Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Impact Of Prenatal Paternal Cigarette Smoke On Male Urogenital Disorders: A Systematic Review, Raphaelia V. Mcdonald

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Urogenital disorders, including cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and reduced semen quality, represent significant congenital and developmental challenges in male reproductive health. While maternal smoking during pregnancy is a well-established risk factor, emerging evidence indicates that paternal smoking may also have adverse effects on male offspring’s reproductive development. This systematic review assessed the impact of paternal cigarette smoke exposure before and during pregnancy on the incidence of various urogenital disorders.

By synthesizing data from five critical studies, we found that paternal smoking was associated with a 3.8-fold increased risk of cryptorchidism and hypospadias, a 1.26-fold reduction in semen quality, and potential epigenetic changes …

The Role Of Micrornas In Cellular Senescence, Inflammation, And Cancer Induced By Childhood Obesity, Sarah S. Siddiqi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Childhood obesity has escalated into a major public health crisis with serious implications for long-term health. As obesity rates among children continue to rise globally, it is crucial to understand its effects on cellular aging and inflammation—key processes that underpin many metabolic diseases. Obesity not only directly contributes to various metabolic disorders but also disrupts fundamental cellular mechanisms, accelerating aging and fostering systemic inflammation. By examining the impact of obesity on cellular aging and chronic inflammation, as well as the regulatory role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in these pathways, we have been able to identify critical biomarkers and molecular mechanisms involved …

Exploring Nurses' Perspectives Of The Use Of Hospital Interpretation Technologies Versus Other Methods For Communicating With Non-English Language Preference (Nelp) Patients: A Literature Review, Natalie Moreira-Rivera

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Nurses' perspectives on the use of interpretation technologies compared to other methods for communicating with NELP patients when providing treatment in a hospital setting was explored utilizing a literature review. The literature search was conducted using CINHAL, APA PsychInfo, Medline, and Applied Science & Technology Source databases. The search resulted in 84 articles, of which 6 were eligible to be included in the narrative review. Three themes emerged that helped explain nurses’ perspectives: preferred technology, facilitators/benefits, and barriers/concerns. Interpretation technologies were preferred over in-person translators in most cases. Nurses and other healthcare providers perceived technologies as convenient, flexible, versatile, and …

Genetic And Biochemical Analysis Of Novel Borrelia Burgdorferi Genes Bb0244 And Bb0246, Christian J. Ruiz-Rodriguez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As the cause of the most common vector-borne disease in the US, Borrelia burgdorferi continues to affect an estimated hundreds of thousands of patients each year. The spirochete boasts one of the most complex genomes in comparison to all other prokaryotes as it is fragmented across up to 21 different replicons. Moreover, the functions of a majority of the encoded genes remain unknown. Gene of unknown function, bb0244, along with putative co-transcribed genes bb0245, and bb0246 are hypothesized to be involved in the vital functions of cell division and cell wall biogenesis. B. burgdorferi lacking bb0244 demonstrate a significant growth …

The Effect Of Mating Pheromone 2,6-Dichlorophenol On Gene Expression In Male Lone Star Ticks (Amblyomma Americanum), Mitchell E. Dyen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) are tick species known for their generalist feeding habits, pursuing blood meals with little preference for specific host species. They are found in the southern and midwestern United States but have been rapidly expanding northward due to climate change and white-tailed deer population expansion. Since they are a zoonotic disease vector, their increased abundance has caused the concurrent increased prevalence of a variety of tick-borne illnesses such as tularemia, heartland virus disease, alpha-gal syndrome, ehrlichiosis, and southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), which effect both humans and animals alike. This increased prevalence of tick-borne …

Factors Leading To Osteoporosis In Turner Syndrome, Daniella O. Aleshinloye

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Turner Syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder from conception characterized by the partial or complete absence of the second X chromosome in females. Chromosomal abnormalities, both numerical and structural, contribute to a significantly higher prevalence of fractures (30.5-32.2%) compared to non-TS postmenopausal women (14.9%). This highlights the intrinsic bone abnormalities associated with TS and increased fracture risk. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) is commonly used to assess bone mineral density (BMD). However, its accuracy in individuals with TS is limited due to the partial volume effect, highlighting the need for further clinical research to understand bone density changes compared to …

Epitope Mapping Novel Monoclonal Antibodies Against Borrelia Burgdorferi Surface Proteins Ospc And Bmpa, Eliza M. Doyle

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In response to the progressive nature of Lyme disease, direct diagnostic testing of Borrelia burgdorferi surface proteins was proposed as a quicker and more sensitive alternative to the current indirect detection methods. To determine the ability of novel monoclonal antibodies to detect the surface lipoproteins BmpA and OspC, recombinant fragments of these proteins were created. These fragments were tested against the putative diagnostic antibodies via western blotting as a means to map the epitope of each of the proteins that the respective antibodies recognize. All BmpA fragments with deletions on the N-terminal end exhibited reactivity, indicating that the epitope is …

Assessing The Prevalence Of Behavioral Work-Related Exposures Among Nail Technicians, Kayla R. Mecoli

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Nail technicians can be exposed to more chemicals and allergens than the general population due to the unique exposures they experience in their day-to-day operations. This study focused on behaviors nail technicians participated in that may have increased their risk of infection, pain, allergy, or ailment. A cross-sectional study was organized, assessing the prevalence of behavioral exposures among nail technicians and their correlation with other factors like prior education, workplace type, and symptoms experienced. The goal was to create a better understanding of how the modern-day nail technician is protecting themselves while working, by identifying gaps to facilitate the creation …

Health Equity Policy In Colombia: Improving Equal Access To Health Care Services For Individuals With Low-Income, Marian Marin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In 1993, the last health reform “Law 100” was introduced in Colombia. It has been over 30 years since its implementation, and there have been many changes to the healthcare system in Colombia ever since. The policy increased health insurance coverage to almost 95% of the population, providing better and more affordable patient care. However, increasing the availability of resources does not necessarily make them accessible to all of Colombia’s residents. This study aims to analyze the outcomes of “Law 100” to the system and studies critical obstacles that halt healthcare equity in Colombia, particularly for those in rural and …

Co-Occurrence Of Autism Spectrum Disorder And Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder With Idiopathic Hypersomnia: Data From The Hypersomnia Foundation Registry, Sophie Sevan Mikkelsen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In recent years, hypersomnia patients and researchers alike have increasingly discussed the possibility of heightened comorbidities, or co-occurrences, of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with the central disorders of hypersomnolence: idiopathic hypersomnia (IH) and narcolepsy (N). While a few scarce studies have investigated a link between ADHD and N, there has been no research on the co-occurrence of these conditions with IH. This study, using data from the Hypersomnia Foundation’s CoRDS Patient Registry, is the first to identify self-reported rates of ASD and ADHD diagnoses by people with idiopathic hypersomnia. Four chi-square tests were conducted to determine …

Assessment Of Forensic And Clinical Criteria Of Orbital Blowout Fractures For Use In Bioarchaeological Analysis, Dylan E. Ornot

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Orbital blowout fractures are a particular facial fracture occurring within the inner eye orbits of the face caused by blunt force trauma to the eyeball or the lower orbital rim. This fracture is common in modern clinical contexts due to physical assaults, but examining this fracture in skeletal material can also provide insights into the patterns of interpersonal violence within the fields of bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. Issues with analyzing this fracture in skeletal material arise due to the clinical assessment practices of blowout fractures, where medical practitioners are highly focused on the soft tissue presentations of the fracture in …

Dysbiosis In Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis Of Gut Microbiota And Its Role In Gastrointestinal Dysfunction And Disease Progression, Ayan M. Siddiqui Mr.

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and nonmotor symptoms, including gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction. Symptoms such as constipation, bloating, and nausea often show early signs before the onset of motor symptoms. Recent research has suggested an essential role of the human gut microbiome and gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut microbiota composition, in the pathogenesis of PD. This thesis aims to assess the potential relationship between gut dysbiosis and PD by conducting a meta-analysis, focusing on differences in gut microbiota between PD patients and healthy controls and evaluating their implications for GI dysfunction and PD progression. The …

Dance Movement Therapy For Pediatric Oncology Patients And Its Effect On Cancer Therapy-Related Symptoms, Victoria M. Trautwein

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Pediatric cancer patients are susceptible to emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms impacting their quality of life. Dance movement therapy is a non-pharmacological method that has been shown to improve feelings of depression, anxiety, emotional, somatic symptoms, and overall quality of life. While much of cancer research is dedicated to finding cures, it is also important to focus on identifying methods for improving the symptoms and quality of life for pediatric cancer patients.

Aim: The purpose of the literature review is to examine studies that show the effects of dance movement therapy on pediatric oncology patients’ cancer-treatment related …

Examination Of The Morphological Changes And Genotoxic Effects Of Sodium Benzoate On Neuro-2a Cells In Vitro, Emily S. Larson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Sodium benzoate is a food preservative present in sodas, fruit juices, and other acidic foods and beverages [1]. Its acceptable daily intake is 0-20 mg/kg body weight [2], and it is generally recognized as safe [1, 3]. However, sodium benzoate has been linked to hyperactivity in children [4, 5] and adults [6] and to deficits and behavioral changes in rodents [7-10], indicating potential negative impacts on the nervous system. Sodium benzoate has also induced genotoxic effects in human lymphocytes [11, 12] and Chinese hamster fibroblast cells [13] in vitro and in rat liver tissue in vivo [14]. The effect of …

Detection Of Micrornas In Blood Samples Using Biosensors For The Detection Of Early-Stage Lung Cancer, Nicholas Bruno

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Lung cancer kills more people in the U.S. a year than any other cancer. This is largely because patients often remain asymptomatic until stage 3, by which time the tumor is usually highly malignant. High radiation-producing screenings are the current method of lung tumor detection. These typically involve machinery for tumor visualization, such as computed tomography (CT) scans, positron emission tomography (PET scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and X-rays. Not only does radiation exposure from this equipment pose a risk to the patient, but any tumors detected by these scanning techniques are likely to be locally advanced. This suggests that …

Unraveling The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Staphylococcus Aureus Carriage: A Comparative Research Of Pre- And Post-Pandemic Samples, Catherine G. Johnston

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant changes in the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus carriage and disease. This study aims to assess these changes by leveraging respiratory samples collected from a longstanding cohort, comparing the genomic characteristics of S. aureus isolates from pre- and post-pandemic periods. We analyzed S. aureus genomes and phenotypically determined macrolide resistance to characterize population structure, antibiotic resistance, and virulence profiles. Changes in S. aureus carriage rates, macrolide resistance, disease occurrence, and population structure between samples collected pre- and post-pandemic were examined. By using respiratory samples, chart reviews, and risk factor questionnaires of 498 children from a …

2024-2025 Newsletter, Morehead State University. Nursing Department.

Nursing Department Publications Archive

2024-2025 Newsletter of the Department of Nursing at Morehead State University.

Relationship Between Internet Social Media Addiction And Communication Patterns Among Adolescents, Mona Hassan Abdelaal

Nursing

Abstract: Background: Internet social media and availability of mobile devices have an impact on the way people communicate. Adolescents have a wide range of positive and negative impacts come from the use of social media. Aim: Assess the relationship between internet social media addiction and communication patterns among adolescents. Design: A descriptive correlational design was utilized. Setting: The study was carried out at Technical Nursing Institutes in Benha city which consists of 2 Institutes and contain total (320) students from Benha Technical Nursing Institute for girls with total (170) students and from Benha Technical Nursing Institute of Health Insurance for …

Effect Of An Intervention Bundle On Thirst Intensity Among Intensive Care Unit Patients, Marwa Abdo, Manal Sayed Ismail, Nayera Mohamed Tantaewy

Nursing

Background: Dry mouth and thirst are commonly associated with a strong desire to drink fluid. Despite this, thirst is often overlooked in the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) experience various causes of distress. Aim: This study aimed to assess the effect of an intervention bundle on thirst intensity among ICU patients. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was used with a purposive sample of 100 ICU patients were selected and randomly divided into two groups: the thirst bundle group comprised of 50 ICU patients who received thirst bundle intervention with lip moisturizer, peppermint water mouthwash, …

Effect Of Incentive Spirometry On Respiratory Parameters Among Critically Ill Patients With Chest Tube Drainage, Marwa Abdo, Nayera Mohamed Tantaewy, Asmaa Ibrahim Aboseda

Nursing

Background: Chest tube drainage is a common procedure following cardiac or thoracic surgery, which can lead to respiratory disorders. Incentive spirometry (IS) is used to enhance respiratory outcomes by promoting deep breathing and lung expansion. Aim: evaluate the effect of incentive spirometry on respiratory parameters among critically ill patients with chest tube drainage. Research Design: A quasi-experimental design was used in this study. Setting: Cardiothoracic intensive care unit at the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Center of Mansoura University. Subjects: A convenience sample of 120 patients who underwent chest tube drainage was randomly assigned to either the IS group (n = …

Evaluation Of Soft And Hard Tissue Changes Around Guided Immediate Implants In The Esthetic Area With Immediate Temporization: A Prospective Clinical And Radiological Pilot Study, Pierre Lahoud, Elie Bou Assi, Abdallah Menhall, Lara Nasr, Christian Makary

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: This study aimed to assess soft and hard tissue changes occurring 6 and 12 months after guided implant placement into extraction sockets and immediate temporization in the esthetic zone.

Methods: Eight patients requiring single immediate implant placement in the anterior mandible or maxilla were included in this study. A traumatic extractions were performed using ultrasonic instruments and implants were placed into extraction sockets following digitally guided surgery. Gap between implants and buccal bone plate was filled with allogeneic bone substitutes. Implants were immediately temporized with pre-prepared PMMA crowns. Cone Beam Computed Tomography and digital impressions were done …

Comparison Of The Failure Between Conventional Pmma And Milled Pmma Full Arch Maxillary Interim Prosthesis Fixed On 4 Implants: An In Vitro Study, Tatiana Bou Sakr, Hani Tohme, Natalia Bou Sakr, Victor Ghoubril, Carole Abi Ghosn Yared

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: The principal objective of this study was to compare the failure load between the conventional heat polymerized PMMA and the CAD/CAM milled PMMA interim full arch implant prostheses. The secondary aim was to evaluate the success of the distal extension of the temporary PMMA prosthesis.

Methods: A metallic edentulous upper arch model with 4 Straumann screw-retained abutment digital analogs was used to create 15 specimens for each of the 2 groups: Conventional and milled. Failure load was measured on 5 different regions on the left and right side of each specimen with the YLE universal testing machine: …

Testing The Strength Of Thin Feather-Edge Monolithic Multilayered Zirconia Crowns: A Pilot Study With A Novel Acoustic Test, Estelle Saab, Camille Haddad, Maher Abboud, Maha Daou, Amine Zoghbi

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: Limited research has explored the mechanical characteristics of recently introduced multilayered monolithic zirconia (MZC) crowns with feather-edge margins design. Moreover, most of the conventional techniques for evaluating the mechanical behavior of brittle dental ceramics rely on destructive tests, making it impossible to precisely evaluate real strength values due to premature crack initiation detection failure.

Objectives: The main objective of the study was to assess the load capacity of translucent multilayered monolithic zirconia crowns with feather-edge margin thicknesses of 0.4 mm and 0.5 mm. Additionally, the research introduced a novel non-destructive acoustic emission testing (AET) technique in the …

The Role Of Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio (Nlr), Lymphocyte-To-Monocyte Ratio (Lmr), And Platelet-To-Lymphocyte Ratio (Plr) In Oral Cancer And Acute Dental Infections, Sasti Priya Govindasamy Sukumar, Ravikumar Pethagounder Thangavelu, Karthik Rajaram Mohan, Ramachandra Reddy Gowda Venkatesha, Kumar Appusamy

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: The present study was a cross-sectional observational study, which was carried out on patients reported to the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology. This study aims to evaluate the hemogram parameters NLR, LMR, and PLR among 90 Patients.

Methods: Patients were divided into 3 groups: Group A consists of 30 patients with histopathological confirmed oral cancer. Group B consists of 30 patients who presenting acute dental infections. Group C consists of 30 patients clinically healthy subjects. The hemogram parameters NLR, LMR and PLR were compared in the 3 groups and we studied their correlation to the clinical …

Investigation Of Fracture Resistance With Different Diameters Of Polyetherketoneketone Post And Core Materials: A Pilot Study, Maya Kabbara, Ryan Harouny, Habib Rahme

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to investigate the resistance to fracture of Polyetherketoneketones PEKK, used as post and core by fabrication in different diameters in the canal, and comparing the test results for each group.

Methods: Thirty extracted mandibular premolars were selected, endodontically treated and prepared to receive the post and cores milled from polyetherketoneketone disk. The specimens were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6) respectively: group 1 received pekk post with diameter = 0.70 mm, group 2 received pekk post with diameter = 0.90 mm, group 3 received pekk post with diameter …

Digital Assessment Of Soft And Hard Tissue Alterations After Anterior Maxillary Tooth Extraction, Robin Jalkh, Stephanie Mrad, Emile Chrabieh, Joe Bassil

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: This study aimed to assess dimensional alterations in soft and hard tissues 12 weeks post-extraction using novel computerized methods. Secondary objectives included exploring potential correlations between soft tissue changes and underlying bone variations, as well as investigating relationships between soft and hard tissue alterations and various contributing factors.

Methods: For all patients, preoperative and postoperative CBCT scans and intra-oral scans were obtained. Soft and hard tissue dimensions before extraction and at 12 weeks post-extraction were measured using 3D-slicer software. Both DICOM and STL files were superimposed, and measurements were taken at 2mm and 4mm from the facial …

Bone-To-Implant Surface Contact As A Criterion For Immediate Implant Placement With Simultaneous Sinus Augmentation In The Upper Molars' Interradicular Bone: A Radiological Cbct Study, Nawal Baba, Nabil Ghosn, Abdel Rahman Kassir, Lara Nasr, Gabriel Menassa, Carole Chakar

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine which type of vertical relationship (between molar apices and the sinus floor) is correlated with the most favorable bone to implant contact (BIC).

Methods: The CBCT database of the Faculty of Dental Medicine was used for datasets. For each dataset, a prosthetically-driven virtual implant placement was placed in the remaining interradicular bone. Potential BIC was measured using two different implant macrogeometries (straight and tapered).

Results: The study included 20 maxillary molars with divergent root anatomy: 90% of the molars had a type II vertical relationship with the sinus …

Ai And Radiologist Assessments On The Prevalence Of Tmj Osteoarthritis Using Radiographic Images: A Comparative Study, Louloua Mourad, Nayer Abo El Saad, Yehia El Mahallawy

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: This study aims to address the significant discomfort and functional impairment associated with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA), which negatively impacts the quality of life. It emphasizes the importance of prompt diagnosis and explores the potential of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system to enhance TMJ OA diagnosis.

Methods: The prevalence of TMJ OA was evaluated using 3 diagnostic tools: the gold standard, the AI model, and an examiner. In total, 132 patients who performed 190 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were included.

Results: The prevalence of TMJ OA was 62.11% using the gold standard, 63.68% using …

Assessment And Quantification Of The Microbial Flora In The Output Water Of Two Types Of Dental Chairs: A Comparative Study, Khalil Kharma, Louis Hardan, Cynthia Kassis, Rim Bourgi, Regina Geitani, May Mallah, Elie Maalouf, Carina Mehanna Zogheib

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: Dental Unit Waterlines (DUWL) have shown to be a perfect host for different pathogenic microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the level of bacterial contamination in the output water of 2 types of DUWL.

Methods: Dental unit water samples from the air/water syringe of the A-dec (A-dec™ Performer 200, Newberg, USA) DUWL type and KaVo (ESTETICA™ E30/E70/E80 Vision, Kavo, Biberach, Germany) type were collected and analyzed for total aerobic flora, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, faecal coliforms, total coliforms, faecal streptococci and sulfite-reducing anaerobic flora.

Results: The bacteriological analysis of water samples shows the …

Comparative Evaluation Of Surface Changes And Bond Strength Of Microabrasion-Bleached Enamel Before And After Remineralization With Nano-Hydroxyapatite Paste: An In Vitro Study, Ridhi Dube, Anita Sanap Tandale, Twinkle Kishore Talreja, Karishma Krishnakumar, Prajakta Kokate, Vaishnavi Jemini Kasat

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: Comparative evaluation of surface changes and bond strength of Microabrasion Bleached enamel before and after Remineralization with Nano-hydroxyapatite paste, an In vitro study.

Methods: Enamel samples were divided into - Group I - Conventional bleaching (HB), Group II - Conventional bleaching with remineralization (HB+N-Hp), Group III - Microabrasion-assisted bleaching(M+HB), and Group IV - Microabrasion-assisted bleaching with remineralization(M+HB+NHp). Surface roughness was measured using a profilometer. Samples were stored in artificial saliva for two weeks, then bonded with nanofilled composite resin and subjected to shear bond strength (SBS) analysis.

Results: Group IV (M+HB+N-Hp) showed higher surface roughness than …