Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Metabolomics Of Transformed Mda-Mb-231 Cell Lines Expressing Different Levels Of Human Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase 1 (Nat1)., Samantha Marie Carlisle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) is a phase II xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme that is found in almost all tissues of the body. Expression of NAT1 is commonly elevated in several cancers including breast cancer. However, the exact mechanism by which NAT1 expression affects cancer risk and progression remains unclear. Three MDA-MB-231 breast adenocarcinoma cell lines that stably express wild-type, increased, and decreased levels of human NAT1 have been constructed and characterized for NAT1 mRNA, NAT1 acetylation activity, cell doubling rates, and endogenous acetyl-CoA levels. Differences in polar metabolic profile between these three cell lines were investigated using a comprehensive GC×GC−TOF …

Suramin Protects From Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury., Tess Dupre

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In rodent models, suramin improves recovery following acute kidney injury (AKI). We hypothesized that suramin would be useful in protection against cisplatin-induced AKI. This hypothesis was tested by pre-treating C57BL/6j mice with suramin prior to cisplatin. Our data indicates that suramin protects the kidney from injury by decreasing cisplatininduced decreases in kidney function. Renal histology indicated that suramin significantly protected from cisplatin-induced AKI. Data indicate that suramin pretreatment attenuated mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines following cisplatin treatment, while also decreasing markers of cell stress and cell death. We utilized the same experimental design with 10-month old FVB mice …

The Regulation And Mechanisms Of Egfr-Mediated Apoptosis In Mda-Mb-468 Cells., Nicole Marion Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is a 170- kilodalton transmembrane protein that belongs to the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Upon ligand-mediated activation, the EGFR responsible for cell growth, proliferation, and tissue homeostasis in epithelial cells; however, the EGFR is overexpressed in many human malignancies including MDA-MB-468 cells, a metastatic breast epithelial cell line. Previous studies have indicated that within the MDA-MB-468 cell line, receptors at the cell surface promote cell growth when activated with Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) ligand. Activated receptors that are internalized to the endosomes however induce apoptosis. This contrasting response at different cellular …

Searching For Novel Ligands For The Cannabinoid And Related Receptors., Pritesh Prakash Kumar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The first purpose of the present dissertation was to apply a high throughput assay to systematically screen a library of food and drug administration (FDA)-approved drugs as potential ligands for the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2). A cell-based, homogenous time resolved fluorescence (HTRF) method for measuring changes in intracellular cAMP levels was validated and found to be suitable for testing ligands that may act on CB2. Among the 640 FDA-approved drugs screened, raloxifene, a drug used to treat/prevent post-menopausal osteoporosis, was identified for the first time to be a novel CB2 inverse agonist. The dissertation reporting these results demonstrated that by …

Promoting Differentiation And Survival Of Human C-Kit+ Cardiac Progenitor Cells Ex Vivo., Tareq Al-Maqtari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

c-kit+ cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) have recently gained much attention due to the therapeutic effects they exert on cardiac function following their administration into the infarcted heart as evidenced by animal studies and by a recent clinical trial (SCIPIO). However, injecting these cells in the heart is associated with poor differentiation into specialized cardiac cell types and with rapid death of the engrafted cells. With the ultimate goal of advancing cardiac stem cell therapy, we sought to facilitate the differentiation of human CPCs into cardiac cell types (e.g. cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and cardiac fibroblasts) by overexpressing selected …

Network Participation In Public Health : The Development Of Instruments And Adapted Theory To Predict Stakeholder Participation In A Public Health Network., David Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Participation in public health networks is important to achieve the goals of public health. This dissertation addresses a common problem in public health management—of how to measure support and predict participation by individuals and organizations in network level collaboratives—through testing an adapted theory producing a newly developed instrument. Purpose: Community health collaboratives have grown in popularity and in funding opportunities in the past couple decades, but they notoriously fail to achieve measureable results. By adapting theory and relevant instruments to a specific public health network context, factors that enable and inhibit participation are identified. Method: A prospective, theory-driven, sequential …

The Acute Effects Of Ballistic And Non-Ballistic Concentric-Only Half-Squats On Squat Jump Performance, Timothy J. Suchomel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this dissertation were to examine bilateral asymmetry as a factor of postactivation potentiation, examine and compare the acute effects of ballistic and non-ballistic concentric-only half-squats on squat jump performance, and compare the potentiation and temporal profiles of strong and weak subjects following potentiation protocols that included ballistic and non-ballistic concentric-only half-squats. The following are major findings of the dissertation. Squat jump performance may be acutely enhanced following ballistic concentriconly half-squats; however the changes in performance do not appear to be related to bilateral symmetry. Ballistic concentric-only half-squats acutely improve various squat jump performance variables at various time …

Relationship Between Concentric Velocity At Varying Intensity In The Back Squat Using Wireless Inertia Sensor, Kevin M. Carroll

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the Minimal Velocity Threshold (MVT) of 1RM and repetitions until failure testing conditions using the back squat exercise. Fourteen injury-free males with experience in the back squat volunteered to perform a 1RM and a submaximal (70% 1RM) repetitions until failure test, each during different testing sessions. Mean Concentric Velocity (MCV) was collected using a wireless inertia-measuring device. The last successful repetition in either condition was considered the MVT. A very small relationship between 1RM and repetitions until failure MVT was found (r=-0.135). There were no significant differences …

Analysis Of Countermovement Vertical Jump Force-Time Curve Phase Characteristics In Athletes, Christopher J. Sole

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this dissertation were to examine the phase characteristics of the countermovement jump force-time curve between athletes based on jumping ability, examine the influence of maximal muscular strength on the countermovement jump force-time curve phase characteristics of athletes, and to examine the behavior of the countermovement jump force-time curve phase characteristics over the course of a training process in athletes of varying strength levels. The following are the major findings of these dissertations. The analysis of athletes by jumping ability suggested that proficient jumpers are associated with greater relative phase magnitude and phase impulse throughout the phases contained …

Vitamin A Is Essential For Proper Embryonic Submandibular Salivary Gland Growth., Deanna Ellene Buenger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Submandibular salivary glands (SMG) are important for the production of saliva. Salivary glands may be damaged by autoimmune disease, surgery, or radiation therapy. Retinoic acid (RA) is a signaling metabolite derived from Vitamin A that is essential for proper embryonic growth and development; specifically for cardiovascular, limb and craniofacial development. The goal of this study was to determine if there is a reproducible defect in the growth of SMGs in RA deficient mouse embryos compared to wild type. This study aims to characterize SMG growth in RA deficient embryos and determine if the growth could be stimulated by RA in …

Impact Of Numeracy On Parental Self-Efficacy And Treatment Outcome Of Children On Complex Diets., Diana Cardina Pantalos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Health numeracy, a counterpart to health literacy, can be a mediator of health disparities. This study analyzed the impact of both cognitive and affective numeracy on the pathway linking health behavior to health outcomes, and the role of self-efficacy in this relationship, based on the Health Belief Model. The context was parental management of children's complex diets that require numerical calculations. Parents of children ages 12 months to 12 years with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or phenylketonuria (PKU) were recruited at clinics or community events in east-central states. Ninety-eight participants completed a standardized test of math skills, an instrument to …

The Association Of Medical Student Debt On Choice Of Primary Care Specialty And Rural Practice Location., Craig Ziegler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A shortage of primary care physicians (PCP) is present nationally and within Kentucky. The shortage is expected to worsen, unless a dramatic increase occurs in the generation of additional primary care clinicians. Geographical maldistributions of PCP also exist. Whereas 20% of the US population resides in rural areas, only 10% of physicians practice in these areas. This study explores factors that influence medical students’ decisions to select primary care residency training programs, and to practice in rural areas. Specifically, the levels of debt among 1391 graduates from University of Louisville School of Medicine (ULSOM) during 2001-2010 were examined in association …

The Relationship Between Financial Empowerment And Health Related Quality Of Life In Family Scholar House Participants., Chelsey Erbaugh Franz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Family Scholar House program was a unique intervention designed to stop the cycle of poverty by providing college education and support to single parents. The different aspects of the Family Scholar House program addressed each of the five social determinants of health (economic stability, education, social and community context, health care, and neighborhood and built environment). Results of the studies showed that participant’s mental health and general health rating, as measured by a health-related quality of life survey, improved during the time in the Family Scholar House program. Upon graduation from the program, the mental health and the health …

Implementation Of Break Time For Employee Nursing Mothers At The University Of Louisville : A Case Study., Robin Elise Weiss, 1971-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a mixed methods look at the barriers to successful implementation of the Break Time for Nursing Mothers provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) at an upper southern-midwestern university. As public health and medical officials push the desire for an increase in breastfeeding initiation and duration, many mothers must overcome barriers within the employment arena. Previous work has failed to look at how the university setting presents unique challenges with a diverse workforce, varied jobs, and differing space availability. In other settings, barriers have been identified; the goal of this dissertation was to identify what the specific …

The Influence Of Child Physical Activity Programs On Parent Physical Activity In A Rural Community., Katie F. Leslie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: In 2008, a coalition of community leaders and parents sought to increase access to physical activity opportunities for residents of Meade County, a rural Kentucky community. To date, the Meade Activity Center has implemented a variety of year-round programs conducted at borrowed spaces from local schools that have targeted children, utilizing the strategy to first engage children as a way to extend behavior change to other members of the community. This study assessed the influence of child participation in physical activity programs on parent physical activity, and determined potential methods of intervention to increase adult physical activity in a …

Glycine Receptor Alpha Subunit (Glyra) Specific Inhibition Contributes To Ganglion Cell Signaling In Mouse Retina., Chi Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the retina, numerous types of neurons are wired together in a highly specific albeit complex pattern. This sophisticated retinal network allows extraction and encoding of more than 20 representations of the visual scene in its output neurons, the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Within the inner plexiform layer (IPL) of retina, glycine receptors (GlyRs) are expressed on different cell classes and modulate RGC visual activity to light onset (ON RGCs) and to light offset (OFF RGCs), for example, their temporal precision and gain control. There are four GlyR alpha subunits (GlyRα1-4) with differential expression patterns in IPL. Each mediates spontaneous …

Characterizing The Neuropeptide Pathways Between The Forebrain And The Pons., Ali Al-Magableh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many current health problems including obesity, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and type 2-diabetes can be attributed to diet. One powerful determinant of food selection is how good or bad a food 'tastes' (e.g. affective value), and is ranked highly by consumers as their top reason for choosing a food (e.g. preference). Learning plays an important role in the establishment and strengthening of food preference and, thus in guiding food choice and calories consumed. The basis of such learning is provided, in part, by limbic system modulation of gustatory neural processing at lower levels in the medulla and pons. I hypothesize …

Exploring The Roles Of Host And Tumor Cell Α4 And Α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors In Lung Cancer., John Caleb Greenwell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women worldwide. Tobacco exposure represents the major risk factor. Nicotine, an addictive plant alkaloid found in tobacco, has been demonstrated to stimulate lung carcinoma cells directly via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that trigger downstream signals capable of promoting lung cancer growth and progression. Attention has been given to α7 nAChRs, while less is known about α4 nAChRs. However, most studies evaluating these receptors relied on chemical inhibitors notorious for their off-target effects. Consequently, the true role of α4 and α7 nAChRs in lung cancer remains unclear. To address …

Evaluating The Marginal Integrity Of Lithium Disilicate Veneers Fabricated By Digital Impressions And Cad/Cam Compared To Conventional Techniques., Michael C. Guzelian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This in vitro study compared marginal gap size in anterior lithium disilicate veneers produced by conventional and digital impressions. One typodont right central incisor was prepared for an all-ceramic cast. Ten conventional veneers were fabricated using Type IV stone, PVS, and IPS e.max press, while ten digital veneers were fabricated using Lava COS (3M ESPE) and IPS e.max CAD/CAM processing and milling. Samples were divided double-blindly, captured at 45X magnification, evaluated at three images per orientation (B-D-M-P), and measured at three distances (largest, smallest, best fit) per image. Data points were entered into SPSS code for one-way and two-way ANOVA, …

The Influence Of Race And Gender On Hiv Risk Behaviors In High School Students In The Southern States Of The United States, Malendie T. Gaines

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The incidence of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is highest in the southern states of the United States (US), with adolescents in this region being one of the most affected populations in the country. A limited amount of information is available on adolescent HIV risk behaviors in the southern states, specifically focusing on race and gender. The purpose of this study was to use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Youth Risk Behaviors Survey (YRBS) for high school students in the southern states for 2011 and 2013 to examine the influence of race and gender on 1) early …

Radiography Faculty Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Asynchronous Online Courses, Shirley J. Cherry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess radiography faculty perceptions of the effectiveness of asynchronous online courses. Learning effectiveness in a web-based virtual learning environment (VLE) was the conceptual framework for this project (Piccoli, Ahmad, & Ives, 2001). For the purposes of this study, learning effectiveness was defined as the quality of learning being comparable between online and traditional courses (Moore, 2011).

Ten research questions were used to guide this study, and statistical tests were conducted to evaluate 17 null hypotheses. The statistical tests included use of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlations, and single-sample t-tests. Ten of …

Role Of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Kinase In The Healing Process Of The Heart Following Myocardial Infarction, Laura L. Daniel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT), caused by mutations in the gene encoding ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM), is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. AT individuals exhibit neuronal degeneration and are predisposed to cancer. Carriers of this disorder are predisposed to cancer and ischemic heart disease. Heart disease, mostly due to myocardial infarction (MI), is a leading cause of death in the US. Following MI, release of catecholamines in the heart stimulates β- adrenergic receptors (β-AR). Our lab has shown that β-AR stimulation increases ATM expression in the heart and myocytes, and ATM plays an important role in β-AR-stimulated myocardial remodeling with effects …

Productions Of Metalinguistic Awareness By Young Children With Sli And Typical Language, Lucy E. Long

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study seeks to: (1) determine if differences exist between children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) compared to age-matched (AM) and language- matched (LM) children with typical language development (TL) in rates and proportions of five types of metalinguistic productions and (2) test theories of metalinguistic production. Forty-five children, 24 with TL and 21 with SLI, paired for age or language level, formed two groups. Previously collected data from two studies of verb learning (Proctor-Williams & Fey, 2007; Proctor- Williams, unpublished) were analyzed for rates and types of metalinguistic productions. Results yielded no within or between group significant differences in …

A Hierarchical Graph For Nucleotide Binding Domain 2, Samuel Kakraba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the most prevalent inherited diseases is cystic fibrosis. This disease is caused by a mutation in a membrane protein, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is known to function as a chloride channel that regulates the viscosity of mucus that lines the ducts of a number of organs. Generally, most of the prevalent mutations of CFTR are located in one of two nucleotide binding domains, namely, the nucleotide binding domain 1 (NBD1). However, some mutations in nucleotide binding domain 2 (NBD2) can equally cause cystic fibrosis. In this work, a hierarchical graph is built for NBD2. …

Training Clinical Judgment Skills For Interpreting Feeding Behavior In Preterm Infants: A Comparison Of Video And In Vivo Simulation, Jamesa R. Ewing

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Health and feeding outcomes for preterm infants depend upon healthcare providers’ ability to recognize non-verbal signs of distress during bottle-feeding. Methods of training future providers’ to interpret feeding behavior in preterm infants are unclear. This study used a pre-test/post-test design to compare the effects of in- vivo simulation and video-simulation training on students’ knowledge of feeding abnormalities, clinical judgment, and documentation accuracy. Fifty-two graduate level speech-language pathology students were assigned to the in-vivo (N= 27) or video-simulation (N= 25) group. Results revealed that both methods proved beneficial for increasing knowledge and clinical judgment skills. Participants trained using video-simulation training documented …

Exploring The Relationship Between Early Childhood Attentional Control And Language Ability, Jaima S. Price

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Relatively few studies have investigated the relationship between early childhood attentional control and later cognitive outcomes, especially language development. The current study is an investigation of the relationship between the executive functioning (EF) component of attentional control and language ability in the second year of life. More specifically, the predictive nature of two aspects of attentional control, attentional focus and resistance to distraction, was be the primary focus of the proposed study. Although it was expected that children both high in attentional focus and resistance to distraction would have significantly superior language development than infants with lower attentional capacities, analyses …

The Caregiver–Child Relationship, Youth Mental Health, And Placement Stability In A Child Welfare Sample, Laura A. Rindlaub

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Healthy relationships between adolescents and their caregivers have been robustly associated with better youth outcomes in a variety of domains. Youth in contact with the child welfare system are at higher risk for worse outcomes including mental health problems and home placement instability. A growing body of literature points to youth mental health problems as both a predictor and a consequence of home placement instability in this population; the present study aimed to expand our understanding of these phenomena by examining the interplay among the caregiver-child relationship, youth mental health symptoms, and placement change over time. Method: The sample …

The Perceived Effects Of Dance For Individuals With Parkinson’S Disease And Healthy Amateurs, Taylor Marie Mastin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the present study was to compare the effects of dance participation on physical and psychological functioning as perceived by two distinct groups of dancers: dancers with Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy amateur (HA) dancers. Dancers in the Parkinson's sample group were gathered from participants in the Dance for PD® program, while healthy amateur dancers were recruited from university dance departments and through social media. Both groups were administered measures related to affect, self-efficacy, quality of life, and which aspects of dance classes were most helpful and/or challenging. Several open-ended questions for both groups were included, along with …

A Faith-Based Primary Diabetes Prevention Intervention For At-Risk Puerto Rican Adults: A Feasibility Study, Sylvia Torres-Thomas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes is a serious health threat that disproportionately affects Hispanics of Puerto Rican heritage. Current evidence supports diabetes prevention programs to change health behaviors in people who are at risk and thus prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. However, few interventions exist for Hispanics, and even fewer have been designed for Puerto Rican adults. A literature review of community-based diabetes prevention programs involving at-risk Hispanics was conducted using a cultural sensitivity framework to determine the state of the science and identify gaps in knowledge regarding diabetes prevention for Puerto Ricans. An integrated theoretical framework was developed using constructs from …

Perceived Social Support And Self-Care In Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure, Lyne Chamberlain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Problem: Heart failure is the most frequent cause for hospital readmissions in Medicare recipients, with an estimated annual cost of $12 billion. Heart failure hospitalizations are also an independent risk factor for increased mortality. Self-care, thought to be enhanced by perceived social support, is key to managing this syndrome, and up to 50% of readmissions are considered the result of inadequate self-care. Purpose: To evaluate perceived social support and self-care characteristics of patients hospitalized with an exacerbation of heart failure, and to compare these characteristics with a study of ambulatory patients with heart failure. In addition, to assess the relationship …