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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Simulated Biological Fluid Exposure Changes Nanoceria’S Surface Properties But Not Its Biological Response, Robert A. Yokel, Matthew L. Hancock, Benjamin Cherian, Alexandra J. Brooks, Marsha L. Ensor, Hemendra J. Vekaria, Patrick G. Sullivan, Eric A. Grulke Nov 2019

Simulated Biological Fluid Exposure Changes Nanoceria’S Surface Properties But Not Its Biological Response, Robert A. Yokel, Matthew L. Hancock, Benjamin Cherian, Alexandra J. Brooks, Marsha L. Ensor, Hemendra J. Vekaria, Patrick G. Sullivan, Eric A. Grulke

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Nanoscale cerium dioxide (nanoceria) has industrial applications, capitalizing on its catalytic, abrasive, and energy storage properties. It auto-catalytically cycles between Ce3+ and Ce4+, giving it pro-and anti-oxidative properties. The latter mediates beneficial effects in models of diseases that have oxidative stress/inflammation components. Engineered nanoparticles become coated after body fluid exposure, creating a corona, which can greatly influence their fate and effects. Very little has been reported about nanoceria surface changes and biological effects after pulmonary or gastrointestinal fluid exposure. The study objective was to address the hypothesis that simulated biological fluid (SBF) exposure changes nanoceria’s surface properties …


Type X Strains Of Toxoplasma Gondii Are Virulent For Southern Sea Otters (Enhydra Lutris Nereis) And Present In Felids From Nearby Watersheds, Karen Shapiro, Elizabeth Vanwormer, Andrea Packham, Erin Dodd, Patricia A. Conrad, Melissa Miller Jul 2019

Type X Strains Of Toxoplasma Gondii Are Virulent For Southern Sea Otters (Enhydra Lutris Nereis) And Present In Felids From Nearby Watersheds, Karen Shapiro, Elizabeth Vanwormer, Andrea Packham, Erin Dodd, Patricia A. Conrad, Melissa Miller

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Why some Toxoplasma gondii-infected southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) develop fatal toxoplasmosis while others have incidental or mild chronic infections has long puzzled the scientific community. We assessed robust datasets on T. gondii molecular characterization in relation to detailed necropsy and histopathology results to evaluate whether parasite genotype influences pathological outcomes in sea otters that stranded along the central California coast. Genotypes isolated from sea otters were also compared with T. gondii strains circulating in felids from nearby coastal regions to assess land-to-sea parasite transmission. The predominant T. gondii genotypes isolated from 135 necropsied sea otters were atypical Type …


Confronting Models With Data: The Challenges Of Estimating Disease Spillover, Paul C. Cross, Diann J. Prosser, Andrew M. Ramey, Ephraim M. Hanks, Kim M. Pepin Jun 2019

Confronting Models With Data: The Challenges Of Estimating Disease Spillover, Paul C. Cross, Diann J. Prosser, Andrew M. Ramey, Ephraim M. Hanks, Kim M. Pepin

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

For pathogens known to transmit across host species, strategic investment in disease control requires knowledge about where and when spillover transmission is likely. One approach to estimating spillover is to directly correlate observed spillover events with covariates. An alternative is to mechanistically combine information on host density, distribution and pathogen prevalence to predict where and when spillover events are expected to occur. We use several case studies at the wildlife–livestock disease interface to highlight the challenges, and potential solutions, to estimating spatiotemporal variation in spillover risk. Datasets on multiple host species often do not align in space, time or resolution, …


Evolutionary And Genomic Insights Into Clostridioides Difficile Sequence Type 11: A Diverse Zoonotic And Antimicrobial-Resistant Lineage Of Global One Health Importance, Daniel R. Knight, Brian Kullin, Grace O. Androga, Frederic Barbut, Catherine Eckert, Stuart Johnson, Patrizia Spigaglia, Kazuhiro Tateda, Pei-Jane Tsai, Thomas V. Riley Apr 2019

Evolutionary And Genomic Insights Into Clostridioides Difficile Sequence Type 11: A Diverse Zoonotic And Antimicrobial-Resistant Lineage Of Global One Health Importance, Daniel R. Knight, Brian Kullin, Grace O. Androga, Frederic Barbut, Catherine Eckert, Stuart Johnson, Patrizia Spigaglia, Kazuhiro Tateda, Pei-Jane Tsai, Thomas V. Riley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Clostridioides difficile (Clostridium difficile) sequence type 11 (ST11) is well established in production animal populations worldwide and contributes considerably to the global burden of C. difficile infection (CDI) in humans. Increasing evidence of shared ancestry and genetic overlap of PCR ribotype 078 (RT078), the most common ST11 sublineage, between human and animal populations suggests that CDI may be a zoonosis. We performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on a collection of 207 ST11 and closely related ST258 isolates of human and veterinary/environmental origin, comprising 16 RTs collected from Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America. Core genome single nucleotide variant (SNV) analysis identified …


Environmental Transmission Of Toxoplasma Gondii: Oocysts In Water, Soil And Food, Karen Shapiro, Lillian Bahia-Oliveira, Brent Dixon, Aurélien Dumètre, Luz A. De Wit, Elizabeth Vanwormer, Isabelle Villena Mar 2019

Environmental Transmission Of Toxoplasma Gondii: Oocysts In Water, Soil And Food, Karen Shapiro, Lillian Bahia-Oliveira, Brent Dixon, Aurélien Dumètre, Luz A. De Wit, Elizabeth Vanwormer, Isabelle Villena

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that can cause morbidity and mortality in humans, domestic animals, and terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. The environmentally robust oocyst stage of T. gondii is fundamentally critical to the parasite's success, both in terms of its worldwide distribution as well as the extensive range of infected intermediate hosts. Despite the limited definitive host species (domestic and wild felids), infections have been reported on every continent, and in terrestrial as well as aquatic environments. The remarkable resistance of the oocyst wall enables dissemination of T. gondii through watersheds and ecosystems, and long-term persistence in diverse …


Knowledge Of Hiv/Aids Among Older Adults (50 Years And Above) In A Peri-Urban Setting: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study, Reindolf Anokye, Enoch Acheampong, Amy Budu-Ainooson, Edmund Isaac Obeng, Emmanuel Tetteh, Yvonne Sabby Acheampong, Curtis Edward Nettey-Marbell Jan 2019

Knowledge Of Hiv/Aids Among Older Adults (50 Years And Above) In A Peri-Urban Setting: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study, Reindolf Anokye, Enoch Acheampong, Amy Budu-Ainooson, Edmund Isaac Obeng, Emmanuel Tetteh, Yvonne Sabby Acheampong, Curtis Edward Nettey-Marbell

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: In the absence of vaccine or cure, public knowledge about Human Immune Virus (HIV) is a central tool for curbing HIV epidemic. This study sought to assess the knowledge of HIV among older adults (50 years and above) at the Methodist Faith Healing hospital, Ankaase, Ghana. Methods: Using a descriptive study design, older adults (50 years and above) who visited the Ankaase Methodist Faith Healing hospital were randomly sampled for the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect data which was analyzed quantitatively using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 16.0). Results: A total of 100 respondents …


Genomic Delineation Of Zoonotic Origins Of Clostridium Difficile, Daniel R. Knight, Thomas V. Riley Jan 2019

Genomic Delineation Of Zoonotic Origins Of Clostridium Difficile, Daniel R. Knight, Thomas V. Riley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Clostridium difficile is toxin-producing antimicrobial resistant (AMR) enteropathogen historically associated with diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis in hospitalized patients. In recent years, there have been dramatic increases in the incidence and severity of C. difficile infection (CDI), and associated morbidity and mortality, in both healthcare and community settings. C. difficile is an ancient and diverse species that displays a sympatric lifestyle, establishing itself in a range of ecological niches external to the healthcare system. These sources/reservoirs include food, water, soil, and over a dozen animal species, in particular, livestock such as pigs and cattle. In a manner analogous to human infection, …


Light Transmission And Wear Of Translucent Zirconia After Conventional And Fast Sintering Cycle, Anvita Maharishi Jan 2019

Light Transmission And Wear Of Translucent Zirconia After Conventional And Fast Sintering Cycle, Anvita Maharishi

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT Introduction: Zirconia is classified by the mole percentage of yttria contained in the zirconia. The most strong and opaque material contains 3 mol % yttria, intermediate strength and opacity contain 4 mol %, and whereas 5 mol % is the weakest but most translucent zirconia. Refined zirconia powder is pressed into a mold to form a disc which is then milled to form a restoration. Post milling of sintered zirconia restorations is necessary to obtain final mechanical and physical properties of the restoration. Traditionally conventional sintering cycles required 6-8 hours to sinter. Whereas, fast sintering cycles have been have …