Digital Commons Network^™

Promoting The Safe Mobility Of Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Austin M. Svancara

All ETDs from UAB

Having access to adequate transportation is important for employment, healthcare, and community involvement needs. Unfortunately, the transportation needs of many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are currently not being met. Despite having the capability to achieve licensure, a significant portion of high functioning individuals with ASD are delaying licensure or not getting their driver’s license at all. High functioning individuals with ASD are likely to have the capacity to operate a motor vehicle safely, supporting the proposition that there are existing barriers to licensure beyond the contributing role of ASD traits. This dissertation examined the perceived driving styles and …

Life-Space Mobility In The Older Adult, Community-Dwelling Cancer Survivor In The Deep South: A Secondary Data Analysis, Richard A. Taylor

All ETDs from UAB

By 2040, the U.S. is projected to have 26.1 million cancer survivors; 73% of these will be over 65 years old. Much is known about life-space mobility (LSM) in patients with non-cancer serious illnesses. Restricted LSM affects every aspect of an older adult’s life; their independence, autonomy, and quality of life (QOL). To date, there are no studies examining LSM in older cancer survivors. Therefore, we examined LSM, factors that affect LSM, and the relationship between LSM and QOL in older cancer survivors using existing data from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Study of Aging (SOA) (NIA AG15062). …

Characterization Of The Phenotype And Functional Properties Of Myeloid Subpopulations In Chronic Inflammatory Conditions, Krystle Leandra Ong

All ETDs from UAB

Myeloid cells represent a subset of leukocytes traditionally recognized as first responders to acute inflammatory stimuli. In recent years, there has been a growing appreciation of the role of myeloid cells as critical regulators of the immune system in disease pathogenesis and progression. Chronic inflammatory diseases including viral infections, autoimmune diseases, and malignancies are frequently associated with altered myelopoiesis characterized by a profound shift in the myeloid cell phenotype and function. The work presented in this dissertation provides an insight into dysregulated myelopoiesis and myeloid heterogeneity in multiple myeloma (MM), human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), and coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). We identify …

Alzheimer Disease Special Care Units And Nursing Homes' Organizational Performance, Giovanna Pilonieta Ortiz

All ETDs from UAB

Alzheimer’s disease special care units (AD SCUs) have been adopted to provide specialized care for people with dementia in nursing homes. However, the effects of environmental and organizational factors on AD SCUs adoption by nursing homes and their influence on nursing homes' organizational performance remains unclear. Guided by Resource Dependence Theory, Donabedian’s Structure-Process-Outcome (SPO) framework and the Resource-Based View of Firms perspective, the purpose of the three papers included in this dissertation was to provide empirical evidence of the contextual and organizational factors that influence AD SCUs adoption among nursing homes and how the adoption of AD SCUs impact nursing …

The Influence Of Sleep Duration And Sleep Efficiency On Abdominal Adiposity And Blood Pressure In Adolescents Ages 16 To 18 Who Participated In The Cleveland Children's Sleep And Health Study: A Secondary Data Analysis, Shameka Rodgers Phillips

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: Abdominal adiposity and blood pressure (BP) are two major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the world. The impact of abdominal adiposity and BP on health, particularly CVD, begins in childhood. Older adolescents tend to have the highest prevalence of abdominal adiposity and BP in the pediatric population. Despite interventions like diet and exercise, the prevalence of excess abdominal adiposity and elevated BP continues to increase during late adolescence. Evidence suggests that sleep duration and sleep efficiency impact abdominal adiposity and BP in adults and the pediatric population, but limited studies have …

Applying Pet Imaging To Cancer Immunotherapy To Improve Clinical Outcomes, Kirsten M. Reeves

All ETDs from UAB

The use of biomarkers has significantly enhanced patient outcome by improving diagnosis, personalizing therapy, and monitoring therapeutic response yet most cancers remain non-responsive. Thus, there is a need to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms and tumor microenvironment to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Molecular imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) are used to assess response during oncology therapy. Molecular imaging can also provide a noninvasive approach to accurately quantify biomarkers correlated with the tumor microenvironment, including glucose metabolism and hypoxia. 18F-Fluoromisonidazole (18F-FMISO) hypoxia targeted cellular uptake has been shown to correlate with negative …

Non-Mean Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Parameters And Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: Analysis Of Pooled Population- And Community-Based Studies, Swati Sakhuja

All ETDs from UAB

High mean blood pressure (BP) on ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) is a strong risk factor for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), an early manifestation of hypertension-related cardiovascular disease (CVD). Typically, 48-72 systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) readings are obtained on a 24-hour ABPM recording. The large number of readings from ABPM allows for the estimation of parameters beyond mean BP that capture level and fluctuation in BP over 24-hours, which may be useful for identifying individuals at high risk for CVD. The measures of BP level other than mean BP obtained from ABPM recording include BP load (percentage of …

Disease And Diet-Induced Disruption Of Effector T Cell Homeostasis, Patrick Axel Molina

All ETDs from UAB

Homeostatic departure is a central feature across all diseases and disease processes. Currently, the average individual in the US consumes an inordinate quantity of salt. However, it is unclear if only individuals that have proven blood pressure elevation with an acute load of salt should be wary. Here we demonstrate, alongside a growing body of science, that the canonical definition of salt-sensitivity is insufficient. We show that salt-resistant mice demonstrate salt-sensitivity in non-blood pressure focused phenomena, such as the acute activation of CD4+ T cells to mobilize and induce a defective effector cytokine program with high salt. We demonstrate that …

A Rare And Challenging Case Of Refractory Fetal Supraventricular Tachycardia, Jane Rudolph

All Publications

Fetal supraventricular tachycardia can be difficult to manage and offers a challenging treatment course, particularly in refractory cases. The treatment course must balance maternal well-being with the health status of the fetus, all while racing against possible progression to hydrops fetalis or permanent cardiac dysfunction. We describe a case of fetal supraventricular tachycardia that demonstrates many of these concepts, as well as the importance of utilizing several treatment pathways in refractory cases.

Coronary Artery Disease, Cardiac Arrest, And Shared Decision Making In A Recreational Athlete, Juan Batlle, Eli Friedman

All Publications

A highly active 59-year-old-man with a history of cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction presented for exercise recommendations. Multimodality risk stratification led to ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest at the completion of a maximal effort cardiopulmonary exercise test. Using shared decision making, the safety and feasibility of returning to exercise were discussed. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.) (J Am Coll Cardiol Case Rep 2022;4:1110–1114)

Food Neophobia Across The Life Course: Pooling Data From Five National Cross-Sectional Surveys In Ireland, Daniel Hazley, Mairead Stack, Janette Walton, Breige A. Mcnulty, John Kearney

Articles

Food neophobia describes a reluctance to eat novel foods. Levels of food neophobia vary throughout life and are thought to peak in childhood. However, the trajectory of food neophobia across the life course is not fully clear. Using data from five national cross-sectional surveys in Ireland we explored levels of food neophobia in males and females aged 1–87 years. In addition, we assessed the influence of sociodemographic factors, breastfeeding and parental food neophobia on food neophobia. Food neophobia was measured using the Food Neophobia Scale in adults and adolescents and with the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire in preschool and school …

Molecular Control Of The Migratory Phase During Cutaneous Wound Healing, Chloe Elizabeth Bolton

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Superficial cutaneous injuries occur on a huge scale across the globe; while most will resolve without intervention or any lasting damage, many will experience complications that arise through delayed healing or as a consequence of the skins protective barrier being breached. The migration of cutaneous cells across a wound site is a crucial factor in establishing permanent restoration of the skins integrity. This study provides insight into molecular events that facilitate the migratory ability of cutaneous cells during this phase of the healing process. Through subcellular analysis, molecular manipulation and various imaging techniques of in vivo and in vitro wound …

Novel Approaches To Assess Cellular Interactions And Their Role In The Pathology And Treatment Of Lymphoproliferative Disorders, Frances Hilary Rose Frend

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Background: Migration and homing are essential to B-lymphocyte mediated immunity, and are driven by rapid, directed, and appropriate reorganisation of the actin cytoskeleton. Important observations have linked the cytoskeletal-rearrangements made by leukaemic B-lymphocytes of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) to disease pathology. In particular, cytoskeletal alterations mediated by B-cell receptor (BCR) engagement or chemokine-binding are recognised to be central to the migration of CLL cells to lymphoid tissues, where they engage in the complex cellular and molecular interactions that underlie their survival, proliferation, and drug resistance. Further emphasising this importance, has been the observation that highly effective small molecule inhibitors that …

Nitrite And Insulin Lower The Oxygen Cost Of Atp Synthesis In Skeletal Muscle Cells By Pleiotropic Stimulation Of Glycolysis, Rosie Donnell

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Dietary nitrate lowers the oxygen cost of submaximal exercise, but precise mechanistic insight into how this occurs is lacking. Research suggests that dietary nitrate may render oxidative ATP synthesis more efficient, but evidence is inconclusive at present. This thesis aimed to establish how nitrite (a reduced form of nitrate) affects the bioenergetics of cultured skeletal muscle cells. Comparison between the acute effects of nitrite and insulin, a hormonal regulator of muscle function that increases mitochondrial efficiency, was explored to assess possible mechanistic overlap. Calculation of real-time intracellular ATP synthesis rates from simultaneous oxygen consumption and medium acidification measurements revealed the …

Prediction Of Cardiometabolic Risk In Children, Olubukola Ajala

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Background: Three decades of clinical research have demonstrated that the risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD: coronary disease and ischaemic stroke), and the closely related type 2 diabetes (T2D) are established and influenced by events during childhood. This is at least partly because childhood obesity usually leads to adult adiposity; so, the currently high prevalence of adult cardiometabolic disease, means that obesity needs to be identified as early as possible, ideally in childhood. Screening for obesity largely relies on anthropometric measurements like body mass index (BMI), however this has many limitations including its inability to distinguish lean from fat mass. …

The Application Of Precaution In Elasmobranch Conservation And Management In The Mediterranean Sea, Lydia Koehler, Ioannis Giovos, Jason Lowther

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Non-Invasive Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation For Neuromodulation, G. Darmani, T. O. Bergmann, Pauly K Butts, C. F. Caskey, Lecea L De, A. Fomenko, E. Fouragnan, W. Legon, K. R. Murphy, T. Nandi, M. A. Phipps, G. Pinton, H. Ramezanpour, J. Sallet, S. N. Yaakub, S. S. Yoo, R. Chen

School of Psychology

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) holds great potential as a tool to alter neural circuits non-invasively in both animals and humans. In contrast to established non-invasive brain stimulation methods, ultrasonic waves can be focused on both cortical and deep brain targets with the unprecedented spatial resolution as small as a few cubic millimeters. This focusing allows exclusive targeting of small subcortical structures, previously accessible only by invasive deep brain stimulation devices. The neuromodulatory effects of TUS are likely derived from the kinetic interaction of the ultrasound waves with neuronal membranes and their constitutive mechanosensitive ion channels, to produce short term and …

Endogenous Opioid Systems Alterations In Pain And Opioid Use Disorder, Jessica A Higginbotham, Tamara Markovic, Nicolas Massaly, Jose A Morón

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Decades of research advances have established a central role for endogenous opioid systems in regulating reward processing, mood, motivation, learning and memory, gastrointestinal function, and pain relief. Endogenous opioid systems are present ubiquitously throughout the central and peripheral nervous system. They are composed of four families, namely the μ (MOPR), κ (KOPR), δ (DOPR), and nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOPR) opioid receptors systems. These receptors signal through the action of their endogenous opioid peptides β-endorphins, dynorphins, enkephalins, and nociceptins, respectfully, to maintain homeostasis under normal physiological states. Due to their prominent role in pain regulation, exogenous opioids-primarily targeting the MOPR, have been …

Atrial Fibrillation In Middle-Eastern Arabs And South Asians: Studies From A 20-Year National Registry In Qatar, Amar Mohammad Amin Farhan Salam

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice accounting for approximately one-third of hospitalizations for cardiac rhythm disturbances and is associated with increased risk for stroke, heart failure and death. The epidemiology and clinical features of AF have primarily been characterized in whites of European-descent. The world literature on the epidemiology of AF among different ethnicities is very limited with most of the published reports of AF in non-white ethnicities focusing mainly on black (African-American) patients. The current work represents structured and staged examination of AF in two ethnic groups where very limited literature is available …

Dermatologic Events Associated With The Anti-Ccr4 Antibody Mogamulizumab: Characterization And Management, Amy C M Musiek, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The CCR4-directed monoclonal antibody mogamulizumab has been shown to significantly improve progression-free survival and overall response rate compared with vorinostat in adults with relapsed/refractory mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS). One of the most common adverse events seen with mogamulizumab in MF/SS patients is rash. Because of the protean nature of MF/SS and the variable clinical and histopathological features of mogamulizumab-associated rash, healthcare providers may have difficulty distinguishing rash from disease, and may not be aware of appropriate treatment strategies for this generally manageable adverse event. The objective of this report was to combine results from published literature with …

Regulations Governing Psychologists: An International Survey., Hee Sun Kim, Seowon Yoon, Gaeun Son, Euntaek Hong, Amanda Clinton, Catherine L. Grus, David Murphy, Alex M. Siegel, Eleni Karayianni, Michael O. Ezenwa, Georgia Zara, Germán Gutiérrez, Daniel Balva, Jeanyung Chey, Kee Hong Choi

School of Psychology

This study aimed to examine legal regulations on psychologists worldwide, such as those related to professional status and training models. An online survey was conducted by members of the Global Psychology Alliance and Asia Pacific Psychology Alliance. The survey included information on the legal status of psychologists in 55 countries. Representatives of 28 countries provided their responses, whereas information on the legal status of psychologists in 27 European countries was obtained from research data reported by the European Commission in 2016. We found that 80% of the 55 countries included in this study regulated professions in the field of psychology …

Room To Breathe: Using Adaptive Architecture To Examine The Relationship Between Alexithymia And Interoception, Haneen Abdulhamid, Nils Jäger, Holger Schnädelbach, Alastair D. Smith

School of Psychology

ObjectiveIndividuals with alexithymia experience difficulties interpreting emotional states in self and others, which has been associated with interoceptive impairment. Current theories are primarily based on subjective and conscious measures of interoceptive sensitivity, such as heartrate detection, but it is unclear whether similar observations would be found for objective or implicit psychophysiological measures. The present exploratory study assesses the potential of a novel assay through the use of adaptive immersive architecture [ExoBuilding].MethodsN = 88 participants were screened for alexithymic traits and N = 27 individuals, representing the range of scores, were sampled to participate in the behavioural task. In a repeated-measures …

Association Of Pretreatment Hippocampal Volume With Neurocognitive Function In Patients Treated With Hippocampal Avoidance Whole Brain Radiation Therapy For Brain Metastases: Secondary Analysis Of Nrg Oncology/Rtog 0933, Christopher D. Abraham, Stephanie L. Pugh, Joseph A. Bovi, Vinai Gondi, Minesh P. Mehta, Tammie Benzinger, Christopher J. Owen, Simon S. Lo, Vijayananda Kundapur, Paul D. Brown, Alexander Y. Sun, Steven P. Howard, Albert S Denittis, Clifford G. Robinson, Lisa A. Kachnic

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Hippocampal volume (HV) is an established predicting factor for neurocognitive function (NCF) in neurodegenerative disease. Whether the same phenomenon exists with hippocampal-avoidant whole brain radiation therapy is not known; therefore, we assessed the association of baseline HV with NCF among patients enrolled on RTOG 0933.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Hippocampal volume and total brain volume were calculated from the radiation therapy plan. Hippocampal volume was correlated with baseline and 4-month NCF scores (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised [HVLT-R] Total Recall [TR], Immediate Recognition, and Delayed Recall [DR]) using Pearson correlation. Deterioration in NCF was defined per the primary endpoint of RTOG …

Personalized Practice Dosages May Improve Motor Learning In Older Adults Compared To "Standard Of Care" Practice Dosages: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Geneviève N Olivier, Leland E Dibble, Serene S Paul, Keith R Lohse, Christopher S Walter, Ryan J Marker, Heather A Hayes, K Bo Foreman, Kevin Duff, Sydney Y Schaefer

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Standard dosages of motor practice in clinical physical rehabilitation are insufficient to optimize motor learning, particularly for older patients who often learn at a slower rate than younger patients. Personalized practice dosing (i.e., practicing a task to or beyond one's plateau in performance) may provide a clinically feasible method for determining a dose of practice that is both standardized and individualized, and may improve motor learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether personalized practice dosages [

Outcomes Following In-Hospital Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation In People Receiving Maintenance Dialysis, Fahad Saeed, Haris F Murad, Richard E Wing, Jianbo Li, Jesse D Schold, Kevin A Fiscella

2020-Current year OA Pubs

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Previous studies showing poor cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outcomes in the dialysis population have largely been derived from claims data and are somewhat limited by a lack of detailed characterization of CPR events. We aimed to analyze CPR-related outcomes in individuals receiving maintenance dialysis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Using electronic medical records from a single academic health care system, we identified all hospitalized adult patients receiving maintenance dialysis who had undergone in-hospital CPR between 2006 and 2014.

EXPOSURE: Initial in-hospital CPR.

OUTCOMES: Overall survival, predictors of unsuccessful CPR, predictors of death during the same …

Preeclampsia Is Associated With Reduced Isg15 Levels Impairing Extravillous Trophoblast Invasion, Asli Ozmen, Anthony O Odibo, Et Al

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Among several interleukin (IL)-6 family members, only IL-6 and IL-11 require a gp130 protein homodimer for intracellular signaling due to lack of intracellular signaling domain in the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) and IL-11R. We previously reported enhanced decidual IL-6 and IL-11 levels at the maternal-fetal interface with significantly higher peri-membranous IL-6 immunostaining in adjacent interstitial trophoblasts in preeclampsia (PE) vs. gestational age (GA)-matched controls. This led us to hypothesize that competitive binding of these cytokines to the gp130 impairs extravillous trophoblast (EVT) differentiation, proliferation and/or invasion. Using global microarray analysis, the current study identified inhibition of interferon-stimulated gene 15 (

Epithelial Abnormalities In The Small Intestine Of Zambian Children With Stunting, Chola Mulenga, Sanja Sviben, Kanta Chandwe, Beatrice Amadi, Violet Kayamba, James A J Fitzpatrick, Victor Mudenda, Paul Kelly

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Environmental enteropathy (EE) contributes to impaired linear growth (stunting), in millions of children worldwide. We have previously reported that confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) shows fluorescein leaking from blood to gut lumen

METHODS: We performed confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) in 75 children and collected intestinal biopsies for histology in 91 children. CLE videos were evaluated, employing the Watson score to determine severity of leakiness. Morphometry was carried out on well-orientated mucosa and 3 biopsies were examined by electron microscopy.

RESULTS: Confocal laser endomicroscopy demonstrated substantial leakage from circulation to gut lumen in 73 (97%) children. Histology consistently showed characteristic changes …

Identifying Conservation Priorities For Gorgonian Forests In Italian Coastal Waters With Multiple Methods Including Citizen Science And Social Media Content Analysis, Arianna Liconti, Simon J. Pittman, Sian E. Rees, Nova Mieszkowska

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Mixture Toxicity Of Tio2 Nps And Tetracycline At Two Trophic Levels In The Marine Ecosystem: Chlorella Sp. And Artemia Salina, V Thiagarajan, R Seenivasan, D Jenkins, N Chandrasekaran, A Mukherjee

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Sociodemographic Factors As Predictors Of Low Influenza Vaccination In Chicago, Illinois, Ingrid L. Jeske

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Outbursts of seasonal influenza contribute to morbidity and mortality in the United States. Influenza is a contagious disease caused by influenza viruses. The main subtypes of the influenza virus are Type A and Type B. Influenza vaccines are among the most effective methods in preventing the spread of the influenza virus because they offer the best immune defense. However, health care providers face significant challenges due to low patient compliance with current vaccine recommendations and misinformation. Scholars have yet to expand and further explore the reasons for the gap in influenza vaccination between White individuals and minorities, such as the …