Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Remodeling Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer's Aggressive Profile And Metabolic Signature By Natural Alkaloid Berberine, Tara Elizabeth Jarboe

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a rare, fatal cancer with a five-year survival of 4%. Universally diagnosed at stage IV, anaplastic thyroid cancer is characterized by its lack of differentiation, rapid proliferative rate, highly inflammatory tumor microenvironment, and metabolic dysregulation. Refractory to all established therapies, anaplastic thyroid cancer requires a novel therapeutic approach that targets all of these drivers of anaplastic thyroid cancer carcinogenesis. We propose natural alkaloid berberine as a therapeutic with multitarget efficacy to alter mitochondrial metabolism and reprogram anaplastic thyroid cancer’s aggressive phenotype. Our in vitro model uses monocyte cell line U937, anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines T238 …

Gut Feelings: A Literature Review On The Gut-Brain Axis And Its Potential Influence On Mood, Grace Johnson

University Honors Theses

In recent decades, research on the gut-brain axis has evolved due to an increasing interest in the connection between gut health and mental health. The gut-brain axis presents a new frontier of health for both medical professionals and psychologists as there is expanding evidence illustrating the comorbidity of gut disorders and mood disorders. Due to the complex nature of studying the gut-brain axis and the myriad of influences on mood disorders such as depression, research has yet to find significant results definitively tying the two together. Nonetheless, the current body of literature on the topic provides a promising outlook on …

Remodeling Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer’S Aggressive Profile And Metabolic Signature By Natural Alkaloid Berberine, Tara Jarboe

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a rare, fatal cancer with a five-year survival of 4%. Universally diagnosed at stage IV, anaplastic thyroid cancer is characterized by its lack of differentiation, rapid proliferative rate, highly inflammatory tumor microenvironment, and metabolic dysregulation. Refractory to all established therapies, anaplastic thyroid cancer requires a novel therapeutic approach that targets all of these drivers of anaplastic thyroid cancer carcinogenesis. We propose natural alkaloid berberine as a therapeutic with multitarget efficacy to alter mitochondrial metabolism and reprogram anaplastic thyroid cancer’s aggressive phenotype. Our in vitro model uses monocyte cell line U937, anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines T238 …

The Impact Of Telecritical Care On Length Of Stay In A Critical Care Setting, Mallory Oberts

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: At a major metropolitan VA hospital, there was a lack of adherence by the nursing staff to the TeleCritical Care program for adult patients in the critical care setting.

PICOT: The PICOT question guiding this project was: In adult patients admitted to critical care (P), does the implementation of TeleCritical Care (I) compared to standard critical care without telemedicine (C) decrease length of stay (O) within 8 weeks (T)?

Evidence: The literature review identified improved quality of care delivery, decreased length of stay, and reduced mortality rates as key benefits of implementing TeleCritical Care in …

Evidence-Based Practice For Terminal Extubation: A Guideline Development For Critical Care, Heather Marica

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: In the critical care unit it was identified that providers utilized various practices in managing patients who were to be terminally extubated (TE). The variations in TE practice resulted in healthcare providers engaging in the TE process feeling unsure of the care they were providing and questioning if best practice measures were being implemented.

PICOT: The PICOT question guiding this project was: “In acute care adult patients who are to be TE (P), how does the development of an evidence-based TE guideline (I) compared to current TE practices (C) improve critical care healthcare workers perception and ability to …

Actions To Improve In-Patient Communication On Medication Teaching, Tracy Wei

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Medication education is a national and global patient safety challenge. Healthcare organizations often lack consistent and effective medication teaching policies. Studies have found that the teach-back method is an effective interactive communication practice of medication teaching to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

PICOT: In direct care nursing staff (P), How does an evidence-based medication teaching bundle (I) compared to the current medication teaching practice(C) affect staff adherence to the dissemination of medication teaching to hospitalized patients (O) in 12 weeks (T)?

Evidence: A review and appraisal of 12 research studies demonstrated that the teach-back method was …

An Evidence-Based Approach For Decreasing Burnout In Health Care Workers, Leonor T. Salalila

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Health care worker (HCW) burnout is a pervasive phenomenon within the healthcare industry, affecting professionals across various disciplines. Emotional exhaustion is a prominent feature, leading to feelings of being emotionally drained, overwhelmed, and unable to cope effectively with the demands of the job. Additionally, burnout often results in a significant lack of motivation among HCWs, who may struggle to find meaning and purpose in their work, exacerbating feelings of frustration and disillusionment. Consequences extend beyond individual well-being, impacting healthcare organizations with reduced work efficacy, low productivity, increased absenteeism, and high turnover rates. Addressing burnout requires a multifaceted approach, …

Evaluation Of A Treatment Package To Increase Food Variety For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder With Food Selectivity, Julissa Robles

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities are often likely to develop feeding disorders and certain food selectivity (Wood et al., 2009). Various approaches have been taken to assess food selectivity in children with ASD to increase food consumption. Koegel et al. (2012) found that participants were more likely to try new foods when provided with contingent reinforcement with the choice of their preferred item or toy along with hierarchical exposure to novel foods. The purpose of this study was to extend the findings from Koegel et al. (2012) and assess the effects of using hierarchical exposure …

Risk Factors Of Dental Anxiety And Exploration Of Interventions, Katelin Hancock

University Honors Theses

Within this literature review, the root causes of dental anxiety, current intervention methods, and possible preventative interventions are discussed. Dental anxiety affects millions of individuals across diverse backgrounds and can be detrimental to oral health. This issue can arise from various sources, however, different socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors can contribute to an individual's risk of developing dental anxiety. Understanding what predisposes certain populations to become more likely to develop dental anxiety is imperative to holistically address the concern. Investigating the relationship between lack of access, oral health, and anxiety levels allows for an understanding of the root causes of anxiety. …

Retirement And Cognitive Aging: Modifying Factors, Britney M. Veal

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Due to the increase in the aging population and individuals spending more years in retirement, researchers and public health policymakers have expressed a growing interest in understanding retirement and the overall effects on health and aging. One area that is gaining attention is retirement and its effect on cognition. However, the association between retirement and cognition remains unclear, and pre-retirement modifying factors such as reasons for retirement and longest-held occupation have not been thoroughly assessed. Therefore, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; n = 3,838) and mixed effects models, this dissertation aimed to examine the association between …

Transition Programs For New Nurses In Practice, Karissa Sandland

Nursing Masters Papers

Retention of nurses is a continuous topic focused in all levels of nursing. New graduate nurses have a higher turnover rate due to lack of support and lack of education causing them to find an alternative position. Transition programs can aid in retention of new graduate nurses. The aim of this paper is to explore best practices for transition programs for new graduate nurses in improving retention rates. An integrative literature review was used to find supportive literature of transition programs and retention of new graduate nurses. Twenty-eight articles were found. Results of the literature review showed transition programs involving …

Deep Learning Approaches For Cancer Prognosis Prediction Using Histopathological, Omics, And Clinical Data, Shuai Jiang

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Accurate prediction of patient outcomes is crucial for shared clinical decision-making, treatment planning, and patients' psychological adjustment. Histopathological features of cancer, including tumor size, lymph node involvement, and metastasis, are commonly incorporated into survival prediction models, underscoring the prognostic value of whole slide images (WSIs). Concurrently, studies have highlighted the significance of omics data, such as transcriptomics, in providing valuable insights into cancer prognosis.

The emerging deep learning methods have brought new opportunities in biomedical informatics. Despite a growing body of studies on the application of deep learning methods for predicting prognosis using WSIs, the results are varied, primarily due …

Parents As Reporters Of Middle School Students’ Subjective Well-Being, Daijah N. Hines

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Historically, self-report has been the predominant method for assessing the subjective well-being of adolescents (SWB). Regarding the use of secondary reporters, especially parental/caregiver reports, in assessing adolescent SWB, there is a gap in the literature. Gaining a better understanding of how to best evaluate adolescent SWB can assist in the identification of adolescents who may be at risk for mental health concerns or who could benefit from increased well-being. It may also assist in the development of future interventions in positive psychology for adolescents. This validity study explored (1) What is the reliability of a newly developed parent report measure …

Analyzing The Relationship Between Preeclamptic Severity And Placental Methylation, Mackenzie C. Maggio

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Preeclampsia (PE) is a life-threatening hypertensive disorder in pregnancy (HDP) characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. PE poses significant risks to both maternal and child health. An incomplete etiopathogenesis, diverse disease heterogeneity, and limited intervention and detection strategies further exacerbate and perpetuate PE as a major public health concern. By assessing symptom severity of placental tissues from PE pregnancies and analyzing the DNA methylation differences, this thesis aimed to identify epigenetic variations contributing to disease heterogeneity. Using the publicly available dataset GSE 98224, differentially methylated region (DMR) analysis on placental samples (n=48) revealed increasing …

Risk Assessment Of Blood-Borne Pathogen Exposure For Emergency Responders, Jill A. Ireland

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Emergency responders face a significant risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens (BBPs), such as HIV and hepatitis, due to the nature of their work environment. This study investigates this issue utilizing a dual approach of data analysis and online surveys to assess exposure rates, risk perceptions, factors that contribute to risk and prevention practices. In addressing issues ranging from personal protective equipment (PPE) usage to levels of concern surrounding blood and bodily fluid contact, the findings underscore the need for tailored safety measures, comprehensive education, and improved prevention strategies.

The examination of 346 worker's compensation exposure claims highlighted a significant …

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Juvenile Offender Typology, Aliza Beth Lipman

Dissertations and Theses

Approximately 1 in 5 girls and in 20 boys in the United States are victims of child sexual assault every year. Child sexual assault can lead to multiple negative short term and long-term impacts affecting general health, mental health, interpersonal relationships, socio-economic status, criminal behavior and more. Prevention research focuses on a thorough understanding of the perpetrators of assault and the context surrounding offenses in order to reduce and prevent assault. Within this research, juvenile offenders are perceived as a single homogenous group whereas adult offenders are consistently specified based on offender and offense characteristics. The exploration of the relationship …

Comparison By Race/Ethnicity And Social Determinants Of Health In Early Postpartum Maternal Morbidities, Cynthia Joy Garringer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal mortality continues to increase in the United States, despite medical advances. Patients with negative social determinants of health (SDOH) and racial/ethnic minorities are at increased risk for maternal morbidities although most mortality and morbidities found in maternal health could have been prevented. The purpose of this study, guided by the SDOH conceptual mode, was to examine the relationship between the five components of SDOH and early postpartum morbidities among minority racial and ethnic groups. Secondary data (n = 1401) were obtained from a state health department in the Midwest for women who delivered in the year 2022 from one …

Interrelationships Among Local Values Of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, Heat Index, And Adjusted Temperature, Andrea Giraldo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Occupational heat stress significantly affects outdoor workers who face challenges due to increased heat exposure. Because of the prevalence of heat illness, it is important to measure heat stress for outdoor workers. Monitoring occupational heat stress most often relies on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) measure. Heat Index (HI) is a widely used measure to account for air temperature and humidity. Adjusted Temperature (Tadj) considers air temperature, humidity and estimates radiant heat. There is interest in predicting WBGT from HI and HI from WBGT. This study builds on previous USF research by Bernard and Iheanacho and Irvin to evaluate …

The Positive Impact Of Reducing Polypharmacy On The Quality Of Life For Older Adults With Serious Illness, Stephanie Orlando

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem

The rising prevalence of chronic health conditions, the aging of the population, and advances in healthcare technology have contributed to the rampant over-prescribing of medications and the prescribing of potentially inappropriate medicines (PIMS) in community-dwelling older adults. Additionally, reluctance by the medical community to deprescribe and resistance among patients and their caregivers due to misperceptions about withdrawing treatment has further perpetuated the problem.

PICOT

The PICOT question for this project was, in community-dwelling older adults over age 60 receiving palliative care, does the implementation of an interprofessional deprescribing intervention compared to standard care by a home-based medical care …

Preliminary Investigation Of Differences In Host Mitochondria Membrane Potential During Toxoplasma Gondii Infection, Bryan L. Ortega

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan with a broad host range of hosts, including various warm-blooded mammals, including humans. While infections can often be asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, they can pose significant risks to those who are immunocompromised, as well as pregnant women. Toxoplasmosis represents a significant burden on public health in the United States, with over 800,000 annual infections reported, often leading to severe complications such as symptomatic eye disease and congenital infections. Recent attention has developed regarding its potential association with human neuropathies such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and mood disorders. This project investigated differences in host …

Exploring Practices Of Board-Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialst Physical Therapists In Addressing Needs Of Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Olga Chaikovsky

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

ABSTRACT

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex condition affecting multiple domains of development. Physical Therapists (PTs) are members of the interprofessional team addressing the needs of individuals with ASD. A lack of uniformity in evidence-based assessments and practices employed by therapists to address the needs of children with ASD exists in the literature. PTs often implement approaches that are not evidence-based but rather learned from more experienced professionals or discovered by trial and error.

Pediatric clinical specialist physical therapists (PCSPTs) are PTs who possess advanced education and clinical skills in Pediatrics. As pediatric experts, PCSPTs play a major …

Policy Review And Recommendation: Full Practice Authority For Nurse Practitioners In The Southwestern United States, Sara J. Rowe

Student Scholarly Projects

This policy analysis investigates the benefits of full practice authority (FPA) for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in the Southwestern United States, using Arizona as an FPA model and California and Tennessee as comparison states. The PICO question that directed the project is: for NPs practicing as advanced practice nurse practitioners within the Southwestern United States region (P), does a comprehensive policy recommendation for FPA for NP-led clinics in the secondary education space (I) compared to existing variable approaches within the region (C) improve access to care and direct or indirect patient outcomes as endorsed by the literature (O)? A comprehensive literature …

Understanding Adherence To Prescribed Medical Regimen To Treat Hypertension Among African American Males, Yolanda Lucian George

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension is referred to as the silent killer and has been for decades. African Americans have been affected disproportionately compared to Whites, leading to a significant medical and financial burden. The literature has demonstrated that even though African Americans have a similar or better awareness of hypertension, they are more likely to have poorer treatment outcomes and have their hypertension less controlled. In this study, the health belief model and the ecological social model were used as the guiding framework to understand this phenomenon. In this qualitative study, semistructured interviews were used to explore and understand the perception of adherence …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Beliefs Toward Third Hand Smoke, Gisele Tah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Third hand smoke (THS) is gaining significant interest in the environmental and public health fields as a new but dangerous phenomenon. THS is identified as a form of passive smoke consisting of residual nicotine and chemicals that settle on surfaces. THS is reported to be genotoxic in human cells, yet the public has limited or no knowledge of this new concept. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive, descriptive study was to discover and describe the level of knowledge, attitudes, practices, and beliefs regarding THS among individuals in an eastern U.S. state. Social cognitive theory provided the theoretical framework for this …

A Phenomenological Study On Preschool Educator Experience In Re-Imagining Play And Play-Based Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ronabeth Keh So

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explores how play-based preschool educators experienced and re-imagined play and play-based learning throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Semistructured interviews were conducted with six teachers and three administrators from three private Midwest play-based institutions. This study uncovers preschool educators’ experiences of engaging in play-based learning throughout the different phases of the pandemic and delves into the issues and challenges of online learning and the subsequent return to the classroom. Results show that despite pedagogical adjustments and limitations brought about by online learning modalities and pandemic related restrictions, the nature of play remains unchanged and continues to be vital to …

Nigerian Nurses' Perceptions Of Caring For Women With Female Genital Mutilation, Jane-Frances Echeozo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are numerous health problems associated with female genital mutilation (FGM) practice. In Nigerian healthcare, professionals need to ensure culturally sensitive care for FGM cases. However, there was a literature gap involving culturally sensitive care for Nigerian women with FGM complications, evidenced by some northern Nigerian nurses who were not able to identify FGM categories or cultural given names associated with FGM types. Thus, this qualitative study involved ascertaining the worldview of Nigerian nurses and midwives in Owerri regarding providing culturally competent nursing care for FGM complications, guided by the process of cultural competence in the delivery of healthcare services …

The Moderating Effect Of Race On The Relationship Between Perceived Supervisor Support And Burnout Amongst Public Health Workers, Douglas Diontay Gaffney, Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent research has shown that burnout is a prevalent problem across the public health workforce. Burnout (BO) contributes to workplace challenges in turnover, employee performance, job satisfaction, and overall quality of life, and is more prevalent among racial minorities. Not only has BO been found to differ across racial demographics, employee perceptions about their level of support from supervisors (PSS) also differ. This quantitative study, informed by Meyer’s minority stress theory, examined Black-White differences in PSS and BO, and whether race moderated the relationship between PSS and BO. Data collected by De Beaumont’s 2017 national public health workforce interest and …

Evaluating A Common Book Program's Effect On Gains In Knowledge And Position Toward Sustainability In The Nutrition Professions, Hallie Lanice Shupe

Master's Theses

A Common Reader Program, also called a common book, summer reading, or a one-book program, has been reported to enhance the college educational experience yet appears to have been underutilized by colleges and universities. In the case of health sciences, there can be great benefits in having students learn from the literature not typically found in textbooks used in the curricula. Common reader programs allow for different teaching methods to be implemented and using multiple teaching methods in a single program can be beneficial. In nutrition and dietetics (ND) programs there is a need for additional education regarding sustainability in …

Selective Targeting Of Microglia By Quantum Dots And Green Synthesis Of Metal Organic Biohybrids; Applications In Dynamic Cell And Assay Systems, Navya Uppu

Doctoral Dissertations

Neurological disorders are the leading cause of physical and cognitive disability across the globe, currently affecting approximately 15% of the worldwide population. Part of the glioma microenvironment are microglia, resident immune cells of the CNS that were thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of diverse neurodegenerative diseases. Though it remains uncertain what triggers microglial activation in these disorders, targeting and tracking microglial functions using nanotools like Quantum Dots (QDs) could help us elucidate them in such neurological diseases. This research focuses on the comparative study of different QDs formulations and their selective uptake by brain microglia in primary cultures …

Impact Of Visitation On The Mental Health Outcomes Of Patients In The Icu Environment, Nicole Conte

Nursing Undergraduate

Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are hospital units designed to help care for patients who are critically ill. The ICU provides these patients with specialized medical and nursing care, enhanced monitoring, and multiple approaches to help physiologic organ support. These units handle severe, life-threatening medical cases (Marshal et al., 2017). Patients in these intensive care units experience a wide variety of changes which can contribute to their mental health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, …