Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Expected Risks And Exacerbations Of Poverty, Mental Health Disorders, And Maternal Mortality From Abortion Bans: A Comparative Literature Analysis, Daniel J. Francisco

All Master's Theses

Background. Early termination of a pregnancy (hereinafter referred to as an “abortion”) has been debated in the United States (U.S.) for decades, without much regard to the negative outcomes that forced pregnancies have for those assigned female at birth regarding poverty, mental health and maternal mortality. In 1973, access to safe abortions was protected so long that the procedure was done within the legal gestational period and/or was necessary for the health and safety of the patient (Blackmun, 1972). Unfortunately, in 2022, the Supreme Court took that protection away and made it legal for states to determine the reproductive rights …

Behavioral Change Communication Tool Kit To Promote Hygiene Among School Children, Nousheen Akber Pradhan, Naseem Hashmani, Tazeen Saeed Ali, Rozina Karmaliani

Books

No abstract provided.

Fostering Early Literacy Skill Development In School Aged Children, Jaden Pikarski

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project is to foster early literacy skill development for children within the school system. The materials created are intended to enhance the context and promote learning in a way that is meaningful and developmentally appropriate.

Effects Of Occupation Based Interventions Related To Play And Leisure For Minimization Of Post-Concussion Or Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms In Adolescents: A Critically Appraised Topic, Anneka Harris, Melody Mackenzie, Emmy Miller

Critically Appraised Topics

Occupational therapy has a vital impact on healthcare providing a holistic approach to care with the goal of improving quality of life, increasing participation in meaningful occupations, and speeding up the recovery process for a variety of health conditions. In concussion management, occupational therapy professionals play a critical role on the multidisciplinary team, understanding the important interaction between the athlete, occupation, and the environment (Andreas et al., 2021). Even though the target population for this critically appraised topic (CAT) is adolescents, athletes (those who experienced a sports-related concussion) comprise most of the studies due to the prevalence of sports-related concussions. …

Development Of Sensors For Bacteria And Wound Environment Monitoring, Pannawich Thirabowonkitphithan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a leading cause of death and reduces life expectancy. Complications from diabetes have wreaked havoc not only on patients' quality of life, but also on the global burdens of public health and socioeconomic development. The most frequent complication among patients with diabetes mellitus is diabetic wounds, particularly diabetic foot ulcers because of the damage to sensory nerves and blood vessel issues brought on by elevated blood glucose levels. As a result, chronic wounds eventually develop and are prone to infection. In this study, several novel analytical devices for the detection of wound infections and the wound …

Mycobacterium Spp. Identification By Nanopore Technology, Samitanan Sunantawanit

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Tuberculosis is caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Although TB and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection exhibit similar symptoms, their treatments differ significantly. NTM strains need a specific drug regimen and some NTM strains are resistant to anti-TB drugs. Hence, mycobacterial identification is crucial. At present, the culture-based technique is the gold standard in mycobacterium detection, but it is time-consuming (3-6 weeks). Here, this study aimed to develop mycobacterial amplicon-based nanopore sequencing (Myco-ANS) assay for the differentiation of eight reference strains of mycobacteria, as well as to assess the diagnostic accuracy of Myco-ANS compared with reference line probe assay for …

Gardenia Jasminoides Fruit Extract Alleviates Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug–Induced Gastropathy In Rats, Rinrada Worapongpaiboon

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastropathy is a health burden that requires effective treatment. Gardenia jasminoides fruit extract (GJE) protects the gastrointestinal tract by reducing inflammation with wide safety margins, but the underlying mechanisms are still indeterminate. Therefore, this thesis aimed to explore the effects of GJE pretreatment on NSAID-induced gastric injury in rats based on the hypothesis that GJE could attenuate the injury. Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to 3 groups (n=8/group). The control group received a vehicle (7.5% NaHCO3). The NSAIDs group received indomethacin 200 mg/kg twice a day (4 hours apart) for 2 consecutive days. The …

Factors Influencing Disposal Methods Of Unused Medicines: A Systematic Review, Guu Nandar Chit

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Objective: This systematic review aimed to describe how people store and dispose of unused and expired medicines, explore the extent of proper storage and disposal and examine factors influencing these behaviors. A comprehensive search of five databases, PubMed, Scopus, Springer Link, Science Direct, and EBSCO. The QualSyst assessment tool was applied to evaluate the quality of the included studies. The review encompassed 55 eligible studies from 27 countries, involving 31,246 participants. The refrigerator was the most common storage location (40% average) while discarding in household trash was the universal disposal method. Medicine storage at home ranged from 17.9% to 97%, …

Polycationic Colicin N Inhibits Metastatic Activity In Human Lung Cancer Cells Through Suppression On Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition, Lwin Lwin Aye

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Colicins are bacterial toxins, produced by E. coli under stressed conditions to kill other related strains of bacteria. Among other bacteriocins, colicin N is pore-forming bacteriocin which has cytotoxic activity on human lung cancer H460 cells. Polycationic (supercharged) colicin N (CoIN+12) is structurally engineered colicin N with more positive charges, on receptor binding domain of which, aspartic and glutamic acids were replaced by six lysine residues. It has been reported that polycationic colicin N has higher cytotoxic activity in human lung cancer cells. However, anti-metastatic effect of polycationic colicin N on human lung cancer cells has not been investigated. In …

Identification Of Active Region Of Colicin N Translocating Domain Involved In Its Antibacterial Activity, Wanassanan Lampromkaew

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Colicins are bacteriocins produced by Escherichia coli (E. coli) and toxified themselves. In general, colicins comprise three domains, including the N-terminal domain or translocation (T) domain, the Receptor binding (R) domain, and the Cytotoxic (C) domain. The combination of these domains produces different types and activities of colicin. Colicin N is the smallest colicin and functioned in pore-formation by the C-domain on the E. coli membrane. The antimicrobial activity is regulated by the specific binding between OmpF and TolA (as receptor and translocator) at region OBS (OmpF binding site) and TABs (TolA binding site), respectively. They are then inserting the …

Effect Of Stretch And Release On Myofascial Stem Cell Function In Vitro: A Putative Model To Understand The Molecular Benefits Of The Myofascial Release (Mfr) Technique, Ben Smith, Shahn Notta, Debasis Mondal

Research Day

Despite the beneficial effects of osteopathic manipulative techniques (OMT), there is a lack of in vitro models to understand the molecular mechanisms associated with these time-tested therapies. The Myofascial Release (MFR) technique is a non-invasive approach that involves passive stretching, hold and release, of the soft tissue to achieve myofascial homeostasis. Tissue-resident mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can regulate the myofascial microenvironment by altering their secreted factors following stretch and release. Therefore, we initiated studies to develop an in vitro model to investigate the possible effects of stretch and release on MSC function, i.e. proliferation and differentiation capabilities, and changes in …

The Supine Moving Apprehension Test—Reliability And Validity Among Healthy Individuals And Patients With Anterior Shoulder Instability, Alon Rabin, Ofir Chechik, Margie K. Olds, Timothy L. Uhl, Efi Kazum, Adin Deutsch, Eran Citron, Tal Cohen, Oleg Dolkart, Assaf Bibas, Eran Maman

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Performance-based tests for patients with anterior shoulder dislocation are lacking. This study determined the reliability and validity of the supine moving apprehension test designed to assess the ability to control anterior instability loads. Methods: Thirty-six participants were recruited (18 healthy individuals, and 18 patients following anterior shoulder dislocation). Healthy participants performed the supine moving apprehension test on 2 separate occasions to determine test-retest reliability. Patients completed the supine moving apprehension test and the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability index before and 6 months after surgical stabilization of their shoulder. The presence of anterior apprehension was also documented post-operatively. Results: The …

The Antimicrobial Peptide Database Is 20 Years Old: Recent Developments And Future Directions, Guangshun Wang

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

In 2023, the Antimicrobial Peptide Database (currently available at https://aps.unmc.edu) is 20-years-old. The timeline for the APD expansion in peptide entries, classification methods, search functions, post-translational modifications, binding targets, and mechanisms of action of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) has been summarized in our previous Protein Science paper. This article highlights new database additions and findings. To facilitate antimicrobial development to combat drug-resistant pathogens, the APD has been re-annotating the data for antibacterial activity (active, inactive, and uncertain), toxicity (hemolytic and nonhemolytic AMPs), and salt tolerance (salt sensitive and insensitive). Comparison of the respective desired and undesired AMP groups produces new knowledge …

The Telltale Of Left Atrial Thrombus Formation In Mitral Stenosis: Revisiting The Virchow’S Triad, Bayushi Eka Putra, Rina Ariani, Anwar Santoso, Prima Almazini, Estu Rudiktyo, Amiliana Mardiani Soesanto

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Aims: This study was conducted to assess the relationship of simple hematological parameters with the incidence of left atrial thrombus in rheumatic mitral stenosis in addition to conventional contributing factors. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in patients with significant rheumatic stenosis from 1 January 2018 to 31 July 2021. Thrombus evaluation was confirmed by transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography. Lab tests were performed within 10 days prior to the echocardiographic evaluation. Subjects with significant mitral regurgitation will be excluded. Logistic regression analysis was done to evaluate the relationship between each variable to the presence of a thrombus. Results: Of …

Choose Well: Summary Of Mid-Point Evaluation Findings, Center For Applied Reasearch And Evaluation In Women's Health, East Tennessee State University

Center for Applied Research and Evaluation (CARE) in Women's Health Reports

This report summarizes key findings related to the evaluation of the Choose Well Initiative at the mid-point. Results are not complete but provide a brief summary of key findings and evidence to date.

Heparin Vs. Saline: Evaluating Evidence-Based Best Practice For Maintaining Patency Of Implanted Ports, Shannon D. Murdock

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background Implanted ports are frequently used for central venous access in the adult oncology population. Maintaining patency of these ports is important for continuing uninterrupted treatment and supportive care for oncologic patients. Historically, heparin solution has been used as a locking solution for implanted ports to prevent occlusion. However, evidence shows that 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline or NS) as a lock solution is equally effective as heparin solution at maintaining implanted port patency and poses less risk to patients.

Local Problem In an ambulatory adult oncology clinic serving Seacoast New Hampshire, a gap was identified between clinical practice where …

Enhancing Education To Mitigate Workplace Violence To Increase Staff Safety In A High Acuity Setting: A Quality Improvement Project, Michelle Crowley

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: The current microsystem is a critical access 8 bed Emergency Department with 3 hallway beds. On average it can see anywhere from 30-50 patients in a 24 hour period. Due to the nature of the microsystem, staff are at high risk for experiencing workplace violence (WPV). Within this microsystem staff do not have a readily available communication device on their person in case of an adverse event leaving them susceptible to patient to staff WPV. Staff within this microsystem are Management of Aggressive Behavior (MOAB) 1 and 2 trained, however this does not provide education on risk factors for …

Incorporating Non-Pharmacological Labor Coping Methods To Improve Nursing Care And Reduce Primary Cesarean Section Rates: A Quality Improvement Project, Cait Maccabe

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cesarean sections (c-sections), while life-saving in some circumstances, carry a significantly higher risk of morbidity and mortality than vaginal birth for birthing patients and neonates alike. Despite this, rates of c-section have continued to rise in the US and around the world. As primary cesarean births are highly likely to lead to repeat cesarean births, concerted efforts are being made to reduce them both broadly and within the setting of this quality improvement (QI) project: a labor and delivery unit located within a Level II trauma center in New Hampshire. A literature review provided evidence supporting the use …

Dietary Whey Protein Increases Brain Leukocytes In Mice Regardless Of Their Hypersensitivity Status, Dilini Ekanayake

Biomedical Sciences Posters and Presentations

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) often manifests as milder reactions and may be linked to neurological problems. Previously, we demonstrated that C57BL/6J mice sensitized to a bovine whey allergen, β-lactoglobulin (BLG, Bos d 5), moderately increased BLG-specific IgE levels and exhibited behavioral changes without severe allergic reactions. When these non-anaphylactic CMA mice were placed on a whey-protein (WP)-containing diet for 2 weeks to simulate continuous dairy consumption, we found neuropathology indicative of neuroinflammation and cortical demyelination. Since immune cells migrate to the central nervous system (CNS) and promote neuroinflammation in demyelinating conditions such as multiple sclerosis, we hypothesized that the number …

Investigating The Potential Role Of Akkermansia Muciniphila Supplementation In Neuroinflammation: A Progress Report, Geetika Verma

Biomedical Sciences Posters and Presentations

Gut bacteria are important for proper development and function of the host immune system (1). Recent studies have provided association of altered microbiome in both food allergy and neuropsychiatric disorders (2, 3) indicating potential role of microbiome in regulating Gut-Brain-Axis. Akkermansia muciniphila belongs to the phylum Verrucomicrobia, is a commensal mucin degrading bacterial species (4). A. muciniphila protects the gut barrier by facilitating host mucus production. Since patients with food allergy have increased gut permeability, protection of intestinal barrier by increased mucus production may be beneficial in preventing allergen and pathogen infiltrations, hence, minimizing inflammation. A. muciniphila is well known …

Effectiveness Of Occupational Therapy’S Role In Promotion Of Role Fulfillment With Aviation Students In Higher Education Who Are Experiencing Mental Health Conditions, Payton O. Schilke, Olivia G. Schoffstall, Lexi K. Smith, Gracie J. Stimac

Critically Appraised Topics

This critically appraised topic paper focuses on occupational therapy’s role and the interventions for improving the mental health of aviation students in higher education. Aviation students are higher education student pilots learning to become pilots within various roles. Stress and fatigue among students in higher education are prominent problems (Beiter, 2015; Kalmakis et al., 2021). The focus on aviation students for this critically appraised topic paper reveals the unique stressors relating to flight training that is added on top of the normal academic stress load that university students face (Robertson & Ruiz, 2010). Due to these stress factors, the mental …

The Role Of Occupational Therapists Working With Adolescents With Mental Health Conditions In The Juvenile Justice System, Angelina M. Caron, Madalyn M. England, Mattea J. Johnson

Critically Appraised Topics

This critically appraised topic paper focuses on interventions for improving adolescents' mental health status to promote engagement in occupations in the JJS. With many factors to consider, adolescent demographics and previous contexts were described first, then the impact that mental health programs in the JJS have on adolescents' mental health was reviewed. Finally, occupational therapy’s role in improving occupational engagement through addressing mental health was investigated.

Dietary Nitrate Supplementation Enhances Performance And Speeds Muscle Deoxyhaemoglobin Kinetics During An End-Sprint After Prolonged Moderate-Intensity Exercise, Samantha N. Rowland, Mariasole Da Boit, Rachel Tan, George P. Robinson, Emma O’Donnell, Lewis J. James, Stephen J. Bailey

All Faculty Open Access Publications

Short-term dietary nitrate (NO3−) supplementation has the potential to enhance performance during submaximal endurance, and short-duration, maximal-intensity exercise. However, it has yet to be determined whether NO3− supplementation before and during submaximal endurance exercise can improve performance during a short-duration, maximal-intensity end-sprint. In a randomised, double-blind, crossover study, 9 recreationally active men ingested NO3−-rich (BR: 8 mmol NO3−/day) and NO3−-depleted (PL: 0.75 mmol NO3−/day) beetroot powder for 7 days. On day 7, participants completed 2 h of moderate-intensity cycling, which immediately transitioned into a 60 s maximal-intensity end-sprint, with supplements ingested 2 h before and 1 h into the moderate-intensity …

Exploring Breast Tissue Microbial Composition And The Association With Breast Cancer Risk Factors, Rana German, Natascia Marino, Chris Hemmerich, Ram Podicheti, Douglas B. Rusch, Leah T. Stiemsma, Hongyu Gao, Xiaoling Xuei, Pam Rockey, Anna Maria Storniolo

All Faculty Open Access Publications

Background: Microbial dysbiosis has emerged as an important element in the development and progression of various cancers, including breast cancer. However, the microbial composition of the breast from healthy individuals, even relative to risk of developing breast cancer, remains unclear. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the microbiota of the normal breast tissue, which was analyzed in relation to the microbial composition of the tumor and adjacent normal tissue. Methods: The study cohorts included 403 cancer-free women (who donated normal breast tissue cores) and 76 breast cancer patients (who donated tumor and/or adjacent normal tissue samples). Microbiome profiling was …

The Mutational Landscape In Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia And Its Impact On Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Outcomes: A Center For Blood And Marrow Transplantation Research (Cibmtr) Analysis, Matthew Mei, Raju Pillai, Soyoung Kim, Noel Estrada-Merly, Michelle Afkhami, Lixin Yang, Zhuo Meng, Muhammad Bilal Abid, Mahmoud Aljurf, Ulrike Bacher, Amer Beitinjaneh, Christopher Bredeson, Jean-Yves Cahn, Jan Cerny, Edward Copelan, Corey Cutler, Zachariah Defilipp, Miguel Angel Diaz Perez, Nosha Farhadfar, César O Freytes, Shahinaz M Gadalla, Siddhartha Ganguly, Robert Peter Gale, Usama Gergis, Michael R Grunwald, Betty K Hamilton, Shahrukh Hashmi, Gerhard C Hildebrandt, Hillard M Lazarus, Mark Litzow, Reinhold Munker, Hemant S Murthy, Sunita Nathan, Taiga Nishihori, Sagar S Patel, David Rizzieri, Sachiko Seo, Mithun Vinod Shah, Melhem Solh, Leo F Verdonck, Ravi Vij, Ronald M Sobecks, Betul Oran, Bart L Scott, Wael Saber, Ryotaro Nakamura

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Somatic mutations are recognized as an important prognostic factor in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). However, limited data are available regarding their impact on outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). In this registry analysis conducted in collaboration with the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry database/sample repository, we identified 313 adult patients with CMML (median age: 64 years, range, 28- 77) who underwent allogeneic HCT during 2001-2017 and had an available biospecimen in the form of a peripheral blood sample obtained prior to the start of conditioning. In multivariate analysis, a CMML-specific prognostic scoring system (CPSS) score of …

Inequitable By Design: The Patent Culture, Law, And Politics Behind Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access, Ximena Benavides

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

COVID-19 vaccine access has been highly inequitable worldwide, with coverage depending largely on a country’s wealth. By the end of 2021, 64.1% of people living in high-income countries had received at least one dose of the vaccine, compared to only 5.4% of those in low-income countries. Similarly, only high- and upper-middle-income countries had received the most effective vaccines.

The uneven distribution of these lifesaving vaccines is made complex due to the convergence of several factors, but it suggests that the extraordinary expanding and ossifying market and political power of a few vaccine manufacturers founded on intellectual property and complementary policies …

Policies For Expanding Hepatitis C Testing And Treatment In United States Prisons And Jails, Tessa Bialek, Dr. Matthew J. Akiyama M.D.

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly prevalent in United States prisons and jails. In prisons and jails, rates of infection are ten to twenty times greater than national levels. And, more than thirty percent of all people living with HCV in the United States will spend time in prisons and jails in any given year. Rates are especially high among people who inject drugs (PWID), a population whose members are also likely to move between carceral settings and the community. Thus, addressing HCV among incarcerated populations would have a significant effect on the virus’s transmission both in and out of …

Dermatoses Of The Breast During Lactation, Divya Shan, Sindhuja Koppu, Valerie Coleman, Gauri Gulati, Kimberly Salkey

Open and Affordable Course Content at VCU

No abstract provided.

Dermatologic Manifestations Of Rheumatic Disease: Malignant Cutaneous Tumors, Divya Shan, Julianna S. Kang, Allison Cinats, Julia R. Nunley, Beth Rubinstein

Open and Affordable Course Content at VCU

No abstract provided.

Clay Use As Mindfulness For Women In Early Substance Use Recovery, Cheryl Feldman

Art Therapy | Doctoral Dissertations

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are an epidemic in the United States comprising 4.4 million women, including high rates of recidivism, and often accompanied by comorbid mental health issues. Recognizing the need for effective tools to support women in recovery, this research aligns the key tenets of present focus and personal control within Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) with various established mindfulness-based therapies, while using a Positive Psychology framework to conceptualize strategies to help enhance mindfulness in women in early recovery. Although engaging in clay work has been linked to mindfulness for its capacity to foster a state of presence and self-centering, scant …