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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

A Novel In Vitro Model To Study Immune Interactions In Glioblastoma, Hasan Alrefai Jan 2021

A Novel In Vitro Model To Study Immune Interactions In Glioblastoma, Hasan Alrefai

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Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and lethal primary brain tumor in adults. Despite decades of research, GBM has a median survival of approximately 14 months, necessitating the development of novel GBM therapeutics. The drug-development process has been hindered due to the lack of high-fidelity pre-clinical models. While in-vitro models of patient-derived xenografts (PDX) present an interesting approach to modeling GBM, they typically fail to incorporate the non-cancerous cells that support tumor growth and progression. Others have attempted to address this problem by using techniques such as 3D bioprinting to incorporate astrocytes and macrophages in an extracellular matrix; however, they …


External Apical Root Resorption In Asian Orthodontic Patients In Alabama, Najd Aswad Jan 2021

External Apical Root Resorption In Asian Orthodontic Patients In Alabama, Najd Aswad

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The main goals of orthodontic treatment are to achieve a harmonious dentalocclusion and enhance the patient’s dentofacial appearance. External Apical Root Resorption (EARR) is a side effect of orthodontic treatment1. It results in the permanent loss of tooth structure from the root apex2. EARR is a multifactorial condition which includes patient related and treatment related risk factors. Patient-related factors include genetics, severity of malocclusion, tooth-root morphology, systemic factors, density of alveolar bone, root proximity to cortical bone, previous exposure to trauma, patient age and sex. Orthodontic treatment related risk factors include treatment duration, amount of force and mechanics used, direction …


Structural Changes To Desmosomal Architecture During Assembly And Maturation, Reena R. Beggs Jan 2021

Structural Changes To Desmosomal Architecture During Assembly And Maturation, Reena R. Beggs

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Desmosomes are macromolecular junctions important in adhesion and resisting mechanical stress in epithelial and cardiac tissue. Desmosomes have a complex architecture with transmembrane cadherins, desmogleins and desmocollins, constituting the adhesive interface and plaque proteins, including plakoglobin and desmoplakin, binding the cadherin tails and integrating with intermediate filaments. Dysregulation of desmosomes occurs in many disease states, such as cardiomyopathies, skin diseases, and various cancers. While mature desmosomes' structure is generally understood, less is known about desmosome architecture during assembly and recycling. Desmosomes are dynamic, biochemically intractable, and diffraction-limited, making them challenging to study. To overcome these obstacles, I applied the super-resolution …


An Investigation Of Strain And Support Needs Of Caregivers Of Older Adults With Delirium And Allied Health Promotion Interventions, Jasmine Vickers Jan 2021

An Investigation Of Strain And Support Needs Of Caregivers Of Older Adults With Delirium And Allied Health Promotion Interventions, Jasmine Vickers

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Delirium, or the sudden onset of confusion, is common, highly distressing, debilitating, and deadly among hospitalized older adults and is associated with adverse outcomes for their family caregivers. As people are living longer with more complex conditions, more people will face the task of caregiving for older adults with delirium. Family caregivers can make meaningful contributions to delirium care, but high distress, insufficient knowledge, and lack of skills often seen in caregivers can lead to maladaptation and negative health outcomes. A few studies have focused on distress in caregivers from witnessing delirium episodes; however more research is needed to understand …


Biological Pathways And Processes Underlying The Cardiac Regenerative Response Post-Injury In Small And Large Mammals, Eric Yang Zhang Jan 2021

Biological Pathways And Processes Underlying The Cardiac Regenerative Response Post-Injury In Small And Large Mammals, Eric Yang Zhang

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Mammalian cardiomyocytes exit the cell-cycle shortly after birth. Consequently, the adult heart is unable to properly compensate for cardiac muscle lost to injury. As such, heart failure has remained the leading cause of death in the developed world for more than three decades. In this work, we illustrate our findings in using novel in-vivo animal models to examine two regenerative phenomena observed following myocardial injury:i.) neonate cardiomyocyte proliferation in large mammals ii.) the ‘paracrine effect’ as mediated by mesenchymal stromal cells In i.) we use a large animal model of myocardial injury during the early postnatal develop-mental stage to establish …


Novel Roles For Classic And Predicted Cilia Genes, Melissa Bentley Jan 2021

Novel Roles For Classic And Predicted Cilia Genes, Melissa Bentley

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Primary cilia are highly conserved microtubule-based appendages that are present on the surface of nearly every mammalian cell type, and function as signaling hubs for the cell. Their function depends on their ability to assemble, traffic signaling components into and out of the cilium, and disassemble. These events require precise coordination of ciliary machinery and regulation of ciliary infrastructure including, but not limited to, the ciliary basal bodies, transition zone (TZ), and BBSome. The basal bodies reside at the base of the cilium and serve as the foundation for ciliary axoneme construction. Distal to the basal bodies is the TZ, …


Midpalatal Suture Maturation Stage Evaluation In Young Adults, Anna Maria Betlej Jan 2021

Midpalatal Suture Maturation Stage Evaluation In Young Adults, Anna Maria Betlej

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Rapid palatal expansion (RPE) is a gold standard treatment for posterior unilateral and bilateral crossbites or limited buccal overjet in patients with constricted maxilla. Midpalatal suture fusion is a limitation for obtaining the skeletal results and avoiding dental side effects. It is generally believed that midpalatal suture interlock increases significantly after the pubertal growth spurt. However, in the literature there are reported cases of successful midpalatal suture split in older adults. Individual cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) assessment of midpalatal suture maturation was proposed by Angelieri et al. Since RPE treatment approach is commonly used it is important to understand the …


Evaluating The Effects Of Silver Diamine Fluoride On Microbiome Analysis Of Carious Lesions, Karol Fernanda Bryant Jan 2021

Evaluating The Effects Of Silver Diamine Fluoride On Microbiome Analysis Of Carious Lesions, Karol Fernanda Bryant

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ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the oral bacterial flora before and after application of 38% Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF, manufacturer and city/state) to carious lesions. Methods: Fifteen children with at least one cavitated carious tooth and one healthy tooth were enrolled and following examination, a carious tooth was selected to receive SDF treatment. Prior to SDF treatment, two supragingival plaque samples were obtained (using sterile cotton swabs, then storage in transport fluid and frozen at -80oC until DNA extraction) at the first appointment, one carious tooth, another from a non-carious tooth. At the …


The Relationship Between Anosgnosia For Hemiplegia After Stroke And Fall Events In The Acute Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Population, Elizabeth Mosley Byrd Jan 2021

The Relationship Between Anosgnosia For Hemiplegia After Stroke And Fall Events In The Acute Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Population, Elizabeth Mosley Byrd

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Background/Significance: Inpatient falls on acute stroke rehabilitation units remains a significant issue that negatively affects healthcare costs and causes physical and psychological injury. Prevelance of falls in the stroke rehabilitation population may be due to the presence of anosognosia for hemiplegia (AHP), which is as an unawareness of physical disability. Though the link between AHP and falls has been suggested in the literature, a formal investigation has not been conducted to address the relationship between the variables. Purpose: To explore the association between the presence of anosognosia for hemiplegia after stroke and patient fall events while admitted to an acute …


The Role Of Obesity, Gdm, And Lifestyle Factors On Metabolic Syndrome Scores In Mothers And Their Children 4-10 Years After Pregnancy, Makenzie Callahan Jan 2021

The Role Of Obesity, Gdm, And Lifestyle Factors On Metabolic Syndrome Scores In Mothers And Their Children 4-10 Years After Pregnancy, Makenzie Callahan

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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of symptoms that increase risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, early detection of MetS is vital for disease prevention. Gestational diabetes (GDM) and/or obesity during pregnancy are associated with a greater risk for MetS in mothers and their children compared to mothers with no GDM. However, little is known about how much a GDM history or in utero exposure to maternal GDM contributes to MetS risk years after that pregnancy in addition to risk attributable to obesity itself. Therefore, the overall objective of this dissertation was explore how a history of …


Do Outcomes From A Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention Differ In Alabama Vs Colorado?, Julianne Clina Jan 2021

Do Outcomes From A Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention Differ In Alabama Vs Colorado?, Julianne Clina

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There are well-established regional differences in obesity prevalence in the U.S., but relatively little is known about whether these differences impact efforts for weight loss. The objective of the study was to determine whether changes in body weight, engagement in physical activity (PA), and psychosocial factors differed in Colorado (CO) vs Alabama (AL) in response to a 16 week standardized behavioral weight management program. We hypothesized that weight loss would be greater in Colorado due to a more favorable physical and social environment.This is an ancillary study to a weight loss intervention being conducted simultaneously in AL and CO with …


Central Vestibular Integration In Concussion And Multiple Sclerosis, Graham Dean Cochrane Jan 2021

Central Vestibular Integration In Concussion And Multiple Sclerosis, Graham Dean Cochrane

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Dizziness and imbalance are commonly reported by people with concussion and people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Dysfunction of the vestibular system is likely a major cause of dizziness and imbalance in both diseases, but it is not well understood whether this dysfunction typically occurs in peripheral vestibular organs and pathways or higher-level central vestibular integration pathways. As these systems are assessed and targeted with rehabilitation differently, understanding how both are affected in these diseases will improve management of dizziness and imbalance. In addition, balance has been demonstrated to correlate with self-reported fatigue in people with MS, presumably through shared dysfunction …


Stress And Neuropeptide Y: Hippocampal Crossroads, Mariana Andrea Cortes Jan 2021

Stress And Neuropeptide Y: Hippocampal Crossroads, Mariana Andrea Cortes

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Anxiety disorders are the most common neuropsychiatric disorders diagnosed in adolescence and adulthood. While most animal models of trauma and stress-related disorders are performed in adults, and clinical trials for the treatment of these disorders typically include adult patients, there is a gap in knowledge for understanding how traumatic disorders develop in adolescence. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an endogenous peptide that provides anxiolytic benefits, and promotes feeding, arousal, and reduces inflammation. While being reduced in patients with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), animal models using NPY injections directly in to hippocampus have found it to be sufficient for blocking …


Hyperphosphatemia Contributes To Functional Iron Deficiency And Skeletal Muscle Wasting, Brian Anthony Czaya Jan 2021

Hyperphosphatemia Contributes To Functional Iron Deficiency And Skeletal Muscle Wasting, Brian Anthony Czaya

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health threat that increases risk of death, which is credible to both impaired renal function and a multitude of CKD- associated comorbidities such as systemic inflammation, anemia and skeletal muscle dys- function. A distinctive feature of CKD is the dysregulation of mineral metabolism, where excess serum levels of phosphate (hyperphosphatemia) and of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) are not only viewed as biomarkers for disease severity but also exert deleterious effects towards various CKD-associated pathologies. Elevated levels of FGF23 can lead to the activation of FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4) in cell types that …


Targeting Oncogenic Microrna In Lung Cancer, Mackenzie Lauren Davenport Jan 2021

Targeting Oncogenic Microrna In Lung Cancer, Mackenzie Lauren Davenport

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Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death both in the United Statesand the world. While several genetic drivers of lung cancer have been identified, major improvements in patient outcome are lacking, highlighting the need to further understand the genetic and molecular mechanisms of this disease. The microRNA miR-31 has been implicated in oncogenesis in a variety of cancer types, and prior data from our laboratory has shown it to be overexpressed in human lung adenocarcinoma tumors compared to normal lung, high miR-31 levels correlate with decreased patient survival, and overexpression of miR-31 alone in the mouse lung epithelium …


Use-Dependent, Post-Critical Period Structural Plasticity In Primary Visual Cortex Following Central Vision Loss, Matthew Defenderfer Jan 2021

Use-Dependent, Post-Critical Period Structural Plasticity In Primary Visual Cortex Following Central Vision Loss, Matthew Defenderfer

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To facilitate learning throughout life, the adult brain must be capable of change, known as neuroplasticity. While evidence for adult structural plasticity in primary visual cortex (V1) exists, the relationship between plasticity and amount of use of a cortical region is not fully understood. Here, I use macular degeneration (MD) to model adult cortical plasticity. Macular degeneration causes loss of central vision, and patients learn to use a portion of peripheral vision called the preferred retinal locus (PRL) as a replacement for the fovea. The PRL is used more often than other usable areas of peripheral vision for daily tasks. …


The Hocl Response Of Escherichia Coli., Rhea Marie Derke Jan 2021

The Hocl Response Of Escherichia Coli., Rhea Marie Derke

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Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), like Chron’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affect millions of people worldwide. There are limited treatment options available for these diseases because their direct causes are unknown. IBDs are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and changes in the composition of the gut microbiome. Enterobacteria, including Escherichia coli, bloom to high levels in the gut during inflammation and contribute to the pathology of IBDs. E. coli must tolerate high levels of antimicrobial compounds produced by the immune system to survive during persistent inflammation. A large proportion of such compounds are reactive oxygen and reactive chlorine …


Race, Feeding Practices And Infant Weight Gain During The First 6 Weeks Of Life, Alysha Breanne Everett Jan 2021

Race, Feeding Practices And Infant Weight Gain During The First 6 Weeks Of Life, Alysha Breanne Everett

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Background: Non-Hispanic black (NHB) infants are disproportionately affected by rapid weight gain compared to non-Hispanic white (NHW) infants, which in turn, is associated with future disparities including obesity and cardiometabolic disease. Feeding practices, such as the use of formula or bottles, differ by race and are associated with rate of weight gain. Data from the Pregnancy and Early Life in the South (PEARLS) birth-cohort study was used to test the hypotheses that change in body weight and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) from birth to 6 weeks would be greater for (1) NHB versus NHW infants; and (2) infants fed formula (exclusively …


Does Interdisciplinary Care Team Care Management Improve Health Quality And Demonstrate Cost Effectiveness?, F Cardwell Feagin Jan 2021

Does Interdisciplinary Care Team Care Management Improve Health Quality And Demonstrate Cost Effectiveness?, F Cardwell Feagin

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The U. S. healthcare system faces unsustainable rising healthcare costs. Health care cost as a percentage of gross domestic product is expected to rise to 19.4 percent by 2027 (Wilson, 2019). This unstainable rise in healthcare costs is creating a problem for consumers of healthcare. By 2030, the average annual healthcare spending per working household, including premium and out-of-pocket expenditures, is estimated to be 33.9 percent of median compensation (Girod et al., 2016). Also, lawmakers and policymakers face funding issues of healthcare. A key finding of this study is that field-based interdisciplinary care team care management, with an algorithm selecting …


Cognitive Progression And Care Patterns In All-Cause Dementia By Prior Cancer Diagnosis, Mackenzie Elisha Fowler Jan 2021

Cognitive Progression And Care Patterns In All-Cause Dementia By Prior Cancer Diagnosis, Mackenzie Elisha Fowler

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Cancer and dementia are common aging-related diseases. Cancer and itstreatments are associated with cognitive impairment referred to as cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). Dementias demonstrate similar impairment. Only one study has examined the longitudinal association between cancer and dementia. This dissertation goes beyond limitations of the prior study and has three aims: 1.) to evaluate dementia progression by prior cancer diagnosis, 2.) to evaluate progression of all-cause dementia by cancer treatments, and 3.) to evaluate patterns and predictors of care among dementia patients by cancer history. This study uses EHR data to evaluate cognitive progression by cancer history /cancer treatment characteristics, …


Evaluating The Turning Point Of Cardiovascular Health In Children With Sickle Cell Disease, Najibah Galadanci Jan 2021

Evaluating The Turning Point Of Cardiovascular Health In Children With Sickle Cell Disease, Najibah Galadanci

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Cardiopulmonary disorders, including pulmonary hypertension, chronic lung disease, diastolic dysfunction and congestive heart failure, are among the most common complications in sickle cell disease (SCD). Many of these complications are identified in adulthood when patients develop irreversible clinical symptoms. General improvement in healthcare and disease management is allowing more children with SCD to reach adulthood, leading to the growing interest in preventing disease-specific complications to improve morbidity and mortality rates. Although cardiac abnormalities are common, it is unknown when cardiac dysfunction appears in the course of SCD.This dissertation utilized the Dissemination and Implementation of Stroke Prevention Looking at the Care …


Upregulation Of Somatostatin Receptor 2 In Neuroendocrine Tumors Using Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors, Rachael Elizabeth Guenter Jan 2021

Upregulation Of Somatostatin Receptor 2 In Neuroendocrine Tumors Using Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors, Rachael Elizabeth Guenter

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Neuroendocrine cancer is complex disease of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) can arise throughout the body, including the lungs and pancreas. These tumors are phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous, making accurate diagnoses difficult with current imaging standards. New diagnostic options, coupled with a better understanding of neuroendocrine cancer etiology, is urgent and necessary to provide patients with better futures. Many NETs overexpress somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) on their cellular surfaces, making patients eligible for [68Ga]-DOTATATE PET/CT imaging and SSTR2-based therapies. However, patients that lack sufficient SSTR2 overexpression cannot benefit from SSTR2-targeted imaging or therapeutic options. We found that histone …


An Exploration Of The Manifestation Of Parentification Among Young Carers Of Persons With Huntington’S Disease, Bailey Hendricks Jan 2021

An Exploration Of The Manifestation Of Parentification Among Young Carers Of Persons With Huntington’S Disease, Bailey Hendricks

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Due to the progressive deterioration of motor, cognitive, and psychological function experienced by individuals diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, there is the potential for children in the home to adopt a caregiving role. These young carers typically serve as informal, secondary caregivers, providing multifaceted, extended care without any lessening of typical family, home, or school/work-related responsibilities. In time, this role may result in parentification, a type of role reversal with both positive and negative outcomes for the child. A secondary analysis of qualitative data of the experiences of children who have a parent with Huntington’s disease was conducted. Transcripts of qualitative …


Identifying Novel Therapeutics And Therapeutic Entry Points For The Treatment Of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Through Regulation Of Gene Expression, Rylie Maria Hightower Jan 2021

Identifying Novel Therapeutics And Therapeutic Entry Points For The Treatment Of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Through Regulation Of Gene Expression, Rylie Maria Hightower

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My graduate research has primarily focused on genetic and epigenetic modifiers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and understanding how those modifiers can be used as novel therapeutic entry points for treatment. A vast array of promising therapeutic strategies is being explored outside the realm of directly targeting dystrophin deficiency. This is primarily due to the lack of successful clinical trials that have demonstrated the ability to benefit a significant number of DMD patients. Here, I have expanded the field’s understanding of using the regulation of gene expression as a way to target dystrophin-deficiency associated pathology through, 1) therapeutic treatment of a …


Undergraduate Students’ Perspectives On Mental Health Services, Resources, And Supports During Covid-19: A Qualitative Dissertation, Amy Hutson Chatham Jan 2021

Undergraduate Students’ Perspectives On Mental Health Services, Resources, And Supports During Covid-19: A Qualitative Dissertation, Amy Hutson Chatham

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased isolation from supportive relationships, uncertainty about the future, fear of illness, and lack of traditional life-events took a toll on university student mental health. It is important to understand undergraduate students’ mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and their desires for support from their institutions of higher education. Existing studies have documented increased rates of depression, stress, and anxiety among university undergraduates; however, these studies rarely illuminate students’ perspectives on mental health services, resources, and supports that they need during and because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This phenomenological study explored the perspectives of undergraduate …


Local Priming Of Long-Lived Tcf1+ Memory Cd8+ T Cell Responses In The Spleen During Influenza Virus Infection By Lung Derived Migratory Dendritic Cells, Meagan Jenkins Jan 2021

Local Priming Of Long-Lived Tcf1+ Memory Cd8+ T Cell Responses In The Spleen During Influenza Virus Infection By Lung Derived Migratory Dendritic Cells, Meagan Jenkins

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Initiation of CD8+ T cell responses to influenza virus infection requires the trafficking of activated lung-migratory dendritic cells (mDCs) from the lung into the lung-draining mediastinal LN (med-LN). As such, when mDCs are absent from the lungs or are unable to migrate into the med-LN, T cell responses are severely compromised, and the mortality rate increases in mouse models of influenza infection. Importantly, it is generally considered that mDCs die shortly after reaching the med-LN. Thus, the current paradigm suggests that priming of all subsets of influenza-specific CD8+ T cell responses by mDCs takes place solely in the med-LN. Recent …


Viral Load Is Not A Predictor For Hearing Loss In Children With Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection, Nazia Kabani Jan 2021

Viral Load Is Not A Predictor For Hearing Loss In Children With Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection, Nazia Kabani

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Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is a leading non-genetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children. Most infants (~90%) with cCMV have no clinical abnormalities at birth (asymptomatic cCMV), but 10-15% of these children develop SNHL. Due to lack of biomarkers, it is currently not possible to identify asymptomatic infants at-risk for hearing loss.Objective: To determine whether newborn viral load (VL) levels are predictive of hearing loss in children with asymptomatic cCMV. Methods: As part of the NIDCD CHIMES study, newborns at seven U.S. medical centers were screened for CMV by saliva PCR and enrolled in a follow-up study …


Rural And Urban Differences In Vegetable And Fruit Consumption Among Older Cancer Survivors In The Deep South: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study, Harleen Kaur Jan 2021

Rural And Urban Differences In Vegetable And Fruit Consumption Among Older Cancer Survivors In The Deep South: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study, Harleen Kaur

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Background: Rural Americans have poorer overall health and physical functioning than their urban counterparts. A varied diet, rich in vegetable and fruit (V&F) consumption may improve health; however, little is known about rural-urban differences in V&F consumption, especially in older cancer survivors. Objective: To assess differences in V&F consumption among older cancer survivors residing in urban- and rural-designated areas, and explore whether differences exist by sex, race, and cancer type. Design: This was a cross-sectional secondary analysis. Participants/setting: Screening data from the Harvest for Health trial was obtained on 731 Medicare-eligible cancer survivors across Alabama. Main outcome measures: V&F consumption …


Service Profiles In Substance Use Disorder Treatment: The Role Of Institutional And Organizational Factors, Reena Joseph Kelly Jan 2021

Service Profiles In Substance Use Disorder Treatment: The Role Of Institutional And Organizational Factors, Reena Joseph Kelly

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Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a growing crisis globally and in the US, and place an enormous health, social, and financial burden on the nation. To address the complex nature of SUDs, treatment typically involves a combination of different types of services to address the medical, behavioral and social needs of the patient and care is often delivered by specialized SUD treatment facilities. Despite recommendations for a broad suite of services, individual facilities vary in the specific services that they offer. This study examined whether and why systematic differences exist between treatment facilities based on their service mix and whether …


Heads Or Tails? Structural Studies Of Host Interaction And Molecular Piracy In Bacteriophages, James Lewis Kizziah Jan 2021

Heads Or Tails? Structural Studies Of Host Interaction And Molecular Piracy In Bacteriophages, James Lewis Kizziah

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Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic human pathogen dependent mainly on bacteriophages (phages) for dissemination of the virulence factors that contribute to its pathogenicity. Most phages have double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes which are packaged into protein capsids attached to tails of varying morphology to form their complete virion structures. S. aureus pathogenicity islands (SaPIs) are highly specialized mobile genetic elements that encode various virulence factors and have been named molecular pirates for their ability to parasitize certain helper phages. SaPI1 is capable of hijacking virions constructed by the helper phage 80α, partly by altering the size of the capsid to only …