Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Cerebrovascular Dysfunction And Degeneration In Alzheimer’S Disease Pathophysiology, Dominic Dimitri Quintana

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a terminal illness and the most common form of dementia, which disproportionately affects the aged population. The pathophysiology of AD is characterized by neurodegeneration that slowly progresses, affecting regions of the brain that are involved in learning, memory, language, and executive function. In patients with the disease, early symptoms include non-disruptive forgetfulness that evolves into the inability to form new memories and ultimately the loss of autonomy at late stages. Histopathological hallmarks in the brain from patients with AD is the presence of amyloid-β (Aβ)-plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) deposited in the parenchyma. Since the discovery …

Evaluation Of The Impact Of An Educational Intervention Focused On Adolescent Vaping Among Rural Middle School Students, Holly F. Fitzwater

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According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sixty deaths due to the use of electronic cigarettes or other vaping products have been reported to date. Vaping has become viewed as a safe alternative to traditional cigarette smoking, particularly in the adolescent population. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends education by primary care clinicians to prevent initiation of tobacco products among adolescents. In order to combat this health disparity in America’s youth, intervention by the nursing profession is necessary. An educational session and interactive game were implemented by a school-based family nurse practitioner in order to change the …

A Phenomenological Photovoice Exploration Of Female Exercisers’ Experiences Of Their Body In Fitness Center Environments, Katherine E. Fairhurst

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For many women, the relationship with their body and exercise is complex. Exercise can have positive effects on body image, however, not all women appear to benefit positively from all types of exercise. To date, body image research has focused on exercise as an activity and less so on the context in which exercise is performed. Women frequently exercise in fitness centers as young adults which, unfortunately, is associated with body dissatisfaction. Using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach with Photovoice methodology, we explored young adult women’s lived body experiences while exercising in fitness centers. A purposive sample of 11 …

The Effects Of Intrinsic Foot Muscle Strengthening On Foot Posture, Balance, And Agility In Ice Hockey Players, Rebecca Eve Veltrie

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Context: Research has shown that intrinsic foot muscle strengthening over a 4-week period is beneficial for improvements in dynamic postural control, function, stability and foot posture. Ice hockey is a sport that requires immense levels of balance, stability and performance on the lateral aspect of the skate. With research lacking on the impact of intrinsic foot muscle strengthening on ice hockey athletes’ balance, foot posture and performance, implementation of such a program may be beneficial for ice hockey players. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of foot intrinsic muscle strengthening versus a traditional …

Root Coverage Predictability In The Treatment Of Gingival Recessions On Mandibular And Anterior Teeth, Michele Agusto

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Introduction. Mandibular anterior teeth are most frequently affected by gingival recessions. However, data regarding mucogingival treatment aimed at root coverage in this specific location is limited.

Aim. To systematically review the literature addressing the focused question: “What is the effectiveness, efficacy and efficiency of different surgical approaches on clinical and patient-related outcomes in the treatment of buccal gingival recessions on mandibular anterior teeth?”

Material methods. Electronic (Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane databases) and hand literature searches were performed for studies including at least one arm involving the use of pedicle flaps and/or free soft tissue grafts in the …

Clincial Translational Science Research Of The Functional Role Of Large Conductance Potassium Channels In Selective Destruction Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Gina Sizemore

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ABSTRACT

The preliminary background that puts this research into context is threefold; it is the aggressive nature of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), the complexity surrounding its pathology, and the significant lack of targeted treatment for this disease. To clarify the focus of my research, I have concentrated on identifying a targeted treatment for TNBC. In the process, I have identified cycles of reciprocity between treatment, clinical diagnosis, staging, and pathology that will be addressed in smaller papers. However, the weight of this work is in the discovery of a novel target for triple negative breast cancer. The value of …

Evaluation Of Control Strategies For Overhead Work Using Electromyography Of Rotator Cuff Muscles, Hossein Motabar

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Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of shoulder have a significant impact on overall health and economics in the industrialized nations. Rotator cuff is the most frequently injured region in the shoulder complex. Overhead work is considered as one of the most predominant causes of rotator cuff injuries. The workers in construction, automotive, and aerospace industries are routinely exposed to overhead exertions. Elimination of overhead work is nearly impossible due to various task and technology constraints. Therefore, appropriate intervention strategies based on the engineering and administrative controls opt to be used to prevent the hazardous impact of overhead exertions. The objective of …

West Virginia Dentists' Perception Of The Knowledge And Skills Of Two Vs. Four Year Dental Hygiene Graduates, Kaitlyn M. Mcquain

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The entry level for the dental hygiene profession has, historically been an associate degree. In 2016 the American Dental Hygiene Association (ADHA) approved the Bachelor’s Degree level of education as the preferred for entry level degree. This study is to determine practicing West Virginia dentists preference for the education level of their entry-level dental hygiene employees. There were 1020 surveys electronically distributed to practicing WV dentists to obtain their opinions and preferences. WVU Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) was used to determine response percentages and Chi-square statistics were used to compare 2017 to 2019 response rates. Between 2016-2017 and 2018-2019, …

Therapeutic Approaches To Recovery In West Virginia, Rachel A. Wattick

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Substance use disorder (SUD) is a prevalent problem in the United States, with 19.7 million Americans aged 12 and older battling an SUD in 2017. Multiple factors influence the risk that someone will develop an SUD, including family history, childhood trauma, community factors, and poverty. West Virginia has the highest rate of overdose deaths in the nation, and individuals in WV are at high risk of SUD due to the aforementioned risk factors. There are a variety of treatment options available to someone with an SUD. These include outpatient or inpatient treatment, detoxification, therapeutic communities, and collegiate recovery programs. Despite …

Three Essays On Health Economics And Policy Evaluation, Shishir Shakya

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This dissertation consists of three essays on the U.S. Health care policy. Each paragraph below refers to the three abstracts for the three chapters in this dissertation, respectively. I provide quantitative evidence on how much Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) affects the retail opioid prescribing behaviors. Using the American Community Survey (ACS), I retrieve county-level high dimensional panel data set from 2010 to 2017. I employ three separate identification strategies: difference-in-difference, double selection post-LASSO, and spatial difference-in-difference. I compare how the retail opioid prescribing behaviors of counties, that are mandatory for prescribers to check the PDMP before prescribing controlled substances …

Multimorbidity, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Use, And Healthcare Expenditures Among Older Patients With Late-Stage Melanoma, Pragya Rai

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With decades of unchanged cancer care with no added survival benefit, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) changed the treatment landscape of late-stage melanoma in 2011. A key factor in determining the use of ICIs is the presence of pre-existing chronic conditions, which can influence the outcome. However, the prevalence of multimorbidity (defined as presence of two or more chronic conditions) among older patients with late-stage melanoma remains unknown. It also remains unknown if the presence of multimorbidity factors into the use of ICIs. Hospital-related factors associated with ICI use have been studied. Yet, patient-level factors, such as age, sex, marital status, …

Integrating The Natural Healing Process For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment In Veterans Through A Healing Garden., Taiwo A. Ajibade

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In 2002, several ex-service personnel brought a court case against the Ministry of Defense for the inability to identify PTSD issues at an early stage and to provide support and effective treatment (Langston et al. 2007). Also in recent times, reports have suggested that US marine and army infantry units returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan have a higher level of expected proportions of mental disorders and that about 10% of personnel are returning home are with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (Smith et al., 2008). This discovery made it pertinent to look for natural ways to assist veterans …

Respiratory Flow Characteristics Of Intensive Care Healthcare Workers Performing Patient Care Activities, Shawn R. Williamson

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In the United States, under OSHA regulations, all respirators used in the workplace must be certified by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Under current NIOSH standards, loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) must provide a minimum operational flow of 170 liters per minute. The objective of this study was to characterize the breathing flow rates of nine health care workers during patient care activities typically performed in a hospital's intensive care unit. This characterization will be used to determine the feasibility of lowering the minimum operational flow rate of PAPRS used in health care settings.

Each participant …

Pilot Study Of Behavioral Activation As Adjunct Treatment For Depression In Primary Care, Lindsay Ellen Toler

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Many individuals receiving care at a predominantly free primary health care clinic in the northern part of West Virginia are experiencing depression, and medication therapy is the most common form of management with limited resources for psychosocial treatment. Brief psychosocial therapy interventions provided by the primary care provider should be explored as an adjunct treatment for this population in the primary care setting.

A pilot study was conducted to explore the integration of behavioral activation, a brief psychosocial intervention focused on decreasing depressed behavior by increasing nondepressed behavior to reinforce corresponding improvements in mood. Eligible patients were invited to attend …

Understanding The Host Immune Response Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa To Develop Novel Therapeutics And Vaccines, Emel Sen Kilic

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Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic bacterium that causes a broad range of acute and chronic infections. The high adaptability and emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of this bacterium pose a significant threat to human health. Particularly, pneumonia caused by this pathogen is associated with high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. To prevent these infections, we aimed to develop novel vaccine strategies by characterizing the host immune response against P. aeruginosa. During respiratory infections, P. aeruginosa first contacts with epithelial cells along the respiratory tract. Using RNA-sequencing, we were able to characterize transcriptional changes of the epithelial cells in …

Performance Study Of Five Different Cabin Air Filters In The Laboratory And On-Road Drive, Fahad Alqahtani

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One of the aims of installing ventilation filters in a car is to prevent vehicle occupants from inhaling potentially harmful aerosols emanating from the environment. Vehicle cabin filters are essential in ensuring that a vehicle's air conditioning system provides clean air to its occupants. The purpose of the cabin filter is to improve air quality inside the car to provide better comfort and better protect occupants from experiencing unwanted respiratory problems. Using cabin filters in air conditioning systems is a common practice in modern vehicle manufacturing. Scientists and engineers are continually seeking new ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness …

Effect Of Western Diet And Caloric Substitution With Apple Pomace On Fatty Acid Composition And Gene Expression In The Hypothalamus Of Growing Female Sprague-Dawley Rats, Ayad Abdulhamid Alawadi

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The hypothalamus plays a major role in regulating food-intake and energy-expenditure. Hypothalamic dysfunction implicated in neurodegenerative diseases is characterized by diet-induced neuroinflammation and energy dysregulation. Apple pomace, a waste byproduct of processing, is rich in polyphenols and soluble fibers, has the potential to ameliorate diet-inducing inflammation. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of Western diet and caloric substitution of Western diet with 10% apple pomace on brain fatty acid composition and gene expression related to hypothalamic function and health in growing female rats. Growing female Sprague-Dawley rats (age 22-29 days) were randomly assigned (n=8 rats/group) to …

Fracture Resistance Of Simulated External Cervical Resorption In Anterior Teeth Restored With And Without A Fiber Post., Michelle M. Romeo

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Introduction: External cervical resorption (ECR) is a destructive type of external resorption that can be difficult to treat. ECR usually begins subgingival at the cementoenamel junction of teeth and continues apically and circumferentially. This substantial loss of tooth structure may make these teeth more prone to fracture and should be addressed when treatment planning teeth with ECR. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the fracture resistance of treated and non-treated teeth with simulated ECR using two different treatment modalities.

Materials and Methods: Forty-eight extracted human permanent mandibular central incisors were selected. Teeth were randomly divided into …

The Pattern Of Odontogenic Referred Pain, James J. Poulos

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Background: Referred odontogenic pain (RP) is a phenomenon that is seen regularly in dentistry and it is not extensively understood. It can make formulating a proper diagnosis difficult and its presence can lead to inappropriate treatment.

Methods: 250 patients experiencing odontogenic pain within the dental clinics of West Virginia University were surveyed. The survey inquired about the patient’s biographical information, medical history, characteristics of the pain, the presence and location of RP, and the psychosocial effects of the pain. Additionally, the endodontic diagnosis of the offending tooth was determined by a member of the endodontic department. The collected …

The Interplay Of Progestins, Matrix Metalloproteinases, And The Aging Brain, Keyana Nicole Porter

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Progestins are synthetic hormones that are designed to mimic the biological actions of progesterone. They, however, possess other pharmacological actions and properties, in addition to their progestational activities. Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (MPA) is a progestin used globally in the hormonal contraceptive, Depo Provera®, by women in their reproductive prime and is a major compound found in hormone therapy (HT) formulations used by menopausal women. MPA is used by approximately 1 in 5 adolescents and adult women in the United States who are sexually active. Globally, nearly 48 million women utilize injectable contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, with most users utilizing MPA as …

Green Completion As A Mitigation For Btex Exposure In Gas Flaring: Nigeria Case Study (Exposure Assessment And Cost Model), Akintunde S. Akinyemi

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Gas flaring is an essential part of the oil and gas industry safety and waste management procedures; however, it presents a potential exposure to BTEX compounds, a group of Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOC), within up to a 10-mile radius of the flare point. The physical and the psychological cost of the journey to work, make employees live close to the workplace. This study examined the perceived exposure of oil and gas industry workers to possible carcinogenic emissions outside the workplace. It looked at the outcomes of the exposure to BTEX through gas flaring drawing on archival data and using …

Obese Zucker Rats As A Reverse Translational Model Of Human Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, Mackenzie Shelby Newman

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Heart failure is a lifelong disability that for over half of those affected leads to mortality within five years after initial diagnosis. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is one of the most reliable independent predictors of heart failure. Pathological LVH is irreversible, but early diagnosis is often missed due to its asymptomatic nature. Obese Zucker rats (OZR), which develop obesity due to dysfunctional leptin signaling, naturally exhibit a LVH that mimics the obese human condition. Animal models are necessary because human donor tissue is scarce. The central hypothesis is that genes and proteins that are differentially expressed during development of LVH, …

Will Pitch Velocity Remain Consistent Throughout A Competitive Baseball Season Following Blood Flow Restriction: An Observational Study, Mackenzie Marie Evans

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Context: Blood flow restriction (BFR) has previously been used in a rehabilitation setting to decrease the external load applied to post-surgical patients and those with chronic debilitating conditions. BFR in a performance context has been explored minimally, particularly as it applies to baseball pitching over time. Objective: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate the trend in throwing velocity of fastballs with BFR implementation over one competitive season. Design: This study was a retrospective longitudinal design on pitching velocity of fastballs throughout a competitive season. Setting: The data collection and analysis was completed at …

Breaking The Chain: Evaluating The Links Between Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, And Suicide, Amanda Nicole Stover Mph

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Previous research has estimated that 20–30% of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) have a history of both suicide attempt and unintentional opioid overdose. In 2018, more than 1.9 million adults 18 years and older had an OUD; while 1.4 million adults attempted suicide that same year (SAMHSA, 2019). The key to understanding this relationship is examining behaviors that precede these potentially fatal behaviors. One such precursory behavior is self-injury. Self-injurious behaviors (SIB) are one of the most important risk factors for future suicide (Cavanagh et al.,2003). This study has three primary objectives. The first is to conduct a systematic …

Women Veterans’ Descriptions Of The Patient-Provider Interaction With Civilian Providers, Billie S. Vance

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BACKGROUND: Women veterans require care for unique gender, and war-related health issues. Concerns exist regarding non-Veterans Health Administration (VHA), civilian healthcare providers’ preparedness to deliver care to the veteran population. Health outcomes are influenced by the quality of care provided to patients. There is a significant gap in the literature with regard to woman veterans’ perspectives about the quality of the patient-provider interaction between women veterans and non-VHA, civilian providers.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe women veterans’ perspectives about interactions between themselves and civilian providers and to critically analyze the veterans’ data to further inform the …

Retrospective Evaluation Of The Changes In The Nasal And Pharyngeal Airway Volume After Miniscrew Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (Marpe) Appliance, Joanna Song

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Background and Objectives: A transverse deficiency of the maxilla is a pervasive skeletal problem that can affect almost a quarter of the primary dentition population. The interesting relationship between rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and its effects on the surrounding airway is not well described in the literature. For today’s contemporary orthodontist, there are a variety of rapid palatal expanders (RPE) and expansion protocols to prescribe for patient treatment. Of late, the miniscrew-assisted RPE (MARPE) has been receiving attention by clinicians because of its increased orthopedic effects when compared to conventional RPE while avoiding the surgical procedure needed with SARPE. …

Hepatitis B In At-Risk Groups: Three Studies To Guide Education, Testing, And Vaccination Efforts In West Virginia, Stacy Tressler

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Background and Objectives: For over a decade, West Virginia’s (WV) rate of acute hepatitis B has been the highest in the United States (US). In 2017, WV’s rate was 11.7 per 100,000 population, almost 12 times higher than the national rate. The increase in acute hepatitis B cases is largely due to substance misuse, including injection drug use (IDU). Hepatitis B is a vaccine preventable disease yet many at-risk adults remain unvaccinated and susceptible to infection. The objectives of our studies are to 1) describe yearly changes in acute hepatitis B incidence in WV and assess county-level impact of the …

Knowledge Of Content For Clinical Nursing Educators: An Ethnographic Investigation Of Clinical Experts Who Transition To The Role Of Novice Clinical Nursing Educator, Stacy Wheat Huber

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The purpose of this research study was to identify and describe the teaching practices and the grounding experiences of the teaching practices novice educators use when teaching undergraduate students in the clinical patient care area. The following research questions guided this investigation: What teaching practices and teacher knowledge do novice clinical nursing educators demonstrate or draw from when teaching undergraduate nursing students in the clinical patient-care area? In what ways do novice clinical nursing educators change or adapt their teaching behaviors as a response to the context of the teaching/learning environment? What grounding educational or professional experiences do novice clinical …

Role Of Ciliary Proteins Adp Ribosylation Factor Like Gtpase 13b (Arl13b) And Bardet-Biedl Syndrome-8 (Bbs8) In Photoreceptor Outer Segment Morphogenesis, Maintenance, And Viability, Tanya L. Dilan

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Photoreceptor neurons are modified primary cilia with an extended ciliary compartment known as the outer segment (OS). The mechanisms behind the elaboration of photoreceptor cilia, OS morphogenesis, and maintenance remain poorly understood. In this work, we focused on dissecting the role of two ciliary proteins, the small GTPase ADP-ribosylation factor-like GTPase 13B (ARL13B) and Bardet-Biedl Syndrome-8 (BBS8) in the context of photoreceptor biology. Both BBS8 and ARL13B are linked to defects in ciliogenesis (cilia development) and Retinitis Pigmentosa (vision loss). ARL13B is implicated in regulating ciliary length, and BBS8 is part of the Bardet-Biedl Syndrome complex (BBSome); the BBSome is …

The Use Of Differing Verb Types In The Oral Narratives Of School-Age Children, Allison Ann Switzer

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The aim of this project was to examine the use of action, metacognitive, and metalinguistic verbs in narratives relative to age-related growth for children with typical language and their peers with a language-based disorder. While limited information is known about the use of these differing verb types, there is evidence to show that metacognitive and metalinguistic verbs are less salient than action verbs, and therefore have a longer trajectory of acquisition. The oral narratives of 84 typically developing students were coded for occurrences of action verbs, metacognitive verbs, and metalinguistic verbs to obtain a total use as well as to …