Digital Commons Network^™

Natural Medicine Use In Costa Rica, Elizabeth Krol

Honors Theses

This study explores the role of natural medicine in Costa Rican culture, while focusing on its historical, cultural, and clinical significance. With a literature review, ethnobotanical research, and a study abroad experience, this paper highlights the integration of natural, herbal medicine into modern healthcare. Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity, with its varied microclimates and abundant medicinal plants, forms a strong foundation for traditional herbal medicine. Indigenous groups such as the BriBri and Cabécar contributed significantly to this legacy, which has evolved through interactions with European and Afro-Caribbean populations.

Research emphasizes the cultural importance of herbal medicine within the “Pura Vida” lifestyle, …

Liar-Dependent Gene Expression Contributes To Antimicrobial Responses In Group A, Luis Alberto Vega, Misú Sanson-Iglesias, Piyali Mukherjee, Kyle D Buchan, Gretchen Morrison, Anne E Hohlt, Anthony R Flores

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The ability to sense and respond to host defenses is essential for pathogen survival. Some mechanisms involve two-component systems (TCSs) that respond to host molecules, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and activate specific gene regulatory pathways to aid in survival. Alongside TCSs, bacteria coordinate cell division proteins, chaperones, cell wall sortases, and secretory translocons at discrete locations within the cytoplasmic membrane, referred to as functional membrane microdomains (FMMs). In group A Streptococcus (GAS), the FMM or “ExPortal” coordinates protein secretion, cell wall synthesis, and sensing of AMP-mediated cell envelope stress via the LiaFSR three-component system. Previously, we showed that GAS …

Spatial Dynamics Of Culex Quinquefasciatus Abundance: Geostatistical Insights From Harris County, Texas, Morgan Jibowu, Melissa S Nolan, Ryan Ramphul, Heather T Essigmann, Abiodun O Oluyomi, Eric L Brown, Maximea Vigilant, Sarah M Gunter

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant public health threat, prompting the need to pinpoint high-risk areas for targeted interventions and environmental control measures. Culex quinquefasciatus is the primary vector for several mosquito-borne pathogens, including West Nile virus. Using spatial analysis and modeling techniques, we investigated the geospatial distribution of Culex quinquefasciatus abundance in the large metropolis of Harris County, Texas, from 2020 to 2022. Our geospatial analysis revealed clusters of high mosquito abundance, predominantly located in central Houston and the north-northwestern regions of Harris County, with lower mosquito abundance observed in the western and southeastern areas. We identified persistent high mosquito …

Random Blood Glucose As An Alternative To Glycated Hemoglobin For Assessing Glycemic Control In Diabetes Mellitus Patients. Cross-Sectional Study In Babylon Province, Iraq, Hajir Karim Abdul-Husseein, Abeer Tariq Watife, Mustafa Karim Abdul-Husseein, Hayder Abdul-Amir Makki Al-Hindy, Karam Akram Al- Akkam

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Diabetes affected 171 million people worldwide one and a half decades ago, and 366 million people are expected by 2030. The relationship between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and diabetes complications was established, emphasizing the importance of good glycemic management. However, due to its high cost, the HbA1c test is considered to be not affordable or not available. The high incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its more risky comorbidities in most populations necessitate the requirement for regarding an alternative test.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to assess if there is a relationship between HbA1c and …

Perceptions And Attitudes Of Western Michigan University Students On Antibiotic Medications, Emily Boask

Honors Theses

On a global scale, antibiotic resistance is a threat to public health. The causes of antibiotic resistance are multifaceted, including healthcare providers overprescribing antibiotics, antibiotic overuse in farming and food production, and antibiotic misuse or malpractices. The public recognizes antibiotic resistance as a significant problem but there are serious knowledge gaps regarding antibiotic resistance and antibiotic stewardship.

University students are a particularly important subpopulation of the public to understand appropriate antibiotic use because many of these individuals are navigating their health concerns on their own for the first time. Many individuals believe that antibiotics can improve cold symptoms, upper respiratory …

A Comparative Study Of Toxicity Propagation Using Epidemiological Models, Niloofar Yousefi

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the spread and intensity of toxic content on social media, with a particular focus on platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The growing presence of toxic interactions has sparked concerns about their effects on public discourse. Utilizing epidemiological models such as SIR (Susceptible, Infected, Recovered), SIS (Susceptible, Infected, Susceptible), SIRS (Susceptible, Infected, Recovered, Susceptible), SEIRS (Susceptible, Exposed, Infected, Recovered, Susceptible), and the novel SEImIhRS model (Susceptible, Exposed, Moderate Infected, High Infected, Recovered, Susceptible), which are traditionally used to study infectious disease dynamics, this dissertation examines toxicity in platform X discussions. A key contribution of this work is …

Multicenter Clinical Performance Evaluation Of The Neumodx™ Ct/Ng Assay 2.0, B. Van Der Pol, A. Avery, Stephanie N. Taylor, J. Miller, C. L. Emery, A. English, G. B. Lazenby, Rebecca Lillis, J. Ruth, D. Young, S. Young, S. Chavoustie, L. Crane, V. Reid, G. Wall, S. Johnson

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Given the continued increases in rates of both Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infection, additional diagnostic assays may be useful in increasing access to testing for these sexually transmitted infections. We evaluated the performance of the NeuMoDx™ CT/NG Assay 2.0 on the NeuMoDx-96 and NeuMoDx-288 Molecular Systems. Methods: The clinical sensitivity and specificity of the assay was assessed when used with: 1) endocervical swabs; 2) self-, and clinician-collected vaginal swabs; and 3) first-catch urine specimens (female and male). Results were compared to a patient infection status based on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared assays. Results: The …

Food Insecurity, Psychological Distress, And Discrimination Of Older Black Women In Central Texas, Revonder Ellis-Vanarsdale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Food insecurity is an ongoing public health concern in the United States. There is limited knowledge within social work practice about the experiences of food insecurity specifically among older Black women. Historically, older Black women have faced discrimination which can also negatively impact their psychological well-being and ability to obtain an adequate food supply. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore perceptions of how psychological distress and discrimination affect Black women ages 60 and older who are food insecure in Central Texas. This study used social ecological model and intersectionality theory to identify perceived factors that affect …

Developing A Digital Phenotype To Subdivide Adult Immunosuppressed Covid-19 Outcomes Within The English Primary Care Sentinel Network, Debasish Kar

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Adults classified as immunosuppressed have beendisproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to theimmunocompetent, certain patients are at increased risk of suboptimal vaccineresponse and adverse health outcomes if infected. However, there has beeninsufficient work to pinpoint where these risks concentrate within theimmunosuppressed spectrum; surveillance efforts typically treat theimmunosuppressed as a single entity, leading to wide confidence intervals. Aclinically meaningful and computerised medical record (CMR) compatiblemethod to subdivide immunosuppressed COVID-19 data is urgently needed.Methods: We conducted a rapid scoping review into COVID-19 mortality acrossUK immunosuppressed categories to assess if differential mortality risk was aviable means of subdivision. We converted the …

Interaction Between Type 2 Diabetes And Past Covid-19 On Active Tuberculosis, Liz E. Calles-Cabanillas, Genesis P. Aguillón-Durán, Doris Ayala, Jose A. Caso, Miguel Garza, Mateo Joya-Ayala, Raúl Loera-Salazar, America Cruz-González, John M. Thomas Iii, Blanca I. Restrepo

School of Medicine Publications

Background

The global setback in tuberculosis (TB) prevalence and mortality in the post-COVID-19 era has been partially attributed to pandemic-related disruptions in healthcare systems. The additional biological contribution of COVID-19 to TB is less clear. The goal of this study was to determine if there is an association between COVID-19 in the past 18 months and a new TB episode, and the role played by type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) comorbidity in this relationship.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 112 new active TB patients and 373 non-TB controls, identified between June 2020 and November 2021 in communities along …

Review Of The Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, And Treatment Of Naegleria Fowleri-Induced Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, Terrance Zhang

MCB Articles

Naegleria fowleri is a thermophilic, ubiquitous, free-living amoeba, but is also known as the “brain-eating” amoeba. This is the etiological agent of a rare and fulminant waterborne disease known as Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) that is acutely fatal in 90-99% of reported cases. Those who come into contact with infested waters are at risk of introducing the amoeba into their upper nasal canal, whence the trophozoite form is known to migrate along the olfactory nerve, through the cribriform plate, and enter the central nervous system. Although the exact pathogenesis of N. fowleri is not known, studies have demonstrated contact-dependent and …

An In-Depth Investigation Into Yersinia Pestis Phages: Isolating A Yersinia Pestis Phage From Soil And Constructing A Comprehensive Phylogenetic Analysis Of Known Yersinia Pestis Phages, Jacqueline Chavez

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the plague, has become increasingly resistant to many antibiotics; therefore, alternatives such as phage therapy are necessary. Phage therapy uses combinations of bacteriophages or phages, which are viruses that only infect bacteria. However, phages—especially Y. pestis phages —are severely understudied. Thus, this research has sought to specifically isolate a phage from soil that infects Y. pestis. There were 146 samples that were collected from across the US, focusing on those with reported cases of plague. These samples were enriched with Y. pestis to maximize the amount of potential phage that target Y. pestis. …

Reflections From The Pandemic: Is Connectivism The Panacea For Clinicians?, Jennifer Benjamin, Tyson Pillow, Heather Macneill, Ken Masters, Anoop Agrawal, Neil Mehta

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic and the recent increased interest in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) highlight the need for interprofessional communities' collaboration to find solutions to complex problems. A personal narrative experience of one of the authors compels us to reflect on current approaches to learning and knowledge acquisition and use solutions to the challenges posed by GenAI through social learning contexts using connectivism. We recognize the need for constructivism and experiential learning for knowledge acquisition to establish foundational understanding. We explore how connectivist approaches can enhance traditional constructivist paradigms amid rapidly changing learning environments and online communities. Learning in connectivism includes …

Urinary Tract Infection Education And Prevention, Jodi Hernandez, Dylan Godfrey

DNP and Student Works

The purpose of providing education and training to staff with respect to educating patients greater than 65 years of age was to effectively improve staff and patients’ knowledge of preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Theoretical Framework: The two theoretical frameworks utilized included Kotter Change Management Model and The Kurt Lewin’s change model. Both of these theorists supported the need for successful change to improve patient outcomes.

Targeted Maternal Chagas Disease Screening Among Individuals Born In A Chagas-Endemic Country., Alvaro Proaño, Neil C Shah, Sneider A Gutierrez Guarnizo, Monica Miranda-Schaeubinger, Michael Z Levy, Robert H Gilman, Dustin D Flannery

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that affects 6 million people worldwide. In the United States, Chagas is estimated to affect 43 000 women of reproductive age. Pregnant persons with Chagas are at risk for congenital transmission to the newborn, which accounts for nearly a quarter of all new cases. In 2022, a US multidisciplinary expert working group4 developed recommendations for increased clinician-directed screening for Chagas. They concluded that women of reproductive age who were born in endemic countries should be tested due to vertical transmission risk. In 2024, Clark and Bern outlined …

Estimated Vaccine Effectiveness For Pediatric Patients With Severe Influenza, 2015-2020., Kelsey M. Sumner, Leila C. Sahni, Julie A. Boom, Natasha B. Halasa, Laura S. Stewart, Janet A. Englund, Eileen J. Klein, Mary A. Staat, Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Christopher J. Harrison, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Peter G. Szilagyi, Monica N. Singer, Parvin H. Azimi, Benjamin R. Clopper, Heidi L. Moline, Emma K. Noble, John V. Williams, Marian G. Michaels, Samantha M. Olson, New Vaccine Surveillance Network Collaborators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

IMPORTANCE: Increasing the understanding of vaccine effectiveness (VE) against levels of severe influenza in children could help increase uptake of influenza vaccination and strengthen vaccine policies globally.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate VE in children by severity of influenza illness.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This case-control study with a test-negative design used data from 8 participating medical centers located in geographically different US states in the New Vaccine Surveillance Network from November 6, 2015, through April 8, 2020. Participants included children 6 months through 17 years of age who were hospitalized or presented to an emergency department (ED) with acute respiratory illness. …

Deteksi Mekanisme Efflux Pump Pada Resistensi Bakteri Staphylococcus Haemolyticus, Sampel Pus Klinis Rumah Sakit Pekanbaru, Rexi Dwi Wardana, Maya Savira, Dewi Anggraini, Aisyah Sabrina Amalia, Yuana Nurulita

Chimica et Natura Acta

Infeksi adalah masalah kesehatan yang disebabkan oleh mikroorganisme patogen seperti bakteri. Salah satu jenis infeksi yaitu infeksi kulit dan jaringan lunak yang umumnya disebabkan oleh Staphylococcus aureus dan menyebabkan pembentukan pus. Saat ini, telah dilaporkan bahwa kasus spesies CoNS (Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus) seperti Staphylococcus haemolyticus sebagai penyebab infeksi, mengalami peningkatan. Selain itu, spesies ini juga diketahui telah mengalami resistensi terhadap beberapa golongan antibiotik. Dalam penelitian ini dilakukan karakterisasi isolat bakteri klinis dari sampel pus agar yang dilakukan dengan identifikasi mikrobiologi (kultur isolat, pewarnaan Gram dan uji biokimia) pada bakteri patogen (Isolat 3887), dan dilanjutkan dengan identifikasi molekuler, antara lain ekstraksi …

Predictors Of Mortality In African Americans With Alzheimer’S Disease-Related Dementias, Latrice Camille Noonan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia (ADRD) is a leading cause of death worldwide. There is a need to identify the link between modifiable risk factors and the association with ADRD mortality. This study addresses the disproportionately high burden of ADRD among African Americans, aiming to inform targeted prevention strategies and promote health equity. In this study, the longitudinal relationship between ADRD mortality and the presences of diabetes, smoking, and obesity among older African Americans residing in the United States was examined, while controlling for age, gender, education, and socioeconomic status. The biopsychosocial model served as the theoretical framework for this study. The …

Understanding Orthopaedic Infections: A Conceptual Approach, Gregory Laborde, Christopher Bloise, George Karam

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Memorizing mounds of facts without having an effective conceptual framework to store them is often an unsuccessful learning style because memory frequently fails without understanding. To accomplish this goal, we offer a framework of ideas called "concept maps". Of the many strategies for metacognition (that is, thinking about thinking), concept mapping is proven to improve meaningful and independent learning. We used this approach to guide understanding of common orthopaedic infections. This paper is not meant to serve as an approach on how to treat, but rather as a storage system with the ability to assist in understanding orthopaedic infections. …

Substance Use Disorder Civil Commitment And Association With Post-Commitment Treatment Retention Among Adult Women, Lydie Ultimo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The effects of substance abuse are a public health challenge, as evidenced by the prevalence of drug-related overdoses since the year 2000. Involuntary civil commitment (ICC) denotes a legal basis to mandate treatment for people at imminent risk of harm due to substance use disorders (SUD). Grounded on the transtheoretical model stages of change, this quantitative retrospective cohort study analyzed the relationship between mental disorder history, medication for addiction treatment (MAT), and voluntary retention in SUD treatment post-ICC, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, drugs used, housing status, and Department of Children and Families services. Secondary data from the Massachusetts Department of …

Comparative Analysis Of Indices For Social Determinants Of Health In Pediatric Surgical Populations, Caroline Q Stephens, Ava Yap, Lan Vu, Jacqueline M Saito, Dwight Barry, Amy M Shui, Hannah Cockrell, Sarah Cairo, Derek Wakeman, Loren Berman, Sarah Greenberg, Allison F Linden, Jonathan Kohler, Kuojen Tsao, Nicole A Wilson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Conclusions vary substantially among studies examining associations between area-based social determinants of health (SDOH) and pediatric health disparities based on the selected patient population and SDOH index. Most national studies use zip codes, which encompass a wide distribution of communities, limiting the generalizability of findings.

Objectives: To characterize the distributions of composite SDOH indices for pediatric surgical patients within a national sample of academic children's hospitals and to assess SDOH index precision in classifying patients at similar levels of disadvantage.

Design, setting, and participants: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included patients younger than 18 years who underwent surgery from …

Excess Mortality In Persons With Concurrent Hiv And Cancer Diagnoses: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Kamaria L Lee, Varada Sarovar, Jennifer O Lam, Wendy A Leyden, Stacey E Alexeeff, Alexandra N Lea, Rulin C Hechter, Haihong Hu, Julia L Marcus, Qing Yuan, Jennifer R Kramer, Lilie L Lin, Elizabeth Y Chiao, William J Towner, Michael A Horberg, Michael J Silverberg

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Background: With extended lifespans for people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH), there is a corresponding increased burden of chronic illnesses, including cancer. Our objective was to estimate the excess mortality among PWH with cancer compared with people without HIV (PWoH), accounting for the higher background mortality in the general PWH population.

Methods: We identified 39,000 PWH and 387,767 demographically matched PWoH in three integrated healthcare systems from 2000 to 2016. We estimated excess mortality among PWH with cancer, computed as the cancer mortality rate difference-in-difference comparing PWH and PWoH. We evaluated five cancer groups: any cancer; virus-, human papillomavirus-, and …

A Review On Ethnomedical Use Of Tephrosia Vogelii Hook.F. And Its Potentiality Towards The Development Of Antimicrobial Agents And Pesticides, Stephano Hanolo Mlozi, Juma Mmongoyo, Musa Chacha

Tanzania Journal of Science

Fish bean, Tephrosia vogelii Hook.f is among of potential medicinal plant species in the genus Tephrosia. It has been traditionally used to cure human and animal ailments including fungal and bacterial diseases though not exhaustively scientifically reported. Similarly, its extracts have been locally used to control vectors and pests in small scale farming though the drug development from its extracts and phytochemicals is not reported. Thus, this review focused to unveil its ethnomedical and pharmaceutical potentiality with emphasis towards development of antimicrobial agents and pesticides. Data collection for the review was based on the published paper searched globally in several …

Heterozygous Btnl8 Variants In Individuals With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (Mis-C), Evangelos Bellos, Erica G Schmitt, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare condition following SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with intestinal manifestations. Genetic predisposition, including inborn errors of the OAS-RNAseL pathway, has been reported. We sequenced 154 MIS-C patients and utilized a novel statistical framework of gene burden analysis, "burdenMC," which identified an enrichment for rare predicted-deleterious variants in BTNL8 (OR = 4.2, 95% CI: 3.5-5.3, P < 10-6). BTNL8 encodes an intestinal epithelial regulator of Vγ4+γδ T cells implicated in regulating gut homeostasis. Enrichment was exclusive to MIS-C, being absent in patients with COVID-19 or bacterial disease. Using an available functional test for BTNL8, rare variants from a larger cohort of MIS-C patients (n = 835) were tested which identified eight variants in 18 patients (2.2%) with impaired engagement of Vγ4+γδ T cells. Most of these variants were in the B30.2 domain of BTNL8 implicated in sensing epithelial cell status. These findings were associated with altered intestinal permeability, suggesting a possible link between disrupted gut homeostasis and MIS-C-associated enteropathy triggered by SARS-CoV-2.

Faculty And Students’ Perceptions Of Universal Design For Learning (Udl) At A Midwestern Community College, Houyame Lkhider

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the implementation and impact of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in community college online courses. Using a qualitative research approach, the study investigates how UDL affects student engagement, accessibility, and learning outcomes from the perspectives of both students and instructors. Data were collected through interviews with three students and one instructor, as well as a comprehensive analysis of course content to assess alignment with UDL guidelines. Findings reveal that while UDL principles enhance accessibility and foster a more inclusive learning environment, discrepancies exist between faculty and student perceptions of course quality and effectiveness. These differences highlight …

Burnout And Beyond: A Study On Burnout And Compassion Fatigue Among Social Workers And Case Managers, Latoya Hale, Hung Kevin Dao Huy Dao, Brandon Mccord

MSW Capstone Conference

No abstract provided.

The Psychological Impact Of Sexual Trauma In Women And The Impact Of Their Healing Journey, Tikia Hopkins, Claudia Lopez

MSW Capstone Conference

Introduction and Background. The research project aimed to address the psychological impact of sexual trauma on women, while evaluating the effectiveness of coping skills. These traumatic experiences can result in long-term psychological ramifications affecting survivors' everyday lives, relationships, mental health, identity, and sense of self-worth. However, with the correct services, support, and assistance, victims were more likely to develop healthy coping skills, feel empowered, and regain their autonomy. The research highlighted the need for a competent holistic approach in providing services and interventions to women who have experienced sexual trauma. It focused on the effectiveness of certain interventions when considering …

A Phenomenological Study Of Social-Emotional Learning (Sel) Through Covid-19, Maria Iracema Da Rocha-Alvarez

Dissertations

Purpose: This phenomenological study aimed to identify and describe the social-emotional learning (SEL) strategies used by elementary teachers in California before and during the shift to distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also sought to determine which SEL strategies were most effective in supporting students’ emotional well-being in a virtual learning environment.

Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to explore the lived experiences of elementary teachers who implemented SEL strategies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through 20 interview questions aligned with the research objectives to gain insight into effective SEL practices during virtual …

K-12 Education And The Covid-19 Pandemic, Candice Beasley

Dissertations

This quantitative study aimed to explore how schoolwide closures during the COVID-19 pandemic affected student academic performance in selected Mississippi school districts and to examine the instructional strategies schools used during these closures. While there has been global research on the pros and cons of different teaching methods during and after the pandemic, specific data for Mississippi is still limited.

The researcher collected publicly available data from the Mississippi Department of Education. Student performance results from the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) for the years 2019 to 2021 were analyzed to see if academic performance changed due to the pandemic …

December 2024: Region 10 Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (Resptc) At Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’S Hospital, Providence - Special Pathogens Program

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