Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Primary Care Of Latino Patients In The United States: A Comparative Analysis Of Personal Experiences In Safety-Net Healthcare Organizations, Grant Douglas Tore

Senior Theses

This thesis aims to compare two types of healthcare organizations that compose the safety-net healthcare system in the United States with the utilization of both personal experiences and extensive research. The first are community health centers, which receive federal funding in order to serve specific populations with in their communities. In my experience, this population was migrant farmworkers, all who came to the United States legally with H2A visas. The second model is that of the free medical clinic, which operates on a volunteer/staff model, but receives no government funding. Serving primarily uninsured patients, free clinics such as the Good …

Relationship Between Self-Reported Oral Health And Self-Esteem In Two Columbia, Sc Populations, Matthew Ablonczy, Elizabeth Smith

Senior Theses

The importance of oral health to overall health cannot be overstated. For example, oral health can be used for early diagnosis of diseases such as diabetes. Furthermore, it has been well studied that self-esteem is related to oral health. Individuals with proper oral health care have more confidence to interact with others, which results in higher self-esteem. Those who lack the ability to pay for oral healthcare are thus at a great disadvantage. The present study sought to investigate the relationship between oral health and self-esteem in two Columbia, SC populations through surveying. There were two study populations, students at …

Mechanism Of Action Of American Ginseng And Its Components In The Treatment Of Ulcerative Colitis, Anusha Chaparala

Theses and Dissertations

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), mainly ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn’s disease (CD), are chronic, idiopathic, inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract affecting millions of people worldwide. The incidence of IBD is steadily increasing in the modern world due to changes in dietary habits and other environmental influences that originated from industrialization. The etiology is poorly understood but is believed to be a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and overactive immune system. UC is characterized by inflammation and ulceration of colonic mucosa and rectum and has a higher incidence than CD. Aside from severely affecting the quality of life of the …

Utilization Of Lung Cancer Screening And Molecular Testing To Improve Lung Cancer Outcomes, Jennifer Lynne Ersek

Theses and Dissertations

Despite progress in detection and treatment, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends adults at high risk for lung cancer undergo annual low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening, however, lung cancer screening (LCS) uptake remains low. Qualitative research on family physician (FP) perceptions and experiences with LCS has been limited since USPSTF publication and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) decision memo. We conducted a qualitative study to assess FP knowledge and perceptions of LCS and gain insight into their current experiences with LDCT. A …

The Role Of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8 In Vascular Disease, Desiree Leach

Theses and Dissertations

In response to injury, mature vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) undergo dedifferentiation, also known as phenotype modulation or switch. This process is characterized by a downregulation or loss of expression of contractile genes and concomitant with an increase in cell proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix production, thereby leading to vascular lesion formation. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is not fully understood. The objective of my study was to determine whether cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8), a transcription-regulating kinase, plays a mediator role in vascular SMC dedifferentiation and lesion formation. Our results from immunochemical staining and Western blot revealed that CDK8 expression …

Working It Out: An Examination Of Modern Exercise Culture As Displayed On A College Campus, Mary Bolgan

Senior Theses

When asked to describe, as simplistically as possible, what one believes to be the most basic needs for human survival, it is likely that a few concepts will come up repeatedly: food, shelter, and procreation. In modern times, barriers to these needs tend to be financial resource. However, this has not always been the case. In primitive times, a third necessity would be needed to survive, that being a certain degree of physical fitness. To obtain food and build shelter, our ancestors had to have a great deal of physical competency to be able to hunt, gather, build, and keep …

The Skin Cancer Health Crisis And Recommended Intervention Methods, Blaire Brooks

Senior Theses

Despite the increasing research connecting UVR exposures to skin cancer, rates of skin cancer are rising. Skin cancer is now the most common form of cancer and there are significant health care costs associated with treating the cases (Balk et al., 2013). As a result, the United States needs greater initiatives to increase educational programs, physician counseling, and political action regarding ultraviolet exposure and incidence of skin cancer. Evaluation of the types of skin cancer, perceptions of tanning, and current regulations and recommendations are required in order to form the initiatives to combat the growth of skin cancer.

College Student Health: How Cooking Can Promote Nutrition And A Healthy Diet, Sara Garzia

Senior Theses

This paper focuses on college student health and the manner in which nutrition and overall health can be improved by cooking. College students are at a high risk of poor health because of the college lifestyle. They are faced with a great deal of demands on their time from classes, extracurricular activities, work, and friends. Many students cite this lack of time as one of the main reasons they do not prepare their meals at home. Students also struggle with the perceived inadequacy of their cooking skills, and therefore find it much easier to purchase prepared food instead of making …

Hallmark Features Of Stem Anatomy In The Family Lamiaceae, Catherine Garner

Senior Theses

Lamiaceae is a cosmopolitan family, containing around 236 genera and 7,534 species. The family has been the object of considerable taxonomic controversy and ultimate revision, especially concerning subfamilial and tribal limits. A broad-based anatomical approach has been undertaken to assess comparative anatomy of the stem as a reasonable systematic technique. The stems of several members of the family were compared. Cross-sections were made using the recently invented hydromicrotome, fixed, and examined at magnifications of 40x, 100x, and 400x. The common anatomical features of each sectioned species were determined, and used to establish a basic guide to the hallmark stem features …

Common Histories And Common Failures: How The Historical Events Of Ireland And The United States Have Led To Their Vastly Different, Equally Failing, Health Care Systems, Kimberly Narro

Senior Theses

The United States healthcare system is a constant source of debate and public interest, with the only common ground between political parties being that the current system is deeply flawed and needing improvement. Individuals often point to European single-payer systems as the answer, neglecting to mention the flaws also inherent in these systems. This thesis aims to suss out the successes and failings of the Irish and American healthcare systems through a thorough scholarly literature review, with an emphasis on the two countries’ origins and development, to lead to a discussion about why two countries with similar historical beginnings have …

Athos Wearable Technology: A Comparison Study, Sara Desmarais, Madeleine Giess

Senior Theses

Technological advances permit the assessment of new variables, and over time miniaturize and make portable equipment that once was restricted research or clinical settings. Validation of the new equipment is essential before it can be used. This study compared Athos Wearable Technology to a standard form of electromyography (EMG). We hypothesized that Athos would produce a similar percent of MVIC data when compared to a standard EMG during a series of movements. Participants performed five movements, once while wearing the Athos pants, and once while wearing Noraxon Wireless EMG Electrodes on their vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and biceps femoris. The …

An Analysis Of Risk Behaviors In High School Students That Affect Memory, Concentration, And Decision Making, Charles Guenther

Senior Theses

The youth population is a large portion of the total population in the United States, making up approximately 25% of all people. Youth, especially as they reach high school age, are prone to partaking in risk behaviors, or behaviors that put them at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducts a survey every other year to collect data on these risk behaviors called the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). For this study, data was pulled from the survey regarding tobacco use, alcohol use, marijuana use, physical activity, television watching, breakfast eating, …

Expression Of Fibroblast Activation Protein On Cardiac Fibroblasts And Relevance To Post-Myocardial Infarction Remodeling, Kaitlyn Swimmer

Senior Theses

Cardiovascular disease is an extremely prevalent and costly disease, as it is the number one cause of death in the US. In 2006 alone, cardiovascular disease cost the U.S. over $400 billion from direct healthcare spending and lost-productivity (Mensah & Brown, 2007). According to a study conducted by the CDC in 2012, 26.6 million adults in the US, or 11.6% of the adult population, had been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CDC, 2015). Each year in the U.S., roughly 635,000 people have a first-time heart attack and about 300,000 have recurrent heart attacks (Mozaffarian D, 2015).

Methodology And Benefits Of Dance And Movement Therapy For Individuals With Disabilities, Mckenzie A. Dirr

Senior Theses

Dance and movement therapy, or DMT as it is sometimes referred, is used as a form of therapy for many different conditions. For those who may not be familiar with DMT, it is a form of teaching dance and movement for individuals with specific needs in order to further their treatment or allow for progression (American Dance Therapy Association). DMT has a wellknown background in psychotherapeutic work and helping individuals with mental illness cope with their disorders (American Dance Therapy Association). However, it can also be used for physical impairments, social disorders, and the like (American Dance Therapy Association). There …

The Effects Of Childhood Fitness On Adult Metabolic Syndrome And Improving Health Outcomes Through Increasing Fitness In Childhood, Ellen Gardiner

Senior Theses

The importance of childhood and adolescent fitness has shifted over time. In the US, physical fitness test batteries first started to emerge during times of war to assess military preparedness. However, as conscription became less necessary and the US turned to issues at home, these fitness assessments became more focused on health over performance.14 This leads to the question, how is fitness tied to overall health? With this literature review, I examine the relationships between childhood fitness and metabolic syndrome, a group of factors that together raise the risk of heart disease, diabetes, or stroke.

The Turnover Of Succinated Proteins In The Adipocyte For The Treatment Of Diabetes, Dominique Jacobs

Senior Theses

In the United States 29.1 million people have diabetes, or 1 out of every 11 people. The rate of new cases of diagnosed diabetes has begun to fall, but the numbers are still very high. 86 million people are living with prediabetes, a serious health condition that increases a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and other chronic diseases (1). Unfortunately, 90% of those 86 million people are unaware that they are at risk. The health and economic costs for both types of diabetes are enormous: more than 20% of health care spending is committed to people …

The Effects Of Lipocalin 2 On Lung Metastasis Of Colorectal And Other Cancers, Lauren Strzyzewski

Senior Theses

Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is a member of the lipocalin family of siderophore-binding molecules that can mediate iron trafficking. It acts during the innate immune response and has been implicated in conflicting roles in metastasis, leaving its role undefined. In breast cancer LCN2 was shown in previous studies to both inhibit or promote metastasis. Previous studies the Pena laboratory showed that increasing the serum levels of LCN2 caused a significantly increase in liver metastasis of the poorly metastatic MC-38 colon cancer cell line. In this study, we examined the ability of LCN2 to promote metastasis of colon and other cancers to …

Health Professions At Carolina: Promoting The University Of South Carolina Galen Health Fellows And Health Sciences Initiatives Using Social Media Marketing, Sarah Adair Roof

Senior Theses

This project sought to bring awareness to the newly developed Galen Health Fellows and health sciences programs at the University of South Carolina. In collaboration with the University of South Carolina Office of Admissions, investigators created and promoted a trackable social media marketing campaign for prospective program participants composed of online profiles of current USC health science students. These profiles aimed to promote the beyond-the-classroom experiences and advantages gained from pursuing a health sciences career at the University of South Carolina, particularly as a Galen Health Fellow. Student profiles were posted on the USC Admissions account of the blog site …

Disability: Becoming An Advocate For Persons With Disabilities And Understanding The History Of The Disability Movement In The United States, Frances Mason Ramsay

Senior Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to look at the different facets that make up disability in the United States, with a specific focus on the children with disabilities. These facets include related legislation, the education system, activism, services, and what it means to care for a child with disabilities. Throughout the research process, each of these facets were analyzed to include the most significant events for the section, an overview of each section to provide insight and a small amount of background and history for someone relatively unfamiliar with the history of disability in the United States. Beyond research …

Mindfulness And Dance: The Effect Of Yoga Practices In College-Aged Dancers, Alison Saum

Senior Theses

Mindfulness is the self-regulation of attention toward conscious awareness of bodily sensations and perceptions (Howell & Marich, 2015). As opposed to other forms of attention training, mindfulness focuses on a non-judgmental monitoring of stimuli and experiences which adopts a curious, open, and accepting attitude (Creswell, Denson, & Schofield, 2015). Mindfulness practitioners develop an ongoing awareness of changes in their internal experiences of sensations, thoughts, and feelings, as well as awareness of external experiences (Daubenmier, Dunn, Farb, Gard, Kerr, Klein, Mehling, Paulus, & Price, 2015). Traditionally, mindfulness involves quietly sitting and observing various experiences without judging or attempting to change the …

Practicing What You Preach: The Health Behaviors Of Nurses, Catherine Anjali Prabhu

Senior Theses

This research study investigated the relationship between the health behaviors nurses commonly teach to their patients and the behaviors they practice themselves. After receiving the 194 completed surveys, a thorough analysis of variables was completed to determine which educational topics are most frequently included in patient education as well as if these variables are related to the health behaviors nurses practice themselves. It was evident that many nurses who report educating their patients on healthier lifestyles do not implement all of these practices into their own lives. Barriers to implementing such behaviors, employer-provided health programs, and methods of stress reduction …

Early Behavioral And Physiological Predictors Of Autism In 12-Month-Old Siblings Of Children With Autism, Nicolas Poupore

Senior Theses

This study included two primary objectives. First, we aimed to see if the ASIBs demonstrate atypical physiological regulation relative to low risk controls (LRCs) and if ASD behavioral risk markers are related to physiological regulation at 12 months of age. We hypothesized that the ASIBs will have atypical physiological control in both RSA and RSA suppression compared to the LRCs and that the behavioral ASD risk markers are correlated to these atypical physiological regulations. Second, we aimed to determine if physiological regulation differs in the ASIBs that do and do not end up with an ASD diagnosis, and if there …

Effectiveness Of Pictorial Health Warning Labels For Indonesia's Cigarette Packages, Dien Anshari

Theses and Dissertations

Pictorial health warning labels (PHWL) on cigarette packaging is a key way to communicate with consumers about the harms from tobacco, particularly in the low- and middle-income countries that do not have the resources for effective mass media campaigns. Research is needed to determine the most effective PHWL content for Indonesia, a country with one of the largest populations of smokers in the world and amongst the weakest tobacco policy environments. This research aimed to determine the most effective PHWL content for Indonesia’s cigarette packages, including the social and psychological factors that may influence PHWL effects.

Data for this study …

Pilot Program To Provide Hiv Pep To Sexual Assault Survivors, Ellen Stahlman

Senior Theses

Currently, South Carolina has no standardized guidelines for the prescription and financial obligations for HIV prophylactic treatment post sexual assault. With South Carolina’s high rates of sexual assault and HIV/AIDS, there should be implementation of a program to address these issues. In 2014, South Carolina Office of Victim Assistance (SOVA) contacted the USC Immunology Clinic along with Palmetto Health Richland hospital in order to implement a pilot program in order to provide funding for sexual assault survivors’ treatment preventing HIV. Much communication had to take place in order for all aspects of the process to work efficiently. Emergency departments first …

Reduced Eye Contact And Anxiety In Women With The Fmr1 Premutation, Alexis Ruber

Senior Theses

Background. Mothers of children with fragile X syndrome (FXS) have the FMR1 premutation, which affects approximately 1 in 151 women (Seltzer et al., 2012). Women with the FMR1 premutation display elevated social anxiety (Bourgeois et al., 2011), which has been linked with higher levels of gaze anxiety and avoidance in other clinical groups (Schneider et al., 2011). While several studies have suggested women with FMR1 premutation have reduced eye contact (Tassone et al., 2000; Losh, Klusek et al., 2012; Riddle et al., 1998), no study has empirically examined reduced eye contact in the female FMR1 premutation. Like their children with …

Disc Golf As A Public Health Option: Utilizing America's Natural Resources To Offer Low Cost Outdoor Exercise, Victor Martins

Senior Theses

This paper explores the appeal and growth potential of disc golf as a way to offer a fun and immersive exercise experience. In a time when the United States is a world leader in obesity, understanding issues like appeal, exercise motivation and accessibility are important as the country looks to redirect itself towards a healthier future. In order to understand what brings disc golfers in, a survey of player motivations across demographic groups was completed using a rated average system. In doing so, researchers gained insight and verification of the game’s appeal under the framework of previous public health and …

Multimorbidity And Mortality Risk: The Effect Of Depressive Symptom Trajectories Among Middle-Aged And Older Adults, Katherine Reynolds O’Shields

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction

Multimorbidity, commonly defined as having two or more chronic conditions, is a major burden in middle-aged and older adults, causing increased risks for hospitalizations, medical care costs, and even death. One condition with severe adverse effects in the older population is depression. Depression has been shown to increase ones social isolation while compounding self-management, eventually increasing ones chance for mortality. Multimorbidity coupled with depression has been shown to increase the risk for mortality; however, these results are typically based on a one-time depression evaluation. The main objective of this study is to examine if depressive symptom trajectories modifies the …

Effect Of Stigma And Advocacy On Our State Of Mental Health: A Scientific And Personal Approach, Hannah Giangaspro

Senior Theses

The prevalence of mental health disorders amongst college students, especially studentathletes and honors students, has reached dangerously high levels. Furthermore, the stigma associated with mental disorders has been proven to prevent the struggling population from seeking help for themselves through mental health services. This study examined the relationship between mental health and college students (i.e. undergraduates, student-athletes, and honors students), as well as the effects of mental health advocacy on the speaker and the listener. Study participants consisted primarily of NCAA Division I undergraduate studentathletes at the University of South Carolina, with a sample size of 116. Results indicated that …

A Possible Mechanism For Leptin’S Role In Lung Function Independent Of Body Mass Index: Investigating Leptin’S Genotype, Dna, Methylation, And Serum Protein Levels, Mitra Yousefi

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Leptin, initially believed to simply be a satiety hormone responsible for obesity, is now recognized as a pleiotropic cytokine that is involved in many biological processes; including the body’s host inflammatory response. Clinically, leptin may affect lung function although research in this area is limited. It is also known that the leptin receptor is necessary for the activation of the leptin protein, making it an important protein to consider. Furthermore, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and DNA methylations of the leptin and leptin receptor genes (LEP and LEPR respectively) may provide important insight on the relationship that leptin has …

Recipients’ Perspectives Regarding Expanded Carrier Screening Of Gamete Donors, Erika Kristy Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study explored the perspectives of intended parents regarding genetic carrier screening of a gamete donor. The main goal of this study was to determine how much genetic carrier screening information a recipient would prefer to receive about potential donors. The study also aimed to identify factors that potentially influence a recipient’s choice of donor based on genetic screening results. Methods: An online questionnaire was developed to assess intended parents’ preferences regarding expanded carrier screening (ECS) of their donors. Participants were recruited from various online support groups and were eligible if they had previously utilized or were currently utilizing …