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The Effects Of Ketamine And Other Rapid Antidepressants On Hippocampal Circuits, Allie J. Widman Jan 2018

The Effects Of Ketamine And Other Rapid Antidepressants On Hippocampal Circuits, Allie J. Widman

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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in a common mental disorder that can impair cognitive functioning and negatively impact hippocampus. While several pharmacological treatments are currently available for MDD, most target the monoamine system, providing little variety in approaching treatment. Additionally, a large percentage of people with MDD have an inadequate response to this drug class, leaving them with little optimism of a full functional recovery. Recently, low-dose ketamine, an open-channel N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, produced rapid antidepressant effects in humans, including people who do not respond to monoamine-based therapies, that lasted for days. The antidepressant-like behavioral effect of ketamine is …


Elevated Blood Lead Levels, Cancer Incidence, And All-Cause Mortality In Adults, Sherri L. Davidson Jan 2018

Elevated Blood Lead Levels, Cancer Incidence, And All-Cause Mortality In Adults, Sherri L. Davidson

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Epidemiologic studies have indicated an association between lead exposure and cancer. Although lead exposure has declined in recent decades, from removal of lead in gasoline and paint, lead exposure remains a health concern from environmental and occupational sources including aging water systems. In a retrospective cohort study, Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) records in Alabama were linked to cancer incidence data in the Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry and mortality data from the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, using a probabilistic linkage program. Blood lead level (BLL) measurements were used to categorize exposure levels. Odds ratios approximated relative risks. …


The Impact Of Hospital Change Of Ownership On Hospital Quality Of Care As Evidenced By Patient Satisfaction Scores And Readmission Rates, Ian Edward Mcfadden Jan 2018

The Impact Of Hospital Change Of Ownership On Hospital Quality Of Care As Evidenced By Patient Satisfaction Scores And Readmission Rates, Ian Edward Mcfadden

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THE IMPACT OF HOSPITAL CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP ON HOSPITAL QUALITY OF CARE AS EVIDENCED BY PATIENT SATISFACTION SCORES AND READMISSION RATES IAN E. MCFADDEN DOCTOR OF SCIENCE IN ADMINISTRATION-HEALTH SERVICES ABSTRACT Much of the literature on current hospital consolidation activity reveals that hospitals and health systems are experiencing an inordinate amount of increased merger and acquisition activity due to the impact of healthcare reform legislation. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 resulted in many hospital and health system providers seeking consolidation as a means to enhance resources and capital. These efforts have resulted in many hospitals changing …


Membrane Capacitance Derived From Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Is Associated With Insulin Resistance In Relatively Healthy U.S. Women, But Not Men, Valene Garr Barry Jan 2018

Membrane Capacitance Derived From Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Is Associated With Insulin Resistance In Relatively Healthy U.S. Women, But Not Men, Valene Garr Barry

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Current screening methods have failed to detect more than 50% of the 120 million U.S. adults with insulin resistance and/or metabolic syndrome, conditions that substantially increase one’s risk for cardiometabolic disease (CMD).1 Evidence exists that metabolic health is associated with cell membrane composition, which is reflected in the electrical properties of the body cell mass. The objective of this study was to determine whether bioimpedance spectroscopy can identify insulin resistance and/or metabolic syndrome by evaluating membrane capacitance (CM). We hypothesized that CM would be higher in individuals with insulin resistance and/or metabolic syndrome when compared to healthy individuals. This cross-sectional …


Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy To Improve Gait And Mobility Of People With Chronic Stroke: A Mixed Methods Study, Sarah Monteiro Dos Anjos Jan 2018

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy To Improve Gait And Mobility Of People With Chronic Stroke: A Mixed Methods Study, Sarah Monteiro Dos Anjos

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Walking impairment after stroke impacts on participation and quality of life. Different techniques have been developed in the last decades to overcome walking difficulties after stroke, however, few have been shown to be efficacious. Constraint-induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is a family of techniques that has been reported as one the most effective intervention for improving functional use and motor skills of a more-affected upper extremity (UE). The intervention protocol includes: 1) intensive supervised training; 2) use of shaping as a strategy for the motor training, 3) a group of behavioral strategies called the transfer package, and 4) procedures to increase …


Synaptic Mechanisms Underlying The Integration Of Adult-Generated Neurons In The Dentate Gyrus, Ryan Vaden Jan 2018

Synaptic Mechanisms Underlying The Integration Of Adult-Generated Neurons In The Dentate Gyrus, Ryan Vaden

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The dentate gyrus is a region in the adult brain where new neurons continue to be generated throughout life. While most adult-generated neurons undergo apoptosis within the first few weeks of maturation, a fraction survives and integrates into the existing circuit. It is well established that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-mediated mechanisms contribute to the activity-dependent regulation of adult-neurogenesis. GABAergic interneurons regulate stem cell quiescence, progenitor proliferation, and the synaptic integration of newborn neurons, however the synaptic interactions underlying integration are not fully understood. Furthermore, the impact of adult-generated neurons integrating into the existing circuit is not completely known. The collective …


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 …


Nf-Κb And Methyl-Lysine Signaling In The Epigenetic Regulation Of Memory, William Mitchell Webb Jan 2018

Nf-Κb And Methyl-Lysine Signaling In The Epigenetic Regulation Of Memory, William Mitchell Webb

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Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone methylation are critical regulators of gene transcription during memory consolidation and retrieval. However, the means by which these mechanisms are themselves initiated and directed to specific gene regions, and the extent to which these marks coordinate control of gene expression, remain poorly understood. In this dissertation, we explore the role of methyl-lysine signaling in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in two contexts. First, we investigated the role of histone H3 lysine 4 tri-methylation (H3K4me3) and DNA 5-hydroxymethylation (5hmC) during memory retrieval, finding that these marks increased globally and at CpG-enriched coding …


Diet, Physical Activity, And Healthy Aging In People Living With Hiv, Josh Newson Muhammad Jan 2018

Diet, Physical Activity, And Healthy Aging In People Living With Hiv, Josh Newson Muhammad

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As life expectancy for people living with HIV (PLWH) has increased, healthy aging in this community has become an emerging public health concern. Although the benefits of adopting healthy diets and regular physical activity are well-documented, implementing strategies for lifestyle modifications among older PLWH remains a challenge. The complex milieu of social, physiological and economic burdens encountered by PLWH exposes this population to increased risk for adverse health outcomes, especially from preventable metabolic diseases. The interaction of diet, physical activity and social determinants of health in persons who are HIV positive is an understudied area. The aim of this dissertation …


Culture And Patient Safety Outcomes: Examining The Impact Of The Departmental Work Environment On Outcomes, Dawn Ahner Jan 2018

Culture And Patient Safety Outcomes: Examining The Impact Of The Departmental Work Environment On Outcomes, Dawn Ahner

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This study examined the relationship between the departmental work environment and patient safety outcomes to determine if there were particular subcomponents of a department’s work environment that had a more significant impact on patient safety outcomes. The work environment was defined as the culture of an individual nursing department which consisted of the employee’s perception of engagement and patient safety culture. The research was informed by the commitment-based theory. Based on this theory, it was predicted that a team-based approach in the work environment would lead to a learning and positive environment, which would be positively associated with quality of …


The Mechanism Of Tgf-Β Function In Development Of The Axial Skeleton, Ga I Ban Jan 2018

The Mechanism Of Tgf-Β Function In Development Of The Axial Skeleton, Ga I Ban

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THE MECHANISM OF TGF-β FUNCTION IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE AXIAL SKELETON GA I BAN CELL, MOLECULAR DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY ABSTRACT Back pain is caused by degeneration of intervertebral discs (IVD). IVD consists of two compartments: the annulus fibrosus (AF) and the nucleus pulposus (NP). One strategy for treatment of IVD degeneration is stem cell therapy, which would require an in-depth knowledge of how the IVD develops. Currently, the molecular mechanism of IVD development are not well defined. AF and vertebral bodies (VB) are derived from the same embryonic progenitor, sclerotome. Specification of sclerotome is determined by complex interactions among various growth …


Neuropeptide Y Cells Regulate Anxiety Behavior, Katelynn Corder Jan 2018

Neuropeptide Y Cells Regulate Anxiety Behavior, Katelynn Corder

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Dysregulation of the GABAergic system has long been implicated in anxiety disorders. Classic anxiolytic drugs, such as benzodiazepines, increase GABAergic transmission by modulating GABA¬A receptors, relieving anxiety symptoms. However, these treatments are not always effective and are often accompanied by negative side effects. Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) is the enzyme responsible for producing GABA. Recent studies have shown that when the isoform GAD67 is reduced in specific brain regions or GABAergic subtypes, differential anxiety effects were found. These studies suggest that targeting specific GABAergic cell subtypes may provide a more effective treatment for anxiety disorders. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an abundant …


Genetic Influences On Rheumatoid Arthritis In Global Populations, Vincent Albert Laufer Jan 2018

Genetic Influences On Rheumatoid Arthritis In Global Populations, Vincent Albert Laufer

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex disease having numerous genetic and environmental risk factors the interplay of which produces RA pathobiology. While the sheer number of genetic and environmental risk factors complicates understanding of disease biology, understanding has progressed far enough for insight into the most likely mechanisms for the development of the disease. Modern studies of the genetics of RA are massively parallel, enabling researchers to systematically interrogate variants throughout the human genome for associations in genome-wide association studies or GWAS. Such studies have been carried out in European and Asian cohorts many times, and the most recent RA …


Transcriptional Changes Underpinning Poor Prognosis And Chemoresistance In Pancreatic Cancer, Ryne Ramaker Jan 2018

Transcriptional Changes Underpinning Poor Prognosis And Chemoresistance In Pancreatic Cancer, Ryne Ramaker

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With a 5-year survival rate of 7% and only marginal improvements in recent dec-ades, pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) survival statistics present a disheartening chal-lenge. A majority of the high mortality rate associated with PDAC is due to late-stage diagnosis and limited efficacy of the current chemotherapeutic arsenal. This work is largely focused on the ~20% of tumors detected prior to metastasis for which curative surgical resection can be combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, increasing the 5 year survival rate to ~25%. Although a subset of these patients who undergo surgi-cal resection experience sustained remission, a majority of patients still relapse …


Immunophenotype In The Molecular Epidemiology Of Breast Cancer, Michael Behring Jan 2018

Immunophenotype In The Molecular Epidemiology Of Breast Cancer, Michael Behring

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This research analyzes the underlying genomic features of breast tumors during immune response, with the overall goal of discovering markers of how tumor immunity and the known features of disease pathology relate. We aimed to 1) identify and validate somatic copy number variation and RNA expression associated with nodal metastasis; 2) construct an array-based measure of tumor infiltrating immune cells and determine its prominent clinical and transcriptional features; and 3) examine the relationship between somatic mutations within p53 and tumor immune cell infiltration status. In two sets of data, gene-level copy number variation (CNV) and RNA expression from the primary …


Psychosocial Job Stress And Oxidative Stress In Emergency Department Nurses, Rupkatha Bardhan Jan 2018

Psychosocial Job Stress And Oxidative Stress In Emergency Department Nurses, Rupkatha Bardhan

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Job stress often causes work-related physical injuries and chronic exposure to such environment may lead to poor health outcomes. Job stress in recent years has grown significantly within the workforce due to performance pressure, long work hours and poor pay structures. Nurses work in the forefront to save patients’ lives. High job demand in this noble profession often leads to progressive decline in physical and mental health. There are existing reports that nurses in the United States (US) suffer from “burnout” syndrome which may also negatively affect patient care. There are very few studies that measured work-related stress in nurses …


Pathological Changes In Hippocampal Synaptic Transmission And Neuronal Function During Early Disease In The Novel Tgf344-Ad Rat Model, Lindsey Allyson Smith Jan 2018

Pathological Changes In Hippocampal Synaptic Transmission And Neuronal Function During Early Disease In The Novel Tgf344-Ad Rat Model, Lindsey Allyson Smith

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in those 65 years and older and the 6th leading cause of death in the United Sates. Current treatments only target symptoms of the disease and cannot slow or halt disease progression. The novel and comprehensive TgF344-AD rodent model may bridge the translational gap previous animal models have failed to traverse by providing the platform to probe pre-lesion synapse dysfunction, which is thought to result primarily from increased levels of toxic soluble amyloid beta and hyperphosphorylated tau. The most recently developed model, the TgF344-AD rat was created in 2013 by insertion …


The Influence Of Perceived Stress And Sleep Disturbance On Fatigue And Blood Pressure As Mediated By Cortisol In Children With Sickle Cell Disease, Heather Carol Soistmann Jan 2018

The Influence Of Perceived Stress And Sleep Disturbance On Fatigue And Blood Pressure As Mediated By Cortisol In Children With Sickle Cell Disease, Heather Carol Soistmann

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ABSTRACT Introduction: Life expectancy is improving for those with sickle cell disease (SCD); however, with this improvement come increasing risks for long-term health complications. Early identification of health concerns could lead to improved long-term health outcomes. Two health concerns in school-age children with SCD are fatigue and blood pressure (BP). Previous research with other populations indicates perceived stress and sleep disturbance may influence outcomes of fatigue and BP. Further, cortisol, a stress hormone, may mediate the proposed relationships. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to determine effect sizes of relationships between fatigue, BP, perceived stress, and sleep disturbance in …


The Primary Cilium Regulates Interstitial Immune Cells During Renal Cystogenesis, Cheng Song Jan 2018

The Primary Cilium Regulates Interstitial Immune Cells During Renal Cystogenesis, Cheng Song

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Renal cysts are a pathological condition that can lead to end-stage renal failure and death. The mechanisms that underlie renal cyst development are under active investigation, and emerging evidence has revealed defects in a number of proteins required for cilia assembly or signaling, such as intraflagellar transport (IFT) proteins and the polycystins. Characterization of mice harboring conditional IFT mutations suggests that the rate of cyst formation is dependent upon the timing of cilia loss. Induction of cilia loss in juvenile mice results in rapid cyst development, while induction of cilia loss in adult mice leads to a slower progressing form …


Reaching Consensus On Global Health Nursing Competencies For Baccalaureate Nursing Education In The United States: A Delphi Method Study, Herica Maria Torres-Alzate Jan 2018

Reaching Consensus On Global Health Nursing Competencies For Baccalaureate Nursing Education In The United States: A Delphi Method Study, Herica Maria Torres-Alzate

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The purpose of this study was to reach consensus among experts on global health competencies for baccalaureate nursing students in the United States. A Nursing Global Health Competencies Framework (NGHCF) was created to guide identification of the domains and competencies for BSN nursing education. A three-round modified Delphi study intersected with a mixed methods research approach to reach consensus from experts in global health on essential global health competencies in nursing. The first phase revised the original list of competencies based on: (a) qualitative responses to the surveys conducted by Wilson et al. (2012), Ventura et al. (2014), and Warren …


St6gal-I Sialyltransferase Regulates The Activity Of Surface Receptors To Control Cell Signaling In Cancer And Immune Cells, Andrew Holdbrooks Jan 2018

St6gal-I Sialyltransferase Regulates The Activity Of Surface Receptors To Control Cell Signaling In Cancer And Immune Cells, Andrew Holdbrooks

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Among the four classes of biological macromolecules, glycans are essential for proper cellular functioning. However, our knowledge of the contribution of these sugars, including the glycosyltransferases that add them, to cell signaling is limited. This dissertation focuses on the role of the ST6Gal-I sialyltransferase in modulating receptor-mediated signal transduction in cancer and inflammation. ST6Gal-I is a Golgi enzyme that conjugates α2-6-linked sialic acids to N-linked glycans on select glycoproteins. Through its sialylation of surface receptors, ST6Gal-I activity can significantly modify their function. The first section of this dissertation concentrates on the ST6Gal-I-mediated regulation of the signaling pathway of TNFR1, which …


Applying Polytomous Rasch Analysis To Validate Parenting Related Scales, Lei Huang Jan 2018

Applying Polytomous Rasch Analysis To Validate Parenting Related Scales, Lei Huang

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This study applies Rasch analysis to validate two scales in the Parenting for the First-time project: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Parenting Stress Index (PSI). The main purpose of this study is to evaluate quality of the two scales by using Rasch analysis to examine the unidimensionality, reliability, fit statistics, group and time invariance, and optimal response categories. Meanwhile, this study also compares the results of Rasch model and Classical Test Theory (CTT) to assess the advantages of Rasch analysis. Result: Both Rach analysis and CTT show the evidence of unidimensionality of BDI-II in the three administrative periods: Prenatal, 6 …


Prenatal And Postnatal Factors Regulate Food Intake And Body Composition, Minsung Kang Jan 2018

Prenatal And Postnatal Factors Regulate Food Intake And Body Composition, Minsung Kang

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This research sought to identify the effects of prenatal and postnatal factors on systemic metabolism and the regulation of food intake, weight, and body composition. It was found that the manipulation of maternal diets influenced the systemic metabolism of offspring. The offspring of dams fed an isocaloric, low protein diet were significantly smaller and consumed less food than offspring from dams fed a control diet. In the case of the offspring from dams fed a western diet, they were significantly heavier and consumed more food than offspring from dams fed a control diet. In addition, the offspring showed altered glucose …


An Investigation Of Sla Class Ii As A Xenoantigen, Joseph Ladowski Jan 2018

An Investigation Of Sla Class Ii As A Xenoantigen, Joseph Ladowski

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Xenotransplantation, using genetically-modified pigs as organ donors, is a potential solution to the growing transplant organ shortage. Avoiding antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is the remaining hurdle to widespread application. The development of a triple glycan knockout pig reduced antibody binding to clinically acceptable levels, allowing for the screening of the history of antibodies to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In allotransplantation, the MHC is a group of proteins divided into two classes and anti-MHC antibodies possess the ability to cause both acute and chronic AMR. The pig MHC, the swine leukocyte antigen (SLA), is a hypothesized target of antibodies. This dissertation …


Mechanisms And Treatment Of Halogen Inhalation-Induced Pulmonary And Systemic Injuries In Pregnant Mice, James Lambert Jan 2018

Mechanisms And Treatment Of Halogen Inhalation-Induced Pulmonary And Systemic Injuries In Pregnant Mice, James Lambert

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Toxic chemicals may pose an increased threat to vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and their unborn fetuses. The halogen bromine has numerous industrial utilities that include flame retardant, pharmaceutical, insecticide, and bleaching additive production. At room temperature, bromine is a volatile liquid. When the gas is inhaled, bromine causes exposure-dependent acute and chronic pulmonary and systemic injuries that range from mild eye and airway irritation to severe damage to the cardiopulmonary system and other organs, which can lead to death. If exposure is survived, patients still may develop reactive airway disease syndrome and pulmonary fibrosis as well as restrictive …


The Oxidative Tyrosine Modification, O,O’-Dityrosine, In Lung Disease, Morgan Locy Jan 2018

The Oxidative Tyrosine Modification, O,O’-Dityrosine, In Lung Disease, Morgan Locy

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The oxidative tyrosine modification, o,o′-dityrosine, has been identified in various pathologic conditions associated with oxidative stress in mammalian systems, and demonstrated to be important in physiologic processes in invertebrate organisms. The formation of o,o’-dityrosine is catalyzed by a heme peroxidase (hPx) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The understanding of this stable, covalent tyrosine modifica-tion in lung biology is limited. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various lung diseases, including interstitial lung disease (ILD) and cystic fibrosis (CF). We observed that the oxidative protein modification, o,o’-dityrosine, was markedly ele-vated in the circulating plasma of ILD patients …


Financial Distress – Causes And Consequences: An Examination Of The Nursing Home Industry, Justin Caleb Lord Jan 2018

Financial Distress – Causes And Consequences: An Examination Of The Nursing Home Industry, Justin Caleb Lord

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Nursing homes operate in a tumultuous and changing environment and are under increasing financial pressure, risk of closure, and financial distress. The issue of financial distress has been explored tangentially within the nursing home industry. This study is the first to validate the Altman Z-Score, a financial distress prediction model, within the nursing home context. The Altman Z-Score model uses multiple discriminate analysis (MDA) to examine multiple financial ratios (liquidity, efficiency, profitability and net worth) simultaneously to predict the likelihood of a firm’s financial distress. After calculating the Z-Score, clustering was used to classify the observations into three groups, distressed, …


Assessing The Comparative Effect Of Tocilizumab On Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Using Claims Data: A Direct Comparison Among Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs, Fenglong Xie Jan 2018

Assessing The Comparative Effect Of Tocilizumab On Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Using Claims Data: A Direct Comparison Among Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs, Fenglong Xie

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ASSESSING THE COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF TOCILIZUMAB ON RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AMONG RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS USING CLAIMS DATA: A DIRECT COMPARISON AMONG BIOLOGIC DISEASEMODIFYING ANTIRHEUMATIC DRUGS FENGLONG XIE PhD-EPID ABSTRACT Tocilizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-body against the interleukin-6 receptor and is effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [1]. Multiple studies have observed unfavorable changes in the lipid profile of tocilizumab-treated RA patients. Few studies have compared the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk associated with tocilizumab to other biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDS). Due to limitations in existing studies, the real-world association of tocilizumab with CVD risk remains uncertain. …


Cigarette Smoking Among Hiv-Positive Patients In Routine Clinical Care, Cosmas Mudenda Zyambo Jan 2018

Cigarette Smoking Among Hiv-Positive Patients In Routine Clinical Care, Cosmas Mudenda Zyambo

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People living with HIV (PLWH) are two to three times more likely to be current smokers, less likely to quit smoking and more likely to relapse than those in the general population. Although smoking status, prescription of smoking cessation medications (SCMs), smoking cessation and relapse has been explored in this population, few have investigated using a large sample of PLWH receiving routine HIV care. Using data from a large observational cohort of PLWH receiving routine care in Birmingham, we determined: 1) Factors associated with smoking status; 2) Factors associated with prescription of SCMs; 3) Predictors of smoking cessation and; 4) …


Novel Mediators Of The Blood Pressure Response To Acute Psychosocial Stress In Health And Disease, Brandon Fox Jan 2018

Novel Mediators Of The Blood Pressure Response To Acute Psychosocial Stress In Health And Disease, Brandon Fox

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Psychosocial stress occurs in response to threatening or uncertainty-provoking stimuli and triggers a complex physiological reaction that facilitates survival and adaptation. In the cardiovascular system, acute psychosocial stress elicits a rapid increase in blood pressure, and importantly, cumulative exposure to psychosocial stress is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The present studies examined the impact of psychosocial stress on the cardiovascular system in both health and disease. Circulating endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels are induced by psychosocial stress. We hypothesized that endothelium-derived ET-1 contributes to the pressor response to stress via activation of the endothelin A (ETA) receptor. Vascular endothelium-specific ET-1 knockout …