Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Ovarian Modifications In Mice Exposed To Whole-Body Irradiation., Jacob Marion Poole

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This experiment was designed to determine the involvement of varying levels of whole-body irradiation on ovarian follicular and corpora luteal development in mice. Previous research has indicated reduced counts of ovarian follicles and corpora lutea in mice flown in space. These differences may be the result of microgravity, increased exposure to radiation, or some combination of both. Fifty-six mice were divided into three groups (apocynin-treated, nox2 knockout, and wild-type control) before exposure to 0 Gy, 0.5 Gy, or 2.0 Gy radiation. The tissues were harvested, preserved, run through the appropriate paraffin embedding procedures, serially sectioned, mounted on microscope slides, and …

Stress Relief Habits And Perceived Stress Among College Nursing Students., Geneva Record

Undergraduate Honors Theses

With healthcare reform on the rise and the population of Baby Boomers increasing exponentially, nurses are in higher demand than ever before. Students in nursing school are under a great deal of stress as they balance a heavy academic load with outside responsibilities to jobs and families. These stressors often carry into professional practice, resulting in nurses that are constantly stressed. This study asks nursing students about their perceived stress and about the specific ways they cope with their stress.

The study’s results show that most students wish they had more time to engage in stress relieving activities. When students …

The Study Of The Effect Of Two Flavone Isomers Derived From Gnaphalium Elegans And Achyrocline Bogotensis In Breast Cancer., Jessica J. Walker

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Flavonoids are ubiquitous to all terrestrial plants and many are known to have anti-tumor activities. In this research project we studied the differential cytotoxic effects of two flavone isomers on human breast cancer cells (BT-474, SKBR-3, and MCF-7) and normal breast cells as a control (MCF-10A). The basis of the relationships between chemical structures, type and position of substituent groups and the effects these compounds exert specifically on cancer cells are not completely elucidated. These flavones are derived from plants native of Colombia, South America. These plants of the family Asteraceae, genera Gnaphalium and Achyrocline are reputed to have anti-cancer …

Numerical Study Of The Effect Of Blood Vessel Geometry On Plaque Formation., Lindsey Fox

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the United States, cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women. Heart attacks and strokes can happen because of atherosclerosis, or plaque build-up inside arteries, which obstruct blood flow to the heart and brain. One common site of atherosclerosis is the carotid artery bifurcation. This study looks at how the angle between the branching arteries of the bifurcation affects the potential for atherosclerosis by running flow simulations through virtual models of the bifurcation. The higher the wall shear stress, turbulence intensity, and turbulence kinetic energy at the bifurcation, the lower the chance of …

Self-Management Of Diabetes In Low-Income Appalachian Women., Erin Austin

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Diabetes mellitus is a major health concern and the number of Americans diagnosed with the disease is quickly increasing, affecting all aspects of an individual’s life and requiring significant self-involvement. Little is known about how low-income Appalachian women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) manage their diabetes from day-to-day. This population struggles to effectively manage the illness as they desire for many reasons. The purpose of this study is to better understand the experiences of Appalachian women in self-managing diabetes so that health care providers can better meet the social and cultural needs of this unique population.

This study used …

Locus Coeruleus And Hippocampal Tyrosine Hydroxylase Levels In A Pressure-Overload Model Of Heart Disease, Luke A. Johnson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Studies have indicated that approximately 30% of people with heart disease experience major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite strong clinical evidence of a link between the two diseases, the neurobiological processes involved in the relationship are poorly understood. A growing number of studies are revealing similar neuroanatomical and neurochemical abnormalities resulting from both depression and heart disease. The locus coeruleus (LC) is a group of neurons in the pons that synthesize and release norepinephrine, and that is known to play a significant role in depression pathobiology. For example, there is evidence that tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is elevated in the LC in …

A Correlational Pilot Study Of Fatalism And Self-Efficacy Among Appalachians With Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus., Dwyn Mounger

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Despite the vast amount of research regarding type II diabetes, little is known about the relationship between fatalistic beliefs and self-efficacy in individual self-care among adult Appalachians with type II diabetes. As a result of multiple predisposing risk factors that include high rates of obesity and poverty, as well as a lack of access to preventative care services, the prevalence of diabetes is very high in this region and has become a major health issue. In addition, a history of exploitation and lack of diverse economic development has profoundly influenced the cultural beliefs of those living within the region, which …

Does Pregnancy Intent Impact The Decision To Breastfeed?, Rachel Collins

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Current literature overwhelmingly supports the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and infants. Numerous studies significantly correlate specific demographics and background factors of breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding mothers. However, little research has focused on the intendedness of the pregnancy and its association with breastfeeding. The goal of this study was to examine the association between pregnancy intendedness and breastfeeding plans and behavior. The first question of interest examined was whether pregnancy intent was associated with a woman’s intent to exclusively breastfeed when asked during the third trimester, after control for potentially confounding differences between the two groups. The second question of interest …

Living In Harmony: Health Perspectives Of Hispanics In Rural East Tennessee., Erin E. Bailey

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose is to promote culturally competent care among healthcare providers by identifying and describing how Hispanics in East Tennessee view health and what they do to prevent illness. A focus group of six to ten Hispanics of mixed genders over age eighteen moderated by a native Spanish-speaking interpreter. Questions explored how Hispanics define health and sickness, health maintenance practices, and alternative medicines and practices. Results were interpreted from Spanish to English to be analyzed. The Circle in Which You Live was described by members as consisting of relationships, physical health, and peace of the mind and soul. In Shutting …

Eating And Physical Activity Habits Of College Students., Crystal D. D. West

Undergraduate Honors Theses

No abstract.

Predictors Of Success To Pass The National Physical Therapy Exam: Is There A Correlation Between Gre/Gpa Scores And Success Rates?, Kelsey Taylor

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is an admission criterion for many different graduate programs including the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT). Upon completion of a DPT program, the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) must be passed with a minimum score of 600 in order to practice as a physical therapist. This study analyzes the relationship between GRE and graduate grade point average (GGPA) and NPTE scores to explore the ability of GRE and GGPA scores to predict NPTE success. Similar studies have been done in the past, but the results vary between studies. GRE, GGPA, and NPTE records were gathered …

Random Inter Stimulus Interval Increases Signal-To-Noise Ratio., Juliane Armstrong

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Incremental improvements are continuously being made to P300-Speller BCI paradigms. Accurate classification depends on a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) between the target and nontarget items. Fixed presentation rates produce a large flash-evoked response that persists throughout the recording epoch, which can potentially undermine the classification of P300-responses. By introducing a random interstimulus interval (ISI) to a previously improved P300-Speller paradigm (i.e., Checkerboard Paradigm; CBP) we expect to reduce the deleterious flash-evoked responses and increase the P300 classification SNR. Data were recorded from 32 EEG locations (right mastoid referenced) from 13 subjects using the CBP with two conditions. In the Random …

Clinical Simulation Laboratories: Bridging The Gap Between Academia And The Private Care Hospital Setting., Caitlin Carney

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Many academic medical programs present students with the chance to experience scenario based learning. This is often achieved through the use of clinical simulation laboratories which utilize computer-based scenarios that realistically imitate the human body and how it responds to various situations. This interactive style of learning has proven to be successful at integrating theories taught in textbooks and practice gained through clinical experience without posing any harm to human patients. Literature has shown documentation of the effectiveness of using clinical simulation laboratories in both the academic and clinical setting; however, some clinical facilities have been slow to adapt the …

Nicotine Sensitization And Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Content In Adolescent Rats Neonatally Treated With Quinpirole., Addie Roberts

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Neonatal treatment of quinpirole in rats increases dopamine D2-like receptor sensitivity over the animal’s lifetime, a phenomenon referred to as D2 priming. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were given quinpirole (1mg/kg, i.p.) or saline on postnatal days (P)1-21. After habituation to a locomotor arena on P29-31, beginning P33, animals were administered nicotine (0.3 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, or 0.7 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline and placed into a locomotor arena for behavioral testing every second day for a total of 9 treatments. The results showed that adolescents neonatally treated with quinpirole produced more enhanced sensitization to nicotine than controls. Brains tissues were …

Knowledge Of The Effects Of Alcohol On Fetal Development Among Women Of Childbearing Age., Mary Bales

Undergraduate Honors Theses

While Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder is a recognized problem with alcohol ingestion during the formation of facial features, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are not as widely recognized. These disorders result from exposure to alcohol throughout pregnancy when the brain and nervous system are developing. The resulting disorders include attention deficit disorders, social disorders, inappropriate behaviors, learning disorders, and intellectual disability. The incidence of children with alcohol-related disorders is increasing as evidenced by children needing special services in the educational systems. It is unknown how much alcohol ingestion is safe during pregnancy or how genetic factors are involved in the development …

7,8-Dihydroxyflavone, A Selective Tyrosine Kinase Receptor B Agonist And Bdnf Mimic, Promotes Angiogenesis., Jeremy Williams

Undergraduate Honors Theses

7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), which is a member of the flavonoid family, is a selective tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) agonist that has neurotrophic effects in various neurological diseases such as ischemic stroke and Parkinson’s disease [3]. In this study, we assessed the angiogeneic effect of 7,8-DHF in endothelial cells derived from resistance vessel of the brain. Angiogenesis by 7,8-DHF is an important factor that helps prevent and treat various ischemic diseases. In this study, we found that rat RV cells used in the experiment possess the TrkB receptor. Our data also demonstrates that 7,8-DHF is able to stimulate cell proliferation in …

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels In D2 Receptor Primed Adolescent Rats Given Twice Daily Nicotine Administrations., Josie Minnigh

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nicotine use is very prevalent in the schizophrenic population, which is a 2.5 fold greater than the general population. In the present study, the drug quinpirole (dopamine D2/D3 agonist) or saline was given neonatally to 25 Sprague-Dawley male and female rats. Rats were randomly assigned to condition. Beginning postnatal day 33 animals were given twice daily administrations of nicotine (0.5 mg/kg free base). After the first of the daily injections they were placed in a locomotor arena every other day for behavioral testing. One day after behavioral testing, the dorsal striatum and nucleus accumbens were removed for brain-derived neurotrophic factor …

Visitor Hand-Washing Compliance According To Policies And Procedures At A Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit., Desiree Raynor

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hospital-acquired infections cost hospitals approximately $30.5 billion per year and also result in longer hospital stays, chronic conditions, and even death with associated malpractice costs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand hygiene is a simple, effective way to prevent illness and infection. The purpose of this research was to determine if visitors to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a regional medical center comply with hand-washing policies and procedures. If NICU visitors wash their hands properly, they can prevent potentially fatal infections from spreading to patients, healthcare workers, and unaffected family members. Hand-washing compliance has …

Von Willebrand Factor Expression In Vascular Endothelial Cells Of Cage Control And Antiorthostatic Cage Suspension Golden Hamster Ovaries., Kristan Provchy

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The hamster estrous cycle lasts four days and is considered to be a physiological model for angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the formation of new capillaries from preexisting vessels, and it occurs extensively during corpus luteum formation in the estrous cycle. Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) is a glycoprotein that is secreted uniquely in endothelial cells and megakaryocytes. It is frequently used as an endothelial cell marker and it is able to detect vessels within tissues when it is used in immunohistochemical staining techniques. This study explores von Willebrand Factor expression within Golden Hamster ovarian tissue. In particular, this study uses cage control …