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Molecular Characterisation Of Clinical And Environmental Isolates Of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus, Hadaf Mahdi Kadhim

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

The halophilic bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus is widely distributed as a natural inhabitant of marine and estuarine environments. Some strains cause gastroenteritis in humans. Clinical isolates are thought to possess virulence factors that are absent from the majority of environmental isolates. Studies were undertaken to differentiate clinical (virulent) and environmental (mainly avirulent) forms of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Initially, identification and confirmation of a total of 55 V. parahaemolyticus isolates (23 clinical and 32 environmental) was carried out by using selective media, biochemical and nutritional tests. Identity was confirmed by specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the toxR gene. In an attempt to …

Evidence For Renewal And Reconstitution Of Marginal Zone Macrophages In Young And Aged Mice, Erika Bahamon

Master's Theses

Aging in humans and mice correlates with decline in immune health, affecting both innate and adaptive immunity. Response against blood-borne bacterial pathogens is compromised because of the deterioration of the marginal zones of the spleen and decrease in frequency of marginal zone macrophages (MZM). This thesis asked if low cell turnover is the cause for the decrease of MZM, using cell proliferation to indicate cell turnover in spleens of mice. First, evidence showed MZM proliferation occurred in spleens of young mice and was decreased in the MZM from aged mice. Second, transfer of young bone marrow into old mice replenished …

Characterization Of Inducible Regulatory T Cells: An Umbilical Cord Blood Model, Rebecca Anne Krier

Master's Theses

The immune system is a group of structures and processes that protect us from disease. To function properly it must recognize a wide variety of pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. T cells play a crucial role in an immune response; however, an overactive immune response can lead to autoimmune diseases, therefore it is important that the immune system has the ability to negatively regulate an immune response. In the periphery, regulatory T cells (CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺) are involved in the maintenance of self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. Mechanisms involved in the induction of iTregs from naïve …

Exosomes: Antiviral Agents In The Human Lung, Jennifer Alexandra Novak

Master's Theses

Hundreds of interferon effectors comprise the immediate host response to virus infection. One family of interferon stimulated genes is the IFITM (Interferon-Induced Transmembrane) proteins. IFITM3, in particular, has been shown to block virus cell entry of Influenza A Virus, SARS Coronavirus, and West Nile Virus, among others. IFITM3 has also been identified as an essential factor for host protection against Influenza A Virus in mice and humans. However, the mechanism by which IFITM3 functions remains unclear.

IFITM3 may function both intracellularly and extracellularly to block virus infection in the human lung. The extracellular milieu contains microscopic vesicles termed exosomes which …

Selective Expansion Of B Cells By Intestinal Microbiota, Karina Ochoa

Master's Theses

In rabbits, antibody diversity and B cell expansion are generated in gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT), in an antigen- and T cell-independent mechanism, and require interaction with intestinal microbiota. I investigated, in vitro, the mechanism by which commensals drive GALT reactions. Bacteria were isolated from the GALT of rabbits and identified by 16sRNA sequencing. I found that the commensals can bind to Ig, independently of their specificity. In addition, a ~20kDa bacterial molecule was immunoprecipitated with recombinant Ig molecules. Stimulation of B cells with selected bacterial molecules induced the activation of B cells. Stimulation of B cells through TLR2 induced the …

Antibodies To Inhibit Clostridium Difficile Adhesion To Human Gut Epithelial Cell Line, Wonbeom Paik

Master's Theses

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major hospital-acquired diarrhea that can cause life-threatening complications such as pseudomembranous colitis. CDI is caused by colonization of host with C. difficile, a Gram positive, anaerobic bacterium known to produce toxins that cause disease. Normally, the gut microbiota protects the host from CDI, but disruption of the microbial composition through antibiotic treatment can leave one vulnerable for CDI. To date, no vaccines for preventing CDI are available.

In this study, the potential of antibodies directed against specific surface molecules of C. difficile to block bacterial adherence to host gut epithelial cells was studied, in …

The Limits Of West German Justice In The 1960s: The Post-War Investigation Of Walter Gieseke (Oberstleutnant Of The Gendarmerie And Ss), G. H. Bennett

SOLON Law, Crime and History (previously SOLON Crimes and Misdemeanours: Deviance and the Law in Historical Perspective)

This article uses a micro-historical methodology to examine some of the complex problems of bringing to justice Nazi-era war criminals in West Germany in the 1960s. It takes as its focus the failure to bring a case against Walter Gieseke, Oberstleutnant of the Gendarmerie and SS. One of the ‘middle managers’ of the Nazi state Gieseke headed a road building project across the Ukraine which resulted in the murder of substantial numbers of Jewish forced labourers. Under questioning he pursued strategies which maximised the difficulties facing the investigating authorities in West Germany.

Placing Livestock In Landscape Studies: Pastures New Or Out To Graze?, Jessica Sellick, Richard Yarwood

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.

A Reassessment Of The Conservation Status Of A Critically Endangered Neotropical Frog, Mannophryne Olmonae, Using Occupancy Modeling Techniques, Jessica Mcquigg

Senior Independent Study Theses

Amphibian species worldwide are threatened with decline and extinction, making species monitoring an important scientific endeavor. The Bloody Bay Poison Frog, Mannophryne olmonae, a Tobago island endemic, was identified as critically endangered by the IUCN in 2004. Recent evidence suggests that a less severe conservation status may be appropriate for M. olmonae. This study employs acoustic calling surveys, land-use information, and multi-year (2011 and 2012) occupancy modeling techniques to propose an appropriate conservation status for this species. This study suggests that M. olmonae occupies a larger geographic range than was previously thought, and is not experiencing population declines. …

The Use Of Online And Offline Communication In Public Information Campaigns: A Case Study Of The Health Service Executive “Quit” Campaign, Rachel O'Sullivan

Theses

To understand the role of offline and online communication in public information campaigns, research of the Health Service Executive (HSE) “Quit” Campaign was conducted. Through document analysis of campaign materials and interviews, an in-depth examination of the campaign communication platform is presented. Discussion of these elements reveals the strengths of both communication tools in current public messaging. The research concludes with a set of recommendations for future public information campaigns and describes how this modem day campaign is an excellent model that other organisations can emulate.

The Isolation And Characterisation Of Acientobacter Baumannii Bacteriophage, Mohamed Farag M. Elbreki

Theses

Acinetobacter baumannii is a pathogen, which has an increasing prevalence of multidrug resistance. It exists widely in natural environments, and frequently in health-care settings where it has proven difficult to eradicate using antibiotic therapy. A possible alternative to conventional antibiotics is the use of bacteriophages (phages) as antibacterials. In this project, extensive screening of environmental samples such as soils, sewage and waters was undertaken to identify suitable phages. Three phages were successfully isolated from municipal waste in the Cork area. These were subsequently characterized in detail and examined by electron microscopy, which showed that they were all of the Myoviridae …

The Incidence And Aetiology Of Hospitalised Community-Acquired Pneumonia Among Vietnamese Adults: A Prospective Surveillance In Central Vietnam, Kensuke Takahashi, Motoi Suzuki, Le Minh, Nguyen Anh, Luu Thi Huong, Tran Vo Son, Phan Long, Nguyen Thi Ai, Le Tho, Konosuke Morimoto, Paul E. Kilgore, Dang Anh, Koya Ariyoshi, Lay Yoshida

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) including Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infectious disease that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The patterns of aetiological pathogens differ by region and country. Special attention must be paid to CAP in Southeast Asia (SEA), a region facing rapid demographic transition. Estimates burden and aetiological patterns of CAP are essential for the clinical and public health management. The purposes of the study are to determine the incidence, aetiological pathogens, clinical pictures and risk factors of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the Vietnamese adult population.

Methods

A prospective surveillance for hospitalised adult …

Development Of A Gravid Trap For Collecting Live Malaria Vectors Anopheles Gambiae S.L, Sisay Dugassa, Jenny M. Lindh, Florence Oyieke, Wolfgang R. Mukabana, Steven W. Lindsay, Ulrike Fillinger

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

BACKGROUND: Effective malaria vector control targeting indoor host-seeking mosquitoes has resulted in fewer vectors entering houses in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa, with the proportion of vectors outdoors becoming more important in the transmission of this disease. This study aimed to develop a gravid trap for the outdoor collection of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae s.l. based on evaluation and modification of commercially available gravid traps. METHODS: Experiments were implemented in an 80 m(2) semi-field system where 200 gravid Anopheles gambiae s.s. were released nightly. The efficacy of the Box, CDC and Frommer updraft gravid traps was compared. The Box …

The Impact Of Imprecision In Hcv Viral Load Test Results On Clinicians’ Therapeutic Management Decisions And On The Economic Value Of The Test, Roberta M. Madej

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical laboratory test results are integral to patient management. Important aspects of laboratory tests’ contributions are the use of the test information and the role they have in facilitating efficient and effective use of healthcare resources. Methods of measuring those contributions were examined using quantitative HCV RNA test results (HCV VL) in therapeutic management decisions as a model. Test precision is important in those decisions; therefore, the clinical use was evaluated by studying the impact that knowledge of inherent assay imprecision had on clinicians’ decisions. A survey describing a simulated patient at a decision point for HCV triple-combination therapy management …

Chemical Analysis Of Ophthalmic Solutions, Pagagiotis Tavlarakis

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Examination Of The Impact Of Race-Related Stress And Culture-Specific Coping On Burnout And Compassion Fatigue In Black Nursing Assistants, Marika A. Maris

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Aligning It Assets To Maximize Healthcare Organizational Performance, Paul Weist, Surendra Sarnikar, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

This study examines the impact of healthcare information technology assets on organizational efficiency. Using an econometric approach with data envelopment analysis, we examine the effect of IT asset clusters on organizational efficiency as measured relative to a peer group of healthcare organizations We observe that different IT asset clusters have varying effects on organizational efficiency based on the size of the organizations. The results of this study have implications for healthcare organizations in planning their investments across various IT asset clusters.

Treatment Of Nonvariceal Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage By Transcatheter Embolization, Muhammad Ali, Tanveer Ul Haq, Basit Salam, Madiha Beg, Raza Sayani, Muhammad Azeemuddin

Department of Radiology

Purpose. To investigate the sensitivity of mesenteric angiography, technical success of hemostasis, clinical success rate, and complications of transcatheter embolization for the treatment of acute nonvariceal gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Material and Methods. A retrospective review of 200 consecutive patients who underwent mesenteric arteriography for acute nonvariceal gastrointestinal hemorrhage between February 2004 and February 2011 was done. Results. Of 200 angiographic studies, 114 correctly revealed the bleeding site with mesenteric angiography. 47 (41%) patients had upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and 67 (59%) patients had lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Out of these 114, in 112 patients (98%) technical success was achieved with immediate cessation of …

The Ecology Of Host-Seeking Mosquitoes Within The Red River Valley Of Central North Dakota, Joseph Orlo Mehus

Theses and Dissertations

Host-seeking mosquitoes are taxing for people and wildlife alike in the Red River Valley (RRV). During the summer massive numbers of mosquitoes swarm the RRV, yet little is known about the ecology and biology of the mosquito species that inhabit this area. This research will help to fill some of those knowledge gaps by studying the ecology of host seeking mosquitoes in the RRV.

Host-seeking mosquitoes were collected using CO₂-baited MMX^TM traps. Trapping was conducted in two very different rural settings within the RRV. One site, a 40-acre hardwood forest with closed canopy, the other a farmstead …

The Ecology Of Medical Care In Beijing, Shuang Shao, Feifei Zhao, Jing Wang, Lei Feng, Xiaoqin Lu, Juan Du, Yuxiang Yan, Chao Wang, Yinghong Fu, Jingjing Wu, Xinwei Yu, Kaykeng Khoo, Youxin Wang, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2013

Background: We presented the pattern of health care consumption, and the utilization of available resources by describing the ecology of medical care in Beijing on a monthly basis and by describing the socio-demographic characteristics associated with receipt care in different settings. Methods: A cohort of 6,592 adults, 15 years of age and older were sampled to estimate the number of urbanresident adults per 1,000 who visited a medical facility at least once in a month, by the method of three-stage stratified and cluster random sampling. Separate logistic regression analyses assessed the association between those receiving care in different types of …

Immune Response To Snake Envenoming And Treatment With Antivenom; Complement Activation, Cytokine Production And Mast Cell Degranulation, Shelley Stone, Geoffrey K. Isbister, Seyed Shahmy, Fahim Mohamed, Chandana Abeysinghe, Harendra Karunathilake, Ariaranee Ariaratnam, Tamara E. Jacoby-Alner, Claire L. Cotterell, Simon G A Brown

Research outputs 2013

Background:Snake bite is one of the most neglected public health issues in poor rural communities worldwide. In addition to the clinical effects of envenoming, treatment with antivenom frequently causes serious adverse reactions, including hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis) and pyrogenic reactions. We aimed to investigate the immune responses to Sri Lankan snake envenoming (predominantly by Russell's viper) and antivenom treatment.Methodology/Principal Findings:Plasma concentrations of Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), soluble TNF receptor I (sTNFRI), anaphylatoxins (C3a, C4a, C5a; markers of complement activation), mast cell tryptase (MCT), and histamine were measured in 120 Sri Lankan snakebite victims, both before and …

Review Of Kidney Disease Among Indigenous People, Sasha A. Stumpers, Neil J. Thomson

Research outputs 2013

Kidney disease is a significant health problem for all Australians, but severe kidney disease is more common among Indigenous people than among non- Indigenous people. In particular, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the overall levels of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are consistently reported as significantly higher than among other Australians. Information on CKD among Indigenous Australians is available from self-reported survey data, as well as from community-based studies and screening programs [10-20] but the main focus in the literature has been on ESKD. The incidence of ESKD is especially high …

Association Of Hematological Parameters With Metabolic Syndrome In Beijing Adult Population: A Longitudinal Study, Li-Xin Tao, Xia Li, Hui-Ping Zhu, Da Huo, Tao Zhou, Lei Pan, Yan-Xia Luo, Wei Wang, Zhao-Ping Wang, Dong-Ning Chen, Li-Juan Wu, Xiu-Hua Guo

Research outputs 2013

The purposes of the study were to estimate the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to systematically evaluate the relationship between hematological parameters and MetS in a 5-year follow-up of Beijing adult population. The longitudinal study included 3,180 adults, aged 20–65 years, who attended health check-ups in Beijing Tongren Hospital in 2007 and 2012. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to explore the associations between hematological parameters and MetS. The 5-year cumulative incidence of MetS in this sample was 10.82 % (14.22 % for males and 7.59 % for females). Among all the hematological parameters, white blood cell count (WBC) was …

The Genetic Contribution Of Cidea Polymorphisms, Haplotypes And Loci Interaction To Obesity In A Han Chinese Population, Jingjing Wu, Ling Zhang, Jie Zhang, Ying Dai, Lili Bian, Manshu Song, Alyce C. Russell, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2013

To investigate the association of tag-SNPs and haplotype structures of the CIDEA gene with obesity in a Han Chinese population. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1154588/V115F, rs4796955/SNP1, rs8092502/SNP2, rs12962340/SNP3 and rs7230480/SNP4) in the CIDEA gene were genotyped in a case-control study. Genotyping was performed using the sequenom matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry iPLEX platform. There were significant differences between the obese and control groups in genotype distributions of V115F (P>0.001), SNP1 (P = 0.006) and SNP2 (P = 0.005). Carriers of V115F-TT, SNP1-GG and SNP2-CC genotypes had a 2.84-fold (95 % CI 1.73-4.66), 2.19-fold (95 % CI 1.09-4.38) …

Multicenter Study Evaluating The Vitek Ms System For Identification Of Medically Important Yeasts, Lars F. Westblade, Rebecca Jennemann, John A. Branda, Maureen Bythrow, Mary Jane Ferraro, Omai B. Garner, Christine C. Ginocchio, Michael A. Lewinski, Ryhana Manji, A. Brian Mochon, Gary W. Procop, Sandra S. Richter, Jenna A. Rychert, Linda Sercia, Carey-Ann D. Burnham

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Whole-Genome Analysis Of A Daptomycin-Susceptible Enterococcus Faecium Strain And Its Daptomycin-Resistant Variant Arising During Therapy, Truc T. Tran, Diana Panesso, Hongyu Gao, Jung H. Roh, Jose M. Munita, Jinnethe Reyes, Lorena Diaz, Elizabeth A. Lobos, Yousif Shamoo, Nagendra N. Mishra, Arnold S. Bayer, Barbara E. Murray, George M. Weinstock, Cesar A. Arias

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Targeted Versus Universal Decolonization To Prevent Icu Infection, Victoria J. Fraser, Et Al

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Mapk-Activated Protein Kinase 2 Contributes To Clostridium Difficile-Associated Inflammation, Linda D. Bobo, Rana E. El Feghaly, Yee-Shiuan Chen, Erik R. Dubberke, Zhoulin Han, Alexandra H. Baker, Jinmei Li, Carey-Ann D. Burnham, David B. Haslam

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Enterococcus Faecalis Overcomes Foreign Body-Mediated Inflammation To Establish Urinary Tract Infections, Pascale S. Guiton, Thomas J. Hannan, Bradley Ford, Michael G. Caparon, Scott J. Hultgren

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Antibiotics As Part Of The Management Of Severe Acute Malnutrition, Indi Trehan, Hayley S. Goldbach, Lacey N. Lagrone, Guthrie J. Meuli, Richard J. Wang, Kenneth M. Maleta, Mark J. Manary

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.