Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Opioids On Kentucky's Workforce, Michael W. Clark, Jenny A. Minier, Charles J. Courtemanche, Bethany L. Paris, Michael T. Childress

CBER Research Report

From the executive summary:

Opioid abuse represents a significant and growing public health issue for both the nation and Kentucky. In 2016, opioids contributed to more than 62,000 deaths nationally and 1,406 deaths in Kentucky. National studies have placed the societal costs of opioid abuse at $55.7 billion in 2007 and $78.5 billion in 2013 (Birbaum et al. (2011) and Florence et al. (2016)). These costs included increased health care expenditures, higher criminal justice costs, and lost earnings due to reduced employment and premature deaths. The While House Council of Economic Advisors (2017) estimated the societal costs of opioid abuse …

Coccidioidomycosis: Medical And Spatio-Temporal Perspectives, Nikias Sarafoglou, Rafael Laniado-Laborin, Menas Kafatos

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Coccidioidomycosis (CM) is a disease of major public health importance due to the challenges in its diagnosis and treatment. To understand CM requires the attributes of a multidisciplinary network analysis to appreciate the complexity of the medical, the environmental and the social issues involved: public health, public policy, geology, atmospheric science, agronomy, social sciences and finally humanities, all which provide insight into this population transformation.

In section 1 of this paper, we describe the CM-epidemiology, the clinical features, the diagnosis and finally the treatment.

In section 2, we highlight the most important contributions and controversies in the history of the …

Cellular Distribution Of The Prion Protein In Palatine Tonsils Of Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus) And Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni), Matthew M. Hille, Jean E. Jewell, E. Lee Belden

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that affects members of the Cervidae family, including deer (Odocoileus spp.), elk (Cervus Canadensis spp.), and moose (Alces alces spp.). While CWD is a neurodegenerative disease, lymphoid accumulation of the abnormal isoform of the prion protein (PrPSc) is detectable early in the course of infection. It has been shown that a large portion of the PrPSc lymphoid accumulation in infected mule deer takes place on the surface of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). In mice, FDC expression of PrPC has been shown to be essential for PrPSc accumulation. …

West Nile Virus: An Old Tale, New Mystery, Seetha Venkateswaran, Patricia Gilford

Family Medicine

• West Nile Virus (WNV), belongs to the Flavivirus family, is considered an endemic disease in many states including Florida.
• In the last decade, the virus has been prominently reported in the Southern and Midwest States.
• The disease is most prevalent during the summer to fall month periods due to elevated temperatures leading to enhanced vector transmission.
• WNV is acquired via the bite of an infected mosquito particularly the Culex species, and is considered as the vector for the disease.
• Equines and humans are incidental hosts of WNV and disease transmission from these sources are rare. There are various human risk …

Implementing A Clinical Research Program In Long Term Care Facilities: Experiences From The University Of Louisville Center Excellence For Research In Infectious Diseases [Cerid], Ruth Carrico, Dawn Balcom, Kuldeep Ghosh, Bilal Abaid, Vidyulata Salunkhe, Bibodh Jung Karki, Simra Kiran, Stephen Furmanek, Senen Pena, Julio A. Ramirez

Journal of Refugee & Global Health

Background: According to the US Census Bureau International Report, in 2015, almost nine percent of the world’s population was aged 65 and over. As the worldwide population ages, there is a need to understand how to best care for those individuals. Developing clinical research programs focusing on long term care (LTC) will be critical to defining best practice.

Objectives: The objectives of this manuscript are to: 1) outline the challenges identified in performing clinical research in long term care facilities (LTCF), and 2) offer solutions for future clinical research in the LTC environment based upon our experiences.

Methods: A research …

Dengue Illness Impacts Daily Human Mobility Patterns In Iquitos, Peru, Kathryn L. Schaber, Valerie A. Paz-Soldan, Amy C. Morrison, William H.D. Elson, Alan L. Rothman, Christopher N. Mores, Helvio Astete-Vega, Thomas W. Scott, Lance A. Waller, Uriel Kitron, John P. Elder, Christopher M. Barker, T. Alex Perkins, Gonzalo M. Vazquez-Prokopec

Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

Background

Human mobility plays a central role in shaping pathogen transmission by generating spatial and/or individual variability in potential pathogen-transmitting contacts. Recent research has shown that symptomatic infection can influence human mobility and pathogen transmission dynamics. Better understanding the complex relationship between symptom severity, infectiousness, and human mobility requires quantification of movement patterns throughout infectiousness. For dengue virus (DENV), human infectiousness peaks 0–2 days after symptom onset, making it paramount to understand human movement patterns from the beginning of illness.

Methodology and principal findings

Through community-based febrile surveillance and RT-PCR assays, we identified a cohort of DENV+ residents of the …

Editorial Board

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

No abstract provided.

Detection Of Ctx-M-Type Esbls From Escherichia Coli Clinical Isolates From A Tertiary Hospital, Malaysia, Fazlul Mkk, Farzana Y, Najnin A, Rashid Ma, Nazmul Mhm

Baghdad Science Journal

The present study aims to detect CTX-M-type ESBL from Escherichia coli clinical isolates and to analyze their antibotic susceptibility patterns. One hundred of E. coli isolates were collected from different clinical samples from a tertiary hospital. ESBL positivity was determined by the disk diffusion method. PCR used for amplification of CTX-M-type ESBL produced by E. coli. Out of 100 E. coli isolates, twenty-four isolates (24%) were ESBL-producers. E. coli isolated from pus was the most frequent clinical specimen that produced ESBL (41.66%) followed by urine (34.21%), respiratory (22.23%), and blood (19.05%). After PCR amplification of these 24 isolates, 10 (41.66%) …

Cases In Hiv: Hiv Discussion Through Interactive Case Studies, Gregory S. Felzien Md Aahivs

9th Annual Rural HIV Research & Training Conference (2014-2019) (Archived)

This presentation aims to address the current challenges in “Getting to Zero” and review hot topics and recurrent themes and questions presented throughout the year and within the current HIV literature through interactive audience participation. Cases will be presented in highlighting current HIV care.

About the Presenter:

Gregory S. Felzien, MD, AAHIVS

Diplomat: Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease

Medical Advisor

Division of Health Protection/IDI-HIV

Georgia Department of Public Health

Gregory S. Felzien, MD, AAHIVS, received his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, completed an internal medicine internship and residency at Vanderbilt University, and infectious disease fellowship …

Vascular Leak And Hypercytokinemia Associated With Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Infection In Mice, Jonna B. Westover, Brady T. Hickerson, Arnaud J. Van Wettere, Brett L. Hurst, Jacqueline P. Kurz, Ashley Dagley, Petra Wülfroth, Takashi Komeno, Yousuke Furuta, Thomas Steiner, Brian B. Gowen

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) endemic to China, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Here we characterize the pathogenesis and natural history of disease in IFNAR^-/- mice challenged with the HB29 strain of SFTS virus (SFTSV) and demonstrate hallmark features of VHF such as vascular leak and high concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines in blood and tissues. Treatment with FX06, a natural plasmin digest product of fibrin in clinical development as a treatment for vascular leak, reduced vascular permeability associated with SFTSV infection but did not significantly improve survival outcome. Further studies are …

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis In A Traveler: A Case Report, Sarah Al-Obaydi Md, Nemer Dabage Md, James Demaio Md

Internal Medicine

Leishmaniasis, a vector-borne infection transmitted by sandflies, is endemic throughout the Mediterranean basin and the tropics. We present a case diagnosed in Florida after overseas travel.

Nitrofurantoin Induced Lung Toxicity: A Rare Adverse Effect, Farrah Chilet Md, Nour Tlimat Md, Salman Muddassir Md

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Federal Hiv/Aids Update, Carl Schmid

9th Annual Rural HIV Research & Training Conference (2014-2019) (Archived)

About the Presenter:

Carl Schmid has been with The AIDS Institute, a national nonpartisan, public policy, advocacy research, and education organization that advocates for people with HIV and viral hepatitis, since February 2004. He leads the Institute’s federal policy work before the executive agencies and the Congress.

Schmid helps lead the HIV and hepatitis communities’ advocacy efforts in Washington DC to ensure domestic HIV and hepatitis programs, including the Ryan White Program, CDC HIV and hepatitis prevention programs, and NIH AIDS Research, are based on sound public policy and fully funded. He is a Convening Group member of the Federal …

Six Ways To Reduce Hidden Hazards Of Tailgating, Staff

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

2019 September 20 - Board Of Trustees Academic, Research, And Student Success Committee Agenda And Minutes, Board Of Trustees, East Tennessee State University

Board of Trustees Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

Syndemics: Considerations For Interdisciplinary Research, Rosalynn A. Vega

Anthropology Faculty Publications

In this short piece, I explore how medical anthropology could be deployed through interdisciplinary collaborations in a way that is both theoretically rich and poised to positively impact health outcomes. In particular, I consider how research agendas focused on improving health care outcomes reveal certain limitations and underlying assumptions within the discipline. What types of methodological shifts might occur if we interrogate those limitations and assumptions? What are some alternatives? To answer these questions, I turn to the concept of “syndemics” as one example of how a human rights approach can transform the way we do anthropology for the betterment …

Penicillin Allergy Assessment And Skin Testing In The Outpatient Setting, Wesley D. Kufel, Julie Ann Justo, P. Brandon Bookstaver, Lisa M. Avery

Faculty Publications

Penicillin allergies are among of the most commonly reported allergies, yet only 10% of these patients are truly allergic. This leads to potential inadvertent negative consequences for patients and makes treatment decisions challenging for clinicians. Thus, allergy assessment and penicillin skin testing (PST) are important management strategies to reconcile and clarify labeled penicillin allergies. While PST is more common in the inpatient setting where the results will immediately impact antibiotic management, this process is becoming of increasing importance in the outpatient setting. PST in the outpatient setting allows clinicians to proactively de-label and educate patients accordingly so beta-lactam antibiotics may …

Synthesizing Galactose Modified Polymeric Nanoparticles For Biofilm Inhibition Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Tyler R. Flockton

Theses and Dissertations

Treating patients with antibiotics is becoming harder with the increase in antibiotic resistance. This is due to the widespread antibiotic use in clinical and agricultural settings. With antibiotic resistance outpacing new drugs making it to the market, developing new options to treat bacterial infections is and will be important. We created sugar modified nanoparticles to inhibit the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

P. aeruginosa is a gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that infects its host that has a compromised immune system. This makes it one of the most significant bacterial infection in hospitals. P. aeruginosa uses biofilms as an attack mechanism …

Penicillin Allergy Assessment And Skin Testing In The Outpatient Setting, Wesley D. Kufel, Julie Ann Justo, P. Brandon Bookstaver, Lisa M. Avery

Pharmacy Faculty/Staff Publications

Penicillin allergies are among of the most commonly reported allergies, yet only 10% of these patients are truly allergic. This leads to potential inadvertent negative consequences for patients and makes treatment decisions challenging for clinicians. Thus, allergy assessment and penicillin skin testing (PST) are important management strategies to reconcile and clarify labeled penicillin allergies. While PST is more common in the inpatient setting where the results will immediately impact antibiotic management, this process is becoming of increasing importance in the outpatient setting. PST in the outpatient setting allows clinicians to proactively de-label and educate patients accordingly so beta-lactam antibiotics may …

Economic And Livestock Health Impacts Of Birds On Dairies: Evidence From A Survey Of Washington Dairy Operators, Julie L. Elser, Amber L. Adams Progar, Karen M.M. Steensma, Tyler P. Caskin, Susan R. Kerr, Stephanie A. Shwiff

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The survey described in this research paper aimed to investigate the economic and health impacts of birds on dairies. Birds are common pests on dairies, consuming and contaminating feed intended for cattle. As a result, dairy operators experience increased feed costs and increased pathogen and disease risk. We surveyed dairy operators attending the 2017 Washington Dairy Conference to examine the impact of birds on dairies in Washington State. Dairy operators reported feed losses valued at $55 per cow resulting in annual losses totaling $5.5 million in the Western region of the state and $9.2 million in the Eastern region of …

Modeling Zika, Maia Martcheva, N. Tuncer, B. Labarre, S. Payoute

39th Southeastern-Atlantic Regional Conference on Differential Equations (SEARCDE)

Zika is an infectious disease transmitted by Ae. aegypti and Ae. Albopictus mosquitoes species, which are found also in the US. Zika is endemic in Puerto Rico and has exhibited local transmission in Florida and Texas. Other routes of transmission of Zika are through sexual contact or from a mother to the fetus. In general Zika infection is mild but it can lead Guillain-Barré Syndrome in adults and to severe birth defects in newborns to mothers with Zika infection. We model Zika infection within the vector and the host. We consider six population-level models of Zika, which use various combinations …

Racism And Relief Distribution In The Aftermath Of The Halifax Explosion, Mark Culligan, Katrin Macphee

Journal of Law and Social Policy

Popular and academic histories have romanticized the Halifax Explosion. In most retellings, the Explosion united Haligonians, in suffering and in reconstruction. This article presents evidence from the Halifax Relief Commission’s Records that points to a different conclusion: African Nova Scotia claimants were discriminated against during Relief distribution efforts and pre-existing racial inequalities were reinforced. Relief workers treated the claims of African Nova Scotians with enhanced skepticism, expended minimal effort to locate those with claims, and ultimately provided less by way of compensation. Moreover, the decision of the Relief Commission to prioritize the compensation of lost property, not lost wages, systemically …

Fecal Microbiota Therapy In Recurrent And Refractory Clostridium Difficile Infections Has Been Associated With Positive Results In Immunocompromised Patients, Eric Applebach

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A critical appraisal and clinical application of Kelly CR, Ihunnah C, Fischer M, et al. Fecal microbiota transplant for treatment of Clostridium difficile infection in immunocompromised patients. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2014;109(7):1065-71. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2014.133

Development Of Salmonellosis As Affected By Bioactive Food Compounds, Ajay Kumar, Abimbola Allison, Monica Henry, Anita Scales, Aliyar Cyrus Fouladkhah

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Infections caused by Salmonella serovars are the leading cause of foodborne hospitalizations and deaths in Americans, extensively prevalent worldwide, and pose a considerable financial burden on public health infrastructure and private manufacturing. While a comprehensive review is lacking for delineating the role of dietary components on prevention of Salmonellosis, evidence for the role of diet for preventing the infection and management of Salmonellosis symptoms is increasing. The current study is an evaluation of preclinical and clinical studies and their underlying mechanisms to elaborate the efficacy of bioactive dietary components for augmenting the prevention of Salmonella infection. Studies investigating dietary components …

Improvements In Sepsis Care, Donna Schweitzer

Nursing

No abstract provided.

Taking Every Precaution: An Inter-Professional Approach To Reducing Cauti, Cynthia Lira-Crame, Alina Stancovici, Benjamin Galvan-Anderson, Brenda Chrusciel

Nursing

No abstract provided.

The Cost-Effectiveness Of Neonatal Versus Prenatal Screening For Congenital Toxoplasmosis, Christine Binquet, Catherine Lejeune, Valérie Seror, François Peyron, Anne-Claire Bertaux, Olivier Scemama, Catherine Quantin, Sophie Béjean, Eileen Stillwaggon, Martine Wallon

Economics Faculty Publications

Congenital Toxoplasmosis (CT) can have severe consequences. France, Austria, and Slovenia have prenatal screening programs whereas some other countries are considering universal screening to reduce congenital transmission and severity of infection in children. The efficiency of such programs is debated increasingly as seroprevalence among pregnant women and incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis show a steady decrease. In addition, uncertainty remains regarding the effectiveness of pre- and postnatal treatments.

Defective Transcriptional Programming Of Effector Cd8 T Cells In Aged Mice Is Cell-Extrinsic And Can Be Corrected By Administration Of Il-12 And Il-18, Mladen Jergovic, Heather L. Thompson, Kristin R. Renkema, Megan J. Smithey, Janko Nikolich-Zugich

Peer Reviewed Articles

In response to infection with intracellular microorganisms, old mice mobilize decreased numbers of antigen-specific CD8 T cells with reduced expression of effector molecules and impaired cytolytic activity. Molecular mechanisms behind these defects and the cell-intrinsic (affecting naïve CD8 T cells themselves) vs. extrinsic, microenvironmental origin of such defects remain unclear. Using reciprocal transfer experiments of highly purified naïve T cells from adult and old transgenic OT-1 mice, we decisively show that the dominant effect is cell-extrinsic. Naïve adult OT-1 T cells failed to expand and terminally differentiate in the old organism infected with Listeria-OVA. This defect was preceded by …

Self-Efficacy, Social Support, Therapeutic Support And The Initiation And Duration Of Breastfeeding In Adolescent Mothers, Deborah L. Birk

Dissertations

This longitudinal investigation examines self-efficacy, social support and therapeutic support as predictors of initiation and duration of breastfeeding in adolescent mothers. It proposes that prenatal levels of self-efficacy, social support and therapeutic support are significant predictors of breastfeeding initiation in adolescent mothers. It also proposes that postpartum levels of these variables are significant predictors of the number of days breastfeeding after delivery in adolescent mothers.

Partnership Between Nursing And Infection Prevention To Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections In A Medical Intensive Care Unit, Elissa Buck, Michelle Brown, Ashley Burbey

Nursing

No abstract provided.