Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Spatiotemporal Discordance In Five Common Measures Of Rurality For Us Counties And Applications For Health Disparities Research In Older Adults, Steven A. Cohen, Lauren Kelley, Alison E. Bell

Family Medicine and Population Health Publications

Introduction

Rural populations face numerous barriers to health, including poorer health care infrastructure, access to care, and other sociodemographic factors largely associated with rurality. Multiple measures of rurality used in the biomedical and public health literature can help assess rural–urban health disparities and may impact the observed associations between rurality and health. Furthermore, understanding what makes a place truly “rural” versus “urban” may vary from region to region in the US.

Purpose

The objectives of this study are to compare and contrast five common measures of rurality and determine how well-correlated these measures are at the national, regional, and divisional …

Supporting Practices To Adopt Registry-Based Care (Sparc): Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Rebecca S. Etz, Rosalind E. Keith, Anna M. Maternick, Karen L. Stein, Roy T. Sabo, Melissa S. Hayes, Purvi Sevak, John Holland, Jesse C. Crosson

Family Medicine and Population Health Publications

Background

Diabetes is predicted to increase in incidence by 42% from 1995 to 2025. Although most adults with diabetes seek care from primary care practices, adherence to treatment guidelines in these settings is not optimal. Many practices lack the infrastructure to monitor patient adherence to recommended treatment and are slow to implement changes critical for effective management of patients with chronic conditions. Supporting Practices to Adopt Registry-Based Care (SPARC) will evaluate effectiveness and sustainability of a low-cost intervention designed to support work process change in primary care practices and enhance focus on population-based care through implementation of a diabetes registry. …

Sex And Sexual Orientation Disparities In Adverse Childhood Experiences And Early Age At Sexual Debut In The United States: Results From A Nationally Representative Sample, Monique J. Brown, Saba W. Masho, Robert A. Perera, Briana Mezuk, Steven A. Cohen

Family Medicine and Population Health Publications

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to early sexual debut, which has been found to be associated with multiple adverse health outcomes. Sexual minorities and men tend to have earlier sexual debut compared to heterosexual populations and women, respectively. However, studies examining the association between ACEs and early sexual debut among men and sexual minorities are lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the sex and sexual orientation disparities in the association between ACEs and age at sexual debut. Data were obtained from Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Logistic and …

Suicide Risk In Nursing Homes And Assisted Living Facilities: 2003–2011, Brianna Mezuk, Matthew Lohman, Marc Leslie, Virginia Powell

Family Medicine and Population Health Publications

Objectives

We investigated the epidemiology of suicide among adults aged 50 years and older in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and whether anticipating transitioning into long-term care (LTC) is a risk factor for suicide.

Methods

Data come from the Virginia Violent Death Reporting System (2003–2011). We matched locations of suicides (n = 3453) against publicly available resource registries of nursing homes (n = 285) and assisted living facilities (n = 548). We examined individual and organizational correlates of suicide by logistic regression. We identified decedents anticipating entry into LTC through qualitative text analysis.

Results

Incidence of suicide was 14.16 …

Widely Used Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Icp0 Deletion Mutant Strain Dl1403 And Its Derivative Viruses Do Not Express Glycoprotein C Due To A Secondary Mutation In The Gc Gene, Cristina W. Cunha, Kathryne E. Taylor, Suzanne M. Pritchard, Mark G. Delboy, Tri Komala Sari, Hector C. Aguilar, Karen L. Mossman, Anthony V. Nicola

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) ICP0 is a multi-functional phosphoprotein expressed with immediate early kinetics. An ICP0 deletion mutant, HSV-1 dl1403, has been widely used to study the roles of ICP0 in the HSV-1 replication cycle including gene expression, latency, entry and assembly. We show that HSV-1 dl1403 virions lack detectable levels of envelope protein gC, and that gC is not synthesized in infected cells. Sequencing of the gC gene from HSV-1dl1403 revealed a single amino acid deletion that results in a frameshift mutation. The HSV-1dl1403 gC gene is predicted to encode a polypeptide …

Turning Over A New Leaf: Cannabinoid And Endocannabinoid Modulation Of Immune Function, Guy A. Cabral, Thomas J. Rogers, Aron H. Lichtman

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Cannabis is a complex substance that harbors terpenoid-like compounds referred to as phytocannabinoids. The major psychoactive phytocannabinoid found in cannabis ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produces the majority of its pharmacological effects through two cannabinoid receptors, termed CB1 and CB2. The discovery of these receptors as linked functionally to distinct biological effects of THC, and the subsequent development of synthetic cannabinoids, precipitated discovery of the endogenous cannabinoid (or endocannabinoid) system. This system consists of the endogenous lipid ligands N- arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide; AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG), their biosynthetic and degradative enzymes, and the CB1 and CB2 receptors that they activate. Endocannabinoids have been …

Hiv Protease Inhibitors Sensitize Human Head And Neck Squamous Carcinoma Cells To Radiation By Activating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Runping Liu, Luyong Zhang, Jing Yang, Xiaoxuan Zhang, Ross B. Mikkelsen, Shiyu Song, Huiping Zhou

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Background

Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most malignant cancer worldwide. Despite significant advances in the delivery of treatment and surgical reconstruction, there is no significant improvement of mortality rates for this disease in the past decades. Radiotherapy is the core component of the clinical combinational therapies for HNSCC. However, the tumor cells have a tendency to develop radiation resistance, which is a major barrier to effective treatment. HIV protease inhibitors (HIV PIs) have been reported with radiosensitizing activities in HNSCC cells, but the underlying cellular/molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Our previous study has shown that …

Widely Used Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Icp0 Deletion Mutant Strain Dl1403 And Its Derivative Viruses Do Not Express Glycoprotein C Due To A Secondary Mutation In The Gc Gene, Cristina W. Cunha, Kathryne E. Taylor, Suzanne M. Pritchard, Mark Delboy, Tri Komala Sari, Hector C. Aguilar, Karen L. Mossman, Anthony V. Nicola

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) ICP0 is a multi-functional phosphoprotein expressed with immediate early kinetics. An ICP0 deletion mutant, HSV-1 dl1403, has been widely used to study the roles of ICP0 in the HSV-1 replication cycle including gene expression, latency, entry and assembly. We show that HSV-1dl1403 virions lack detectable levels of envelope protein gC, and that gC is not synthesized in infected cells. Sequencing of the gC gene from HSV-1 dl1403 revealed a single amino acid deletion that results in a frameshift mutation. The HSV-1 dl1403 gC gene is predicted to encode a polypeptide …

Epigenetic Modifications Of The Pgc-1Α Promoter During Exercise Induced Expression In Mice, Timothy L. Lochmann, Ravindar R. Thomas, James P. Bennett Jr., Shirley M. Taylor

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

The transcriptional coactivator, PGC-1α, is known for its role in mitochondrial biogenesis. Although originally thought to exist as a single protein isoform, recent studies have identified additional promoters which produce multiple mRNA transcripts. One of these promoters (promoter B), approximately 13.7kb upstream of the canonical PGC-1α promoter (promoter A), yields alternative transcripts present at levels much lower than the canonical PGC-1α mRNA transcript. In skeletal muscle, exercise resulted in a substantial, rapid increase of mRNA of these alternative PGC-1α transcripts. Although the β2-adrenergic receptor was identified as a signaling pathway that activates transcription from PGC-1α promoter B, it is not …

Essential Domains Of Anaplasma Phagocytophilum Invasins Utilized To Infect Mammalian Host Cells, David Seidman, Kathryn S. Hebert, Hilary K. Truchan, Daniel P. Miller, Brittney K. Tegels, Richard T. Marconi, Jason A. Carlyon

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes granulocytic anaplasmosis, an emerging disease of humans and domestic animals. The obligate intracellular bacterium uses its invasins OmpA, Asp14, and AipA to infect myeloid and non-phagocytic cells. Identifying the domains of these proteins that mediate binding and entry, and determining the molecular basis of their interactions with host cell receptors would significantly advance understanding of A. phagocytophilum infection. Here, we identified the OmpA binding domain as residues 59 to 74. Polyclonal antibody generated against a peptide spanning OmpA residues 59 to 74 inhibited A. phagocytophilum infection of host cells and binding to its receptor, sialyl Lewis x …

Intracellular Uropathogenic E. Coli Exploits Host Rab35 For Iron Acquisition And Survival Within Urinary Bladder Cells, Neha Dikshit, Pradeep Bist, Shannon N. Fenlon, Niyas Kudukkil Pulloor, Christelle En Lin Chua, Marci A. Scidmore, Jason A. Carlyon, Bor Luen Tang, Swaine L. Chen, Bindu Sukumaran

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) are common and morbid infections with limited therapeutic options. Previous studies have demonstrated that persistent intracellular infection of bladder epithelial cells (BEC) by UPEC contributes to recurrent UTI in mouse models of infection. However, the mechanisms employed by UPEC to survive within BEC are incompletely understood. In this study we aimed to understand the role of host vesicular trafficking proteins in the intracellular survival of UPEC. Using a cell culture model of intracellular UPEC infection, we found that the small GTPase Rab35 facilitates UPEC survival in UPEC-containing vacuoles …

Intracellular Uropathogenic E. Coli Exploits Host Rab35 For Iron Acquisition And Survival Within Urinary Bladder Cells, Neha Dikshit, Pradeep Bist, Shannon N. Fenlon, Niyas Kudukkil Pulloor, Christelle En Lin Chua, Marci A. Scidmore, Jason A. Carlyon, Bor Len Tang, Swaine L. Chen, Bindu Sukumaran

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) are common and morbid infections with limited therapeutic options. Previous studies have demonstrated that persistent intracellular infection of bladder epithelial cells (BEC) by UPEC contributes to recurrent UTI in mouse models of infection. However, the mechanisms employed by UPEC to survive within BEC are incompletely understood. In this study we aimed to understand the role of host vesicular trafficking proteins in the intracellular survival of UPEC. Using a cell culture model of intracellular UPEC infection, we found that the small GTPase Rab35 facilitates UPEC survival in UPEC-containing vacuoles …

Orientia Tsutsugamushi Ankyrin Repeat-Containing Protein Family Members Are Type 1 Secretion System Substrates That Traffic To The Host Cell Endoplasmic Reticulum, Lauren Viebrock, Sean M. Evans, Andrea R. Beyer, Charles L. Larson, Paul A. Beare, Hong Ge, Smita Singh, Kyle G. Rodino, Robert A. Heinzen, Allen L. Richards, Jason A. Carlyon

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Scrub typhus is an understudied, potentially fatal infection that threatens one billion persons in the Asia-Pacific region. How the causative obligate intracellular bacterium, Orientia tsutsugamushi, facilitates its intracellular survival and pathogenesis is poorly understood. Many intracellular bacterial pathogens utilize the Type 1 (T1SS) or Type 4 secretion system (T4SS) to translocate ankyrin repeat-containing proteins (Anks) that traffic to distinct subcellular locations and modulate host cell processes. The O. tsutsugamushi genome encodes one of the largest known bacterial Ank repertoires plus T1SS and T4SS components. Whether these potential virulence factors are expressed during infection, how the Anks are potentially secreted, and …

Increased B Cell Adam10 In Allergic Patients And Th2 Prone Mice, Lauren Folgosa Cooley, Rebecca K. Martin, Hannah B. Zellner, Anne-Marie Irani, Cora Uram-Tuculescu, Mohey Eldin El Shikh, Daniel H. Conrad

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

ADAM10, as the sheddase of the low affinity IgE receptor (CD23), promotes IgE production and thus is a unique target for attenuating allergic disease. Herein, we describe that B cell levels of ADAM10, specifically, are increased in allergic patients and Th2 prone WT mouse strains (Balb/c and A/J). While T cell help augments ADAM10 expression, Balb WT B cells exhibit increased ADAM10 in the naïve state and even more dramatically increased ADAM10 after anti-CD40/IL4 stimulation compared C57 (Th1 prone) WT B cells. Furthermore, ADAM17 and TNF are reduced in allergic patients and Th2 prone mouse strains (Balb/c and A/J) compared …

Essential Domains Of Anaplasma Phagocytophilum Invasins Utilized To Infect Mammalian Host Cells, David Seidman, Kathryn S. Hebert, Hilary K. Truchan, Daniel P. Miller, Brittney K. Tegels, Richard T. Marconi, Jason A. Carlyon

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes granulocytic anaplasmosis, an emerging disease of humans and domestic animals. The obligate intracellular bacterium uses its invasins OmpA, Asp14, and AipA to infect myeloid and non-phagocytic cells. Identifying the domains of these proteins that mediate binding and entry, and determining the molecular basis of their interactions with host cell receptors would significantly advance understanding of A. phagocytophilum infection. Here, we identified the OmpA binding domain as residues 59 to 74. Polyclonal antibody generated against a peptide spanning OmpA residues 59 to 74 inhibited A. phagocytophilum infection of host cells and binding to its receptor, sialyl Lewis x …

Phylogenetic And Syntenic Data Support A Single Horizontal Transference To Atrypanosoma Ancestor Of A Prokaryotic Proline Racemase Implicated In Parasite Evasion From Host Defences, Zuleima C. Caballero, Andre G. Costa-Martins, Robson C. Ferreira, João M P Alves, Myrna G. Serrano, Erney P. Camargo, Gregory A. Buck, Paola Minoprio, Marata M G Teixeira

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Background

Proline racemase (PRAC) enzymes of Trypanosoma cruzi (TcPRAC), the agent of Chagas disease, and Trypanosoma vivax (TvPRAC), the agent of livestock trypanosomosis, have been implicated in the B-cells polyclonal activation contributing to immunosuppression and the evasion of host defences. The similarity to prokaryotic PRAC and the absence in Trypanosoma brucei andTrypanosoma congolense have raised many questions about the origin, evolution, and functions of trypanosome PRAC (TryPRAC) enzymes.

Findings

We identified TryPRAC homologs as single copy genes per haploid genome in 12 of 15Trypanosoma species, including T. cruzi and T. cruzi …

Hiv Protease Inhibitors Sensitize Human Head And Neck Squamous Carcinoma Cells To Radiation By Activating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Runping Liu, Luyong Zhang, Jing Yang, Xiaoxuan Zhang, Ross Mikkelsen, Shiyu Song, Huiping Zhou

Microbiology and Immunology Publications

Background

Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most malignant cancer worldwide. Despite significant advances in the delivery of treatment and surgical reconstruction, there is no significant improvement of mortality rates for this disease in the past decades. Radiotherapy is the core component of the clinical combinational therapies for HNSCC. However, the tumor cells have a tendency to develop radiation resistance, which is a major barrier to effective treatment. HIV protease inhibitors (HIV PIs) have been reported with radiosensitizing activities in HNSCC cells, but the underlying cellular/molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Our previous study has shown that …

Mri Evaluation Of Lumbar Disc Degenerative Disease, Pokhraj Suthar, Rupal Patel, Chetan Mehta, Narrotam Patel

Orthopaedic Surgery Publications

Introduction:

Lower back pain secondary to degenerative disc disease is a condition that affects young to middle-aged persons with peak incidence at approximately 40 y. MRI is the standard imaging modality for detecting disc pathology due to its advantage of lack of radiation, multiplanar imaging capability, excellent spinal soft-tissue contrast and precise localization of intervertebral discs changes.

Aims and Objective:

To evaluate the characterization, extent, and changes associated with the degenerative lumbar disc disease by Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional and observational study.

Materials and Methods:

A total 109 patients of the lumbar disc degeneration with age group between …

Role Of Nitric Oxide In The Radiation-Induced Bystander Effect, Vasily A. Yakovlev

Radiation Oncology Publications

Cells that are not irradiated but are affected by “stress signal factors” released from irradiated cells are called bystander cells. These cells, as well as directly irradiated ones, express DNA damage-related proteins and display excess DNA damage, chromosome aberrations, mutations, and malignant transformation. This phenomenon has been studied widely in the past 20 years, since its first description by Nagasawa and Little in 1992, and is known as the radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE). Several factors have been identified as playing a role in the bystander response. This review will focus on one of them, nitric oxide (NO), and its role …

Zipline-Related Injuries Treated In Us Eds, 1997-2012, Rachel M. Billock, Jonathan J. Anderegg, Tracy J. Mehan, Thiphalak Chounthirath, Gary A. Smith

Faculty Publications - Department of Communication and Cinematic Arts

Purpose

To investigate the epidemiology of zipline-related injuries in the United States.

Basic Procedures

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was used to examine non-fatal zipline-related injuries treated in US emergency departments (EDs) from 1997 through 2012. Sample weights were applied to calculate national estimates.

Main Findings

From 1997 through 2012, an estimated 16850 (95% CI, 13188-20512) zipline-related injuries were treated in US EDs. The annual injury rate per 1 million population increased by 52.3% from 7.64 (95% CI, 4.86-10.42) injuries in 2009 (the first year with a stable annual estimate) to 11.64 (95% CI, 7.83-15.45) injuries in 2012. …

Field Study Confirms The Belief That Keeping Busy Helps Control Room Operators Sustain Alertness During The Night Shift, Roger C. Jensen

Safety Health & Industrial Hygiene

Control room operators in a nuclear power plant participated in this on-site study to test the belief that keeping busy helps sustain alertness. Since circadian rhythms strongly affect alertness, the study was designed to account for different times of the 24-hour day.The participating reactor operators worked rotating 8-hour shifts in the control room. Every 20 minutes they reported their alertness and their workload during the preceding period. These ratings were obtained throughout three of each shift, for a total of nine shifts and 560 pairs of ratings. Reduced alertness ratings (2 and 3 on the 9-point alertness scale) occurred only …

University Of South Alabama College Of Medicine Annual Report For 2015-2016, College Of Medicine

COM Annual Reports

This Annual Report of the College of Medicine catalogues recent accomplishments of our faculty, students, residents, fellows and staff in teaching, research, patient care, scholarly and community service activities during the 2015-16 academic year.

Cancer Stem Cells In The Screening Of Anticancer Drugs For Central Nervous System Tumors, Sarah Elizabeth Daron-Mathis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

There is a growing need (in the medical field) to design personalized therapy for cancer patients. Decades of cancer research have found no silver bullet that can cure all or even most patients. This study evaluated four patients affected by central nervous system (CNS) tumors (Ependymoma and Glioblastoma), and found that tumors with the same histology had unique responses to treatment. Each sample presented different levels of heterogeneity in expressed biomarkers and responded to drugs at varying levels.

Oncologists conventionally treat cancer patients with drugs tested in large clinical trials. However, often patients do not experience positive outcomes following treatments …

Investigation Of Ultrasound Targeted Microbubbles As A Therapeutic Gene Delivery System For Prostate Cancer, Rounak Paramjeet Nande

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A major challenge for effective gene therapy is systemic delivery of viruses carrying therapeutic genes into affected tissue. The immunogenic nature of human adenoviruses (Ads) limits their use for intratumoral (IT) injection in gene therapy. Ads transfection is further hampered by the fluctuating presence of Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor (CAR) and integrins on the cells’ surface. To circumvent these limitations we developed a novel approach wherein Ads are encapsulated inside the shell of lyophilized, lipid-encapsulated, perfluorocarbon microbubbles (MBs)/ultrasound (US) contrast agents, which act as delivery vehicles for a sitespecific gene transfer system.

We performed infection studies with Ad.GFP (Green Fluorescent …

Epigenetic Role Of Ptip In Mouse Spermatogenesis, Chengjing Liu

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In mammals, spermatogenesis is a biological process inside the testis to produce spermatozoa from spermatogonia. This process is governed by both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms and thus is a powerful system for epigenetic research. Methylation of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4) is an epigenetic mark, which has been found to be dynamically modulated in mouse male germ cells during spermatogenesis. Pax2 Transactivation domain Interaction Protein (PTIP) has been recently identified as part of a H3K4 methyltransferase complex. In this study, I hypothesize that PTIP is an essential epigenetic regulator in mouse spermatogenesis. To test this hypothesis, I first established a …

Tell Me A Story: The Relationship Between Identity And Life Stories Following Brain Injury, Sara Henson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Following brain injury, people can demonstrate cognitive-linguistic deficits as well as a shift in their identities. Clinicians use assessment and treatment methods that focus on cognitive-linguistic deficits with this population; however, they rarely (if ever) consider identity as a viable and necessary target for intervention efforts. For individuals with brain injury, life narratives can be used to assess and treat the cognitive-linguistic skills and discourse at a macro-systemic level, build relationships through the use of a client-centered approach, develop a strong sense of self-identity that aids in goal setting, establish life purpose that motivates greater participation and effort in rehabilitation, …

Knowledge Of Health Literacy Among Athletic Trainers, Janet Marie Rorrer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to evaluate athletic trainers’ current knowledge levels of health literacy and health literacy intervention techniques. This study was conducted using a mixed-method; non-experimental, descriptive research design which included a researcher-generated quantitative survey and 18 ethnographic interviews. Quantitative surveys were distributed electronically, via Survey Monkey, by the athletic training Board of Certification to 5453 certified athletic trainers from West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Also, interview participants (9 male; 9 female) were randomly selected and included three athletic trainers from each of the six states, three employment settings (Clinic, College, and High School), …

Effects Of Ondansetron 4 Milligrams Compared With Ondansetron 8 Milligrams On The Incidence Of Post-Operative Nausea And Vomiting In Patients With Body Mass Index Greater Than 30kg/M2 Undergoing Mastectomy, Diego Alejandro Arroyo

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) is a recurrent and frequent issue for the patient, the anesthesia team, and Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) team. Both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic recommended modalities have been utilized for both the prevention and treatment of PONV in the surgical-anesthesia setting. The 5-HT3-receptor antagonist ondansetron is one of the many known pharmacological modalities commonly utilized by anesthesia providers in preventing PONV.

Methodology: The design used for this research was a quantitative, retrospective case control study that evaluated existing data enclosed in the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) from Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC), which is …

Inhalation Anesthesia Vs. Total Intravenous Anesthesia For Ambulatory Dental Surgery In Children, Kristin D. Neal

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane versus Total Intra Venous Anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol infusion as it relates to the quality of recovery including postoperative pain, Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV), and Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Length Of Stay (LOS) in pediatric patients undergoing ambulatory dental surgery. Introduction: Pediatric dental procedures are increasingly performed in an outpatient setting under general anesthesia due to inadequate cooperation, circumstantial anxiety, and other behavioral and health issues. Commonly used inhalation anesthetics, such as sevoflurane, can induce hyperalgesia in children. While sevoflurane increases the risk PONV, …

Type I Diabetes In Children And Vitamin D, Ashley B. Litchfield, Rebecca M. Hayes, Franklin D. Shuler Md, Phd, Susan L. Flesher Md

MIIR Faculty Research

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with multiple childhood diseases including type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). T1DM in children is becoming more prevalent, with a 23% increase nationally from 2001 to 2009. Similarly, West Virginia has had an 8.1% increase in children with type 1Diabetes from 2008/2009 to 2010/2011. This article highlights the association between vitamin D and type 1 diabetes and discusses vitamin D’s potential role in the reduction and management of T1DM in children.