Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Immersive Virtual Reality Training Improved Upper Extremity Function In Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries: A Case Series, Anqi Zhang

Theses & Dissertations

Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging treatment tool to engage people in environments that appear and feel similar to real-world objects and events.¹ There are various levels of evidence that VR can potentially promote functional activity and neuroplasticity in patients with neurological disorders like spinal cord injury (SCI).^2,3

In this case series, we explored the feasibility of using commercially available immersive VR technology as an augmented treatment in the SCI population and compare participant’s suitability for this intervention. Three male SCI participants were recruited in a subacute inpatient rehabilitation facility and participated in VR intervention twice a week …

Self-Management For Individuals Using Long-Term Urinary Catheterization, Lisa Krabbenhoft

Theses & Dissertations

Many individuals with adult neurogenic lower urinary tract disorder require long-term urinary catheterization for bladder management. The daily use of urinary catheterization increases the risk for chronic complications including catheter associated urinary tract infections. Previous studies have used self-management interventions to reduce chronic complications in the community setting. However, there are limited intervention studies focused on reducing chronic complications after discharge from a rehabilitation hospital. The purpose of this dissertation study is to examine the feasibility and impact of a self-management intervention on individuals after leaving rehabilitation hospital for home within the community.

This dissertation comprises two studies, the first …

Synthesis Of Fluorinated Pyrazoles Via Intra- And Intermolecular Cyclization Reactions, Matthew Saucier

Honors Theses

Pyrazole-based pharmaceuticals treat a wide array of diseases and conditions including obesity, diabetes, cancer, microbial and viral infections, pain and inflammation, and many neurological disorders. Syntheses for this biologically significant substrate have been well developed, but current methods to afford fluorinated pyrazoles are limited by variability and selectivity. By 2013, over 25% of all drugs available on the market contained the element fluorine due to its unique characteristics leading to improved target protein binding, bioavailability, and metabolic stability. In order to harness these pharmaceutical benefits of fluorine and overcome its difficulty in handling and stability, we set out to develop …

Synthesis Of Aromatic Fluorinated Ketones For Evaluation At The Gaba Receptor, Madeline Griffin

Honors Theses

GABA is a neurotransmitter that inhibits the excitation of neurons. Targeting this specific receptor has the potential to inhibit the central nervous system and possibly treat addiction, anxiety, or mood disorders. Previous research has shown that fluorinated ketones can have valuable applications in the medicinal chemistry of addiction. Some fluorinated ketones have shown activity at the GABA receptor. The main goal of this project was to synthesize aromatic fluorinated ketones for biological evaluation at the GABA_B receptor. Another goal was to compare both the monofluorinated and difluorinated analogues synthesized in order to quantify differences in activity from fluorination state. …

Improving Diabetes Self-Management Developing A Patient Decision Aid To Improve Patient Education, Morgan Baker

Honors Theses

Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease that affects a large population of people. It is imperative that efforts are made to develop more effective and inclusive treatment strategies for patients with this condition. A promising approach being studied is the utilization of community pharmacists to individualize and implement diabetes self-management training and education. The objective of this study is to develop a preliminary version of a patient decision aid (PDA) designed to evaluate patient knowledge and behavior towards diabetes self-management for use in the community pharmacy setting. The study design used to achieve this objective was a cross-sectional survey …

Investigating The Link Between Executive Function And Creativity In School Aged Children, Katherine Crenshaw

Honors Theses

The primary purpose of this research was to examine links between executive function (i.e., EF or conscious control) and creativity in school aged children. To accomplish this, participants completed measurements of creativity (i.e., Alternative Uses) and EF (i.e., the Backwards Digit Span to test working memory, the Delay of Gratification task to test inhibition). I also examined whether a creative manipulation (i.e., free coloring or coloring task-relevant materials) would impact EF performance in the Dimensional Card Change Sort (DCCS) focused on cognitive flexibility. While I did not find evidence for a relationship between my measures of EF and creativity, I …

Examination Of Sleep Disturbance, Anxiety Sensitivity, And Depression In An Undergraduate Sample, Dasha Grace

Honors Theses

Sleep contributes to overall well-being, mental health, and daily functioning. Sleep disturbances negatively affect psychological, physiological, and biological processing, and the quality of sleep is similarly affected by these processes. The effects of sleep disturbance call for a greater understanding of depression and anxiety sensitivity among college students. Studies have found that sleep disturbance affects nearly 90% of the college student population. The aims of the current study were to examine: 1) types and rates of sleep disturbance among a sample of college students, 2) associations between sleep disturbance, AS, and depression symptoms, and 3) AS and depression symptoms by …

From Zero To One Hundred: Assessing Discomfort In Different Cuff Widths Following Use Of Blood Flow Restriction, Raksha Chatakondi

Honors Theses

Purpose: To examine the impact of cuff width, pressure, and sex on the perceptual response to blood flow restriction through a series of six experiments. Methods: Experiment One (n=50), Experiment Two (n=105), and Experiment Three (n=105) took place in the upper body, and Experiment Four (n=100), Experiment Five (n=100), and Experiment Six (n=100) took place in the lower body. Perceptual discomfort was measured following each condition. Results: Results are expressed as mean (+ SD). In Experiment One, there were no differences in discomfort. In Experiment Two, the wide cuff resulted in more discomfort [43 (20) AU] compared to the narrow …

Healthcare Workers' Perceptions Of Different Types Of Interpreters In The Gulf South, Meg Hayslip

Honors Theses

Medical interpreters are important in the healthcare community. Many studies have focused on the consequences of not having an interpreter. A variety of problems can be caused by "language brokering" when no interpreter is available. These studies will be discussed in the literature review. Many states have requirements to become certified as an interpreter, and the selection criteria is what makes a person a “good” interpreter. Previous research, such as that by Chan et al., has shown how different styles of interpreting can affect the quality of health care. This study focuses on how healthcare personnel and their patients view …

Teacher Evaluation Of An Integrated Nutrition Curriculum For Mississippi Schools, Janiya A. Davis

Honors Theses

The prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States has more than tripled over the last four decades from 5 percent in 1978 to 18.5 percent in 2016, and according to the Mississippi Obesity Action Plan, 40.4% of Mississippi elementary school children (grades K-5) were either overweight or obese. Some reports have suggested that Mississippi’s overall obesity rate could reach 66.7% by 2030. Although the literature on best practices for the prevention of this condition is limited, some success has been achieved through the use of school-based nutrition interventions, in which children are taught how to make healthy food choices. …

Regulating Neuronal Growth With Structurally Defined Glycans, Gabriella D. Hartman

Honors Theses

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) and keratan sulfate proteoglycans (KSPGs) play an important role in neural development. Aggrecan, a CSPG, operates in the neural extracellular matrix where it negatively regulates neurite outgrowth to prevent aberrant process formation. Unfortunately, this aggrecan or CSPG-rich/KSPG-rich barrier can also prevent neuronal regeneration, which contributes to the inability to repair brain and spinal cord injuries. Removal of CSPGs and KSPGs has been shown to increase neurite outgrowth. We extend these findings by testing the ability of structurally-defined glycans to outcompete aggrecan and allow neurite outgrowth. Our overall goal is to determine if there is a particular …

The Effects Of Written Stuttering Disclosure On Young Adult's Perceptions Of Children Who Stutter, Ashlee Manahan

Honors Theses

Abstract:

Purpose: This study measured between-group differences in perceived speech skills and personality characters of a 12-year-old male child who stutters (CWS) as a function of a written factual stuttering disclosure statement, delivered by a male CWS, his “mother”, and his “teacher”.

Methods: Four-hundred twenty-four college aged adults were randomly assigned to one of four groups. The groups included three experimental groups (i.e. written self-disclosure, written mother-disclosure, written teacher disclosure) and a control group (no written disclosure). Participants in the control condition viewed a brief video of a 12-year-old male who stutters. In the experimental conditions, participants viewed a brief …

Is Fitspiration Truly An Inspiration? How Social Media Accounts Dedicated To Fitness And Nutrition Affect Physical Activity Levels And Body Image Among College Students, Anna Bowles

Honors Theses

Fitspiration accounts on social media are established to influence those that view or follow them to live a healthier lifestyle. However, just because these accounts are being viewed does not mean that the individuals are following the advice of these influencers. The purpose of this study is to gather data on how physical activity levels and body image are affected by the use, or knowledge of “fitspiration,” or inspiration on fitness and nutrition, accounts on social media among students at the University of Mississippi. The participants were 361 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 25 at the University …

Dialect Variation Assessment In Speech-Language Pathology, Maliah Wilkinson

Honors Theses

During speech and language assessment, speech language pathologists often utilize tools from sociolinguistics to differentiate between accent and dialect variation from actual speech or language impairments. Perceptual dialectology, is one of these tools. This method of research seeks to investigate the linguistic perspectives of various populations in specific situations (Montgomery, 2012, p. 638). To investigate the perspectives of college students, linguists, and speech-language pathologists surveys analyzed they perceptions of dialects in various settings and their backgrounds. Results from the surveys indicate linguists who participated have educational experience with dialects but not dialect assessments. While speech-language pathologists, have certification that insists …

The Teaching Of Performance Enhancing Drugs In U.S. Schools And Colleges Of Pharmacy, Sara Dorothy Green

Honors Theses

The teaching of performance enhancing drugs in U.S. schools and colleges of pharmacy is necessary to better help patients who are athletes especially those who compete in high-level athletics such as the Olympics or the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). There is no master list for banned substances, they differ for each organization and have many exceptions. Pharmacists can play a key role in preventing unintentional disqualifications of athletes as there are many medications considered performance enhancing drugs including some supplements and stimulants. For example, commonly used cold medications may contain pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, a banned substance in the world of …

A Nondestructive Procedure For The Extraction Of Dna From Human Teeth, Mark Reliquias, Ann-Elodie Black

Honors Theses

This research focuses on constructing a procedure that allows for the nondestructive extraction of mtDNA from teeth for forensic DNA analysis. Currently, only a destructive method for extracting DNA from teeth is used in the forensic laboratory to identify an individual. A disadvantage of extracting DNA through a destructive method is the complete or partial loss of the tooth. To extract DNA through a destructive method, the tooth must either be cut horizontally or vertically to access the pulp, or the root ground into a powder to extract DNA from the dentine-cementum. With the destruction of the tooth, additional forensic …

Electronic Health Records And Health Information Exchange And Their Impact On International Healthcare System Efficiency, David Pfaehler

Honors Theses

The 19th century epidemiological transition in healthcare caused a major shift in physician focus from curing one-time, deadly illness to managing chronic disease. Now, even the most advanced international healthcare systems must find a way to increase their efficiency in order to compensate for heightened strains on medical systems and swelling costs of healthcare delivery. Fortunately, recent technological innovation and, chiefly, the growth of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) provide a potential solution to this looming threat. EHRs are digital charts with the potential to store and share patient health data among providers to offer the most informed, streamlined care available. …

Studies Of Salvinorin-Based Antagonists To Elucidate Pertinent Interactions For Kappa Opioid Receptor Antagonism, Madeline Keane

Honors Theses

Opioid abuse, leading to addiction and related deaths, has created a chronic epidemic in the United States for the past 30 years. This crisis has sprung from reliance on the prescription of opioid analgesics as the primary method for the management of pain in the 1990s. At that time, these drugs, specifically Purdue Pharma’s OxyContin, were marketed as non-addictive. Due to this systemic minimization of the addictive properties of opioid analgesics, as prescription rates increased, opioid-related mortality rates climbed. This epidemic continues to be pervasive, as opioid-related overdose resulted in 47,600 deaths in 2017. In addition to the opioid epidemic, …

A Raman Spectroscopic And Quantum Chemical Investigation Of Serotonin, It's Intramolecular Interactions, And The Solvent Effects Of Methanol, Ethanol, And Water, Mallory Loe

Honors Theses

Serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine, is a neurotransmitter and metabolite vital to the normal function of the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. Although it might be colloquially known as the ‘happiness drug,’ malfunctions in serotoninergic pathways can result in mental health disorders, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and even collateral death. Without a current method to directly measure, or even detect, serotonin in the human body, these diseases, along with many others, pose a threat of developing without proper warning. Raman spectroscopy presents a unique method to vibrationally characterize molecules based upon the inelastic scattering of light. Serotonin’s unique, amphipathic structure presents …

Fluorometric Characterization Of A Methylene Blue Derivative Sensitive To Reactive Oxygen Species (Ros), Matthew Weeks

Honors Theses

Methylene blue (MB) has many uses within both microbiology and pharmacology. MB can treat disorders such as methemoglobinemia, malaria, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain forms of cancer. MB is also useful for molecular imaging due to its off-on fluorescent capabilities. MB derivatives with a urea bond at the 10-N position have been cleavable by triggers such as light. However, I was interested in sensitivity to reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, I wanted to determine if the MB derivative MB-EA exhibited sensitivity to ROS. MB-EA was exposed to varying concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and MB release was measured. I concluded …

Wernicke’S Area In Autism: Rsfmri Study, Sydney Osbarn

Honors Theses

We investigated the functional connectivity of Wernicke’s Area and its right homologue (Planum Temporale) in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and typically developing individuals. We used resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging to analyze these areas in 145 participants from The University of Michigan via ABIDE. As a retest sample, we also used data from a University of Pittsburgh cohort. There is weakened functional connectivity between Wernicke’s Area and Planum Temporale in individuals with ASD as opposed to typically developing individuals. Participants with ASD did not have greater connectivity in other regions compared to the control group. Pragmatics, nonverbalism, …

Taking A Closer Look On The Coronavirus, Alisha Barday, Janina Duran, Lisa Agranov

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Novel Detection And Treatment Strategies For Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Joseph Carmicheal

Theses & Dissertations

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies with an estimated 5-year survival rate of less than 9%. The high lethality of PDAC is due to two primary reasons: the discovery of PDAC at later stages, with locally invasive or metastatic disease present at the time of initial diagnosis as well as the lack of efficacious therapeutic interventions that significantly impact survival. In this dissertation, we sought to discover and test novel detection and treatment strategies for PDAC. Firstly, serum EVs were investigated as potential non-invasive liquid biopsy biomarkers, to serve as a means of early cancer …

Steep Trendelenburg Associated Postoperative Vision Loss Prevention Education, Mitchell Coval

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Postoperative vision loss (POVL) is a rare, but devastating complication that has been reported following robot-assisted laparoscopic surgeries that require prolonged steep Trendelenburg positioning. A central Illinois hospital had recently established a robot-assisted surgical program but lacked active interventions to reduce POVL risk due to a knowledge gap of the anesthesia providers. Following a comprehensive literature review, a PowerPoint educational program was provided at an anesthesia staff meeting. An evidence-based cognitive aid to provide a quick reference of POVL risk reduction strategies was created by the author in collaboration with the stakeholder. Once approved, the cognitive aid was attached to …

Patient Assessment And Provider Education Regarding Antibiotic Use In The Treatment Of Viral Uris In The Urgent Care Setting, Ashlee Schoby, Candra D. Hulskotter

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Improving Antibiotic Stewardship Through the Use of Patient Assessment and Provider Education Regarding Treatment of Viral URIs in the Urgent Care Setting

Candra Kronewitter and Ashlee Schoby

Date of Award

Spring 5-2020

Document Type

DNP Project

Project Team Faculty Member

Mary Zerlan, CRNA, DNP, APN

Project Team Faculty Member

Kay Gaehle, PhD

Keywords

Antibiotics, Antibiotic stewardship, URIs, Upper respiratory infections, Urgent care, ABUSE screening tool

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a growing problem in the United States. The misuse or overuse of antibiotics is being considered the leading cause. Nearly 2-million individuals are infected with resistant bacteria yearly, and antibiotics prescribed …

A Pilot Of Prenatal Transitional Care Services In The Urgent Care Setting, Alexandra Huddleston, Gloria Pryzgoda, Tiffany Hazel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Established prenatal care leads to better outcomes and reduced healthcare expenditures. Inadequate prenatal care is associated with numerous risks. Many women face a variety of barriers that contribute to inadequate prenatal care. The purpose of this project was to create and pilot a new transitional care protocol to improve the referral rate of pregnant patients to establish prenatal care at a midwestern physician services (MPS) women’s health care clinic after a MPS express care visit. An extensive literature review was conducted, and a streamlined referral process linking pregnant patients to obstetric care was created to address identified barriers. The referral …

Implementing Quality Into Practice: Nurse Driven Protocol To Reduce Unnecessary Telemetry Use, Richard Clapp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Abstract

Background: As part of the American Board of Internal Medicine's Choosing Wisely initiative, the Society of Hospital Medicine issued the recommendation to reduce unnecessary use of continuous telemetry monitoring in the inpatient setting. Outside of its primary purpose continuous telemetry monitoring rarely positively impacts clinical decision making and overuse can lead to unnecessary and costly diagnostic work-ups, cause alarm fatigue, lead to emergency department congestion, and increase institutional financial burden.

Objective: Pilot an evidenced based nurse driven protocol for discontinuation of continuous telemetry monitoring to reduce unnecessary telemetry use among adult patients hospitalized outside of the intensive …

Evaluation Of An Interdisciplinary Ketogenic Diet Clinic For The Treatment Of Pediatric Refractory Epilepsy, Britt Schloemer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Pediatric refractory epilepsy affects approximately 30% of all children diagnosed with epilepsy. Childhood refractory epilepsy patients pose a challenge for traditional approaches to epilepsy management due to their complex and unique needs. Refractory epilepsy negatively impacts a patient’s ability to attend school or hold a job, and patients have a generally poor health status related to seizures as well as pharmaceutical side effects (Conway et al., 2016). The ketogenic diet (KD) is an alternative option for the treatment of pediatric refractory epilepsy due to established efficacy, manageable side effects, and reduced health care-associated costs due to reduced emergency department (ED) …

Linguistics Of Medical Terminology As Applied To Students Of The Medical Field, Megan O'Connell

Honors Projects

In modern times, global connectivity is prioritized especially in the medical field and related professions. A common understanding between professionals in the field is based on a shared language and terminology. As it follows that students of health sciences should be well-versed in the language of their field of study, it is beneficial for them to have an education in Latin and Greek, ancient languages which are the foundation of medical terminology. This research provides an analysis of the relevance of an education in ancient languages to students in healthcare majors. It ultimately illustrates the importance of an education blended …

Influences Of Anti-Bd Bacteria On Amphibians And Their Microbiomes, Emme L. Schmidt

Honors Thesis

The fungal pathogen Batrochochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been threatening amphibian populations across the globe. Recent work has discovered that bacteria isolated from certain populations of amphibians protect hosts from this pathogen. This project focuses on the anti-fungal mechanisms of Serratia marcescens, a species of bacteria isolated from a Costa Rican frog that dramatically inhibited Bd in culture. Wild-type and recombinant S. marcescens was introduced to the microbiomes of a live amphibian host, Acris blanchardi (Blanchard’s Cricket Frog) and then challenged with Bd to examine the protective effects of this bacteria. The experiment includes recombinant S. marcescens with …