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Transcriptomic Response To Immune Challenge In Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia Guttata) Using Rna-Seq, Cassandra Scalf

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Despite the convergence of rapid technological advances in genomics and the maturing field of ecoimmunology, our understanding of the genes that regulate immunity in wild populations is still nascent. Previous work to assess immune function has relied upon relatively crude measures of immunocompetence. However, with next-generation RNA-sequencing, it is now possible to create a profile of gene expression in response to an immune challenge. In this study, captive zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata; adult males) were challenged with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (2 mg/Kg BW; dissolved in 0.9% saline) or vehicle (0.9% saline) to stimulate the immune system. Two hours after injection, birds …

Effectiveness Of Student Led Hunger Relief Project Towards Food Waste Recovery And Nutritional Impact In Low Income Communities, Victoria Holland

Health Sciences Student Work

Introduction: According to the USDA, 12.3% (15.6 million) of U.S. households were food insecure in 2016 due to contributing factors such as lack of food accessibility and the prevalent food waste in the U.S. An estimated 40% of food is thrown away each year and contributions to this food waste include an estimated 22 million pounds of unconsumed foods discarded in college campuses around the U.S. Programs have been developed to target this food waste epidemic while combatting Americans malnutrition. Campus Kitchens Project (CKP) is an innovative student led hunger relief program which recovers food from college campus kitchens and …

Do Paraben Derivatives Alter T Cell Immunity?, Hailey Kintz

Spring Presentation of Undergraduate Research

T cells immunity is linked to a complex system of cytokines that determine differentiation of naïve T cells into Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells. Estrogen production or periods of elevated production have been correlated with an anti-inflammatory state in which Th2 and Treg cells are up-regulated. Such responses in the immune system are capable of supporting pre-cancerous activity. We are investigating the tie between the xenoestrogen compounds found in cosmetics, parabens, and their ability to regulate T cell immunity. Testing parabens and paraben derivatives with weaker estrogen receptor association will allow for a better understanding of the interplay between …

Increasing Cervical Cancer Screening In Hiv Positive Women By Introduction Of A Provider Prompted Algorithm Tool: A Quality Improvement Project, Aubri B. Hickman

Doctoral Projects

Continuous quality improvement projects and appropriate documentation are an essential component to continue to receive Ryan White grant funding. Compliance with mandated aspects of quality improvement is an extremely important concept-specifically for a clinic setting that cares for the largest HIV positive population in the state of Mississippi. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provides directives mandating that quality improvement projects should be applicable to areas of need and provide for outcomes that ensure quality care for HIV positive individuals (2016).

Initially, this clinic’s rate of compliance with the HRSA Cervical Cancer Screening Performance Measure was subpar to the …

Shigellosis And Giardiasis Among People Living With Hiv In Washington, Dc, 2012-2016, Kimesha Linton, Kerri Dorsey, Sasha Mcgee, Preetha Iyengar, Garret Lum, Rupali Doshi

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Shigellosis and giardiasis are transmitted via food, water, and fecal-oral contact. CDC has recently reported increased shigellosis among men who have sex with men (MSM) and among people living with HIV (PLWH), particularly stage 3. Our goal was to characterize the incidence and risk factors associated with shigellosis and giardiasis among PLWH in Washington, DC, in an era of robust availability of antiretroviral treatment.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of HIV, shigellosis and giardiasis cases reported to the District of Columbia Department of Health from 2012 to 2016. We used LinkPlus to probabilistically match individuals with reported …

Cross-Sectional Comparison Of Behavioral Risk Factors For Hiv/Hcv In People Who Inject Drugs (Pwid) In Egypt, Sarah Martinez, Amira A. Roess, Monica S. Ruiz, Atef Bakhoum, Ehab El Kharrat

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background

Egypt has the greatest HCV prevalence worldwide at 15% and a concentrated HIV epidemic in male people who inject drugs (PWID) at 6.8%, who are at a high risk for HCV infection as well. Injection drug use is criminalized in Egypt, and there is limited availability of harm reduction programs. Drug-use and sexual risk behaviors between PWID and the general population have not been studied there.

Methods

To address this gap, a cross-sectional HIV/HCV epidemiological study of 632 consenting injection drug users in Cairo and Alexandria was conducted. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was done to evaluate the associations between …

Tumor Surveillance Using Liquid Biome In Pediatric High Grade Gliomas, Erin Bonner, Eshini Panditharatna, Madhuri Kambhampati, Stefaan Van Gool, Wilfried Stuecker, Roger J. Packer, Javad Nazarian

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Immunotherapy is currently being used to treat pediatric brain cancer, though its efficacy in treating patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), the deadliest pediatric brain tumor, has not been evaluated. MRI is the gold standard for monitoring tumor response to therapy, but is limited by pseudoresponse and psuedoprogression: post-treatment, immune cells infiltrate the primary tumor causing transient tumor enlargement, which falsely resembles tumor progression on MRI. Thus, it is critical to develop more accurate approaches to monitor tumor response to immunotherapy. Here, we use a liquid biopsy platform we have already established to monitor tumor response to therapy, to …

Sans-Papiers, Sans-Santé: A Study Of Undocumented Migrant Women’S Access To Reproductive And Obstetric Health Care In Switzerland, Sarah Kinch

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In recent years, Switzerland has seen increasing numbers of foreign-born residents, making it one of the many countries affected by the European Migrant Crisis. Of these newly-settled migrants, many live in the country illegally, otherwise known as undocumented migrants or “Sans-Papiers.” While Switzerland grants its Sans-Papiers population a right to health, thus making medical insurance and care legal for the undocumented community, many still see increased adverse health outcomes among the population. As more than half of the Sans-Papiers living in Switzerland are female, women are therefore increasingly at risk for worse reproductive and obstetric health. This study sought to …

Europe & Central Asia Coverage, Human Rights Brief

Human Rights Brief Spring 2018 Regional Coverage

No abstract provided.

Paris When It Sizzles: What Agenda 21 Can Tell Us About The Likely Success Of The Paris Agreement, Jennifer Devlin Calkins

Washington International Law Journal

The Paris Agreement seeks to address the problem of climate change, a pressingly urgent issue, and one that is extraordinarily difficult to tackle. A primary mitigation mechanism is the requirement that member countries report their nationally determined contributions (“NDCs”) goals and provide metrics for measuring progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is a “bottom-up” mechanism that does not bind parties to particular emissions targets, but acts to shift party behavior by making progress transparent. To predict the potential effectiveness of this mechanism, this Comment investigates the effectiveness of a similar mechanism contained in Agenda 21, a plan of action …

Virginia Journal Of Public Health Spring 2018 Full Issue

Virginia Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Travel Illness Outbreak Investigation And Treatment Among Interprofessional Health Team Members In Guatemala, Bethesda J. O’Connell Mph, Drph, Giordana Morales Mph, Kathleen P. Bogacz Md, Facp, Mariam Asper, Marianna Weaver Ma

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Purpose: Americans travel each year and acquire illnesses. Gastrointestinal illness is a common self-reported illness and has many associated risk factors. Students from a medical school in Virginia traveled to Guatemala to provide medical care. Overall, 1,250 patients were seen by the student doctors. An outbreak investigation was initiated when members of the medical team began experiencing illness. Methods: Food and water safety was inspected and inquiries were made about the health of other travelers staying at the same host. Furthermore, a voluntary brief survey was completed after returning to the United States. The index patient had seen a patient …

A Cross-Sector Capabilities, Resources, And Needs Assessment: Research To Support The Drafting Of The Oregon Cybersecurity Center Of Excellence Proposal, Portland State University. Hatfield School Of Government. Center For Public Service, Rebecca Craven, Jess Daly, Elizabeth Gray

Center for Public Service Publications and Reports

Oregon’s Senate Bill 90 (SB90), signed into law and effective as of July 1, 2017, requires the Oregon Office of the State Chief Information Officer (OSCIO) to draft a proposal for an Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE). SB90 specifies that the CCoE must include information sharing and incident response support functions, and liaise and participate in cybersecurity initiatives nationwide; the Center also bears responsibility for drafting both a Cybersecurity Strategy and Cyber Disruption Response Plan. The CCoE has also been identified as the body responsible for carrying out strategic initiatives on behalf of the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council (OCAC). …

Antibiotic Resistance Rates For Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Clinical Respiratory And Bloodstream Isolates Among The Veterans Affairs Healthcare System From 2009 To 2013, Haley J. Appaneal, R. Caffrey, Lan Jiang, David Dosa, Leonard A. Mermel, Kerry L. Laplante

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections and resistance among isolates is an increasing burden. The study purpose was to describe national resistance rates for clinical P. aeruginosa respiratory and bloodstream cultures and the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa within the Veterans Affairs (VA). MDR was defined as non-susceptibility to at least one drug in at least 3 of the following 5 categories: carbapenems, extended-spectrum cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and piperacillin/tazobactam. We reviewed 24,562 P. aeruginosa respiratory and bloodstream isolates across 126 VA facilities between 2009 to 2013. Most isolates were collected from inpatient settings (82%). Resistance was highest …

How Much Do We Spend? Creating Historical Estimates Of Public Health Expenditures In The United States At The Federal, State, And Local Levels, Jonathon P. Leider, Beth Resnick, David Bishai, F. Douglas Scutchfield

Health Management and Policy Faculty Publications

The United States has a complex governmental public health system. Agencies at the federal, state, and local levels all contribute to the protection and promotion of the population's health. Whether the modern public health system is well situated to deliver essential public health services, however, is an open question. In some part, its readiness relates to how agencies are funded and to what ends. A mix of Federalism, home rule, and happenstance has contributed to a siloed funding system in the United States, whereby health agencies are given particular dollars for particular tasks. Little discretionary funding remains. Furthermore, tracking how …

Using Multi‐Response Models To Investigate Pathogen Coinfections Across Scales: Insights From Emerging Diseases Of Amphibians, William E. Stutz, Andrew R. Blaustein, Cheryl J. Briggs, Jason T. Hoverman, Jason R. Rohr, Pieter T. J. Johnson

Integrative Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

1. Associations among parasites affect many aspects of host–parasite dynamics, but a lack of analytical tools has limited investigations of parasite correlations in observational data that are often nested across spatial and biological scales.
2. Here we illustrate how hierarchical, multiresponse modelling can characterize parasite associations by allowing for hierarchical structuring, offering estimates of uncertainty and incorporating correlational model structures. After introducing the general approach, we apply this framework to investigate coinfections among four amphibian parasites (the trematodes Ribeiroia ondatrae and Echinostoma spp., the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and ranaviruses) and among >2,000 individual hosts, 90 study sites and five amphibian host …

Turning Points: Stories Of Passion And Leadership In The South Carolina Midlands, Louise White, Philip Richardson

Senior Theses

“Turning Points” captures the inflection points that define local community leaders’ identities and passions, whether life-altering experiences or fleeting moments of realization. Through examining the evolving life stories of community leaders in the South Carolina Midlands, this creative project explores how turning point experiences impact people’s leadership and personal development and profiles these stories in a photo book to effectively share these stories with a broad audience. Preliminary research was conducted on identity development, turning points, and emotional intelligence in relation to leadership theory and practice. This research informed interview questions that guided conversations with nineteen community leaders in the …

Implementation Of A Guideline-Based Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Management Algorithm, Claire Elson, Ellen Meier, Douglas Swanson, Christopher M. Oermann

Posters

Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease is a challenge to manage in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Diagnosis of NTM pulmonary disease is complex. Effective treatment requires long term, multi-drug therapy delivered by several routes. Consensus recommendations published in 2016 were developed to guide CF providers in NTM screening, diagnosis and management. Primary Outcomes. Children’s Mercy-Kansas City (CMKC) developed an NTM working group to facilitate implementation of standardized NTM management. Methods. NTM working group: Pulmonologist (CF Center Director), Infectious Diseases specialist, nurse practitioner (CF Center Coordinator), and pharmacist. Sought expertise from the Director of Microbiology Laboratory regarding susceptibility testing. Developed NTM Management …

Precision Medicine And Tuberculosis, Somchai Bovornkitti, Manop Pitukpakorn

Asian Medical Journal and Alternative Medicine

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Focus On Boise State University, Sherry Squires (Editor)

FOCUS on Boise State

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of A Guideline-Based Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria Management Algorithm, Christopher M. Oermann

Presentations

NTM in CF. NTM are ubiquitous environmental organisms that can cause chronic pulmonary infection. Prevalence among CF patients is increasing. 1-3% in the earliest study reported in 1984. CF Registry with average of 12% but significant range (0-28%). 32.7% reported among patients less than or equal to 40 years in Colorado. Generally categorized as “slow growers” and “rapid growers”.

Development Of A Tuberculosis Vaccine Seed: Construction Of Resuscitation-Promoting Factor B Dna Vaccine And Its Expression In Vitro And In Vivo, Ratih D. Saraswati, Andriansjah Rukmana, Fithriyah Fithriyah, Aprilia Rakhmawati

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infection disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and has a high death-rate worldwide. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin is the only TB vaccine which is currently available with several drawbacks, such as its different efficacy for different individuals, lack of protection for lung TB in adults and subsequent reactivation which lead the research for novel TB vaccine approach. Resuscitation-promoting factor (rpf) protein in Mtb is a protein cluster which play a big role in TB dormancy during latent infection. Member from this cluster protein is rpfB which shows the greatest biological and immunological characteristics among other proteins …

'Birth Control Was Just A Part Of It": The Santa Fe Maternal Health Center, 1937-1996, Lena Mcquade

New Mexico Historical Review

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Radiation On Neurite Morphology And Cytoskeleton Structure, Melissa Sassman

Student Scholarship

Long-term manned space exploration to the moon, Mars, and other areas beyond Earth's protective magnetic field poses possible acute and late central nervous systems (CNS) risks. Of particular concern for astronauts is exposure to high atomic number, high energy particles known as HZE particles, a component of galactic cosmic radiation (GCR). Although NASA has radiation safety requirements, the possible effects of GCR and HZE particles on the central nervous systems of astronauts remains unknown. Understanding the risks and effects of galactic cosmic radiation and HZE particles on the central nervous system will allow for safer space exploration.

Additionally, and perhaps …

Infection Kinetics Of Rickettsia Asemboensis And Interaction With Rickettsia Felis Within The Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides Felis), Sabrina Magdalena Camille Valdes

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Young Alu Elements In The Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri) Lineage For Use As Species-Indicative Molecular Markers, Michael W. Denham

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Phylogenetic Similarities Among Bacteria Isolated From Songbirds, Rachel Croy

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Pharmacy Newsletter : April 2018, Pharmacy Department

Department of Pharmacy Archives

Content:

• New Guidelines of Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI
• Botulinum Toxin Type –A: An Option to Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
• Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) Reporting Trend at AKUH – Year 2017
• Medication Reconciliation: Step to Enter Patient Home Medication Entry

The Emerging Issue Of Hepatitis C Virus In The United States And In West Virginia, Alberto Coustasse Dr.Ph. Md,Mba, Mph, Maggie Phillips Rn, Bsn, Mha, Jumana Abboud Mha, Neha Botre Mha, David P. Paul Iii

Management Faculty Research

Introduction:

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the most significant public health problems currently facing the U.S., Especially in West Virginia. If it is undetected and left untreated, the likelihood of sustaining a treatment response decreases. While early identification has been identified as a critical focus in trying to obtain better health outcomes, new drug treatments appear promising, although somewhat expensive. West Virginia, a predominantly rural state, is beginning to face a mounting financial crisis due to HCV.

Purpose of the Study:

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of early identification and treatment for patients …

Nf2 Signaling Pathway Plays A Pro-Apoptotic Role In Β-Adrenergic Receptor Stimulated Cardiac Myocyte Apoptosis, Suman Dalal, Barbara Connelly, Mahipal Singh, Krishna Singh

ETSU Faculty Works

This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) stimulation induces cardiac myocyte apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Neurofibromin 2 (NF2) is a member of the ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) family of proteins. Post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and sumoylation affect NF2 activity, subcellular localization and function. Here, we tested the hypothesis that β-AR stimulation induces post-translational modifications of NF2, and NF2 plays a pro-apoptotic …