Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Roadway Density And Lung Cancer Histology In Kentucky, Mahala Pettus

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

The purpose of this article was to examine the relationship between a proxy measure of exposure to automotive exhaust – roadway density – and risk for adenocarcinoma lung cancer. Using data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry and the Kentucky Geoportal Data Clearinghouse, we conducted a cross-sectional study of the distribution of adult lung cancer cases by histological type across the state of Kentucky. The north-central region of Kentucky has a higher prevalence of adenocarcinomas and greater roadway density. Among adenocarcinoma cases in Kentucky, there are more non-smokers than other types of tobacco use. As smoking rates decrease in Kentucky, and …

Breastfeeding Promotion In The Workplace, Katie C. Nettesheim

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Breastfeeding is one of the best things a mother can do for her baby. It has many protective qualities including a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, respiratory infections, ear infections, and stomach bugs for the baby (CDC, 2022). There are also protective qualities for the mother as well, including a reduced risk of high blood pressure, breast and ovarian cancer, and type II diabetes. Breastfeeding exclusively, the infant only receives breastmilk and no other supplementation for 6 months, which maximizes the many benefits that breastfeeding has.

Rural areas of the United States …

Concussion Perceptions And Reporting Behaviors By Individual And Team Sport Participation Among Female Diii Student-Athletes, Bethany L. Stewart

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Abstract

Purpose. This study aimed to analyze differences between individual and team sport participation and academic year on perception of concussion and reporting behaviors.

Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted using original data from the Perceptions and Likeliness to Report Concussions in Collegiate Athletes survey distributed to student-athletes from April 2021 to December 2022. The study population was restricted to current residents of the United States, current enrollment in college or university, female-identifying, and between the ages of 18 and 24, yielding a final population of 135 for analysis. Statistical frequency analyses were obtained, then stratified by team and individual …

Psychosocial Outcomes Post-Concussion Of Female Collegiate Athletes, Victoria Farley

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Concussions are traumatic brain injuries impacting upwards of 3 million athletes per year. Female collegiate athletes are an essential group of athletes to investigate as they account for 47% of all collegiate athletes and often suffer more severe concussions with worse concussion symptoms than their male counterparts. Many symptoms are associated with concussion such as dizziness nausea, headaches, and instability, however, some injury symptoms extend beyond physical symptoms. The symptoms that extend beyond physical often mimic different psychosocial factors like depression and anxiety. This study investigated the associations of injury, the duration of symptoms, and the psychosocial impacts of injury …

Community Pharmacy Provision Of Extended-Release Injectable Naltrexone In Kentucky: Perspective Of People Who Use Opioids, Anye Wamucho

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Aim: To identify demographic, socio-economic, and other factors associated with likelihood of obtaining extended-release injectable naltrexone (EIN) if provided in a private space at a local pharmacy among people who use opioids (PWUO) in rural Appalachian Kentucky.

Methods: People who used opioids in the past 6 months in rural Appalachian Kentucky (n=170) completed interviewer-administered questionnaires eliciting demographic, socio-economic, and other characteristics. Participants were also asked about whether they will be more likely to obtain EIN if provided in a private space at a local pharmacy. Factors associated with increased likelihood to obtain pharmacy-provided EIN were assessed using unadjusted univariate and …

Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance, Hesitancy, And Refusal Among Educators In Spring Of 2021, Jenifer O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

The COVID-19 pandemic provided unprecedented vaccine development and deployment. Educators were among the first non-healthcare occupations to become eligible for the vaccine, and were an early predictor of vaccine hesitancy especially among educated females. By the spring of 2021, 87% of teachers had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Among those who expressed hesitancy, no defining demographic factors were found. Those who expressed hesitancy commonly cited a rushed vaccine development process and fear of long term side effects as reasons against vaccination.

The Meals On Wheels-Breathitt: A Health Campaign For Reducing Food Insecurity Among The Older Adults In Breathitt County, Kentucky., Sarah Haroon

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

The population of the United States of America is aging at a faster rate than ever before. More than 1 in 6 Americans are now 65 or older (The Washington Post, 2023). Since 2010, compared to people under 65, there has been close to a two-hundred percent increase in people 65 and above (The Washington Post, 2023). The rise in the aging U.S. population is due to increased life span and people living longer (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020). Furthermore, life expectancy for the total U.S. population is projected to increase by six years, from 79.7 in 2017 to 85.6 by …

An Efficient Lightweight Provably Secure Authentication Protocol For Patient Monitoring Using Wireless Medical Sensor Networks, Garima Thakur, Sunil Prajapat, Pankaj Kumar, Ashok Kumar Das, Sachin Shetty

VMASC Publications

The refurbishing of conventional medical network with the wireless medical sensor network has not only amplified the efficiency of the network but concurrently posed different security threats. Previously, Servati and Safkhani had suggested an Internet of Things (IoT) based authentication scheme for the healthcare environment promulgating a secure protocol in resistance to several attacks. However, the analysis demonstrates that the protocol could not withstand user, server, and gateway node impersonation attacks. Further, the protocol fails to resist offline password guessing, ephemeral secret leakage, and gateway-by-passing attacks. To address the security weaknesses, we furnish a lightweight three-factor authentication framework employing the …

Enhanced Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cell Viability And Osteogenic Differentiation On Two Implant Materials: An Experimental In Vitro Study, Engy Adel Ahmed Farag, Sara Fikry Dr, Shereen N. Raafat

Dentistry

Background: Surface roughness of dental implants impacts the survival of adult periodontal stem cells and rate of differentiation. This research was conducted to test how human periodontal ligament stem cells behaved on yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) discs with different surface topographies.

Methods: Discs roughening was prepared by sandblasting. Stem cells were cultivated on zirconia discs with a polished surface, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) discs with a polished surface, sandblasted zirconia discs and sandblasted polyetheretherketone (PEEK) discs. Cells viability was assessed after 24, 48, 72 hours. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the adherence and attachment of cells. …

Comorbidity Of Hypertension And Chronic Renal Failure And Their Impact On Oral Complications: A Cross-Sectional Study., Dalia Ghalwash, Sara Abdelwahed, Asmaa Abobakr

Dentistry

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of both end-stage renal diseases (ESRD) and hypertension (HTN) on the various oral manifestations and periodontal condition, to evaluate and compare the oral manifestations and periodontal health status in hypertensive patients with ESRD versus control, and to explore any possible correlation of the oral findings with systemic disease status. This was a cross-sectional study which included two equal groups of patients, Group I were hypertensive patients with ESRD and Group II were hypertensive patients only. All patients were hypertensive and were on antihypertensive medications. Regarding the incidence of oral lesions in both …

Effect Of Overlay Material Type And Design On Fracture Resistance Of Mod Cavities In Molars. (In-Vitro Study), Sara Adel Botros, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Shaimaa Gad

Dentistry

Objective: To evaluate the influence of restoration material type (CAD/CAM lithium disilicate blocks and reinforced composite blocks) and restoration design on fracture resistance of molars with MOD cavities. Methods and Materials: A total of 54 sound human molars were divided into 2 groups (n=9) according to: 1) material type: lithium disilicate CAD/CAM blocks and reinforced composite CAD/CAM blocks; 2) restoration design: overlay with intra-coronal extension or without intra-coronal extension. Additional 18 samples were assigned to positive control group (sound molars, n=9) and negative control group (unrestored MOD cavities, n=9). Standardized MOD cavities were prepared with occlusal width 3 mm, cavity …

Effect Of Air-Borne Abrasion Protocol On Micro-Tensile Bond Strength To Dentin Of Different Cad\ Cam Blocks (In-Vitro Study), Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Shereen Adel Gad, Radwa Nagy

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Overlay Material Type And Design On Fracture Resistance Of Mod Cavities In Molars.(In-Vitro Study), Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Shimaa Adel Gad, Sarah Adel Botros

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Polishing Pressure And Surface Wetness On Surface Roughness Of Two Resin Composites Of Different Filler Types, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Yara Habib Botros, Reham Salem, Khaled Aly Nour

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Different Digital Impression Techniques On The Trueness Of Post Space Scans With Fixed Cervical Diameter, Omar Elsergany

Dentistry

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the trueness of post space impression by 2 digital impression techniques: Impression Scanning (IS) and Model Scanning (MS) with cervical diameter 3 millimeters. Materials and methods: Fourteen freshly extracted single rooted lower second premolars were endodontically treated using Wave-One single file technique. Then mounted in acrylic blocks parallel to long access using a dental surveyor 2mm above the CEJ, drills in sequence 1.4 and 1.6 millimeter then diamond stone with 3 millimeter diameter were used for teeth preparation with a standardized depth of 8mm. Teeth were scanned by reference scanner InEos5 …

Assessment Of The Effect Of Chin Augmentation With Hyaluronic Acid Filler On Facial Soft Tissues Using Lateral Cephalometric Radiograph, Noha Ibrahim Abdelrahman Professor, Islam Hassan Prof.

Dentistry

Aim: To assess the effect of chin augmentation using Hyaluronic acid filler on facial soft tissues using lateral cephalometric radiographs. Material and methods: Prospective case series. 10 adult female patients with mild chin deficiencies. Patients underwent chin augmentation using Restylane Defyne hyaluronic acid dermal filler. Each patient received 2ml Filler injected in the chin area. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken at three-time intervals for each patient. The first radiograph taken before augmentation procedure, second radiograph two weeks after filler injection and the third and final radiograph taken six months after the augmentation procedure. Two readings were used to assess the …

Evaluation Of The Effect Of Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Platelet-Rich Fibrin On The Rate Of Tooth Movement Duringa Lignment Of Mandibular Anterior Crowding, Noha Ibrahim Abdelrahman Professor

Dentistry

Aim: To evaluate the efficiency of Platelet Rich Plasma vs. Platelet Rich Fibrin on overall leveling and alignment time of mandibular anterior crowding. Subjects and methods: Thirty-six females (18-25 years) with mandibular anterior crowding were randomly allocated into PRP, PRF, or control groups. The first molars on the right and left sides of the mandible were banded or bonded with Roth prescription tube. Mandibular teeth Second premolar to the second premolar were bonded using 0.022-inch pre-adjusted edgewise mini diamond brackets with Roth prescription. Immediately after bonding of the brackets, the initial wire used, the wire sequence was 0.014 Cu-Ni followed …

Effect Of Proximal Caries-Driven Access On The Biomechanical Behavior Of Endodontically Treated Maxillary Premolars, Engy M. Kataia

Dentistry

Introduction: This study investigated the effects from the carious cavity and access from it on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated maxillary premolars using finite element analysis (FEA). Methods: A maxillary premolar was used to compare three types of access cavity related to having a proximal carious defect: Caries-driven access (CDA), Conservative access that has a mesial component (MCA) as well as traditional access with the same mesial component (MTA). Cyclic loading was simulated on the occlusal surface and number of cycles till failure (NCF) was compared to the intact tooth model (IT). Mathematical analysis was done to evaluate the …

Parallel Endodontic Education Via Social Media: An Exploratory Survey Study, Nawar Nawar, Shehabeldin Mohamed Saber Prof.Dr., Mostafa M.A. Elkholy, William Nguyen Ha, Sebastian Burklein

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

How Loss Of Tooth Structure Impacts The Biomechanical Behavior Of A Single-Rooted Maxillary Premolar: Fea, Nawar Naguib Nawar, Roaa Abdelwahab, Engy M. Kataia, Shehabeldin Mohamed Saber Prof.Dr.

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Reply To Tannenbaum Et Al.: Constructive Dialogue Advancing Research On Civic Honesty, Weiwei Zhang, Yacheng Sun, Shiyong Liu, Xinyue Zhou, Qian Yang, Qi Zhang

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Positive Emotion Intervention During Late Pregnancy On Improving Colostrum Secretion: A Randomised Control Trial Protocol, Kechen Xu, Ying Xie, Xiujun Han, Ying Yu, Suqing Liu, Suliu Wu, Qian Yang, Qi Zhang

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Introduction Though evidence has revealed the beneficial effects of cognitive improvement interventions on breastfeeding, the effect of psychological interventions has rarely been studied. This study aims to test whether promoting a positive emotion intervention, 'Three Good Things' intervention, during the last trimester of pregnancy can enhance early colostrum secretion and breastfeeding behaviours by modulating the hormones associated with lactation (prolactin and insulin-like growth factor I). We will attempt to promote exclusive breastfeeding by using physiological behavioural measures.

Methods and analysis This study is designed as a randomised controlled trial conducted in the Women's Hospital School of Medicine at Zhejiang University …

Experiences With Covid-19 Stress Among Hispanic/Latino Farmworkers, Brenda Berumen-Flucker, Hadiza Galadima, Sylvia Shangani, Michele Kekeh, Muge Akpinar-Elci

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Hispanics/Latinos, particularly those that identify as foreign-born, are overrepresented in the agricultural sector in the U.S. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, this subpopulation of farmworkers was recognized as an invaluable group of essential workers unable to implement COVID-19 protections.

METHODS: Previously validated COVID-19 stress scale measures were identified, adapted, and translated to collect COVID-19 stress data from Hispanic/Latino agricultural workers in two heavily agricultural counties in northeastern North Carolina. Participants were recruited using purposive convenience sampling. Data collection took place from June to November of 2021.

RESULTS: The majority of Hispanic/Latino agricultural workers surveyed reported experiencing worries …

Obesity During Adolescence And Feeding Practices During Infancy: Cross-Sectional Study, Reem Sharaf-Alddin, Radhia Almathkoori, Hara Kostakis, Ahmed N. Albatineh, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Muge Akpinar-Elci

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Breastfeeding is proposed to play a role in reducing the risk of obesity throughout life. Kuwait has an extremely high prevalence of childhood obesity (45% of adolescents are overweight/obese) and extremely low breastfeeding indicators, particularly exclusive breastfeeding. In fact, little is known about the association between breastfeeding and obesity from Kuwait and the broader Middle East.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of overweight/obesity in female adolescents in Kuwait and assess its association with breastfeeding during infancy.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that included 775 girls randomly selected from public and private high schools in Kuwait. The primary exposure …

Creating A Primary Care Track In Prelicensure Nursing Education, Janice E. Hawkins, Lynn L. Wiles, Jamela Martin, Beth Tremblay, Karen Higgins, Ingrid Mahoney

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: RNs practicing in primary care (PC) increase access to health care and contribute to better patient outcomes and cost savings, yet undergraduate nursing education traditionally focuses on disease-oriented care. This article describes a curricular track for infusing PC prelicensure programs.

METHOD: PC content is threaded across four semesters with targeted assignments and clinical experiences. Providing clinical immersion experiences with practicing RNs as preceptors in community and PC settings is a key component of this initiative.

RESULTS: Student feedback has been favorable. Students stated they gained insight to the role of RNs in PC through class assignments and clinical rotations. …

Sound The (Smaller) Alarm: The Triphosphate Magic Spot Nucleotide Pgpp, Areej Malik, Megan A. Hept, Erin B. Purcell

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

It has recently become evident that the bacterial stringent response is regulated by a triphosphate alarmone (pGpp) as well as the canonical tetra- and pentaphosphate alarmones ppGpp and pppGpp [together, (p)ppGpp]. Often dismissed in the past as an artifact or degradation product, pGpp has been confirmed as a deliberate endpoint of multiple synthetic pathways utilizing GMP, (p)ppGpp, or GDP/GTP as precursors. Some early studies concluded that pGpp functionally mimics (p)ppGpp and that its biological role is to make alarmone metabolism less dependent on the guanine energy charge of the cell by allowing GMP-dependent synthesis to continue when GDP/GTP has been …

Halogen Bonding Interactions Of Haloaromatic Endocrine Disruptors And The Potential For Inhibition Of Iodothyronine Deiodinases, Craig A. Bayse

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Halogen bonding (XB) is a potential mechanism for the inhibition of the thyroid-activating/deactivating iodothyronine deiodinase family of selenoproteins through interactions with halogenated endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). Trends in XB interactions were examined using density functional theory for a series of polyhalogenated dibenzo-1,4-dioxins, biphenyls, and other EDCs with methylselenolate, a simple model of the Dio active site selenocysteine. The strengths of the interactions depend upon the halogen (Br>Cl), the degree of substitution, and the position of the acceptor. In terms of donor-acceptor energies, interactions at the meta position are often the strongest, suggesting a link to the topology of THs, …

Para-Methoxybenzylidene Acetal-Protected D-Glucosamine Derivatives As Ph-Responsive Gelators And Their Applications For Drug Delivery, Jonathan Bietsch, Logan Baker, Anna Duffney, Alice Mao, Mary Foutz, Cheandri Ackermann, Guijun Wang

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Carbohydrate-based low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) are compounds with the capability to self-assemble into complex molecular networks within a solvent, leading to solvent immobilization. This process of gel formation depends on noncovalent interactions, including Van der Waals, hydrogen bonding, and π–π stacking. Due to their potential applications in environmental remediation, drug delivery, and tissue engineering, these molecules have emerged as an important area of research. In particular, various 4,6-O-benzylidene acetal-protected D-glucosamine derivatives have shown promising gelation abilities. In this study, a series of C-2-carbamate derivatives containing a para-methoxy benzylidene acetal functional group were synthesized and characterized. These compounds exhibited good …

Synthesis And Self-Assembling Properties Of Carbohydrate- And Diarylethene-Based Photoswitchable Molecular Gelators, Pramod Aryal, Joedian Morris, Surya B. Adhikari, Jonathan Bietsch, Guijun Wang

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Carbohydrate-based low-molecular-weight gelators are interesting new materials with many potential applications. These compounds can be designed to include multiple stimuli-responsive functional groups. In this study, we designed and synthesized several chemically responsive bola-glycolipids and dimeric carbohydrate- and diarylethene-based photoswitchable derivatives. The dimeric glycolipids formed stable gels in a variety of solvent systems. The best performing gelators in this series contained decanedioic and dithienylethene (DTE) spacers, which formed gels in eight and nine of the tested solvents, respectively. The two new DTE-containing esters possessed interesting photoswitching properties and DTE derivative 7 was found to have versatile gelation properties in many solvents, …

Detection And Quantification Of Antiviral Drug Tenofovir Using Silver Nanoparticles And Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (Sers) With Spatially Resolved Hotspot Selection, Marguerite R. Butler, Jana Hrncirova, Terry A. Jacot, Sucharita Dutta, Meredith R. Clark, Gustavo F. Doncel, John B. Cooper

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

This study introduces a convenient and ultra-sensitive method of detection and quantification of the antiviral drug, tenofovir (TFV), by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Novel spatially resolved instrumentation for spectral acquisition and subsequent statistical analysis for hot spot selection was developed for convenient quantification of TFV in an aqueous matrix. Methods of statistical analysis include the use of partial least squares (PLS) regression vector analysis and spectral ranking by quality indices computed using CHAOS theory. Hydroxylamine-reduced Ag colloidal nanoparticles evaporated to dryness on an aluminum well-plate were used as the SERS substrate. To our knowledge, quantification of TFV down to 25 …