Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Understanding Intelligent Non-Adherence By Measuring The Differences In Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, And Behaviors Of Self-Care In Heart Failure Patients, Marco Mimbela

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Background and Purpose of the Study: Research shows that six in ten U.S. adults have a chronic disease and four in ten have two or more (CDC, 2018). Of all chronic diseases, heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization and mortality in the U.S. (Kilgore, Patel, Kielhorn, Maya, & Sharma, 2017). Luckily, this condition can be managed through various self-care practices. Although healthcare providers are educating their patients on these self-care practices, patients are making a conscious decision to non-adhere. This phenomenon is known as intelligent non-adherence and is mostly affected by an individual’s level of knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, …

A Rollout Of A Blood Pressure Remote Patient Monitoring Program To Improve High-Risk Maternal Outcomes At A Pilot Clinic For Systemwide Expansion, Laura Geron

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

An existing virtual care platform provides an innovative means of early recognition, identification, and intervention for women with elevated blood pressures during pregnancy, known as preeclampsia. A pilot program took place at a Northeastern prenatal care clinic where patients were identified as high-risk for preeclampsia, enrolled, educated by their providers, and equipped with Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure cuffs.

Through remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology, blood pressure readings could transmit from a patient’s residence to a portal accessible by their clinic provider at any time. This doctoral-level quality improvement project focuses on the identification of patients at high-risk for preeclampsia, their enrollment …

Understanding Older Adults Living In Medically Underserved Areas Perspectives Regarding Type 2 Diabetes Care Received, Christopher Rogers

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Older adults with type 2 diabetes living in medically underserved areas (MUAs) have unique health and social needs that must be taken into consideration when supporting their type 2 diabetes treatment and management care. Effective treatment and management of type 2 diabetes for older adults living in MUAs requires incorporating the preferences, desires, needs, values, and goals of the person at the center of the care into his/her care plan. Shifting care to be conducive to the treatment and management goals and plans co-created with older adults living in MUAs based on their individual physical, psychological, social, and spiritual preferences, …

A Functional Three-Dimensional Microphysiological Model Of Myeloma Bone Disease, Richard Visconti

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic cancer caused by a mature B cell neoplasm, or plasmacytoma, that infiltrates the skeleton at several sites. The disease is characterized by uninhibited transformed plasma cell proliferation that disrupts skeletal homeostasis leading to decreased bone modeling and increased bone resorption. Osteolytic lesions (OL) or voids left in the bone, remain long after the treatment of the cancer and indicate disease progression to myeloma bone disease (MBD). Current combinatorial MM therapies inhibit malignant plasma cell proliferation, slow the progression towards MBD, and increase the mean five-year survival rate, but do little to improve osteoblastic function …

Cancer-Targeting Immunostimulatory Peptides As An Immunotherapeutic Approach To Cancer, Rachel Montel

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This dissertation reports the synthesis and biological applications of bifunctional trimeric peptides with B7H6-derived NKp30 binding motifs that serve to activate an immunocytotoxic response in natural killer cells and a GRP78-binding motif that can target tumors that express surface GRP78. In this manner the cancer-targeting immunostimulatory peptides are anticipated to directly bind and activate effector NK92-MI cells while also recognizing and binding to target A549 tumor cells to facilitate NK cell-dependent immunocytotoxicity of the targeted tumors. The NKp30 binding peptide motifs are derived from the tumor associated B7H6 antigen that is often downregulated or shed from the surface of tumors …

Exploring Autonomy Support In Shared Decision Making And Patient Activation Of Diabetes Self-Care Behaviors, Carol Mahler Hamersky

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Introduction:

Chronic disease places a different set of demands on an individual and family. Self-care behaviors and daily decision making is an integral part of diabetes management. According to the CDC (2014), the prevalence of Diabetes is estimated at 29.1 million and an alarming 86 million Americans have Pre-diabetes. Despite a plethora of evidence on the importance of diabetes self-care behaviors on clinical outcomes, studies have highlighted the current disconnect of patients not able to follow self-care behavior recommendations and not asking for help from their health care providers. There is no literature on the impact of an autonomy supported …

Transitional Care To Reduce 30-Day Heart Failure Readmissions Among The Long-Term Care Elderly Population, Shantha Franks

Seton Hall University DNP Final Projects

Throughout the nation, there is an increased focus on reducing preventable hospital readmissions. This initiative started with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (CMS, 2014), which sets forth certain provisions for Medicare spending. Hospitals with higher than usual readmission rates, especially in terms of preventable readmissions, are receiving reductions in Medicare reimbursements (Stone & Hoffman, 2010, CMS, 2014). Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) or Heart Failure (HF) is recognized as a primary cause of 30-day hospital readmissions. Causes of HF readmission include inadequate patient education and planning for discharge, inappropriate medication reconciliation, and poor or inadequate follow-up in the …

Functional Analysis Of The Molluscum Contagiosum Virus Mc160 Death Effector Domain-Containing Protein Rxdl Motif, Sarah Weber

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is a member of the Poxviridae family that causes benign skin lesions. MCV lesions persist on average for 8-12 months in otherwise healthy individuals. MCV lesions are characterized by reduced inflammation. The persistence and reduction of inflammation at the site of MCV lesions have been attributed to MCV immune evasion genes. MCV encodes two death effector domain (DED) containing proteins, MC159 and MC160. DEDs are found in cellular proteins such as FADD and procaspase-8. These cellular proteins are involved in several innate immune responses such as apoptosis and activation of interferon (IFN). Presumably, MC159 and …

Role Of The Vagal System In The Regulatory Sensory Processing Patterns In Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Physiologic Underpinnings And Reliability Of Measurement, Catherine M. Cavaliere

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study was a preliminary investigation into the reliability of cardiac vagal tone (CVT) as a measure of regulatory sensory processing in typically developing children and children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). We also examined group differences in CVT at rest and in response to sensation and the relationship of CVT to behavioral measures of sensory processing. The goals of this study were to answer three related research questions: 1. Is CVT a reliable measure of regulatory sensory processing? 2. Do children with ASD respond to sensory information differently than typically developing children? 3. Is there a relationship between physiologic …

Preliminary Studies Into Dna Binding Capabilities Of Ruthenium Nitro Nitrosyl As Anti-Tumor Pro-Drugs, Natasha Hansson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The complex [Ru(bpy)z(NO)(N02)](PF6)2 was investigated as a potential anti­ tumor drug option. The nitrosyl group was displaced by reaction with azide ion in acetone to yield the solvento complex in situ. The products isolated from addition of a solution or slurry of guanine, adenine, cytosine or thiamine to the resulting [Ru(bpy)(N02)(acetone)t were investigated by electronic absorption spectroscopy, infra­ 1 red spectroscopy, H NMR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The results of the studies showed that guanine, adenine and thiamine form adducts with Ru(bpy)z(N02)(acetone)t. However, each base forms a unique complex as shown by electronic spectroscopy. Guanine is the strongest field ligand, …

Localization And Binding Characteristics Of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Bcl-2 Protein In The Prevention Of Apoptosis, Erin T. St.Angelo

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the causative agent of various diseases, and it encodes a Bcl-2 homolog, KS-Bcl-2. The Bcl-2 family is important in regulating cellular apoptosis. Pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members promote apoptosis through mitochondrial pore formation by Bak and Bax, or through BH3 only domain activators and sensitizers. Anti-apoptotic members, such as cellular Bcl-2 prevent apoptosis through interactions with pro-apoptotic proteins, for instance inhibiting pore formation by binding to Bak and/or Bax. Even though, KS-Bcl-2 has been shown to have an anti-apoptotic function like its homolog, it does not bind to either Bak or Bax, and little is known …

Small Molecule Inhibition Of Macrophage Tnf-A Release, Razwana Wahdat

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-a) is a vital pro-inflammatory cytokine produced in response to the activation ofthe innate immune response via the Toll-like receptor signal transduction pathway. This thesis explores the release and inhibition of TNF-a from RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages and human U937 cells that have been exposed to a potent activator of innate immunity. Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a Gram negative bacterial endotoxin, in the presence or absence of proinflammatory cytokine interferon 'Y (IFN-y) as activators ofthe TLR-4 pathway, a robust release ofTNF­ a was observed. Co-incubation of stimulated macrophages with the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, sodium vanadate, resulted in …

Modulation Of Lps-Induced Activation Of Hepatic Map Kinases, Oliver Surriga

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent inflammagen that has been found to be primarily responsible for many symptoms caused by gram-negative bacterial infections. The LPS-initiated signal transduction pathways involve several terminal kinases, mainly p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), ultimately leading to increased expression of genes encoding such inflammatory cytokines as interleukin (IL )-1 �. IL-6 and tumor necrosis factors (TNF)-u. In this study, the effects of age on LPS-induced activation of MAPKs in the liver of rats were examined. Results show that the basal level of phosphorylated p42/44 MAPK was increased in postnatal day …

Neuropsychological Assessment Of Working Memory, Processing Speed, And Cognitive Fatigue Among Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease: A Biopsychosocial Developmental Perspective, Laura J. Tagliareni

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Characterization Of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Orf11 As A Possible Dutpase, Christina N. Ramirez

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

A dUTPase is a crucial enzyme that hydrolyzes dUTP to dUMP. This reaction prevents the mutagenic or lethal misincorporation of uracil into DNA. For that reason, the enzyme is required for efficient DNA replication. Previous studies have shown that has ORFl l dUTPase-like motifs and thus may be a dUTPase. Generally, gammaherpesviruses contain six characteristic dUTPase motifs. In particular ORFl 1 and contains motifs 1, 2, 4, 6. While the characteristic motifs of gamroaberpesviruses include motifs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the number of dUTPase-like motifs in ORFl 1 's protein sequence is substantial. Thus, ORFl 1 may …

Increasing Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D As A Possible Deterrent To The Onset Of Multiple Sclerosis, Nicholas J. Perretti

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Characterization Of Migrating Cells From Ventricular Zone (Vz) To Distant Limbic Structures After Multiple Neonatal Seizures, Melissa Corcia

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Regulation Of Proto-Oncogenes Expression In Developmental Epilepsy, Mahnoush Shafiei

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Seizures cause selective neuronal cell loss in vulnerable regions such as the hippocampus, cortex, thalamus or substantia nigra (SN) in human or experimental animals. While the HF can propagate seizures, the SN pars reticulata (SNR) regulates the spread ol seizures in an age-dependent fashion, and the pars compacta (SNC) affects extrapyramidal motor control. In mature animals, both structures are wlnerable to seizure-induced damage. In prepubescent rats, seizure susceptibility is reduced and CA 1 region rs primarily affected. The proto-oncogenes, Bcl-2 and Bax, encode specific proteins that inhibit and promote programmed cell death, respectively. In order to determine whether proto-oncogenes are …

Standardization Of An Immunoassay For The Detection Of Antibodies To B2 Glycoprotein-I, Eric N. Erickson Jr.

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is an evolving autoimmune disease with numerous clinical manifestations. APS occurs in two forms: Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome (PAPS) and secondarily in association with other autoimmune disorders such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE). In the brief period since its discovery as a cofactor for anticardiolipin antibodies, p1-glycoprotein I (�GPI; apolipoprotein H) has been recognized as the autoantigen in the absence of anionic phospholipid when appropriately presented to human autoantibodies. Recent studies suggest that this presentation requires the surface-dependent unmasking of a cryptic epitope. Immunoassays of autoantibodies directed against p1GPI, developed through the application of suitable polymeric matrices, may …