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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Epigenetic Regulation Of Stem Cell Fate Determination And Tumorigenesis, Kushani Shah Jan 2018

Epigenetic Regulation Of Stem Cell Fate Determination And Tumorigenesis, Kushani Shah

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It is unclear how H3K4 methylation, an epigenetic modification associated with gene activation, regulates stem cell fate determination and tumorigenesis. DPY30 is one of the core subunits of the SET1/MLL complex in mammals responsible for H3K4me. DPY30 enhances the H3K4me activity of the SET1/MLL complex. Here, I sought to define role of DPY30 and H3K4me3 in postnatal neurogenesis and hematopoietic malignancies. Using a conditional knockout model, I found that Dpy30 deficiency halts the development of postnatal hippocampus, the subventricular zone, and cerebellum. Deficiency in cerebellum is most likely the cause of uncoordinated ataxia-like movements in these mice. By deleting Dpy30 …

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Regulation Of Effector Cd4 T Cell Pathogenicity During Chronic Inflammation, Boyoung Shin Jan 2018

Regulation Of Effector Cd4 T Cell Pathogenicity During Chronic Inflammation, Boyoung Shin

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Effector CD4 T cells are essential for the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immune responses during homeostasis. Dysregulation of effector CD4 T cell responses results in chronic inflammatory disorders such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), however therapeutic options for these diseases are limited. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate pathogenicity of effector CD4 T cells is critical to devise new therapeutic interventions. Herein we show two different mechanisms that profoundly impact pathogenic potential of CD4 T cells by regulating heterogeneities of effector functions and differentiation states. Different subsets of effector CD4 T cells utilize distinct metabolic pathways. …

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Attachment Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Capsular Polysaccharide To The Cell, Thomas Robbin Larson Jan 2017

Attachment Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Capsular Polysaccharide To The Cell, Thomas Robbin Larson

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Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important human pathogen. The major virulence factor for S. pneumoniae is the capsular polysaccharide (CPS). Proper expression and localization of the CPS is essential for pathogenesis. Despite the importance of the proper transfer to the cell surface of this virulence factor, no studies have shown the exact structure and attachment to either the cell wall or membrane. Using the S. pneumoniae serotype 2 CPS as a model, which is synthesized by the widespread Wzy mechanism, we found that the CPS attaches to the cell wall β-D-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) of peptidoglycan (PG) via a direct glycosidic linkage. This …

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Autophagy In Mitochondrial Quality Control And Proteotoxicity In Neurons, Matthew Redmann Jan 2017

Autophagy In Mitochondrial Quality Control And Proteotoxicity In Neurons, Matthew Redmann

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Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the 2nd most common neurodegenerative disorder with aging as a significant risk factor. Sharing with aging brains, postmortem PD brains exhibit cellular deficits including autophagic dysfunction, mitochondrial dysfunction, and intracellular protein aggregates of alpha-synuclein. This dissertation will focus on the interplay between these key disease features. To that end, we coupled primary cortical neuronal cultures from either rats or mice with Seahorse extracellular flux, metabolomics and biochemical techniques. Autophagy is an important cell recycling program responsible for the clearance of damaged proteins and organelles. Bafilomycin A1 and chloroquine are compounds that inhibit autophagy by targeting the …

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Statin Prescribing, Adherence, And Recurrent Vascular Events: A Study Of Ischemic Stroke Survivors, Karen C. Albright Jan 2017

Statin Prescribing, Adherence, And Recurrent Vascular Events: A Study Of Ischemic Stroke Survivors, Karen C. Albright

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Due to increase in incidence and improvements in stroke mortality, the number of stroke survivors will increase over the next decade; each stroke survivor is at risk for recurrent stroke. Thus, identifying populations with the highest risk and ensuring they receive evidence-based secondary stroke prevention (SSP) is paramount. This includes ensuring access and adherence to statins. The American Heart Association (AHA)/American Stroke Association (ASA) Scientific Statement on Racial-Ethnic Disparities in Stroke Care reported that recurrent stroke risk is higher among blacks than whites and suggested that lower adherence to current standards of SSP in blacks might help explain these discrepancies. …

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Endogenous Interferon-Β Regulates Survival And Development Of Transitional B Cells, Jennie Ann Hamilton Jan 2017

Endogenous Interferon-Β Regulates Survival And Development Of Transitional B Cells, Jennie Ann Hamilton

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The survival responses of transitional B cells play a key role in shaping the development of mature, antibody producing B cells. Abnormal transitional T1 B cell survival responses are associated with the generation of polyreactive self-antigen-reactive mature B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Type I interferon (IFN) dysregulation is strongly associated with autoantibodies (autoAbs) and disease flares, particularly in African American (AA) patients. B cells produce a variety of immune-modulatory cytokines, but B cell production of high affinity IFNβ in SLE has not been investigated. In the present study, analysis of PBMCs from SLE patients (n=34) and healthy controls …

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A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial To Compare Free Gingival Grafts And Connective Tissue Grafts Around Implants With A Lack Of Keratinized Mucosa, Jeffrey Thomas Hsu Jan 2017

A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial To Compare Free Gingival Grafts And Connective Tissue Grafts Around Implants With A Lack Of Keratinized Mucosa, Jeffrey Thomas Hsu

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A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL TO COMPARE FREE GINGIVAL GRAFTS AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE GRAFTS AROUND IMPLANTS WITH A LACK OF KERATINIZED MUCOSA JEFFREY T HSU PERIODONTOLOGY ABSTRACT Although evidence is equivocal regarding the need for keratinized mucosa around dental implants, the consensus among researchers and clinicians is that peri-implant keratinized mucosa is beneficial to the health and stability of the implant prosthesis. An adequate width of keratinized mucosa (WKM) provides a resistant barrier to bacterial infiltration, facilitates restorative procedures, improves esthetic outcomes, patient comfort, and ease of oral hygiene. Many surgical approaches have been used to increase WKM around dental …

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Osteoblast And Chondrocyte Specific Contribution Of The Runx2 Gene During The Development Of Cleidocranial Dysplasisa, Kayla Renee King Jan 2017

Osteoblast And Chondrocyte Specific Contribution Of The Runx2 Gene During The Development Of Cleidocranial Dysplasisa, Kayla Renee King

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The Runx2 transcription factor is essential for the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into functional chondrocytes and osteoblasts. In humans, the haploinsufficiency of the Runx2 gene is associated with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD). The CCD is characterized by short stature, open sutures and fontanels in the skull, hypoplastic clavicles and supernumerary teeth. Skeletal elements disrupted in CCD patients are developed by intramembranous and/or endochondral ossification. However, the cell type specific roles of the Runx2 gene in the development of CCD-associated skeletal defects remain unknown. The main goal of this research was to define the specific role of the Runx2 gene in …

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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 …

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The Function Of Protein Kinase Ck2 In Cd4 T Cell Differentiation And Autoimmunity, Sara Ann Gibson Jan 2017

The Function Of Protein Kinase Ck2 In Cd4 T Cell Differentiation And Autoimmunity, Sara Ann Gibson

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Protein kinase CK2 is a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase essential for cell viability. CK2 exhibits immense pleiotropy and has well characterized interactions with canonical cytosolic signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR and JAK/STAT. These pathways are critical for CD4+ T cell function, and further are known to be aberrantly active in the T cell-driven autoimmune disease Multiple Sclerosis, but little is known as to how CK2 functions in CD4+ T cells or in the context of autoimmune diseases. The current dissertation examines the understudied T cell-specific functions of CK2 utilizing two approaches, pharmacologic inhibition and genetic deletion. We discovered CK2 to …

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The Benefits Of A Vegetable Gardening Intervention For Cancer Survivors, Mallory Gamel Cases Jan 2017

The Benefits Of A Vegetable Gardening Intervention For Cancer Survivors, Mallory Gamel Cases

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Due to improvements in screening and treatment, the number of cancer survivors continues to increase. Cancer survivors are at increased risk for second malignancies, comorbidities, and functional decline. All three papers draw data from Harvest for Health, a 12-month home-based vegetable gardening intervention for cancer survivors. This dissertation aimed to (1) explore changes in physical functioning and physical health-related quality of life in 44 cancer survivors aged >65 years old pooled from two iterations of Harvest for Health; (2) examine predictors of continued gardening and garden expansion 12-months post-intervention; and (3) assess the capacity of sustainability of Harvest for Health …

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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 …

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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 …

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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. …

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Characterization Of Spinal Cord Injury And Spinal Cord Injury Induced Neuropathic Pain, Amanda Mohaimany-Aponte Jan 2017

Characterization Of Spinal Cord Injury And Spinal Cord Injury Induced Neuropathic Pain, Amanda Mohaimany-Aponte

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Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects between 40 and 80 million people globally. Within the United States over 400,000 individuals live with SCI, and annually over 17,000 individu-als are added to this population. SCI patients are afflicted with a myriad of issues, one of which being SCI induced neuropathic pain (SCI-NP). Up to 80% of SCI patients go on to develop SCI-NP, which has been shown to last chronically and present itself as evoked pain, spontaneous pain, or a combination of both. SCI-NP is a top concern for SCI pa-tients, often listed before functional recovery. SCI-NP has been shown to greatly …

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Retention Of Resin Composite Cam Crowns Following Different Bonding Protocols, Amir Hossein Nejat Jan 2017

Retention Of Resin Composite Cam Crowns Following Different Bonding Protocols, Amir Hossein Nejat

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Objectives: Resin composite CAM materials offer more efficient milling, however, there is a high incidence of clinical debonding when this material is used for full-coverage crowns. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of different surface treat-ments and primers on the crown retention of a new resin composite CAM material. Methods: 120 molars were prepared with a 24 degree taper, 1.5mm height, and axial walls in dentin. Surface area was measured by digital microscopy and preparations were scanned with an intraoral scanner. Crowns were milled from an experimental com-posite material with 4mm occlusal height. Teeth were …

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N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine-Reactive Natural Antibodies: Roles In Suppression Of Autoimmune Diabetes And Environmental Factors Influencing Their Development, James Stewart New Jan 2017

N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine-Reactive Natural Antibodies: Roles In Suppression Of Autoimmune Diabetes And Environmental Factors Influencing Their Development, James Stewart New

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Type 1 Diabetes suppression in diabetes prone mice following immunization with Group A Streptococcus correlates with the B lymphocyte response to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) present in the Group A Carbohydrate cell wall polysaccharide. GlcNAc-specific B cells recognize cryptic GlcNAc-epitopes in beta cells. Following exposure of GlcNAc-modified antigens on beta cells during cellular apoptosis, GlcNAc-specific IgM antibodies opsonize these epitopes and mediate classical complement pathway activation. In vitro, opsonization of apoptotic beta cells with GlcNAc-specific IgM increases their uptake by dendritic cells, while suppressing the subsequent presentation of beta cell-derived antigens to diabetogenic T lymphocytes. Passive administration of Group A Streptococcus antisera …

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Associations Of Food Environment, Mediterranean Diet And Obesity In United States: A Geographic Information System (Gis) Analysis, Meifang Chen Jan 2017

Associations Of Food Environment, Mediterranean Diet And Obesity In United States: A Geographic Information System (Gis) Analysis, Meifang Chen

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Given the growing obesity epidemic in the U.S., modifying current obesogenic food environment, and identifying and promoting an obesity-modifying dietary approach that fits in the food environment context are urgent. Emerging evidence indicates that Mediterranean diet (MD) could be a beneficial dietary pattern to protect against overweight/obesity. However, as a relatively new dietary pattern in the U.S., how the unique food environment influences MD adherence, and whether consuming a MD can mediate the relationship between food environment and obesity among the population remain unknown. This dissertation, applying Geographic Information System (GIS) and path analytical methods using data from the REasons …

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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 …

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Identification Of The Microrna Mir-101a And Its Target Ezh2 As Contributors To Rodent Anxiety-Like Behavior, Joshua Cohen Jan 2017

Identification Of The Microrna Mir-101a And Its Target Ezh2 As Contributors To Rodent Anxiety-Like Behavior, Joshua Cohen

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Anxiety disorders are the most commonly diagnosed mental illness in the United States. Yet current treatment options are of limited efficacy, resulting in chronic disability for many patients. A greater mechanistic understanding of the neural states that cause anxiety behavior is necessary to develop better treatments for anxiety disorders. Since rodent models provide greater opportunity for investigating cellular and molecular under-pinnings of anxiety-like behavior, the present studies utilized rats bred for High Response to novelty (High Responders, HRs) and Low Response to novelty (Low Responders, LRs) which naturally exhibit low and high levels of anxiety respectively. Because the HR/LR anxiety …

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Tgf-Β Regulates The Stability Of Sox9 In Cartilage, George Coricor Jan 2017

Tgf-Β Regulates The Stability Of Sox9 In Cartilage, George Coricor

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One out of two people in the U.S. will experience some form of Osteoarthritis (OA) in their lifetime. Members of the Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily are important factors that stimulate chondrocyte matrix biosynthesis. Mice with a dominant-negative mutation of the TGF-βIIR develop a degenerative joint disease resembling OA. Another key chondrogenic factor, SOX9, is important for maintaining chondrocyte function. SOX9 and TGF-β receptors are decreased in OA patients. Our overall hypothesis is that TGF-β regulates SOX9 to maintain articular cartilage. We utilized two cell culture models for these experiments, ATDC5 cells, and primary bovine articular chondrocytes. We showed that …

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Elucidating The Cellular Function Of The N-Terminal Domain Of Tyrosyl-Dna Phosphodiesterase I, Selma Marcela Cuya Jan 2017

Elucidating The Cellular Function Of The N-Terminal Domain Of Tyrosyl-Dna Phosphodiesterase I, Selma Marcela Cuya

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Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I (Tdp1) is a conserved eukaryotic DNA repair enzyme that removes adducts from DNA-ends. This includes DNA topoisomerase I (Top1)-DNA covalent complexes reversibly stabilized by camptothecins (CPTs). Tdp1s two-step catalytic cycle requires the action of its nucleophilic histidine (Hisnuc) that detaches the adduct by forming a Tdp1-DNA adduct, and its general acid/base histidine (Hisgab) to activate water, thereby releasing Tdp1 from the DNA-end. Tdp1 expression is associated with genomic instability, cancer etiology, chemotherapeutic resistance, and SCAN1-neurodegeneration, via Tdp1HisgabArg catalytic mutant. Our lab has characterized substitutions of the catalytic histidines in both yeast and human cell models. These substitutions …

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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 …

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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 …

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Patient Safety: Organizations, Culture, And Information Technology, Soumya Upadhyay Jan 2017

Patient Safety: Organizations, Culture, And Information Technology, Soumya Upadhyay

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The purpose of this dissertation is to explore factors that influence patient safety culture and patient safety outcomes, and whether patient safety culture affects hospital performance. The findings of these studies have important implications to hospital managers in the context of macro environmental changes regarding quality and safety. As managers look for ways to improve patient safety, results from this dissertation suggest strategies (for example, RN staffing; EHR presence) that may help improve safety culture and hospital performance. Specifically, having at least basic EHR as compared to not having any EHR supports safety culture to positively influence quality and financial …

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Resin Infiltration Of Incipient Interproximal Caries: A 6-Month Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial, Purvi Vaghela Jan 2017

Resin Infiltration Of Incipient Interproximal Caries: A 6-Month Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial, Purvi Vaghela

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Dental caries is the most widespread of all diseases. It causes destruction of tooth structure by dissolving the enamel first, then progressing to the dentin. While it is possible to replace carious tooth structure with invasive restorations, it is highly desirable to arrest or reverse the disease process so that the restorations can be avoided. One of the most difficult areas to clean or use preventive, non-surgical treatment is the contact area between teeth. Recently treatment with resin polymers to infiltrate enamel and dentin affected by caries has been in-troduced. The infiltration technique arrests the lesion progression by penetrating and …

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Cd8+ T Lymphocyte Responses To Persistent Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection Of The Central Nervous System, Kristine Valenteros Jan 2017

Cd8+ T Lymphocyte Responses To Persistent Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection Of The Central Nervous System, Kristine Valenteros

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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most frequent cause of congenital brain abnormalities and can lead to lifelong neurological sequalae. Although the brain is a major target in congenital CMV infection, little is known about the long-term effects of infection of the central nervous system (CNS) following acute infection and the resulting neuroimmune responses involved. Due to species-specificity of HCMV, we use a mouse model to study the pathogenesis of HCMV infection of the developing CNS. Newborn mice peripherally infected with murine CMV (MCMV) develop high levels of viremia and subsequent productive infection in the brain parenchyma. CD8+ T lymphocytes are essential …

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The Functional Role Of Toll-Like Receptor 4 In The Renal Microcirculation., Justin Pieter Van Beusecum Jan 2017

The Functional Role Of Toll-Like Receptor 4 In The Renal Microcirculation., Justin Pieter Van Beusecum

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Renal autoregulation is an intrinsic property of afferent arterioles that maintains a stable RBF, glomerular capillary pressure, and GFR, while protecting the glomeruli against fluctuations in arterial pressure. Recently it has been reported that immune system activation and inflammation have been linked to impairment of renal autoregulatory behavior. Evidence suggests that activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays an important role in the progression of AKI and CKD. The contributions of innate immune system activation, TLR4 and renal autoregulatory dysfunction remain unknown. This dissertation explores the novel concept that both acute and chronic TLR4 activation leads to the attenuation of …

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Characterization Of Molecular Pathways Involved In The Production Of Class-Switched Antibodies, Arthur James Vanvalkenburg Jan 2017

Characterization Of Molecular Pathways Involved In The Production Of Class-Switched Antibodies, Arthur James Vanvalkenburg

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This dissertation research describes two independent characterizations of molecular pathways involved in the manufacture of class-switched antibodies and differentiation of B cells involving the adaptor protein Hematopoietic SRC Homology 2 Domain-containing protein (HSH2) and the surface molecule CD19. HSH2 is dynamically expressed in different subsets of B cells, showing high expression in B1 and MZ B cells and low expression in GC B cells. Experiments involving HSH2 transgenic mice have determined that HSH2 may act as a rheostat regulating the production of class-switched antibodies. Various factors that stimulate B cell activation and differentiation induce HSH2 expression, although regulation of HSH2 …

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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 …

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