Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Hospice Response To Covid-19: Promoting Sustainable Inclusion Strategies For Racial And Ethnic Minorities, M. Courtney Hughes, Erin Vernon

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

There is a disproportionate burden of illness and death among racial/ethnic minorities related to COVID-19. The importance of reaching groups suffering the most with resources such as advance directive guidance, telehealth, and culturally sensitive education materials is vital to providing quality, inclusive care. A crisis presents an opportunity to unite and problem-solve to help avoid the dire consequences facing inaction. In this way, inclusive responses by hospices, social workers, other community partners during the COVID-19 pandemic can help reach and alleviate the pain of those groups most afflicted. We offer hospice inclusion strategies that align with general pandemic response trends …

Collaboration Between Public Health And Marketing Experts As A Response To Covid-19, M. Courtney Hughes, Yihui Tang, Shupei Yuan

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Since the beginning of 2020, as the world’s population has dealt with COVID-19 and abrupt changes to the normal status quo, academic scholars are no exception, experiencing radical changes to their teaching modalities (remote versus in-person) and often major interruptions in their research. One month after the initial shift to working remotely in March, we obtained approval from Northern Illinois University’s Institutional Review Board to conduct a brief survey with recently published academic scholars in the fields of public health and marketing to understand their views of how this unprecedented time may affect their work. In examining patterns in the …

Racial Disparity In The Timely Treatment Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, P Neroda, Mei-Chin Hsieh, Xiao-Cheng Wu, K Cartmell, R Mayo, Jiande Wu, Chindo Hicks, L Zhang

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Intervention Effectiveness Using Early Outbreak Transmission Dynamics To Guide Future Pandemic Management And Decision-Making In Kuwait, Michael G. Tyshenko, Tamer Oraby, Joseph C. Longenecker, Harri Vainio, Janvier Gasana, Walid Q. Alali, Mohammad Alseaidan, Susie Elsaadany, Mustafa Al-Zoughool

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a World Health Organization designated pandemic that can result in severe symptoms and death that disproportionately affects older patients or those with comorbidities. Kuwait reported its first imported cases of COVID-19 on February 24, 2020. Analysis of data from the first three months of community transmission of the COVID-19 outbreak in Kuwait can provide important guidance for decision-making when dealing with future SARS-CoV-2 epidemic wave management. The analysis of intervention scenarios can help to evaluate the possible impacts of various outbreak control measures going forward which aim to reduce the effective reproduction …

Internet-Based Cognitive–Behavioural Therapy For Tinnitus: Secondary Analysis To Examine Predictors Of Outcomes, Hansapani Rodrigo, Eldré W. Beukes, Gerhard Andersson, Vinaya Manchaiah

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Objectives The current study examined predictors of outcomes of internet-based cognitive–behavioural therapy (ICBT) for individuals with tinnitus.

Design Secondary analysis of intervention studies.

Setting Internet-based guided tinnitus intervention provided in the UK.

Participants 228 individuals who underwent ICBT.

Interventions ICBT.

Primary and secondary outcome measures The key predictor variables included demographic, tinnitus, hearing-related and treatment-related variables as well as clinical factors (eg, anxiety, depression, insomnia), which can have an impact on the treatment outcome. A 13-point reduction in Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) scores has been defined as a successful outcome.

Results Of the 228 subjects who were included in the …

The Role Of Pim3 Kinase In Promoting Tumorigenesis, Tumor Metastasis, And Cancer Cell Stemness In Human Hepatoblastoma, Raoud Marayati

All ETDs from UAB

Hepatoblastoma is the most common primary liver tumor in children. Despite an increasing incidence and major advances in care for other pediatric solid tumors, therapy for hepatoblastoma has remained virtually unchanged for the last 20 years, and children with metastatic or relapsed disease continue to suffer from a dismal prognosis. Treatment strategies primarily rely on cisplatin, due to its role as the most active single agent in hepatoblastoma treatment. However, chemoresistance remains a significant challenge with 54-80% of patients developing resistance to chemotherapy after 4-5 cycles of treatment. We have previously demonstrated that Proviral Integration site in Maloney murine leukemia …

The Effect Of Medicaid Expansion On Hospitals Allowance For Bad Debt, Tara B. Dixon

All ETDs from UAB

The management of bad debt is a complex issue for hospitals, and if mismanaged, can impact the organization's current and future financial stability. The expansion of Medicaid through the Patient and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was expected to lessen the bad debt reported by hospitals by increasing the number of insured lives. Hospital managers understand that a certain percentage from the accounts receivables will end up being uncollectable; however, strategically planning for bad debt and estimating a more accurate allowance requires a specific level of strategic planning. Allowance for bad debt should not be a guessing game but should be …

Evaluation Of The Bonding Strength Between Different Materials And Resin Cement Used For Cementing A Fixed Complete Prosthesis, Vinita Pankaj Ved

All ETDs from UAB

Statement of Problem: When a situation of full-arch edentulism is observed, CAD-CAM designed prosthesis have improved properties in comparison to conventional fixed dentures. Long term longevity of the prosthesis includes not only strength of the framework, but also enhanced bonding strength between the framework and implant coping. Purpose: To investigate the bonding strength between different polymer materials used for a monolithic metal-free fixed hybrid denture luted to Ti-Base using the push-out strength test. Materials and Methods: The experimental design consists of 20 specimens for each group, with a total of 7 groups (total = 140). The materials used in the …

Regulation Of Nitric Oxide Syntahse 3 By Histone Deacetylase, Luke S. Dunaway

All ETDs from UAB

In the vasculature, nitric oxide is produced by nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) and protects against the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a family of enzymes responsible for lysine deacetylation of both histone and non-histone proteins. Understanding how NO signaling is regulated by HDACs will allow us to better understand how HDAC inhibitors may be of use in treating CVD. This dissertation seeks to provide novel insight into the regulation of NOS3 by this family of enzymes. Endothelial NO production is impaired in human subjects and rodents fed a high salt diet (HS). We have …

Diurnal Variation In Hippocampal Neurophysiology And Pathophysiology, Allison R. Fusilier

All ETDs from UAB

Circadian rhythms are ~24-hour cycles in biological processes that are endogenously generated, entrained to light, and synchronized by the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. One process that is influenced by circadian rhythms is cognitive function, which varies over the course of the day and is likely influenced by changes in neuronal physiology over the course of the day. Dysfunction in circadian rhythms has been documented in many diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is a neurodegenerative disease most notably characterized by dementia, amyloid beta plaques, and tau tangles. There is currently no cure for AD, and treatments only slow disease …

Suppressing Islet Graft Rejection With Antioxidant-Based Encapsulation Materials, Jessie Marie Barra

All ETDs from UAB

A hallmark of Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells. Once the β-cells are lost, patients are reliant on less efficient exogenous insulin therapies to maintain glycemic control, leaving them at risk for secondary complications. Islet transplantation can restore the ability to regulate glucose levels without the need for exogenous insulin, however long-term islet graft survival has proven challenging in part due to ongoing immune-mediated destruction. Systemic immunosuppression strategies have proven somewhat effective at preventing rejection, but chronic use leaves the patient susceptible to opportunistic infections and organ toxicity. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as …

Pain-Related Injustice Appraisal And Chronic Low Back Pain Among Arabs In The United States, Albatool Homoud Alnojeidi

All ETDs from UAB

Pain-related injustice appraisal has emerged as a psychosocial predictor of deleterious chronic low back pain (CLBP) outcomes. The appraisal is defined as the individual’s perception regarding the magnitude and irreparability of pain-related loss and suffering, externalized blame, and unfairness. Research in diverse samples revealed racial differences in pain-related injustice appraisal, suggesting that it may reflect broader racial/ethnic, sociocultural, and socioeconomic factors. This agrees with theories recognizing the role of ethnic and cultural characteristics in ethnic minorities’ health. Despite global data showing that Arabs represent the population with the second-highest prevalence of CLBP worldwide, a reliable characterization of CLBP among Arabs …

Patterns Of Medication Adherence In Glaucoma, Shervonne Poleon

All ETDs from UAB

Over 60 million persons globally are affected by primary open angle glaucoma (POAG)—an optic neuropathy characterized by distinctive patterns of vision loss. Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, and eye drops that delay vision loss are a common treatment modality. In glaucoma, the proportion of patients with good adherence to recommended therapy is reported to be low. High treatment cost, forgetfulness, and regimen complexity have been identified as key determinants of poor adherence. However, addressing these factors in the clinic is not as simple, as patient and provider values and priorities may differ. Without concordance, it can …

Glycoprotein 340 Expression In Dry Eye Disease And Ocular Surface Infection, Kwaku Antwi Osei

All ETDs from UAB

Glycoprotein 340 (Gp340) is a 340-kDa multi-domain pattern recognition receptor (PRR) belonging to the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich superfamily of proteins. On the ocular surface, Gp340 is expressed in the tear film, lacrimal gland, cornea, and conjunctiva. By their nature, PRRs detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) on microbial organisms and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released from injured, stressed, necrotic, and apoptotic cells. This, in turn, induces the expression of nuclear factor-κB- and the interferon regulatory factor-dependent expression proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, eliciting both innate and adaptive immune response activation. Thus, as a PRR, Gp340 has the potential to modulate microbial infection …

Role Of Partnership In Hiv-Related Outcomes In Heterosexual Individuals Newly Diagnosed With Hiv, Maira Sohail

All ETDs from UAB

A supportive intimate partner has shown to be helpful in HIV care of men who have sex with men, and in some African heterosexual couples; however, knowledge on this phenomenon among heterosexual people with HIV (PWH) is limited in the United States context. This project included two quantitative studies and one qualitative study to examine the role of intimate partnership in HIV care among heterosexual, newly diagnosed PWH. Both quantitative studies were conducted among heterosexual, newly diagnosed (2013-2017) individuals at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 1917 Clinic. The first study examined the role of partnership (un-partnered, unmarried-partnered, and …

Clinical, Radiographic, And Histomorphometric Outcomes Following Ridge Preservation Using Leukocyte- And Platelet-Rich Fibrin (L-Prf) And Freeze-Dried Bone Allograft (Fdba) Layered Technique: A Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial, Geisy Galviz

All ETDs from UAB

Objective: The present randomized controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate clinically, radiographic, and histologically the efficacy of L-PRF in combination with FDBA either in a homogeneous mixture or using a layered technique in improving quantity and quality of new vital bone formation and alveolar ridge dimensional stability in comparison to LPRF alone for ridge preservation after tooth extraction. Materials and Methods: Twentythree patients successfully completed the study. They were randomized to receive either L-PRF/FDBA layered technique (LAY), L-PRF/FDBA homogeneous mixture (MIX), or L-PRF alone. After minimally traumatic tooth extraction, direct clinical assessment and a Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scan were …

Implications Of Day-To-Day Oulsatility Index Change And Corticosteroid Use In Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury, Jeremy D. Jordan

All ETDs from UAB

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a disruption of the normal function and structure of the brain after a direct or indirect injury. In children, TBI continues to be a significant cause of mortality resulting in the death of over 20 children per day in the United States (Reuter-Rice et al., 2015). Additionally, children who survive TBI have increased rates developmental delay, physical disabilities, neurologic impairment, and mental health disorders (Barlow et al., 2005). A TBI occurs in two phases. The primary injury is the physical insult to the brain that occurs at the time of the injury. The secondary …

Transcriptional Regulation And Islet Transplantation Advantages Of Brown Adipose Tissue, Jessica D. Kepple

All ETDs from UAB

Metabolic disease encompasses various disorders, including obesity and diabetes, that negatively impact glucose and lipid homeostasis and increase the risk of co-morbidities. Adipose tissue, which regulates whole-body energy balance and acts as a specialized endocrine tissue, is negatively affected by obesity and diabetes. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) functions to dissipate excess energy as heat and therefore is an attractive target against metabolic disease. To develop more effective therapeutic strategies, BAT physiology and genetic regulatory mechanisms need to be better understood. This dissertation highlights studies seeking to illuminate novel transcriptional regulation and islet transplantation applications of BAT. We investigated the requirement …

Glycolytic Myeloid Cells Protect The Host In Tuberculosis, Hayden Thomas Pacl

All ETDs from UAB

Despite curative treatment, tuberculosis remains a leading cause of death around the world. As such, there is great interest in novel therapeutic approaches to treat this disease. One such approach aims to enhance the efficacy of host immune cells in responding to the pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis—so called host-directed therapies. The metabolism of immune cells has been a central focus in the search for hostdirected therapies, and the role of glycolysis in myeloid cells, in particular, has received much attention. However, the role of glycolysis in myeloid cells in the context of tuberculosis has not yet been made clear. Here we …

Analysing The Contribution Of Snare-Dependent Exocytosis From Astrocytes To Huntinton's Disease Pathogenesis Using The Bachd Mouse Model, Annesha C. King

All ETDs from UAB

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein. Multiple studies have indicated the importance of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) in astrocytes to HD pathogenesis. Increased extracellular glutamate levels were observed after evoking SNARE-dependent exocytosis from cultured mHTT expressing astrocytes. To determine whether astrocytic SNARE-dependent exocytosis contributed to behavioral and neuropathological changes in vivo, we crossed BACHD mice to dominant negative SNARE (dnSNARE) mice and analyzed behavioral and neuropathological phenotypes. First, we found that reduc-ing astrocytic SNARE-dependent exocytosis had differential effects on the psychiatric-like and motor phenotypes observed in BACHD mice where …

The Assessment Of Neuro-Mechanics Of Inspiratory Muscles During Mechanical Ventilation, Hassan Y. Abunurah

All ETDs from UAB

The decline in inspiratory muscles function for patients undergoing mechanical ventilation may further extend the duration of mechanical ventilation leading to lethal complications. Thus, the assessment of neuro-mechanics of inspiratory muscles may help us understand the pathophysiology for mechanical ventilation failure to avoid its complications. In this dissertation, we assessed the characteristics of inspiratory neuromechanics under different conditions. This dissertation is reported in three different papers. In the first paper, we sought to assess the quality of the available literate that used surface EMG of extra-diaphragmatic muscles during invasive mechanical ventilation. We demonstrated that the use of sEMG of extra-diaphragmatic …

Joint Specificity Of Stretch-Shortening Cycle Potentiation, Marzouq Khalaf Almutairi

All ETDs from UAB

The stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) is a well-known phenomenon to enhance an individual’s muscular performance, and it is an area of active focus of research scientists for decades. However, it is not known whether SSC potentiation is a joint-specific event and shows a joint-specific temporal behavior. It is also unclear if constraints of joint and movement specificity of SSC potentiation can be captured via isokinetic dynamometer. Therefore, the purposes of this dissertation were to examine joint specificity of SSC potentiation via isokinetic dynamometer and kinetic-kinematic analysis of jump test performance and investigate joint-specific temporal behavior of SSC potentiation. My first study …

External Apical Root Resorption In Asian Orthodontic Patients In Alabama, Najd Aswad

All ETDs from UAB

The main goals of orthodontic treatment are to achieve a harmonious dentalocclusion and enhance the patient’s dentofacial appearance. External Apical Root Resorption (EARR) is a side effect of orthodontic treatment1. It results in the permanent loss of tooth structure from the root apex2. EARR is a multifactorial condition which includes patient related and treatment related risk factors. Patient-related factors include genetics, severity of malocclusion, tooth-root morphology, systemic factors, density of alveolar bone, root proximity to cortical bone, previous exposure to trauma, patient age and sex. Orthodontic treatment related risk factors include treatment duration, amount of force and mechanics used, direction …

Beyond Apoptosis: Insight Into The Complex Intracellular Networks That Govern Cell Fate, Hayley Neal Widden

All ETDs from UAB

The determination of cell fate is a dynamic process regulated by hundreds of proteins that converge into complex cell signaling pathways. Upon irreparable intracellular stress, a cell undergoes programmed cell death, a process known as intrinsic apoptosis. Apoptosis is regulated by the Bcl-2 family, a class of proteins that act either as pro-survival or pro-death signaling molecules. Due to the oncogenic upregulation of pro- survival Bcl-2 family proteins across human cancer cell types, a novel class of small molecule inhibitors called ‘BH3-mimetics’ have emerged as promising anti-cancer therapeutics currently under clinical investigation. Here, we highlight the crosstalk between anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 …

The Relationship Between Anosgnosia For Hemiplegia After Stroke And Fall Events In The Acute Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Population, Elizabeth Mosley Byrd

All ETDs from UAB

Background/Significance: Inpatient falls on acute stroke rehabilitation units remains a significant issue that negatively affects healthcare costs and causes physical and psychological injury. Prevelance of falls in the stroke rehabilitation population may be due to the presence of anosognosia for hemiplegia (AHP), which is as an unawareness of physical disability. Though the link between AHP and falls has been suggested in the literature, a formal investigation has not been conducted to address the relationship between the variables. Purpose: To explore the association between the presence of anosognosia for hemiplegia after stroke and patient fall events while admitted to an acute …

Hyperphosphatemia Contributes To Functional Iron Deficiency And Skeletal Muscle Wasting, Brian Anthony Czaya

All ETDs from UAB

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health threat that increases risk of death, which is credible to both impaired renal function and a multitude of CKD- associated comorbidities such as systemic inflammation, anemia and skeletal muscle dys- function. A distinctive feature of CKD is the dysregulation of mineral metabolism, where excess serum levels of phosphate (hyperphosphatemia) and of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) are not only viewed as biomarkers for disease severity but also exert deleterious effects towards various CKD-associated pathologies. Elevated levels of FGF23 can lead to the activation of FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4) in cell types that …

Targeting Oncogenic Microrna In Lung Cancer, Mackenzie Lauren Davenport

All ETDs from UAB

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death both in the United Statesand the world. While several genetic drivers of lung cancer have been identified, major improvements in patient outcome are lacking, highlighting the need to further understand the genetic and molecular mechanisms of this disease. The microRNA miR-31 has been implicated in oncogenesis in a variety of cancer types, and prior data from our laboratory has shown it to be overexpressed in human lung adenocarcinoma tumors compared to normal lung, high miR-31 levels correlate with decreased patient survival, and overexpression of miR-31 alone in the mouse lung epithelium …

Upregulation Of Somatostatin Receptor 2 In Neuroendocrine Tumors Using Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors, Rachael Elizabeth Guenter

All ETDs from UAB

Neuroendocrine cancer is complex disease of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) can arise throughout the body, including the lungs and pancreas. These tumors are phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous, making accurate diagnoses difficult with current imaging standards. New diagnostic options, coupled with a better understanding of neuroendocrine cancer etiology, is urgent and necessary to provide patients with better futures. Many NETs overexpress somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) on their cellular surfaces, making patients eligible for [68Ga]-DOTATATE PET/CT imaging and SSTR2-based therapies. However, patients that lack sufficient SSTR2 overexpression cannot benefit from SSTR2-targeted imaging or therapeutic options. We found that histone …

Evidence For A Bioelectrical Marker Of Insulin Resistance In Premenopausal Women: Membrane Capacitance, Valene E Garr Barry

All ETDs from UAB

Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with poor metabolic and reproductive outcomes among premenopausal women. Early identification of women with IR might mitigate these outcomes. However, clinically suitable methods to identify women with IR are unavailable due to high cost, high patient burden, or limited reliability. The objective was to examine a bioimpedance-based approach to identifying women with IR using membrane capacitance (CM). CM is a measure of cell membrane health and function, which is independently associated with IR and may be a suitable predictor. We validated the association of CM with IR and established the clinical utility of CM as …

An Exploration Of The Manifestation Of Parentification Among Young Carers Of Persons With Huntington’S Disease, Bailey Hendricks

All ETDs from UAB

Due to the progressive deterioration of motor, cognitive, and psychological function experienced by individuals diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, there is the potential for children in the home to adopt a caregiving role. These young carers typically serve as informal, secondary caregivers, providing multifaceted, extended care without any lessening of typical family, home, or school/work-related responsibilities. In time, this role may result in parentification, a type of role reversal with both positive and negative outcomes for the child. A secondary analysis of qualitative data of the experiences of children who have a parent with Huntington’s disease was conducted. Transcripts of qualitative …