Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Revolutionary Genome Editor: Crispr-Cas9 Systems, Grace Spade

Senior Honors Theses

Genetic engineering is the modification of an organism's genetic material to alter its traits through adding, deleting, or changing specific genes. CRISPR-Cas9 systems are groundbreaking tools for genetic engineering, in short utilizing a molecule called RNA to guide a protein called Cas9 to a specific location in DNA to add, delete, or replace genes. The history of how the CRISPR-Cas9 systems came into existence, how it was adapted from a natural defense system in bacteria, and its mechanism of action in both are explained. Its applications, both present and future, competing genetic modifiers, advantages and disadvantages, and the ethical dilemmas …

Mandates, Mistrust, And Misconceptions: An Overview Of Vaccine Hesitancy, Evelyn Ryan

Senior Honors Theses

Vaccines are one of the most successful ways to prevent diseases and are considered one of the most influential achievements in the history of public health. While vaccines have many benefits, the number of parents that refuse vaccinations for their children is increasing. People are concerned about potential risks and health problems that are thought to result from vaccination. There are risks and contraindications involved with vaccines, but many reasons for vaccine hesitancy that are cited by the public are not founded on evidence-based data. When making vaccine decisions, it is essential that the public has accurate information and that …

Pathogenesis And Therapeutics Of Huntington's Disease, Megan Bones

Senior Honors Theses

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare, incurable, inherited neurological disease that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. The mutant huntingtin gene contains 40 to 80 repeats of a CAG trinucleotide sequence. The pathogenesis of HD is multifaceted and includes pathways related to glutamine aggregation, mitochondrial and oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and DNA damage. Currently two drugs, tetrabenazine and deutetrabenazine, are FDA approved for the treatment of HD. Otherwise, medications given to HD patients include general antipsychotics, antidepressants, and mood-stabilizer drugs. Other treatment methods include speech and physical therapy. This research provides an understanding of the various …

In Vitro Gametogenesis: A Research Timeline And Implications For The Future Of Assisted Reproductive Technology, Nicole Buckley

Senior Honors Theses

The novel reproductive technology, In Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG), includes the process of obtaining mature viable germ cells from pluripotent stem cells. To do so, embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells are specified to primordial germ cells and differentiated to form gametes that undergo further maturation, which subsequently may undergo in vitro fertilization to form an embryo. With this capability, IVG holds the power to provide a novel treatment option for human infertility. As of now, research has been conducted on mice successfully, and with limited success in humans. Future research will likely focus on discovering the species-specific differences …

Health Consequences Of Low Energy Availability In Females And Their Underlying Physiological Mechanisms, Grace Parry

Senior Honors Theses

Low energy availability (LEA) is a state in which energy intake is insufficient to support energy expenditure while maintaining energy balance, which has been shown to result in gastrointestinal distress, immunosuppression, reduced metabolic rate, menstrual dysfunction, diminished bone health, and impaired cardiovascular function in females. Alterations to the microbiome and mucosal lining may propagate gastrointestinal complaints and compromised immune function associated with LEA. The pathophysiology of LEA is otherwise largely driven by hormonal adaptations. Diminished production of thyroid hormones is known to contribute to reduced metabolic rate. Decreases in leptin and insulin and increases in ghrelin disrupt reproductive function through …

Efficacy Of Kidney Reperfusion Treatments Relative To Function And Survival Rates After Transplantation, Mitchell Rohr

Senior Honors Theses

Donor kidneys are damaged upon circulatory death before being preserved with machine perfusion until transplantation. During machine perfusion, blood is pumped back into the vasculature of the kidney, causing damage called ischemic reperfusion injury. The two forms of machine perfusion are hypothermic machine perfusion and normothermic machine perfusion. Different methods of treatment can be used during either hypothermic machine perfusion or normothermic machine perfusion to prevent ischemic reperfusion injury. Each of the treatment methods that were reviewed showed potential for preventing ischemic reperfusion injury, with hypothermic treatments having higher average levels of feasibility than normothermic treatments. The effect of the …

Virtue Ethics In Nursing: A Review Of The Literature, Abigail Chu

Senior Honors Theses

Background

Human flourishing is at the heart of healthcare. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle proposes virtue ethics, the idea that humans find and fulfill their purpose through flourishing. Virtue ethics posits that an individual flourishes by forming habits that promote excellence (both moral excellence and excellence in skill) while modeling people who possess the ideal traits. Virtue ethics emphasizes eudaimonia or human flourishing as embodying the highest good and an overall state of wellbeing.

Purpose

The purpose of this integrative literature review is to examine how virtue ethics in nursing can promote human flourishing.

Methods

Twenty-nine articles were reviewed for …

Nursing Care Of Family Caregivers: Interventions And Considerations Regarding Current Issues Facing Family Caregivers Of Persons With Dementia Relevant To Nursing Practice, Alayna Kent

Senior Honors Theses

There are an estimated 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older who are currently living with Alzheimer’s dementia. A large majority of these individuals receive care from a nonprofessional family caregiver, typically in the home setting. It is well documented that family caregivers of dementia patients experience many unique challenges. These challenges provide valuable opportunities for nurses to provide helpful interventions to aid this vulnerable population. An integrated review of the recent literature was conducted, and articles were chosen by a method modeled after the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flowsheet. The research was then analyzed …

Where Do We Draw The Line? The Ethical Dilemma Involved In Genetic Engineering And Gene Therapy, Amber Schrag

Senior Honors Theses

Genetic engineering and gene therapy are greatly disputed in our time. With the advancement of technology, one has the power to manipulate genes in the body, which raises the questions: What is our role in this? Is there a limit to this power, or should there be? This paper reviews the uses of this technology and evaluates the ethics from a scientific and Biblical point of view. It is concluded that using gene therapy to help cure diseases is very beneficial in both the scientific and Biblical realm as it is restoring individuals back to health and wholeness.

Prevalence Of Sars-Cov-2 Antibodies In Liberty University Student Population, Emily Bonus

Senior Honors Theses

In 2020, the virus SARS-CoV-2 gained attention as it spread around the world. Its antibodies are poorly understood, and little research focuses on those with few COVID-19 complications yet large numbers of close contacts: university students. This longitudinal study recorded SARS-CoV-2 antibody presence in 107 undergraduate Liberty University students twice during early 2021. After extensive data cleaning and the application of various statistical tests and ANOVAs, the data seems to show that in the case of COVID-19 infections, SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibodies are immediately produced, and then IgG antibodies follow later. However, the COVID-19 vaccine causes the production of both IgM …

Home Exercise Program Adherence In Physical Therapy: Application Of The Transtheoretical Model, Charis Brown

Senior Honors Theses

Home exercise programs (HEPs) are a foundational component of physical therapy (PT). However, the majority of patients are not compliant with their HEP; they lack the motivation and habits necessary to be compliant. The transtheoretical model (TTM) is a framework for understanding the decision-making of the individual and is a model of intentional change. When properly understood and applied, the TTM can improve a physical therapist’s ability to help patients to change their behavior and to become HEP compliant. This paper seeks to address patient exercise noncompliance by educating and instructing physical therapists in the application of the TTM, which …

Managing Tuberculosis In Refugee Populations, Roselyn Fierkens

Senior Honors Theses

Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne-transmitted infectious disease, responsible for more global deaths than HIV. Multidrug-resistant strains are developing, which heightens the need for swift eradication. Current data states that 71.4% of all TB cases in the United States occur in foreign-born individuals, so populations traveling from TB endemic areas are a key target population for prevention strategies. Various screening procedures exist, but no successful standard is in place. Beyond prevention and treatment strategies, adaptations to cultural communication differences are integral to successful medical interventions. This synthesis of TB pathophysiology, treatments, risk factors, and cultural considerations is intended for use in …

Nursing Considerations For Post-Traumatic Amnesia After A Traumatic Brain Injury, Hannah Grant

Senior Honors Theses

A period known as post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) often follows a traumatic brain injury (TBI). PTA is characterized by anterograde and retrograde amnesia, confusion, disorientation, and agitation. The duration and severity of PTA is a key indicator of the long-term prognosis after a TBI, so proper assessment and nursing care of a PTA patient is crucial. TBIs range from mild to severe, but primarily affect the fronto-temporal lobes. In PTA, both neural lesions and white matter damage within the parahippocampal region can cause PTA. A nurse must perform a thorough assessment of a TBI patient, but, since PTA is a key …

Characterizing The Cutaneous Microbiome Of Eurycea Lucifuga As A Potential Defense Against Chytridiomycosis, Madeline Key

Senior Honors Theses

Chytridiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease that is significantly reducing global amphibian populations. The disease is caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a fungus that lethally modifies amphibian skin. Recent research has suggested that the cutaneous microbiome of individual amphibians may play a role in susceptibility to the pathogen. In this study, twelve cave salamanders (Eurycea lucifuga) were collected. Cutaneous bacteria from each salamander were isolated and identified using Sanger Sequencing. Additionally, a Bd-challenge assay was performed to determine each isolate’s antifungal activity. Results indicated many microbial isolates possessed inhibitory capabilities against Bd, which may …

Therapeutic Exercise Programming For Nonspecific Low Back Pain, Kendal F. Huepper

Senior Honors Theses

Nonspecific low back pain is a prevalent cause of injury and disability in the world today. However, most people with this condition continue to live in discomfort because they do not know how reduce their pain. Exercise is one of the many ways that those with lumbar pain can find relief. By combining a wide variety of exercises that have been shown to reduce pain while increasing strength, range of motion, activity, and functionality, this thesis attempts to create an evidence-based generalized therapeutic exercise program that those with nonspecific low back pain can utilize to live an active and healthy …

Worried Sick: Understanding The Implications Of Stress On A Physiological Level, Julia Saia

Senior Honors Theses

Stress is prevalent among many individuals in today’s society. A literature review was conducted to investigate the physiological effects of stress, including the biomarkers of stress and how these interact with various body systems. The stress response is a protective mechanism to prepare the body to adequately respond to a perceived threat. However, when this response is prolonged, it begins to have a maladaptive effect on the body and can cause more harm than good. This literature review sought to compile what is known regarding the general effects of chronic stress and its impact on the nervous, immune, digestive, and …

The Effect Of Isolation On The Mental Health Of Older Adults, Christina Yates

Senior Honors Theses

As individuals age and lose mobility and cognitive functioning, many require full-time care which their loved ones are unable to provide. This often results in placement into long-term care facilities, and these facilities are notorious for being understaffed. Physical health becomes the only priority, depriving the client of having their mental and emotional needs fulfilled. Family and friends may decrease visitation due to distance or convenience. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic closed the doors of many facilities to nearly all visitors. Thus, the only individuals the residents of these facilities experienced interaction with were overworked staff members looking intimidating in …

The Development And Structure Of The Tooth Enamel And The Nature Of Deterioration, Anderson Hill

Senior Honors Theses

The tooth enamel is developed through a careful process to give its characteristic hardness, but bacteria colonization in the form of plaque and certain dietary habits can compromise this. The development of the tooth involves an intricate process that incorporates proteins and minerals to produce the toughest tissue in the human body. The enamel possesses a distinct crystal lattice with many minerals involved. Under acidic conditions, the integrity of the crystals that make up the tooth enamel can become compromised. Harmful bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans of the mouth combine with carbohydrates that are consumed to produce acids that are …

The Effects Of Mosaic Law Observance On Human Health, Emily Uhlmeyer

Senior Honors Theses

For the people of ancient Israel, life was guided and regulated by adherence to the law of Moses. Dietary restrictions, purification rituals, circumcision, and Sabbath observance were each critical components of this code and were meticulously detailed in the Old Testament, specifically in the Torah. Still today, dietary laws are observed and select rituals practiced by many Jews and Seventh Day Adventists. Although health protection was never the primary purpose of the law, noticeable effects on human health have been connected to its observance. Evaluation of the effects of the Levitical law on human health can be achieved by a …

Improving Mental Health Among Undergraduate Nursing Students: Increasing Resilience In Nursing School, Hannah Hilliard

Senior Honors Theses

Nursing students face a unique set of obstacles during their time in school. Beyond the normal stressors of college life, they are required to spend several hours in the hospital per week, study for exams, and complete high acuity simulations, and they struggle with coping with these new demands. Undergraduate nursing students need to be supported in their mental health and coping strategies to improve their resilience in nursing school and, hence, their ability to function as a nurse in the future. This study has ascertained what students believe is helpful in supporting their mental health while in nursing school. …

T Cell Therapy: Underlying Mechanisms And Current Advancements, Griffin Mccloy

Senior Honors Theses

As the second leading cause of death in 2016, cancer is one of the most serious diseases facing the world today. T cell therapy is a current area of research attempting to address the disease with two primary division: CAR-T and TCR-T cell therapy. The immune system naturally produces T lymphocytes to aid in the recognition and removal of cells infected with viruses or transformed into cancer. Under normal circumstances, T lymphocytes identify and destroy cancerous cells; however, some cancerous cell types can evade this system. With the use of genetic editing technology, T lymphocytes can gain the ability to …

Applications And Challenges Of Neural Stem Cell Therapy, John Brewster

Senior Honors Theses

In response to the many neurological disorders that plague humanity, no treatment shows more promise than stem cell therapy. By using these special cells to regrow damaged neurons and combat sources of disease in affected patients, researchers hope to treat neurological disorders of all kinds. While great strides have been made in laboratory settings, the widespread use of stem cells to treat neurological disorders in humans is still a distant goal. Recent advancements have been made in the area of neural stem cell therapy, but complications arise when using this method to treat neurological disorders.

Epigenetic Pathogenesis Of Neurological Disorders In Utero And Considerations For Genetic Counseling, Lauren Juga

Senior Honors Theses

Epigenetic modifications are a major focus of study in the pathogenesis of many disorders regarding metabolism, aging, neurodevelopment, and neurodegeneration. Epigenetic mechanisms are present throughout life but are especially vital to guiding fetal development. The precise timing of gene activation and deactivation guides stem cell differentiation through each embryonic stage. After exposure to environmental stimuli, gene expression can be altered by transcription factors, resulting in observable phenotypes and even pathology. Here, the epigenetic mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders are explored in response to environmental perturbations in utero. The present goal is to identify correlations between …

The Pathogenesis Of Diabetes And Its Negative Impact On The Retina: Diabetic Retinopathy, Jonathan Nelson

Senior Honors Theses

Diabetic retinopathy causes the plurality of blindness among the working class of America. This review focuses on the biochemistry and pathophysiology of the pancreatic cells during the development of diabetes as well as the effects that diabetes has on the Müller cells and pericytes of the retina at the cellular and molecular levels. In addition, the current research on some of the treatment options for diabetic retinopathy will be presented. This review is valuable to the scientific community because it presents a side-by-side summary of the pathogenesis of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy based on the current body of research.

Health Care In South Africa: An Overview Of Past And Current Challenges, Silas Westers

Senior Honors Theses

The health care system in South Africa is a living remnant of apartheid. Divided and disjointed, the system is unable to cope with the significant challenges that exist in the public health of South Africa. Social issues such as poverty, inequality, and xenophobia influence how the health system operates. Health care workers face challenges such as communicable diseases, particularly HIV. Moving forward, the government plans to transition to a single payer nationalized health insurance (NHI) system. NHI will not solve all the problems the system faces, and the government must be diligent in rooting out corruption, incentivizing quality care, and …

A Literature Review Of The Prevalence, Metabolism, And Usage Guidelines Of Non-Nutritive Sweeteners, Rebecca Ide

Senior Honors Theses

Due to their reputation for being a healthier option to traditional table sugar, non-nutritive sweeteners have garnered popularity, particularly with those affected by type II diabetes mellitus (DM2) or obesity. A literature review on the characteristics, metabolism, and optimal cooking guidelines of non-nutritive sweeteners was performed to establish more knowledge about these trending food additives. The literature review indicates that the presence of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) may influence glucose metabolism by binding T1R2/T1R3 sweetness receptors present throughout the gastrointestinal tract. However, not all studies showed positive correlations. Though inconclusive, the studies suggest a possible connection between excessive NNS consumption and …

Investigation Of Oncogenic Ras And Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondria Calcium Flux And Their Relationship In The Context Of Tumorigenesis, Emma Anderson

Senior Honors Theses

Intracellular calcium as a signaling molecule is a pervasive feature of cellular pathways, especially those that manage internal homeostasis and transitions through the cell cycle, so much so that regulated, responsive calcium flux between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the mitochondria has been suggested to play a major role in cancer development. Another factor commonly implicated in tumorigenesis is RAS, an oncogene that controls signaling for many pathways that are also regulated by calcium. While both calcium and oncogenic RAS signaling are implicated in cancer development, possible links between them have yet to be determined. The identification of these links …

Jnk And Nf-Κb Cell Signaling Pathways In Cardiovascular Disease Present Potential Targets For Curcumin Therapy, Mary Richfield

Senior Honors Theses

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a compound derived from the rhizomes of Curcumin longa that has been long used for medicinal purposes. Curcumin alleviates the pathology of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, aneurysm, and cardiomyopathy. The mechanism of curcumin therapy is under active research. The NF-κB and JNK pathways are two that curcumin interacts with to block inflammatory processes, apoptosis, and fibrotic tissue remodeling to prevent the pathologies of cardiovascular disease. While curcumin has demonstrated powerful mediation of cardiovascular disease, its bioavailability in body tissues is limited due to the instability and hydrophobicity of its structure. Further work is underway to stabilize …

The Cutaneous Microbiome Of The Eastern Red-Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus Viridescens) And Its Role As Defense Against Fungal Pathogens, Joseph Bierbaum

Senior Honors Theses

Chytridiomycosis is a life-threatening disease which infects amphibian species worldwide. Chytrid fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans have been found to be the primary causes of chytridiomycosis. In past research, it has been found that the skin microbiome of certain amphibian species could have fungal inhibition properties, reducing the effects of the chytrid fungi. In this study, 15 eastern red-spotted newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) were collected, to determine if cutaneous bacteria of the newts secrete antifungal compounds. Pure cultures of each bacterium morphotype were produced from mass culture plates, with 188 morphotypes being isolated. The antifungal properties …

Hamstring And Quadriceps Strength Ratio In Collegiate Wrestlers, Jesse Redding

Senior Honors Theses

ACL injuries are a significant risk for athletes across sports. One of the sports that reports the highest rate of ACL injury is wrestling. The mechanism of injury among wrestlers appears to be unique and has limited data compared to other sports. Several nonmodifiable risk factors have been studied for ACL injury, as well as several modifiable risk factors that include BMI, muscular composition, and high-risk movements. The hamstring to quadriceps strength ratio (H:Q) is one aspect of muscular composition that has received little attention in collegiate wrestlers. The purpose of this study was to analyze the H:Q strength ratio …