Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Decoding Implant-Related Sickness: Unraveling The Complexities Of Breast Implant Illness, Madison M. Stewart

Senior Theses

This thesis investigates the phenomenon of breast implant illness (BII), examining its potential correlation with individual factors such as obesity and poor lifestyle habits. BII, characterized by nonspecific symptoms, is often self-diagnosed by patients influenced by social media and internet sources, leading to requests for implant removal. Conducting a comprehensive meta-analysis, the study scrutinizes existing literature to evaluate the association between BII, obesity, and lifestyle choices. Employing inclusion criteria, peer-reviewed publications are analyzed through systematic review methodology to offer insights into the interplay between BII and adiposity, exploring inflammatory mechanisms and patient behaviors like exercise and smoking. The research aims …

Music As A Coping Mechanism: Clinical Implications Of How College Students Utilize Music To Cope With Anxiety, Depression, And Daily Stressors, Karly Pikel

Senior Theses

Many college students face stress, anxiety, and/or depression in their daily lives which they cope with in their own ways. Listening to music or playing an instrument are particularly powerful forms of coping that can have a plethora of positive effects on an individual. The purpose of this study was to conduct a survey amongst the University of South Carolina student body to determine how they utilize music to cope in their daily lives. Of 847 respondents, almost all of them reported experiencing some extent of anxiety and/or stress and listening to music to help them cope. Respondents agreed that …

"Fueling For A Healthy Life:" A Cooking Class For Adolescent And Young Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors, Hope Dominique

Senior Theses

Following cancer treatment, childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at an increased risk of developing chronic diseases and face an increased risk of health-related death during adulthood. Recent literature demonstrates that modifying lifestyle factors such as nutrition can reduce the risk of late mortality in survivors, suggesting that interventions promoting a healthy lifestyle may improve quality and quantity of life for CCS. However, many adolescent and young adult (AYA) CCS do not adhere to national dietary guidelines and face both real and perceived barriers to adopting healthier eating habits while in a critical period for establishing behaviors that contribute to lifelong …

”To Be Or Not To Be – It’S Good”: Actor And Student Experiences In A Drama Club For People With Aphasia, Jade K. Hannan

Senior Theses

Individuals with aphasia, a disorder caused by damage to the brain’s language network, confront a variety of social and emotional struggles. While leaving their cognition largely intact, aphasia tremendously impacts a person’s ability to communicate confidently, fracturing their social network and contributing to feelings of loneliness and frustration. To address this persistent need in the chronic aphasia population, the Play on Words drama club at the University of South Carolina provides a forum for people with aphasia (PWA) to engage in dramatic exercises focused on non-verbal communication of emotions, ideas, and stories, culminating the production of an original devised play. …

Elucidating The Role Of Protease-Activated Receptor 2 In Elastase-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, John Pitstick

Senior Theses

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality in the world despite extensive research. As a type of CVD, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) represents a critical medical condition characterized by the localized dilation of the abdominal aorta. Complications from aneurysm development results in catastrophic aortic rupture, which leads to mortality more than 80% of the time. As aneurysm development is typically asymptomatic, many AAAs remain untreated until they present a serious risk of rupture. Additionally, no pharmaceutical treatment exists for AAAs, with the only option being surgical intervention. Despite advancements in diagnostic methods and surgical techniques, the pathogenesis of …

Focus Group And Survey Responses To Postural Feedback During Creative Movement Exploration, Mary C. Matthews

Senior Theses

John H. Riskind’s “appropriateness hypothesis” states that posture, positions, and gestures can be emotionally self-regulating if an individual holds a posture that is appropriate for its context. A litany of studies on power posing suggests expansive postures could increase Feelings of Power. One meta-analytic review demonstrates the “robust” significance for evidence of “power feelings, emotion, or self-esteem” due to postural feedback while cautioning researchers on the empirical invalidity of evidence for behavioral and physiological variables. A qualitative description of individuals’ experiences as they change posture, gesture, and position would direct future research on postural feedback. The current project qualitatively examines …

Exploratory Multiple Regression Analysis Of Predictive Factors On Pediatric Concussion Recovery, Jaimeen Shah

Senior Theses

This study ultimately aimed to find how different extra-clinical factors correlate with different aspects of concussion recovery. This study evaluated 8 different independent variables and their correlation to 4 different dependent variables (that are composed of 11 sub-dependent variables). It was hypothesized that these predictive variables will have a statistically significant impact on somatic, psychological, and cognitive outcomes. Additionally, it was hypothesized that the majority of these predictive factors will have the largest statistically significant impact on cognitive outcomes and that time to biological sex, age, prior concussion history, and household income (in that respective order) would have the strongest …

Promoting Empowerment Among Patients And Collaboration Between Obstetricians And Midwives During The Pregnancy And Birth Experience, Alexandra R. Mcdermott

Senior Theses

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate how obstetricians and midwives promote empowerment among patients and support effective collaboration between providers during pregnancy and childbirth. This thesis explores patient care and interprofessionalism as they relate to maternal health, addressing gaps in knowledge regarding how obstetricians and midwives practicing in or near Columbia, South Carolina view these concepts. An extensive literature review was conducted to fully understand pregnancy and childbirth across history and today, throughout the United States and beyond. Obstetrics, midwifery, and a comparison of these fields were explored thoroughly in addition to an analysis of maternal and infant …

A Comparison Of Curricula At The University Of South Carolina School Of Medicine And The Unité De Formation Et De Recherche Simone Veil And Their Impacts On Student Outcomes, Bailey Kicklighter

Senior Theses

This study examines the impact of medical school curricula on student outcomes. It does so by analyzing the current curricula at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine (USC School of Medicine) and the Unité de Formation et de Recherche Simone Veil (UFR Simone Veil). The UFR Simone Veil is a medical education program at the Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. This research is important because it could encourage educators to examine the effectiveness of their current practices through comparison with the practices of other academic institutions. It also allows students to consider the course of study they might like …

Radiation-Induced Lymphopenia: Understanding, Predictive Modelling And Developing Photon And Proton-Based Mitigation Strategies, Yan Chu

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

It is well recognized that the effectiveness of radiotherapy (RT) requires an intact adaptive immune system, while lymphocytes are highly radiosensitive and are prevalent in the “dose bath” of radiation surrounding the tumor volume. Furthermore, it has been shown that, for nearly all disease sites, radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL) is associated with poor outcomes. Recently, we observed compelling evidence of significant differences in the lymphocyte-sparing effects of proton therapy (PT) vs. photon (or x-ray) therapy (XRT) attributable to the differences in magnitudes of the dose baths of the two modalities. In addition, previous work has further demonstrated that both patient-specific and …

An Informatics Framework For Representing, Detecting, And Measuring Citations Of Biomedical Datasets, Xu Zuo

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Biomedical research is inherently data-intensive, emphasizing the necessity of making data findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) to expedite scientific breakthroughs. Despite the importance, data creators often do not receive sufficient recognition and lack the motivation to publish datasets in accordance with FAIR principles, primarily due to inadequate incentives. Citations serve as a means to attribute credit for dataset creation, track dataset usage, and assess the impact of data. Implementing standardized data citations could significantly enhance the discoverability of data and foster the maintenance of high-quality datasets. Initiatives like DataCite and the FAIRsharing community have been instrumental in addressing this …

Implementing A New Clinical Note Template To Reduce Documentation Burden At A Pediatric Organization, Nikki Blaze

Translational Projects (Open Access)

Clinical notes of a patient’s visit to a healthcare provider are necessary for patient care, reimbursement, and regulatory compliance with federal and state laws. Over time, non-standardized processes within the EHR have led to the increasing use of copy-paste to complete clinical notes, leading to irrelevant information being captured in the notes. Sinsky et al. (2020) shared that 49% of physicians' time is spent within the EHR, completing their documentation, placing orders, and reviewing the patient's chart. The documentation requirements for billing and coding created tension as clinicians sought ways to reduce the documentation burden. To reduce the documentation burden …

Prevalence Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Its Dose-Response Association With Anxiety-Related Stress Symptoms In Young Adults Ages 18 To 44 Years Old In The United States, Kenechukwu O. Nwosu

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Introduction: Adverse childhood experiences are common in the United States with about 64% of the population affected. Adverse childhood experiences are predictors of many chronic diseases including mental illnesses like anxiety. Though non-Hispanic whites are mostly afflicted by anxiety compared to their racial counterparts, minority races like non- Hispanic Black/African Americans disproportionately suffer more dire consequences due to the chronicity of untreated conditions which often result from lack of access to care among other barriers. Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. BRFSS 2022 data set was used to identify 56,598 respondents, ages 18 to 44 years old for analysis. …

Understanding University Support For Suicide Bereavement And Bereaved Experiences: A Phenomenological Study, Kristin May Anderson, Neishamia B. Kayizzi, Brittany M. Lee, Addalee K. Lyon

LMU Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, a multitude of literature have discussed the turbulent nature for young adults to navigate the difficulties of suicide bereavement with lack of support. This experience can be further cumbersome when the bereavement is co-occurring within an academic profession, such as attending university. This study explored three participants experience of suicide bereavement support at a university level, utilizing a phenomenological arts-based approach for inquiry. Data analysis revealed eight common themes that reflect the university students' lived experiences of the phenomenon discussed: Acknowledgment of the communicated loss by faculty, provision of academic support, lack/absence of practice, reluctance, emotional response, …

Genetic Analysis Of Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis Associated Sos1 Missense Variants Of Uncertain Significance In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Himani Patel

Theses

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a disease that can present as benign overgrowth of gingival tissue in the mouth. The overgrowth can enclose the entire mouth and teeth in severe cases or present itself in a concentrated area. Researchers have identified that mutations in the SOS1 gene can be responsible for HGF. This disease can impair basic functions related to the mouth. Eating, smiling, speaking can all be affected. Additionally, excess inflammation can cause periodontal disease because of the difficulty in maintaining proper oral health. Periodontal disease can lead to severe bone loss which can lead to complete loss of …

Predicting Biomolecular Properties And Interactions Using Numerical, Statistical And Machine Learning Methods, Elyssa Sliheet

Mathematics Theses and Dissertations

We investigate machine learning and electrostatic methods to predict biophysical properties of proteins, such as solvation energy and protein ligand binding affinity, for the purpose of drug discovery/development. We focus on the Poisson-Boltzmann model and various high performance computing considerations such as parallelization schemes.

Exploring Barriers To Recruitment And Retention In Cancer Clinical Trials Among Underrepresented Populations: Perspectives Of Clinical Trial Research Coordinating Staff, Sumbul Yousafi

Health Science Doctoral Thesis

Background: Clinical trials are crucial in advancing scientific knowledge and interventions and exploring more efficient and safe treatments to improve patient care and health outcomes. The active participation of patients and researchers has made it feasible to conduct clinical trials that have been ground-breaking and become the standardized practice of care; however, the participation of underrepresented populations in clinical trials has been identified to be low. This issue can impact the generalizability of findings from clinical trials and efforts to promote health equity. Appropriate representation from underrepresented populations in clinical trials is vital; it will contribute to equitable healthcare for …

Redesign Of Robotic Walking Training Device To Involve Zero Gravity Capabilities And Daily Activities, Chad Ballard

Mechanical Engineering Theses

Many patients struggle with disabilities that hinder their ability to walk. This project aimed to create a leg assembly capable of variable gravity so that it could be combined with a Robotic Walking Training Device, and lead to better rehabilitation options for patients. This was accomplished by deriving equations of joint torque, creating circuit diagrams for Arduino systems, modeling leg assemblies in CAD, and finally combining it to create a working small-scale prototype. The result of the prototype testing showed accurate movement on each joint, especially the ankle and knee segments, to create virtual zero gravity. In addition to this, …

Protect Your Youth: Anti-Vaping Campaign For Adolescent Girls, Kerstyn Healy

ALL - Honors Theses

Since 2014, e-cigarettes have been more common among US youth than traditional cigarettes (Dinardo, P. et al., 2019). This switch from smoking cigarettes to vaping comes from a variety of aspects such as convenience, positive advertising, and the flavors of vapes available. Vaping can be done discreetly almost anywhere, allowing for much more frequent nicotine consumption than using traditional cigarettes (Dinardo, P. et al., 2019). 75% of students in 2022 reported seeing vapes in ads, television shows, and other forms of media. Furthermore, e-cigarette companies utilize sponsorships to showcase their companies and brands (ALA, 2024). An estimated 7,700 vaping flavors …

Dementia Implications For Audiology: Cognitive Screening In Clinical Practice, Kelsey May Harris

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

Dementia is a progressive, debilitating cognitive disorder recognized as one of the greatest challenges to global health in the 21st century. In recent years, dementia has gained significant importance in the international health agenda due to the increasing aging population, longer life expectancies, and the substantial socioeconomic burden. Global concern has led to increased efforts to understand, manage, and alleviate its impact. Considering the lack of curative treatments, dementia research and awareness campaigns have intensified with a focus on early detection, prevention strategies, and collaborative healthcare. Prevention has focused on identifying risk factors and modifiable aspects of lifestyle closely linked …

Adoption Of Ventilator-Associated Event Bundle In Adult Critical Care Population, Renee Christine Hayes

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem: The utilization of mechanical ventilatory support is a periodic necessity within critical care. One significant aspect of mechanical ventilatory health management focuses on preventing the sequela of ventilator-associated events (VAE). The societal impact of VAE occurrences weighs heavily on the already burdened registered nurse (RN), health care providers including physicians and advanced practice providers, healthcare system, and overall patient and family wellbeing. Purpose: This project examined if the addition of a ventilator associated event bundle (VB) reduces the occurrence of VAE within the adult patient population requiring mechanical ventilation for longer than 48 hours. Methods: Metric review of VAE …

Post-Discharge Follow-Up Call To Impact Heart Failure Re-Admission Rates, Regina Mitchell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: The clinical setting for this project, a 321-bed southeastern hospital in South Carolina, has an elevated re-admission rate for CHF patients of 22.67% (Ferguson, B. V.P. Quality, personal communication, October 21st, 2022), 1.57% above the Centers for Medicare Services (CMS) benchmark of 21.1% for payment reduction penalties. Purpose: Determine if post-discharge interview phone calls decrease CHF re-admission rates. Methods: A two-group pretest-posttest design will be used. Data will be collected during retrospective unit chart review, weekly chart review of patient participants, and structured post-discharge phone interviews. Inclusion Criteria: English-speaking, adult (>18 years of age) patients with …

Evaluating The Impact Of Rapid Response Electroencephalogram In Post-Cardiac Arrest Patients, Lauren Lee Steffen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Timely diagnosis and treatment of nonconvulsive seizures (NCS) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) are critical for improving patient outcomes after a cardiac arrest. However, NCSE can only be confirmed with an electroencephalogram (EEG), which is either considerably delayed or unavailable in the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Purpose: This project aimed to describe the impact of a rapid response electroencephalogram (rrEEG) brain monitor on improving time- to- acquisition and length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit for post-resuscitated cardiac arrest survivors; additionally, does rrEEG increase nurse's knowledge and confidence in managing complex seizure patterns? Method(s): …

Comparison Of Perceived Stress In First-Year Pre-Med Students And First-Year Medical Students At Usd, Maggie Derner

Honors Thesis

Stress can be caused by many factors, including money, relationships, promotions, grades, and responsibilities. In college, these stressors can be exacerbated. This research dives into stress in both undergraduate students as well as medical students. Previous literature has indicated that high levels of stress are present in students, and it is likely to have negative effects on the students, whether that is their mental or physical well-being. Schools have put interventions in place to help combat the stress levels present in their students. At the University of South Dakota (USD) and USD Sanford School of Medicine (USD SSOM), perceived stress …

Bridging The Gap: Strategies For Enhancing Wic Participation Rates In South Dakota, Melissa K. Wyum

Honors Thesis

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a national program administered by the USDA to State agencies for low-income women and nutritionally at-risk infants and children. South Dakota WIC provides services related to breastfeeding, healthcare referrals, and accessibility/knowledge of nutritious foods. Successes of WIC include improved birth outcomes, decreased healthcare costs, regular immunization rates, establishment of a primary care provider, and improved nutrition status. Although WIC has shown positive health outcomes for mothers and children, the relationship between the barriers of WIC access and resulting health outcomes in South Dakota is unknown. According to the …

Evaluation Of Dietary Probiotic Supplements On Methamphetamine-Induced Impulsive Action In Rats Maintained On A Differential Reinforcement Of Low Rate Schedule, Kaitlyn Steck

Masters Theses

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a chronic, debilitating condition often comorbid with anxiety and depression. Both SUD and affective disorders are characterized by cognitive dysfunction, including impaired decision-making and impulsivity. A mounting body of research implicates gut microbiome alterations as a contributing factor to the pathophysiology of affective disorders. No published studies have assessed behavioral effects of dietary interventions targeting psychostimulant-induced gut microbiome changes. The present study utilized a differential reinforcement of low rate responding schedule (DRL 18 s) as a behavioral index of drug-induced impulsive action to determine if a dietary probiotic supplement alters the behavioral effects of (+)-methamphetamine …

Decoding Disease Mechanisms: Unraveling Large-Scale Biological Data For Novel Therapeutic Target Discovery, Yuntao Yang

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

This dissertation leverages large biological datasets and data-driven research to enhance our understanding of complex human diseases, deploying a unified narrative across three interconnected bioinformatics studies. Each study targets a different biological level, including genes, proteins, cells, and tissues, to uncover disease mechanisms and speed up the discovery of potential therapeutic targets.

The first study addresses gene-level analysis in the context of bladder cancer. It integrates gene expression data from lab models with clinical survival data to identify new therapeutic targets. This research pinpoints the IL6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway as a promising target for treating SMARCB1-deficient bladder cancer, demonstrating how combining …

Detailing The Effects Of Cannabidiol On Exosome Release In Ewing’S Sarcoma, Bennett Hasley

Theses

Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) is a highly aggressive pediatric cancer found within bone that carries a low five-year survival rate within its patients. This is due, in part, to the cancer’s high malignancy properties as well as the development of resistance to the chemotherapies used to combat this cancer. This project aims to determine if cannabidiol (CBD) has an effect on either exosome release or the protein, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) within ES cells. Exosomes are vesicles that can carry proteins and other signaling molecules which are released by the cell and allow for cell-to-cell communication. Within …

Deprescribing Proton Pump Inhibitors In A Rural Health Clinic, Jason Thomas Barney

Doctoral Dissertations & Projects

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been extensively prescribed for gastrointestinal pathologies, contributing to $14 billion in annual expenditure in the United States alone. Inappropriate PPI prescriptions, affecting 48% of adults, raise concerns about prolonged usage and associated health risks. Addressing these issues is vital, considering the significant impact of PPIs on patient health and healthcare costs.

Local Problem: A Midwestern clinic grapples with inappropriate and unnecessary PPI use among patients. In response, a comprehensive deprescribing intervention combining a provider algorithm with patient education was implemented to reduce PPI usage that was medically unnecessary.

Methods: A literature …

From Cough To Crip: The Development Of Codeine From A Purely Medical Substance Into A Popular Recreational Drug, Rhett C. Vaughn

Senior Theses

The research that was conducted aimed to elicit the influence that pop culture has on recreational drug consumption. Specifically, the usage of the drug codeine has become very popular in social media among many influencers. The research focuses on the prevalence of this drug across several media platforms, alongside the growing rate of consumption globally. Research was conducted primarily through combining various databases at various organizations and this study aims to compile the data into one coherent paper regarding codeine in pop culture. While, it cannot be solely attributed to one specific outlet or influence, this study found that alongside …