Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Correlates Of Transactional Sex Among Black Men And Women Who Misuse Opioids, Shemeka Thorpe, Paige Orphé, Gabriella Pitcher, Kendall Mccleod, Natalie Malone, Danelle Stevens-Watkins

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

The rise in opioid misuse coincides with increased sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV incidence. Transactional sex is an under-researched phenomenon among Black Americans who misuse opioids, and may increase their risk of STI or HIV transmission. Given the disproportionate impact of the opioid epidemic on Black Americans and the risks associated with opioid misuse, the current study aims to investigate sociostructural factors, history of violence, and sexual risk factors associated with transactional sex among Black men and women. A sample of n = 375 Black adult Kentuckians reporting opioid misuse completed a survey including transactional sex, sociostructural, violence history, …

Program Evaluation Case Study: Infectious Disease Reporting Training Program Evaluation, Emily Sekkath Veedu

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department (LFCHD) has developed an educational program aimed at Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) health and athletics staff members to ensure timely reporting and action in the event of an infectious disease outbreak (4). The program was implemented after a methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreak occurred in a Kentucky community, with a high school football team presenting several of the cases (4). It was noted by a school nurse that many people attending an informational session lacked knowledge regarding infection control, suggesting a need for intervention in this community. I have evaluated this program in the …

Recent Trends In Stimulant Prescribing In Kentucky, 2021-2023, Jordan Shannon

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Abstract

Introduction

Prescription stimulants have a long history of clinical use dating as far back as the 1930s. In the United States stimulant prescribing rates have steadily climbed over the last 3 decades. The primary objective is to describe recent (2021-2023) prescribing trends of stimulant medications in the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Methods

Prescription data collected from Kentucky’s prescription drug monitoring (PDMP) database known as the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting System (KASPER). Annual and quarterly trends in stimulant prescribing between 2021-2023 were calculated, examined by age, sex, and geographic location.

Results

Stimulant prescribing increased by ~15% where the majority …

Implementation Of Unit-Based Preceptor Orientation: The Effects On Perceived Orientee Competence And Self-Confidence Of The Precepting Cvicu Nurse, Laura K. Marcum

DNP Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess how unit-specific preceptor training impacted the perceived readiness of new graduate nurses, self-confidence of preceptors, and the correlated job satisfaction.

Background: The nurse attrition rate is resulting in inexperience at the bedside. Nursing inexperience leads to lower quality patient care. If improving the efficiency of training and education can improve perceived readiness, then in turn we can increase the longevity of our new nurses. Improving the longevity of nurses has significant implications on the budget of each hospital, the patient outcomes, and the staff’s resulting job satisfaction.

Methods: New graduate nurse …

Say No To Drugs: Nonpharmacologic Interventions For Preventing Delirium In Critically Ill Patients Intubated & Sedated In A Pediatric Icu, Jessica C. Ellzey

DNP Projects

Background. Delirium is an acute clinical syndrome that is characterized by features of disrupted arousal, attention, cognition, sleep, and perception. Delirium is a well-documented phenomenon in critical care settings in both adult and pediatric populations, particularly among patients with length of stay greater than or equal to 48 hours. Delirium has multiple adverse effects, including increased mortality rate, prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation, higher reintubation rates, prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) admission, prolonged hospital admission, short- and long-term cognitive impairment, and posttraumatic stress disorder. There are currently no accepted guidelines or FDA approved medications to treat ICU delirium in the …

Evaluating Healthcare Workers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Regarding Language Access Services In The Clinical Setting, Rachel Archibald

DNP Projects

Background: Barriers to accessing and understanding healthcare can place patients with low English proficiency at an increased risk of poor health outcomes. Language-based inequities in healthcare exist due to lack of interpretation and translation services available, lack of healthcare workers’ knowledge of resources, and/or perceptions that these services require too much time or effort. Failing to address barriers affecting this population leaves them vulnerable in the healthcare setting.

Purpose: The purpose of this DNP project was to educate nurses, providers, and staff on an inpatient unit at a rural hospital of the language interpretation resources available, best practices for implementation, …

Evaluating The Effect Of Sleep Hygiene Education On Sleep Quality Among First-Year College Students, Caroline Lowe Cunningham

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends college students should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Only one-third currently meet this recommendation. Poor sleep negatively affects academic performance, mood, and interpersonal relationships. Sleep hygiene is recommended to improve sleep quality and quantity.

Purpose: The purpose of this DNP project was to determine the effect of implementing a sleep hygiene educational intervention in classes intended for first-year college students at the University of Kentucky.

Methods: This quasi-experimental project utilized the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index to assess participants’ sleep before an in-person sleep hygiene education and after …

Rural And Urban Clinician Views On Covid- 19’S Impact On Substance Use Treatment For Individuals On Community Supervision In Kentucky, Carrie B. Oser, Maria Rockett, Sebastian Otero, Evan Batty, Marisa Booty, Rachel Gressick, Michele Staton, Hannah K. Knudsen

Center on Drug and Alcohol Research Faculty Publications

Background The COVID-19 pandemic produced system-level changes within the criminal legal system and community-based substance use disorder (SUD) treatment system with impacts on recovery efforts. This study examines rural and urban clinicians’ perspectives of COVID-19 on SUD treatment delivery for people on community supervision.

Methods Virtual qualitative interviews were conducted between April and October 2020 with 25 community supervision clinicians employed by Kentucky’s Department of Corrections (DOC), who conduct assessments and facilitate community-based treatment linkages for individuals on probation or parole. Transcripts were analyzed in NVivo using directed content analysis methods.

Results Clinicians were predominantly white (92%) and female (88%) …

Scales For Participant Alliance With Recovery Coach (Sparc): Initial Development And Pilot Test, Amanda Fallin-Bennett, Martha Tillson, J. Matthew Webster, Carrie B. Oser, Jennifer Edwards Becan, Kevin Knight, Jeremy Byard, Michele Staton

Center on Drug and Alcohol Research Faculty Publications

Recovery coaches are individuals with lived experience with recovery from substance use disorder who typically engender a greater sense of trust than found with other types of healthcare providers. However, there currently are no validated tools that measure the connection between recovery coaches and their participants. The purpose of this study was to describe the initial development of the Scales for Participant Alliance with Recovery Coach (SPARC) to measure recovery coach connection or alliance, including initial psychometric analyses. Measurement development began with five scales of the Client Evaluation of Self Treatment (treatment participation, treatment satisfaction, rapport, peer support, and social …

Biomechanics, Strength, And Physical Function After Surgical Repair Of Rotational Ankle Fractures, Benjamin Brightwell

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Ankle Fractures account for approximately 9% of all lower extremity fractures and incidence continues to rise. Up to 53% of ankle fractures require surgical intervention. Impaired physical function is one of the most reported and observed lasting effects of surgically repaired ankle fractures. Additionally, limited physical capacity and function have been identified as the primary threats to health-related quality of life after surgical repair of ankle fractures. These impairments to physical capacity and functionality can last longer than 5 years after surgery. Since surgery typically successfully restores stability and congruency of the talocrural joint, these poor long-term outcomes are an …

Understanding Intention And Behavior Of Practicing Yoga Through The Lens Of Theory Of Planned Behavior Specifically In Rural Communities; A Qualitative Study, Shelley Meyer

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

While there are known health benefits for participating in yoga, little has been studied on the intention and behavior for why individuals practice yoga especially through a theoretical lens and intense qualitative thematic analysis. Targeting the rural community considers other extenuating circumstances experienced by rural residents that can impact yoga participation in rural areas. Interviews were used to gain insight into a holistic viewpoint with the rich data bringing clarity to an individual’s thought process (of intention) to incorporate yoga (behavior) in their daily life. Utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior as the theoretical framework for developing interview questions allowed …

Development Of Iron Oxide Nanozyme For Cancer Therapy, Zhongchao Yi

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Cancer therapies that leverage reactive oxygen species (ROS) have shown potential for cancer inhibition due to their ability to induce oxidative stress in tumor cells. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have garnered significant attention as a promising platform for ROS-dependent disease treatment, owing to their remarkable biocompatibility and Fenton catalytic activity. However, the low catalytic activity of IONPs has been a major hurdle in their clinical translation. To overcome this challenge, IONPs of different compositions are examined for their Fenton reaction under pharmacologically relevant conditions in this work. The results show that wüstite (Fe_1-xO) nanoparticles exhibit higher catalytic activity …

Modulating The Mtor Pathway Using Inducible Retrogradely Transported Aavs As A Novel Approach To Improve Motor Recovery In Spinal Cord Injury, Christopher Bosse-Joseph

Theses and Dissertations--Medical Sciences

Spinal cord injury poses multiple regeneration barriers, including neuronal-intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Overcoming these barriers has stood as a longstanding challenge in neuroscience. A well-studied mechanism to promote spinal cord regeneration and locomotor recovery is activating the PI3K/mTOR pathway by knocking out phosphatase and tensin homolog protein (PTEN). PTEN knockout (PTEN-KO) studies have traditionally used adeno-associated virus (AAV) viral vectors to improve functional recovery. The use of traditional AAV serotypes to induce PTEN-KO has shown promise to improve functional recovery in rodent models; however, these approaches show significant limitations for translational utility. Firstly, the use of traditional AAV serotypes to …

The Role Of Intracellular Growth During The Systemic Spread Of Listeria Monocytogenes, Jamila S. Tucker

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular pathogen transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food products. Typically, infections range from mild, self-limiting gastroenteritis to life-threatening systemic infections; however, the events that occur in the gut to allow for this spread are unclear.

The focus of my thesis aims to determine how L. monocytogenes escape the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), the final barrier to systemic spread for both commensal and pathogenic bacteria in the gut. I have shown that intracellular replication of L. monocytogenes in an as-yet-unidentified cell type is essential for the colonization and dissemination of the bacteria from the MLN. …

The Effect Of Estrogen And A Mitochondrial Uncoupling Prodrug On Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Dysfunction In Mice., Olivia J. Kalimon

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

A large percent of both clinical and pre-clinical traumatic brain injury (TBI) studies report better outcomes females after severe injury compared to males. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a well-characterized driver of secondary injury and an attractive neurotherapeutic target; though, there is limited research available on mitochondrial dysfunction in females. However, a few studies have shown total mitochondria from the cortex of females appear protected from TBI-induced bioenergetic dysfunction. These results were replicated in these studies so further characterization was performed. Additionally, protein expression of some oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes were elevated in the uninjured cortex of females relative to uninjured males, …

Contributions Of The Replication Initiator Protein Dnaa To Physiology And Virulence Of The Lyme Disease Spirochete, Andrew Krusenstjerna

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease, is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the United States. The spirochetal population is naturally maintained by consistently cycling between Ixodid ticks and small vertebrates. To survive within these diverse niches, B. burgdorferi has evolved a unique physiology and regulatory network to sense and respond to environmental fluxes. Replication is a hallmark of the Lyme spirochete’s enzootic life cycle, specifically at the nymphal tick-to-vertebrate interface. The mechanisms and regulatory schema for the basic cellular processes in B. burgdorferi, or indeed any member of the phylum spirochaetota, are largely unknown. The central hypothesis …

Enlarged Perivascular Spaces Are A Clinically Relevant Neuroimaging Biomarker Of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease, Timothy Justin Libecap

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) represents the intersection between cerebrovascular disease and cognitive decline. Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) is an important risk factor that may precede the onset of VCID by years. cSVD is characterized by in-vivo neuroimaging biomarkers including enlarged perivascular spaces (ePVS). PVS are the site of interchange between interstitial fluid (ISF) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which is believed to play a role in the removal of brain waste. Reduced clearance may lead to enlargement of the PVS and subsequent accumulation of toxic solutes characteristic of neurodegeneration. Given the presence of ePVS in brain …

The Role Of Dystrophic Microglia In Aging And Disease, Ryan K. Shahidehpour

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Microglia are the primary immune cells of the central nervous system and are crucial in maintaining homeostasis and defense from disease and injury in the brain. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have also highlighted microglia as a central player in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the mechanisms of microglia’s influence are poorly understood. Traditionally, microglial subtypes characterized physiologically as “reactive” or “activated” have been linked with disease and injury in the brain. However, morphologically, a recently described microglia category known as “dystrophic,” characterized structurally by fragmented processes and cytoplasmic decay is believed to be more strongly associated with aging and neurodegeneration. …

What’S Harm Reduction Got To Do With It? A Study Of The Implementation Of Substance Use Management Practices Among A Sample Of U.S. Domestic Violence Programs, Stephanie H. Ratliff

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Domestic violence programs are essential resources for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Programs offer services that go beyond providing safety and shelter. To improve outcomes, program staff have expanded services to meet the needs of survivors. One population of survivors that has gained attention in the peer-reviewed literature is survivors who use substances (SWUS). These survivors have unique needs and are at increased risk of IPV due to substance misuse. Research about the support available to SWUS after they access shelter is scarce. Using cross-sectional data from a national sample of 97 U.S. domestic violence programs, this study describes …

The Performance Of Marginal Modeling Methods For Rare Events With Application To Opioid Overdose Mortality And Morbidity, Shawn Nigam

Theses and Dissertations--Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Opioid misuse is a nationwide epidemic, with Kentucky having one of the highest opioid overdose-related fatality rates across all US states. These rates have increased significantly over the past decade, with particularly large increases during the COVID-19 pandemic. This dissertation aims to study the behavior of these increases and the methods for the marginal modeling of count outcomes related to opioid overdose.

Opioid overdose-related fatality rates in Kentucky increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this chapter, we characterize the changes in opioid overdose fatality rates in Kentucky and identify associations between potential factors and fatality rates. County-level opioid overdose …

Intentions To Seek Mental Health Services Among Nursing Students In The United States: The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Psychological Distress, Zainab Almogheer

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Supporting the mental health of university/college students is a crucial issue facing institutions of higher learning in the U.S. A web-based survey encompassing 196 campuses in the U.S. found that rates of diagnosed mental illness among college students has significantly increased in the last decade from 21.7% in 2007 to 35.5% in 2017 (Lipson et al., 2019). Despite the availability of mental health services within universities/colleges, students with mental health problems do not often utilize these services. Recognizing the significance of assessing the mental health of nursing students is paramount, as evident from a study where 35% of 170 participants …

Health Beliefs, Facilitators And Barriers To Engaging In Blood Glucose Screening Of Adults In Saudi Arabia, Fatema Alsada

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Diabetes has reached an epidemic level in Saudi Arabia with a prevalence of 19%. Saudi Arabia currently spends more than $7 billion on diabetes-related health care per year. Type 2 diabetes is preceded by a prediabetes state during which preventative measures can prevent or delay diabetes onset. Blood glucose screening is a method of identifying people with prediabetes. Encouraging people to engage in blood glucose screening will identify those who will benefit from diabetes prevention strategies. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the knowledge, health beliefs, and perceived barriers and facilitators regarding engaging in blood glucose screenings among …

Investigating A New Drug Target In Alzheimer’S Disease: Nox2, Tiffany Adams

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with neuropathological changes in the blood-brain barrier that offers possible therapeutic targets. Oxidative stress is one driving factor for AD. NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) in the capillary endothelium produces reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative stress-mediated blood-brain barrier dysfunction. We hypothesized that using a specific NOX2 inhibitor, PhoxI2, has the potential to reduce reactive oxygen species and repair amyloid-β (Aβ)-driven blood-brain barrier leakage in an AD mouse model.

Methods: For this study, 5xFAD (Familiar Alzheimer Disease) mice were treated with vehicle or PhoxI2, a NOX2 inhibitor. Techniques utilized were Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay …

Design Of Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonists For Potential Treatment Of Multiple Sclerosis, Lindsay Kornberger

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination and neuroinflammation. There is currently no cure for MS. There is a critically unmet need for the development of pharmacotherapies that can induce remyelination promoting both repair and recovery. The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) has been identified as a potential target for the development of remyelinating pharmacotherapies. KOR activation has been shown to promote functional recovery and remyelination preclinically. However, typical KOR agonists like U50,488 have limitations such as sedation and dysphoria limiting their use. This necessitates further development of new KOR agonists that maintain …

Sensitizing Keap1 Loss Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer To Artesunate Anti-Cancer Activity, Keng Hee Peh

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Lung cancer is the global leading cause of cancer related death. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80% of lung cancer diagnoses conferring a significant disease burden. However, certain mutations in tumor suppressors such as Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) confers resistance to standard of care therapy in NSCLC. KEAP1 is known to regulate multiple cellular processes such as oxidative stress response and anti-apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, KEAP1 loss of function in NSCLC is associated with poorer clinical outcomes and there are no currently approved therapies for KEAP1 loss NSCLC and represents an unmet clinical need. Artesunate (Art) demonstrated anti-cancer …

Inhibiting Pi3k/Akt To Enhance Brain Uptake Of Anticancer Agents In Glioblastoma, Louis Rodgers

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the deadliest and most common malignant CNS tumor. Despite advances in understanding its biology and the development of targeted therapies, effective treatment options remain limited. As a result, patient survival rates are dismal, with a 5-year survival rate of only 6.8% and an overall survival of less than two years. This poor outcome is partly due to our inability to treat GBM cells that infiltrate the whole brain. Focal treatments like surgery and radiotherapy alone are insufficient due to these invasive tumor cells. Therefore, chemotherapy following resection and irradiation of the primary tumor is essential to eliminate …

Repolarizing Tumor-Associated Macrophages In Ovarian Cancer: A Novel Immunotherapeutic Approach, David Schweer

Theses and Dissertations--Clinical and Translational Science

Ovarian cancer, recognized for its high lethality and resistance to conventional immunotherapies, mandates innovative strategies to confront its intricate challenges. The tumor microenvironment (TME), orchestrated by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), assumes a pivotal role in disease progression, rendering TAMs an appealing therapeutic target. This study endeavors to explore the prospect of repolarizing TAMs from a protumor M2 phenotype to an antitumor M1 state, employing M1 macrophage-derived vesicles (MEVs) as a groundbreaking immunotherapeutic approach.

The primary objective is to investigate the capacity of M1 MEVs to repolarize M2 macrophages in vitro towards an anti-tumor M1-like phenotype. By inducing human macrophages to adopt …

Developing Radiosensitizers To Enhance Radiotherapy In Treating Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor, Zeta Chow

Theses and Dissertations--Clinical and Translational Science

Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (GEP-NET) is a heterogeneous group of malignancies arising from multipotent neuroendocrine stem cells in the gastrointestinal tract. The incidence of GEP-NET continues to rise, possibly due to the advancement of imaging and biomarkers available for diagnosis. However, even though the majority of patients are diagnosed with low-grade and localized disease, a significant percentage of patients present with advanced-stage metastatic disease with poor prognosis in months to a few years. These advanced-stage GEP-NET patients can also present with a variety of debilitating symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life. The role of palliative-intent surgery is limited, and …

Evaluation Of The Cellular And Physiologic Impact Of Mitomycin C On Colon Cancer, Hannah Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations--Clinical and Translational Science

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) with Mitomycin C (MMC) has more than doubled the overall and disease-free survival in patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) due to colorectal cancer (CRC) over the past two decades. Although MMC is the most used HIPEC drug for PM due to CRC, dosing protocols vary dramatically between and within institutions across the world. Additionally, little is known about the impact of hyperthermia and MMC on intracellular pathways for CRC. The aim of this work is to determine the optimal dosing strategy in the clinical application of MMC and hyperthermia for treatment of …

Advancing Dysphagia Screening: A Comparison Of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures And Bolus-Driven Screenings In Aspiration Prediction, Arica Amie Rusco

Theses and Dissertations--Communication Sciences and Disorders

It is known that dysphagia impacts an individual’s health and quality of life. Due to this, early identification of dysphagia is crucial. There are many different dysphagia screening tools with no consensus. This study aimed to compare the two most frequently used dysphagia screenings, a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM), the EAT-10, and bolus-driven swallow screening, the Yale Swallow Protocol, to determine if one tool is superior in aspiration prediction on a videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS). This study also aimed to discover the best cutoff score on the EAT-10 for aspiration prediction. A total of 66 participants were recruited after physician …