Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluation Of The Genetic Resistance Status To Classical And Atypicalscrapie In Karacabey Merino Rams, Yalçin Yaman, Mehmet İhsan Soysal, Cemal Ün

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Scrapie, the oldest prion disease of sheep, has two types: classical and atypical scrapie. It was determined that some nucleotide polymorphisms in the PrP coding gene have affected classical and atypical scrapie susceptibility. Consequently, EU member states have established breeding programs aiming to increase genetic resistance of their flocks to classical scrapie. These breeding programs have primarily been implemented in economically important breeds. Thus, we investigated classical and atypical scrapie related PrP genotypes of the Karacabey merino breed, which is of great economic importance in western regions of Turkey. In relation to classical scrapie, three alleles (ARR, ARQ, and VRQ) …

Vitrification Of In Vitro-Produced Bovine Embryos Matured Inmodified Tcm-199 Medium, Asi̇ye İzem Sandal, Özen Banu Özdaş

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In vitro-produced bovine embryos matured in modified Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM-199) were vitrified at the 7th and 8th days of culture, and development at 48 h after warming was recorded. Ovaries were obtained from a local abattoir, and the oocytes were recovered by slicing method and divided into two main groups. The first group included cysteamine in the TCM-199 (Group A) and the second did not (Group B). They were incubated for 24 h at 38.8 °C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in humidified air. Matured oocytes were fertilized with 1-2 × 106/mL of frozen-thawed bull semen. At …

Whey Protein Content And Fatty Acids Profile In Milk Of Cows Used In Intensiveand Conventional Production Systems With Regard To Stage Of Lactation, Aneta Brodziak, Jolanta Król, Zygmunt Litwinczuk

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of whey proteins and fatty acids profile in milk of cows used in intensive and conventional systems with regard to stage of lactation. For 1846 milk samples the content of total protein, fat and selected whey proteins, and fatty acids profile were analyzed. It was found that stage of lactation had a significant influence on the content of whey proteins in milk of cows from the two production systems. The biggest significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences were observed in lactoferrin concentration, especially in milk of cows used in the conventional …

The First Report Of Eucoleus Dispar (Nematoda: Capillariidae) Inthe Common Buzzard (Buteo Buteo) In Turkey, Di̇nçer Yildiz, Emi̇ne Ümran Bozkurt Büyükçopur, Murat Erdem Gülti̇ken, Kader Yildiz

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

A common buzzard (Buteo buteo) was brought to the Department of Anatomy, Kırıkkale University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, following its death from trauma. The tongue of the buzzard was processed for routine histology and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. A curled Eucoleus dispar and its eggs, embedded in the dorsal epithelium of the tongue, were observed in histological sections during morphological analysis of the papillae lingua in the buzzard under a light microscope. According to the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on E. Dispar in the buzzard in Turkey.

Effects Of Epimedium Polysaccharide On Female Mouse (Mus Musculus)Ovarian And Uterine Development, Seth Yaw Afedo, Yaping Xu, Caroline Wanjiku Muneri, Guochao Ni, Weichao Xu, Rong Rui

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Epimedium polysaccharide (EPS) on ovarian and uterine development in female mice and assess the in vitro maturation (IVM) rate. Healthy Kunming female mice were divided into 4 groups and administered 2, 4, 6, and 8 mg/0.1 mL of EPS, respectively; the control group was given 0.1 mL of 0.9% physiological saline solution. After 7 and 14 days, the mice were sacrificed and their reproductive tracts (uterus, oviduct, and ovaries) were removed. The reproductive tract was weighed; some ovaries were punctured to harvest oocytes for IVM culture and the others were used …

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay For The Detection Of Antibodies Against The Extracellular Domain Of The Oxaa Membrane Protein Of Mycoplasma Suis, Lijun Jia, Mingming Liu, Shoufa Zhang, Lei Zhang, Huanping Guo, Jixu Li

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Epidemics of swine infected with Mycoplasma suis, a hemotrophic pathogen, cause substantial economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. The complementary DNA sequences encoding two predicted extracellular domains of the OxaA protein of M. Suis were obtained using polymerase chain reaction and standard molecular cloning methods. The OxaA domains were expressed separately in Escherichia coli as glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins, designated as GST-A and GST-B. The antigenicity of the GST-A and -B recombinant proteins was confirmed by western blotting. The GST-A and -B proteins were approximately 33.9 kDa and 34.6 kDa in size, respectively. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was …

Evaluation Of Dual-Activity Opioid-Npff Ligands For Antinociception, Jason N. Teng

Honors Theses

Opioids have become a staple in the medical world as an analgesic used to treat acute and chronic pain. However, there are many issues associated with the frequent use of opioids including tolerance, constipation, and opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Fortunately, recent discoveries of neuropeptide FF (NPFF) antagonists, have led to the understanding that tolerance and hyperalgesia caused by opioids can be greatly reduced. This discovery eventually led to the creation of dual ligands with both opioid agonist and NPFF antagonist activity. These dual ligands have been shown to prevent tolerance and opioid-induced hyperalgesia while maintain analgesic qualities in mice. However, these studies …

A Comparison Of The Deaf Community And Hard-Of-Hearing Individuals On Their Knowledge And Opinions Of Cochlear Implants, Marian R. Bryant

Honors Theses

This thesis examined the opinions and knowledge of Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals on cochlear implants. Previous research presented showed the controversial opinions on what was known about cochlear implants as a result of speculation in the Deaf community. This thesis consisted of surveying Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in order to have a better understanding of what is known about cochlear implants and the opinions that concur due to incorrect or correct knowledge. Thirteen subjects, including eight Deaf and seven hard-of-hearing individuals, completed the assessment. The results indicated that uncertainty about cochlear implants still remains; therefore, it is necessary to educate …

Time-Limited Case Management For Homeless Mothers With Mental Health Problems: Effects On Caregiver Mental Health., Judith Samuels, Patrick J. Fowler, Andrea Ault-Brutus, Dein-In Tang, Katherine Marcal

Brown School Faculty Publications

Objective: In this study we test the effect of a time-limited case management model targeting homeless mothers who are experiencing mental health problems. Adapted from an empirically informed intervention to prevent recurrent homelessness among individuals, the Family Critical Time Intervention (FCTI) supports mothers with children for a 9-month period as they move from homeless shelters into affordable housing. The case management team uses a structured intervention to encourage mothers to create and maintain necessary connections in the community for key family supports. Method: We use a longitudinal randomized controlled trial (N = 210) to test whether homeless mothers referred to …

The Rewarding Nature Of Anger Rumination In Borderline Personality Disorder: An Fmri Investigation, Jessica R. Peters

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Anger rumination, or persistently dwelling on feelings of anger, is associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and related features, such as aggressive behavior and cognitive distortions. To develop more effective treatments, it is crucial to understand why individuals with BPD engage in anger rumination despite its negative outcomes. The activation of energy associated with anger, as well as feelings of justification and validation, may be experienced in the short-term as rewarding. This may prevent individuals with BPD from attempting to reduce their rumination.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and behavioral methods were utilized to examine this theory in a sample …

Development Of An Avian Model For Identifying Individual Differences In Drug Vulnerability, Beth A. Rice

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

The attribution of incentive salience to cues that become associated with drugs of abuse is a critical characteristic of individuals who may be vulnerable to drug addiction. Rodents with the propensity to sign track are thought to be vulnerable to drug abuse. The goal of the current work was to investigate whether sign trackers (STs) would acquire cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) to a discrete cue using an avian species. In Experiment 1, sign and goal trackers (GTs) were first identified using a one third rank order split. Following identification, cocaine-CPP was conducted with a discrete cue in each end …

Gαq-Associated Signaling Promotes Neuroadaptation To Ethanol And Withdrawal-Associated Hippocampal Damage, Anna R. Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Prolonged, heavy consumption of alcohol produces marked neuroadaptations in excitatory neurotransmission. These effects are accelerated following patterns of intermittent heavy drinking wherein periods of heavy consumption are followed by periods of abstinence. Studies have shown that neuroadaptive changes in the glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor produces excitotoxicity during periods of withdrawal; however, upstream targets were not adequately characterized. The present studies sought to identify these targets by assessing the role of group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) and intracellular calcium in promoting cytotoxicity of hippocampal cell layers in vitro. It was hypothesized that ethanol-induced activity of mGluR1-and-5 contributes to hippocampal …

Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity Predicts Burnout: A Prospective Study, Renzo Bianchi, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Eric Laurent

Publications and Research

We examined whether interpersonal rejection sensitivity (IRS)—the hallmark of atypical depression – prospectively predicted burnout, controlling for baseline symptoms, history of depressive disorders, antidepressant intake, gender, age, and length of employment (mean between-assessment duration: 21 months; n = 578; 74% female). IRS was related to a 119% increased risk of burnout at follow-up. Three of four burned out participants reported to be affected by IRS, or 2.5 times the rate observed in participants with no (or subthreshold) burnout symptoms. Our study highlights a dispositional factor in burnout’s etiology also known to be a key component of atypical depression’s etiology. The …

Burnout Does Not Help Predict Depression In French Schoolteachers, Renzo Bianchi, Irvin Sam Schonfeld, Eric Laurent

Publications and Research

Objectives: Burnout has been viewed as a phase in the development of depression. However, supportive research is scarce. We examined whether burnout predicted depression among French school teachers.

Methods: We conducted a 2-wave, 21-month study involving 627 teachers (73% female) working in French primary and secondary schools. Burnout was assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory and depression with the 9-item depression module of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 grades depressive symptom severity and provides a provisional diagnosis of major depression. Depression was treated both as a continuous and categorical variable using linear and logistic regression analyses. We controlled …

Non-Invasive Right Ventricular Efficiency Using 4d Flow Mri, Alejandro Roldán-Alzate, Scott Grogan, Heidi Kellihan, Alessandro Bellofiore, Naomi Chesler, Oliver Wieben, Christopher Francois

Faculty Publications

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease of increased resistance to flow through the lungs, leading to right ventricular (RV) failure [1]. MRI is increasingly used to assess right ventricular (RV) function in PH. RV stroke work (SW) based on invasive pressure and volume measurements, is used to assess ventricular work. Determining RV work from MRI could enable a more complete characterization of RV and PA interactions in PH. The purpose of this study was to non-invasively estimate RV work from simultaneously acquired RV volume (VRV) and pulmonary artery flow (QPA) using a 4D flow-sensitive MRI sequence …

Exploring Communication Patterns In The Discussion Of Maternal Pku Syndrome Between Parents And Daughters, Hannah Beth Andrews

Theses and Dissertations

Maternal PKU syndrome is the collection of features and birth defects that arise from uncontrolled phenylalanine levels in a pregnant woman with phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency, previously known as phenylketonuria (PKU). Currently, the literature is lacking in exploring what young women are being told about maternal PKU syndrome. In this study, communication patterns between parents and their daughters about maternal PKU syndrome were investigated through an online survey completed by parents. The survey assessed parents’ level of comfort with this topic, the information they discussed with their daughter and the resources they accessed. Followup interviews were conducted with participants to …

Evaluating Changes In Patient Anxiety Regarding Classic Cancer Genetic Testing Versus Expanded Multiplex Cancer Genetic Testing, Andrew Todd Alfonso

Theses and Dissertations

Multiplex cancer genetic testing by next generation sequencing (NGS) offers genetic counselors and patients new options for testing multiple genes beyond BRCA1 and BRCA2, increasing both the yield of positive results and the number of variants of uncertain significance (VUS). This pilot study explored three psychosocial questions related to multiplex cancer genetic testing: 1). Do anxiety levels differ in patients with results of familiar single gene testing versus those with results of multiplex cancer genetic testing of unfamiliar genes? 2). Do different results (i.e., negative, positive, or VUS) affect patient anxiety levels in the post-results period? 3). Is patient anxiety …

Variant Reclassification In Cancer Genetic Testing: Are Genetic Counselors Prepared? A Review Of Current Practices, Niamh Gemma White

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Cancer genetics has emerged as a critical specialty within the field of genetic counseling. Advancements in research are constantly uncovering new insights into the genetics of cancer and inherited cancer syndromes. It is crucial that genetic counselors and the institutions in which they work are in sync with these advancements. Currently, multiplex or multi-gene cancer testing is rapidly being adapted into the cancer genetic counseling setting. The ‘hot topic’ of an increased likelihood of receiving variant results following such testing has been explored in depth in the literature. However, research surrounding genetic counseling practices and the reclassification of VUS …

An Evidence-Based Approach To Prepare Interdisciplinary Team Members For Implementation Of The Abcde Bundle, Jessica Murner Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations

Quality improvement projects contribute to the development of evidence-based management strategies for successful implementation of evidence-based practices in health care, thus reducing the risk of change implementation failure. This study assessed practice change implementation strategies for the awakening and breathing trial coordination, delirium assessment and management, early exercise and mobility (ABCDE) bundle. The ABCDE bundle is an evidence-based, interdisciplinary framework for managing pain, agitation, and delirium, reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation, and supporting early mobility in critically ill patients. The purpose of this study was to implement a nurse-driven initiative to design and put into place an evidence-based approach …

Eye Movements Of Individuals With Aphasia During Reading And Scene Viewing, Kimberly G. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This project characterized eye movements of individuals with aphasia and age-matched participants during reading and scene viewing.

Methods: Individuals with aphasia (N=24) and age-matched controls participants (N=24) completed three eye tracking studies. Study 1 examined task-related changes in eye movements for scene search, scene memorization, text-reading, and pseudoreading. Ex-Gaussian, analysis of variance, and correlational analyses were used to compare differences in eye movements across tasks and participant groups. Study 2 examined how oculomotor and linguistic processing influence eye movements for textreading and pseudo-reading. In addition to the statistical analyses used in Study 1, four case studies were carried out …

Exploring The Association Between Network, Cognitive, Structural Social Capital And The Risk Of Clinical Depression In Taiwan, Yun-Hsuan Wu

Theses and Dissertations

Depression is the one of most common mental health conditions in Taiwan. Although evidence suggests that social capital is associated with depression, few studies have comprehensively explored the influence of social capital on depression. Also evidence in Taiwan is limited in comparison to other Western countries. Data from the 1997 Taiwan Social Change Survey (n=2,598), which is the only dataset that contains the best available information to measure and compare all three dimensions of social capital (network, cognitive, and structural social capital), were used to examine the association between three dimensions of neighborhood- and individual-level social capital and depression among …

Environmental Exposures And Childhood Pulmonary Function, Pallavi Prakash Balte

Theses and Dissertations

Fetal origins of adult disease hypothesis states that adverse influences early in developmental period and particularly during intrauterine life can result in permanent changes in physiology which may lead to increased disease risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Both fetal and adolescent period are critical time periods for development of lungs. Any adverse environmental exposures during these critical periods of lung growth is a form of programming which can have long term effects on pulmonary function. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the association between different environmental exposures and pulmonary function in children and late adolescents. The first …

Statewide Scale-Up Of Group Prenatal Care In South Carolina, Kristin M. Van De Griend

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Poor birth outcomes and racial disparities in birth outcomes in South Carolina are widely recognized problems. To improve maternal and child health outcomes, especially among vulnerable groups, universal access to timely, appropriate, and effective care should remain a priority through increased availability and accessibility. An interagency collaborative in South Carolina expanded CenteringPregnancy (CP) from two to five medical practices throughout the state. CenteringPregnancy is associated with improved birth outcomes and reduced rates of racial disparities in preterm birth throughout the United States. Important questions in the literature remain about strategies and determinants of scaling up sexual and reproductive …

Characterization Of Stard4 And Stard6 Proteins In Human Ovarian Tissue And Human Granulosa Cells And Cloning Of Human Stard4 Transcripts, Aisha Shaaban

Theses and Dissertations

Progesterone is essential hormone for pregnancy, which is produced by the human corpus luteum in early pregnancy until the placenta assumes this function. Transport of the cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane is the rate limiting step for the de novo synthesis of pregnenolone (the precursor to progesterone), a process mediated by STARD1. STARD1 contains a C-terminal lipid binding domain which binds cholesterol and an N-terminal domain targeting STARD1 to the mitochondrial membrane. Unlike STARD1, STARD4 and STARD6 proteins lack a mitochondrial targeting sequence; however, they can bind cholesterol and increase steroidogenesis in model systems. In this …

Experiences Of Parents Caring For Infants With Rare Scalp Mass As Identified Through A Disease-Specific Blog, Miranda Worthen, Tara Leonard, Thomas Blair, Nalin Gupta

Faculty Publications

Background: Delayed subaponeurotic fluid collection (DSFC) is a self-limited disorder of unknown etiology characterized by a benign, fluid-filled mass in the subaponeurotic layer of an infant's scalp. While a few case series describe DSFC, the experiences of families whose infants develop this condition have not previously been reported.Methods: We used a disease-specific blog to evaluate the experiences of 69 families affected by DSFC. We identified self-reported clinical features of DSFC and qualitatively analyzed the families' experiences with obtaining a diagnosis and care for their infants.Results: Infants presented in several clinical settings, and multiple diagnostic procedures were administered, including ultrasound (46%), …

Easing My Burden: A Grounded Theory Study Of Kidney Transplant Recipients' Experience With Their Transplant Coordinators, Gwen E. Mcnatt

Dissertations

Organ transplantation holds the promise of new life or better life for thousands of Americans every year. Transplantation involves a process that stretches over time beginning at referral, moving to transplantation and long term care. The transplant coordinator is considered an integral part of this care. Transplant coordinators are considered so important to the care of these patients that transplant centers are required to have at least one transplant coordinator by federal regulations.

The role of the transplant coordinator, however, is not well defined. Although many of the role dimensions attributed to transplant coordinators are consistent with nursing practice, the …

The Role Of Vitamin D In Diabetes And Cardiovascular Disease: An Updated Review Of The Literature, Dimitrios Papandreou, Zujaja Tul Noor Hamid

All Works

© 2015 Dimitrios Papandreou and Zujaja-Tul-Noor Hamid. The dietary reference values for Vitamin D were set primarily considering its role in bone health, but with the discovery of Vitamin D receptors throughout body tissues, new links with other health conditions are now studied, such as for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This paper shall analyze and examine all new research studies carried out, especially in 2013-2015 regarding diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Vast research has been carried out to establish strong relationship between Vitamin D serum levels, supplementation, diabetes, and CVD. However, the results from researches identified in …

Prolonged Fatigue In Ukraine And The United States: Prevalence And Risk Factors, Fred Friedberg, Nathan L. Tintle, Jake Clark, Evelyn Bromet

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Background: Prolonged, severe, unalleviated fatigue may be disabling whether it occurs on its own or in conjunction with medical or psychiatric conditions. This paper compares the prevalence and correlates of prolonged fatigue in general population samples in Ukraine versus the US. Methods: Population surveys were conducted in 2002 in both Ukraine (Ukraine World Mental Health [WMH] Survey) and the US (National Comorbidity Survey-Replication; NCS-R). Both surveys administered the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0), which contained modules assessing: neurasthenia (prolonged fatigue); mood, anxiety, and alcohol/drug use disorders; chronic medical conditions; and demographic characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine …

Best Practice For A Standardized And Safe Registered Nurse Shift Handoff, Nancy Rankin Ewing

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most important times for the delivery of patient care occurs during the change of shift handoff between professional nurses. This complex interchange of information and responsibility carries with it distinct possibilities for error that can adversely affect a patient’s hospitalization, safety, and the quality of patient care outcomes (Blouin, 2011; Hilligoss & Cohen, 2011). Communication errors, including errors during shift handoff, account for more than 70% of sentinel events that occur in the provision of healthcare in the acute care setting (Federwisch, 2007; Streeter, 2010). Poorly conducted and unstructured shift handoffs are known to result in delayed …

Plasmablastic Lymphoma Of The Oral Cavity With Breast Recurrence: A Case Report, Zarka Samoon, Romana Idrees, Nehal Masood, Tayyaba Zehra Ansari

Department of Radiation Oncology

Background: Plasmablastic lymphoma is an aggressive variant of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, mostly found in the oral cavity and associated with human immunodeficiency virus. There are no clear guidelines for its treatment. Therapies more intensive than cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone are not associated with a prolonged survival. Lymphomas of the breast are rare, in one series representing 0.14% of all female breast malignancies, with diffuse large B cell lymphoma comprising up to 55% of all cases. Only one case of plasmablastic lymphoma involving the breast has been reported in the literature.CASE PRESENTATION: A 30 year old Pakistani woman, …