Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Collective Timekeeping Among Cells Of The Master Circadian Clock, Jennifer A. Evans

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus is the master circadian clock that coordinates daily rhythms in behavior and physiology in mammals. Like other hypothalamic nuclei, the SCN displays an impressive array of distinct cell types characterized by differences in neurotransmitter and neuropeptide expression. Individual SCN neurons and glia are able to display self-sustained circadian rhythms in cellular function that are regulated at the molecular level by a 24h transcriptional–translational feedback loop. Remarkably, SCN cells are able to harmonize with one another to sustain coherent rhythms at the tissue level. Mechanisms of cellular communication in the SCN network are …

Predictive Biomarkers Of Cellular Radiosensitivity For Clinical Radiotherapy Treatment, Lisa White

Doctoral

Radiotherapy is prescribed to more than 50% of cancer patients during their treatment schedule. Due to intrinsic factors, individual variation in response exists, which will result in side effects or toxicity in a number of patients. Therefore, development of an assay or biomarker for the prediction and assessment of radiosensitivity among cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy would be beneficial. Such an assay would limit toxicities and facilitate dose-escalation for those patients who require it. Assays for predicting intrinsic cellular radiosensitivity remains as the established G2 chromosomal radiosensitivity and most promising, γH2AX foci assay. They can be applied to blood samples from …

Longterm Quality Of Life After Oncologic Surgery And Microvascular Free Flap Reconstruction In Patients With Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Andre Peisker, Gregor F. Raschke, Arndt Guentsch, Korosh Roshanghias, Francy Eichmann, Stefan Schultze-Mosgau

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Quality of life (QoL) has become increasingly important in cancer treatment. It refers to the patient’s perception of the effects of the disease and therapy, and their impact on daily functioning and general feeling of well being. Material and Methods: In this prospective study, a total of 100 patients treated at our institution, completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 questionnaire and the specific EORTC QLQ-H&N35 module. The questionnaires were distributed to the patients between 12 and 60 months postoperatively. Results: Global QoL score was 58.3 and mean score for functioning scale was 76.7. …

The Effects Of A Uniformly Weighted Exercise Suit On Biomarkers Of Bone Turnover In Response To Aerobic Exercise In Postmenopausal Women With Low Bone Density, Haley Frances Terndrup, Alison K. Ventura, Todd Hagobian, Scott Hazelwood

Master's Theses

Current options for maintaining or slowing aging-related bone mineral density (BMD) loss in postmenopausal women primarily include pharmaceutical agents. More recently, physical activity and exercise have been suggested as highly effective, low cost alternatives. Weighted aerobic exercise, utilizing load carriage systems (LCS), is known to increase the gravitational forces impacting bone, creating a higher osteogenic stimulus than standard aerobic exercise. In response to the positive research on aerobic exercise with well-designed LCS, Dr. Lawrence Petrakis, MD, developed a unique 5.44 kg uniformly weighted exercise suit. This study aimed to examine the effects of the uniformly weighted exercise suit on serum …

Maternal Healthcare In Eastern Uganda: The Three Delays, Mothers Making Empowered Choices, And Combatting Maternal Mortality, Emma Gier

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Maternal and child health has been noted as an international concern and issue. While access to maternal healthcare has improved in Uganda since 2000, maternal mortality rates have remained high in the country as of 2015. However, maternal and child healthcare are inherently important in promoting sustainable and positive development. For that reason, I have explored maternal healthcare in Uganda’s Eastern region, specifically in Mbale Town and surrounding rural areas including Kween and Manafwa districts. Specifically I have looked at what factors influence women’s decision to give birth in a health centre or hospital, versus at home. I have also …

Managing Anxiety In Clinical Supervision, Hung-Jen Kuo, Trenton J. Landon, Annemarie Connor, Roy K. Chen

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

Anxiety impacts both learning and performance. While the literature is replete with portrayals of the anxious student in clinical training, close examination of practical techniques to manage anxiety and its impacts on both supervisee and supervisor is lacking. This article examines the nature and sources of anxiety, instruments used to measure and track anxiety, and interventions for managing anxiety in clinical supervisory relationships. Skilled management of anxiety within the supervisory dyad fosters optimal learning and performance. Supervisors should seek out supervision trainings specific to interventions in managing anxiety and fostering professional counselor development.

87th Annual Georgia Public Health Association Meeting & Conference Report, Dianne Mcwethy, Regina Abbott, Christy Sims, Brian Morgan, Nicholle Harrison, Angela Peden, David Gowan

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

The 87th Annual Meeting of the Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) was held in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 22-23, 2016, with pre-conference (March 21st) and post-conference (March 23rd) Executive Board meetings. As Georgia’s leading forum for public health researchers, practitioners, and students, the annual meeting of the GPHA brings together participants from across the state to explore recent developments in the field and to exchange techniques, tools, and experiences. In recent years the venue for the GPHA annual conference has been Atlanta, with the 2017 GPHA Annual Meeting and Conference also scheduled to be held in Atlanta. Several new initiatives …

Partnership Approach To Establishing Tobacco-Free Colleges And Universities In Georgia, Anne-Marie L. Coleman, Kenneth Ray, Kia Toodle, Alina Chung, Jean O'Connor

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Smoking rates in young adults ages 18-24 have been steadily declining since 2011 (2011:25.0%, 2012:22.3%, 2013:16.5% (BRFSS). The Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) partnered with the Georgia Board of Regents to adopt the 100% Tobacco Free Colleges/Universities policy.

Methods: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a state-based surveillance system, administered by the GDPH in collaboration with the CDC. The survey began in 1984 with 15 states participating, including Georgia. The data from this survey were used to inform key shareholders of smoking prevalence to encourage policy adoption as a method of decreasing tobacco use. The GDPH …

Local Youth Groups In Georgia Working Towards Policy, Systems, And Environmental Changes, Anne-Marie L. Coleman, Kenneth Ray, Kia Toodle, Alina Chung, Jean O'Connor

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The Georgia Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS) is a survey of public middle school (MS) and high school (HS) students. The Georgia YTS was first conducted in 2001. According to YTS, students who attended a tobacco free schools’ youth summit were significantly more likely to be aware of students who use tobacco products (MS: 21% for smoking and 20% for smokeless tobacco; HS: 42% for smoking and 39% for smokeless tobacco) on school property than students who did not attend a tobacco free schools’ youth summit (MS: 10 % for smoking and 9 % for smokeless tobacco; HS: 32 % …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Regarding Smoke-Free Policies In Multi-Unit Housing In Georgia, Adrienne Lefevre, Michelle C. Kegler, Bennett Mcdonald, Lily Liang, Regine Haardöerfer

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Nonsmokers living in multi-unit housing (MUH) without a smoke-free (SF) policy are vulnerable to secondhand and thirdhand smoke exposure. This study aimed to investigate the presence and type of SF policies in MUH in Georgia. Another aim was to explore knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes of property managers and owners (PM/Os) regarding SF MUH policies, including e-cigarettes.

Methods: Throughout 2015 PM/Os of MUH in Savannah and Atlanta were surveyed regarding SF policies in MUH. A list with contact information of PM/Os was obtained from the ASDE Survey Sampler. The participants were mailed an invitation letter and were called one week …

Public Health For Young Adults Day: Recruiting The Next Generation, Mary-Kate Pung, Nicholas Williams, Rachel Kirkland, Angela Peden, Ashley Walker

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Public Health for Young Adults Day (PHYA Day) is a one-day program designed to educate high school-age students about the principles and values of the five core areas of public health. The goal of PHYA Day is to foster interest and ultimately increase recruitment into the field of public health. This goal is essential due to the impact of the economic recession of 2008. It was estimated that the local public health workforce decreased from 191,000 to 168,000 across the nation between 2008 and 2013. In spite of 2008’s recession, a well-trained, competent public health workforce remains an imperative …

Assessing The Cultural Appropriateness Of Uplift For African Americans With Epilepsy: A Community Engaged Approach, Josalin J. Hunter-Jones, April L. Nellum, Elizabeth I. Olorundare, Candace C. Mccloud, Matthew D. Mccurdy, Robin E. Mcgee, Contessa M. Davis, Nancy J. Thompson, Rakale C. Quarells

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: In trials of Project UPLIFT, a distance-delivered, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy intervention, there was improvement in the mental health of people with epilepsy/seizure disorder. In these trials, however, African Americans have been few. Thus, as this program is disseminated, it is desirable to ensure that it is culturally appropriate for minority populations.

Methods: To determine the appropriateness of Project UPLIFT for African Americans, we engaged in three main research activities: 1) the formation and involvement of an epilepsy community advisory board; 2) qualitative interviews with healthcare providers who serve this community; and 3) focus groups with African American adults living …

New Recreational Water Quality Criteria And Their Impact On Beach Advisories In Coastal Georgia, Asli Aslan, Sara Benevente

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: To monitor pollution of marine beaches in Georgia, enterococci have been used as indicators of fecal contamination. For the 1986 Recreational Water Quality Criteria (RWQC), the beach action value (BAV) was 104 colonyforming units (CFU)/100 ml; the new RWQC, instituted in 2012, is 70 CFU/mL, a 32.6% decrease. When the beach action value is reached, authorities are to issue a beach advisory for protection of swimmer health. The present study investigated changes in compliance with the 2012 RWQC at five high-use beaches in Georgia.

Methods: In the summer of 2015, samples of water were collected from five beaches at …

Assessment Of The Building Collaborative Research Capacity Model: Bridging The Community-Academic Researcher Divide, Tabia Henry Akintobi, Donoria Evans Wilkerson, Kirsten Rodgers, Cam Escoffery, Regine Haardörfer, Michelle Kegler

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Community–based Participatory Research (CBPR) can be challenging when community leaders and academic researchers have not previously co-led research or worked together with established rules guiding their relationships, roles, and respective functions. The objective of this investigation was to assess the processes and outcomes of the Building Collaborative Research Capacity Grant Program, sponsored by the Community Engagement Research Program of The Atlanta Clinical and Translational Science Institute and designed to foster CBPR.

Methods: Four competitively selected community-based organizations (CBOs) participated in capacity-building workshops designed to build research skills and receive technical assistance to plan a pilot study with academic researchers. …

Disparities In Health Insurance Coverage Among Children And Young Adults In Georgia And The U.S., Brandon K. Attell

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: In this brief report, I compare rates of health insurance coverage for children and young adults in Georgia and the United States.

Methods: Utilizing data from the 2014 American Community Survey, I performed two-sample tests of weighted proportions for a variety of health insurance coverage indicators.

Results: Although there is little difference between Georgia and the United States in the proportion of those covered by Medicare and Medicaid, in Georgia there are fewer individuals with private health insurance and more uninsured individuals.

Conclusions: Progress toward universal coverage will require continued examination of insurance status at both the state and …

Male Involvement In Reproductive, Maternal And Child Health: A Qualitative Study Of Policymaker And Practitioner Perspectives In The Pacific, Jessica Davis, Joseph Vyankandondera, Stanley Luchters, David Simon, Wendy Holmes

Population Health, East Africa

Background: The importance of involving men in reproductive, maternal and child health programs is increasingly recognised globally. In the Pacific region, most maternal and child health services do not actively engage expectant fathers and fathers of young children and few studies have been conducted on the challenges, benefits and opportunities for involving fathers. This study explores the attitudes and beliefs of maternal and child health policymakers and practitioners regarding the benefits, challenges, risks and approaches to increasing men's involvement in maternal and child health education and clinical services in the Pacific.

Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 senior maternal …

Exploring The Effect Of An Interdisciplinary Teamwork Intervention In Acute Rehabilitation, Julie K. Cope

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of an interdisciplinary intervention on interdisciplinary teamwork and patient functional outcomes in an acute inpatient rehabilitation unit at a mid-sized regional hospital. Design: Pilot mixed-methods pre-post intervention study. Methods: Interdisciplinary teamwork and patient functional outcomes were measured before and after a teamwork intervention. Interdisciplinary teamwork was measured with the Healthcare Team Vitality Instrument (HTVI) and a qualitative staff questionnaire developed by a content expert. Patient functional outcomes were measured by aggregated Functional Independence Measure (FIM®) scores. Findings: Post-intervention FIM® gain scores increased significantly (p = .008). Staff questionnaire revealed …

Response Shift And Functional Outcomes In Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability, Cameron J. Powden

Health Services Research Dissertations

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries sustained by those who are physically active. One in three individuals will develop a condition known as chronic ankle instability (CAI) after suffering a single ankle sprain. These individuals suffer from recurrent bouts of ankle instability, residual symptoms, and a myriad of other mechanical and functional impairments as well as health-related quality of life (HRQL) deficits. Due to the abundance of health consequences associated with this condition it is imperative to establish evidence based interventions that are focused on restoring function and HRQL to pre-injury statuses.

The overarching purpose of this …

Antimicrobial Resistance And Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Multiantigen Sequence Typing (Ng-Mast) Genotypes In N. Gonorrhoeae During 2012-2014 In Karachi, Pakistan, Kausar Jabeen, Bhawan Mal P, Khan E, Chandio S, Jacobsson S, Unemo M

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Globally, increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoea has led to decreased treatment options for gonorrhoea. Continuous monitoring of resistance is crucial to determine evolving resistance trends in Neisseria gonorrhoea and to suggest treatment recommendations. Quality assured gonococcal AMR data from Pakistan are mainly lacking. This study was performed to determine prevalence and trends of gonococcal AMR and molecular epidemiology of local strains during 2012-2014 in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods: Gonococcal isolates (n = 100) were obtained from urogenital specimens submitted to the Aga Khan University Laboratory, Karachi, Pakistan. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using Etest and molecular epidemiology was …

Funciones Sensoriales En Niños Menores De 3 Años Diagnosticados Con Trastorno Del Espectro Autista (Tea) / Sensory Processing In Toddlers Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Juliana Gutiérrez, Megan Chang, Erna Imperatore Blanche

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Spanish: Las dificultades de procesamiento sensorial en niños con Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA) están ampliamente descritos en la literatura principalmente mediante el uso de encuestas a padres y observaciones. Con menor frecuencia se han descrito las dificultades de procesamiento sensorial en niños menores de 3 años de edad que han sido posteriormente diagnosticados con TEA. Este studio retrospectivo está basado en 84 niños (28 diagnosticados con TEA, 28 con retraso en el desarrollo, y 28 niños con desarrollo típico) entre 18 y 36 meses de edad que asistieron a un programa de intervención temprana y cuyos padres completaron el …

The Concerted Regulation Of Intracellular Signaling By Amyloid Precursor Protein And Aβ Peptide, Lisa Kirouac

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

It is widely accepted that A-beta (Aβ) generated from amyloid precursor protein (APP) oligomerizes and fibrillizes to form neuritic plaques in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain, yet little is known about the contribution of APP preceding AD pathogenesis. Our data presented here suggest that APP has a functional role in cell cycle regulation and proliferation. First, we demonstrat that APP is pathologically phosphorylated at Thr₆₆₈ and that P-APP localizes to the centrosomes. Furthermore, P-APP is proteolytically processed in a cell cycle -dependent manner to generate its pathogenic metabolites. Using Stable Isotope Labeling by Amino Acids in Culture (SILAC) and …

What Percentage Of The Security Forces At Macdill Afb Experience Exposure To Noise In Excess Of The Osha Pel And The Air Force Oeel?, Julian Joseph Krusely

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Noise-related hearing loss has been listed as one of the most prevalent occupational health concerns in the United States for more than 25 years with approximately 30 million people in the US alone occupationally exposed to hazardous noise according to the Occupational Safety and Health Organization. Many people are aware of some risks the military members take every day being at war, but very few think about the risks of the members on a base located stateside. To this point, not much research has been done on these risks, and even less has been done on the hazardous noise risks …

Development Of A Rt-Pcr-Elisa Wuchereria Bancrofti Detection Assay For The Monitoring Of Mosquito Vector Infection And Infectivity, Nompumelelo Mzizi Mzizi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is an incapacitating disease caused by three filarial nematodes belonging to the family Onchocercidae, namely Brugia timori, Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia timori. An estimated 90% of lymphatic filariasis cases globally are caused by Wuchereria bancrofti. To evaluate the success of the Global Program to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis it is essential to monitor the frequency of larval infection in the mosquito vector. Molecular methods to detect Wuchereria bancrofti DNA in mosquitoes have been in existence since 1996. However these methods have not been widely adopted due to the high cost associated with them and the inability …

Awareness Regarding Application Of Endotracheal Tube (Ett) Cuff Pressure Measuring Gauge In Anesthesia Practice; Acritical Step To Avoid Postintubation Tracheal Stenosis In Critically Ill Patients On Prolonged Mechanical Ventilator, Mohammad Irfan Akhtar

Department of Anaesthesia

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Sequence Of Simulated And Clinical Practicum Learning Experiences On Clinical Competency, Jamie Hansen

Dissertations (1934 -)

Delivery of clinical education using the traditional model involving faculty supervision of students in a hospital setting has become increasingly difficult for schools of nursing due to factors such as increased student enrollment and decreased clinical site availability. Simulated learning experiences (SLE) have increasingly been used as a supplement or replacement for a portion of nursing students’ traditional clinical learning experiences (CLE). There has been a call for research to ensure that new models for delivery of clinical education are built on a foundation of research. Although SLE have been increasingly used as a supplement to CLE, it is unknown …

Engaging Nursing Staff In Research: The Clinical Nurse Specialist Role In An Academic-Clinical Partnership, Lynn Gettrust, Mary E. Hagle, Lesley Boaz, Margaret J. Bull

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe the processes of exploring and implementing an academic-clinical study, engaging nursing staff in research, and maintaining their enthusiasm within the context of an academic-clinical research partnership.

Description: The core competencies of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) role address evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and research. Studies and exemplars of the CNS role in the literature illustrate expert practitioner and facilitator of evidence-based practice, but less attention is given to methods used by the CNS to engage staff in clinical research.

Outcome: The CNS was successful in obtaining staff engagement in the research …

Amlodipine-Induced Hypersensitivity Reaction Mimicking Cd30(+) Mycosis Fungoides., Ashley Gochoco, Elizabeth Jones, Christine Soutendijk, Onder Alpdogan, Wenyin Shi, Joya Sahu

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Air Pollution Exposure And Preeclampsia Among Us Women With And Without Asthma, Pauline Mendola, Maeve Wallace, Danping Liu, Candace Robledo, Tuija Männistö, Katherine Grantz

School of Medicine Publications

Maternal asthma and air pollutants have been independently associated with preeclampsia but rarely studied together. Our objective was to comprehensively evaluate preeclampsia risk based on the interaction of maternal asthma and air pollutants. Preeclampsia and asthma diagnoses, demographic and clinical data came from electronic medical records for 210,508 singleton deliveries. Modified Community Multiscale Air Quality models estimated preconception, first and second trimester and whole pregnancy exposure to: particulate matter (PM)<2.5 and <10µm, ozone, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO); PM2.5 constituents; volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Asthma-pollutant interaction adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for preeclampsia were calculated by interquartile range for criteria pollutants and high exposure (≥75th percentile) for PAHs and VOCs. Asthmatics had higher risk associated with first trimester NOx and SO2 and whole pregnancy elemental carbon (EC) exposure than non-asthmatics, but only EC significantly increased risk (RR=1.11, CI:1.03-1.21). Asthmatics also had a 10% increased risk associated with second trimester CO. Significant interactions were observed for nearly all VOCs and asthmatics had higher risk during all time windows for benzene, ethylbenzene, m-xylene, o-xylene, p-xylene and toluene while most PAHs did not increase risk.

Lean Mass Predicts Conditioned Pain Modulation In Adolescents Across Weight Status, Stacy Stolzman, Marie K. Hoeger Bement

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Background

There is a wide continuum of conditioned pain modulation (CPM) in adults with older adults experiencing an attenuated CPM response compared with younger adults. Less is known for adolescents and the role of anthropometrics.

Methods

Fifty-six adolescents (15.1 ± 1.8 years; 32 normal weight and 24 overweight/obese; 27 boys) completed in a CPM session that included anthropometric testing. Pressure pain thresholds were measured at the nailbed and deltoid muscle (test stimuli) with the foot submerged in a cool or ice water bath (conditioning stimulus). Weight status, body composition (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan), physical activity levels and clinical pain were …

Only Women Report Increase In Pain Threshold Following Fatiguing Contractions Of The Upper Extremity, Kathy J. Lemley, Jonathon Senefeld, Sandra K. Hunter, Marie K. Hoeger Bement

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

The perception of pain in response to a noxious stimulus can be markedly reduced following an acute bout of exercise [exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH)]. Sex differences in EIH frequently occur after exercise but may be confounded by the sex differences in muscle fatigue. The purpose was to determine if sex differences in pain relief occur after an exercise protocol when muscle fatigue is similar for both young and older men and women.

Methods

Pain perception of 33 men (15 young) and 31 women (19 young) was measured using a pressure pain stimulus on the left index finger before and after …