Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Implementation Of Standardized Hereditary Breast And Ovarian Cancer (Hboc) Risk Assessment And Genetic Referral, Melissa M. Hessock, Tracy L. Brewer, Sadie Hutson

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Objective: To increase identification and genetic referral rates for women at risk of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC).

Design: Evidence-based practice improvement initiative

Setting/Local Problem: Private suburban OB/GYN practice in Tennessee with no standardized process for HBOC risk assessment or genetic referral.

Participants: Women age 18 or older, presenting for routine well-woman visits.

Intervention/Measurements: Using PDSA (plan-do-study-act) cycles, a familial risk assessment tool was selected, and a clinical decision-making algorithm for risk assessment and genetic referral was designed and implemented for use in well-woman encounters. Pre-implementation and post-implementation risk identification and referral rates were …

Investigating The Effects Of Excitotoxic Stimuli On The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Rachel A. Brandes

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Proprioceptive Cross Stroking Exercises: A Preliminary Retrospective Chart Review Of Its Developmental Impact, Laura Elaine Sisk

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of The Performance Of Tn Integrated Food Safety Center Of Excellence Online Training Courses, Amal S. Humidat

Masters Theses

Foodborne disease outbreaks are still a challenge in the United States even with the improvements that are continuously made to the food integrity system. The Center for Agriculture and Food Security and Preparedness (CAFSP), in conjunction with the Tennessee Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence, has developed two web-based courses to support investigation of foodborne illnesses. These courses are entitled as “Foodborne Outbreak Investigation and Response Team Roles and Responsibilities, Part A and B” respectively. The overall goal of this study was to evaluate each course by assessing the participants' satisfaction, learning, and perception of knowledge gained and impact on …

Post-Concussion Experiences Of Collegiate Student-Athletes, Kaitlin Iris Singer

Doctoral Dissertations

Sports-related concussions are a major public health concern affecting a significant number of collegiate student-athletes. Medical and public health research has addressed every aspect of concussion management processes including concussion education, medical diagnosis, recovery, and returning to sport and classroom. This research has led to several best-practices for concussion management. Since 2010, the NCAA has mandated that its member institutions maintain concussion management policies and procedures. However, the current recommendations, based primarily on medical research, have been found in quantitative studies of the behaviors and practices of athletic trainers, coaches, and student-athletes to be ineffective. To date, no studies have …

Whole Genome Sequencing As A Tool For Identifying Phenotypic Properties And Underlying Genetic Mechanisms In Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius, Matthew C. Riley

Doctoral Dissertations

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a Gram-positive bacterial opportunistic pathogen commonly associated with dermal infections in canines, but capable of causing serious disease in other species. Reports of human infections caused by S. pseudintermedius along with an increase in resistance to multiple antibiotics highlights the importance of this organism. Whole genome sequencing can allow large scale investigation of genetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic properties that contribute to the expansion of successful S. pseudintermedius clonal lineages.

The increase in multidrug and methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) may result from horizontal transfer of genetic material between bacterial isolates, yet is thought to be rare in Staphylococci …

Improving Ventricular Catheter Design Through Computational Fluid Dynamics, Sofy Hefets Weisenberg

Masters Theses

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts are fully implantable medical devices that are used to treat patients suffering from conditions characterized by elevated intracranial pressure, such as hydrocephalus. In cases of shunt failure or malfunction, patients are often required to endure one or more revision surgeries to replace all or part of the shunt. One of the primary causes of CSF shunt failure is obstruction of the ventricular catheter, a component of the shunt system implanted directly into the brain's ventricular system. This work aims to improve the design of ventricular catheters in order to reduce the incidence of catheter obstruction and …

The Metastatic Receptor Status Impact On First-Line Treatment Plans And Outcomes For Recurrent Metastatic Breast Cancer, T. Allen Pannell

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: For more than two decades, breast cancer researchers have studied the benefits, risks and clinical importance of testing the receptor status of metastatic tumors. While there is a growing consensus that the status should be re-tested and under what circumstances that re-testing should occur, there is little to no evidence that utilizing test results for metastatic tumor receptor status improves the clinical outcomes of patients. In fact, there is evidence that changes to treatment plans based on this re-testing can be harmful to patient outcomes.

Objective: This dissertation evaluates the current state of evidence related to altering patient treatment …

Icloudecg: A Mobile Cardiac Telemedicine System, David S. Clifford

Masters Theses

With rising healthcare costs and a substantially growing number of patients 65 or over, the benefits of telemedicine and patient self-monitoring systems are becoming increasingly evident. Patients, physicians, hospitals, and even insurance providers benefit from vigilant, cost-effective patient monitoring systems. This thesis describes the development of a portable, smart-phone connected system for continuous cardiac monitoring. The system is capable of continuously monitoring the conditions of the heart, automated detection of cardiac arrhythmias, and real-time notifying patients and physicians of the detected abnormalities. The system consists of four main subsystems: 1) a Bluetooth capable chest-strap ECG, 2) an Android-enabled mobile device, …

Crohn’S Disease Linked Polymorphisms Associated With Autophagy Contribute To Th17 Cell Induction Through Increasing The Expression Of Il-1Β And Tnf-Α, Daniel Clayton Morse

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

Abstract

Genome wide association studies (GWAS) have linked polymorphisms in autophagy genes to Crohn’s Disease (CD). Interestingly, recent studies have shown that defective autophagy leads to increased levels of the cytokines IL-1b and TNF-a, which play a critical role in Th17 cell differentiation. This is significant because CD is marked by a Th17 cell mediated inflammatory response. This article examines the manners in which defective expression of autophagy linked proteins, can indirectly amplify and sustain Th17 cell induction through increasing the production of Th17 positively differentiating cytokines (IL-1b and TNF-a) and decreasing the production …

Physical Activity And Its Effect On Reducing Disease: A Literature Review Of The National Runner's Health Study, Graham William Edson

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Wirelesseeg: Data Aquisition + Handheld Device, Michael Dylan Snowden, Madeline Threatt, Brent Mcferrin, David Platillero, Karsten Solies, Lindsey Hopf

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs On Cellular Structure And Adhesion Proteins In Human Colorectal Cancer, Jason Lee Liggett

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell proteins related to cellular structure and adhesion. NSAIDs are extensively used not only to treat inflammatory diseases but also to prevent cancer among high-risk groups. Their mechanisms are not fully understood, but both cyclooxygenase (COX) dependent and independent pathways play a role in NSAID-induced anti-tumorigenesis. Our lab previously reported that NSAIDs induce other anti-tumorigenic genes in a COX-independent manner (Chapter 1). Human CRC cells treated with the NSAID sulindac sulfide (SS) showed dramatic morphological changes under differential interference contrast and fluorescent microscopy, as well …

Odontogenic Ameloblast-Associated Protein (Odam) Inhibits Growth And Migration Of Human Melanoma Cells And Elicits Pten Elevation And Inactivation Of Pi3k/Akt Signaling, James S. Foster, Lindsay M. Fish, Jonathan E. Phipps, Charles T. Bruker, James M. Lewis, John L. Bell, Alan Solomon, Daniel P. Kestler

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- UT Graduate School of Medicine

Background

The Odontogenic Ameloblast-associated Protein (ODAM) is expressed in a wide range of normal epithelial, and neoplastic tissues, and we have posited that ODAM serves as a novel prognostic biomarker for breast cancer and melanoma. Transfection of ODAM into breast cancer cells yields suppression of cellular growth, motility, and in vivo tumorigenicity. Herein we have extended these studies to the effects of ODAM on cultured melanoma cell lines.

Methods

The A375 and C8161 melanoma cell lines were stably transfected with ODAM and assayed for properties associated with tumorigenicity including cell growth, motility, and extracellular matrix adhesion. In addition, ODAM–transfected cells …

Elucidating Role Of Heart Valve Cells In The Aortic Valve Calcification, Mary Katherine Bailey, Adithi Amarnath

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Novel Technique For Predicting Tumor Response In Adaptive Radiation Therapy, Rebecca Marie Seibert

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation concentrates on the introduction of Predictive Adaptive Radiation Therapy (PART) as a potential method to improve cancer treatment. PART is a novel technique that utilizes volumetric image-guided radiation therapy treatment (IGRT) data to actively predict the tumor response to therapy and estimate clinical outcomes during the course of treatment. To implement PART, a patient database containing IGRT image data for 40 lesions obtained from patients who were imaged and treated with helical tomotherapy was constructed. The data was then modeled using locally weighted regression. This model predicts future tumor volumes and masses and the associated confidence intervals based …

Sp526-A Do You Know How To Lower Your Risk For Cancer?, Bobbi P. Clarke

Health, and Fitness

No abstract provided.

Anesthesia Of The Geriatric Equine, Reza Seddighi Dvm, Ms, Phd, Dip Acva, Cvma

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Advancements in veterinary medicine have resulted in an increased number of geriatric horses being presented for medical or surgical procedures that require general anesthesia. Due to the physiological changes associated with aging and the likelihood of concurrent disease conditions, the geriatric equine is at an increased risk during anesthesia. The main physiological changes associated with aging, and their impact on anesthesia, are discussed in this review.

A Description Of The Movement Of The Canine Pelvic Limb In Three Dimensions Using An Inverse Dynamics Method, And A Comparison Of Two Techniques To Surgically Repair A Cranial Cruciate Ligament Deficient Stifle, Jason Headrick

Doctoral Dissertations

The purposes of the dissertation were: 1) to describe three-dimensional (3D) motion of the canine pelvic limb using an inverse dynamics method, and 2) to compare these motion patterns between normal, healthy dogs and those that have had their stifles stabilized by one of two surgical methods approximately five years earlier.

Twenty-five dogs were allocated to three groups; healthy control dogs, dogs that had received the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), and dogs that had received the lateral fabellar suture (LFS) stabilization technique. Both surgical techniques were performed approximately five years prior on stifles with surgically induced cranial cruciate ligament …

Characterization Of A Small Animal Spect Platform For Use In Preclinical Translational Research, Dustin Ryan Osborne

Doctoral Dissertations

Imaging Iodine-125 requires an increased focus on developing an understanding of how fundamental processes used by imaging systems work to provide quantitative output for the imaging system. Isotopes like I-125 pose specific imaging problems that are a result of low energy emissions as well as how closely spaced those emissions are in the spectrum. This work seeks to characterize the performance of a small animal SPECT-CT imaging system with respect to imaging I-125 for use in a preclinical translational research environment and to understand how the performance of this system relates to critical applications such as attenuation and scatter correction. …

The Effect Of Midazolam On End-Tidal Concentration Of Isoflurane Necessary To Prevent Movements In Dogs, Reza Seddighi Dvm, Ms, Phd, Dip Acva

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences

Objective To determine the possible additive effect of midazolam, a GABAA agonist, on the end-tidal concentration of isoflurane that prevents movement (MACNM) in response to noxious stimulation. Study design Randomized crossover experimental study. Animals Six, healthy, adult intact male, mixed-breed dogs. Methods After baseline isoflurane MACNM (MACNM-B) determination, midazolam was administered as a low (LDS), medium (MDS) or high (HDS) dose series of midazolam. Each series consisted of two dose levels, low and high. The LDS was a loading dose (Ld) of 0.2 mg kg-1 and CRI (2.5 μg kg-1 minute-1) (LDL), followed by an Ld (0.4 mg kg-1) and …

Local Anesthetics As Pain Therapy In Horses, Reza Seddighi Dvm, Ms, Phd, Dip Acva

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Local Anesthetics as Pain Therapy in Horses Thomas J. Doherty MVB, MSc, and M. Reza Seddighi DVM, PhD

Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA

This article describes the rationale behind the use of systemically administered lidocaine as an analgesic. The analgesic efficacy of intravenously administered lidocaine is well documented by studies in human patients and laboratory animals. The mechanism by which systemically administered lidocaine produces analgesia is uncertain but is thought to include action at sodium, calcium, and potassium channels and the N-methyl-D-aspartate acid receptor. …

Secular Change Of The Modern Human Bony Pelvis: Examining Morphology In The United States Using Metrics And Geometric Morphometry, Kathryn R.D. Driscoll

Doctoral Dissertations

The human bony pelvis has evolved into its current form through competing selective forces. Bipedalism and parturition of large headed babies resulted in a form that is a complex compromise. While the morphology of the human pelvis has been extensively studied, the changes that have occurred since the adoption of the modern form, the secular changes that continue to alter the size and shape of the pelvis, have not received nearly as much attention. This research aims to examine the changes that have altered the morphology of the human bony pelvic girdle of individuals in the United States born between …

Sp441-C-Smart Choices...How Your Baby Grows - The Last Trimester, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Health, and Fitness

During the last three months, your baby grows very fast. It is important that you eat enough food so you will gain weight. Much of the weight you gain goes to the baby. Alcohol, drugs and tobacco can cause your baby to come too early and be too small. Sexually transmitted diseases can also hurt your baby.

Sp441-B-Smart Choices...How Your Baby Grows - The Second Trimester, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Health, and Fitness

Your body goes through many changes in the 4th, 5th and 6th months of pregnancy. For example, you will make a lot of blood. Your uterus (womb) and breasts grow larger. You will store extra body fat.

Sp441-A-Smart Choices...How Your Baby Grows - The First Trimester, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Health, and Fitness

The first three months are a very important time for you and your baby. Most of your baby's organs are forming early in pregnancy. Alcohol, drugs and tobacco can cause birth defects and miscarriages.

Ppar Agonists Down-Regulate The Expression Of Atp10c Mrna During Adipogenesis, A Peretich, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, S Hurst, Sj Baek, Madhu Dahr

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology

No abstract provided.

Coronary Artery Aneurysm: Case Report, Jeffrey E. Everett, Harold M. Burkhart

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences

Abstract

Introduction

Aneurysms of the left main coronary artery are rare with an incidence of 0.1% in large angiographic series. The majority are atherosclerotic in origin. Other causes include connective tissue disorders, trauma, vasculitis, congenital, mycotic and idiopathic. The primary complication is myocardial ischemia or infarction, with rupture being rare. Treatment options include anticoagulation, custom made covered stents, reconstruction, resection, and exclusion with bypass.

Case Presentation

A 66 year-old man was referred for evaluation of a 2 × 2 centimeter saccular aneurysm originating from the distal left main coronary artery. There was associated calcification and mild stenosis of the LM. …

Eye-To-Face Gaze In Stuttered Versus Fluent Speech, Andrew Lee Bowers Iv

Masters Theses

The present study investigated the effects of viewing audio-visual presentations of stuttered relative to fluent speech samples on the ocular reactions of participants. Ten adults, 5 males and 5 females, aged 18-55 who had a negative history of any speech, language and hearing disorders participated in the study. Participants were shown three 30 second audio-visual recordings of stuttered speech, and three 30 second audio-visual recordings of fluent speech, with a three second break (black screen) between the presentation of each video.

All three individuals who stutter were rated as ‘severe’ (SSI-3, Riley, 1994), exhibiting high levels of struggle filled with …

Expression Of G-Protein Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channels (Girks) In Lung Cancer Cell Lines, Howard Plummer 3rd, Madhu Dhar, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, Hildegard Schuller

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology

BACKGROUND: Previous data from our laboratory has indicated that there is a functional link between the beta-adrenergic receptor signaling pathway and the G-protein inwardly rectifying potassium channel (GIRK1) in human breast cancer cell lines. We wanted to determine if GIRK channels were expressed in lung cancers and if a similar link exists in lung cancer. METHODS: GIRK1-4 expression and levels were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR. GIRK protein levels were determined by western blots and cell proliferation was determined by a 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assay. RESULTS: GIRK1 mRNA was expressed in three of six small …