Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Attenuating Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain By Repurposing Pioglitazone And D-Cycloserine In The Novel Trigeminal Inflammatory Compression Mouse Model, Danielle N. Lyons

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Approximately 22% of the United States population suffers from a chronic orofacial pain condition. One such condition is known as trigeminal neuropathic pain frequently reported as continuous aching and burning pain, often accompanied by intermittent electrical shock-like sensations. Dental procedures or trauma are known causes of peripheral trigeminal nerve injury and inflammation. Patients who have this type of facial pain also suffer from emotional distress. For these reasons, trigeminal neuropathic pain needs to be studied in more detail to improve the understanding of the etiology and maintenance of this condition, as well as to develop effective treatment strategies. The first …

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Emerging Adults In College, Demetrius A. Abshire

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among emerging adults in college aged 18-25 years. CVD risks that develop during this period often persist into adulthood making it an ideal time to target CVD prevention. The specific aims of this dissertation were to 1) explore perceptions of cardiovascular risk among emerging adult men in college; 2) compare differences in unhealthy behaviors and obesity between emerging adults in college living in rural, Appalachian Kentucky and urban Fayette County, Kentucky; and 3) compare measures of general and abdominal obesity in predicting blood pressure among …

The Utility Of The U.S. Diabetes Conversation Map As An Intervention To Promote Diabetes Self-Management Adherence, Lisa Gale Jones

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Diabetes has reached epidemic levels, to the currently estimated 29 million individuals who are living with diabetes. Those with diabetes must manage their disease through a combination of medication, physical activity recommendations, and nutritional guidelines. The consequences of non-adherence to recommendations include cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, vision loss, or ultimately, death. Despite the risks of non-adherence, individuals often do not adhere to recommended treatment. Researchers have attempted to identify strategies to promote diabetes self-management adherence, thereby decreasing complications related to the disease.

Specific Aims:

1. describe the factors that prohibit individuals from adhering from diabetes self-management behaviors as well as the …

The Roles Of Orthopaedic Pathology And Genetic Determinants In Equine Cervical Stenotic Myelopathy, Jennifer Gail Janes

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Cervical stenotic myelopathy (CSM) is an important musculoskeletal and neurologic disease of the horse. Clinical disease occurs due to malformations of the vertebrae in the neck causing stenosis of the cervical vertebral canal and subsequent spinal cord compression. The disease is multifactorial in nature, therefore a clearer understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of CSM will allow for improved management and therapeutic practices. This thesis examines issues of equine CSM diagnosis, skeletal tissue pathology, and inherited genetic determinants utilizing advances in biomedical imaging technologies and equine genomics. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data provided a more complete assessment of the cervical …

Modulation Of Type-I Interferon Mediated Immune Response: A Novel Innate Immune Evasion Strategy Of Equine Herpesvirus 1, Sanjay Sarkar

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is one of the major viral pathogens causing respiratory disease, abortion, perinatal mortality and neurologic disease among horses resulting in significant economic losses to the equine industry. The virus can also remain latent in the horses and recrudesce at any time. Type-I interferons (IFNs) act as a first line of defense against many viral infections.

In this study we investigated the type-I IFN response against the neuropathogenic T953 strain of EHV-1 in equine endothelial cells (EECs). The results showed that after a transient induction of IFN-β mRNA as well as protein at an early time (3h) post …

Evaluation Of The Susceptibility And Humoral Immune Response Of Foals To Rhodococcus Equi Infection, Macarena G. Sanz

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

While Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) remains the most common cause of subacute or chronic granulomatous bronchopneumonia in foals, development of a relevant model to study this bacterium has proven difficult. As a result, the reasons for the underlying foal’s susceptibility to this disease are not well understood. Furthermore, data regarding the immune response of foals to R. equi infection remains controversial. We hypothesized that foals are susceptible to R. equi early in life and that this susceptibility decreases with age. Also, we hypothesized that specific subclasses of IgG antibodies to the virulence-associated protein of R. equi, VapA, …

Anti-Müllerian Hormone In Stallions And Mares: Physiological Variations, Clinical Applications, And Molecular Aspects, Anthony N.J. Claes

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a homodimeric glycoprotein that is best known for its role in regression of the Müllerian duct in the male fetus. Accumulating evidence indicates that AMH also has an important role during different physiological processes after birth. In contrast to other species, relatively little is known about AMH in the horse. In chapter one, developmental and seasonal changes in serum AMH concentrations in male horses were determined, and the use of AMH for determination of retained cryptorchid testes was established. In chapter two, the interrelationship between plasma AMH concentrations, antral follicle counts (AFC), and age in mares …

Role Of Viral And Host Factors In Influenza Virus Mediated Inhibition Of Interleukin-23, Ashish Tiwari

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Influenza virus is one of the major respiratory pathogens of humans as well as animals, including equines. There is an increasing evidence that bacterial infections are the most common cause of the death during influenza. In horses also, secondary bacterial pneumonia can lead to death, and surviving horses may take up to six months for the complete recovery resulting in heavy economic loss to the equine industry. Interleukin (IL)-23 mediated innate immune response has been shown to protect the host from various respiratory bacterial infections. However, studies to investigate the role of host and viral factors in the regulation of …

Examination Of The Snsag Surface Antigen Gene Family In Sarcocystis Neurona, Ablesh Gautam

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Sarcocystis neurona is a protozoan parasite that causes the serious neurologic disease equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). The life cycle of S. neurona progresses through multiple developmental stages that differ morphologically and molecularly. The S. neurona merozoite surface is covered by multiple related proteins, which are orthologous to the surface antigen (SAG) gene family of Toxoplasma gondii. The SAG surface antigens in T. gondii and another related parasite Neospora caninum are life cycle stage-specific and seem necessary for parasite transmission and persistence of infection. The present research was conducted to explore the gene family of SnSAGs in S. …

Studies On Equine Placentitis, Igor Frederico Canisso

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Two types of placentitis were studied: ascending and nocardioform placentitis. Although the first diagnosis of nocardioform placentitis was made three decades ago, little is known about the disease, due to the lack of an experimental model. In attempt to develop a research model, Crossiela equi was inoculated through intrauterine, intravenous, intrapharyngeal, and oral routes, but none of the routes resulted in nocardioform placentitis. This may indicate that unidentified factors may play a role in disease pathogenesis and that simple presence of bacteria is not sufficient to induce nocardioform placentitis. The second and major component of this dissertation involved the identification …

Farmers’ Market Shopping Behaviors And The Association Of Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Sarah G. Perkins

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake continues to decline among sub-population in the United States. Current policies and interventions have aimed to improve intake by improving access to fruits and vegetables. One Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested strategy is to improve access to farmers’ markets in rural areas. The aims of this study were to determine if the frequency of shopping at Farmers’ Markets is associated with fruit and vegetable intake, adjusted for age, income and education and to compare rural and non-rural areas frequency of Farmers’ Market attendance based on Kentucky farmers’ market interview participants (n = 102). …

Examining Reasons For Low Fidelity To Educational Programs In Patients With Gestational Diabetes: A Qualitative Study, Lauren Brinkman Roberson

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an increasing problem in the U.S. Many comorbidities are associated with GDM: increased risk for type 2 diabetes, neonatal hypoglycemia and fetal malformation. Healthcare organizations develop GDM educational programs to provide women with knowledge and skills to manage GDM and reduce health risks. While there are significant benefits to attending GDM educational programs, attendance rates are low. Little research has been conducted to determine reasons for low attendance in GDM educational programs. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of women with GDM and to describe factors influencing GDM educational program attendance. …

Factors In Breastfeeding Initiation Among Central Kentucky Wic And Non-Wic Participants, Lila Nicole Farnsworth

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Vital statistics data were statistically analyzed to determine who is breastfeeding in central Kentucky and if factors differ between those in a WIC and non-WIC population. The sample consisted of 479 postpartum women aged 18-44 in central Kentucky. Participants in the study were analyzed as a whole, then divided by their participation in the WIC program (n=304) or non-participation in the WIC program (n=175). Variables recorded in the vital statistics form were analyzed. These variables included age, education level, marital status, and ethnicity of the mother, household income status, and gender, gestational age, and birth weight of the infant. In …

Promoting Healthy, Home-Cooked Meals: Formative Research For A Social Marketing Program Targeting Low-Income Mothers, Jean M. Najor

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic of perceived benefits and barriers associated with cooking meals at home. The findings will be used to design a social marketing campaign promoting healthy home-cooked meals. Participants included 64 SNAP-eligible mothers throughout the state of Kentucky aged 21-49 years with young children. Eight focus groups were conducted in four metro and four non-metro counties. A mixed methods approach was used to examine behaviors such as where families purchase foods, the types of foods purchased, family cooking skills and habits, and family time management. Results from this …

The Effect Of A Nutrition Education Program On Nutrition Knowledge, Dietary Intake, Body Composition And Perceived Sport Performance Among High School Athletes, Aaron Kyle Schwartz

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Nutrition knowledge, dietary intake, body composition and perceived sport performance were measured before and after an eight week nutrition intervention. The sample consisted of eleven male high school football athletes aged 14-18 years old. Baseline nutrition knowledge was higher than anticipated but fruit and vegetable intake was low. As a result of the nutrition intervention, vegetable intake improved from 0.94 servings per day to 2.02 servings per day (p=0.02). Of the eleven subjects in the study, eleven conceded to both performing and feeling better as a result of the nutrition intervention. The present study suggests that a nutrition intervention can …

Exploring The Relationship Between Emotional Brain Training, Stress, Depression, Food Addiction, And Weight, Bailey Regina Adams

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Obesity is a complex issue; stress, depression, and food addiction, are several psychological conditions that can accompany an obesity diagnosis. Emotional Brain Training (EBT) was evaluated as a new approach to these conditions. Stress, depression, food addiction, and weight were assessed at baseline, after a seven week active intervention, and after a seven week no contact period. The final sample consisted of 26 obese adults. At seven week assessments, EBT participants experienced significant weight loss (p-value = 0.05) and decreased perceived stress (p-value = 0.035). Food addiction also decreased from 50% to 8.3% (or one participant). At fourteen week assessments, …

Cortisol, Physical Activity, And Weight Loss In A Randomized Clinical Trial, Shawn S. Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Abnormal cortisol levels may be an important factor in the ability of an individual to lose weight and maintain weight loss. This study examined overweight and obese individuals who participated in a weight loss program. Cortisol, physical activity, and weight loss were measured at regular intervals and examined for possible relationships

Exploring New Approaches For Weight Loss Maintenance: Intuitive Eating And Emotional Brain Training, Joy Ann Vaught

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

While traditional behavioral weight loss programs have been successful at producing weight loss, weight maintenance is difficult to achieve. Addressing stress, one major contributing factor in weight gain, may be a potential solution. The purpose of this study was to test a stress-management program (EBT) for changes in weight and blood pressure, and maintenance of those changes. Obese adults (N=33) were randomized to two weight loss groups for a seven-week intervention and a seven-week follow-up period: an intuitive eating group or a stress management group. The intuitive eating group did not have any statistically significant changes in weight or blood …

Primary Stroke Prevention: 3-Hydroxy-3-Methyl-Glutaryl-Coenzyme A (Hmg-Coa) Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) Use In The Diabetic Patient, Amy L. Hatcher

DNP Projects

Purpose: The primary objective for this retrospective chart review was to evaluate provider adherence to the 2011 AHA/ASA Primary Stroke Prevention guideline of prescribing a statin to all diabetic patients for primary prevention of stroke, regardless of dyslipidemia. A second aim of this study is to identify provider facilitators and barriers to prescribing a statin therapy for primary prevention.

Methods: Using a retrospective study design, a random sample of 100 medical records of diabetic patients presenting to a university women’s health clinic within the previous year were reviewed for statin use and rationale.

Results: Of the 100 diabetic patients sampled, …

Diclazuril Protects Against Maternal Gastrointestinal Syndrome And Congenital Toxoplasmosis, Helieh S. Oz, Thomas Tobin

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a common cause of foodborne, gastrointestinal and congenital syndrome with particularly severe or unknown health consequences. There is no safe and effective preventive or therapeutic modality against congenital toxoplasmosis or to eliminate the persistent chronic infection.

HYPOTHESIS: Diclazuril to be safe in pregnancy and effective against gastrointestinal toxoplasmosis.

METHODS: CD1 programmed pregnant mice were divided into groups and administered a diet containing diclazuril, or sham control. Treatments were initiated on Day 5 of pregnancy and continued until Day 16 when dams were euthanatized. On Day 8 of pregnancy dams were infected intraperitoneally with escalating doses of tachyzoites …

Programmable Folding Of Fusion Rna In Vivo And In Vitro Driven By Prna 3wj Motif Of Phi29 Dna Packaging Motor, Dan Shu, Emil F. Khisamutdinov, Le Zhang, Peixuan Guo

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Misfolding and associated loss of function are common problems in constructing fusion RNA complexes due to changes in energy landscape and the nearest-neighbor principle. Here we report the incorporation and application of the pRNA-3WJ motif of the phi29 DNA packaging motor into fusion RNA with controllable and predictable folding. The motif included three discontinuous ∼18 nucleotide (nt) fragments, displayed a distinct low folding energy (Shu D et al., Nature Nanotechnology, 2011, 6:658–667), and folded spontaneously into a leading core that enabled the correct folding of other functionalities fused to the RNA complex. Three individual fragments dispersed at any …

Mobile Delivery Of Treatment For Alcohol Use Disorders: A Review Of The Literature, Andrew Quanbeck, Ming-Yuan Chih, Andrew Isham, David H. Gustafson

Health and Clinical Sciences Faculty Publications

Several systems for treating alcohol-use disorders (AUDs) exist that operate on mobile phones. These systems are categorized into four groups: text-messaging monitoring and reminder systems, text-messaging intervention systems, comprehensive recovery management systems, and game-based systems. Text-messaging monitoring and reminder systems deliver reminders and prompt reporting of alcohol consumption, enabling continuous monitoring of alcohol use. Text-messaging intervention systems additionally deliver text messages designed to promote abstinence and recovery. Comprehensive recovery management systems use the capabilities of smart-phones to provide a variety of tools and services that can be tailored to individuals, including in-the-moment assessments and access to peer discussion groups. Game-based …

Sleep Disturbance And Outcomes In Patients With Heart Failure And Their Family Caregivers, Sami Al-Rawashdeh

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Sleep disturbance is common in patients with heart failure (HF) and the family caregivers. Sleep disturbance is known as a predictor of poor quality of life (QoL) in individual level. The manner in which patients’ and caregivers’ sleep disturbances influence each other’s QoL has not been determined. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the associations of sleep disturbance and outcomes in patients with HF and their primary family caregivers. The specific aims were to: 1) examine whether sleep disturbance of patients and their family caregivers predict their own and their partners’ QoL; 2) examine the mediator effects of …

Transmural Heterogeneity Of Cellular Level Cardiac Contractile Properties In Aging And Heart Failure, Premi Haynes

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

The left ventricle of the heart relaxes when it fills with blood and contracts to eject blood into circulation to meet the body’s metabolic demands. Dysfunction in either relaxation or contraction of the left ventricle can lead to heart failure. Transmural heterogeneity is thought to contribute to normal ventricular wall motion but it is not well understood how transmural modifications affect the failing left ventricle. The overall hypothesis of this dissertation is that normal left ventricles exhibit transmural heterogeneity in cellular level contractile properties and with aging and heart failure there are region-specific changes in cellular level contractile mechanisms.

Age …

A Novel Link Between Abl Family Kinases And Nm23-H1 During Metastatic Progression, Leann S. Fiore

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Cancer patient mortality is caused by the ability of tumor cells to invade the extracellular matrix and metastasize. Our lab was the first to identify the role of Abl family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases (c-Abl and Arg) in the progression of solid tumor cancers. In our previous studies, we showed that high c-Abl/Arg activity promotes proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in melanoma and breast cancer cells lines. Here, we demonstrate that our previous findings are clinically relevant by showing increased c-Abl/Arg kinase activity in primary melanoma tumor tissue in comparison to low activity as compared to benign nevi. Additionally, in breast …

The Role Of Laryngeal Function In Breathing For Singing, Ellen V. Graham

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Poor breath management is problematic for singing. Voice students and singing teachers typically attribute breath management issues to abdominal-diaphragmatic breathing technique. The present study seeks to determine whether glottal insufficiency may also contribute to singer’s breath management problems. Studies have revealed a relationship between incomplete vocal fold closure and inefficiency in the speaking voice. However, the effect of incomplete vocal fold closure on vocal efficiency in singers has yet to be determined. Since the larynx cannot be observed without the assistance of clinical instrumentation, not readily available in the voice studio, issues at the glottal level may be underappreciated as …

The Effect Of Family Centered Music Therapy Sessions On Relaxation States Of Informal Caregivers Of Hospice And Palliative Care Patients, Adrienne Claire Steiner

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Advances in healthcare and shifts toward patient and family centered care have allowed healthcare professionals to focus on the entirety of a patient and what affects his/her health. In noting such changes, and in consideration of what affects quality of life, findings in the literature address the physiological and physiological differences between those who are caregivers versus those who are not caregivers. This study investigated the relaxation state of those who were considered informal caregivers of hospice and palliative patients in an acute hospitalized setting.

A family centered music therapy session was conducted utilizing a music-­‐ assisted relaxation intervention incorporating …

Effects Of Sodium Hydroxide Pretreatment On Structural Components Of Biomass, Alicia A. Modenbach, Sue E. Nokes

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Pretreatment is a unit operation in the conversion of biomass to valuable products that utilizes various combinations of conditions, including chemicals, heat, pressure, and time, to reduce the recalcitrance of lignocellulose. Many such pretreatments have been developed over the years, as the operating conditions can be adapted so that lignocellulose is modified in ways unique to each pretreatment. By tailoring pretreatment conditions to achieve these modifications, the types of final products produced can be controlled. The purpose of this review is to provide a consolidated source of information for sodium hydroxide effects on lignocellulose. The structural characteristics of lignocellulose and …

Strand Exchange Of Telomeric Dna Catalyzed By The Werner Syndrome Protein (Wrn) Is Specifically Stimulated By Trf2, Deanna Edwards, David K. Orren, Amrita Machwe

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

Werner syndrome (WS), caused by loss of function of the RecQ helicase WRN, is a hereditary disease characterized by premature aging and elevated cancer incidence. WRN has DNA binding, exonuclease, ATPase, helicase and strand annealing activities, suggesting possible roles in recombination-related processes. Evidence indicates that WRN deficiency causes telomeric abnormalities that likely underlie early onset of aging phenotypes in WS. Furthermore, TRF2, a protein essential for telomere protection, interacts with WRN and influences its basic helicase and exonuclease activities. However, these studies provided little insight into WRN's specific function at telomeres. Here, we explored the possibility that WRN and TRF2 …

Commentary On: "Facilitating Transparency In Spinal Cord Injury Studies Using Data Standards And Ontologies", Diane M. Snow

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.