Digital Commons Network^™

Successful Treatment Of An Extensively Drug-Resistant Pseudomonal Ulcer Associated With Contaminated Artificial Tears, Sina Rezaei, Daniel W. Steen, Sejal R. Amin

Ophthalmology Articles

PURPOSE: To report a case of bacterial keratitis caused by an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain linked to contaminated artificial tears in the United States. The ulcer was successfully treated without perforation or extracorneal spread.

OBSERVATIONS: An 81-year-old patient presented with a corneal ulcer of the right eye. The patient had a notable complex ocular history including glaucoma and corneal edema from corneal decompensation after prolonged retained lens fragment. Despite starting hourly fortified tobramycin and vancomycin eye drops, the infiltrate grew significantly by the next day. Bacterial culture grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa that was resistant to all tested antibiotics except …

+Protective Roles For Interferon-Gamma In Astrocytes During Chronic Autoimmunity, Brandon C. Smith

ETD Archive

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Infiltrating inflammatory immune cells perpetuate demyelination and axonal damage in the CNS and significantly contribute to pathology and clinical deficits. Interferon (IFN)γ is classically described as deleterious in acute CNS autoimmunity, we and others have shown astrocytic IFNγ signaling also has a neuroprotective role. We found IFNγ signaling on astrocytes upregulates subunits of the immunoproteasome (iP) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), both of which serve protective roles during autoimmunity. Astrocyte-specific knockouts of Ifngr1 resulted in increased clinical severity in the MS murine model, experimental …

Cereal–Vegetable Intercropping: Hindrances And Strategies To Increase Intercropping, Iqra Zaki̇r, Ahmad Abdul Wahab, Tahira Abbas, Sakeena Tul-Ain Haider, Sobia Irum, Samreen Sabir, Sajjad Hussain, Shakeel Ahmad

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Climate change is the major factor that affects crop yield and productivity in the long term. The changing climate scenario is now impacting farmers’ lands and their outcomes in both developed and developing countries. The intercropping of crop species or varieties that have high arable capability is a promising technique for increasing crop production without increasing agricultural inputs. In intercropping, the selection of varieties, optimum sowing time, method of plant arrangement, and sowing proportion are required to make the design suitable for an intercropping system. Intercropping is one of the most highlighted agronomic practices helping to improve soil health (structure, …

Investigating The Microbiome Of The Eye And The Potential Of Probiotic Use In Optometry, Rachel Hartgerink

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

While the eye was once considered free of resident bacteria due to its efficient immunity mechanisms, recent studies have determined that most healthy eyes contain a variety of microbiota. Many studies have been aimed at classifying bacteria that are part of the core microbiome of the eye and the conditions under which they differ. As with gut health, a dysbiosis of ocular bacteria could correlate to disease, which presents the idea of treatment with probiotics to help regulate the microbiota of the eye. This study utilized growth assays to determine a common probiotic’s effect on bacteria that can be found …

Characterization Of Ocular Surface Pathology And Tear Film Dysfunction Due To Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Judy Weng

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Untreated diabetes mellitus leads to development of microvascular and macrovascular complications affecting heart, nerves, kidney, and eyes. While the etiological mechanisms of diabetes-associated retinopathy and cataract have been well characterized, the time kinetics and the severity of diabetes-mediated injury to the ocular surface and its various components like tear film, goblet cells and glycocalyx, has not yet been investigated. These pathological changes can potentially cause dry eye and corneal injury including epithelial erosion, impaired wound healing and keratopathy. As the mainstay treatment option for the management of dry eye disease due to diabetes mellitus, artificial tears are frequently used. Therefore, …

Environmental Exposures And Aging., Daniel Chris Gomes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, research into air pollution has shown that exposure to certain components in air pollution, primarily PM2.5 can accelerate biological aging and thereby lead to increased susceptibility to multiple diseases. We hypothesize that prolonged exposure to air pollutants can result in premature aging leading to extensive tissue dysfunction and susceptibility to diseases. To examine this, we exposed mice to PM2.5 for 9, 15, and 21 days, then measured the telomere lengths, cellular senescence, and histone methylation patterns of multiple cell types. We found consistently increased telomere attrition, cellular senescence and advanced age-consistent histone methylation patterns in groups exposed …

Genetically Engineering Gingipains For High Yield Large Scale Purification., Andrew E. Fuchs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone oral pathogen in the progression of periodontal disease and has been implicated in the etiology of many other systemic human diseases. P. gingivalis produces primary virulence factors termed the gingipains, a group of cysteine proteases. There is a high demand for high purity gingipains for downstream in vitro studies where P.g. is implicated, both oral and systemic. Gingipain production candidate mutant P.g. strains were generated to isolate each gingipain for large scale purification and the purified gingipains characterized. Two mutants were determined not to be viable for large scale purification of gingipains, each for different …

The Interplay Between Lung Adenocarcinoma, Nutrient Availability, And The Microbiome., Alexis A. Vega

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer diagnosed, and has the highest lethality rate across all other forms of cancer in the U.S. While current therapeutic options include chemo-, immuno-, and radio-therapy, the benefits of caloric or nutrient restriction on cancer cells has also been investigated. Due to the many biological functions associated with methionine, many have proposed a methionine restricted diet would lead to favorable outcomes when combating cancer. Although our cells are incapable of synthesizing methionine, the bacteria found in our microbiome can. Furthermore, recent discoveries suggest an independent microbiome found within tumors that …

Communicating In Crisis: Rhetorical (De)Stabilization During The Covid-19 Pandemic., Brittany Nicole Smart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project explores the role of rhetoric in crisis—how rhetoric can contribute to both the stabilization and destabilization of a worldwide health emergency. Specifically, I utilize the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study to investigate how institutional rhetorics exacerbated the ongoing burnout epidemic amongst healthcare workers. Through a feminist, materialist take on institutional ethnography (Fullagar & Pavlidis, 2021; Griffith & Smith, 2014), I show how, while institutions like the CDC were under pressure to contain the spread of the virus, in the chaos of communicating safety regulations to healthcare professionals, they inadvertently subverted clinician autonomy and expertise by “coordinating” (LaFrance, …

Impacts Of Environmental Stressors On Native South Dakota Amphibian Physiology And Survival, Danielle Jean Galvin

Dissertations and Theses

Amphibian populations around the world are declining, with some of the most likely drivers behind these declines including emerging infectious diseases and environmental contaminants. To address major gaps in the current literature, I sought to evaluate the effect of two major environmental stressors on various aspects of amphibian physiology: emerging infectious diseases and environmental contaminants. Emerging infectious diseases of amphibians include fungal, viral, and parasitic pathogens which have expanded in host range, either geographically or in competent host species. Environmental contaminants include chemicals which may be naturally occurring in the environment, or which may be introduced to the environment, often …

A Quality Improvement Project To Improve The Management Of Group A Streptococcalpharyngitis Among Children, Tara Denise Gutierrez

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Group A Streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis is one of the most common pediatric illnesses and accounts for more than ten million yearly medical visits. GAS is commonly misdiagnosed due to overlapping symptoms. The health care provider needs to distinguish which criteria warrant testing for GAS and the recommendations for management and treatment.

The purpose and objectives of this quality improvement project were to improve adherence to the 2021 Canadian guidelines for the management and treatment of GAS pharyngitis in a small community urgent care clinic. Anticipated outcomes for this project included a decrease in unnecessary testing for GAS pharyngitis, a decrease …

Preserving The Force: A Quality Improvement Project To Reduce The Risk Of Opioid Use Disorder In The Military, Lecreshia S. Shields

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Military service members incur combat and noncombat related injuries which may lead to acute or chronic pain. Treatment of these conditions with opioids may place them at risk for opioid use disorder (OUD). Opioid related overdoses among the military community increased by 50% from 2010 to 2019. The Sole Provider Program (SPP) is recommended to address the risks of OUD among Veterans receiving care at military installations. The goal of this evidence-based project was to ensure that all persons who receive opioid prescriptions at a military facility were evaluated for inclusion into a SPP and prescribed naloxone. Objectives included: 1) …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Pyrazine-Based Prodrugs: A Novel Approach To Combat Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis, Charles Chambers

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses - Archive

Synthesis and Characterization of Pyrazine-Based Prodrugs: A Novel Approach to Combat Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Charles Cole Chambers The University of Texas – Arlington, 2023 Supervising Professor: Dr. Joseph Buonomo. The work described in this thesis investigates the development and characterization of a novel prodrug designed to combat multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), a significant and growing global health challenge. Central to this study is the synthesis of a pyrazine-based prodrug, which innovatively utilizes bicyclic orthoester (BOE) moieties to improve the therapeutic efficacy and safety profile of this tuberculosis treatment. At the core of this research project is the strategic design of …

Rapid Evolution Of A(H5n1) Influenza Viruses After Intercontinental Spread To North America, Ahmed Kandeil, Christopher Patton, Jeremy C. Jones, Trushar Jeevan, Walter N. Harrington, Sanja Trifkovic, Jon P. Seiler, Thomas Fabrizio, Karlie Woodard, Jasmine C. Turner, Jeri Carol Crumpton, Lance Miller, Adam Rubrum, Jennifer Debeauchamp, Charles J. Russell, Elena A. Govorkova, Peter Vogel, Mia Kim-Torchetti, Yohannes Berhane, David Stallknecht, Rebecca Poulson, Lisa Kercher, Richard J. Webby

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b underwent an explosive geographic expansion in 2021 among wild birds and domestic poultry across Asia, Europe, and Africa. By the end of 2021, 2.3.4.4b viruses were detected in North America, signifying further intercontinental spread. Here we show that the western movement of clade 2.3.4.4b was quickly followed by reassortment with viruses circulating in wild birds in North America, resulting in the acquisition of different combinations of ribonucleoprotein genes. These reassortant A(H5N1) viruses are genotypically and phenotypically diverse, with many causing severe disease with dramatic neurologic involvement in mammals. The proclivity of …

Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider: Special Issue 5: 2023 In Review, Bharat Bajantri Md, Sarah Ellsworth-Hoffman Mls

Critical Care & Pulmonary

Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider Issue 5: Special Issue

Compiled by Bharat Bajantri, MD, and librarian Sarah Ellsworth, MLS for the clinicians of the Pulmonary and Critical Care team of Parkview.

The goal of this newsletter is to give a brief summary of the most pertinent articles to everyday practice and an attempt to keep up with literature as best as possible. Newsletters go out every 1-2 months.

Effects Of Dietary Rumen-Protected Choline Supplementation To Periparturient Dairy Cattle On Inflammation, Metabolism, And Performance During An Intramammary Lipopolysaccharide Challenge, Turner H. Swartz, Barry Bradford, Laman Mamedova, Kari Estes

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

Recent studies have suggested that dietary rumen-protected choline (RPC) supplementation can modulate immune function, attenuate inflammation, and improve performance in periparturient dairy cattle; however, this has yet to be evaluated during a mastitis challenge. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of supplementation and dose of RPC on metabolism, inflammation, and performance during an intramammary lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Parous Holstein cows (parity, mean ± SD, 1.9 ± 1.1 at enrollment) were blocked by calving month and randomly assigned within block to receive either 45 g/d of RPC (20.4 g/d of choline ions; CHOL45, n = 18), …

Morphological And Metabolic Criteria Of Covid-19 Vaccine Associated Axillary Nodes On 18-Fluorodeouxyglucose Pet/Ct Imaging In Breast Cancer Patients, Nosheen Fatima, Unaiza Zaman, Areeba Zaman, Sidra Zaman, Rabia Tehseen, Maseeh Uz Zaman

Department of Radiology

Background: In the current era vaccine-associated lymphadenopathy (VAL) is not an uncommon presentation on 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations in patients inoculated with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. In this study, we are presenting data of VAL on 18F-FDG PET/CT regarding its prevalence, temporal response to vaccination and imaging characteristics of VAL.
Methods: Seventy-eight (78) consecutive vaccinated breast cancer (BC) patients who had 18FDG PET/CT were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had COVID-19 vaccine shots in contralateral arms and none in breast cancer site axilla (BSA). In 35 patients 18FDG avid nodes were found in vaccine site axilla (VSA). In 25 patients 18FDG …

A Survey On Mosquito Control Knowledge And Insecticide Use In New Orleans, La, 2020–2021, Erin R. Cloherty, Janet C. Mcallister, James A. Ottea, Kristen Healy, Claudia Riegel

Faculty Publications

Mosquitoes are a known public nuisance and can vector various diseases. Historically, New Orleans, LA, has long been acquainted with the burden of mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria and yellow fever in the 20th century and West Nile virus in the 21st century. Government mosquito control awareness campaigns have been around for decades as has the use of organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides by mosquito abatement districts. However, few data are available on public perception of mosquito control and public usage of insecticides to kill mosquitoes in New Orleans. We conducted a survey from August 2020 to July 2021 to evaluate …

An Aerobic Exercise Intervention To Improve Metabolic Health Among People Living With Hiv With At-Risk Alcohol Use: The Alive-Ex Research Study Protocol, Liz Simon, Stefany D. Primeaux, Danielle E. Levitt, Brianna Bourgeois, Neil M. Johannsen, Adrianna Peters, Jameel Ahmed, Richard H. Marshall, Alexandra H. Fairchild, Tekeda F. Ferguson, Patricia E. Molina

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people living with HIV (PLWH) has improved life expectancy and increased risk of age-associated cardiometabolic comorbidities. At-risk alcohol use is more frequent among PLWH and increases the risk of health challenges. PLWH with at-risk alcohol use are more likely to meet criteria for prediabetes/diabetes and this is associated with impaired whole-body glucose-insulin dynamics. Methods: The Alcohol & Metabolic Comorbidities in PLWH: Evidence Driven Interventions Study (ALIVE-Ex Study, NCT03299205) is a longitudinal, prospective, interventional study to determine the effects of an aerobic exercise protocol on improving dysglycemia among PLWH with at-risk alcohol use. The intervention …

Amplifying Support For Physical Activity: The National Strategy On Hunger, Nutrition, And Health, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, John M. Jakicic, Russell R. Pate, Katrina L. Piercy, Laurie P. Whitsel

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Labrad : Vol 48, Issue 2 - December 2023, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

LABRAD - Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Radiology Archives

• Editorial
• Articles
• Navigating Lab Excellence in LARAD
• Lab Resilience in a Changing Climate: Sustainable Strategies for Future-Proof Clinical Laboratories
• Professional Insights from a Pioneer in Autoimmune Disease Testing: The Future of Antinuclear/Anticellular Antibody Testing
• Insights into CCHF and Other Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
• Bombay Blood Group
• Role and Application of Cytogenetics in Multiple Myeloma
• Low-grade Nasopharyngeal Papillary Adenocarcinoma in a Deceivingly "blue" Biopsy
• Transplant Immunology – Diagnostics
• The Best of the Past
• Farewell Chronicles: Celebrating Dr Anila Rashid's Journey
• The Best of the Past
• Farewell Chronicles: Celebrating Dr Anila Rashid's Journey
• Polaroid
• Chemical Pathology
• Radiology
• Hematology
• Histopathology
• Microbiology
• Molecular Pathology
• Tests …

Village-Level Processing Of Pangi (Pangium Edule Reinw.) Seeds By The Obu Manuvu Improves The Edibility And Level Of Some Nutritional Factors [Research Note], Rovi Gem E. Villame-Gayagas, Jennifer P. Fronteras, Maria Christna D. Nacar, Aaron P. Lorilla, Pedro A. Alviola Iv

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Pangi (Pangium edule Reinw) seed is known to be a poisonous material. However, it becomes safe for consumption after processing. This study determined the effect of village-level processing by the Obu Manuvu community of Marilog District, Davao City, Philippines on the antinutrient and nutritional composition of Pangi seeds. Processing methods involved washing with running water for about 15 s, boiling in water for 30 min, and soaking in flowing water in a nearby river overnight. Results showed that after processing, the levels of antinutrients such as cyanogenic glycosides and oxalates were reduced significantly (p < 0.05) by 99.15% and 78.23%, respectively. Further, the tannin content was also significantly reduced by 96.15%. The crude fat content significantly increased (p < 0.05) by about 54%. Crude ash and fiber decreased, while protein did not change significantly (p < 0.05). Minerals such as calcium and zinc increased (p < 0.05) by 221.43% and 64.39%, respectively while the iron and manganese levels remained unaffected. Findings of the study suggested that the processing method by the Obu Manuvu effectively reduces the level of antinutrients, thereby improving the edibility and safety of Pangi seeds. Further, the processing method improves the level of some nutrients, specifically crude fat, calcium, and zinc.

Enhanced Market Timing: Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network For Optimal Entry And Exit In Stock Market, Jerome Chinua Hall

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This thesis investigates applying a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Neural Network for forecasting optimal times to enter and exit the stock market. Given the inherent imbalance in the dataset, where most days are not opportune for market actions, and the challenge of predicting such infrequent occurrences, we will employ a five-day window before and after the identified optimal market entry or exit time. A prediction is considered correct if it is within this five-day interval. The model was trained on historical S&P 500 data, using features such as exponential and simple moving averages of the closing price, the ten-day percentage …

Exploring The Molecular Landscape Of Hepatitis C Virus: Insights Into Viral Replication And Host Interactions, Deniece Brown

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) remains a pressing global health concern, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Gaining a thorough understanding of the virus's life cycle is pivotal for devising effective treatment strategies. This thesis takes a deep dive into the various stages of HCV's lifecycle, encompassing viral entry, replication, assembly, and release. By unraveling the intricacies of these processes, researchers can pinpoint potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

Induction Of Protective Immunity In The Respiratory Tract With Ricin Toxin Immune Complexes, Lindsey Elizabeth Tolman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Ricin toxin (RT) is generated in the seeds of Ricinus communis. The highly potent toxin is comprised of two subunits, RTA and RTB. RT enters cells using RTB before RTA separates itself and inactivates the ribosome, inducing cell stress, inflammation, and eventual death. RT is particularly damaging in the respiratory tract, where intoxication induces an inflammatory cytokine storm.Though there are currently no therapeutics for RT intoxication, our group has generated and characterized a wide variety of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against RT. Among the top candidates in our collection are the IgGs PB10 and SylH3. Previous studies have demonstrated their exceptional …

Prescription Opioid Misuse Among High School Students In The United States, By Sex And Race/Ethnicity, In 2019 And 2021, Deepika Reddy Kandhi

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. have been increasing and are primarily related to opioid use. In 2019, an estimated 7.2% of US high school students reported misusing prescription opioids in the past 30 days. Prescription opioid misuse in adolescents may lead to development of a substance use disorder, overdose, or other serious harms. Some researchers have observed sex and race differences in prescription opioid use. This study aimed to identify patterns of prescription opioid misuse among adolescent subgroups categorized by both sex and race/ethnicity, to provide insight into intervention development and targeting.Methods: We analyzed data from the Youth …

An Experimental Comparison Of Stand Management Approaches To Sudden Oak Death: Prevention Vs. Restoration, Gissella B. Quiroga, Allison B. Simler-Williamson, Kerri M. Frangioso, Susan J. Frankel, David M. Rizzo, Richard C. Cobb

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Many coastal forests stretching from central California to southwest Oregon are threatened or have been impacted by the invasive forest pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of sudden oak death. We analyzed a set of stand-level forest treatments aimed at preventing or mitigating disease impacts on stand composition, biomass, and fuels using a before–after-control-intervention experiment with a re-evaluation after 5 years. We compared the effects of restorative management for invaded stands and preventative treatments for uninvaded forests with two stand-level experiments. The restorative treatments contrasted two approaches to mastication, hand-crew thinning, and thinning with pile burning with untreated controls replicated …

Fighting Aids With No Help: Radical Solidarity And How Community Organizations Overcame A Neglectful Federal Government, Sophia Kennan

Honors Theses

Community organizations have forever shaped the history of the United States. As de Tocqueville noted in a visit to the US in the 19th century, volunteerism and forming associations is a way of life ingrained in American society. The way that these community organizations operate in relation to government action is incredibly important to understanding democratic processes in the US, and one such period that is of note is the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. During this time, the government was infamously silent and neglectful on themes surrounding the epidemic, and this inaction greatly informs how community organizations operated during …

Analysis Of Online Platforms’ Free Trial Strategies For Digital Content Subscription, Li Chen

College of Business and Economics

Adopting subscription models has become a popular trend in e-commerce. Digital content platforms often use free trials to attract potential subscribers. However, rigorous research on platforms’ free trial strategies is lacking. Our paper aims to fill this gap using a horizontal duopoly framework. We investigate both the scenario of market symmetry and of market asymmetry. We study the benchmark case with no free trial for each scenario and derive equilibrium results with free trial promotion. We find that the platform will not benefit from free trials unless consumers’ learning rate exceeds a threshold. When a free trial is introduced in …

Developing Rapid Indicators To Detect Micropollutants In Coastal Blackwater Rivers In South Carolina, Lydia Winn

All Theses

Micropollutants in water sources are found in higher concentrations in areas with high levels of urban and agricultural land. These pollutants can be introduced into water sources during storms and rain events, through water treatment outputs, and commercial or residential waste. These events increase the levels of both nutrients and micropollutants in these water sources. With increasing levels of micropollutants in rivers, this study’s goal was to develop an alternative detection method or an indicator test for the levels of micropollutants in water. We first proposed the use of amicrobial fuel cell (MFCs) operating as a biosensor could be utilized …