Digital Commons Network^™

Low Spatial Habitat Overlap Of Herbivores In The High Arctic Tundra, Virve Ravolainen, Ingrid M. G. Paulsen, Isabell Eischeid, Jennifer Sorensen Forbey, Eva Fuglei, Tomáš Hájek, Brage B. Hansen, Leif Egil Loe, Petr Macek, Jesper Madsen, Eeva M. Soininen, James D. M. Speed, Audun Stien, Hans Tømmervik, Åshild Ønvik Pedersen

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Herbivores play a crucial role in shaping tundra ecosystems through their effects on vegetation, nutrient cycling, and soil abiotic factors. Understanding their habitat use, co-occurrence, and overlap is therefore essential for informing ecosystem-based management and conservation. In the High Arctic, only a marginal proportion of the land area is vegetated, and climate change is impacting herbivore population sizes and their habitats. In this study, we assessed the spatial habitat overlap of a vertebrate herbivore community based on: 1) regional predictive summer habitat suitability models for the resident Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), resident Svalbard rock ptarmigan (Lagopus …

Reciprocal Inhibition And Competitive Hierarchy Cause Negative Biodiversity-Ecosystem Function Relationships, Rafael D'Andrea, Gabriel Khattar, Thomas Koffel, Veronica F. Frans, Leonora S. Bittleston, Catalina Cuellar-Gempeler

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function (BEF) captivates ecologists, but the factors responsible for the direction of this relationship remain unclear. While higher ecosystem functioning at higher biodiversity levels (‘positive BEF’) is not universal in nature, negative BEF relationships seem puzzlingly rare. Here, we develop a dynamical consumer-resource model inspired by microbial decomposer communities in pitcher plant leaves to investigate BEF. We manipulate microbial diversity via controlled colonization and measure their function as total ammonia production. We test how niche partitioning among bacteria and other ecological processes influence BEF in the leaves. We find that a negative BEF can …

The Distribution Of Cp-Cre Cases From 2013-2020 In The Commonwealth Of Kentucky, Hannah Hiscox

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), particularly Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), pose a significant threat to public health due to their resistance to multiple antibiotics, including carbapenems. CRE infections, especially those producing carbapenemases (CP-CRE), are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, making them a growing concern in healthcare settings. Despite the prevalence of CRE infections in the United States, limited data exist on the incidence and distribution of CP-CRE infections in specific regions, such as the Appalachian counties of Kentucky.

This study aimed to investigate the cumulative incidence and distribution of CP-CRE cases in Appalachian and non-Appalachian counties of Kentucky, as well as …

Survey Of Pain Curriculum Among Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Programs In The United States, John V. Rider, Vicki Khau, Kristin A. Valdes

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy practitioners address pain management across settings, populations, and the lifespan. Occupational therapy practitioners offer unique contributions to pain management through biopsychosocial approaches, targeting supported self-management and occupational engagement. Comprehensive pain education is necessary to prepare entry-level occupational therapy practitioners to address pain in practice, yet no standards exist in entry-level occupational therapy education. This survey describes the status of pain-related education in entry-level occupational therapy programs across the United States. A total of 41 entry-level occupational therapy programs completed the survey. Total instructional time for pain content was reported to be an average of 9.68 hours, ranging from …

The Influence Of Music On The Performance Of Graduate Occupational Therapy Students During Practical Examinations, Chris Mulligan, Marybeth Hoefs, Bonnie Fischer-Camara, Donald F. Graves

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Test anxiety is alarmingly rising and has been shown to correlate with academic performance and affect occupations and well-being. Graduate occupational therapy (OT) students encounter a rigorous workload and pressure to become entry-level practitioners. Higher levels of baseline graduate student anxiety is correlated with increased test anxiety. Practical examinations are essential for assessing graduate OT students' higher learning and entry-level clinical skills. Educators are often challenged with identifying coping strategies to assist graduate OT students in reducing their test anxiety. Substantial research supports the use of music to reduce anxiety in adults. Seventy-five OT graduate students participated in this quasi-experimental …

Seasonal Abundance Of The Nudibranch Dondice Jupiteriensis On The Colonial Hydroid Eudendrium Carneum, Erika Molina, Daniela Gutierrez-Andrade, Samantha Schlegel, Julia Piper, Louis J. Ambrosio, Michael L. Middlebrooks

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Benthic colonial hydroids often serve as a host to a large variety of invertebrate taxa. The colonial hydroid Eudendrium carneum Clarke, 1882 is host to a variety of epifauna, including the recently described nudibranch Dondice jupiteriensis García—Méndez & Valdés, 2022. Like many species of heterobranch sea slugs, little is known about the natural history and population biology of D. jupiteriensis. Here we describe a year—long study recording the population density and size structure of D. jupiteriensis on E. carneum colonies in Tampa Bay, FL USA. We found that the D. jupiteriensis population persists year—round but is the densest during …

Forward-Looking Academic Impact Rankings For U.S. Law Schools, Matthew Sag

Faculty Articles

Although the very concept of law school rankings is currently under fire, rankings abolitionism is misplaced. Given the number, diversity, and geographic dispersion of the more than 190 law schools fully ac­credited by the American Bar Association, rankings are essential to en­able various stakeholders to make comparisons between schools. How­ever, the current rankings landscape is dire. The U.S News law school rankings rely on poorly designed, highly subjective surveys to gauge "reputational strength," rather than looking to easily available, objec­tive citation data that is more valid and reliable. Would-be usurpers of U.S. News use better data but make other arbitrary …

Rethinking Health Law Architecture, Ani B. Satz

Faculty Articles

Neither the individualistic regulatory health paradigm nor the vulnerable populations approach of public health can provide the legal structure necessary to address the most pressing problems in health care today. These approaches fail to address conflicts between individuals and populations as well as challenges to qualifying for care and are in inherent conflict with each other, sometimes within the same statute. As health concerns become more global, it is necessary to move past a vulnerable populations approach to a broader population approach that respects individual choice but does not sacrifice community health for liberty interests.

Climatizing National Security, Mark P. Nevitt

Faculty Articles

Is climate change a national security issue? Human security? Ecological security? This Article addresses the growing nexus between climate change and various conceptions of security with a particular emphasis on climate change's national security impacts. This Article argues that there is a growing connection between national security and climate change and a corresponding need to address the normative implications of "climatizing national security." This connection can be observed through three lenses: mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions from military and national security sources); adaptation (investing in climate resilient infrastructure in an effort to prepare for climate impacts), and response (addressing climate-exacerbated …

The Past As A Colonialist Resource, Deepa Das Acevedo

Faculty Articles

Originalism’s critics have failed to block its rise. For many jurists and legal scholars, the question is no longer whether to espouse originalism but how to espouse it. This Article argues that critics have ceded too much ground by focusing on discrediting originalism as either bad history or shoddy linguistics. To disrupt the cycle of endless “methodological” refinements and effectively address originalism’s continued popularity, critics must do two things: identify a better disciplinary analogue for originalist interpretation and advance an argument that moves beyond methods.

Anthropology can assist with both tasks. Both anthropological analysis and originalist interpretation are premised on …

Prospective Associations Of Fish Consumption In Cognitive Function And Depressive Symptoms Among Puerto Rican Adults, Johanna Grace Koroma

Honors Theses and Capstones

Johanna Koroma, Anne Bodenrader, and Sherman Bigornia

Objectives

Fish intake has been linked to certain neural benefits, specifically in slowing cognitive decline and attenuating depressive symptoms. However, existing evidence is conflicting and insufficient. The present study aimed to investigate the association of fish consumption with depressive symptoms and cognitive function among Puerto Rican adults.

Methods

Data is acquired from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study, comprised of 1517 adults residing in the Boston Metro Area. Dietary patterns were evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with follow-up surveys conducted 2 years from baseline. Consumption was organized into quartiles based …

What Are The Best Treatment Options For Infantile Cataracts?, Breindy Hecht

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Congenital and infantile cataracts are characterized by opacity of the ocular lens, causing decreased visual acuity and inducing amblyopia. Treatment of pediatric patients is complicated because the eye is still growing during childhood, and the mind-eye connection is developing during this time. Anything that obstructs visual input from the eye to the brain raises risks of permanent visual deficit. Treatment includes immediate cataract extraction; this is sometimes followed by intraocular implantation of an artificial lens. After surgery, treatment continues in the form of occlusive patching therapy, corrective spectacles, or cycloplegic eye drops. Oftentimes, several methods are used simultaneously for maximal …

Full Issue: Volume 17, Number 2, Spring 2024

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Complete .pdf file of Volume 17, Number 2 of The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences. Published Spring 2024.

The Effects Of Electronic Cigarettes On The Oral Cavity, Batsheva Saposh

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Electronic cigarettes, which became available for purchase in the United States in 2007, were initially touted as a harmless aid for smoking cessation. However, recent research into the impact of electronic cigarettes on the human body has shown potential deleterious effects. This paper aims to examine the effects electronic cigarette usage has on the oral cavity. The methods to compile research involved reading through many peer-reviewed articles to analyze the most current information on the topic. The findings indicate several potentially adverse effects on the oral cavity including oral cancer, periodontitis, dental caries, xerostomia, facial fractures, failed dental implants, and …

Sibo And The Effectiveness Of Treatment Via Diet And Medication, Elizabeth C. Hersko

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

This study delves into small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), exploring its origins, diagnosis, and treatment methods. The research illuminates the complexities of SIBO, a condition characterized by an abnormal surge of bacteria in the small intestine. Factors contributing to SIBO include impaired motility, anatomical abnormalities, and digestive system dysfunctions. Diagnosing SIBO proves challenging due to its nonspecific symptoms which often overlap with other conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Various diagnostic approaches, including lactulose breath testing, blood tests, stool analysis, and imaging, aim to identify SIBO and its underlying causes. Treatment involves dietary modifications—such as low FODMAP, biphasic, or fast …

Non-Surgical Treatment Options For Male-Pattern Baldness, Robert Schiffer

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Male pattern baldness affects nearly 50% of the world’s male population. It is associated with physiological conditions such as cardiovascular disease as well as psychological issues with self-image and self-esteem. Although surgical treatments exist, they are associated with risks and complications. Various non-surgical treatment modalities for male pattern baldness are available for patients. Topical and oral formulations of minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride can be used, in addition to low level light therapy (LLLT) and platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy. As many treatment options exist, it may be challenging for patients to decide which to choose. Although there have been few …

Targeting Vs. Modulating: How To Confront Variation In Cystic Fibrosis?, Yechiel Muller

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease with over 2,000 reported mutation varieties. It affects a chloride channel called CFTR, which by the transmembrane transport of chlorine, maintains an apical membrane electrolyte equilibrium in luminal epithelial cells. Its malfunction results in cystic fibrosis which causes excess mucus in various organs and is associated with respiratory complications and salty sweat. Treatment of cystic fibrosis has primarily taken two approaches: a mutation-specific method, targeted at a particular mutation to restore its function, and a mutation-non-specific method, which modulates intracellular barriers to CFTR trafficking or cellular repression of mutant protein function. This paper presents …

Lead Exposure: Neurological Implications, Transmission In Utero, And Treatment, Chana Birnbaum

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Blood lead levels are routinely measured in pediatric clinics due to the well-documented detrimental effects of lead exposure on neurodevelopment and consequently cognition. Reading difficulties, impaired detailed movement, and depressed reaction time are three areas, among others, implicated in lead toxicity (Needleman, 1990). Furthermore, lead toxicity can be of particular concern in pregnant women, as placental transmission is viable (Gundacker & Hengstschläger, 2012, as cited in Sun et al., 2018). Future research investigating the transmission of lead from mother to fetus may provide insight into the timeline of in utero lead transmission and consequently the ability to direct anti-toxicity treatment …

Is Ozempic A Safe Way To Lose Weight?, Elizer Terebelo

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Obesity, as classified by the AHA, is a chronic disorder affecting many people worldwide. Providing treatments for obesity is a multi-million-dollar industry. There are many different types of treatments offered for obesity, ranging from pills to surgeries. Ozempic has been touted as an FDA-approved supplement that can help someone lose weight. These GLP-1 agonists are used to treat type-2 diabetes and have been shown to help patients lose weight. Type-2 diabetes is a chronic illness that can lead to cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney failure, serious eye disease, neuropathy, and many other diseases. For this reason, most risks that Ozempic would …

Is It Possible For Glp-1ras To Combat Type 2 Diabetes And Its Comorbidities?, Michael Weingarten

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a prevalent metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction, leading to chronic hyperglycemia and comorbidities such as obesity and cardiovascular disease. Traditional treatments focus on glycemic control, but often fail to address the broader spectrum of related conditions. This study investigates the potential of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) to combat type 2 diabetes and its comorbidities through their diverse mechanisms of action. GLP-1RAs not only improve glycemic control by enhancing insulin secretion and inhibiting glucagon release, but also promote weight loss, reduce inflammation, and lower cardiovascular risk. The efficacy of GLP-1RAs …

Muscle Degradation Due To Aging And The Role Of Exercise In Aging Adults, Chava Rosenbaum

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Skeletal muscle contraction is essential for the human body’s movement, balance, and formation. As aging sets in, the skeletal muscular system begins to decay, leading to a decline in muscle strength, reducing strength, and increasing the risk of falling. Studies have found changes in hormone levels and muscle communication are key factors contributing to muscle movement and mass decline. Consequently, different exercise methods have been explored to slow down the rapidly deteriorating muscles and help maintain a healthy, strong muscular system. This paper delves into specific exercise routines proven through studies to be beneficial for the body. While some research …

Is Manual Therapy An Effective Modality Of Physical Therapy?, Caryn Karfunkel

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Physical therapy provides relief to patients with musculoskeletal disorders who experience pain and have difficulty functioning. Manual therapy is one of the therapeutic modalities of physical therapy, and helps treat patients through utilizing human touch and pressure. This paper analyzes studies that aim to understand the reasoning behind manual therapy’s effectiveness as a physical therapy modality, questioning whether its benefits are primarily biomechanical or psychological. The research was conducted by analyzing relevant literature on academic databases on topics such as pain, physical therapy, manual therapy, and human touch. The findings reveal that manual therapy is an effective modality of physical …

Full Issue: Volume 18, Number 1, Fall 2024

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Complete .pdf file of Volume 18, Number 1 of The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences. Published Fall 2024.

Can Immunotherapy Treat Food Allergies?, Baila Klahr

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Food allergies among children are highly prevalent. The elimination diet and fear of allergic reactions cause anxiety in many children and their parents. Immunotherapy stimulates the production of Treg cells which inhibit IgE-mediated allergic reactions. This can successfully desensitize children to their allergens. Subcutaneous immunotherapy can be used for environmental allergens while sublingual or oral immunotherapy should be used for food allergies. There are some risks associated with oral immunotherapy and research is ongoing to study the safety and efficacy of oral immunotherapy.

Overview Of Weight Loss Medications, Malky Mandel

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Obesity is a complex medical condition that is multifactorial in origin. About one-third of adults in the United States are obese, and another third are overweight (Ogden et al., 2007). Obesity is associated with a multitude of comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and osteoarthritis (Lim, Boster, 2023). Additionally, obesity may cause psychological disorders due to social prejudice and discrimination toward obese people (Wadden et al. 2002). Economically, obesity is also a tremendous financial burden (Tremmel et al. 2017). It is estimated that the overall cost of obesity-related illness in the US is nearly $500 billion (Cawley et al., …

ความรอบรู้สุขภาพด้านอาชีวอนามัยของช่างซ่อมบำรุงอากาศยานของหน่วยซ่อมบำรุงอากาศยานแห่งหนึ่งในประเทศไทย, ปุญญิศา ผลพันธิน

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การศึกษาแบบภาคตัดขวาง มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาความรอบรู้สุขภาพด้านอาชีวอนามัยและปัจจัยที่เกี่ยวข้องของช่างซ่อมบำรุงอากาศยานของหน่วยซ่อมบำรุงอากาศยานแห่งหนึ่งในประเทศไทย กลุ่มตัวอย่างคือช่างซ่อมบำรุงอากาศยานจำนวน 706 คนโดยไม่มีการสุ่มตัวอย่าง เก็บข้อมูลด้วยแบบสอบถามชนิดตอบด้วยตนเอง วิเคราะห์ข้อมูลด้วยสถิติถดถอยพหุคูณ ผลการศึกษา พบว่ากลุ่มตัวอย่างมีคะแนนความรอบรู้ด้านอาชีวอนามัยเฉลี่ยอยู่ที่ 143.56±10.54 คะแนน จัดอยู่ในระดับมาก ปัจจัยที่มีความสัมพันธ์กับความรอบรู้ด้านอาชีวอนามัยที่ดี ได้แก่ เพศชาย เมื่อเปรียบเทียบกับเพศหญิง (β= - 3.52; 95%CI: -6.19 ถึง -0.85) อายุงานมากกว่า 11 ปีขึ้นไป เมื่อเปรียบเทียบกับอายุงาน 11-20 ปี (β= 9.68; 95%CI: 8.15 ถึง 11.21) อายุงาน 21-30 ปี (β= 15.45; 95%CI: 13.73 ถึง 17.16) และ และอายุงานมากกว่า 31 ปี (β= 19.43; 95%CI: 17.77 ถึง 21.09) แผนกโรงซ่อม (Hangar) เมื่อเปรียบเทียบกับแผนก Shop maintenance (β= - 4.34; 95%CI: -6.53 ถึง -2.15) และแผนกลานจอด (β= -9.17; 95%CI: -10.59 ถึง -7.76) และการรับทราบนโยบายด้านอาชีวอนามัยและความปลอดภัย เมื่อเปรียบเทียบกับการไม่รับทราบนโยบายฯ (β= -2.78; 95%CI: -5.50 ถึง -0.06) (p < 0.05) จากผลการศึกษา การสร้างเสริมความรอบรู้ด้านอาชีวอนามัยให้กลุ่มช่างซ่อมบำรุงอากาศยานควรเน้นทักษะการรู้เท่าทันสื่อ รวมถึงการประชาสัมพันธ์ถึงนโยบายให้ช่างซ่อมบำรุงอากาศยานรับทราบและมีความเข้าใจเนื้อหาและแนวทางการปฏิบัติที่ตรงกัน เพื่อเพิ่มระดับความรอบรู้ด้านอาชีวอนามัยให้มากขึ้นไปอีก

ปัจจัยทำนายการเกิดภาวะหลอดเลือดหัวใจเฉียบพลันหลังการปลูกถ่ายไต, ธนวัฒน์ สุขสมบูรณ์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

บทนำ: โรคไตเรื้อรังเป็นปัจจัยที่ทำให้เกิดโรคหลอดเลือดหัวใจ โดยความเสี่ยงของการเสียชีวิตจากโรคหลอดเลือดหัวใจจะเพิ่มขึ้นตามอัตราการกรองไต (eGFR) ที่ลดลง โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งในโรคไตเรื้อรังระยะสุดท้าย การปลูกถ่ายไตเป็นการรักษาที่ดีที่สุดและช่วยลดโอกาสการเกิดโรคหัวใจและหลอดเลือดเมื่อเทียบกับผู้ป่วยที่ยังฟอกไตอยู่ อย่างไรก็ตามอัตราการเกิดโรคหัวใจและหลอดเลือด โดยเฉพาะภาวะหลอดเลือดหัวใจเฉียบพลันในผู้ป่วยปลูกถ่ายไตยังคงสูงกว่าเมื่อเทียบกับประชากรปกติ และเป็นสาเหตุการเสียชีวิตอันดับหนึ่งหลังการปลูกถ่ายไต วัตถุประสงค์: เพื่อศึกษาปัจจัยทำนายการเกิดภาวะหลอดเลือดหัวใจเฉียบพลันหลังการปลูกถ่ายไต วิธีการศึกษา: การศึกษาจากข้อมูลย้อนหลังในผู้ป่วยที่ได้รับการปลูกถ่ายไตที่โรงพยาบาลจุฬาลงกรณ์ สภากาชาดไทย ระหว่าง วันที่ 1 มกราคม พ.ศ.2561 ถึง 31 ธันวาคม พ.ศ.2566 จำนวน 250 ราย โดยเก็บข้อมูลจากเวชระเบียนของผู้ป่วย ฐานข้อมูลของคลินิกปลูกถ่ายไต และในผู้ป่วยปลูกถ่ายไตที่เกิดภาวะหลอดเลือดหัวใจเฉียบพลันจะมีการเก็บข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมจากฐานข้อมูลผู้ป่วยห้องปฏิบัติการสำหรับการตรวจสวนหัวใจและหลอดเลือด ผลการศึกษา: ผู้ป่วยปลูกถ่ายไตจำนวน 250 ราย พบผู้ป่วยเกิดภาวะหลอดเลือดหัวใจเฉียบพลัน จำนวน 12 ราย (ร้อยละ 4.8) จากการศึกษาพบปัจจัยทางคลินิกที่สัมพันธ์กับภาวะหลอดเลือดหัวใจเฉียบพลันอย่างมีนัยสำคัญ ได้แก่ ประวัติโรคหลอดเลือดหัวใจ (adjusted OR=8.71, 95%CI 1.45-52.42, p=0.018), ระดับน้ำตาลในเลือด (adjusted OR=1.03, 95%CI 1.01-1.05, p=0.001) และอัตราการกรองของไต (eGFR) (adjusted OR0.94, 95%CI 0.93-0.98, p=0.002) ลักษณะของผู้ป่วยที่เกิดภาวะหลอดเลือดหัวใจเฉียบพลันหลังการปลูกถ่ายไตเป็น NSTEMI ร้อยละ 66.7 และ STEMI ร้อยละ 33.3 โดยผู้ป่วยร้อยละ 66.7 มีโรคหลอดเลือดหัวใจตีบตั้งแต่ 2 เส้นขึ้นไป (multivessel disease) ข้อมูลการรักษาเกี่ยวกับการเปิดเส้นเลือดหัวใจ (revascularization) พบว่าเป็น PCI ร้อยละ 66.7 CABG ร้อยละ 25.0 และการรักษาแบบอนุรักษ์ (conservative management) พบร้อยละ 8.3 สรุปผลการศึกษา: ผู้ป่วยปลูกถ่ายไตโดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งผู้ป่วยที่มีประวัติโรคหลอดเลือดหัวใจเดิม มีอัตราการกรองของไต (eGFR) ที่ต่ำ และภาวะน้ำตาลในเลือดสูง มีความเสี่ยงต่อการเกิดภาวะหลอดเลือดหัวใจเฉียบพลันหลังการปลูกถ่ายไต

Microbiota Diversity And Composition In Gastric Cancer By Gastric Mucosal Brushing : A Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study, Thanrada Vimonsuntirungsri

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: The dysbiosis of the gastric microbiota has been implicated in gastric carcinogenesis. However, previous studies showed a large heterogeneity of the gastric microbiota profiles in various sampling methods which impacted the diagnostic yield. Currently, the specific method for assessing non-Helicobacter pylori microbiota associated with gastric cancer remain unidentified. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic yield of gastric mucosal brushing and conventional biopsy sampling methods to identify gastric microbiota in patients with gastric cancer and controls. Methods: This study, conducted from February 2024 to January 2025, included patients with treatment-naive gastric cancer and asymptomatic controls with normal esophagogastroduodenoscopy findings. …

Mri-Based Radiomics Model From Mesorectal Fat To Predict Perirectal Lymph Node Status And Extramural Venous Invasion In Colorectal Cancer Patients, Yaniga Swaengdee

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the incidence rate is rising in Asia. Perirectal lymph node metastasis (PLN) and extramural venous invasion (EMVI) are common and associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. While total mesorectal excision is the gold standard for confirming PLN and EMVI, MRI is keys modality for staging. Radiomics, a technique that extracts quantitative features from medical images, allows for the development of predictive models for PLN and EMVI. This study aimed to build and evaluate a predictive model based on mesorectal fat radiomics from MRI images to improve PLN and …

Cytokine Levels In Malignant Pleural Effusion: Comparison Between Expandable And Non-Expandable Lung, Jarudul Phocharoen

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: Lung expandability is crucial for successful pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion (MPE); however, pleurodesis failure can occur despite meeting expandability criteria. Objectives: To study pleural fluid cytokines as potential biomarkers for predicting lung expandability and pleurodesis outcomes in MPE. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with MPE were enrolled and classified into expandable (n = 34; pleural elastance ≤ 14.5 cmH2O/L or pleural apposition ≥ 75%) and non-expandable (n = 34; pleural elastance > 14.5 cmH2O/L and pleural apposition < 75%) lung groups. Pleural fluid cytokine levels were measured using multiplex assays and compared. Pleurodesis outcomes were assessed in the expandable lung group, and the diagnostic performance of these cytokines in predicting pleurodesis success was evaluated. Results: Pleural fluid cytokine levels, including transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), did not significantly differ between patients with expandable and non-expandable lungs, nor did they correlate with pleural elastance. However, within the expandable lung group, where 25% of patients experienced pleurodesis failure, TGF-β1 levels were significantly higher in the failure group (median [IQR]: 5,779.83 [3,924.54–9,705.53]) than in the success group (2,598.93 [1,425.35–3,294.35]; p = 0.003). A TGF-β1 cutoff of < 3,743.04 pg/mL demonstrated 90.48% sensitivity and 85.71% specificity for predicting pleurodesis success. Conclusion: Pleural fluid TGF-β1 may predict pleurodesis success in expandable lung, but its limited correlation with lung expandability and pleural elastance suggests complex biological and mechanical interactions.