Digital Commons Network^™

Early Radiation Therapy And Cervical Cancer Survival In The United States, Olufunmiso Oyetunde Asamu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A paucity of information exists on the benefits of using radiation therapy for treating women with early cervical cancer detection. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between early versus late testing of Human papilloma virus (HPV), age, race, radiation therapy, and regions in United States, and survival rates among women diagnosed with early cervical cancer. The epidemiological triad of person, time, and space guided this study to explain the regional spread of cervical cancer, and the effect of early testing. Secondary data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) were used (N= 520,153). Statistical analyses …

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection In New York And North Carolina, Kehinde O. Abiodun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, many hospitalized patients with indwelling urinary catheters acquire catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) during their hospital stay. CAUTI negatively affects peoples' health and quality of life and causes a financial burden to individuals and the nation. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between gender, age, and hospital types and CAUTI incidence in New York and North Carolina over a 3-year period. The theoretical framework of choice was the Donabedian model. Simple logistic regression and hierarchical multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed on archival data that was requested from Healthcare Cost …

Effects Of Micronutrients On The Status Of Hiv-Infected African American Women, Veronica Alicia Graham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Weight loss among HIV-infected African American women (AAW), results in the fall of the cluster of differentiation (CD4) cell count and an increase in the viral load. There are 48,126 HIV-infected AAW who reported weight loss within the first year. AAW who report more than 10% weight loss within the first year progress to AIDS due to a deficiency in micronutrients and poor linkage to care. The phenomenon that occurs with individuals living with HIV does not necessarily occur among individuals who have cancer, heart disease, or some other life-threatening illness, and this phenomenon indicates a direct threat to the …

Immunoglobulin Therapy And Primary Immunodeficient Patients' Health-Related Quality Of Life And Well-Being, Niedre Heckman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals born with primary immune deficiency diseases (PIDD) have a dysfunctional immune system, and many are treated by lifelong injections of immunoglobulin therapy. Studies have shown that these patients have low health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and well-being (WB) and that these outcomes might be improved by the availability of therapy innovated according to preferences for fewer needle sticks or a shorter infusion time. Regulators at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved therapies innovated per these preferences. However, there is limited data demonstrating how these innovations impact HRQOL and WB. Using the biopsychosocial model, the purpose of …

Toxicity Evaluation Of A Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging Marker Cocl2-N-Acetylcysteine In Rats, Li Wang, Mihai Gagea, Karen S. Martirosyan, Mary Johansen, Timothy Madden, Lisa Norberg, Kirk S. Culotta, Steven J. Frank

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

C4 (cobalt dichloride-N-acetylcysteine [1% CoCl 2 :2% NAC]) is a novel magnetic resonance imaging contrast marker that facilitates visualization of implanted radioactive seeds in cancer brachytherapy. We evaluated the toxicity of C4. Rats were assigned to control (0% CoCl 2 :NAC), low-dose (0.1% CoCl 2 :2% NAC), reference-dose (C4), and high-dose (10% CoCl 2 :2% NAC) groups. Agent was injected into the left quadriceps femoris muscle of the rats. Endpoints were organ and body weights, hematology, and serum chemistry and histopathologic changes of tissues at 48 hours and 28 and 63 days after dosing. Student's t tests were used. No …

Waterborne Disease Reduction Using Evidence-Based Microbiology Verification In Lower Nyakach, Kenya, Richard R. Blodgett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Waterborne diseases continue to plague the poorest people in low-income countries and are estimated to cause 4,600,000 acute incidents of diarrhea resulting in over 2,000 deaths daily. A major challenge is performing microbiology tests to monitor drinking water quality. Friends of the Old (FOTO) implemented a novel strategy using evidence-based microbiology to educate communities about the relationship between contaminated water and disease. Two commercially available tests for E.coli, adapted for fieldwork, provided easily interpreted results of contamination that correlate with WHO's disease risk categories. Simple and effective household water treatment options 'solar pasteurization and/or chlorination' were provided to all 14,400 …

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disparity In Black Men Who Have Sex With Men, Valencia L. Beckley Hildreth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to be a challenge in the men who have sex with men (MSM) population. Initiatives to decrease rates of new HIV infections have proven less than optimal. Despite evidence-based interventions to curtail the prevalence and incidence rates of HIV infection, Black MSM have been most impacted with increased HIV incidence. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to explore the relationship, if any, between age, online and physical venues attended by participants within the last thirty days, neighborhood's perceived social environment, and HIV incidence in the non-Hispanic Black MSM population in a metropolitan statistical area …

Barriers To Daiy Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Sylvain N. Tientcheu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Routine blood glucose monitoring by patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is needed for effective management of T2DM; however, 75% of monitoring logs are returned incomplete during monthly provider follow-up appointments. As a result, effective management of the patient's medical condition is limited. To better understand the reasons for noncompliance, a quality improvement project (QIP) was initiated between July 01, 2017 and September 30, 2017, to identify barriers that prevented patients from self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). No formal assessment of the patients' responses had been done, and, as a result, the deidentified, qualitative responses from the QIP were …

Antibiotic Overuse In The Geriatric Population, Kimberley Allison Kelly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid are requiring long-term care facilities (LTCFs) to implement antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) to alleviate overuse of antibiotics in the nursing home population. Current research shows that the benefits of ASPs include improved patient outcomes, reduced adverse events related to Clostridium difficile (C-diff) infection, improvement in rates of antibiotic susceptibilities, and optimized resource utilization. This project addressed the problem of antibiotic overuse and misuse in the geriatric population and whether the implementation of an ASP reduced the overuse of antibiotics, C-diff infection, and resistance rates in the LTCF. Application of the Johns Hopkins nursing model …

Maternal Characteristics And The Risk Of Cleft Lip And Palate In The United States, Letha Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLP) is an ongoing public health issue across the globe, and in the United States. The estimated number of babies born each year in the United States with cleft palate (CP) is about 2,650, while CLP affects approximately 4,440 babies. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to determine if there is a relationship between CLP and maternal characteristics such as reproductive history (advanced maternal age, maternal obesity, prenatal visits, month prenatal care began, number of pregnancies, gestational age at birth, assisted reproductive technology used, gestational diabetes, and hypertension), socioeconomic status of …

Impact Of Social Support On Malaria Management By Burundian Community Health Workers, Bonaventure Bazirutwabo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria is the main cause of mortality for children under the age of 5 in Burundi. The access to malaria diagnostics and treatment is hampered not only because of logistical issues, but also due to the lack of qualified human resources and their inequitable distribution across the country. To mitigate the lack of human resources for health, the government of Burundi, along with its partners, shifted some tasks to community health workers (CHWs) to cover unmet healthcare needs for selected diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the social support provided …

Chronic Disease And Injury Prevention Programming For Canada's Indigenous Population, Nicole Blackman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Local public health units in the province of Ontario, Canada, are often the primary source of health promotion and health education resources, but many do not provide programming specific to the Indigenous population. As of January 2018, modernization of the Ontario Public Health Standards requires public health units to work with the Indigenous population in providing culturally appropriate programs and services. The practice question guiding the capstone project was to determine what chronic disease and injury prevention programs exist that are culturally appropriate for the Indigenous population. The purpose of this project was to do an environmental scan and compile …

Perceptions Of First-Time Antiguan And Barbudan Mothers Towards Breastfeeding And Weaning, Janelle Dion Charles-Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Antigua and Barbuda, in the eastern Caribbean, is one of several countries with exclusive low breastfeeding rates and premature weaning. Researchers have demonstrated that babies exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life are better protected from childhood diseases and experience a better quality of life into adulthood, while early weaning is associated with morbidity and mortality. However, at 6 weeks postpartum, only 30% of Antiguan and Barbudan mothers are exclusively breastfeeding. Researchers have explained why mothers in general cease exclusive breastfeeding prematurely: insufficiency of breast milk, returning to paid employment, lack of social support; but an explanation specific …

The Impact Of Lemongrass, Oregano, And Thyme Essential Oils On Candida Albicans' Virulence Factors, Jennifer Marie Eddins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Increased systemic infections and growing resistance of Candida species in immunosuppressed people have prompted research for additional treatment options. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the potential of lemongrass, oregano, and thyme essential oils tested individually, combined, and combined with the antifungal agents fluconazole and caspofungin to kill Candida albicans isolates in a controlled laboratory setting. This study was grounded on the theoretical concepts of the epidemiologic triangle model. The experimental data collected were used to investigate risk factors related to age, gender, race, and comorbidities. Kill rates of lemongrass, oregano, and thyme essential oils individually and …

Clostridium Difficile Infection (Cdi): Use Of Preventive Bundle To Decrease Cdi Incidences, Lisa Feliciano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The challenge of combating Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) is a major problem within many health care organizations as CDI adds to the cost of care and is an uncomfortable and sometimes fatal complication of hospitalization for the patient. The practice-focused question for this doctoral project was targeted at patients in hospital settings on a medical surgical floor and asked if clostridium difficile preventive bundles reduce the incidence of CDI compared with nonstandardized preventative methods. Using the plan-do-study-act framework, the purpose of this DNP project was to use a clostridium difficile bundle approach to study the effects of clostridium difficile incidence …

A Staff Education Project And Screening Tool To Identify Calciphylaxis, Janice Pennington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Calciphylaxis is a deadly disease seen primarily in patients with end stage renal disease. Literature indicated that improved patient outcomes are seen with routine screenings. Many dialysis providers lack fundamental knowledge that would enable early identification of calciphylaxis in patients with renal disease. The purpose of this project was to design a screening instrument and develop a staff education program that would transform calciphylaxis management by promoting early identification and treatment of the disease. Knowles's theory of andragogy was used as the theoretic framework for the project. Dialysis center staff (n = 26) participated in the education. The number of …

Effect Of Personality Type On Exercise Modality Choice, Michael Koskiniemi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The unhealthy lifestyles of many individuals throughout the world put them at risk for health problems, including infectious disease; endocrine, circulatory, cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive disorders; and obesity. The modifiable health risks from unhealthy lifestyles account for a sizable percentage of health care costs. Regular exercise is recommended for health. However, currently little research exists regarding how individuals select which exercise regimens (personal training, group exercise, multimedia exercise, and self-directed) to follow. Selection of regimens that are based on one's personality may lead to regular, long-term exercise behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine whether personality was related …

Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, And In Silico Study Of Some Unique Multifunctional 1,2,4-Triazole Acetamides, Almas Sattar, Aziz Ur Rehman, Muhammad Athar Abbasi, Sabahat Zahra Saddiqui, Shahid Rasool, Hira Khalid, Muhammad Arif Lodhi, Farman Ali Khan

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The imperative demand for antibacterial agents and enzyme inhibitors prompted us to synthesize some new compounds, 6a-6k, bearing multifunctional moieties. The target acetamides were derived from 4-phenyl-5-(1-tosylpiperidin-4-yl)-4$H$-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (3). The structural analysis was carried out using modern spectroscopic techniques including IR, NMR, and EIMS spectral analysis. The antibacterial activity was screened against five bacterial strains including three gram-negative and two gram-positive ones. Enzyme inhibition was carried out against lipoxygenase enzyme and results were supported by in silico study. The synthesized compounds were proved to be potent antibacterial agents and enzyme inhibitors.

Synthesis Of $E$-Stilbene Azomethines As Potent Antimicrobial And Antioxidant Agents, Ahsan Iqbal, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Sohail Anjum Shahzad, Muhammad Usman, Shakeel Ahmad Khan, Abdul H. Fauq, Ayesha Bari, Muhammad Aamir Sajid

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

A series of new extensively conjugated $E$-stilbene azomethines (5a-5h) were synthesized and screened for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The compounds were tested against bacterial (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus subtilis) and fungal strains (Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, and Trichoderma harzianum) using the agar well diffusion method. Among the tested compounds, $N$'-(4-nitrobenzylidene)-2-(($E)$-styryl)benzohydrazide (5g) was found to possess potent antimicrobial activity higher than some drugs with significant activity reported in the literature, e.g., cefradine and terbinafine hydrochloride. Additionally, compounds 5a-5h were also evaluated for antioxidant potential using DPPH free radical scavenging and ferric thiocyanate (FTC) assays. Among these, …

Perceptions Of Health Professionals In Ghana On The Role Of The Community In Chronic Disease Management, Jesuseme Omoruan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The prevalence of chronic disease has been on the rise in various developing countries. This study is an exploratory investigation of the perceptions of health professionals in Kumasi, Ghana on the role of the community in chronic disease management. Using the Chronic Care Model as a framework, the objective of the study was to examine the extent of community-healthcare system in chronic disease management and to explore the barriers to and facilitators of community involvement in chronic disease management. By exploring the availability of community resources that positively contribute to the management of these patients, the study fills an existing …

A Comparison Of Three Diagnostic Platforms For The Detection Of Influenza A And B In Children, Furqan Kabir, Marvi Tariq, Fatima Aziz, Syed Imran Rizvi, Shahida Qureshi, Syed Asad Ali, Najeeha Talat Iqbal

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Viral flu is the predominant cause of hospitalization in young children, which invariably leads to enhanced morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. Initial treatment of viral flu is based on presumptive diagnosis. Bedside testing is not common in clinical settings because of variable sensitivity and specificity of rapid tests in different settings.
Methods: To address this issue, we evaluated the performance of Binax influenza A/B rapid testing kit against two robust molecular platforms (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction [qRT-PCR] and TaqMan array card [TAC]) in 24 nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs, collected from children under 5 years of age. …

Jiann-Ping Hsu College Of Public Health Magazine, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• A Message from the Dean
• Leadership
• Center Forges Partnership with EMS
• Perspective
• Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program
• Research Spotlight
• Sustainability at Its Finest
• Student Spotlight
• Alumni Spotlight

Nasopharyngeal Carriage Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae In Children Under 5 Years Of Age Before Introduction Of Pneumococcal Vaccine (Pcv10) In Urban And Rural Districts In Pakistan, Muhammad Imran Nisar, Kanwal Nayani, Tauseef Akhund, Atif Riaz, Omer Irfan, Sadia Shakoor, Sehrish Muneer, Sana Muslim, Aneeta Hotwani, Furqan Kabir, Cynthia Whitney, Lindsay Kim, Velusamy Srinivasan, Syed Asad Ali, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Fyezah Jehan

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Benefits of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine programs have been linked to the vaccine’s ability to disrupt nasopharyngeal carriage and transmission. The 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV10) was included in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in Sindh, Pakistan in February 2013. This study was carried out immediately before PCV10 introduction to establish baseline pneumococcal carriage and prevalent serotypes in young children and to determine if carriage differed in urban and rural communities.
Methods: Nasopharyngeal specimens were collected from a random sample of children 3-11 and 12-59 months of age in an urban community (Karachi) and children 3-11 months of age in …

What’S Coming For Health Science And Policy In 2018? Global Experts Look Ahead In Their Field, Soumya Swaminathan, Robin S. Room, Louise C. Ivers, Graham Hillis, Rebecca F. Grais, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Peter Byass

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

No abstract provided.

Microbial Preparations (Probiotics) For The Prevention Of Clostridium Difficile Infection In Adults And Children: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis Of 6,851 Participants., Bradley C. Johnston, Lyubov Lytvyn, Calvin Ka Fung Lo, Stephen J. Allen, D Wang, Hania Szajewska, Mark Miller, Stephan Ehrhardt, John Sampalis, Deniz G. Duman, Pietro Pozzoni, Agostino Colli, Elisabet Lönnermark, Christian P. Selinger, Samford Wong, Susan Plummer, Mary Hickson, Ruzha Pancheva, Sandra Hirsch, Bengt Klarin, Joshua Z. Goldenberg, L Wang, Lawrence Mbuagbauw, Gary Foster, Anna Maw, Behnam Sadeghirad, Lehana Thabane, Dominik Mertz

School of Health Professions

OBJECTIVETo determine whether probiotic prophylaxes reduce the odds of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in adults and children.DESIGNIndividual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), adjusting for risk factors.METHODSWe searched 6 databases and 11 grey literature sources from inception to April 2016. We identified 32 RCTs (n=8,713); among them, 18 RCTs provided IPD (n=6,851 participants) comparing probiotic prophylaxis to placebo or no treatment (standard care). One reviewer prepared the IPD, and 2 reviewers extracted data, rated study quality, and graded evidence quality.RESULTSProbiotics reduced CDI odds in the unadjusted model (n=6,645; odds ratio [OR] 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25-0.55) …

“It Ruined My Life”: The Effects Of The War On Drugs On People Who Inject Drugs (Pwid) In Rural Puerto Rico, Roberto Abadie, C. Gelpi-Acosta, C. Davila, A. Rivera, Melissa Welch-Lazoritz, Kirk Dombrowski

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Background—The War on Drugs has raised the incarceration rates of racial minorities for non-violent drug-related crimes, profoundly stigmatized drug users, and redirected resources from drug prevention and treatment to militarizing federal and local law enforcement. Yet, while some states consider shifting their punitive approach to drug use, to one based on drug treatment and rehabilitation, nothing suggests that these policy shifts are being replicated in Puerto Rico.

Methods—This paper utilizes data from 360 PWID residing in four rural towns in the mountainous area of central Puerto Rico. We initially recruited 315 PWID using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) and collected data about …

Early Origins Of Adult Cancer Risk Among Men And Women: Influence Of Childhood Misfortune?, Blakelee R. Kemp, Kenneth F. Ferraro, Patricia M. Morton, Sarah A. Mustillo

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Objective—To examine the effect of five childhood misfortune domains—parental behavior, socioeconomic status, infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and impairments—on all-site and selected site-specific cancer prevalence and all-site cancer incidence.

Method—Panel data from the Health and Retirement Study (2004–2012) were used to investigate cancer risk among adults above the age of 50.

Results—Risky parental behavior and impairment in childhood were associated with higher odds of all-site cancer prevalence, and childhood chronic disease was associated with prostate cancer, even after adjusting for adult health and socioeconomic factors. Moreover, having one infectious disease in childhood lowered the odds of colon cancer. Cancer trends varied …

Aging Research Using The Common Marmoset: Focus On Aging Interventions, Corinna N. Ross, Adam B. Salmon

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Traditional animal models have been used to make seminal discoveries in biomedical research including a better understanding of the biology of the aging process. However, translation of these findings from laboratory to clinical populations has likely been hindered due to fundamental biological and physiological differences between common laboratory animals and humans. Non-human primates (NHP) may serve as an effective bridge towards translation, and short-lived NHP like the common marmoset offer many advantages as models for aging research. Here, we address these advantages and discuss what is currently understood about the changes in physiology and pathology that occur with age in …

Factors Associated With Iron-Folic Acid Supplement Use Among Pregnant Women In Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria - A Cross Sectional Study Using Theory Of Planned Behavior, Toyin O. Akomolafe

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Iron-folic acid supplementation is one of the key interventions provided during antenatal care (ANC) services to reduce iron deficiency, maternal anemia, low birthweight and other pregnancy-related complications responsible for maternal and neonatal mortality. However, use of iron-folic acid supplements and adherence with recommended dosage in Nigeria is low. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine factors associated with iron-folic acid supplements use among pregnant women in Karu local government area (LGA), Nasarawa, Nigeria. Methods: Questionnaires were administered in face-to-face interviews with 64 pregnant women (18 – 49 years old) and 19 healthcare providers in selected …

Structure Of The Picornavirus Replication Platform: A Potential Drug Target For Inhibiting Virus Replication, Meghan Suzanne Warden

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Picornaviruses are small, positive-stranded RNA viruses, divided into twelve different genera. Members of the Picornaviridae family cause a wide range of human and animal diseases including the common cold, poliomyelitis, foot and mouth disease, and dilated cardiomyopathy. The picornavirus genome is replicated via a highly conserved mechanism involving a presumed cloverleaf structure located at the 5’ noncoding region of the virus genome. The 5’ cloverleaf consists of three stem loops (B, C, and D) and one stem (A), which interact with a variety of virus and host cell proteins during replication. In this dissertation, human rhinovirus serotype 14 (HRV-14) SLB …