twice yearly, (c) assessing the risk of caries, (d) referring to appropriate dental services and (e) educating parents or guardian about the importance of oral health and how to maintain oral health at home with children birth to five years. This project sought to answer …

Rate-Based Robust Adaptive Performance Tracking Control Of Network Flows, Xiaoyan Mei

Dissertations

Network flow control methods have been studied for years to ensure the efficient usage of network resources. By adopting a representation reminiscent of the sliding surface representation, this work explores a highly adaptive network flow control strategy. The rate-based network flow control scheme is investigated through a novel model description in the matrix notation, and guaranteed to be stable under mild assumptions. The control law has a simple form but the proof of robust stability is quite involved via the Lyapunov theory. Simulations demonstrated that the developed adaptive algorithms are robust and effective in maintaining good link price and backlog …

Analysis Of Illicit Drugs, Their Metabolites And Other Micropollutants In Water By Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Deepika P. Panawennage

Dissertations

The goal of this project is to develop liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) methods for the analysis of different, novel micropollutants in waste water and natural water. Micropollutants are compounds that can exert adverse environmental and human health effects at low concentrations. Most of these compounds include personal care products and pharmaceuticals, such as antibiotics and controlled substances. In the first part of this study, we focused in the analysis of illicit drugs and drug metabolites because these analyses have the potential to serve as markers of drug abuse. We have detected over sixteen different illicit drugs and their …

Cell Biology Of Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells, Mariko Takami

Dissertations

T cells play a central role in the immune response to fight against pathogens and orchestrate other immune cells. An overreactive immune response can lead to autoimmune diseases, therefore the immune system must possess negative regulation mechanisms. In the periphery, naturally arising regulatory T cells (nTregs) negatively regulate immune responses and play an important role in maintaining immune homeostasis. When antigens are present, conventional CD4+ T cells recognize their cognate antigen and proliferate. After pathogen clearance, expanded effector T cells eventually decline in number due to activation induced cell death (AICD) to terminate immune response. However, it is not understood …

Continuous- And Discrete-Time Structured Malaria Models And Their Dynamics, Junliang Lu

Dissertations

No abstract provided.