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Articles 1051 - 1080 of 2525
Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Correlating High Reliability Organization Practices With Preventable Harms Across Children’S Hospitals Participating In The Children’S Hospitals’ Solutions For Patient Safety Collaborative, Kelly H. Randall
All ETDs from UAB
Background: Despite significant effort, focus, and resources dedicated to reducing patient safety risk, the healthcare system continues to have high error rates. Approaches and strategies implemented to decrease human error have been marginally successful in achieving sustainable reduction in patient harm. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between high reliability and patient safety outcomes by testing the following hypotheses: Organizations exhibiting more advanced high reliability practice will have fewer hospital acquired conditions (as defined by the Serious Harm Event Index (SHE) than organizations exhibiting less advanced high reliability practices; and organizations exhibiting more advanced high …
Reorganization Of The Golgi Apparatus During Human Cytomegalovirus Infection, George Michael Rebmann
Reorganization Of The Golgi Apparatus During Human Cytomegalovirus Infection, George Michael Rebmann
All ETDs from UAB
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the largest and most structurally complex of all the herpesviruses. HCMV is an important human pathogen that results in significant morbidity and disease in immunocompromised individuals. The assembly of herpesviruses is complex and involves a nuclear and cytoplasmic phase. The nuclear events of capsid assembly and genome incorporation as well as nuclear egress are believed to be similar in all herpesviruses and as such, are more clearly defined then the cytoplasmic phase; including the process of tegument and envelope acquisition. Human Cytomegalovirus induces the reorganization of the cellular secretory pathway including the Golgi apparatus and membranes …
Examining Hiv-Associated Symptom Burden And Microbial Translocation In The Veterans Aging Cohort Study: A Secondary Data Analysis, Natalie Lynn Wilson
Examining Hiv-Associated Symptom Burden And Microbial Translocation In The Veterans Aging Cohort Study: A Secondary Data Analysis, Natalie Lynn Wilson
All ETDs from UAB
group of 50 women (group 1) received computer-tailored feedback with brief counseling.
The Impact Of Rrna And Trna Synthesis On Chromatin Structure And Cell Fate, Jessica Makofske Woolnough
The Impact Of Rrna And Trna Synthesis On Chromatin Structure And Cell Fate, Jessica Makofske Woolnough
All ETDs from UAB
The Central Dogma of molecular biology describes the process by which genetic material is faithfully converted into functional molecules across all domains of life. Originally, RNA was solely understood as an intermediate in this process. However, mounting evidence over the past 50 years has made clear that RNA have diverse functional roles as a class of molecule termed non-coding RNA. Two of the first described non-coding RNA have essential roles within the Central Dogma, itself: ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA). These two non-coding RNA are highly abundant, collectively accounting for up to 90% of the total transcript in …
Retention Of Cad/Cam Crowns Luted With A Novel Biomimetic Cement, Nan Xiang
Retention Of Cad/Cam Crowns Luted With A Novel Biomimetic Cement, Nan Xiang
All ETDs from UAB
Objectives: To measure the tensile strength of e.max copings cemented with resin, calcium silicate and calcium phosphate cements following thermocycling. Methods: 40 extracted non-carious mandibular premolar teeth were examined and selected using Keyence microscope for no carious cracks etc.were mounted in acrylic. The teeth were placed in a lathe and prepared to uniform dimensions (22° total taper) using a flat-end tapered diamond bur (846.11.025HP, Brasseler) and a 3mm preparation height. The surface area of the prepared surface was calculated with digital microscopy. The teeth were scanned with a Cerec 3 (Sirona) digital scanner. E.max crowns were milled using Cerec 3 …
Leukemia Stem Cell Markers And Inv(16) In Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Jason Legrand
Leukemia Stem Cell Markers And Inv(16) In Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Jason Legrand
All ETDs from UAB
Although greater than 85% of inv(16) acute myeloid leukemia patients are able to achieve first complete remission after anthracycline- and cytarabine-based therapy, only about 60% of patients survive the disease long-term due to relapsed disease or treatment-related mortality. Multiple studies have shown that acute myeloid leukemia is composed of heterogeneous populations of leukemic clones that can exhibit a wide degree of genetic, epigenetic, and functional diversity, accounting for different outcomes in response to therapy. Genomic analysis of leukemic clones in paired diagnostic and relapse samples of acute myeloid leukemia has shown that all relapses stem from surviving leukemic or ancestral …
High-Intensity Interval Training With Energy Restriction Preserves Lean Tissue And Improves Glucose Tolerance In Obesity, Rachel Ann Harley
High-Intensity Interval Training With Energy Restriction Preserves Lean Tissue And Improves Glucose Tolerance In Obesity, Rachel Ann Harley
All ETDs from UAB
Calorie restriction (CR) reduces body weight (BW) and adiposity, but is often less than expected due to hypometabolism produced by reductions in lean body mass (LBM). A comparable energy deficit created by combining CR and exercise energy expenditure (EE) has been shown to attenuate the reduction in EE produced by CR. Continuous moderate-intensity training (MIT) is commonly used to sustain energy balance or expedite weight loss, but high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may produce greater results. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if HIIT preserves LBM and improves energy metabolism to a greater extent than MIT in the presence …
Three-Dimensional Age-Related Changes Of The Adult Male Face, Catherine Haynie Haynie
Three-Dimensional Age-Related Changes Of The Adult Male Face, Catherine Haynie Haynie
All ETDs from UAB
Objectives: The adult population is a fast growing subgroup of orthodontic practices. The facial soft tissues of adults are different from adolescents, and there is significant sexual dimorphism in the aging of facial soft tissue. It is imperative for the orthodontist to understand how aging effects the soft tissues of the face, and to know how male and females differ in this process. The objectives of this study include: 1.) Identification of trends in facial aging among a Caucasian male and African American male sample utilizing three-dimensional surface imaging technology. 2.) Comparison of the aging effects between the Caucasian and …
Genetic Enhancer Screen With Transition Zone Mutant Nphp-4 Reveals Novel Interactions With Mutation Affecting Intraflagellar Transport And Endocytic Pathways, Scott Henke
All ETDs from UAB
to suggest an association between log(CRP) and smoking, controlling for WC and race.
Examining The Relationship Between Surgical Profiles And Financial Performance Of Hospitals, Lucas Higman
Examining The Relationship Between Surgical Profiles And Financial Performance Of Hospitals, Lucas Higman
All ETDs from UAB
Hospitals operate in turbulent and complex environments with limited resources. Consequently, administrators need to understand how to best use resources and improve a hospital’s positioning in a market. Surgical services is a key operational activity for hospitals, thus, a better understanding of how these services are organized by hospitals likely has important implications for a hospital’s performance and potentially survival. Given the potential importance of surgical services to hospitals, the purpose of this study was three-fold. First, the study identified different surgical profiles of hospitals based on the type and volume of surgical services provided by hospitals. Second, the study …
The Use Of An Open-Label Placebo To Treat Cancer-Related Fatigue In Cancer Survivors, Theresa Walker Hoenemeyer
The Use Of An Open-Label Placebo To Treat Cancer-Related Fatigue In Cancer Survivors, Theresa Walker Hoenemeyer
All ETDs from UAB
Background: A placebo is an inert substance (e.g., sugar pill) or procedure (e.g., sham surgery) that should confer no beneficial effects. Nonetheless, typically, 30-50% of those randomized to placebos report significant benefits. New studies indicate that the use of disclosed or open-label placebos reduces self-reported symptoms among patients with irritable bowel syndrome, migraine attacks, and major depression. Methods: The investigator conducted a 7-week pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and effects of an open-labeled administration of placebo pills on patient-reported clinical and psychosocial outcomes among cancer survivors seeking relief from cancer-related fatigue. The specific aims of this study were to: …
The Effect Of Proinflammatory Cytokines On Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein In Pancreatic Beta-Cells, Kyunghee Hong
The Effect Of Proinflammatory Cytokines On Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein In Pancreatic Beta-Cells, Kyunghee Hong
All ETDs from UAB
Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as Interleukin (IL)-1β, Tumor necrosis factors (TNF) α, and Interferon (IFN)γ, have been implicated as critical mediators of β-cell destruction in diabetes. In addition, although a combination of these three cytokines has been used to mimic the inflammatory conditions of type 1 diabetes in vitro, the mechanisms underlying the effect are not fully understood. Previously, we discovered Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) as a key regulator of glucotoxicity-induced β-cell apoptosis and β-cell dysfunction, while deletion of TXNIP prevented type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the effects of proinflammatory cytokines on the regulation of TXNIP have not …
Exploring The Lived Experience Of Young African American Breast Cancer Survivorship To Inform The Adaptation Of A Psychoeducational Intervention: Y-Ambient, Timiya S. Nolan
All ETDs from UAB
In the United States, 26,393 young women (≤ 45 years) will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. Though survival rates are improving, there are health disparities among young African American women when compared to young Caucasians (e.g., poorer quality of life). Despite recommendations to provide targeted evidence-based survivorship care, there are about 23,000 young African American breast cancer survivors (YAABCS) in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi for whom this care does not exist. Few studies have examined survivorship experiences and/or tested intervention efficacy among this group. Further study is warranted to understand the experiences of YAABCS and adapt targeted interventions …
Norepinephrine Circuits In Mediating Stress-Elicited Behavior, Hyungwoo Nam
Norepinephrine Circuits In Mediating Stress-Elicited Behavior, Hyungwoo Nam
All ETDs from UAB
Norepinephrine in the central nervous system (CNS) is a key mediator of stress-elicited behavioral and physiological adaptations. However, our understanding of central noradrenergic circuitry that regulates specific stress-elicited adaptations is incomplete. The working model for the studies described in this dissertation is that disruptions of specific noradrenergic circuits are responsible for the manifestation of distinct stress-elicited behaviors. Initially the organization of descending noradrenergic neurons with poly-synaptic collaterals to the adrenal gland and skeletal muscle was defined. These noradrenergic presympathetic-premotor neurons (PSPMNs) were distributed within the ventral locus coeruleus (LC), nucleus subcoeruleus (SubC), and the A7 cell group. Then behavioral characterization …
Changes In Gene Expression During Nitrogen Starvation Are Mediated By Targeted Degradation Of Translation And Mrna Decay Factors In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Shane Patrick Kelly
Changes In Gene Expression During Nitrogen Starvation Are Mediated By Targeted Degradation Of Translation And Mrna Decay Factors In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Shane Patrick Kelly
All ETDs from UAB
Autophagy is the cellular mechanism of recruitment and decay of cytoplasmic molecules, proteins, and organelles that are obsolete for a particular growth condition. Autophagic degradation is distinct from proteasomal degradation by the formation of a de-novo double membrane which engulfs its cargo to be delivered for degradation to the yeast vacuole. Once thought to be only a general phenomenon of bulk decay, several autophagic pathways have demonstrated selectivity. In the following work we show that during nitrogen starvation (a potent inducer of autophagy) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a subset of translation factors are degraded selectively and rapidly. We go …
The Comparison Of 3-Dimensional Soft-Tissue Of Adult Korean, Chinese, And Houstonian Caucasian Patients With Class I Malocclusion, Jamie Youngshin Kim
The Comparison Of 3-Dimensional Soft-Tissue Of Adult Korean, Chinese, And Houstonian Caucasian Patients With Class I Malocclusion, Jamie Youngshin Kim
All ETDs from UAB
The purpose of this study is to compare the computer generated facial averages of Korean adults with Chinese and Houstonian Caucasian faces using a three-dimensional surface imaging system. Materials and Methods: Three-dimensional images of Korean adults (Seoul, Korea) with Class I malocclusion were captured using the 3dMDTMface, which combines structured light and stereo-photogrammetry techniques. The images of 138 Koreans were processed to generate average male and female facial shells using Rapidform 2006 Plus Pack 2 software. The average Korean facial shells were superimposed and compared to the average shells of Chinese adults (Xi’an, China) and Caucasian adults (Houston, Texas) from …
Anteroposterior (Ap) Relationship Of The Maxillary Central Incisors To The Forehead In Adult African American Females, Matthew Philip Gidaly
Anteroposterior (Ap) Relationship Of The Maxillary Central Incisors To The Forehead In Adult African American Females, Matthew Philip Gidaly
All ETDs from UAB
Objective: Determine the optimal anteroposterior (AP) relationship of the maxillary central incisors to the forehead in adult African American females (AAF). Materials and Methods: Smile profile photographs of 48 AAF with optimal AP incisor positions (control); 49 seeking/wanting orthodontic treatment (Group 1), and 53 not seeking/wanting treatment (Group 2) were acquired. All images were scaled to life-size and printed. The AP position of the maxillary central incisors and forehead inclination were measured relative to reference lines. Results: The mean AP position of the maxillary central incisors relative to Glabella Vertical (GV) for the controls was 8.58 ± 3.96 mm ahead …
The Effect Of Joining A Health System On Financial Performance, Kenneth Joseph Cochran
The Effect Of Joining A Health System On Financial Performance, Kenneth Joseph Cochran
All ETDs from UAB
The rate of hospitals merging has increased significantly over the last few years. The number of hospital mergers between 2003 and 2009 averaged 55 per year, while mergers for 2010 and 2011 were 72 and 90, respectfully. This research moved beyond anecdotal reports and by using publicly reported data to not only evaluate the financial success of mergers, but also to look at other factors such as size, ownership, geography, environment (urban vs. rural), and market competitiveness to assess impacts on financial outcomes of mergers. This study examined the effect of joining a hospital system based on financial performance. Further, …
Light Transmitting Fiber Posts - An In Vitro Evaluation., Antigoni Stylianou
Light Transmitting Fiber Posts - An In Vitro Evaluation., Antigoni Stylianou
All ETDs from UAB
Objectives: The primary purpose of this study is to measure and compare the light transmission, radiopacity and microscopic structure of a new fiber optic post compared to a clinically successful fiber post. Materials and Methods: A. The radiopacity of seven posts was evaluated in terms of average intensity values calculated in histograms produced by computer-based software. B. The two types of fiber posts were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and evaluated by computer-assisted image analysis. C. Two experimental groups with sample size n=12 included the D.T. Light posts and iLumi Fiber Optic posts. Two aluminum assemblies forming two cylindrical …
The Accuracy Of A Clinician's Assessment Of Insertion Torque At Implant Placement, Britany Fabian Matin
The Accuracy Of A Clinician's Assessment Of Insertion Torque At Implant Placement, Britany Fabian Matin
All ETDs from UAB
Background: Primary implant stability contributes to the success of dental implant placement and affects long-term function. Factors that contribute to the primary stability and osseointegration of a dental implant include the quality and quantity of bone present at the site of placement as well as the shape and surface treatment of the implants. There are numerous methods that assist the clinician in determining implant stability during placement and to confirm osseointegration after a period of healing. Their reliability to predict implant success, however, has not been proven. Torque measurements acquired during implant placement have been used as a method for …
Stat4 Regulates Multiple Pathogenic Mechanisms Of Cd4 T Cells In Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, A Model Of Multiple Sclerosis, Ian Lee Mcwilliams
Stat4 Regulates Multiple Pathogenic Mechanisms Of Cd4 T Cells In Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, A Model Of Multiple Sclerosis, Ian Lee Mcwilliams
All ETDs from UAB
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease whereby the host immune system fails to recognize self vs non-self and targets myelin of the central nervous system. Currently there is no permanent cure for MS and the efficacy of immune modulatory treatments often wane over time, therefore we seek to determine novel pathogenic mechanisms to target therapeutically. CD4 T cells have been found within inflammatory CNS lesions of MS patients and are believed to be important mediators of MS pathology. To study CD4 T cells in the context of MS, we use the well-defined MS mouse model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). …
Non-Compliance In Clinical Trials: The Perils Of Statistical Methods, Peter Drew Merrill
Non-Compliance In Clinical Trials: The Perils Of Statistical Methods, Peter Drew Merrill
All ETDs from UAB
All clinical trials must deal with protocol deviations that occur during the course of the study. One of the most important deviations is non-compliance to treatment assignment. Intention to treat (ITT) is the most commonly employed method to deal with non-compliance in a clinical trial; however, it provides biased estimates of the effect of receiving the treatment. Other methods such as per protocol (PP) and as treated (AT) provide alternatives to ITT. PP and AT, assume an all-or-nothing compliance situation. However, the possibility of being partially compliant to a treatment is common. We investigate possible approaches to incorporating partial compliance …
Innate Immunity Mechanisms In Parkinson Disease, Mark Moehle
Innate Immunity Mechanisms In Parkinson Disease, Mark Moehle
All ETDs from UAB
Parkinson disease (PD) is a late onset, progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder with cardinal symptoms of tremor at rest, bradykinesia, postural instability, and rigidity. These motor symptoms of PD are caused by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). However, despite PDs first modern observation in 1817, little is understood about the causes and molecular mechanisms behind dopaminergic neuron loss. The relatively weak understanding of pathological mechanisms has hindered the development of treatments to slow or halt the progression of PD. However, recently, mounting evidence from post-mortem, imaging, and retrospective studies suggest an important role …
The Interrelationships Among Obesity, Insulin Sensitivity, And Bone Phenotype In Pre-Pubertal Girls, Anna L. Newton
The Interrelationships Among Obesity, Insulin Sensitivity, And Bone Phenotype In Pre-Pubertal Girls, Anna L. Newton
All ETDs from UAB
Impaired insulin sensitivity as a consequence of childhood obesity has been implicated as a contributor to skeletal fragility. There is a need to understand the interrelationships among insulin sensitivity and skeletal parameters (i.e. cortical, trabecular, marrow) in obesity during the pubertal transition. Further, calorie restricted weight loss to stabilize these relationships warrants investigation as well. The goal of this project was to examine the relationships among body composition, skeletal parameters, and insulin sensitivity. The first aim was to evaluate the relationships among total body fat, bone mineral content (BMC) and femoral bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) during childhood and underlying …
Protumorigenic Role Of Cathelicidin-Related Antimicrobial Peptide In Chemotaxis And Differentiation Of Myeloid Lineage During Prostate Cancer Progression, Ha-Ram Cha
All ETDs from UAB
A growing body of evidence indicates a positive correlation between the expression of human antimicrobial peptide leucine leucine 37 (LL-37) and the progression of epithelial cancers, including carcinomas of the breast, lung, ovary, and prostate. Although the molecular mechanisms for this correlation have not yet been clearly elucidated, the primary function of LL-37 as a chemotactic molecule for innate immune effector cells suggests its possible association in coordinating protumorigenic mechanisms mediated by tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Using a mouse model of epithelial prostate cancer (PCa), the present study identified a unique role for cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP), a murine orthologue of …
Tau-Sh3 Interactions: Implications For Alzheimer's Disease, Jesse Nicholas Cochran
Tau-Sh3 Interactions: Implications For Alzheimer's Disease, Jesse Nicholas Cochran
All ETDs from UAB
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and with Americans’ increasing longevity it is becoming an epidemic. There are currently no effective treatments for this disorder. Abnormalities of tau track more closely with cognitive decline than the most studied therapeutic target in AD, amyloid-beta, but the optimal strategy for targeting tau has not yet been identified. Based on considerable preclinical data from AD models, we hypothesize that interactions between tau and SH3 domain–containing proteins are pathogenic in AD. Genetically reducing either tau or tau interactants has beneficial effects relevant to AD. Here, we describe a drug screen for …
Behavioral And Developmental Abnormalities In Sult4a1 Deficient Zebrafish, Francis Crittenden
Behavioral And Developmental Abnormalities In Sult4a1 Deficient Zebrafish, Francis Crittenden
All ETDs from UAB
Since its identification in 2000, sulfotransferase (SULT) 4A1 has presented an enigma to the field of cytosolic SULT biology. SULT4A1 is exclusively expressed in neural tissue, is highly conserved, and has been identified in every vertebrate studied to date. Despite this singular level of conservation, no substrate or function for SULT4A1 has been identified. Previous studies demonstrated that SULT4A1 does not bind the obligate sulfate donor, 3’-phosphoadenosine-5’-phosphosulfate (PAPS), yet SULT4A1 is classified as a SULT superfamily member based on sequence and structural similarities to the other SULTs. In this study, RNA-seq was used to search for alterations in gene ex-pression …
Count Models With Multiple Inflations, Arvind Tripathi
Count Models With Multiple Inflations, Arvind Tripathi
All ETDs from UAB
The goal of this research is to develop new statistical models for the analysis of count data even if data exhibit over dispersion or under dispersion and has multiple inflated counts. Although many statistical models are available for the analysis of count data, there is no available statistical model that can address the presence of more than expected multiple counts together with over/under dispersion. In our first paper, we develop a multiple-inflation negative binomial (MINB) model and use the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm along with a numerical optimization to obtain maximum likelihood estimates. We applied the one step smoothly clipped …
Hepatocyte Clock And Alcohol-Dependent Disruption In Glycogen Metabolism, Uduak Sunday Udoh
Hepatocyte Clock And Alcohol-Dependent Disruption In Glycogen Metabolism, Uduak Sunday Udoh
All ETDs from UAB
Chronic alcohol consumption has been shown to significantly decrease hepatic glycogen, an important storage form of energy for the body and liver. Emerging studies indicate a link between metabolism and the molecular circadian clock. Previously, we have shown that chronic alcohol consumption disrupts the liver molecular clock mechanism. However, it is not known how this alteration impacts hepatic energy (e.g., glycogen) metabolism and contributes to alcohol hepatotoxicity. This dissertation investigates the impact chronic alcohol consumption has on time-of-day-dependent oscillations of various aspects of liver glycogen metabolism, and the importance of the liver circadian clock in these metabolic alterations. Chapter 1: …
Individual, Family, And Social Factors Associated With Adolescent Obesity: A Policy Relevant Focus, Janice Marguerite Utley
Individual, Family, And Social Factors Associated With Adolescent Obesity: A Policy Relevant Focus, Janice Marguerite Utley
All ETDs from UAB
INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND SOCIAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ADOLESCENT OBESITY: A POLICY RELEVANT FOCUS JANICE M. UTLEY PUBLIC HEALTH ABSTRACT This dissertation is comprised of three papers that examined individual, family, and social factors associated with adolescent overweight and obesity with the aim of generating data that could inform the design of policy interventions to prevent or reverse rising prevalence. The first investigation was a type of literature review called a scoping study that examined the extent, range, and type of research activity on adolescent obesity that used a multilevel or hierarchical design to look at two or more contextual areas …