Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Mild/Asymptomatic Covid-19 In Unvaccinated Pregnant Mothers Impairs Neonatal Immune Responses, Brianna M. Doratt, Suhas Sureshchandra, Heather E. True, Monica Rincon, Nicole E. Marshall, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers placental inflammation and alters cord blood immune cell composition. However, most studies focus on outcomes of severe maternal infection. Therefore, we analyzed cord blood and chorionic villi from newborns of unvaccinated mothers who experienced mild/asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. We investigated immune cell rewiring using flow cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing, and functional readouts using ex vivo stimulation with TLR agonists and pathogens. Maternal infection was associated with increased frequency of memory T and B cells and nonclassical monocytes in cord blood. Ex vivo T and B cell responses to stimulation were attenuated, suggesting a tolerogenic state. …

Integrated Single Cell Analysis Shows Chronic Alcohol Drinking Disrupts Monocyte Differentiation In The Bone Marrow, Sloan A. Lewis, Brianna M. Doratt, Qi Qiao, Madison B. Blanton, Kathleen A. Grant, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Chronic heavy alcohol drinking (CHD) rewires monocytes and macrophages toward heightened inflammatory states with compromised antimicrobial defenses that persist after 1-month abstinence. To determine whether these changes are mediated through alterations in the bone marrow niche, we profiled monocytes and hematopoietic stem cell progenitors (HSCPs) from CHD rhesus macaques using a combination of functional assays and single cell genomics. CHD resulted in transcriptional profiles consistent with increased activation and inflammation within bone marrow resident monocytes and macrophages. Furthermore, CHD resulted in transcriptional signatures associated with increased oxidative and cellular stress in HSCP. Differentiation of HSCP in vitro revealed skewing toward …

Multimodal Profiling Of Term Human Decidua Demonstrates Immune Adaptations With Pregravid Obesity, Suhas Sureshchandra, Brianna M. Doratt, Heather E. True, Norma Mendoza, Monica Rincon, Nicole E. Marshall, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Leukocyte diversity of the first-trimester maternal-fetal interface has been extensively described; however, the immunological landscape of the term decidua remains poorly understood. We therefore profiled human leukocytes from term decidua collected via scheduled cesarean delivery. Relative to the first trimester, our analyses show a shift from NK cells and macrophages to T cells and enhanced immune activation. Although circulating and decidual T cells are phenotypically distinct, they demonstrate significant clonotype sharing. We also report significant diversity within decidual macrophages, the frequency of which positively correlates with pregravid maternal body mass index. Interestingly, the ability of decidual macrophages to respond to …

Pharmacokinetics And Pharmacodynamics Of Intranasal And Intramuscular Administration Of Naloxone In Working Dogs Administered Fentanyl, Ciara A Barr, Joanne Haughan, Giacomo Gianotti, Kelley Varner, Kenneth J Drobatz, Darko Stefanovski, Mary Robinson, Mark Pennington, Amanda Mcguire, Cynthia M Otto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Working dogs exposed to narcotics might require reversal in the field.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of naloxone administered intramuscularly (IM) or intranasally (IN) to reverse fentanyl sedation in working dogs.

ANIMALS: Ten healthy, working dogs aged 1.7 ± 1 year and weighing 26 ± 3 kg.

METHODS: In this randomized, controlled cross-over study dogs received either 4 mg of naloxone IN or IM 10 minutes after fentanyl (0.3 mg IV) administration. Sedation was assessed at baseline and 5 minutes after fentanyl administration, then at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 60 and 120 minutes after …

Community Socioeconomic And Urban-Rural Differences In Emergency Medical Services Times For Suspected Stroke In North Carolina, Srihari V Chari, Eric R Cui, Haylie E Fehl, Antonio R Fernandez, Jane H Brice, Mehul D Patel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Our objectives were to describe time intervals of EMS encounters for suspected stroke patients in North Carolina (NC) and evaluate differences in EMS time intervals by community socioeconomic status (SES) and rurality.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study used statewide data on EMS encounters of suspected stroke in NC in 2019. Eligible patients were adults requiring EMS transport to a hospital following a 9-1-1 call for stroke-like symptoms. Incident street addresses were geocoded to census tracts and linked to American Community Survey SES data and to rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Community SES was defined as high, medium, or low based …

High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation For Upper Extremity Rehabilitation In Moderate-To-Severe Ischemic Stroke: A Pilot Study, Jordan N Williamson, Shirley A James, Dorothy He, Sheng Li, Evgeny V Sidorov, Yuan Yang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Previous studies found that post-stroke motor impairments are associated with damage to the lesioned corticospinal tract (CST) and hyperexcitability of the contralesional cortico-reticulospinal tract (CRST). This proof-of-concept study aims to develop a non-invasive brain stimulation protocol that facilitates the lesioned CST and inhibits the contralesional CRST to improve upper extremity rehabilitation in individuals with moderate-to-severe motor impairments post-stroke.

Methods: Fourteen individuals (minimum 3 months post ischemic stroke) consented. Physician decision of the participants baseline assessment qualified eight to continue in a randomized, double-blind cross-over pilot trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05174949) with: (1) anodal high-definition transcranial direct stimulation (HD-tDCS) over …

Volatile Anesthetic And Outcome In Acute Trauma Care: Planned Secondary Analysis Of The Proppr Study, Colleen E Livingston, Dominique T Levy, Sepideh Saroukhani, Erin E Fox, Charles E Wade, John B Holcomb, Sam D Gumbert, Samuel M Galvagno, Olga Y Kaslow, Jean-Francois Pittet, Evan P Pivalizza

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the PROPPR study describes volatile anesthetic use in severely injured trauma patients undergoing anesthesia.

METHODS: After exclusions, 402 subjects were reviewed of the original 680, and 292 had complete data available for analysis. Anesthesia was not protocolized, so analysis was of contemporary practice.

RESULTS: The small group who received no volatile anesthetic (n = 25) had greater injury burden (Glasgow Coma Scale

CONCLUSION: In this acutely injured trauma population, choice of volatile anesthetic did not appear to influence short-term mortality and morbidity. Subjects who received no volatile were more severely injured …

Modified Periodic Acid-Schiff (Pas) Is An Alternative To Safranin O For Discriminating Bone–Cartilage Interfaces, Kelsey M. Kjosness, Philip Reno, Maria A. Serrat

PCOM Scholarly Works

Cartilage histomorphometry is often performed on decalcified, paraffin-embedded bone sections, which provide versatility in staining applications from basic morphology to immunohistochemistry. Safranin O is a cationic dye that binds to proteoglycans in cartilage and is routinely used to assess growth plate dynamics and/or fracture repair at bone–cartilage interfaces. When used with a counterstain such as fast green, safranin O can offer exquisite differentiation of cartilage from surrounding bone. However, various decalcification and processing methods can deplete proteoglycans, rendering inconsistent, weak, or absent safranin O staining with indiscriminate bone–cartilage boundaries. We sought to develop an alternative staining methodology that preserves the …

Attitudes, Beliefs, And Perceptions On Cannabis Among Older Adults Aged 65 And Older: A Cross-Sectional Survey., Alex M Kleidon, Andrew M Peterson, Ilene Warner-Maron, Allen Glicksman

PCOM Scholarly Works

OBJECTIVE: With the rise of medical and recreational cannabis use among older adults, concerns about the potential risks and benefits of cannabis use are increasing. This pilot study aimed to determine the attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of older adults toward cannabis as a medicinal product, to establish a foundation for future research on how healthcare providers communicate with this population regarding cannabis.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on adults aged 65 and older living in Philadelphia. The survey included questions related to participants' demographics, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of cannabis. Participants were recruited via flyer distributions, publications in …

The Ideal Physical Therapist From The Perspective Of Individuals With Limb Loss, Daniel J. Lee, A. Gambale, M. Nisani, Carol Miller, E. Leung, M. Rodgers, D. Chilianis, M. Marra

PCOM Scholarly Works

BACKGROUND: Effective rehabilitation after limb loss is necessary to maximize function and promote independence. Physical therapists (PT) are one of the primary drivers of the rehabilitation process. While general physical therapy knowledge and abilities have been shown to be important to the rehabilitation process, it is unclear what individuals with limb loss value in their PT’s.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to understand the elements that define an ideal PT from the perspective of individuals with limb loss.

METHODOLOGY: Mixed-method design consisting of a 20-item web-based survey and semi-structured interviews that were administered to individuals 18 years or …

Interactions Between Hiv And Opioids On Antiretroviral Accumulation, The Blood Brain Barrier, And The Inflammatory Response In The Brain., Kara Rademeyer

Theses and Dissertations

The complex mechanisms related to HIV infection, neurodegeneration, and chronic neuroinflammation collectively describe neuroHIV (Hauser et al. 2007; Chang et al. 2014; Smith et al. 2014). Specifically, opioid abuse, poor penetration of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, chronic inflammation and neuronal injury/degeneration are all implicated in neuroHIV (Fantuzzi et al. 2003; Letendre et al. 2004; Verani et al. 2005; Duncan and Sattentau 2011; Hong and Banks 2015; Simoes and Justino 2015; Olivier et al. 2018; Murphy et al. 2019; Osborne et al. 2020). For the first time, we demonstrate that morphine, fentanyl, and methadone in vivo alter the brain accumulation of ARVs, …

The Effect Of Adding Magnesium Sulphate Versus Dexmedetomidine As An Adjuvant To Bupivacaine In Ultrasound Rectus Sheath Block On Postoperative Analgesia In Patients Undergoing Abdominal Aortic Surgery, Ghada Fouad Amer, Mohamed Younes Yousef Abd Allah

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: With significant advancements in the area, post-operative pain management after abdominal procedures has garnered attention lately. Despite these developments, post-operative pain is still difficult to manage and is sometimes not sufficiently addressed, which causes worry, tension, and discontent in the patient. In addition to having negative medical impacts, inadequate pain management may also have negative psychological, economic, and societal repercussions. Aim and objectives: To assess the analgesic impacts of dexmedetomidine against magnesium sulphate when used as a bupivacaine adjuvant during ultrasound-guided bilateral rectus sheath block during abdominal aortic surgery. Patients and methods: Over the course of five months, 40 …

Pronostic Of Colo-Rectal Cancer (Crc) Using Machine Learning Models On Organoids Derived Of Patient, Claudia Andrea Leiva Acevedo

ICT

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is a globally prevalent and deadly carcinoma, necessitating advanced treatment approaches. Despite ongoing advancements, the mortality rate remains high. Various biological models, including animal studies, cell lines, and the emerging organoid model, contribute to understanding molecular mechanisms. Organoids, 3D cultures derived from tumor epithelial cells, offer advantages such as enhanced diversity, genetic modification, and extended culture capabilities. Recent applications of machine learning (ML) in predicting CRC treatment responses using organoids and tissue data indicate a promising avenue for advancing personalized therapies.

Professional Identity Perceptions Among Acute Care, Patient-Facing Nurses, Tullamora T. Landis, Rosemary Timmerman, Teresa Rangel, Crystal Billings, Sheila Doucette

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Environmental Toxicants Such As A Herbicide And Air Pollutants And Their Impact On Human Health, Najm Alsadat -. Madani

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The purpose of this study is to show the adverse effects of environmental pollutants on human health. Chapter 1 is an introduction to the subject. Chapter 2 focuses on glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) and their impact on the mammalian nervous system. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in GBHs, such as Roundup™, the most widely used herbicide worldwide. In addition to cancer and reproductive effects, glyphosate and GBHs have adverse effects on the brain and behavioral health and increase the risk of at least some serious neurological disorders. I reviewed scientific reports on the effects of glyphosate and GBHs on …

Sleep Aid Use During Early Pregnancy And The Risk Of Birth Defects, Meredith M. Howley

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation examines the validity of maternal self-reported medication exposures and then explores the associations between self-reported sleep aid use, including zolpidem specifically, and birth defects using data from three population-based case-control studies conducted within the United States. The first aim of this dissertation was to explore agreement between two sources of prescription medication use in early pregnancy: medical records and self-reported interview data from the Birth Defects Study To Evaluate Pregnancy exposureS (BD-STEPS). We observed that agreement of prescription data between self-report and medical records varies by whether the medication is used chronically or episodically. While self-reported medication information …

Maternal Exposure Of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) During Pregnancy And Wheeze In Children : The Upstate Kids Study, Faria Sharmin

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), a group of persistent environmental chemicals with endocrine disrupting abilities, has been associated with immunomodulation and may contribute to the etiology of asthma in young children. The need for research and additional prospective analysis clearly exists to measure the impact of the chemicals (PFAS) on child wheeze or asthma. We used newborn dried blood spots to quantify two PFAS and their associations with infant wheeze in the Upstate KIDS population.Methods: We measured, perfluoro octane - sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in 2071 singleton and 1040 twin infants born to mothers in …

Association Of Prenatal Exposure To Air Pollutants With Select Birth Defects Using The Case-Cohort Approach, Abigail Jeanne Stamm

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: Annually, 3-5% of infants are born with birth defects in the United States. In New York State (NYS), air pollution, specifically ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), is detectable at levels that affect human health. Air pollution is associated with poor birth outcomes and contains components that are suspected to cause oxidative stress, which is one mechanism by which birth defects are formed.Methods: This study investigated the relationship between the development of select birth defects (oral clefts, craniosynostosis, and clubfoot) in singleton live births in NYS between 2002 and 2015 and weekly peak and average concentrations of O3 …

Electronic Cigarette Cessation Program In Caja Costarricense Del Seguro Social (Ccss)-Costa Rica: An Assessment To Guide The Future Development Of An Educational Intervention For Ccss's Health Practitioners, Jeancarlo Cordoba

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Newer tobacco products are becoming widely popular in recent years, especially among youth and young adults. New technologies, such as electronic cigarettes, focus on efficiently delivering the addictive substance nicotine into the body while simulating conventional smoking behavior without burning tobacco (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2019). Due to the addictiveness of nicotine, there is a high biological plausibility of high levels of nicotine dependence among electronic cigarette users. Consequently, there is a need for specific interventions for priority populations at risk, requiring research studies that provide evidence for future action and strategic planning purposes. The 2015 Costa Rican Ministry of …

Analysis Of Mesh Characteristics In Mesh-Based Phase Imaging, Desiree Caryl D'Moore

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Mammographic screening has played a pivotal role in reducing mortality rates associated with breast cancer. Despite an overall decline of breast cancer death rates of 43% from 1989 through 2020, breast cancer remains a predominant form of invasive cancer among women. Conventional X-ray imaging used in mammography can yield limited contrast when it comes to substances with similar X-ray attenuation, such as that between benign and cancerous tissue. Mesh-based X-ray phase imaging allows for higher contrast and resolution in similar-density materials. This thesis aims to explore characteristics of the mesh used in this kind of system.To investigate the significance of …

Assessing Youth Cannabis Use In New York State: Whether Intersecting Identities Increase Current Cannabis Use, Jericho Lindee Paul Adams

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background:Cannabis use can have a multitude of health effects on developing youth, including mental health distress and other impacts on youth well-being. With the passage of the Marihuana and Taxation Act in New York State (NYS) in March of 2021, which legalized recreational cannabis use for those ages 21 and over, it is imperative to consider its potential impact on the prevalence of youth cannabis use. This concern is amplified for minority youth as previous research has observed increased prevalence of substance use for these populations. Additionally, intersecting identities between minoritized populations and differing health statuses and social experiences may …

Trajectories Of Maternal Parenting Stress And Adolescent Behavioral Symptoms In Unmarried Families : The Roles Of Family Immigration Status, Harsh Parenting, And Father’S Early Involvement, Fei Tang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

BackgroundAdolescence is a critical period for developing social and emotional wellbeing. Adolescents experience many physical and social changes, making them vulnerable to adaptive and behavioral problems. Compared to their peers in married families, adolescents in unmarried families may be at particularly elevated risk of developing internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems, identifying key risk factors in a family context could provide insights on the development of family-based interventions. Mothers are often seen as the center of the environmental context of children development, their responsiveness to children may be impacted by their economic and psychological resources, which could crucially affect the wellbeing …

Investigating The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Obesity While Considering Race, Ethnicity, Sex, And Sexual Orientation, Mariama Ceesay

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

AbstractObesity is a chronic disease that plagues about 34% of the world population and rising (CDC,2023). Obesity develops over time due to lifestyle factors, biological factors, and the environment. Life course epidemiology approaches understanding the etiology of obesity by pinpointing how particular events in a lifetime can facilitate later life obesity. One emerging important early life factor that may influence adult obesity risk is adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Rates of ACEs are higher in sexual minorities, women, and nonwhite individuals (Hughes et al., 2022). Furthermore, the rate of obesity is higher in women and nonwhite communities (CDC,2023). Knowing this information, …

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Step Towards Unfolding The Mystery, Aditi Kamlesh Bhanushali

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

AbstractBackground: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is a complex disease that includes the dysregulation of the Central Nervous system. There is no exact known etiology or pathophysiology which leads to the development of ME/CFS. To understand the possible causes behind this mysterious disease, I conducted this project under the guidance of Dr. Moslehi to evaluate a range of demographic, lifestyle, and epidemiological factors and their risk in the development of ME/CFS. Methods: My project is part of a case-control study conducted by Dr. Roxana Moslehi. ME/CFS is a rare disease, so a case-control study design was …

Evaluating Spatial Relationships Between Environmental Factors And Contextual Sociodemographic Burden And Associations With Respiratory Morbidity Among Young Children: An Indicator-Based Approach, Neil Anthony Muscatiello

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The body of public health literature related to air pollution epidemiology is extensive. Similarly, the body of literature related to social epidemiology has also expanded greatly in recent years. While studies in these sub-disciplines of epidemiology sometimes seek to control for variables more commonly studied in one or the other, fewer studies report on their combined effects. Studies which do attempt to summarize how the combined air pollution burden and contextual sociodemographic burden differentially effect health outcomes beyond their individual effects could be beneficial in understanding links between the environment and certain health outcomes such as childhood asthma. The proposed …

Gestational Epigenetic Aging : Prenatal Influences And Early Life Associations, Emilia Pawlowski

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Development Origins of Health (DOHaD) evidence suggests that prenatal exposures have an important impact on offspring health throughout the life course. Environmental and psychosocial exposures during fetal development are associated with a range of health outcomes for offspring, and effects are often sex specific. One of the mechanisms which may explain differences in health outcomes is epigenetic alterations, which are the molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression and can be modified during fetal development. Many studies have shown that psychosocial stress and social adversity can modulate epigenetic mechanisms and affect health. While there are several methods for measuring epigenetic alterations, …

Examining The Association Between Childhood Adversity And Later Life Cardiometabolic Diseases, Shreya Shrinivas

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

ACEs stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences, which are traumatic or stressful events that occur in childhood before the age of 18 (Wisner, 2022). These experiences can include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; neglect; household dysfunction, such as parental separation, domestic violence, substance abuse, or incarceration; or exposure to community violence, racism, or discrimination. Research has shown that individuals who experience ACEs are at a higher risk for developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and mental health disorders later in life (Felitti, 2002). This is because ACEs can cause toxic stress, which is chronic activation of the stress …

State Of Fine Particulate Matter (Pm2.5) And Its Chemical Constituents With Morbidity Due To Pulmonary Diseases In An Urban City Of Southern Asia, Fatim Sannoh

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Globally, air pollution has a negative impact on public health due to the continuous use of fossil fuel to power industries, industrial emissions, vehicular emissions, open burning of garbage waste and exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is linked to an increase of various diseases as well as an excess of morbidity and mortality. Although air pollution affects every nation, developing countries face unique challenges. There is a dire need to reduce air pollution in developing countries, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting that large cities in low- and middle-income countries have exceptionally high levels of air pollution. …

Antibody Profiling Of An Elderly Cohort After Sars-Cov-2 Vaccination And Infection Using Dried Blood Spots, Gianna Mirabile

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Three years after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China, COVID-19 remains a major public health emergency throughout the globe. Although major advancements have been made in terms of controlling the virus, such as the use of mRNA vaccines, SARS-CoV-2 infections from variants of concern (VoC) continue to persist and cause significant morbidity and mortality in vulnerable populations, including the elderly. The ability for public health entities to effectively gauge disease susceptibility across large swaths of the population is critical in deciding when to implement new vaccination recommendations. Dried blood spots (DBS) are an upcoming serological sample type being studied …

Toward A New Approach To Job-Related Distress: A Three-Sample Study Of The Occupational Depression Inventory, Renzo Bianchi, James Sowden, Jay Verkuilen, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

The Occupational Depression Inventory (ODI) was recently developed to assess depressive symptoms that individuals specifically attribute to their work. One purpose of the ODI is to respond to limitations of current assessments of job-related distress, most notably, assessments relying on the burnout construct. In this study, we conducted a thorough examination of the psychometric and structural properties of the ODI using exploratory structural equation modelling bifactor analysis and Mokken scale analysis. The study involved three samples of employed individuals, recruited in France (N = 3454), Switzerland (N = 1971), and Australia (N = 1485). Results were consistent across the three …