Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Stem Cell Generated Β-Cells: A Possible Solution To The Growing Problem Of Type 1 Diabetes, Danielle Rae Steffen

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Type 1 diabetes is a growing problem throughout the world. At this time, there is no functional cure, only various treatment options. However, in recent years there has been a significant increase in both the quantity and quality of research into potential cures for type 1 diabetes. This has led to a variety of new possibilities, the most promising of which are β-cells generated from the patient’s own stem cells.

The Wilbarger Protocol, Brittany Hatlestad

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is ever-increasing in children with and without disabilities. The prevalence of such a diagnosis has given rise to many different therapeutic practices. The most prescriptive, the Wilbarger protocol, will be the topic of this technique and literature review with discussions of what sensory problems are, the Wilbarger protocol, the deep pressure and proprioceptive portion of the protocol, oral tactile techniques, mechanisms of the protocol, the limitations, other options for treatment, and will conclude by looking to future research.

Eye Tissue Regeneration: Seam As A Cure For Prevalent Eye Disease, Molly Bute

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

SEAM (Self-formed ectodermal autonomous multizone) is a form of eye tissue regeneration discovered by Japanese scientists in 2016. This tissue regeneration encompasses tissues from all areas of the human eye. The SEAM forms tissues using stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells were used in the first study, and produces four concentric zones. The SEAM that has been created was shown to cure corneal blindness in animal models, and has the potential to cure a multitude of human eye diseases in the future.

The New Hero Of Upper Limb Prosthetics, Erin Miskell

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

This paper looks at the history and future of upper extremity prosthesis. The goal of this paper was to compare three different up and coming technological advances in the field of prosthesis that may help the devices to become more life-like for their users. Of the three different approaches looked at, the Open Bionics Hero Arm is praised as being the best option.

Animal Agriculture And American Health: The Search For Sustainable Protein, Britta Brinkmann

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

This study examines the impact large-scale animal agriculture has on the environment. It links the environment and health. The goal is to find protein sources that are sustainable and nutritious in order to replace typical meat and dairy products. A study is proposed to measure the impact of the typical American diet, a vegan diet, an insect-supplemented diet and a diet heavy in seafood.

El Salvador: Gun Violence, Sofia Wajner

Global Issues in Public Health

El Salvador, a country about the same size as the U.S’s New Jersey and a population of over six million people, has a death rate of 5.8 per 1,000. Even after going to war in the 1980s and 1990s, El Salvador is still riddled with everyday gun violence. Due to severe gang activity, the death toll has skyrocketed and police interjection only makes it worse. The leftist government of President Salvador Sánchez Cerén, has opposed negotiations and moved gang leaders into tighter-security prisons, moves that have intensified the climate of confrontation. Plans to combat gang and gun violence has made …

Ebola: Africa, James Goodwin

Global Issues in Public Health

In this paper, I talk about the Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. Ebola is a rare virus that spreads through the immune system and can be fatal. Ebola is a pathogen from Africa, specifically West Africa. There has been almost 32,000 cases since 1976. Symptoms include, Fever, Headache, Muscle pain, Fatigue, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Stomach pain, and Bleeding/Bruising. Transmission happens during close or direct contact. World Health Organization has been making efforts to handle outbreaks such as the outbreak in 2014. World Health Organization mobilized and set up relief efforts. Education is a key idea for my thoughts on how we can intervene …

Baby's Best Start: Wic's Role In The Alleviation Of Childhood Obesity, Ashton Hutcheson

Public Health: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

In the past 50 years, obesity prevalence has risen to epidemic-like levels in the United States with an average of 25% of American children being classified as overweight or obese. Prevalence of obesity is significantly increased in socioeconomically disadvantaged income categories. This paper aims to discuss public health preventions/interventions that address childhood obesity such WIC, a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. It additionally aims to provide broad obesity-related research and begin to suggest preliminary answers to the question of why obesity is so prevalent as well as a brief overview of current treatment options for obesity-related diseases …

Hiv/Aids: Ethiopia, Luzana Girmay

Global Issues in Public Health

AIDS is a public health problem that affects the immune system of the human body which results in people getting affected by other diseases easily. This syndrome is caused by a pathogen known as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). There are numerous means of transmissions; some of which are drug use, contact with fluids like blood, semen, rectal fluids, and breast milk but the main mode of transmission is through sexual intercourse. The symptoms of HIV/AIDS include fever, rash, and night sweats. The highest number of HIV positive people are located in Africa, which is about 23.8 million people. Of those …

Ethical Dilemma Of Alzheimer's Disease And Informed Consent, Daenia La Rodé

Augustana Center for the Study of Ethics Essay Contest

No abstract provided.

;, Anthony Santangelo

Vázquez-Valarezo Poetry Award

The poem tells a personal story between my best friend and me during our freshman year at Augustana. Through her struggles with mental health, I learned to understand and accept people different than me. One of the main reasons I wrote this is to demonstrate the detriments of mental health stigma and the mindset that must be adopted to combat this.

Ethics And Euthanasia, Nicole Marie Kasman

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Illness is never easy to deal with and death is even harder whether it be for the patient, the patient's family, or the physician. Add into that, cases of sever and/or long-term suffering and people can begin wondering what there is to live for. Our animal companions have been able to escape pain via euthanasia for some time now but that same option is not generally available for their human counterparts. A suggested option for our terminally in is physician-assisted suicide. This has been met with a large amount of opposition, partly due to fear of promoting suicide, partly due …

Mrub_1199 & Mrub_2272 Of Meiothermus Ruber Are Orthologous Genes To The B0262 Gene In Escherichia Coli While Mrub_1200, Mrub_1201, Mrub_2015 & Mrub_2271 Are Not Orthologous To The B0262 Gene Coding For The Iron (Fe3+) Abc Transport System, Kumail Hussain, Dr. Lori Scott

Meiothermus ruber Genome Analysis Project

In this project we investigated the biological function of the genes Mrub_1199, Mrub_1200, Mrub_1201, Mrub_2015, Mrub_2271 and Mrub_2272 (KEGG map number 02010). We predict these genes encode components of an Iron (Fe3+) ATP Binding Cassette (ABC) transporter: 1) Mrub_1199 (DNA coordinates [1211595-1212572] on the reverse strand) encodes the permease component (aka transmembrane domain); and 2) Mrub_1200 (DNA coordinates [1212612-1214093] on the reverse strand) encodes the ATP-binding domain (aka nucleotide binding domain); and 3) Mrub_1201 (DNA coordinates [1214347-1215309] on the reverse strand) encodes the substrate binding protein (aka the periplasmic component); and Mrub_2015 ( DNA coordinates [2053963-2054949] on the reverse strand) …

Lebanon: Cholera Outbreak, Muhammad Naqvi

Global Public Health

Lebanon is a country that has always been tangled with the ever looming threat of a growing health crisis. With a failing government and massive influx of refugees, mostly the victim of their war torn economy, it seemed inevitable that sanitation procedures would run short. Now the Lebanese people and government face the challenge of the spread of Cholera, a water-borne disease, within the countries vicinity as a result of mass pollution from the formation of informal settlements as well as the country being a hotbed for political instability. These have resulted in limited success in controlling the outbreak engulfing …

Guinea : Malaria, Madeleine Jacobson

Global Public Health

This brief analyzes malaria in Guinea and its impacts on individuals and the society. It consists of a geographic and demographic presentation of Guinea which includes information about its location, climate, natural resources, ethnic groups, politics and social internal and external challenges where human trafficking, lack of healthcare and refugees are discussed. The brief analyzes malaria´s transmission, diagnosis, preventions and a suggestion for an intervention.

Malaria is a vector-borne disease, which means that living organisms that can transmit infectious diseases between humans or from animals to humans, spread malaria. 70 percent of all malaria deaths occur in age years, but …

Chile: Air Pollution, Kara Eder

Global Public Health

Chile faces a constant issue of air pollution, reaping respiratory health problems for citizens in urban areas. While the many cases over the past century have increased officials to take action on the issue, the growing infrastructure and economy of the country makes it difficult to regulate harmful emissions. Wood-burning heaters within urban residential areas also contribute to the unhealthy smog. Ingestion of these forms of matter in the air causes respiratory symptoms such as bronchitis and cardiovascular disease. Bans on such heaters and taxes on vehicle emissions were placed in order to prevent the severity of pollutants in the …

El Salvador: Zika Virus, Annalia Fowler

Global Public Health

One of the current issues in El Salvador at the moment is the outbreak of Zika virus and the lack of understanding where it came from. Zika virus affects the population in many different ways. One of the most important ways that it affects the population is that it causes birth defects such as microcephaly and fetal death. In a country that already has a declining birth rate this could soon have grave effects on the population. As of right now El Salvador is working on an educational approach to stop the spread of the disease, as there is no …

Canada: Obesity, Marissa Olson

Global Public Health

Canada is a country with a relatively healthy population of approximately 37 million people. Canada has few major public health problems; however, Canada has experienced a rise of obesity in its population with a higher rise in the adult population than childhood. The male population is at a greater risk of becoming obese than the female population, and people 35 years old and over than below 35 years old. This brief discusses the effects of obesity, Canada’s interventions to obesity such as surgery, drugs, and healthier school lunches, and a possible new method of health counseling or more convenient healthier …

Czech Republic: Diabetes, Alejandra Martinez

Global Public Health

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus, a life-threatening disease, continues to grow annually in the Czech Republic and the accessibility of care is at stake. Most of the information and statistics compiled in this brief are derived from insurance companies in the Czech Republic, rather than governmental records, which reflects the need for mass data collection of diabetes accessibility and treatment. In order to understand the public health issue, the public must also be informed and encouraged to visit their doctor for checkups to prevent diabetes and its various complications. The healthcare system could better care for Czechs not only to …

Cuba: Coronary Heart Disease, Michaela Loizzi

Global Public Health

Cuba has a strong health care system with universal health care for their citizens over 40 years old. Despite the strong health care system Cuba lacks the resources necessary to treat coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the country. The country’s whole population is affected by coronary heart disease however the most affected is the lower class due unaffordable treatment. The primary causes of coronary heart disease includes their daily lifestyle such as, physical inactivity, diet, and excessive smoking. It is important to note that the major factors in Cuba leading to coronary heart disease are all …

Andorra: Alcohol And Substance Abuse, Marissa Catalano

Global Public Health

Andorra is a small principality in Europe between France and Spain. Although not many health issues are currently on the rise in the country of Andorra, alcohol and drug abuse has been steadily present for many years. There has not been a ton of knowledge spread throughout the country nor has there been an exploration of solutions for this issue. This is due to a lack in conversation over the topic of health in relation to substance abuse in general. In addition, Andorra has struggled economically for quite some time resulting in low income and poverty, creating vulnerable groups of …

Benin: Malaria, Daniel Priggie

Global Public Health

Benin is a country in Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Tago. Malaria is one of the top diseases in Benin, with an estimated five to ten thousand confirmed cases, but the number of actual cases is expected to be much higher. The disease can be potentially life-threatening for individuals who become infected. Malaria is an extremely severe blood disease, that if left untreated can become life threatening. Malaria is transmitted through the bite of the mosquito. The problem has become so severe in Benin that malaria is considered to be one of the high-risk diseases …

Grenada: Cardiovascular Disease, Talayah Lemon

Global Public Health

Grenada has a population of 109,011 people. This public health brief encompasses cardiovascular disease and its impact in the country of Grenada. The country suffers from high level of AIDS/HIV, obesity, diabetes, etc. However, Cardiovascular disease is very prevalent in Grenada. About 34% of the population suffer from the disease. Cardiovascular disease affects the blood supply flow to the heart. Grenada’s health system has provided solutions such as providing adequate health care, but lack some healthcare services, such as cardiology and vascular surgeries. Cardiovascular disease has a huge impact on the population, but Grenada works towards ways to mitigate the …

Bhutan: Human Trafficking, Cindy Osagie

Global Public Health

Human trafficking has been present in Bhutan for many years but has continued to increase along Bhutan’s borders. The reason for this increase can be contributed to the rise of vulnerable citizens. In particular, women and children are extremely susceptible to forced labor and sex trafficking. This brief further details the challenges, political structure, epidemiology, and also the intervention and identification of human trafficking in Bhutan. The increase of human trafficking can also be correlated to the rise in HIV/AIDS in Bhutan. The challenges that has stopped any progress in reducing human trafficking, is the government of Bhutan’s continuous denial …

Kenya: Hiv/Aids, Mckenzie Mcnally

Global Public Health

Kenya is a country in Africa that has been dealing with the detrimental effects of HIV and AIDs. HIV/AIDs are a virus and a syndrome that affects a person’s immune system. It is spread through the sharing of bodily fluids (ex. blood, semen, etc.). HIV/AIDs is a known problem in Kenya, and although the numbers are declining it still affects a large percentage of the population. The spread of HIV/AIDs can be stopped through getting tested, using condoms, and education of what the disease is and how to stop it. Part of the reason it spreads, despite the multiple charities …

Central African Republic: Malaria, Molly Buck

Global Public Health

The Central African Republic faces many social, economic, and wellness issues. The malaria endemic faced by the country is a leading cause of death and impacts a high percentage of the population. Social and political unrest, stemming from government corruption unveiled in 2012, have contributed to current issues, though the country has been unstable since gaining independence from France in the 1960s. Anarchy and rebellion in the region have heightened issues of violence and lack of much needed resources such as food and medicine. Food shortages are seen in this already malnourished area, and violent outbreaks have overturned some medical …

Democratic Republic Of The Congo: Hiv/Aids, John Tworek

Global Public Health

The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces a great number of health issues, however, one of the most prevalent diseases within the country is HIV/AIDS. An estimated 122,168 thousand cases were reported in 2015, with the total number of deaths at 19,000, in a country that has a population of 82,804,942. The research done on HIV/AIDS in The Democratic Republic of the Congo looks at the basic epidemiology of the region, how to identify the disease, and major risk factors present. Other major challenges The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces are included, as well as suggestions for preventing further …

Hungary: Cardiovascular Disease, Taylor Steger

Global Public Health

Hungary faces many public health issues. In particular, cardiovascular disease has impacted the majority of the Hungarian people with a mortality rate of 50-60%. The high consumption of fattening food, excessive alcohol drinking, smoking habits and tobacco use impact the entire population’s health status. This disease impacts blood vessels and causes them to narrow or be blocked. This blockage causes blood flow from the heart to be suppressed which can cause heart attacks, strokes etc. Hungary has the highest amount of people with cardiovascular disease out of all European countries. The most impacted people are in the urban areas. This …

Ethiopia: Malaria, Courtney R. Olson

Global Public Health

Ethiopia is a developing country located on the easternmost part of Africa. Ethiopia has a population of around 105 million people. With such a high population, Ethiopia faces a majority of infectious diseases; one of which is Malaria. In Ethiopia alone, there are around 3 million cases of Malaria each year and it is known to be the biggest health risk for this developing country. Because a majority of Ethiopians live under the poverty line, adequate food, water, shelter, and medical services are slim to none. Although drug interventions have been found to be somewhat beneficial, the problem continues to …

Bulgaria: Brucellosis, Austin Wheeler

Global Public Health

In this brief we will discuss how a disease called Brucellosis has affected the country of Bulgaria. Bulgaria is a European country located towards the South Eastern part of Europe. A few points mentioned in the brief are what the disease can do to your body, through education of the disease we can show what a serious problem it is. The brief will also cover how you can contract the disease through animals, and how you can prevent contraction from occurring. The brief also includes a lot about the religious background of the country. This should hopefully be used to …