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The Effectiveness Of Clinical Integration: The Relationship Between Evidence-Based Clinical Processes, In-Network Utilization And Clinical, Service And Efficiency Outcomes, Patrick D. Falvey Jan 2017

The Effectiveness Of Clinical Integration: The Relationship Between Evidence-Based Clinical Processes, In-Network Utilization And Clinical, Service And Efficiency Outcomes, Patrick D. Falvey

All ETDs from UAB

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CLINICAL INTEGRATION: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EVIDENCE-BASED CLINICAL PROCESSES, IN-NETWORK UTILIZATION AND CLINICAL, SERVICE AND EFFICIENCY OUTCOMES PATRICK D. FALVEY EXECUTIVE DOCTORAL PROGRAM – SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS ABSTRACT The evolving U.S. health care system continues to steer healthcare organizations and integrated healthcare delivery networks (IDNs) to function as population health networks and ACOs. Policymakers, payers, health care leaders and consumer groups are advocating that IDNs clinically integrate processes and structures under the assumption that they will improve the clinical outcomes for a population, reduce the health care spend, and enhance the patient experience. Relatively little research has …


Diabetes Risk In Women: Pschosocial And Lifestyle Determinants, Sarah Katherine Sweatt Jan 2017

Diabetes Risk In Women: Pschosocial And Lifestyle Determinants, Sarah Katherine Sweatt

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Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major public health concern. Physical inactivity, poor diet, and psychosocial distress have emerged as factors contributing to T2D. Women may be uniquely affected by these factors as obesity, physical inactivity, and the prevalence of psychosocial distress are higher in women. Additionally, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women and increases the risk of both T2D and psychosocial distress. However, the relationship between physical activity (PA), psychosocial distress, and metabolic health is not fully understood, particularly in at risk populations such as minorities and women with PCOS. Therefore, the goal …


The Effect Of Hospitalists On Hospital Length Of Stay, Khanhuyen Vinh Jan 2017

The Effect Of Hospitalists On Hospital Length Of Stay, Khanhuyen Vinh

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Environmental pressures in the healthcare industry force hospitals to seek new innovations to become more efficient. Hospitals have entered into a partnership hospitalists in an effort to reduce their ALOS. The purposes of this study are to determine the impact of ALOS by hospitals using hospitalists, the sustainability of impact on ALOS over time, and whether hospitals that adopted the hospitalist innovation in the last five years experienced an impact on ALOS. The study investigated 26,527 observations of hospital-years of nonprofit and investor-owned hospitals from 2007-2015 that responded to the AHA Annual Survey and primarily provided general medical/surgical services. Case …


Post-Transcriptional Regulation Of Autophagy By The 5’-3’ Mrna Decay Pathway In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Matthew Weaver Jan 2017

Post-Transcriptional Regulation Of Autophagy By The 5’-3’ Mrna Decay Pathway In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Matthew Weaver

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The process of bulk degradation of cytoplasmic contents, called macroautophagy or simply autophagy, is a heavily conserved cellular process from yeast to humans. In yeast, it involves more than 30 different autophagy related genes (ATG) that coordinate the process of building a double membrane vesicle, called the autophagosome, that fuses with the vacuole to allow degradation and recycling of its contents. This process can also be selective, involving the recruitment of the autophagic machinery to specific organelles. In this work, we used RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify a subset of ATG genes that are heavily upregulated in response to nitrogen …


Implementation Of Repeat Hiv Testing During Pregnancy In Kenya, Anna Joy Graves Rogers Jan 2017

Implementation Of Repeat Hiv Testing During Pregnancy In Kenya, Anna Joy Graves Rogers

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It is estimated that a third of all mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV occurs in women with incident HIV infection during pregnancy, potentially contributing to over 37,000 pediatric HIV infections globally and 4,300 infections in Kenya on an annual basis. Since most pregnant women with acute HIV infection test negative for HIV during routine early-pregnancy antenatal testing, they may not receive access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) for their own sake, as well as to prevent perinatal HIV transmission. A comprehensive strategy to eliminate MTCT will require identifying and addressing incident HIV infection. International recommendations suggest that pregnant women in …


The Effect Of Cultural Competency Training Programs On Expatriate Nurses' Levels Of Cultural Competence In Saudi Arabia As Measured By The Inventory For Assessing The Process Of Cultural Competence (Iapcc-R), Naof Faiz Saleem Al-Ansary Jan 2017

The Effect Of Cultural Competency Training Programs On Expatriate Nurses' Levels Of Cultural Competence In Saudi Arabia As Measured By The Inventory For Assessing The Process Of Cultural Competence (Iapcc-R), Naof Faiz Saleem Al-Ansary

All ETDs from UAB

The study examined the relationship between cultural competence training programs and the levels of cultural competence among expatriate nurses in Saudi Arabia. Cultural competence training programs are believed to increase the awareness of expatriate nurses in Saudi Arabia in regards to issues that might arise from cultural differences between patients and healthcare providers. Healthcare professionals, and healthcare organizations, emphasize the importance of culturally competent healthcare environments in providing optimum healthcare services to individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Findings from the study suggested that participation in cultural competency training is associated to higher cultural competency scores. Additionally, age was positively associated …


A Comparative Multiyear Assessment Of Care Utilization Between Existing And Newly Enrolled Medicaid Populations Within Washington State, Preston M. Simmons Jan 2017

A Comparative Multiyear Assessment Of Care Utilization Between Existing And Newly Enrolled Medicaid Populations Within Washington State, Preston M. Simmons

All ETDs from UAB

A COMPARATIVE MULTIYEAR ASSESSMENT OF CARE UTILIZATION BETWEEN EXISTING AND NEWLY ENROLLED MEDICAID POPULATIONS WITHIN WASHINGTON STATE ABSTRACT The study looks at 2012 through June of 2016 Medicaid data from the Washington State Health Care Authority, comparing claims utilization for newly enrolled patients each calendar year to continuously enrolled members. Mean number of emergency department, hospital, and ambulatory (office) claims per Medicaid member are compared to ascertain if they are the same or different between the groups. Differences in the mean number of ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) were additionally assessed between those continuously and newly enrolled. The results of …


Motor Abilities And Social Participation In Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jamie M. Holloway Jan 2017

Motor Abilities And Social Participation In Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jamie M. Holloway

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that primarily affects social communication and behavior, however, a number of motor impairments have been identified in children with ASD. In children who are typically developing, the development of social, communication, and cognitive skills is thought to be influenced by motor development. However, the impact of these motor skill deficits on overall development in children with ASD is not yet known. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the relationship between gross motor ability and social function and participation in young children with ASD. The first study described changes in peer …


Contribution Of Distinct Interneuron Subclasses To Cortical Network Activity, Andrew Scott Bohannon Jan 2017

Contribution Of Distinct Interneuron Subclasses To Cortical Network Activity, Andrew Scott Bohannon

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The excitatory glutamatergic output of the cerebral neocortex is tightly regulated by the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA from cortical interneurons (INs). Once viewed as a largely homogenous population, recent studies have revealed that cortical INs display a diverse range of biochemical, anatomical and physiological properties. In this work we sought to determine if differences in the physiology and connectivity patterns of identified cortical IN populations enable them to differentially contribute to network activity. Specifically, we investigated the contribution of discrete L2/3 IN groups to the generation of aberrant cortical synchrony, and the influence of HCN channels on information …


Activation Of Ampk To Diminish Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury, Nathaniel Bone Jan 2017

Activation Of Ampk To Diminish Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury, Nathaniel Bone

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Sepsis is the most frequent cause of death of hospitalized patients in modern ICUs. Severe infection, trauma, hemorrhage, burns, and surgery are significant causes of multi-organ injury and immune dysfunction that in turn primes for a high risk of secondary lung infections. In addition to detrimental inflammation, sepsis is linked to loss of metabolic plasticity due to mitochondrial dysfunction in immune cells and lung tissue. In particular, mitochondrial failure in lungs of critically ill septic patients is correlated with high mortality rates. We proposed that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, a major bioenergetic sensor and metabolic regulator, is a plausible …


A Comparison Between Number And Letter Acuities Among Patients, Sarah Berry Jan 2017

A Comparison Between Number And Letter Acuities Among Patients, Sarah Berry

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ABSTRACT Purpose: Previous studies have shown that there is an association between visual acuity and Alzheimers’ disease. Untreated visual problems may contribute to cognitive impairment and more progressive cognitive decline. This study investigates the association of chart design, specifically comparing charts using letters versus numbers, to accuracy and repeatability among patients with dementia. Methods: 23 English-speaking subjects diagnosed with moderate to advanced levels of dementia were recruited from two local Birmingham nursing homes. Visual acuities were measured in a randomly selected eye and timed from six different charts: Back-illuminated ETDRS chart with letters, Back-illuminated ETDRS chart with numbers, HOTV cards …


Interplay Of The Circadian Clock And Growth Hormone Signaling In The Heart, Ryan Darrell Berry Jan 2017

Interplay Of The Circadian Clock And Growth Hormone Signaling In The Heart, Ryan Darrell Berry

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Growth hormone (GH) signaling plays a critical role in postnatal development and the details of its release, regulation, and influence on the development of a number of organs has been well studied. GH is released from the anterior pituitary in a pulsatile fashion with pulse amplitude being greater at night than during the day in a number of species, including humans. Once in circulation, GH binds to the GH receptor (GHR) on target tissues throughout the body altering gene expression and stimulating the local production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 primarily acts in an autocrine and paracrine fashion. …


Mechanism Of Cytomegalovirus-Induced Mucosal Inflammation, Evida Adiko Dennis Jan 2017

Mechanism Of Cytomegalovirus-Induced Mucosal Inflammation, Evida Adiko Dennis

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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an opportunistic β-herpesvirus that causes severe mucosal inflammation in recipients of organ and stem cell transplants, HIV-1-infected subjects, and persons with inflammatory bowel disease. The gastrointestinal mucosa is among the most common sites of CMV inflammatory disease, and the inflammatory lesions associated with CMV mucosal infection contain infected macrophages and increased levels of macrophage-derived cytokines, implicating mucosal macrophages in the inflammatory process. Paradoxically, in healthy human intestinal mucosa, macrophages are profoundly down-regulated for pro-inflammatory responses (inflammation anergy) due to stromal TGF-β-induction of Smad signaling and inactivation of NF-κB. To elucidate the mechanism whereby CMV promotes macrophage-mediated mucosal …


Home Healthcare And Performance: Development And Application Of A Typology For Home Health Agencies, Ronique Nechelle Evans Jan 2017

Home Healthcare And Performance: Development And Application Of A Typology For Home Health Agencies, Ronique Nechelle Evans

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This three-paper dissertation sought to examine the existence of strategic groups in the home health industry, the application of Porter’s generic strategies (cost leader, differentiator, “stuck-in-the-middle” and both cost leader/differentiator) in identifying these groups, and the association of group membership with agency performance. The findings of this study will provide researchers and managers with a highlight of the current strategic makeup of the home health industry and its relationship with quality and financial performance. The results of this dissertation provide some evidence that strategic groups do exist in the home health industry and can be described along the basis of …


Cancer-Related Symptoms And Cognitive Intervention Adherence Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Mixed Methods Study, Jennifer Bail Jan 2017

Cancer-Related Symptoms And Cognitive Intervention Adherence Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Mixed Methods Study, Jennifer Bail

All ETDs from UAB

Advancements in screening, early detection, and treatment have increased breast cancer survival. In the United States, the 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer is 89%. With more women surviving breast cancer, there are now more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors (BCS), a figure estimated to increase to 4.3 million by 2020. Survivors experience long-term symptoms of their cancer and treatment which may last years and even decades after diagnosis and treatment. This symptom experience may potentially have exacerbating effects on BCS’ cognitive function as well as their ability to adhere to interventions aimed at improving cognitive function. The …


Transcriptional Dysregulation In Interneurons Causes Altered Modulation Of Hippocampal Synaptic Transmission And Circuit Function By The Dopamine System, Lillian J. Brady Jan 2017

Transcriptional Dysregulation In Interneurons Causes Altered Modulation Of Hippocampal Synaptic Transmission And Circuit Function By The Dopamine System, Lillian J. Brady

All ETDs from UAB

Genetic deletion of the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α leads to transcriptional dysregulation in interneurons, and transcriptional dysregulation in interneurons lead to changes in hippocampal synaptic transmission and circuit function. Hippocampal circuit activity and synaptic transmission alterations have implications for symptoms of cognitive impairment in neurological disorders like schizophrenia. Modulation of dopamine receptor activity through pharmacologic application of haloperidol and the specific dopamine D4 receptor antagonist L-745,870 in PGC-1α-/- mice leads to altered effects on inhibitory/excitatory synaptic transmission balance, circuit function, and innate hippocampal dependent nesting behavior. These are key aspects underlying hippocampus dependent cognitive impairment. Specifically, bath application of haloperidol restores …


Bioactive Materials: Ion Release, Flexural Strength, Secondary Caries Depth And Elemental Analysis Of Surrounding Tooth Structure, Prajakta Shreeram Kulkarni Jan 2017

Bioactive Materials: Ion Release, Flexural Strength, Secondary Caries Depth And Elemental Analysis Of Surrounding Tooth Structure, Prajakta Shreeram Kulkarni

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ABSTRACT Objectives: Bioactive materials release calcium, phosphate, and fluoride which may increase tooth remineralization. But limited data is available demonstrating the superiority of bioactive or ion releasing materials compared to fluoride or no ion releasing materials. The aims of the present study are to measure and compare the calcium, fluoride, and phosphate ion release at different pH, flexural strength and caries protecting ability of the materials including the ion uptake of surrounding tooth structure. Methods: Activa, Cention N, Fuji LC II and Filtek Supreme Ultra were the restorative materials tested. Firstly, the fluoride and calcium release of these materials was …


Development And Pilot Testing Of A Behavioral Intervention For Chronic Pain Tailored To Individuals With Hiv, Jessica Merlin Jan 2017

Development And Pilot Testing Of A Behavioral Intervention For Chronic Pain Tailored To Individuals With Hiv, Jessica Merlin

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Background. Chronic pain is a common and disabling comorbidity in individuals living with HIV. Behavioral interventions are among the most effective and safe nonpharmacologic treatments for chronic pain. However, the success of a behavioral intervention is influenced by how well it is tailored to the target population’s biological, psychological, and social context. Given well-documented psychosocial vulnerabilities among persons with HIV, it is critical to develop a behavioral intervention for chronic pain tailored to this population. Objective. To use qualitative methods to investigate patient preferences for the structure and delivery of a behavioral intervention for chronic pain in individuals with HIV. …


Comparison Of Bone Augmentation Techniques In Extraction Sockets: A Soft And Hard Tissue Wound Healing Analysis, Pragya Sharma Jan 2017

Comparison Of Bone Augmentation Techniques In Extraction Sockets: A Soft And Hard Tissue Wound Healing Analysis, Pragya Sharma

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The use of bone grafting materials in sockets after tooth extraction has become a common technique for the preservation of alveolar ridge dimensions for future dental implant placement. A number of growth factors have been used to accelerate healing and shorten the healing period between extraction and implant placement. This study presents a novel application of amniotic tissue allograft used as an adjunct to bone grafting with mineralized bone allograft after tooth extraction. Amniotic tissue contains a myriad of growth factors such as Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-β), Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), Platelet Derived Growth Factor …


Streptococcus Pneumoniae In The Heart Subvert The Host Response Through Biofilm-Mediated Resident Macrophage Killing, Anukul T. Shenoy Jan 2017

Streptococcus Pneumoniae In The Heart Subvert The Host Response Through Biofilm-Mediated Resident Macrophage Killing, Anukul T. Shenoy

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During invasive disease, blood circulating Streptococcus pneumoniae are capable of invading the heart and forming bacteria filled cardiac microlesions. These microlesions are devoid of immune cells and disruptive of cardiac functionality. While the mechanisms underlying pneumococcal invasion of the myocardium are well-described, how the heart-invaded pneumococci evade immune detection and clearance is unknown. Since its discovery in 1881, invasive pneumococcal disease has been associated with the presence of extracellular diplococci or short chains in affected tissues. Herein, we show that heart-invaded pneumococci replicate within cellular vesicles and transition into biofilms. Although the host cell permissible for intracellular replication is yet …


An Analysis Of The Relevance Of U.S. News And World Report Rankings On Admissions Outcomes And Student Placement Of Graduate Programs In Healthcare Management, William Alburn Tuttle Jan 2017

An Analysis Of The Relevance Of U.S. News And World Report Rankings On Admissions Outcomes And Student Placement Of Graduate Programs In Healthcare Management, William Alburn Tuttle

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Social, economic and political influences are exerting considerable pressure on the development of universities and colleges. Such forces coupled with the growing influence of rankings are exerting a formidable impact upon higher education. The conceptual framework guiding this study was derived from the work of Spence and Signaling Theory (ST). This theory plays a vital role in societal interaction of individuals as well as how certain organizations carry out their mission. ST offers an opportunity and perspective to explore the relevance of signals associated with U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) rankings of graduate programs in healthcare management. Graduate programs …


Modeling Depression Treatment Strategies For Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) Positive Patients, Rongbing Xie Jan 2017

Modeling Depression Treatment Strategies For Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) Positive Patients, Rongbing Xie

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This dissertation empirically examines the associations between depression and HIV-related outcomes, simulates both care and outcomes under different depression care strategies, and compares the cost effectiveness of various depression care strategies to the current care strategy. The empirical investigations reveal the negative associations between depression and HIV-related outcomes using two longitudinal patient-level databases. Furthermore, the patterns and outcomes of depression care are identified and simulated using agent-based modeling. Finally, simulated costs and effectiveness are used to evaluate different depression care strategies for reducing new HIV infections and improving quality of life. The current standard of care for depression among patients …


Exploring Psychosocial And Situational Factors That Influence Female College Students' Participation In Oral Sex, Margaret Bergeron Jan 2017

Exploring Psychosocial And Situational Factors That Influence Female College Students' Participation In Oral Sex, Margaret Bergeron

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Although sexually transmitted infections (STI) are not officially reported via the route of transmission, the CDC (2016) reports that individuals who provide fellatio have the highest risk of oral transmission of a STI. Therefore, females who engage in fellatio are at risk for acquiring a STI. The majority of research studies on young adult heterosexual female sexual activities primarily focus on vaginal sex and the associated risks of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Limited research exists on the oral sex behaviors of female college students and their understanding of the risk for contracting an STI through fellatio. The purpose of …


The Association Between Cancer And Risk Of Sepsis Among Whites And Blacks In The Regards Cohort, Justin Xavier Moore Jan 2017

The Association Between Cancer And Risk Of Sepsis Among Whites And Blacks In The Regards Cohort, Justin Xavier Moore

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Cancer is the second leading cause of morbidity and death in the United States corresponding to more than 1.7 million incident cases and responsible for more than 550,000 deaths annually. In addition, hospitalized cancer patients are nearly 10 times more likely to develop sepsis when compared to participants with no cancer history. As treatments and therapies for cancer continue to improve, the average 5-year survival is approaching 70% overall among the US population; however, to date there is very limited research that has examined the association between patients with a history of cancer and future risk of sepsis among a …


The Role Of Adipocytes And Osteocytes In Multiple Myeloma Progression, Timothy Nathan Trotter Jan 2017

The Role Of Adipocytes And Osteocytes In Multiple Myeloma Progression, Timothy Nathan Trotter

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Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy of plasma cells that is intrinsically tied to the bone marrow (BM). Many cells in the BM microenvironment have been studied in MM, yet there is still much progress to be made. Recent work has revealed two new potential cellular targets in MM: adipocytes and osteocytes. Both are endocrine cells and secrete many molecules that regulate other cells proximally and systemically. Our lab previously showed that MM cells shift osteoblast precursor cells towards adipogenesis through soluble molecules alone. Recent findings also revealed that osteocyte apoptosis is enhanced in MM patients compared to healthy …


Statistical Tests For Confounding, Falynn Cartmill Turley Jan 2017

Statistical Tests For Confounding, Falynn Cartmill Turley

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The use of propensity score methods have increased tremendously in the last several years. Propensity scores are used as a tool to correct the effects of confounding that can result in biased estimates of treatment effects. However, there is more than one method that employs propensity scores, and there is no guide in choosing the optimal method, in terms of Type I error and statistical power. This research aims to assess these attributes through a complex simulation study of a five variable model. The results of the simulations indicate performance of a particular propensity score method is dependent


Validation Of Mixed Dentition Analysis Method For Northern Thai Population, Wannapa Chinadet Jan 2017

Validation Of Mixed Dentition Analysis Method For Northern Thai Population, Wannapa Chinadet

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The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of the Tanaka-Johnston mixed dentition analysis method and develop a new predictive model for Northern Thai population. A total of 400 sets of dental study casts (145 males and 255 females) were obtained from the Department of Pediatrics and Orthodontics at the Chiang Mai University School of Dentistry, Thailand. The models were obtained from patients that were age 11 to 23 years that consisted of a full permanent dentition. A digital caliper was used to measure the mesiodistal widths of all teeth on dental study models. The sum of the …


Improving Cognitive Predictors And Everyday Outcomes In Adults With Hiv, Shameka L. Cody Jan 2017

Improving Cognitive Predictors And Everyday Outcomes In Adults With Hiv, Shameka L. Cody

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As adults age with HIV, they may encounter challenges with cognitive impairments. Perhaps, the neurobiological effects of HIV, subtle lifestyle changes, and the aging process may negatively influence cognitive functioning. Some cognitive impairments may interfere with everyday functioning and even compromise quality of life. In this dissertation, three articles were presented which focused on the overall theme of HIV and cognition. Article 1, a review of literature published in the Neurobiology of Disease, focused on how HIV affects the brain independently and the synergistic effects of HIV and aging on cognitive health. Also, the article closed with a section on …


Effects Of Maternal And Child Depressive Symptoms And Child’S Perceived Stress On Glycemic Control As Mediated By Cortisol In Prepubertal Children With Type 1 Diabetes, Sara Laubinger Davis Jan 2017

Effects Of Maternal And Child Depressive Symptoms And Child’S Perceived Stress On Glycemic Control As Mediated By Cortisol In Prepubertal Children With Type 1 Diabetes, Sara Laubinger Davis

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Introduction: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the most common diseases of childhood affecting over 167,000 children under the age of 20. Despite adequate insulin regimens and concurrent treatments, many children still have trouble achieving glycemic control as evidenced by elevated HbA1c levels. Previous research indicates that parent-child interactions and parental involvement in diabetic care influence glycemic control. However, these relationships may be impaired in mothers with depressive symptoms or in children who have high levels of depressive symptoms or perceived stress. Moreover, cortisol, a stress hormone, may mediate the proposed relationships. Therefore, the purpose of this study was …


The Role Of Hur In Astrocytes In Spinal Cord Injury, Thaddaeus Kwan Jan 2017

The Role Of Hur In Astrocytes In Spinal Cord Injury, Thaddaeus Kwan

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Neuroinflammation is a defining event during the acute phase of spinal cord injury (SCI). The inflammatory cascade is initiated by activated glial cells such as astrocytes and microglia in the milieu of the injured tissue through release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and reactive oxygen species. These soluble factors produce cytotoxicity to neurons and other cells either directly or indirectly by promoting permeabilization of the blood-spinal cord barrier, edema and subsequent ischemia. These factors also serve to recruit and activate additional glia and peripheral immune cells. The mRNAs of many of these soluble factors such as TNFα, IL-1β, CXCL1, and …