Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Retinol Improves Bovine Embryonic Development In Vitro, Tracy Livingston, Dawn Eberhardt, J. Lannett Edwards, James Godkin

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Abstract

Retinoids are recognized as important regulators of vertebrate development, cell differentiation, and tissue function. Previous studies, performed both in vivo and in vitro, indicate that retinoids influence several reproductive events, including follicular development, oocyte maturation and early embryonic development. The present study evaluated in vitro effects of retinol addition to media containing maturing bovine oocytes and developing embryos in both a low oxygen atmosphere (7%) and under atmospheric oxygen conditions (20%). In the first experiment, abbatoir collected bovine oocytes were matured in the presence or absence of varying concentrations of retinol. After a 22–24 hour maturation period the oocytes …

Expression Of Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channels (Girks) And Beta-Adrenergic Regulation Of Breast Cancer Cell Lines, Howard K. Plummer, Qiang Yu, Yavuz Cakir, Hildegard M. Schuller

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- General Biology

Background

Previous research has indicated that at various organ sites there is a subset of adenocarcinomas that is regulated by beta-adrenergic and arachidonic acid-mediated signal transduction pathways. We wished to determine if this regulation exists in breast adenocarcinomas. Expression of mRNA that encodes a G-protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channel (GIRK1) has been shown in tissue samples from approximately 40% of primary human breast cancers. Previously, GIRK channels have been associated with beta-adrenergic signaling.

Methods

Breast cancer cell lines were screened for GIRK channels by RT-PCR. Cell cultures of breast cancer cells were treated with beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists, and …

Investigation Of Clusters Of Giardiasis Using Gis And A Spatial Scan Statistic., Agricola Odoi, S W. Martin, P Michel, D Middleton, J Holt, J Wilson

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences

BACKGROUND: Giardia lamblia is the most frequently identified human intestinal parasite in Canada with prevalence estimates of 4-10%. However, infection rates vary by geographical area and localized 'pockets' of high or low infection rates are thought to exist. Water-borne transmission is one of the major routes of infection. Sources of contamination of drinking water include humans, domestic and wild animals. A previous study in southern Ontario, Canada, indicated a bivariate association between giardiasis rates and livestock density and/or manure use on agricultural land; however these variables were not significant when the variable 'rural' was added to the model. In that …

Physical Activity And Immunity In Hiv-Infected Individuals, C.M. Bopp, Kenneth D. Phillips, L.J. Fulk, W.D. Dudgeon, R.L. Sowell

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Nursing

The purpose of this study was to determine what relationship exists among physical activity levels and viral load and CD4+ cell count in HIV-infected individuals. Increased viral load is associated with disease progression and symptom severity. A convenience sample of 66 male and female subjects between the ages of 18 and 64 years of age (mean 399/8) was recruited from a hospital-based HIV/AIDS clinic. Components of PA were assessed for three continuous days using a mini-motion logger wrist actigraph. These components included mean PA level, and PA index and acceleration index. Pearson’s correlational analysis was used to test the strength …

Psychological And Physiological Correlates Of Sleep In Hiv Infection, Jennifer L. Robbins, Kenneth D. Phillips, Wesley D. Dudgeon, Gregory A. Hand

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Nursing

Insomnia, a common problem associated with HIV disease, is most likely caused by a multitude of factors. This study investigated the correlations between a selected group of physiological and psychological factors and sleep quality in an HIV-infected population. A convenience sample of 79 ethnically diverse HIVpositive adults, ages 24 to 63, completed a number of questionnaires and released their laboratory records for CD4+ cell count and viral load information. Variables significantly related to sleep quality were HIV-related symptoms, total pain, fatigue, depression, state anxiety, and the number of adults in the household. Findings support the need for health care providers …

"A Fly In The Buttermilk:" Descriptions Of University Life By Successful Black Undergraduate Students At A Predominately White Southeastern University, M. Davis, Y. Dias-Bowie, K. Greenberg, G. Klukken, H.R. Pollio, Sandra Thomas, C.L. Thompson

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Nursing

Although many predominantly white universities exert great effort to recruit minority students, statistics regarding retention and graduation for these students are disturbing. Previous research indicates that academic concerns are not paramount in the attrition of minority students, suggesting that greater attention must be given educational experiences of black students over and above academic matters. Using in-depth phenomenological interviewing, 11 graduating seniors from diverse majors were asked to describe salient incidents of their university experience. These interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to hermeneutic interpretation by an interdisciplinary research group. Dominant in student descriptions of their experiences were five themes: (1) …

Physiological And Psychological Correlates Of Fatigue In Hiv/Aids, Kenneth D. Phillips, R.L. Sowell, M. Rojas, A. Tavakoli

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Nursing

Fatigue is a frequent symptom reported by persons living with HIV disease and one that affects all aspects of quality of life. To improve quality of care of persons with HIV disease, it is important to address all factors that contribute to fatigue. The purpose of this study was to determine the associations of physiological, psychological, and sociological factors with fatigue in an HIV-infected population. With Piper’s integrated fatigue model guiding selection, factors examined in this study were hemoglobin, hematocrit, CD4+ cell count, HIV-RNA viral load, total sleep time, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, HIV-related symptoms, anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. …

Physiological And Psychological Effects Of Exercise Interventions In Hiv Disease, Kenneth D. Phillips

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Nursing

No abstract provided.

The Interaction Model Of Client Health Behavior As A Conceptual Guide In The Explanation Of Children's Health Behaviors, C.H. Robinson, Sandra Thomas

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Nursing

This study used the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior (IMCHB) as a conceptual guide to explain the correlates of children's diet and physical activity and explore the relationships of sex with their diet and physical activity of the school-aged child. A descriptive correlational study was conducted on 371 fifth-grade students and their parents. Information on the family's demographics, health experience, social influence, and environmental resources was collected, as well as data on the children's intrinsic motivation, cognitive appraisal, and affective response to food/physical activity. Children's self-reports on diet and physical activity were collected, as were parents' self-reports on health …

School Connectedness, Anger Behaviors, And Relationships Of Violent And Nonviolent Youth, Sandra Thomas, H. Smith

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Nursing

PROBLEM: Youth violence research often focuses on risk factors arising from early familial interactions rather than school-related factors. METHODS: Via an Internet questionnaire, 282 girls and boys (ages 7-19, mean 15.3) from 47 states and Washington, DC, reported on school connectedness, interpersonal relationships, and anger behaviors. FINDINGS: Substantial percentages of violent youth did not perceive themselves to be liked by classmates and reported loneliness. If not liked by classmates, 80% hated school. Likers and haters of school differed on seven variables (all p < or = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient attention is paid to the alienation experienced by disliked and lonely students. Mental health nurses could play a pivotal role in fostering change in the social climate of schools and helping youth to achieve better anger management and social skills.

Men's Health And Psychosocial Issues Affecting Men, Sandra Thomas

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Nursing

Contemporary scholars are calling on men to rethink "the male deal." As Samuels describes it, "In the male deal, the little boy, at around the age of 3 or 4. strikes a bargain with the social world in which he lives. If he will turn away from soft things, feminine things, maternal things...then the world will reward his gender certainty by giving him all the goodies in its possession." But the "deal" can have damaging effects, as shown in the studies reviewed in this article. Clinicians can help men to rethink the restrictions of the "male deal" so that they …

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Transmission From Human To Canine, P C. Erwin, D A. Bemis, Dianne Mawby, S B. Mccombs, L L. Sheeler, I M. Himelright, S K. Halford, L Diem, B Metchock, T F. Jones, M G. Schilling, B V. Thomsen

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Small Animal Clinical Sciences

A 71-year-old woman from Tennessee, USA with a 3-week history of a productive, nonbloody cough was evaluated. Chest radiograph showed infiltrates and atelectasis in the upper lobe of the right lung. A tuberculosis (TB) skin test resulted in a 14-mm area of induration. Sputum stained positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis by DNA probe and culture. Treatment was initiated with isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide. After 14 days of daily, directly observed therapy, the patient complained of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Treatment adjustments were made, and therapy was completed 11 months later with complete recovery. Six …

Volume 2, Number 1 (2004), Ut Institute Of Agriculture

Tennessee Land, Life and Science Magazine

Issue Highlights:

• Emerging Markets
• Value in Good Genes
• Songbirds as Indicators
• Tennessee Agriculture in a Global Market