Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Regulation Of Alpha- And Beta-Actin Isoforms In The Contracting A7r5 Smooth Muscle Cell, Dawn Leah Brown-Turner

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Two isoforms of actin have been found to be present in A7r5 smooth muscle cells, α- and β-actin. This body of work sets out to examine the different regulatory factors of the two actin isoforms during smooth muscle contraction. The response of the actin isoforms to phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu) is markedly different. α-Actin remodels to podosomes around the periphery of the cell, while β-actin merely shortens. One protein involved in smooth muscle contraction induced by PDBu is protein kinase C (PKC). Two inhibitors of PKC, staurosporine and bisindolymaleimide, were used prior to PDBu stimulation and after PDBu stimulation to …

Infected Justice : The Impact Of Hiv/Aids On The Police In Anglo-Phone Sub-Saharan Africa, Nathan Carl Meehan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Sub-Saharan Africa is an epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This disease is affecting nearly every aspect of society in this region. This disease destroys individuals, strains family structures, weakens economies, burdens health systems, and can destabilize entire countries. The police are also being affected by HIV/AIDS. The way in which this disease impacts police organizations in sub-Saharan Africa is understudied. This project sought to estimate the HIV/AIDS impacts on police organizations in Anglo-phone sub-Sahara by utilizing the available literature on how HIV/AIDS affects military, civil service, healthcare, and education organizations in these same countries. It also attempts to identify the …

Harm Reduction In Outpatient Drug-Free Substance Abuse Treatment Settings, Michael Eversman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In the United States, drug-free substance abuse treatment programs generally operate under an abstinence-only, disease model based service orientation. Citing several reasons, critics suggest disease model approaches hinder client utilization and retention within such services. The framework of harm reduction offers an alternative approach to substance abuse treatment services and may have potential for improving utilization and retention outcomes. Yet little is known about how harm reduction is perceived by practitioners in drug-free substance abuse treatment settings, and the circumstances in which harm reduction may or may not be accepted. In addition, despite a body of narrative literature suggesting harm …

Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Spp. In Environmental Settings, Stephen Shost

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Ninety staphylococci carrying the mecA gene, including 17 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), were isolated from environmental settings within New York State. Waterborne staphylococci harboring mecA were isolated from multiple sources: the Hudson River near a combined sewage overflow; urban streams; freshwater and marine beaches; a swimming pool; swimming pool decks; combined sewage; as well as wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) primary sewage influent, mixed liquor, aeration water, and final (unchlorinated) effluent. Environmental MRSA strains were isolated from beach water (n=3); swimming pool deck water (n=1); Hudson River water (n=2); combined sewage (n=3); as well as wastewater treatment plant mixed …

Identification Of B-Cell Epitopes On Domain 4 Of Anthrax Protective Antigen, Cassandra D. Kelly-Cirino

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Protective Antigen (PA) is the receptor binding subunit common to both Lethal (LT) and Edema (ET) toxins, which contribute to the mortality associated with Bacillus anthracis infection. While recombinant PA (rPA) is likely to be an important constituent of second generation anthrax vaccines, evaluating the effectiveness of candidate vaccines is currently difficult, because the specific B cell epitopes involved in toxin neutralization have not been completely defined. The only well characterized antibody, 14B7, has been shown to disrupt the association of PA with the anthrax toxin receptors (ATR) by binding to domain 4 of PA. I hypothesized that other domain …

Organizational Learning And Nursing Home Quality Of Care In New York State, Ting-Wei Chiang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The primary purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship between organizational learning (OL) and nursing home quality of care (NHQC). The present study addresses OL through both descriptive and prescriptive approaches. The descriptive approach proposes a prism model that defines OL from psychological perspectives, structural perspectives, and cultural perspectives. The prescriptive approach illustrates how each dimension of OL can be improved by its corresponding organizational learning mechanisms (OLMs).

Work-Family Conflict And Psychological Distress In U.S. Latino Mothers And Fathers : The Moderating Effects Of Familismo And Gender, Ingrid Vanessa Rodriguez

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Conflicts between work and family domains have been found to negatively affect physical and psychological wellbeing. In studies with European Americans, the relationship between work-family conflict and psychological distress appears to be comparable across gender; however, research with Latinos has found that women experienced significantly more work-family conflict than men. The majority of the work-family literature has focused on work variables that contribute to or reduce work-family conflict and distress; thus, the beneficial aspects of family have been largely ignored. There is some evidence to suggest that a supportive family life could have positive effects on the work domain, thereby …

Biomonitoring For Exposure To Trace Elements In Utero : Analysis Of The Human Placenta, Pamela Catherine Kruger

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The placenta forms in eutherian mammals, and is responsible for the nutrition of the developing fetus. However, maternal exposure to environmental pollutants both before and during pregnancy may result in the passage of toxins through the placental barrier and into fetal tissues. The placenta is the only organ derived from both maternal and fetal tissues, and establishes a link between the fetus and the environmental exposures of the mother. The analysis of placentae for the presence of environmental pollutants offers the possibility of exposure measurements in both the mother and the developing fetus. Specifically, trace element determination in human placentae …

The Psychotherapeutic Use Of Imaginal Dialogue, Jenny Dillman Marks

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

An investigation of the scholarly literature uncovered deep schisms in the philosophy and theory of imagination stemming from long-standing debates. These debates have often been political in nature, and some originate far back in history. Such differences in philosophy are reflected in the varying ways in which client imagination is used in psychotherapy today. Interventions involving imaginal dialogue are generally among those approaches that have not been adequately studied.

Degree Of Vocal Handicap In Two Age Groups Of Individuals, Whitney N. Casey-Heatherman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A healthy, functional voice is a critical aspect of daily life, allowing the expression of basic needs as well as interaction within an individual’s community. Unfortunately, for many adults the voice declines in later life. The purpose of this study was to investigate how normal vocal aging affects the quality of life of the elderly. Two hundred two adults without voice disorders from two age groups (30-50 and 65-85) completed the Voice Handicap Index. Results indicated that the older group felt a greater degree of vocal handicap than the younger age group [F (1,156) = 4.944, p = 0.028]. Implications …

The Lived Experiences Of Older African Americans Residing In Urban Nursing Homes, Marilynn Gail Byrd Knall

Wayne State University Theses

As huge numbers of baby boomers reach old age, an increased need for nursing home care in the future is inevitable. Older people face more complex health issues that often lead to debilitation or disability and thus the need for long-term care. The numbers of consumers needing long-term care services will more than triple during the next 30 years.

African Americans compose less than 10% of nursing home residents and even at age 84 and older, when the likelihood of nursing home placement is higher, proportionately fewer African Americans live in nursing homes. The underrepresentation of ethnic minorities groups in …

Calpain Inhibition Attenuates Inflammatory And Neurodegenerative Events In Animal Models Of Multiple Sclerosis, Mary Kelly Guyton

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects approximately 400,000 people in the United States every year and results in fatigue, visual dysfunction, and paralysis. Inflammatory events associated with MS include activation of auto-reactive T cells and migration of these and other immune cells into the CNS, leading to production of cytokines and other mediators and to demyelination. Astrogliosis and microgliosis are also prominent inflammatory features of MS. Neurodegenerative events such as axonal damage and loss of neurons and oligodendrocytes also contribute to clinical disease symptoms. Cell death is thought to occur, …

Influencing T Helper Cell Bias In Autoimmunity, Jonathan Ty Butler

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects approximately 400,000 people in the United States every year and results in neurological deficits. Inflammatory events associated with MS include activation of auto-reactive T cells and migration of these and other immune cells into the CNS, leading to a coordinated attack upon oligodendrocytes and demyelination. Most current therapies only treat the symptoms of disease, not the cause, which is still in large part unknown. Therefore, the identification of the etiology of this complex disease and the development of new therapies is of great importance. Targeting …

Kangaroo Care In The Nicu: A Practice Guideline, April M. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Infants weighing less than 2500 grams at birth regardless of gestational age are considered low birthweight (LBW) infants (Conde-Aguedelo, Diaz-Rossello, & Belizan, 2003). These infants have a high mortality rate, and often have developmental problems. Every year, there are over 25 million LBW infants born, and most of them are born in developing countries, where they have an even greater morbidity and mortality risk (Conde-Aguedelo, Diaz-Rossello, & Belizan, 2003). In 1978, two physicians. Dr. Rey and Dr. Martinez, proposed and developed the kangaroo mother care (KMC) method at Instituto Materno Infantil in Bogota, Colombia. This method was developed out of …

Frequent Users Of The Emergency Department: A Policy Proposal, Tina Ann Olson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Research has extensively documented that a small number of Emergency Department (ED) patients make disproportionate use of emergency services (Okin et al., 2000). The term “Frequent Users” is used to describe patients who utilize ED services more than four times per year (Byrne et al., 2003). Frequent Users are often times patients with chronic medical, mental health, alcohol and drug problems, as well as other psychosocial issues (Fulde & Duffy, 2006). Homeless people also appear to have significantly higher ED rates than the general population (Pope et al., 2000). Immanuel St. Joseph’s-Mayo Health System (ISJ) ED appears to have many …

Effects Of Dietary And Exercise Interventions On The Incidence Of Metabolic Syndrome, Ricky Mccoy Kirby

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Metabolic syndrome is a serious health problem in the United States. The presence of metabolic syndrome significantly increases the risk of developing type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease by producing a prothrombic state. The prothrombic state that results from the clustering of several independent cardiovascular risk factors within one individual increases the risk of micro and macro vascular changes and eventually to end organ damage.

There is considerable evidence to support the serious nature of this medical condition. Medications used to treat the hypertension, diabetic, and dyslipidemia components of metabolic syndrome can be a significant drain on the monthly budget …

Dietary Interventions To Reduce Metabolic Syndrome In An Uninsured Population: An Evidence-Based Approach, Michele Smith Bednarzyk

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies show that more than one-third of U.S. adults (over 72 million people) were obese in 2005–2006. This includes 33.3% of men and 35.3% of women. Obesity is a primary factor in the development of metabolic syndrome, a condition that places individuals at high absolute risk of mortality and morbidity. The use of a nutritionally balanced diet aimed at weight reduction has the potential to decrease the prevalence of obesity, therefore reducing the incidence of metabolic syndrome and its consequences.

The purpose of this project was to investigate whether individual nutrition counseling would improve the outcomes of patients with …

Obstetrical Screening Practices Of Nurse-Midwives And Nurse Practitioners, Laura Ann Abney

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the continued growth in the numbers of nurse practitioners and certified nurse-midwives, more and more women will receive prenatal care from advanced practice nurses. The purpose of this research was to assess the routine screening practices of advance practice nurses providing prenatal care and to compare those practices with current guidelines. The study focused on five areas of prenatal screening: bacterial vaginosis, group B streptococcus, gestational diabetes, maternal serum markers, and fetal movement monitoring. The interaction model of client health behavior by Cheryl Cox, specifically professional-technical competencies, part of the client-professional element of the model, provided the theoretical framework …

Quality Of Life, Environmental Domain, And Use Of Identification Devices In Nursing, William L. Rhoads

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Significant attention has been brought to the safety of medical and nursing care in acute-care hospitals, but nursing homes are not immune to errors that result in injury (Kapp, 2003). Errors, even minor ones, can have significant impact in this population group of aged, frail individuals (Scott-Cawiezell, et al., 2006). Nursing home residents do not wear an identification device for varied reasons. This places an extra burden on those passing medications to ensure they have the right person receiving the right medication. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between variables with the resident’s willingness to wear …

Consumer Perspectives Of Health During Prenatal Care In The Usa And Iceland: An Exploratory Study, Claudia Wiseman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Prenatal care (PNC) is the healthcare service most often provided to women of childbearing age throughout the world. Poorly understood and defined, based on culture, and expensive for any healthcare system, PNC remains a target for change and improvement. The purpose of this cross-national qualitative research study using narrative inquiry methods was to explore consumer perspectives of individual health and routine PNC in the USA and Iceland. Methods: A purposive sampling technique was used to identify study participants (n = 32) from the United States (n = 16) and Iceland (n = 16). Data were collected via a semi …

Cultural Competence In Long Term Care : A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of Nursing Home Administrators' Knowledge And Perception Of Cultural Competence, Sashai A. Green

HIM 1990-2015

This qualitative phenomenological study examined central Florida's nursing home administrators' knowledge and perception of cultural competence and how they perceive that their knowledge and perceptions impact residents, families, and healthcare. The theoretical framework for this study was explained through Campinha-Bacote's interdisciplinary model of The Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services. The theoretical framework was used to guide research questions, and individual interview questions to obtain nursing home administrator's knowledge and perception of cultural competence. The study explored the level of cultural competence reported by nursing home administrators, their individual perception of cultural competence, their degree of …

Cellular And Molecular Mechanisms Of Toxin Resistance For Endoplasmic Reticulum Translocating Toxins, Christopher Massey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the site of co- and post-translational modification for secretory proteins. In order to prevent vesicular transport and secretion of misfolded or misassembled proteins, a highly regulated mechanism called ER-associated degradation (ERAD) is employed. This pathway recognizes misfolded proteins in the ER lumen and targets them to the cytosol for ubiquitination and subsequent degradation via the 26S proteasome. Sec61 and Derlin-1 are ER pores through which export occurs. AB-type protein toxins such as cholera toxin (CT), Shiga toxin (ST), exotoxin A (ETA), and ricin have evolved means of exploiting the ERAD pathway in order to reach …

Bacterial Selenoproteins: A Role In Pathogenesis And Targets For Antimicrobial Development, Sarah Rosario

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Selenoproteins are unique proteins in which selenocysteine is inserted into the polypeptide chain by highly specialized translational machinery. They exist within all three kingdoms of life. The functions of these proteins in biology are still being defined. In particular, the importance of selenoproteins in pathogenic microorganisms has received little attention. We first established that a nosocomial pathogen, Clostridium difficile, utilizes a selenoenzyme dependent pathway for energy metabolism. Following this initial characterization, we demonstrate that this pathway is linked to production of toxins by this organism. Finally, we show that interruption of selenium metabolism is a viable pathway for development of …

Preventing Cervical Cancer: Challenges To Implementing Hpv Vaccine Strategies Among Medically Underserved Populations, Sharon M. Bond

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Cervical cancer is a major health problem and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. The purposes of this dissertation are threefold; to examine cervical cancer screening methods used in developing countries, evaluate prevailing attitudes toward new human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and share results from a pretest of two instruments designed to measure knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about cervical cancer, human papillomavirus infection and the new vaccines among medically underserved populations. In manuscript I, direct visual inspection (DVI) is a method used to screen for cervical cancer in developing countries where population-based Papanicolaou (Pap) screening is unaffordable …

The Eternal Flame: Politics Of The Olympic Games, Alyssa Gunstrom

Political Science Theses and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to analyze the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) host city site selection process. The recent Beijing Olympics brought to the surface the political implications of the host city selection. Have the past IOC site selections been politically influenced? What factors do the IOC members consider to make their decision? I use data provided by Paul Poast from the University of Michigan that includes data from every Olympic candidate city since the 1960 Roman Games. Some of the variables analyzed include: European and North American Bias, Bribes, GDP and GDP Growth. Using both quantitative and qualitative …

Confronting The Unknown: Mothers’ Reactions, Challenges, And Ways Of Coping With A Child's Diagnosis Of Long Qt Syndrome, Twain Gonzales

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a life-threatening inherited cardiac condition. It is caused by a disturbance in the ion channel genes that control cardiac repolarization, resulting in ventricular arrhythmias that can lead to syncope, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), or sudden cardiac death (SCD). Most deaths occur in children, adolescents, and young adults. Although congenital LQTS occurs in 1/3000 to 1/5000 individuals, to date, little research has been conducted on the psychosocial effects of LQTS. Mothers who are confronted with a new diagnosis of their children’s LQTS are likely to have never heard of the disease prior to diagnosis, and few …

Custom-Made Helmet Fabrication For Occupational Therapists Treating Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury, Megan Schill, Michael Shae

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Soldiers within the Veteran's Administration who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) were the focus of this project. Reports showed a growing number of soldiers have returned from Iraq with head injuries, including cranial and brain defects (Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, 2007). Symptoms individuals with TBI commonly exhibit include dizziness, balance problems, sleep problems, excessive fatigue, headaches, and difficulties with cognitive processes. Other symptoms associated with a TBI are blurred vision, ringing in the ears, and bad tastes in the mouth (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2007). The purpose of this project was to develop …

Development And Localization Of Spike-Wave Seizures In Animal Models, Damien Jon Ellens

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Animal models allow for detailed investigation of neuronal function, particularly invasive localization and developmental studies not possible in humans. This thesis will review the technical challenges of simultaneous EEG-fMRI, and epileptogenesis studies in animal models, including issues related to anesthesia, movement, signal artifact, physiology, electrode compatibility, data acquisition, and data analysis, and review recent findings from simultaneous EEG-fMRI studies in epilepsy and other fields. Original research will be presented on the localization of neuronal networks involved during spike-and-wave seizures in the WAG/Rij rat, a model of human absence epilepsy. Simultaneous EEG-fMRI at 9 Tesla, complimented by parallel electrophysiology, including Multiple …

Hemangiomas Of Infancy: Mesenchymal Stem Cell Tumors Of Perivascular Origin, Christopher Spock

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Introduction: Hemangiomas of infancy (HOI) are the most common benign tumor of childhood. Initially thought to be composed entirely of endothelial cells, it has recently been shown that mesenchymal stem cells reside within these tumors. We propose that hemangiomas represent mesenchymal stem cell tumors of pericyte origin, as demonstrated by expression of pericytic markers (NG2, PDGFR-β, and DLK), neural crest origin (expression of nestin and sox10), expression of factors that play a role in the maintenance of stem cell pluripotency (Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, C-myc, and piRNAs), and a microRNA expression profile suggestive of mesenchymal stem cells. Methods: Quantitative RT-PCR was …

Chest X-Ray Clues To Osteoporosis : Criteria, Correlations, And Consistency, Natalie Renee Simmons

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

The purpose of this study was to determine whether radiologists could accurately assess osteopenia on chest plain films. Two chest radiologists evaluated lateral chest films from 100 patients (80 female and 20 male), ranging in age from 16 to 86 years, for osteopenia and its associated findings. Intra- and interobserver agreement was determined using weighted kappa statistics, and accuracy was assessed by making comparisons to bone mineral density as measured by the non-invasive gold standard of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Overall, radiologists were good at identifying signs of late, but not early, disease. Intraobserver consistency was substantial for fish vertebrae …