Digital Commons Network^™

Antibacterial Properties Of Novel Amphiphiles: Exploring Structure-Activity Relationships, Reafa Hossain

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The increased cases of antibiotic resistance have large implication in hospital settings where infections by antibiotic resistant bacteria are harder to treat resulting in longer stays at the hospital, which drastically increases the costs to patients and hospitals. To address this matter, many research groups are searching for an alternative to antibiotics. One option is the development of amphiphiles, some of which have antibacterial properties. Amphiphiles contain a hydrophilic, polar head group, and a hydrophobic, nonpolar tail, which may intercalate into the cell membrane, resulting in cell lysis. Understanding the impact of amphiphile geometry on antibacterial activity allows for the …

The Use Of Econsults To Improve Access To Dermatological Care For Underserved Populations In Connecticut, Fludiona Naka

Master's Theses

Importance: Medically underserved populations receiving care at community health centers lack access to specialty care.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a dermatology electronic consultation (eConsult) program on a statewide scale focusing on access to care for medically underserved patients.

Design: Retrospective cohort study of 2385 dermatology referrals from June 2014 through November 2015.

Setting: Large, multi-site Federally Qualified Health Center in Connecticut.

Participants: Dermatology referrals pre-eConsult implementation from June to November 2014 (n=1258) and post-eConsult implementation from June to November 2015 (n=1127). All referrals came from primary care providers from twelve primary care sites in CT.

Intervention: Implementation of …

Assessment Of A Modified Heat Tolerance Test In Recreational Runners, Kelsey M. Rynkiewicz

Master's Theses

Exercising in hot and humid conditions is a stressful environment that can be taxing on the human body. In certain situations, uncompensable heat stress may occur in which there is an overwhelming of the thermoregulatory system. This may result in exertional heat illnesses, particularly exertional heat stroke, which warrant rapid and appropriate treatment to avoid long term complications, or even death.

Returning to activity, duty, or play after an exertional heat stroke, or for those who exhibit difficulty exercising in the heat, is a complex process. However, heat tolerance tests have been used, particularly in warriors, as an evaluation tool …

Telomerase Activator 65 (Ta-65) Favorably Affects Parameters Of Metabolic Syndrome - A Pilot Study, Minu Sara Thomas

Master's Theses

Abstract

Background: Telomerase Activator 65 (TA-65), a compound extracted from Astragalus membranaceus, was developed to increase or maintain telomere length. Objectives: To determine the effects of TA-65 on the parameters of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: We recruited 40 patients aged 32-70 years with MetS to determine the effects of TA-65 on dyslipidemias and anthropometrics in this at-risk population. This was a double-blind, randomized crossover design in which patients were allocated to consume either 16 mg daily of a TA-65 supplement or placebo for 12 weeks. Following a 3-week washout, participants were allocated to the alternate treatment for an …

Conferring Diva Capability To A Commercially-Available Csfv Elisa: A Double-Competition Approach, Yuxiang Wang

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Microrna Expression And Disease Correlation In A Hispanic Lupus Cohort, Thandiwe Jere

Theses & Dissertations

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with varying clinical presentation and severity in different ethnicities/races. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) modulate the immune system, and there is a growing interest in their role in SLE pathogenesis and disease presentation. Studies on miRNAs expression in SLE have been done in Caucasians and Asians but no comprehensive profiling has been done in Hispanics. This cross-sectional study of a Hispanic cohort of SLE patients (n =185) and healthy controls (HC) (n =185) from the Dominican Republic determined the expression of 10 selected miRNAs and their correlation to inflammatory markers and auto-antibody production in …

Promoting Antibiotic Stewardship For Uti Management In Long Term Care Residents Through Standardized Clinical Practice Guidelines., Juliana M. Enoakpa

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most diagnosed infections requiring antibiotics in long-term care (LTC) facilities. The rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens treatment of infections that were once responsive to antibiotic therapy. The inappropriate use of antibiotics in this Midwestern LTC facility provided the impetus for implementing a standardized clinical practice guideline (CPG) for diagnosing UTIs among the LTC residents. A data collection tool was developed for the audit that identified the specific assessment criteria for UTI management and eligibility criteria for antibiotics. Physicians and NPs at the LTC facility were administered a questionnaire prior to implementation of …

Distribution Patterns Of Gastrointestinal Parasites In Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus Pygerythrus) At Gombe National Park, Tanzania, Jared S. Bakuza

Tanzania Journal of Science

Vervet monkeys at Gombe National Park in western Tanzania constitute a key component of the park’s ecosystem through interactions with other animals and people in the area. However, the parasite fauna of these animals has not been investigated. Thus, 21 faecal samples obtained from the animals in September 2010 were examined for parasites using formol-ethyl technique. The parasites observed included Trichuris spp., Physaloptera spp., hookworms and unidentified nematodes. While egg counts for unidentified nematodes did not vary with vervet monkey communities (z = 0.759, p = 0.448), other parasites were significantly higher among vervets at north of the park near …

Occurrence Of Pathogenic Vibrio Cholerae Serogroups O1 And O139 In Some Estuaries Of Tanzania, David Temba, Lucy Namkinga, Sabrina Moyo, Thomas J. Lyimo, Charles V. Lugomela

Tanzania Journal of Science

In this study, the occurrence of culturable Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 and O139 in three selected Tanzanian Estuaries, Mzinga, Pangani and Ruvu were explored. A total of 480 water and plankton samples were collected along salinity gradients (fresh, brackish and marine waters). Samples were enriched in Alkaline Peptone Water (APW) and subsequently cultured on Thiosulfate Citrate Bile-Salt Sucrose (TCBS) agar. Resulting isolates were serially identified by oxidase test, API-20E test and monoclonal antibodies for V. cholerae serogroup O1 and O139. A total of 670 presumptive V. cholerae isolates were obtained from 416 samples (86.7%), where 137 (20.4%) were oxidase test …

An Analysis Of The Initial Response To The Mers-Cov Epidemic From Leadership And Management Perspectives: A Case Study Covering The Period From April 2012 To July 2017, Hassan Altamimi

Leadership Education Capstones

No abstract provided.

4,7-Diaminoisoindoline-1,3-Dione, Krishna Kumar Gnanasekaran, Mario Rivera, Richard A. Bunce

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Facilitating The Everyday Steward: Impact Of Mandatory Antimicrobial Indication/Duration And A 48 Hour Time Out, Ann L. Wirtz, Alaina N. Burns, Brian R. Lee, Tammy Frank, Laura Fitzmaurice, Richard Ogden, Brian O'Neal, Jennifer Goldman

Posters

Introduction: Required indication, duration, and a 48-hour antimicrobial timeout are an integral part of antimicrobial stewardship standards; however, limited data are available to demonstrate an effect on antimicrobial utilization and antimicrobial stewardship practice. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of mandatory declared indication/duration along with a pharmacy-driven 48-hour timeout on antimicrobial utilization and antimicrobial stewardship interventions.

Methods: We performed a retrospective evaluation of ASP interventions and antimicrobial use following implementation of mandatory antimicrobial indication/duration at the point of computerized physician order entry (CPOE). A pharmacist-driven 48-hour antimicrobial timeout was introduced on the same date. This study was conducted at Children’s Mercy …

Assessment Of The Validity Of Patient-Stated Allergies: De-Labeling And Education, Tawny Thomas, Angelina Leitschuh

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The initial direction of the project was to develop and implement a research-based protocol to de-label hospitalized patients with a patient-stated penicillin allergy who were not truly allergic (Phase I). The project was abruptly halted due to the lack of data to justify the need, lack of sufficient communication among stakeholders, questions regarding financial cost of implementation, and strong concerns regarding educational needs of nursing staff. After developing the initial protocol, the project team was redirected to provide evidence-based allergy assessment education to the nursing staff to foster reliable and accurate patient interviews and documentation of the results (Phase II). …

Effects Of A Multi-Tiered Approach To Impact Immunization Compliance Of Students Attending A Medium-Sized Public University, Emily Watson, Stephanie Muertz, Kate Traum

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: College students in Illinois must comply with laws regarding proof of immunity for specific vaccines. These laws, however, do not guarantee compliance with immunizations. Unvaccinated persons living in highly-vaccinated communities, such as college campuses, are at risk for many preventable diseases. Objective: The primary aim of this project is to collaborate with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Health Service to develop, implement, and evaluate the effects of multi-tiered interventions to increase immunization compliance rates of first-semester college students. Methods: A brief YouTube video was presented to freshmen students, an eye-catching educational flyer was distributed by advisors and throughout campus, …

The Role Of Antibiotics In Modulating Secondary Metabolite Production Of Streptomycesgrown In Co-Culture, Bryan Sierra-Rivera

CSU Student Research Competition Delegate Entries

There is a need to discover antibiotics that currently don’t exist to combat the rise in antibiotic resistant within pathogenic bacteria by using Streptomyces, a genus of bacteria that are a major source of antibiotics. Matthew Traxler et al. found that interspecies interactions of Streptomyces coelicolor with different actinomycetes grown in co-culture led to the production of secondary metabolites that S. coelicolor had not been known to produce. This suggests that chemical cooperation between actinomycetes may shift secondary metabolite production of S. coelicolor. Many of the bacteria co-cultured with S. coelicolor produce antibiotics, and it is possible …

A Feel For The Whole: Considering State-Specific Quality Measures For Medicare's Value-Based Programs In The Context Of Social Risk Factors And Population Health, Kimberly K. Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are used as a measure for federal value-based payment programs. Using data for 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed newer risk adjustment models to calculate the standardized infection ratio (SIR) for various infections occurring in hospitals. New national baselines were set to compare performance among medical facilities and states. Despite adjustments for various facility-level factors that contribute to HAI risk, there are ongoing concerns that SIR calculations do not adequately account for non-hospital risk factors that have been linked to clinical outcomes. This explanatory study evaluates state-level data using simple linear regression to …

Serum Banking Of The Mississippi Shelter Dog Population To Estimate Seroprevalence Of Diseases Affecting Animal And Human Health, Kristina Hubbard

Theses and Dissertations

Shelter dog populations in the United States are poorly quantified and characterized, but may be effective targets for measuring the occurrence of select diseases affecting animal and human health. Dogs in this population may have increased risk for disease due to intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. Accurate estimates of disease in this population require sound sampling strategies within a comprehensive sampling frame. Knowledge of the prevalence of disease in the Mississippi shelter dog population is important for diagnostic test interpretation, shelter allocation of resources, and public health risk assessment. A serum bank provides a valuable resource to investigate both zoonotic …

Evaluation Of A Serine Hydrolase Inhibitor Jzl184 As An Immunomodulator Against Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli O78 In Chickens, Cherry Pei-Yee Ho

Theses and Dissertations

Chickens in the poultry industry are reared under intensive conditions where they are often exposed to opportunistic pathogens. Escherichia coli strain O78 is responsible for about half of the cases of avian colisepticemia. Potential therapeutic treatments have been proposed to inhibit the hydrolases that controls the endogenous levels of the endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). 2-AG is the full agonist at the CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system expressed among leukocytes and it plays a role in mediating the activation of phagocytic macrophages. It is speculated that elevating 2- AG levels could increase macrophage cytokines and promote the recruitment of immune cells …

Hematological And Histopathological Changes Associated With Chronic Diazinon Exposure In Alligator Gar, Atractosteus Spatula, Ahmad Salem Omar Ali

Theses and Dissertations

Extensive use of the organophosphate diazinon has led to its accumulation in aquatic environments and negative effects on fish health. Most studies focus on the effects of short term exposure to high levels of organophosphate pesticides. This research was conducted to assess the effect of chronic sub-lethal exposure to 0, 0.01, and 0.1 mg/L diazinon for 15 and 30 days on blood parameters and histopathological damage in alligator gar, Atractosteus spatula. Fish exposed to either concentration were motionless, produced excess mucous, had lighter skin color, and had skin lesions. Blood indices of red blood cells, leukocytes and hematocrit values significantly …

Identifying Molecular Mechanisms Of Immunomodulation By Staphylococcal Superantigens In Humans, Juyeun Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Superantigens are exotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus and induce extensive T cell proliferation and proinflammatory cytokines, leading to toxic shock syndrome at high concentrations. However, the role of superantigens produced at relatively low concentrations during asymptomatic colonization or chronic infection has not been well established. In this dissertation, we demonstrated that stimulation of human PBMCs with staphylococcal enterotoxin C1 (SEC1) at the dose inducing a half maximal T cell proliferation (suboptimal stimulation) induced immunosuppressive CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ and CD8+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells. The suppression of these cells was mainly mediated by the galectin-1. We found that suboptimal stimulation with SEC1 induced differential activation …

Analysis Of Genes Encoded By A Chromosomal Insert In Rickettsia Philipii, Sydney A. Wright

Honors College Theses

Background: Spotted Fever group rickettsiae are obligate intracellular arthropod-borne bacteria. Rickettsiae are globally distributed yet typically confined to the distribution of their vector(s). Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia philipii are closely related human pathogens endemic to the United States and cause similar febrile illness with differing morbidity and mortality. Genomic comparison found the presence of a 19 kilobase insert containing eleven genes in Rickettsia philipii. The functions of proteins encoded by this insert are speculated to affect virulence and pathogenicity.

Materials and Methods: Bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify functional motifs in four proteins encoded by the insert. Homologous proteins …

A Spatial Genetics Approach To Inform Vector Control Of Tsetse Flies (Glossina Fuscipes Fuscipes) In Northern Uganda, Norah Saarman, Mary K. Burak, Robert Opiro, Chaz Hyseni, Richard Echodu, Kirstin Dion, Elizabeth A. Opiyo, William A. Dunn, Giuseppe Amatulli, Serap Aksoy, Adalgisa Caccone

Faculty and Student Publications (Open Access)

No abstract provided.

Biological And Abiotic Factors Influencing Cetacean Mass Strandings In The Northeastern United States, Octavia Williams

HCNSO Student Capstones

Marine mammal strandings are frequent occurrences along many coastal areas around the world. The significance of stranded cetaceans has been of interest since around 300 B.C. when philosophers, like Aristotle, pondered why marine mammals, including whales, dolphins and porpoise beach themselves; and famous authors, like Henry David Thoreau, whose fascination in mammal strandings lead him to write a book about these mass occurrences off the coast of Cape Cod. Numerous hypothetical theories have been developed to explain these mass stranding phenomena. Though the causes of mass strandings remain unresolved, recent investigations suggest contributing factors could include environmental elements. Less emphasis …

Potential Vectors Of Dog Heartworm, Dirofilaria Immitis, In Arkansas And Seasonal Transmission In The United States, Sofija Todorovic

Student Theses and Dissertations

Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy), is a mosquito-borne, parasitic filarid responsible for heartworm disease in vertebrates. A mosquito survey, focusing on diurnal species, was conducted from May to December 2016 to identify the prevalence of D. immitis in mosquitoes collected at residential entryways in Jonesboro, AR. Aedes albopictus (Skuse), a diurnal mosquito, was collected in low abundance (3.4%) with 16.7% mosquitoes positive for heartworm microfilariae. Dirofilaria immitis was observed in 11.2% of the total mosquitoes collected. The second study estimated the seasonality of heartworm disease in four high-risk US cities. Daily average and hourly temperatures were used to predict the presence of …

Baby's Best Start: Wic's Role In The Alleviation Of Childhood Obesity, Ashton Hutcheson

Public Health: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

In the past 50 years, obesity prevalence has risen to epidemic-like levels in the United States with an average of 25% of American children being classified as overweight or obese. Prevalence of obesity is significantly increased in socioeconomically disadvantaged income categories. This paper aims to discuss public health preventions/interventions that address childhood obesity such WIC, a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. It additionally aims to provide broad obesity-related research and begin to suggest preliminary answers to the question of why obesity is so prevalent as well as a brief overview of current treatment options for obesity-related diseases …

Preliminary Work On Infestation Dynamics And Stable Isotope Ecology Of A Coral Reef Micropredator, William Garrett Jenkins

Student Theses and Dissertations

Despite the significant ecological role that parasites likely play within their respective communities, little is understood about the role that they play within food webs. The studies presented herein sought to expand upon the understanding of the role that gnathiid isopods, a marine fish ectoparasite, play within coral reef ecological communities by: a) assessing the effect of host physical condition on susceptibility to exploitation by a gnathiid isopod and b) by conducting a comprehensive, preliminary, study on the stable isotope ecology of these micropredators. Host fish which were experimentally injured during field trials exhibited a higher probability of being parasitized …

Healthnet News V.33:No.3 May-June 2018, Wendy Urciuoli

Articles - Patient Care

In this issue: Dangers of Keyless Cars; Midwives in the U.S., and Transparency in Healthcare Pricing.

Telehealth-Based Gay-Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Young Gay And Bisexual Men In The Rural South, Andrew Mccormick Cook

Yale School of Medicine Physician Associate Program Theses

Young rural gay and bisexual men suffer a disproportionate burden of psychiatric disorders compared to their urban and heterosexual counterparts because of the increased stigma-related stressors they face. Co-occurring mental and behavioral health problems often affect them, including depression and substance use disorders. In two randomized controlled trials, a gay-affirmative cognitive behavioral therapy called Effective Skills to Empower Effective Men significantly decreased alcohol use, and improved mental health outcomes among urban gay and bisexual men by targeting stigma-related stress responses. However, the intervention’s efficacy has not been studied among rural populations. In a randomized controlled trial, we propose to deliver …

Progress Notes, Lehigh Valley Health Network

Progress Notes

No abstract provided.

Honors Oracle, May 2018, Marshall University Honors College

Honors Oracle

Marshall University’s Honors College newsletter