Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Platiscity Of C. Elegans Germline Stem Cells Under Nutritional And Metabolic Stress, Kenneth Trimmer

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Stem cells are integral for tissue maintenance and fertility. Therefore, understanding how stem cells are regulated under stress is imperative. When confronted with acute starvation, stem cells must conserve energy and metabolites to cope with the lack of an external source. Caenorhabditis elegans germline stem cells (GSCs) are an excellent model for studying stem cell properties and regulation as they can divide throughout the life of the organism. While GSCs are an adult stem cell population, their cell cycle structure more closely mimics mouse and human embryonic stem cells with short G1 and long S phases. In this thesis, I …

Identifying Interest In And Barriers To Psychiatric Genetic Counseling, Samantha Montgomery

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Mental illness is common in the United States and genetic counseling for psychiatric indications can help individuals understand multifactorial inheritance, recurrence risk estimates, and identify ways to protect their future mental health. Despite interest in and efficacy of the service documented in populations outside of the United States, individuals with personal and/or family histories of psychiatric conditions are very rarely accessing psychiatric genetic counseling services. The purpose of our study was to identify interest in and barriers to psychiatric genetic counseling with the hopes of better characterizing this population and improving access to this beneficial service in the future. An …

Roles Of Γδ T Cells In Influenza Infections And Methods For Tcr Expression And Characterization, Xizhi Guo

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

"Influenza virus is a significant pathogen in humans and animals with the ability to cause extensive morbidity and mortality. Exuberant immune responses associated with immune cell migration/activation and cytokine/chemokine release, can be induced after infections. Recent studies have painted a complex picture of viral clearance and tissue repair in adults. The immune responses in neonatal influenza infections and the potential methods to engineer antigen-specific T cells for immunotherapy against cancers and infections will be the focus of this dissertation." "Compared to adults, infants suffer higher rates of hospitalization, severe clinical complications, and mortality due to influenza infection. We found that …

An Investigation Into Clinically Relevant Determinants Of Azole Resistance In Candida Albicans, Andrew T. Nishimoto

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

"Candida albicans is a commensal organism commonly colonizing the human gut and skin. As an opportunistic pathogen, it can cause persistent and serious infections in individuals with compromised immune systems, including the very young and elderly. Moreover, C. albicans can cause a wide spectrum of diseases ranging from superficial mucosal infections to life-threatening invasions of the organs and bloodstream. Candida species are the most common cause of invasive fungal disease, which is associated with high mortality and imposes a heavy toll on the healthcare system. Over the last 30 years, the azole antifungals have been a mainstay of antifungal therapy, …

Neuroblastoma In Adolescents And Children Older Than 10 Years: Unusual Clinicopathologic And Biologic Features, Laura Mccarthy, Katherine Chastain, Terrie Flatt, Eugenio Taboada, Robert E. Garola, John Herriges, Linda D. Cooley, Atif Ahmed

Posters

This poster describes four cases of neuroblastoma diagnosed since 2008 in children greater than 10 years and presents their clinical, histologic and biologic features, emphasizing unusual clinicopathologic characteristics and the role of DNA microarray analysis and Next Generation Sequencing in their management.

Predictive Performance Of Existing Population Pharmacokinetic Models Of Tacrolimus In Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients, Alenka Chapron, Susan M. Abdel-Rahman

Posters

With the goal of developing a clinician-driven tacrolimus (TAC) pharmacokinetic dosing tool, our initial objectives were 1) to examine whether published TAC population pharmacokinetic (popPK) models could serve as a foundation for the dosing tool, and 2) evaluate their performance predicting TAC concentrations in an independent cohort of Children's Mercy patients.

A Nsqip Analysis Of Post-Operative Antibiotic Utilization In Uncomplicated Appendicitis, Charlene Dekonenko, Robert M. Dorman, Janelle R. Noel-Macdonnell, Tolulope A. Oyetunji

Posters

APSA 2010 recommendations do not support antibiotic use post-operatively following appendectomy for uncomplicated appendicitis, but compliance varies by institution. This study determined the rate of post-operative antibiotic use in uncomplicated appendicitis and found that 10% of patients were discharged on antibiotics, using the NSQIP files.

Self-Reported Outcomes Following Cholecystectomy For Pediatric Hyperkinetic Biliary Dyskinesia, Charlene Dekonenko, Joseph A. Sujka, Robert Michael Dorman, Tolulope A. Oyetunji, Shawn D. St Peter

Posters

The aim of this study is to determine if children with hyperkinetic biliary dyskinesia have resolution of symptoms after laparoscopic cholecystectomy at our institution.

Conclusion: Cholecystectomy for hyperkinetic biliary dyskinesia may or may not improve symptoms. Further research should focus on pathophysiology of the disease in order to create an evidence-based definition of biliary dyskinesia in children to determine who will benefit from cholecystectomy.

Phase Specific Changes In Rate Of Force Development And Muscle Morphology Throughout A Block Periodized Training Cycle In Weightlifters, Dylan Guidetti Suarez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinetic and morphological adaptations that occur during distinct phases of a block periodized training cycle in weightlifters. Monitoring data from nine experienced collegiate weightlifters was examined retrospectively. Isometric mid-thigh pull and ultrasonography results from pre and post three specific training phases within a macrocycle leading up to a competition were compared. Changes in isometric rate of force development and vastus lateralis cross-sectional area reflected the expected adaptations of each training phase.

Advances In Radiation Oncology, Robert Ash

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

No abstract provided.

Novel Pharmacological Therapy In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus With Established Cardiovascular Disease: Current Evidence, Leonardo Pozo, Fatimah Bello, Andres Suarez, Francisco E. Ochoa-Martinez, Yamely Mendez, Chelsea H. Chang, Salim Surani

School of Medicine Publications

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death in the world and in most developed countries. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) suffer from both microvascular and macrovascular diseases and therefore have higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared to those without T2DM. If current trends continue, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 3 Americans will have T2DM by year 2050. As a consequence of the controversy surrounding rosiglitazone and the increasing prevalence of diabetes and CVDs, in 2008 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established new expectations for the evaluation of new …

Peptides Identified On Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells: A Marker For Clinical Immunogenicity To Fviii Products, Wojciech Jankowski, Yara Park, Joseph Mcgil, Eugene Maraskovsky, Marco Hofmann, Vincent P. Diego, Bernadette W. Luu, Tom E. Howard, Roberta Kellerman, Nigel S. Key, Zuben E. Sauna

School of Medicine Publications

The immunogenicity of protein therapeutics is an important safety and efficacy concern during drug development and regulation. Strategies to identify individuals and subpopulations at risk for an undesirable immune response represent an important unmet need. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC)–associated peptide proteomics (MAPPs) assay directly identifies the presence of peptides derived from a specific protein therapeutic on a donor’s MHC class II (MHC-II) proteins. We applied this technique to address several questions related to the use of factor VIII (FVIII) replacement therapy in the treatment of hemophilia A (HA). Although .12 FVIII therapeutics are marketed, most fall into 3 categories: …

Cervical Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Ossification : Microscopy-Assisted Anterior Corpectomy And Fusion., Wanyi Wang, Tao Ding, James Harrop, Huilin Yang, Xiaofeng Gu, Dehong Feng, Yafeng Zhang, Hao Liu, Fenglin Tang, Yuntao Xue, Miao Lu, Chao Wu

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of microscopy-assisted anterior corpectomy and fusion for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

METHODS: A retrospective review of 32 cervical OPLL patients who underwent microscopy-assisted anterior corpectomy and fusion from June 2012 to March 2017 was carried out. Patients were evaluated with outcome metrics: Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores (17 points method), visual analog scale (VAS), and radiographic parameters of the lordotic angle. The complications during treatment and follow-up were recorded.

RESULTS: This study included 32 patients (15 males and 17 females) with a mean age of 58.3 ± 2.9 …

Posture Affects Affordance Perception Of Reachability In Virtual Reality, Hannah Masoner

Master's Theses

Tasks such as standing and reaching require differing levels of postural stability. Postural equilibrium is necessary to perceive the location of objects (Lee, Pacheco, & Newell, 2018). Visual perception of whether an object is within reach was investigated while standing upright. Participants viewed a 3D virtual reality (VR) environment with a stimulus object (red ball) placed at different egocentric distances. Participants made affordance judgements while in a standard stance condition as well as two separate active balance conditions (yoga tree pose, and toe-to-heel pose). Feedback on accuracy was not provided, and participants were not allowed to attempt to reach. Response …

Familial Aggregation Of Ideal Cardiovascular Health And Cardiovascular Disease Disability-Adjusted Life Years In Parent-Offspring Dyads: Analysis Of The Framingham Heart Study, James M. Muchira

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Ideal cardiovascular health (iCVH) is defined as the simultaneous presence of seven health metrics-physical activity, not-smoking, healthy diet, healthy body weight, and blood cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels as defined by evidence-based guidelines. Evidence suggests familial aggregation of single cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors but research on clustering of seven iCVH metrics and CVD disability-adjusted life years (CVD DALYs) within families is lacking.

Purpose: To examine trends and relationship of parental iCVH and offspring iCVH and CVD DALYs at similar age across the lifespan.

Methods: A secondary data analysis of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) Dataset-Original and …

Do Race And Ethnicity Influence Turnover Intention In Newly Licensed Registered Nurses?, Mary Susan L. Howlett

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Demand for health care services is rising while newly licensed nurses vacate employment positions at alarming rates. Healthcare leadership has called for an increased diversification of the healthcare workforce, but the workplace experience of nonwhite nurses in the first years has not been assessed.

Methods: This study utilized a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. The sample was limited to newly licensed nurses with no prior experience as a nurse. Linear regression models were constructed to determine which personal and structural attributes are associated with turnover intention, stratified by race and ethnicity. Hierarchical, backwards stepwise selection was used to build the …

Knowledge And Attitudes Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Living With Hiv/Aids In Malawi: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jasintha Mtengezo

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Cervical cancer is the third most frequent cancer among women worldwide and about 265,672 women die from the disease annually. Abnormal cervical cells caused by human papillomavirus are more common in HIV-positive women than in HIV-negative women due to their compromised immune system. Malawi, in Sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the countries with the highest rates of cervical cancer and HIV in the world. The incidence of cervical cancer and deaths can be reduced by 80% if women go for screening. There are limited studies about cervical cancer screening behavior, level of knowledge and attitudes regarding cervical cancer and screening …

Factors Related To Quality Of Life In Older People With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Transarterial Chemoembolization Therapy(ปัจจัยที่มีความสัมพันธ์กับคุณภําพชีวิตของผู้สูงอายุโรคมะเร็งตับที่ได้รับการรักษาด้วยเคมีบำบัดทางหลอดเลือดแดง), Nattakarn Hongmalai, Tassana Choowattanapakorn

Journal of Nursing Research, Innovation, and Health

Purpose: To study the quality of life in older people with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolization therapy and to study the relationships between factors; fatigue, pain, insomnia, stress and quality of life in older people with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolization therapy.Design: Correlation researchMethods: One hundred and twenty inpatient aged over 60 years old of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and Ramathibodi Hospital who had been diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. The instruments were composed of Demographic information, Piper fatigue scale-12, Numerical rating scales, Insomnia severity index, Percieved stress scale, functional assessment of cancer therapy - hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep). The reliabilities of these …

Factors Related To Sexual Risk Behaviors Of Adolescents With Visual Impairment(ปัจจัยที่มีคววามสัมพันธ์กับพฤติกรรมเสี่ยงทางเพศของวัยรุ่นที่มีความพิการทางการเห็น), Chakkkrich Pidjadee, Rutja Phuphaibul, Penchan Pradubmook Sherer

Journal of Nursing Research, Innovation, and Health

Purpose: The study aimed to examine the level of sexual risk behaviors and relationships between predisposing factors, reinforcing factors, enabling factors and sexual risk behaviors of adolescents with visual impairment.Design: Descriptive correlational research.Methods: The subjects were 99 adolescents with visual impairment who studied in 3 schools for the students with visual impairment. Purposive sampling was used. Data were collected using seven Braille's questionnaires, including 1) demographic characteristics, 2) sexual knowledge, 3) sexual attitude, 4) self-esteem, 5) influence from friends, 6) sexual media accessibility and 7) sexual risk behaviors of adolescent with visual impairment. All questionnaires had content validity. Their Cronbach's …

Factors Predicting Sleep Quality Of Secondary School Students In Bangkok, Thailand(ปัจจัยทํานายคุณภาพการนอนหลับของนักเรียนชั้นมัธยมศึกษาในกรุงเทพมหานคร ประเทศไทย), Rung Piboonworakulkij, Chuanrudee Kongsaktrakul, Sermsri Santati

Journal of Nursing Research, Innovation, and Health

Purpose: To explore sleep quality and factors predicting sleep quality of secondary school students in Bangkok, Thailand.Design: Descriptive and predictive researchMethods: The samples consisted of 312 Mathayomsuksa 1-6 students who were studying at schools under the supervision of the Secondary Educational Service Area Office, Bangkok. They were selected by multi-stage sampling. The research instruments were the general information questionnaire, the Suanprung Stress Test, the assessment form on adolescents' sleep hygiene practices, the questionnaire on electronic device using behavior, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The data were analyzed by using frequency distribution, percentage, mean, and logistic regression.Findings: 46.20% of secondary …

The Effects Of A Planned Behavior Program On The Eating And Physical Activity Behaviorof Overweight Late Primary School-Aged Children(ผลของโปรแกรมปรับเปลี่ยนพฤติกรรมตามแผนต่อพฤติกรรมการบริโภคอาหารและการทํากิจกรรมทางกายของเด็กวัยเรียนตอนปลายที่มีภาวะน้ำหนักเกิน), Supalux Srithanya, Wanalada Thongbai, Jeeraporn Kummabutr

Journal of Nursing Research, Innovation, and Health

Purpose: To examine the effects of a planned behavior program on the eating behavior and physical activity behavior in late primary school-aged children with overweight.Method: Quasi - experimental designDesign: This study employed the theory of Planned Behavior as the framework. Simple random sampling was used in order to select a sample of children aged 10 to 12 years studying in the public school in, Saraburi, Thailand. The sample group was selected in accordance with the criteria and randomly chosen to be in the experimental group and control group. Thirty-five children in the experimental group were assigned to the 6-week behavioral …

Impact Of Leadership Styles On The Performance Of Virtual Teams In The Uae Government Sector: Assessment Of Transactional And Transformational Leadership Styles, Nama Salmeen Mabrouk Omar Al Ameri

Dissertations

The widespread availability of computers and the presence of ubiquitous internet has motivated organizations to acknowledge the potential role of virtual teams in reducing the cost of operations, increasing firm productivity, and creating flexible work environments. Consequently, most global firms are running their operations using multiple experts located remotely in different parts of the world (virtual teams) to plan, design, and implement projects and tasks. However, virtual teams face many challenges resulting from a lack of face-to-face contact. Based on existing relevant literature, this study contributes a unique insight into how some challenges surrounding virtual team performance might be addressed. …

Characterizing Range Anxiety In Electric Vehicle Users, Maiia Tolia-Shah, Brenda Gutierrez, Sook Mun (Alice) Wong, Uri Maoz

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Range Anxiety is the fear of running out of fuel for your car before arriving at a refueling point or final destination. While usually absent or low in gas-powered vehicles, this anxiety is a salient consideration when buying electric vehicles (EVs). This and the fact that there are fewer charging stations available compared to gas stations have been offered as hypotheses for why EV sales are low. Previous research has found that those with more experience driving EVs, felt less range anxiety as they can when and where to charge their vehicle in their daily lives. EVs are more environmentally …

Differential Microrna Expression Of Mir-21 And Mir-155 With Oral Cancer Extracellular Vesicles In Response To Melationin, Matthew Hunsaker, Greta Barba, Karl Kingsley, Katherine M. Howard

Dental Medicine Faculty Research

Objective: Extracellular vesicles derived from oral cancer cells, which include Exosomes and Oncosomes, are membranous vesicles secreted into the surrounding extracellular environment. These extracellular vesicles can regulate and modulate oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression through the horizontal transfer of bioactive molecules including proteins, lipids and microRNA (miRNA). The primary objective of this study was to examine the potential to isolate and evaluate extracellular vesicles (including exosomes) from various oral cancer cell lines and to explore potential differences in miRNA content. Methods: The OSCC cell lines SCC9, SCC25 and CAL27 were cultured in DMEM containing 10% exosome-free fetal bovine serum. …

Social Influence And Moment-To-Moment Changes In Young Adults’ Mood And Psychotic Symptoms, K Powers, K A. Johnson, M Graham, A Cloutier, K Stewart, S Lynch, D Robbins, R Mesholm-Gately, K A. Woodberry

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Background:

• Social situations can have a significant impact on young people’s mood and mental experiences.

• More specifically, we want to know how someone’s perceived social influence in social situations relates to their mood and psychotic symptoms.

• Past studies have found connections between lower perceived social status (rank, comparison, and related concepts) and psychotic symptoms anxiety, depression, and other mood related psychopathology.

• We use experience sampling methods to capture moment-to-moment changes in mood and psychotic symptoms in a variety of social settings.

Effect Of A Robust Electronic Medical Record Order Set On Hepatitis C Screening Rate At A Community Hospital, Hannah Olsen, Caroline Knight, Harold Van Lonkhuyzen

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Background:

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is a liver infection that typically begins as an acute infection and if left untreated, can become a chronic infection. One-time HCV testing is recommended by the CDC and United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for asymptomatic individuals based on evaluated exposure or other circumstances that increase HCV exposure (HCV Guidance, 2018); (CDC, 2012). Patients with severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorders are particularly at risk for HCV infection with past studies finding approximately 6.2 - 29.8% of patients with severe mental disorders having comorbid HCV (Ayano et al., 2018) …

Characteristics Of Inpatients With Opioid Use Disorder Seen By “Imat” Consult Service From 7/2016 - 6/2017, Katherine Nenninger, Jenny Carwile, Jonathan Fellers, Kinna Thakarar

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Introduction:

• For people with opioid use disorder (OUD), admission to the hospital can provide an opportunity to initiate substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and preventive care

• In 2016, a multidisciplinary “IMAT” (integrated medication for addiction treatment) inpatient team was established to help treat patients with SUD

Neurocardiac Risk Stratification 6 Hours After Resuscitation From Cardiac Arrest, A Bilkanovic, Z Haxhija, L Lucas, J Dziodzio, R R. Riker, T May, H Friberg, D B. Seder

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Introduction:

• An increasing number of patients are resuscitated from out-ofhospital cardiac arrest. Triage to optimal treatment pathways could improve and increase the efficacy of post-resuscition care.

• Despite great variability in etiology, duration, and patterns of injury from cardiac arrest, post-resuscitation treatment guidelines emphasize standard treatments. We hypothesize that by categorizing competing risks very early after resuscitation, it may be possible to improve the efficacy and efficiency of care.

• When measured very early after resuscitation, suppression ratio (SR, the percentage of suppressed EEG), correlates with severity of brain injury and the likelihood of poor neurological outcome.

• The …

Delayed Initiation Of Therapeutic Hypothermia For Outborn Infants Is Associated With Adverse Outcomes, Nabeel Hashmi, Max Sale, Leah Fox, Jay Kerecman, Lauren Mcallister, Misty Melendi, Frances Lucas

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Delayed Initiantion of Therapeutic Hypothermia for Outborn Infants is Associated with Adverse Outcomes

Predictors For Discharge After Robotic Hysterectomy – A Retrospective Analysis, Heidi Fox, Kristiina Hyrkas

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Introduction:

Hysterectomy is one of the most common surgeries performed in the United States with more than 600,000 procedures annually . It has been estimated that in 2011, there were more than 64,000 surgeries performed in an outpatient setting. The highest rate of 0.46% (464/100,000 adult women) has been reported in Maine. The average length of stay was 0.65 days for laparoscopic and 0.79 days for vaginal hysterectomies [1]. Traditionally, hysterectomies have been performed as an inpatient procedure to manage postoperative pain and monitor complications such as bleeding, anemia and return of bowel function. Development of minimally invasive surgery techniques …