Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Size-Dependent Catalysis Of Chlorovirus Population Growth By A Messy Feeding Predator, John Delong, Zeina Al-Ameeli, Shelby Lyon, James L. Van Etten, David Dunigan

James Van Etten Publications

Many chloroviruses replicate in endosymbiotic zoochlorellae that are protected from infection by their symbiotic host. To reach the high virus concentrations that often occur in natural systems, a mechanism is needed to release zoochlorellae from their hosts. We demonstrate that the ciliate predator Didinium nasutum foraging on zoochlorellae-bearing Paramecium bursaria can release live zoochlorellae from the ruptured prey cell that can then be infected by chloroviruses. The catalysis process is very effective, yielding roughly 95% of the theoretical infectious virus yield as determined by sonication of P. bursaria. Chlorovirus activation is more effective with smaller Didinia, as larger …

2018-2019 Nursing Graduate Student Handbook, Morehead State University. Nursing Department.

Nursing Department Publications Archive

2018-2019 Graduate Student Handbook for the Department of Nursing at Morehead State University.

Uk Cerh Social Work Programs: History & Employment Outlook, Jessica Williamson, Dana Hays, Melissa Slone, Frances J. Feltner

Center of Excellence in Rural Health Workforce Reports

The University of Kentucky (UK) began to offer off-campus programs to the Commonwealth in 1975 under Ronda Connaway, the second dean of the College of Social Professions (COSP)—which became the College of Social Work (COSW) in 1980 (UK COSW, 2016). Dean Connaway’s vision was to expand the program to provide advance-degreed social workers based on student, employer and community demand (College History, 2016).

Medical Laboratory Science Workforce Shortage, Michelle Butina, Frances J. Feltner, Melissa Slone

Center of Excellence in Rural Health Workforce Reports

Prior to 1900, laboratory tests were rudimentary, few in number, and often performed by a physician in his office or by a pathologist in hospitals. Epidemic outbreaks of diphtheria, pneumonia, typhoid, and tuberculosis created a demand for additional laboratory tests and individuals to perform them. The increase in civilian and military clinical (hospital) laboratories during World War I and the new American College of Surgeons requirement that hospitals establish a clinical laboratory contributed to a severe shortage of laboratory personnel (Kotlarz, 1998a).

Ictv Virus Taxonomy Profile: Chrysoviridae, Said A. Ghabrial, José R. Castón, Robert H. A. Coutts, Bradley I. Hillman, Daohong Jiang, Dae-Hyun Kim, Hiromitsu Moriyama, Ictv Report Consortium

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

The Chrysoviridae is a family of small, isometric, non-enveloped viruses (40 nm in diameter) with segmented dsRNA genomes (typically four segments). The genome segments are individually encapsidated and together comprise 11.5–12.8 kbp. The single genus Chrysovirus includes nine species. Chrysoviruses lack an extracellular phase to their life cycle; they are transmitted via intracellular routes within an individual during hyphal growth, in asexual or sexual spores, or between individuals via hyphal anastomosis. There are no known natural vectors for chrysoviruses. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of the Chrysoviridae, which …

Ictv Virus Taxonomy Profile: Partitiviridae, Eeva J. Vainio, Sotaro Chiba, Said A. Ghabrial, Edgar Maiss, Marilyn Roossinck, Sead Sabanadzovic, Nobuhiro Suzuki, Jiatao Xie, Max Nibert, Ictv Report Consortium

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

The Partitiviridae is a family of small, isometric, non-enveloped viruses with bisegmented double-stranded (ds) RNA genomes of 3–4.8 kbp. The two genome segments are individually encapsidated. The family has five genera, with characteristic hosts for members of each genus: either plants or fungi for genera Alphapartitivirus and Betapartitivirus, fungi for genus Gammapartitivirus, plants for genus Deltapartitivirus and protozoa for genus Cryspovirus. Partitiviruses are transmitted intracellularly via seeds (plants), oocysts (protozoa) or hyphal anastomosis, cell division and sporogenesis (fungi); there are no known natural vectors. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) …

Objectively Measuring Effects Of Electro-Acupuncture In Parkinsonian Rhesus Monkeys, Rui Zhang, Anders H. Andersen, Peter A. Hardy, Eric Forman, April Evans, Yi Ai, Jin Yue, Guihua Yue, Don M. Gash, Richard Grondin, Zhiming Zhang

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Center Faculty Publications

Acupuncture has increasingly been used as an alternative therapy for treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the efficacy of acupunture for PD still remains unclear. The present study was designed to objectively and safely monitor anti-parkinsonian effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and brain activity in nonhuman primates modeling human PD. Six middle-aged rhesus monkeys were extensively studied by a computerized behavioral testing battery and by pharmacological MRI (phMRI) scans with specific dopaminergic drug stimulations. All animals were evaluated for behavior and phMRI responses under normal, parkinsonian, parkinsonian with EA treatment and parkinsonian after EA treatment conditions. Stable parkinsonian features were observed …

Cgas Drives Noncanonical-Inflammasome Activation In Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Nagaraj Kerur, Shinichi Fukuda, Daipayan Banerjee, Younghee Kim, Dongxu Fu, Ivana Apicella, Akhil Varshney, Reo Yasuma, Benjamin J. Fowler, Elmira Baghdasaryan, Kenneth M. Marion, Xiwen Huang, Tetsuhiro Yasuma, Yoshio Hirano, Vlad Serbulea, Meenakshi Ambati, Vidya L. Ambati, Yuji Kajiwara, Kameshwari Ambati, Shuichiro Hirahara, Ana Bastos-Carvalho, Yuichiro Ogura, Hiroko Terasaki, Tetsuro Oshika, Kyung Bo Kim, David R. Hinton, Norbert Leitinger, John C. Cambier, Joseph D. Buxbaum, M. Cristina Kenney, Bradley D. Gelfand, Jayakrishna Ambati

Ophthalmology and Visual Science Faculty Publications

Geographic atrophy is a blinding form of age-related macular degeneration characterized by retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) death; the RPE also exhibits DICER1 deficiency, resultant accumulation of endogenous Alu-retroelement RNA, and NLRP3-inflammasome activation. How the inflammasome is activated in this untreatable disease is largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that RPE degeneration in human-cell-culture and mouse models is driven by a noncanonical-inflammasome pathway that activates caspase-4 (caspase-11 in mice) and caspase-1, and requires cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-dependent interferon-β production and gasdermin D-dependent interleukin-18 secretion. Decreased DICER1 levels or Alu-RNA accumulation triggers cytosolic escape of mitochondrial DNA, which engages cGAS. Moreover, caspase-4, gasdermin …

Jan Davis, Ms, Otr/L

OJOT Sponsor Profiles

No abstract provided.

Systematic Review Of Smartphone-Based Passive Sensing For Health And Wellbeing., Victor P. Cornet Ms, Richard J. Holden

Health Services and Informatics Research

OBJECTIVE: To review published empirical literature on the use of smartphone-based passive sensing for health and wellbeing.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review of the English language literature was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Papers indexed in computing, technology, and medical databases were included if they were empirical, focused on health and/or wellbeing, involved the collection of data via smartphones, and described the utilized technology as passive or requiring minimal user interaction.

RESULTS: Thirty-five papers were included in the review. Studies were performed around the world, with samples of up to 171 (median n = 15) representing individuals with bipolar disorder, …

Maintaining Relationship Alternatives Electronically: Positive Relationship Maintenance In Back Burner Relationships, Jayson L. Dibble, Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter, Michelle Drouin

Health Services and Informatics Research

Back burners are desired prospective romantic/sexual partners that people communicate with to establish a future romantic or sexual relationship. We surveyed 658 college students about the extent to which they reported using various positive relationship maintenance strategies (positivity, openness, assurances) during communication with their most important back burner. Consistent with previous research, singles did not differ from those in committed romances in the number of back burners reported; however, singles and casual daters utilized the positive maintenance strategies to a greater extent than did those in committed relationships. Men reported using more assurances than did women, but the sexes did …

Improving Length Of Stay: Transitioning Care From The Emergency Department To A Clinical Decision Unit, Griselle Pastor, Van Cronkhite, Natalie Mancuso, Emilia Villoch

All Publications

No abstract provided.

From Forced To Voluntary Participation: The History Of Biomedical Human Experimentation In The United States After The Second World War, Haley L. Andonian

Honors Theses

For as long as medicine and medical practices have been around, so has the need for testing treatments in or procedures on the human body. Over the course of history, however, the nature, structure, and prominence of human biomedical experimentation has changed drastically both on an international and national level. My thesis focuses on revealing the driving forces behind these changes in administrative, legal and social factors related to human experimentation in an effort to connect the dots from the manipulative, forceful and unethical experimentation of early medical practitioners to the safe, voluntary and highly regulated experimentation characteristic of clinical …

The Involvement Of The Low-Oxygen-Activated Locus Of Burkholderia Cenocepacia In Adaptation During Cystic Fibrosis Infection, Louise Cullen, Andrew O'Connor, Sarah Mccormack, Rebecca A. Owens, Giles S. Holt, Cassandra Collins, Máire Callaghan, Sean Doyle, Darren Smith, Kirsten Schaffer, David A. Fitzpatrick, Siobhan Mcclean

Articles

Chronic infection is a hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF) related lung disease. Several opportunistic pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) colonise the airways of CF patients impacting significantly on the quality of life and mortality of people with CF. Bcc is a group of 22 genetically distinct, highly antibiotic resistant bacterial species1,2,3,4 associated with a more dramatic decline than P. aeruginosa5,6. About 20% of Bcc colonised patients experience bacteraemia and “cepacia syndrome”, characterised by a sometimes fatal, necrotising pneumonia7. B. cenocepacia is the most virulent Bcc species and although most frequently associated with bacteraemia, this complication …

การใช้ไมโครพาติเคิลจากเม็ดเลือดแดงเป็นตัวบ่งชี้ทางชีวภาพชนิดใหม่สำหรับวินิจฉัยภาวะปัสสาวะเป็นเลือดจากความผิดปกติของโกลเมอรูลัส, อวิรุทธ์ เจริญสรรพกิจ

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การจัดจำแนกภาวะปัสสาวะเป็นเลือดจากสาเหตุความผิดปกติของโกลเมอรูลัสเป็นปัญหาที่พบได้บ่อยในการตรวจพิสูจน์ทางไต และการตรวจนับปริมาณเม็ดเลือดแดงชนิดดิสมอร์ฟิก (dysmorphic red blood cell: DRBC) ในปัสสาวะเป็นวิธีการที่ใช้ในการจัดจำแนกอยู่ในปัจจุบัน แต่ขีดจำกัดของการตรวจนับด้วยวิธีนี้มีอยู่หลายประการ เช่น ผู้ปฏิบัติงาน และมีความไวต่ำ โดยการตรวจนับปริมาณของเม็ดเลือดแดงที่มีการแสดงออกของฟอสฟาติดิลซีรีน (phosphatidylserine exposing RBC: PS-RBC) และไมโครพาติเคิลจากเม็ดเลือดแดง (RBC derived microparticle: RMP) ซึ่งเป็นตัวบ่งชี้ถึงการบาดเจ็บของเม็ดเลือดแดงด้วยเทคนิคโฟลไซโตมิทรี (flow cytometry) กลับยังไม่เคยมีมาก่อน ในงานวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อ (1) เพื่อเปรียบเทียบปริมาณ RMP และ PS-RBC ในปัสสาวะระหว่างผู้ป่วยที่ภาวะปัสสาวะเป็นเลือดจากความผิดปกติของโกลเมอรูลัส (glomerular hematuria: GH) ผู้ป่วยที่ภาวะปัสสาวะเป็นเลือดจากสาเหตุที่ไม่ใช่โกลเมอรูลัส (non-glomerular hematuria: NGH) (2) เพื่อเปรียบความสามารถของการใช้ตัวบ่งชี้ทางชีวภาพจากเทคนิคflow cytometry และร้อยละของ DRBC ในการวินิจฉัยภาวะ GH (3) เพื่อศึกษาการเกิด DRBC, PS-RBC และการปลดปล่อย RMP จากการเปลี่ยนแปลงทางกายภายและเคมีในท่อของท่อหน่วยไตจำลองในหลอดทดลอง ปัสสาวะจะถูกเก็บมาจากผู้ป่วยที่ภาวะ GH, ผู้ป่วยที่ภาวะ NGH และอาสาสมัครที่ไม่มีภาวะปัสสาวะเป็นเลือด โดยปัสสาวะจะถูกนำมาตรวจตะกอนปัสสาวะภายใต้กล้องจุลทรรศน์เพื่อตรวจนับปริมาณ DRBC และวิเคราะห์ด้วยเทคนิค flow cytometry เพื่อตรวจนับปริมาณของ PS-RBC และ RMP โดยผู้ป่วยที่ภาวะ GH จะถูกยืนยันโรคของโกลเมอรูลัสภายใน 3 เดือน และผู้ป่วยที่ภาวะ NGH ต้องรู้สาเหตุของภาวะปัสสาวะเป็นเลือดที่แน่นอน โดยข้อมูลทั้งหมดจะถูกปกปิดไม่ให้ผู้ปฏิบัติงานรับทราบ และกราฟ ROC จะถูกใช้เพื่อพิสูจน์ความสามารถในการวินิจฉัยภาวะ GH ของตัวบ่งชี้ทางชีวภาพต่าง ๆ ผลการวิจัยพบว่ากลุ่มตัวอย่างในงานวิจัย ประกอบด้วย ผู้ป่วยภาวะ GH จำนวน 29 ราย, ผู้ป่วยภาวะ NGH จำนวน 29 ราย และอาสาสมัครที่ไม่มีภาวะปัสสาวะเป็นเลือดจำนวน 20 ราย โดยสาเหตุปัสสาวะเป็นเลือดหลักของผู้ป่วยภาวะ GH …

Comparison Of The Stem Cell Characteristics Among Periodontium-Derived Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Manutsanun Choosiri

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Objective: To investigate and compare the characteristics of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) among 3 different stem cell sources in periodontium; periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue, marginal gingival tissue (MG), and supra-crestal gingival connective tissue (SG). Materials and Methods: PDL-MSCs, MG-MSCs, and SG-MSCs were obtained from 4 subjects with healthy periodontal condition. The characteristics of 3 types of MSCs were compared in terms of an expression of MSCs markers, colony-forming ability (CFA), cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteogenic and adipogenic potential. Results: Flow cytometry revealed a similar pattern of MSCs marker expression among 3 cells types with positive expression of …

การศึกษาย้อนหลังของการรักษาพัลเพคโตมีในฟันน้ำนม : การวิเคราะห์การอยู่รอด, เมธาพร ทรงเวชเกษม

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การศึกษานี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาอัตราการอยู่รอดของฟันน้ำนมที่ได้รับการรักษาพัลเพคโตมี โดยใช้เครื่องรูทซีเอ็กซ์กำหนดความยาวทำงาน ภายใต้การดมยาสลบและการใช้ยาชาเฉพาะที่ และศึกษาปัจจัยที่มีผลต่อการอยู่รอดของฟันน้ำนมที่ได้รับการรักษาพัลเพคโตมี โดยทำการศึกษาย้อนหลังจากข้อมูลจากเวชระเบียนของผู้ป่วยเด็กอายุต่ำกว่า 5 ปี ที่มารับการรักษาที่คณะทันตแพทยศาสตร์ จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย ระหว่างปี พ.ศ. 2550 - 2559 และมีฟันที่ได้รับการรักษาพัลเพคโตมีภายใต้การดมยาสลบหรือการใช้ยาชาเฉพาะที่อย่างน้อย 1 ซี่ในช่องปาก โดยกำหนดให้ความล้มเหลวของการรักษาพัลเพคโตมีคือฟันต้องได้รับการถอนหรือรักษารากฟันซ้ำในภายหลังเนื่องจากการรักษาพัลเพคโตมีล้มเหลว และวันที่ได้รับการวินิจฉัยให้ถูกถอนหรือรักษารากฟันซ้ำเป็นวันที่สิ้นสุดการติดตามการรักษา การศึกษาครั้งนี้ประเมินอัตราการอยู่รอดโดยใช้สถิติแคแพลน-ไมเออร์และวิเคราะห์ปัจจัยที่มีผลต่อการอยู่รอดโดยใช้สถิติล็อค-แรงค์และตัวแบบถดถอยค็อกซ์ ผลการศึกษาพบว่ามีฟันน้ำนมที่ถูกคัดเลือกเข้ามาในการศึกษาทั้งหมด 272 ซี่ และเมื่อติดตามผลการรักษาเป็นเวลา 5 ปีหลังการรักษาพบว่ามีฟันน้ำนมทั้งหมด 25 ซี่ที่ถูกถอนหรือรักษารากฟันซ้ำเนื่องจากการรักษาพัลเพคโตมีล้มเหลว และมีอัตราการอยู่รอดของฟันที่ได้รับการรักษาภายใต้การดมยาสลบและการใช้ยาชาเฉพาะที่เท่ากับร้อยละ 81.4 และ 87.4 ตามลำดับ ซึ่งไม่แตกต่างกันอย่างมีนัยสำคัญทางสถิติ (p≥0.05) ผลการวิเคราะห์ตัวแบบถดถอยค็อกซ์พบว่าการมีเงาดำบริเวณปลายรากหรือง่ามรากฟันในภาพรังสีก่อนการรักษาเป็นปัจจัยที่ส่งผลต่อการอยู่รอดของฟันที่ได้รับการรักษาพัลเพคโตมีที่ระยะเวลา 5 ปีหลังการรักษา (HRadj= 3.95, 95%CI = 1.31-11.86) การศึกษานี้แสดงให้เห็นว่าการรักษาฟันน้ำนมด้วยวิธีพัลเพคโตมีเป็นวิธีที่สามารถเก็บรักษาฟันน้ำนมที่ผุลุกลามถึงเนื้อเยื่อในไว้ในช่องปากได้นานและมีอัตราการอยู่รอดที่สูงทั้งในการรักษาภายใต้การดมยาสลบและการใช้ยาชาเฉพาะที่

The Effect Of Using Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) In Broiler Nutrition On Production Parameters, Slaughter Characteristics, And Gut Microbiological Population, Veselin Petricevic, Milos Lukic, Zdenka Skrbic, Simeon Rakonjac, Vladimir Doskoviç, Maja Petricevic, Aleksandar Stanojkovic

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the supplementation of different concentrations of rosemary in broiler diets from day 1 to 42 on growth performance, carcass quality, and cecal microbiological composition of chickens. The research was carried out with 1200 Ross 308 chickens, divided into 4 groups with 6 repetitions per group. The treatment groups were: control group (C) without rosemary, 0.2% rosemary group (0.2R), 0.4% rosemary group (0.4R), and 0.6% rosemary group (0.6R). Production parameters and the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) were determined. At the end of the trial 12 chicks per group were …

Measurement Of Exposure To Musculoskeletal Risk Factors Among Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedics, Philippe Corbeil, André Plamondon, Angelo Tremblay, Jérôme Prairie, Dominique Larouche, Sandrine Hegg-Deloye

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Le technicien ambulancier paramédical (TAP) a comme fonction principale de prodiguer les soins préhospitaliers d’urgence tout en assurant, de façon sécuritaire, le transport du bénéficiaire vers un centre hospitalier. Fondamentalement, son objectif est de réduire au minimum la mortalité et la morbidité des bénéficiaires en minimisant le temps de réponse. De nombreuses études à travers le monde, incluant le Québec, montrent que les TAP ont un taux plus élevé de lésions professionnelles et prennent leur retraite plus tôt que les autres travailleurs de la population y compris ceux du système de santé. Plusieurs TAP quittent leur emploi pour un autre …

The Effects Of Music Therapy Techniques On Clients In A Substance Abuse Group, Moyosore Fabiyi

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music therapy on clients with substance abuse history attending group sessions in a behavioral health facility. Specifically, the mechanism by which lyric analysis or the musical component may lead to positive therapeutic outcomes was examined. In order to assess the effectiveness of music therapy techniques, a comparison was made between conditions of music alone, lyric analysis alone and music with lyric analysis. One may be able to argue that the mechanism by which music therapy affects clients may lay within the music itself and clients listening to that music. …

Spice And Herb Use Among Cancer Patients, Mallory H. Krueger

Masters Theses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine cancer patients' use of, perceived benefits, and beliefs about herbs and spices after their cancer diagnosis.

Methods: An online questionnaire was used to explore types of herbs and spices used by cancer patients and assess cancer patients' experiences with, and perceived benefits of, and beliefs about spice and herb use. The online questionnaire included three sections: herb and spice use, herb and spice attitudes, and cancer characteristics and demographics. Participants were recruited through online cancer groups and registered dietitian nutritionists.

Results: The study included 135 cancer patients. Participants (71.9%) were likely …

The Relationship Between Resilience, Coping, And Social Media, Lillian N. Hurley

Masters Theses

This study was designed to explore relationships between measures of resilience, coping strategies, social media usage, and depression. Resilience refers to one's ability to endure and recover from adversity. Many theories about what contributes to the development resilience have been explored without a clear consensus. Taormina (2015) argued that adult personal resilience is comprised of four dimensions - determination, endurance, adapatability, and recuperability. Coping, a construct related to resilience, is the process of regulating emotions, cognition, behavior, physiological responses, and the environment in response to stressful events. Past research indicated those with poorer mental health have the tendency to use …

Structural Stress And Otherness: How Do They Influence Psychological Stress?, Christine Dewilde

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The Theory of Cultural Distress offers a framework for understanding the potential outcomes in patients who do not receive care that incorporates their cultural beliefs (DeWilde & Burton, 2017).This study represents initial steps in researching the theory byexploring the layering of stressors that place the patient at risk for Cultural Distress. Methods: Utilized aCross-sectional descriptive correlational analysis of intersecting identities (Structural Stressors), ethnicity-related stressors (Otherness) and ethnic-identity (Otherness) to develop understanding of the potential effects of these variables on psychological stress. Independent variables included intersecting identities, perceived ethnic discrimination, concern for stereotype confirmation, own group conformity pressure, and …

Galantamine's Deconstruction In The Quest Of A Pam Pharmacophore, Malaika Argade

Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder generally affecting people above the age of 65 years. Even though the pathophysiological hallmarks of AD were established more than a hundred years ago, there is yet to be a drug that can stop its characteristic neuronal damage. Of the five currently FDA-approved drugs, galantamine has a unique mechanism of action. Apart from being an AChE inhibitor, galantamine can effectively potentiate (positive allosteric modulator) the effect of agonists at nAChRs at concentrations lower than those required for its action as an AChE inhibitor. Perhaps the clinical benefits observed with galantamine are associated mainly …

The Role Of Ceramide In Neutrophil Elastase Induced Inflammation In The Lungs, Sophia Karandashova

Theses and Dissertations

Alterations to sphingolipid metabolism are associated with increased pulmonary inflammation, but the impact of inflammatory mediators, such as neutrophil elastase (NE), on airway sphingolipid homeostasis remains unknown. NE is a protease associated CF lung disease progression, and can be found in up to micromolar concentrations in patient airways. While sphingolipids have been investigated in the context of CF, the focus has been on loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) function. Here, we present a novel observation: oropharyngeal aspiration of NE increases airway ceramides in mice. Using a previously characterized mouse model of NE-induced inflammation, we demonstrate that NE …

Exogenous Fniii 12-14 Regulates Tgf-Β1-Induced Markers, Hilmi M. Humeid

Theses and Dissertations

The extracellular matrix protein Fibronectin (FN) plays an important role in cell contractility, differentiation, growth, adhesion, and migration. The 12th -14th Type III repeats of FN (FNIII 12-14), also referred to as the Heparin-II domain, comprise a highly promiscuous growth factor (GF) binding region. This binding domain aids in cellular signaling initiated from the ECM. Additionally, FN has the ability to assemble into fibrils under certain conditions, mostly observed during cell contractile processes such as those that initiate due to upregulation of Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 (TGF-β1) [1], [2]. Previous work from our lab has shown that self-assembly of …

Molecular Brain Adaptations To Ethanol: Role Of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Beta In The Transition To Excessive Consumption, Andrew D. Van Der Vaart

Theses and Dissertations

Alcoholism is a complex neuropsychiatric disease that is characterized by compulsive alcohol use and intensifying cravings and withdrawals, often culminating in physiologic dependency. Fundamental alterations in brain chemistry underlie the transition from initial ethanol exposure to repetitive excessive use. Key mediators of this adaptation include changes in gene expression and signal transduction. Here we investigated gene expression pathways in prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens following acute or chronic ethanol treatment, to identify genes with potentially conserved involvement in the long-term response of the corticolimbic system to repeated ethanol exposure. We investigated Gsk3b, which encodes glycogen synthase kinase 3-beta, as a …

The Relationship Between Central Venous Catheter And Post-Operative Complications In Patients Undergoing Hepatic Resection, David C. O'Connor

Theses and Dissertations

The Relationship Between Central Venous Catheter and Post-operative Complications in Patients Undergoing Hepatic Resection

David C. O’Connor, Ph.D., DNAP, CRNA

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018

Dissertation Chair: Clarence J. Biddle, Ph.D., CRNA

Hepatic resection is indicated for primary and secondary malignancies. Use of a low central venous pressure technique is associated with decreased blood loss in these cases. This technique has evolved; central venous catheters and high dose morphine are no longer used, and patients are extubated earlier. The purpose of …

Inpatient Utilization Of Computed Tomography: The Influence Of Market, Hospital, And Patient Characteristics, Michael Hanshew

Theses and Dissertations

The use of computed tomography (CT) in the care of patients has grown dramatically since its introduction over 30 years ago. The vast majority of the utilization research has focused on factors associated with the variable use in the outpatient and emergency department settings. This has left much of the inpatient use and variation understudied. This study has multiple aims. The first is to characterize the inpatient variation across multiple states and markets. The second is to evaluate the relationship between inpatient CT use and commercial payers across these areas. The third is to develop a model to evaluate the …

Impact Of Sensory Adapted Dental Environment On Children With Developmental Disabilities, Gail Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This was a pilot study assessing the impact of a sensory adapted dental environment (SADE) on children with developmental disabilities (DD) receiving routine dental care.

Methods: A crossover study of 22 children with DD, aged 6 through 21, was conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University Pediatric Dental clinic. Each participant was randomized to a sequence of two dental cleanings, one regular dental environment (RDE) and one SADE with a 3-4-month recall. Outcomes included physiological measures (heart rate and oxygen saturation) and cooperation (Frankl scores).

Results: Study subjects completed a total of 36 visits. None of the physiological measures differed at …