Digital Commons Network^™

A Rib Construct For Severe Spinal Deformity: Clinical, Biomechanical, Animal Studies, And Commercialization, Daniel James Bonthius

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Current treatments for early-onset spinal deformity (EOSD) have high complication rates and limited effectiveness. The rib construct (RC) is a novel technique for correcting early-onset spinal deformity. A series of hooks are used on the proximal superior ribs for proximal fixation to contour the thorax, with traditional fixation distally. Methods: The performance of the rib construct was evaluated in ex vivo biomechanical testing, an in vivo animal model, and a clinical study. An R-FIX (Rib-FIXation) System was developed based on these studies for optimization of the technique. Results: Ex vivo biomechanical testing showed that porcine spines instrumented with the …

Understanding The Role Of Brain Insulin Levels And Signaling In Post Stroke Cognitive Impairment, Crystal Smith

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Stroke is the leading cause of long term disability and has the potential to impact a person’s activities of daily life on a physical and cognitive level. Insulin resistance has been linked to increased risk of stroke recurrence, death, and poor outcome following stroke. Insulin resistance leads to decreased insulin transport into the brain. Insulin was thought to be primarily important for peripheral bodily function, however brain insulin has proven to improve memory and cognition as well as having neuroprotective properties. Brain insulin levels and increasing insulin in the brain has not been examined as a therapeutic model for improving …

Undergraduate Research, Volume 2, Issue 2 Table Of Contents

Undergraduate Research (Journal)

No abstract provided.

Undergraduate Research, Volume 2, Issue 2 Front Matter

Undergraduate Research (Journal)

No abstract provided.

Undergraduate Research, Volume 2, Issue 2 Back Cover, Harper Vick

Undergraduate Research (Journal)

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Grant Proposal To Support Public Housing Community Health, Arti D. Kakklar

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

There is a high percentage of seniors living in public housing that fall under the federal poverty guidelines. These senior residents in public housing live with chronic health issues exacerbated by aging. These health issues are compounded by sub-standard living conditions, poverty, lack of healthy nutrition, and all-inclusive healthcare services. This project aims to develop a comprehensive primary care program for seniors in public housing that enables them to age in place and enhances their quality of life. The chief goal of the project is to bring healthcare services to the seniors through collaboration with public housing agencies that enable …

Characteristics And Function Of Pvt Synaptic Inputs To Nac Cell Populations Following Opioid Use, Lisa Green

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

The posterior paraventricular thalamus (pPVT) plays a crucial role in reward-seeking behaviors due to its connectivity with brain structures which are important for reward processing, such as the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh). Previous studies have shown that PVT neurons form functional synapses with dopamine 1 receptor- (D1) and dopamine 2 receptor-expressing (D2) medium spiny neurons, as well as parvalbumin (PV) interneurons within NAc; however, how pPVT connections to downstream NAc (pPVT-NAc) neurons contribute to reward-seeking is unclear. While we have recently shown that pPVT-NAc can act to inhibit reward-seeking when it is inappropriate, it is unknown how pPVT downstream targets …

Elucidating The Effects Of Erα: Isoform Expression And Differential Receptor Localization In Immune Function, Cameron Leyers

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Estrogen can be anti- or pro-inflammatory depending on milieu and has a role in increased incidence of lupus in reproductive age women versus men. Estrogen’s pleiotropic effects are in part due to Estrogen receptorα (ERα) and its variants that localize to cytoplasmic pools, nuclear regions and to the membrane. To understand the role of sex hormone receptors in immune responses, we investigated the effects of altered ERα isoform overexpression in dendritic and B cells. Toll like receptor 7 (TLR7) stimulated endpoints, often dysregulated in lupus were also investigated. Genetically modified MOER (membrane-only ERα) and NOER (nuclear-only ERα) mice were used …

Vaccinia Virus Dna Metabolism: The Contributions Of The Cellular Milieu And Novel Roles Of The Viral Dna Replication Machinery Following Exogenous Dna Damage, Conor W. Templeton

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Poxviruses are large dsDNA viruses, unique in their cytoplasmic replication. This autonomy from the host nucleus poses novel challenges to genome replication, recombination and repair. Biochemical and genetic studies have confirmed that the viral genome encodes a repertoire of replication components (polymerase, processivity factor, single-strand DNA binding protein, primase/helicase, DNA ligase, scaffold protein). However, our knowledge of the mechanism of viral DNA replication remains incomplete, as is our understanding of which, if any, cellular proteins participate. We have shown that infection does not induce or dampen the cellular DNA damage response, but that a key component of this response, the …

Optimization Of Mental Health Appointment Mix: Telemental Health And In-Person Appointment Model Maximizing Revenue And Mitigating No-Shows, Louis Edwards

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Mental Health care leaders are challenged with meeting revenue requirements while incorporating telemental health (TMH) to increase access. The objective of this project was to create a model to optimize revenue based on variables derived from the literature, notably no-shows, reimbursement, salary cost, and appointment type. The model was tested through sensitivity analysis. The order of sensitivity to net revenue based on a 10% variable increase was reimbursement rate (19% increase), appointment volume (10% increase), cost (8.5% decrease), and no-shows (1% decrease). 3 scenarios were run for large (10 providers), mid-sized (4 providers), and single provider facilities. In-person vs telemental …

Patient And Provider Perceptions Of A Community-Based Accompaniment Intervention For Adolescents Transitioning To Adult Hiv Care In Urban Peru: A Qualitative Analysis, Jerome T. Galea, Milagros Wong, Brennan Ninesling, Alicia Ramos, Liz Senador, Hugo Sanchez, Lenka Kolevic, Eduardo Matos, Eduardo Sanchez, Renato A. Errea, Andrew Lindeborg, Carlos Benites, Leonid Lecca, Sonya Shin, Molly F. Franke

Social Work Faculty Publications

Introduction: Adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) experience higher mortality rates compared to other age groups, exacerbated by the suboptimal transition from paediatric to adult HIV care, during which decreased adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and unsuppressed viremia are frequent. Care transition—a process lasting months or years—ideally prepares ALWH for adult care and can be improved by interventions that are youth-friendly and address psychosocial issues affecting ART adherence; however, such interventions are infrequently operationalized. Community-based accompaniment (CBA), in which laypeople provide individualized support and health system navigation, can improve health outcomes among adults with HIV. Here, we describe patient and provider …

Considerations For Partnering With Ryan White Case Managers To Create Equitable Opportunities For People With Hiv To Participate In Research, Elizabeth Lockhart, Deanne Turner, Jerome T. Galea, Stephanie L. Marhefka

Social Work Faculty Publications

Many research studies focus on recruitment from one or few HIV clinics or internet-engaged populations, but this may result in inequitable representation of people with HIV (PWH), across the rural/urban/suburban continuum. Ryan White Case Managers (RWCM) meet regularly with PWH, potentially positioning them as partners in gathering research-related data from diverse groups of low-income, marginalized, PWH. Yet, data collection in partnership with RWCM, particularly over large geographic areas, has been under-explored. We partnered with RWCM and their organizations throughout Florida to administer a 10-item technology use and willingness survey to clients living with HIV; RWCMs provided process-oriented feedback. Among 382 …

Geographic Accessibility To Health Facilities Predicts Uptake Of Community-Based Tuberculosis Screening In An Urban Setting, Helen E. Jenkins, Sally Ayuk, Daniela Puma, Meredith B. Brooks, Ana Karina Millones, Judith Jimenez, Leonid Lecca, Jerome T. Galea, Mercedes Becerra, Salmaan Keshavjee, Courtney M. Yuen

Social Work Faculty Publications

Objectives: Annually, more than 30% of individuals with tuberculosis (TB) remain undiagnosed. We aimed to assess whether geographic accessibility measures can identify neighborhoods that would benefit from TB screening services targeted toward closing the diagnosis gap.

Methods: We used data from a community-based mobile TB screening program in Carabayllo district, Lima, Peru. We constructed four accessibility measures from the geographic center of neighborhoods to health facilities. We used logistic regression to assess the association between these measures and screening uptake in one's residential neighborhood versus elsewhere, with quasi-information criterion values to assess the association.

Results: We analyzed the screening locations …

Understanding Linkage To Biopsy And Treatment For Breast Cancer After A High-Risk Telemammography Result In Peru: A Mixed-Methods Study, Renato A. Errea, Patricia J. Garcia, Lydia E. Pace, Jerome T. Galea, Molly F. Franke

Social Work Faculty Publications

Objectives: This mixed-method study aimed to understand the effectiveness of linkage to biopsy and treatment in women with a high-risk mammography result (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, BI-RADS 4 and 5) in the national telemammography programme and to explore women’s experiences during this process.

Setting: Quantitative component: we collected and linked health data from the telemammography reading centre, the national public health insurance, the national centre for disease control and the national referral cancer centre. Qualitative component: we interviewed participants from different regions of the country representing diverse social and geographical backgrounds.

Participants: Quantitative: women who underwent telemammography between …

Attitudes Toward Payment For Research Participation: Results From A U.S. Survey Of People Living With Hiv, Andrea N. Polonijo, Karine Dubé, Jerome T. Galea, Karah Yeona Greene, Jeff Taylor, Christopher Christensen, Brandon Brown

Social Work Faculty Publications

Little is known about how payment affects individuals' decisions to participate in HIV research. Using data from a U.S. survey of people living with HIV (N = 292), we examined potential research participants’ attitudes toward payment, perceived study risk based on payment amount, and preferred payment forms, and how these factors vary by sociodemographic characteristics. Most respondents agreed people should be paid for HIV research participation (96%) and said payment would shape their research participation decisions (80%). Men, less formally educated individuals, and members of some minoritized racial-ethnic groups were less likely to be willing to participate in research …

Feasibility Of A School-Based Mental Health Program Implementation To Improve The Status Of Depression And Quality Of Life Of Mothers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders In Urban Bangladesh: Menthol Study, Aliya Naheed, Saimul Islam, Meredith B. Brooks, Mary C. Smith Fawzi, Mir Nabila Ashraf, Helal Uddin Ahmed, M. M. Jalal Uddin, Kamrun Nahar Koly, Jerome T. Galea, Shaheen Akhter, Charles Nelson, Saima Wazed Hossain, Kerim M. Munir

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: We assessed the feasibility of implementing psychological counseling services (PCS) for mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) integrated within special education settings in urban Bangladesh. Method: In two special education schools for ASD in Dhaka City, trained female psychologists screened mothers using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). PCS was administered to all the mothers irrespective of a diagnosis of depression. Mothers with a PHQ-9 score >4 who met criteria for a major depressive episode (MDE) based on the DSM-IV Structured Interview Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) were also administered skill-building training through monthly home visits to support ASD …

Higher Native Peruvian Genetic Ancestry Proportion Is Associated With Tuberculosis Progression Risk, Samira Asgari, Yang Luo, Chuan-Chin Huang, Zibiao Zhang, Roger Calderon, Carmen Contreras, Jerome T. Galea, Leonid Lecca, David Jones, D. Branch Moody, Megan B. Murray, Soumya Raychaudhuri

Social Work Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Patient Decision Aids Improve Patient Safety And Reduce Medical Liability Risk, Thaddeus Pope

Faculty Scholarship

Tort-based doctrines of informed consent have utterly failed to assure that patients understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the healthcare they receive. Fifty years of experience with the doctrine of informed consent have shown it to be an abject catastrophe. Most patients lack an even minimal understanding of their treatment options. But there is hope. Substantial evidence shows that patient decision aids (PDAs) and shared decision making can bridge the gap between the theory and practice of informed consent. These evidence-based educational tools empower patients to make decisions with significantly more knowledge and less decisional conflict than clinician-patient discussions …

Annual Report 2020-2021: Student Life & Development, Denise Mcdowell

Annual Reports

Student Life and Development (SLD) professionals at Winona State University (WSU) deliver programs, services, and activities that support students' academic achievement, social development, and well-being in the timely pursuit of their educational goals. The 2020-2021 SLD Annual Report provides information from the following departments: Admissions, Community Engagement, Conduct & Citizenship, Counseling and Wellness Services, Dean of Students, Equity & Inclusion Excellence, Health & Wellness Services, Housing & Residence Life, Integrative Wellness, Student Union & Activities, TRIO Student Support Services, the Warrior Hub, and the Warrior Success Center.

The Role Od Daf-12/ Nhr In Regulating C. Elegans Environment Sensing Through Osm-9/Trpv, Mary Ross

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

No abstract provided.

Visualizing 81: An Immersive Media And Community-Centered Approach To Revisit And Revisualize Syracuse's 15th Ward, Amanda Paule

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

No abstract provided.

Strokes Gained Analysis Of Professional Golfers, Benjamin Allen

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

No abstract provided.

The Challenges Of Climate Reporting In The 21st Century, G. Shetty

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

No abstract provided.

Relationship Distance's Role In The Association Between Need Fulfillment And Dissolution Consideration, Regan Schutt

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

No abstract provided.

Is S-Adenosylmethionine (Same) An Effective Drug To Help Treat Patients With Depression?, Cassidy M. Flanigan

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

 Objective: The objective of the selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is Sadenosylmethionine (SAMe) an Effective Drug to Help Treat Patients with Depression?”

Study Design: A systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2016-2020.

Data Sources: All three RCTs were discovered using PubMed. The articles were published in English in peer-reviewed journals and selected based on applicability to the clinical question.

Outcome Measured: A reduction in depressive symptoms was the outcome measured in all three studies using the Montgomery-Asbery Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The mean change in baseline was calculated once intervention was received. …

Is Botulinum Toxin Effective At Reducing Sensory Symptoms In The Hands Of Patients With Raynaud’S Phenomenon?, Maria C. Dicioccio

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this systematic review is to determine, “Is Botulinum Toxin Effective at Reducing Sensory Symptoms in the Hands of Patients with Raynaud’s Phenomenon?”

Study Design: A systematic review of two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one prospective case series published between 2017 and 2019.

Data Sources: The articles were discovered using PubMed or Academic Search Premier. The articles were published in English in peer-reviewed journals and selected based on pertinence to the clinical question.

Outcome Measured: A reduction in sensory symptoms was the outcome measured in all three studies using the VAS pain score (0-10/100) or McCabe …

Does Hippotherapy Improve Gross Motor Function In Children With Cerebral Palsy?, Victoria I. Bockius

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does hippotherapy improve gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy?”.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with one being a randomized crossover trial. All three were published between 2015 and 2018.

DATA SOURCES: Three RCTs published in peer-reviewed journals were chosen from PubMed. The studies were selected based on their relevance to the clinical question.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome measured was improvement in gross motor function. Either hip adductor spasticity using Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) or the Gross Motor Function …

Piecing It Together: Analysis And Treatment Of A Painted Silk Flag, Katya Zinsli

Art Conservation Master's Projects

Painted flags and banners lie at the intersection of painting and textile conservation. The 37^th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment’s battle flag from the Civil War presented challenges and advantages of bridging the two disciplines by providing an opportunity for study and experimentation for a graduate student from the Patricia H. and Richard E. Garman Art Conservation Department at SUNY Buffalo State College. This study was conducted to better understand the materials and degradation products present in a painted Civil War flag, which then informed the subsequent treatment of said flag. By characterizing the materials, the severe damage in …

Contextualizing And Reconstructing A Model Birch Bark Canoe, Jen Mikes

Art Conservation Master's Projects

To perform a well-informed conservation treatment on an object, it is crucial to understand its context, history, and significance. When an object presents with little provenance or context, it can be difficult to determine the course that its treatment should follow. In this project, a structurally unstable birch bark canoe model of unknown origin was examined, researched, and treated. The treatment campaign was customized for the object based on literature research, owner consultation, and materials experimentation. The canoe model was structurally stabilized with adhesive and adhesive reactivated Japanese tissue, it was locally humidified and reshaped with Gore-Tex sandwiches, and was …

Covid, Inequalities And Health: A Sociological Analysis About The Resilience Found In Unique Student Life Experiences, Sarah Da Silva

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This study demonstrates how adversity during the covid pandemic has impacted the lives of diverse college students. Specifically, this study analyzes students' perspectives on how they respond through resilience to daily academic, financial, and social stressors impacting their health during the pandemic. For this study, the research questions are: 1) what themes and forms of coping emerge among marginalized racially, ethnically diverse U.S. college students about their mental health and daily life experiences exacerbated by the covid pandemic? 2) And to what do experiences with stressors in combination with the covid pandemic reveal about the mental health of marginalized groups …