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Genetic Diversity Of Merozoite Surface Protein 1 Gene Of Plasmodium Falciparum In Thailand, May Myat Thu

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

In 2030, World health organization's target is to eliminate malaria at least in 35 countries. At present, Thailand is low risk of malaria so that, it has the potential to eliminate. About 10 years ago, malaria prevalence was high along the country border areas. To prevent the recurrence in those areas, evaluation of drug susceptibility of parasites and vaccine are important. Therefore, basic knowledge on genetic diversity in malaria parasite is needed. Merozoite surface protein 1(msp1), one of the vaccine candidate genes, is useful for monitoring genetic diversity of the parasite and the potential gene of vaccine. However, high diversity …

Cost Effectiveness Of Oral Health Care Program Implementation In Primary School In Bangkok, Thailand, Nicha Luksamijarulkul

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Dental caries are common oral diseases in schoolchildren. This retrospective cohort analysis was done to assess caries prevalence, risk and protective factors associated permanent caries among 433 children profiles of school children in selected primary school in Bangkok who received or did not receive a preventive program. Additionally, a cost effectiveness of the program was analyzed. Result revealed that there was high caries prevalence in deciduous teeth (1st grade) 87.2% and mean dmft 6.44 (± 4.4) and caries prevalence in permanent teeth (6th grade) 51.7% and mean DMFT 1.37 (± 1.84). Risk and protective factors associated permanent caries, after logistic …

Factors Associated With Knowledge And Awareness Of Syphilis Among The Youths Visiting Family Planning Clinics, Bangkok, Thailand, Nutcha Tattanon

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Syphilis has been controlled since 1960. However, syphilis is now reappearing in some areas in Africa and South-east Asia including Thailand. In Thailand, syphilis is reappearing in all regions. The most high-risk population is the youth aged 15-24 year. Objective of this study aimed to determine factors associated with knowledge and awareness of syphilis prevention among youths visiting at family planning clinic, Bangkok, Thailand. Method of this study was a cross-sectional study conducted by purposive sampling among the youth aged 15-24 years old who visit at PPAT family planning clinic, Bangkok, Thailand during April-June 2021. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was …

Improving Routine Immunization Coverage Through Strengthening Interpersonal Comminication Skills Of Primary Health Care Workers In Rural Local Government Areas In Kebbi State Nigeria, Saudat Abdullahi Basheer

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: In 2015, Kebbi state was among the four (4) states in northwestern Nigeria that have low routine immunization performance in the country. National Nutrition and Health Survey 2015 report indicated that only 7.8% of the eligible children have received three doses of DPT/Penta and measles coverage was 14.7%. There was no documented research to investigate the effect of interpersonal communication skills on routine immunization services in Kebbi state Nigeria. The objective of this study, therefore, was to examine the effect of vaccination education on improving mothers' knowledge and uptake of routine immunization services among children in the rural LGAs …

Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic On The Mental Health Of Health Care Personnel From Government Hospitals In Yangon Region, Myanmar, Za Mae Nin Sar Aung

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The outbreak of COVID-19 has disastrously impacted on the human being resulting with a great number of deaths and somewhat negative mental health outcomes across the countries. A dramatic rise in transmission and death rate had profoundly hit Myanmar during the second wave especially in epicenter Yangon. The burden of managing COVID-19 have led the health care personnel (HCP) into both physical and mental exhaustion.This study intended to estimate mental health impact among HCP by quantifying the magnitude of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress and to determine associated factors. A cross-sectional, online based self-administered questionnaire was used to gather …

Technical And Scale Efficiency Of Public Hospitals In Papua New Guinea, James Noah

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The objective of the study was to estimate the relative technical efficiency of public hospitals in PNG and estimate the magnitudes of output increases and/or input reductions that would have been required to make relatively inefficient hospitals more efficient using Data Envelopment Analysis for 20 hospitals in PNG using the data for 2017. The study is further extended using the Tobit regression analysis to investigate the institutional and contextual factors on hospital efficiencies. The results of the output-oriented DEA BCC Model indicated that the average constant returns to scale technical efficiency score was 79%; the average variable returns to scale …

Microfluidic System For Detectingmalaria-Infected Red Blood Cells Using Impedance Measurementcoupled With Electromagnetic Force, Prapapan Sonridhi

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Malaria is one of the most life-threatened diseases caused by Plasmodium parasite. Malaria is preventable and curable, mainly due to the factor of time and management of the spread. In other words, a rapid detection with high accuracy will contribute to more effective treatment process. In this research, we introduced the new technique implemented microfluidics, dealing with the manipulation of blood cells using magnetic force, and impedance measurement measuring the signal changes of electrical impedance between a couple of electrodes. According to the distinct magnetic properties of normal red blood cells and malaria-infected red blood cells, the experiment was designed …

Can The Carbon And Nitrogen Isotope Values Of Offspring Be Used As A Proxy For Their Mother's Diet? Using Foetal Physiology To Interpret Bulk Tissue And Amino Acid Δ15N Values, Nico Lübcker, John P. Whiteman, Seth D. Newsome, Robert P. Millar, P.J. Nico De Bruyn

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The measurement of bulk tissue nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and carbon isotope values (δ¹³C) chronologically along biologically inert tissues sampled from offspring can provide a longitudinal record of their mothers' foraging habits. This study tested the important assumption that mother-offspring stable isotope values are positively and linearly correlated. In addition, any change in the mother-offspring bulk tissues and individual amino acids that occurred during gestation was investigated. Whiskers sampled from southern elephant seal pups (Mirounga leonina) and temporally overlapping whiskers from their mothers were analyzed. This included n = 1895 chronologically subsampled whisker segments for bulk …

Allograft Donor Characteristics Significantly Influence Graft Rupture After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction In A Young Active Population, Sarah Shumborski, Lucy J. Salmon, Claire Monk, Emma Heath, Justin P. Roe, Leo A. Pinczewski

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Graft selection in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery can be difficult in a young active population given their high rates of reinjury. Allografts allow for control over graft size and reduce morbidity of autograft harvest. There are mixed results about the use of allograft in the literature; however, the influence of the properties of the allograft on outcomes has not been considered.

Hypothesis: ACL reconstruction with allografts from older donors will have a higher rate of graft rupture when compared with allograft from young donors.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: Patients (N = 211) aged …

A Preliminary Report On The Awareness And Knowledge Of Seafood-Borne Parasitic Diseases Among Medical Doctors In Australia, Alexa Seal, Catherine Harding, Shokoofeh Shamsi

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Despite the increasing popularity of seafood in Australia and various reports of infection with transmissible parasites in Australian edible aquatic animals such as fish, the number of reported cases of human infections in the country is low. This raised the question that Australian medical doctors may not be fully aware of the presence of these parasites in Australia, which in turn can lead to misdiagnosis of infections. This also may lead to an underestimation of the risk seafood-borne parasites may pose to public health. This preliminary study was conducted to determine the awareness and level of knowledge among Australian medical …

Exploring The Efficacy Of The Expiratory Muscle Strength Trainer To Improve Swallowing In Inclusion Body Myositis: A Pilot Study, Nika Mohannak, Gemma Pattison, Bronwyn Radich, Kathryn Hird, Erin Godecke, Frank L. Mastaglia, Merrilee Needham

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) is the most common acquired myopathy in older individuals with more than two thirds of patients experiencing impaired swallowing. There are currently no standardized exercise therapies to improve or sustain swallowing despite good evidence for exercise therapy in limb muscles. Reduced upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening is a common abnormality associated with dysphagia in IBM. This pilot study recruited IBM patients with abnormal UES function and dysphagia into an exercise program. It was hypothesised that regular practice using the Expiratory Muscle Strength Trainer (EMST) device would improve hyolaryngeal movement by strengthening suprahyoid musculature and facilitate opening …

Marked Increase In Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infections, Western Australia, 2004–2018, Lauren E. Bloomfield, G W. Coombs, S Tempone, P K. Armstrong

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

This study presents enhanced surveillance data from 2004 – 2018 for all community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) specimens collected in Western Australia (WA), and describes the changing epidemiology over this period. A total of 57,557 cases were reviewed. Annual incidence rates increased from 86.2 cases per 100,000 population to 245.6 per 100,000 population (IRR = 2.9, CI95 2.7 – 3.0). The proportion of isolates carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-associated genes increased from 3.4% to 59.8% (χ2 test for trend 7021.9, p<0.001). The emergence of PVL-positive, “Queensland CA-MRSA” (ST93- IV) and “WA 121” (ST5-IV) accounted for the majority of increases in CA-MRSA across the study period. It is unclear why some clones are more prolific in certain regions. In WA, CA-MRSA rates increase as indices of temperature and humidity increase after controlling for socioeconomic disadvantage. We suggest climatic conditions may contribute to transmission, along with other socio-behavioural factors. A better understanding of the ability for certain clones to form ecological niches and cause outbreaks is required.

The Regulatory Landscape For Atmps In The Eu And Us: A Comparison, Shada Warreth, Elaine Harris

Level 3

Every year, a small number medicinal products receive marketing authorisation or a product licence. However, in their wake several thousand drug candidates fall by the wayside. The discovery and development journey through to the approval and marketing stages of these successful candidates as we know it can take over 12 years and often much longer and costs approximately $2.6 billion (Sullivan, 2019). Prior to the regulatory authorities granting a marketing authorisation or product licence, the sponsor is required to provide a dossier that includes relevant administrative, quality, nonclinical and clinical data. In addition, both the EU and US regulatory bodies …

Pediatric Immunization Practices In Nephrotic Syndrome: An Assessment Of Provider And Parental Knowledge, Cheryl L Tran, David T Selewski, Gia J Oh, Jonathan P Troost, Susan F Massengill, Samhar I Al-Akash, Shefali Mahesh, Rasheda Amin, Isa F Ashoor, Rahul Chanchlani, Mahmoud Kallash, Robert P Woroniecki, Debbie S Gipson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) are at high risk for vaccine-preventable infections due to the immunological effects from the disease and concurrent treatment with immunosuppressive medications. Immunizations in these patients may be deferred due to their immunosuppressive treatment which may increase the risk for vaccine-preventable infections. Immunization practices in children with NS continue to vary among pediatric nephrologists. This raises the question of whether children with NS are receiving the recommended vaccinations at appropriate times. Therefore, it is critical to understand the practices and patient education provided by physicians to patients on the topic of vaccinations.

Methods: After informed …

Symmetry Algebras Of The Canonical Lie Group Geodesic Equations In Dimension Five, Hassan Almusawa

Theses and Dissertations

Nowadays, there is much interest in constructing exact analytical solutions of differential equations using Lie symmetry methods. Lie devised the method in the 1880s. These methods were substantially developed utilizing modern mathematical language in the 1960s and 1970s by several different groups of authors such as L.V. Ovsiannikov, G. Bluman, and P. J. Olver, and have since been implemented as a software package for symbolic computation on commonly used platforms such as Mathematica and MAPLE.

In this work, we first develop an algorithmic scheme using the MAPLE platform to perform a Lie symmetry algebra identification and validate it on nonlinear …

A Theoretically-Based Mixed Methods Approach To Examining Mental Health Disorders And Help-Seeking Behaviors Among University-Enrolled African American Men, Kofoworola D.A. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies show that African American men in college are disproportionately experiencing high levels of psychological distress, increasing their risk of developing mental health symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. Despite being at higher risk for developing mental health symptoms, university-enrolled, African American men are not seeking help even when experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety, impacting their academic performance. The evidence base describing mental health symptom prevalence and evidence-based prevention strategies among university-enrolled, African American men is limited. To that end, this dissertation work utilized a concurrent, mixed methods approach, theoretically-based in the Social Ecological Model (SEM), to …

Examining Body Mass Index And Sepsis Mortality At One Year After Sepsis, Jamie D. Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Sepsis is a serious and life-threatening syndrome affecting 1.7 million Americans annually and resulting in approximately 270,000 deaths. An “obesity paradox” where obese individuals have lower sepsis mortality than their non-obese counterparts has been described. The problem is that the longevity of the effect is unknown, and few studies have examined the obesity paradox after 1-2 months post-diagnosis.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined clinical, demographic, and biomarker variables thought to affect sepsis mortality at three-time points: 30 days, 180 days, and at one year post-sepsis diagnosis in order to shed light on specific factors that might define …

Reaction Profiling Of Extracellular Protein Phosphorylation Through A Microfluidic Reactor Coupled With Raman Spectroscopy, Abigail Casey

Theses and Dissertations

Diseases and disorders in the human body are considered abnormalities of proper cellular function. Understanding the signal transduction mechanisms that cause these abnormalities is crucial to developing earlier detection methods, better treatment options and effective cures. While current diagnostic procedures are powerful tools in diagnosing diseases, they are ineffective in informing physicians on the real-time behavior of the signal transduction mechanisms associated with diseases and disorders. Currently, disease progression is monitored over time through routine patient visits and testing by one or more of the above techniques. By developing an approach that can monitor structural and conformational changes of proteins …

Characterization Of The Gonococcal Calprotectin Zn-Acquisition System, Tdfh, And The Efficacy Of Metal Starvation For Treating Gonococcal Disease, Michael T. Kammerman

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Characterization of the Gonococcal Calprotectin Zn-Acquisition System, TdfH, and the Efficacy of Metal Starvation for Treating Gonococcal Disease.

By Michael T. Kammerman, B.S.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2020

Major Director: Cynthia Nau Cornelissen, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterial agent that is responsible for the human disease gonorrhea, has had a steady increase in the number of infections per year. In 2018 the WHO estimated over 87 million infections occurred world-wide, and the CDC …

The Impact Of Aging And Mechanical Injury On Alveolar Epithelial And Macrophage Responses In Acute Lung Injury And Inflammation, Michael S. Valentine

Theses and Dissertations

Patients with severe lung pathologies, such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), often require mechanical ventilation as a clinical intervention; however, this procedure frequently exacerbates the original pulmonary issue and produces an exaggerated inflammatory response that potentially leads to sepsis, multisystem organ failure, and mortality. This acute lung injury (ALI) condition has been termed Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury (VILI). Alveolar overdistension, cyclic atelectasis, and biotrauma are the primary injury mechanisms in VILI that lead to the loss of alveolar barrier integrity and pulmonary inflammation. Stress and strains during mechanical ventilation are believed to initiate alveolar epithelial mechanotransduction signaling mechanisms that contribute …

Novel Bayesian Techniques For Dose Response Data, Faten Alamri

Theses and Dissertations

All forms of life are being exposed to different levels of harmful chemicals that can cause various and serious side effects. Toxicological experiments enable researchers to test these chemicals on animal to determine their major effects. Although optimal and acceptable dose levels have been investigated, researchers continue to strive to minimize side effects and the chemical dosages. Dose-response models and other benchmark approaches play a role in determining the acceptable exposure levels of hazardous chemicals. Parametric techniques, used to determine the tolerable dosages, utilizing ANOVA and non-linear regression models are well represented in the literature. We determined the benchmark dose …

Development Of A Screening Assay For Type Iii Secretion System Inhibitors And High Throughput Screening Campaign Of Inhibitors Of Prp Of Staphylococcus Aureus, Heather A. Pendergrass

Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotics inhibit the growth or survival of bacteria by targeting their essential functions.¹ Due to weaknesses in traditional antibiotics and the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors are being targeted for therapeutic treatment of bacterial infection.² We have developed an assay to quantify and observe type III secretion system (T3SS) activity. The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a virulence factor present in some Gram-negative pathogens including enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EPEC and EHEC, respectively),³ and others.^4–9 The T3SS between EPEC and EHEC are highly conserved and share over 90% sequence identity with …

Knemidokoptes Mites And Their Effects On The Gripping Position Of Steller’S Jay Feet, Wade M. Burris

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Steller’s jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) with swollen legs and feet resembling the signs of scaly leg have been commonly seen around Arcata, California, USA. These signs are thought to be caused by knemidokoptic mites, a group of parasites specialized at exploiting a range of avian hosts. I compared the gripping position in the feet of jays with variable signs of this condition as an index of their ability to perch, confirmed the presence of mites and identified them to the nearest species using genetic analysis, and compared the relatedness of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene between mites …

Organic Compound Farnesol Reduces Disease Severity And Onset In Mouse Model Of Multiple Sclerosis, Lacey B. Sell

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

Vaccine Hesitancy: Experimentalism As Regulatory Opportunity, Ana Santos Rutschman, Timothy L. Wiemken

All Faculty Scholarship

This symposium on patient innovation has prompted us to explore problems related to departures from official vaccination schedules. At a time in which vaccine confidence has been plummeting across the world, we argue that a more granular understanding—and ultimately a more finely tuned regulatory framework—is needed to reflect the current behavioral heterogeneity among indicated patients who choose to forego or delay administration of recommended vaccines. In particular, we focus on a phenomenon we term “vaccine staggering:” a departure from vaccination schedules in the form of delays in receiving one or more vaccines, which is motivated by the desire to boost …

Chest Ct Features Of The Novel Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19), Furkan Ufuk, Recep Savaş

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

A new type of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is rapidly spreading worldwide and causes pneumonia, respiratory distress, thromboembolic events, and death. Chest computed tomography (CT) plays an essential role in the diagnosis of viral pneumonia, monitoring disease progression, determination of disease severity, and evaluating therapeutic efficacy. Chest CT can show important clues of 2019-nCoV disease (also known as COVID-19) in patients with an appropriate clinic. Prompt diagnosis of COVID-19 is essential to prevent disease transmission and provides close clinical observation of patients with clinically severe disease. Therefore, radiologists and clinicians should be familiar with the CT imaging findings of COVID-19 pneumonia. Herein, …

The Effects Of Blood Group Types On The Risk Of Covid-19 Infection And Its Clinical Outcome, Hakan Göker, Eli̇fcan Aladağ Karakulak, Haluk Demi̇roğlu, Çağlayan Merve Ayaz Ceylan, Yahya Büyükaşik, Ahmet Çağkan İnkaya, Salih Aksu, Ni̇lgün Sayinalp, İbrahi̇m Celaletti̇n Haznedaroğlu, Ömrüm Uzun, Murat Akova, Osman İlhami̇ Özcebe, Serhat Ünal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease of 2019) is an infectious disease outbreak later on declared as a pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2). It spreads very rapidly and can result in severe acute respiratory failure. The clinical studies have shown that advanced age and chronic diseases increase the risk of infection. However, influence of the blood groups on COVID-19 infection and its outcome remains to be confirmed. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there exists a relationship between the blood groups of the patients and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the clinical outcomes in …

Validity And Reliability Of The Turkish Version Of The Michigan Neuropathy Screeninginstrument, Duygu Aktar Reyhani̇oğlu, Süleyman Cem Adiyaman, Murat Bektaş, Onur Bulut, Başak Özgen Saydam, Firat Bayraktar, Bi̇lge Kara

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI-TR). Materials and methods: The study included 127 patients aged 45-76 years who were previously diagnosed with type 1 or 2 diabetes. Stability of the instrument was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient. Reliability of the MNSI-TR was assessed using the Kuder- Richardson formula 20 test, item-total correlations, and floor/ceiling effect. Validity was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. A logistic regression model was used to determine to what degree the MNSI-TR explain nerve conduction study (NCS) …

The Assessment Of Skin Sebum And Moisture Content Of Infants With Atopic Dermatitis, Hati̇ce Güneş, Hülya Nazi̇k, Mehmet Yaşar Özkars, Nurgül Parlak, Ayten Yildiz, Ömer Duyuran, Bahaüddi̇n Ahmed Yalçin

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder characterized by dry skin, pruritus and eczematous lesions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the skin moisture and sebum content of the infants with AD and its relationship between the disease severity. Materials and methods: For this cross-sectional and case-control study we included 49 infants with AD aged between 2 and 24 months and 34 healthy infants with the same age and sex as a control group. Skin moisture and sebum content were measured by the bio- impedance method and recorded. Skin prick tests, total IgE levels and …

Factors Associated With Severe Lung Disease In An Adult Population With Cystic Fibrosis: A Single-Center Experience, Berri̇n Er, Ebru Çelebi̇oğlu, Ebru Yalçin, Deni̇z Doğru, Özlem Erden Aki̇, Ömrüm Uzun, Murat Akova, Uğur Özçeli̇k, Nural Ki̇per, Sali̇h Emri̇

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/Aim: The patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are living longer compared to the past, but respiratory failure is still the most common cause of mortality. The aim of this study is to investigate factors associated with severe lung disease in a cohort of adult patients with CF. Materials and methods: Demographic data, clinical and laboratory findings of the patients aged 18 years and more were collected and the patients were grouped according to forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) as severe group: