Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Regulation And Mechanisms Of Ocular Dominance Plasticity At Cellular Resolution., Thomas Christopher Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sensory systems throughout the brain require experience to aid in proper wiring during development. While forming, many sensory systems have periods of heightened sensitivity where alterations in the quality of experience can have a profound impact on cortical responses throughout life. These periods of heightened sensitivity have been coined critical periods. In the visual system of mice a critical period for ocular dominance has been well studied and defined between postnatal days nineteen and thirty-six. During this critical period, altering visual experience by suturing one eye closed called monocular deprivation (MD) shifts responses in cortex towards the non-deprived eye. Similar …

Health Professions Education And Critical Action Engagement: A Mixed Method Analysis., Leonda Richardson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Poorer health outcomes disproportionately impact racial/ethnically minoritized (e.g., Black Indigenous People of Color, or BIPOC) populations in the U.S. One plausible reason for the persistence of poorer health outcomes among this population is the teaching of racialized curricular content within academic health professions programs. This includes the absence of appropriate context through explicit socio-political curricular content (SPC) and critical pedagogy (i.e., social and structural determinants of health, history of racism in health care, social justice concepts; dialogue and reflective writing). Racialized curriculum is thought to initiate and/or exacerbate existing racial biases, cultural incompetence, and perpetuate dominant medical ideologies and myths …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Exercise-Stimulated Resolution Of Inflammation And Its Dietary Dependence., Ernesto H. Pena Calderin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Diet-induced obesity and adipose tissue (AT) inflammation that ensues sets the stage for systemic metabolic inflammation, disrupted insulin signaling, and eventual type 2 diabetes (T2D) development. At the center of this pathology lies a disruption in endogenous inflammation resolution pathways characterized by an imbalance in lipid mediator production (greater abundance of pro-inflammatory to pro-resolving lipids). Additionally, obese states are characterized by adrenergic deficiency, especially in response to physical activity. Inflammatory processes have been experimentally mitigated by either the pharmacological inhibition of pro-inflammatory signals (i.e., Leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄) and its receptor BLT1, which establishes a potent chemotactic stimulus …

Epidural Stimulation For Urogenital Dysfunction In The Spinal Cord Injured Rat., Natasha Lorraine Wilkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating, life changing event that greatly impacts quality of life. SCI can have body-wide, multi-system consequences including dysfunction within the urogenital system. Challenges with the urinary system include urinary incontinence, urine retention, and detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia all of which require maintenance through the regular use of catheters. Sexual dysfunction in men, who comprise nearly 80% of the SCI population, includes erectile dysfunction, anejaculation, retrograde ejaculation, poor expulsive force during ejaculation, and poor sperm quality. The treatment for sexual function in SCI men is focused more on fertility through the collection of sperm for insemination procedures …

Associations Of Natural Vegetation In Relation To Colorectal Cancer Hotspots And Colorectal Cancer Survival., Johnnie Newton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Across Kentucky, county-level geographic disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and outcomes exist. Given the heterogeneity of lifestyle, socioeconomic (SES), and environmental factors within a county, more granular approaches should be used to identify local areas with a high CRC burden and identify the area-level factors that may contribute to geographic disparities. Studies reported that living in greener areas is associated with beneficial health outcomes, including lower mortality. Despite growing evidence that natural vegetation (greenness) exposure is associated with increased physical activity and obesity, two well-known CRC risk factors, epidemiological studies investigating the association of residential greenness exposure with …

Covid-19 Infection And Mortality, Patient Comorbidities, Social Determinants Of Health, And Environmental Influences In Kentucky., Shaminul Hoque Shakib

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVES: To investigate patient- and county-level disparities in COVID-19-related mechanical ventilation use and mortality by SDOH factors and comorbidities among Medicaid non-pregnant adult beneficiaries in Kentucky. Additionally, to compare the association of COVID-19-related infections and mortality with social mobility and weather between Indiana and Kentucky during the stay-at-home period (March 1 to May 15, 2020). METHODS: In chapter 2, an administrative claims-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Kentucky Health Facility and Services database. Medicaid beneficiaries who were hospitalized during 2020–2021 in Kentucky were considered in the logistic regression and the Cox regression model to estimate the risk of …

Understanding Barriers To Effective And Equitable Covid-19 Response Through The Evaluation Of Essential Needs Program In Jefferson County, Ky., Haritha Pallam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized a multi-method study approach to assess the effectiveness of the Essential Needs Program (ENP), aimed at aiding priority groups in successfully completing isolation or quarantine (I/Q) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It commences with an overview of the COVID-19 pandemic's history and the role of ENP as a local emergency response strategy to mitigate community spread. Chaos and systems theories were employed to comprehensively understand disaster phenomena and factors influencing individual adoption of protective measures during the pandemic. Additionally, institutional decision-making models and implementation science were utilized to elucidate how public health stakeholders coordinated ENP services provision and …

Enhancing The Anticancer Effects Of Apiaceae Spice Phytochemicals., Jared Lee Scott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer (BC) is a leading contributor to the death of women and is the most common type of cancer. Many chemotherapy drugs are developed from plants, and some plant extracts can exhibit significant anticancer activities while also having less toxic side effects. The Apiaceae plant family consists of several species that are used as culinarily spices which have demonstrated antioxidant, chemopreventive, and anticancer activities. The encapsulation of anticancer phytochemicals into naturally produced membrane-bound nanoparticles known as exosomes could improve their systemic distribution and efficacy. Exosomes are involved in cell-to-cell communication through the delivery of proteins, nucleic acids, and small …

Safety And Feasibility Of Third-Party Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes For High-Risk Patients With Covid-19, Dolores Grosso, John L. Wagner, Allyson O'Connor, Kaitlyn Keck, Yanping Huang, Zi-Xuan Wang, Hilary Mehler, Benjamin Leiby, Phyllis Flomenberg, Usama Gergis, Neda Nikbakht, Michael Morris, Julie Karp, Alexis R. Peedin, Neal Flomenberg

COVID-19 Papers, Posters, and Presentations

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) destroy virally infected cells and are critical for the elimination of viral infections such as those caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Delayed and dysfunctional adaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 are associated with poor outcomes. Treatment with allogeneic SARS-CoV-2-specific CTLs may enhance cellular immunity in high-risk patients providing a safe, direct mechanism of treatment. Thirty high-risk ambulatory patients with COVID-19 were enrolled in a phase 1 trial assessing the safety of third party, SARS-CoV-2-specific CTLs. Twelve interventional patients, 6 of whom were immunocompromised, matched the HLA-A∗02:01 restriction of the CTLs and received …

Asap: A Pharmacy-Level Intervention To Increase Nonprescription Syringe Sales To Reduce Bloodborne Illnesses., B. E. Meyerson, J. Agley, Richard A. Crosby, K. G. Bentele, N. Vadiei, L. B. Linde-Krieger, D. R. Russell, K. Fine, L. A. Eldridge

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Pharmacy syringe sales are effective structural interventions to reduce bloodborne illnesses in populations, and are legal in all but two states. Yet evidence indicates reduced syringe sales in recent years. This study was designed as a feasibility test of an intervention to promote syringe sales by pharmacies in Arizona.

METHODS: A four-month pilot among three Arizona pharmacies measured feasibility and acceptability through monthly surveys to 18 enrolled pharmacy staff members.

RESULTS: Pharmacy staff reported increased ease of dispensing syringes across the study. Rankings of syringe dispensing as 'easiest' among 6 measured pharmacy practices increased from 38.9 % at baseline …

Development Of A Novel Drug Delivery Platform To Treat Hiv-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder, Lina Zhou

Alternative Theses and Dissertations (AETDs)

Despite the significant reduction in HIV prevalence and improvement in life expectancy achieved through the availability of widespread antiretroviral therapy (ART), there remains no definitive cure for HIV. Further, HIV infects the brain as early as eight days after initial peripheral infection leading to neuroHIV and subsequently neuronal damage and cognitive impairment. HIV can enter the brain through several mechanisms, including the migration of infected immune cells (Trojan Horse Mechanism), direct infection of endothelial cells, and cytokine-mediated disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Consequently, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) remains a significant challenge in the ART era, with an estimated prevalence …

A Quantitative Examination Of Tobacco And Marijuana Use On Oral Health Outcomes Among Young Adults In Texas, Meenakshi Dasagi

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

This dissertation aimed to quantify the relationship between methods of tobacco and marijuana use and their impact on oral health. Tobacco use was defined as smoking combustible tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, and hookah) or electronic aerosolized vaping nicotine with an e-cigarette.5,9 Similarly, marijuana use was defined as smoking combustible marijuana (joints, blunts, and spliffs) or vaping marijuana with an e-cigarette.8 Despite the prevalence of nicotine vaping and marijuana use among young adults1,3-4,7,14-15, there is limited evidence of their association with oral health in Texas. To address this issue, this dissertation comprising three studies analyzed longitudinal data from the Texas Adolescent Tobacco …

Building Futures: How The Built Environment, Out-Of-School Time Programs, And Community Service Participation Relate To Social-Emotional Development Of U.S. Youth, Bailey A. Perez

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Background: This dissertation aimed to explore the relationship between built environment features, participation in out-of-school time (OST) programs, participation in community service activities, and the social-emotional development of youth aged 6 to 17 years residing within the United States (US). Previous research indicates that built environment features, as well as participation in OST programs and community service activities, could impact youth’s social-emotional development. However, few studies have explored these effects on individual social-emotional development measures in this specific age group. In addition, little is known regarding whether built environment features and youth’s sex moderates the relationship between youth participation in …

379. Sglt Inhibitors: The Biology Of Sglt Inhibition With Dr. Katherine Tuttle, Katherine Tuttle

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Horizons-Easd Elearning, Katherine Tuttle

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Physicians’ Attitude, Knowledge, And Perceived Control Towards The Use Of Exercise As A Form Of Preventive Medicine, Matthew Robert Warner

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Exercise is a component of physical activity that can aid in the reduction of deaths, lowering obesity rates, and chronic illness. However, many Americans are not meeting the recommended physical activity levels (Carlson, et al., 2018). Quality and accurate health information regarding physical activity is one way to help combat health disparities. Health professionals such as primary care physicians can aid in promoting this lifestyle modification. However, there are shortfalls in physicians’ knowledge of using exercise as a form of preventive medicine for chronic illness. Many medical programs have little to no training in exercise principles (Cardinal et al., 2015). …

New Dentist News (August 2024), Ada Committee On The New Dentist

New Dentist News

New Dentist News offers timely information on scientific, social, educational, political and economic developments affecting new dentists. This collection is historical and items may not reflect current standards. For up-to-date information contact the ADA. The New Dentist News was alternately titled ADA Lifeline, 1997-June 2001.

In-Hospital Risk Factors For Reintervention And Amputation In Brachial Arterial Trauma, Aast Proovit Study Group, Justin M. Robbins, Corinna Crayton, Isaac Koloditch, Casey Walk, Limayre Gramajo, Samantha Shugar, Peter Ekeh, Joseph Dubose, Yee Wong, Cathline Layba

Department of Surgery Faculty Publications

Introduction: Brachial artery trauma is a rare but potentially devastating injury. There is little data regarding risk factors for reintervention and amputation prevention in this population, as well as anticoagulant (AC) and antiplatelet (AP) regimens and outcomes after discharge in trauma patients with vascular injuries requiring repair. This study aims to identify in-hospital risk factors for reintervention and amputation and stratify outcomes of follow-up by discharge AC or AP regimen. Methods: The AAST Prospective Observational Vascular Injury Trial database was queried for all patients who underwent traumatic brachial arterial repair from 2013 to 2022. Patients were evaluated by need for …

Covid-19 Lockdowns: A Catalyst For Rethinking Assessments In Skill-Based Nursing Courses, Zeenar Salim, Anil Khamis, Shanaz Cassum, Zohra Kurji, Pammla Petrucka

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Issue 10: Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider, Bharat Bajantri Md, Sarah Ellsworth-Hoffman Mls

Critical Care & Pulmonary

Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider Issue 10

Compiled by Bharat Bajantri, MD, and librarian Sarah Ellsworth, MLS for the clinicians of the Pulmonary and Critical Care team of Parkview.

The Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider newsletter was created by Dr. Bharat Bajantri, MD and Sarah Ellsworth, MLS in 2023 as a form of current awareness for current practice at our hospital, Parkview Health.

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Topics:

VIEWPOINTS:

Biologics for treating uncontrolled severe asthma

Don't you quit on cannot quit smokers.

Paxlovid may not be your magic bullet for Covid-19 infection.

ORIGINAL STUDY SUMMARY

The DanGer Trial

The ACCESS Trial

The PREOXI …

Not Ready: The Need For A Training Standard In Healthcare Emergency Preparedness, Patrina White

Dissertations: Doctor of Public Health

Background: Disasters, both natural and human-induced, are increasing. Disasters impact public health and safety in many ways including disruption of healthcare. Emergency preparedness mitigates disaster impacts. Training improves preparedness however no training standard exists. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the current state of U.S. healthcare preparedness and the impact of training on preparedness; determine the best strategies to improve healthcare emergency preparedness training; propose a standard for training in healthcare emergency preparedness; and identify barriers to adopting a standard for training in healthcare emergency preparedness including strategies to overcome identified barriers. Methods: A comprehensive literature review, …

Investigating The Quantitative Impact Of Varied Hair Densities On Proton Beam Planning For Head And Neck Cancer: A Dosimetric Analysis, Breanna M. Reed

Masters Projects

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of differing hair densities on dose distributions for proton plans in the head and neck region.

Methods: Four CT scans were acquired with varying hair densities. Plans were created on a no hair scan using both a 3cm and 5cm range shifter. Plans were then calculated using three additional datasets with varying hairstyles to analyze dosimetric differences. Water equivalent depth and distance from 80% isodose line to user origin were analyzed for each scan and compared.

Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the no hair scan …

Growing The Global Cancer Care System: Success Stories From Around The World And Lessons For The Future, Edward Christopher Dee, C. S. Pramesh, Christopher M. Booth, Fidel Rubagumya, Miriam Mutebi, Erin Jay G. Feliciano, Michelle Ann B. Eala, Giovanni G. Cerri, Ophira Ginsburg, Bishal Gyawali, Fabio Ynoe Moraes

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Despite major biomedical advancements in various realms of oncology, the benefits of these developments are not equitably distributed, particularly in underresourced settings. Although much work has described the challenges and systemic barriers in global cancer control, in this article we focus on success stories. This article describes clinical care delivered at Rwanda’s Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence, the cancer research collaborations under India’s National Cancer Grid, and the efforts of Latin America’s Institute of Cancer of São Paulo in advancing cancer care and training. These examples highlight the potential of strategic collaborations and resource allocation strategies in improving cancer care …

World Psychiatric Association-Asian Journal Of Psychiatry Commission On Public Mental Health, Dinesh Bhugra, Michael Liebrenz, Antonio Ventriglio, Roger Ng, Afzal Javed, Anindya Kar, Egor Chumakov, Helena Moura, Edgardo Tolentino, Susham Gupta, Roxanna Ruiz, Tarek Okasha, Margaret S. Chisolm, Joao Castaldelli-Maia, Julio Torales, Alexander Smith

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Although there is considerable evidence showing that the prevention of mental illnesses and adverse outcomes and mental health promotion can help people lead better and more functional lives, public mental health remains overlooked in the broader contexts of psychiatry and public health. Likewise, in undergraduate and postgraduate medical curricula, prevention and mental health promotion have often been ignored. However, there has been a recent increase in interest in public mental health, including an emphasis on the prevention of psychiatric disorders and improving individual and community wellbeing to support life trajectories, from childhood through to adulthood and into older age. These …

Applying Emotionally Focused Group Therapy With Collegiate Student-Athletes Experiencing Disordered Eating And Poor Body Image, Emily Wagener

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Rates of eating disorders and sub-clinical disordered eating continue to rise each year, with higher rates seen among athletes than non-athletes (Curry, 2010). Fueled Athletes is a group-style intervention for collegiate student-athletes that uses Emotionally Focused Therapy to help group members identify and transform emotions that contribute to poor body image and disordered eating behaviors. The mission of Fueled Athletes is to create a program that addresses eating problems and body image disturbances experienced by student-athletes by creating a safe space, building a support network which will lead to decreasing rates of ED / DE within the student-athlete population. Future …

Investigating Nature-Based Mindfulness In Nurse Anesthesia Students: A Pilot Study, Douglas Lovern

Dissertations

Across the country, the mental health crisis continues to rage. Varying degrees of depression, stress, and anxiety are commonly found in college-age students. The COVID-19 pandemic augmented this crisis, but the pandemic is not the sole culprit for the escalation of mental health disorders in the United States. Students across the globe suffer mental health disorders that include depression, anxiety, and stress. Research has shown that graduate students are six times more likely to develop anxiety and depression than the general population. Student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) are vulnerable to mental health disorders. SRNAs enter labor-intensive doctoral programs fraught with …

Collegiality And Job Satisfaction Among Nurse Faculty, Kelsey Phillips

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nurse faculty turnover has been attributed to low levels of support, low wages, long work hours, uncertainty, and an unpleasant work environment. Leaders must find interventions that will impact the collegiality of nurse faculty, the perceived level of support from leadership, and in result retain their faculty. Purpose: Based on a literature review, this quality improvement project aims to determine if implementing a monthly catered lunch promotes collegiality and improves job satisfaction for nursing faculty in a community college in East Texas. Methods: To determine the impact of monthly catered lunches, a pre-and post-intervention tool [Perceived Organizational Support (POS)] will …

Effects Of Cafestol And Enterolactone On Glucose Uptake In 3t3-L1 Differentiated Adipocytes, Sierra Hall

Senior Honors Theses

A review of current literature has revealed that moderate habitual coffee consumption is inversely associated with the risk of T2D development. Cafestol (CF) and enterolactone (ENL), two bioactive compounds found naturally in coffee, have been shown to promote glucose disposal in skeletal muscle and basal glucose uptake in L6 myotubes, respectively. However, the anti-diabetic effects of these compounds on adipose tissue and the mechanisms they utilize have not yet been characterized. Thus, in this study, the effects of CF and ENL on adipose tissue were determined by differentiating 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into adipocytes and treating them with either compound in a …

Epilepsy Prevalence Studies And The Lingering Treatment Gap In Africa, Dilraj Sokhi, Pauline Samia

Internal Medicine, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Factors Associated With Non-Uptake Of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (Icd) Among Eligible Patients At A Tertiary Hospital In Kenya, Emmanuel Oluoch, Jasmit Shah, Jeilan Mohamed, Mohamed Varwani, Mzee Ngunga

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Efficacy of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) implantation in both primary and secondary prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) in at-risk population is well established. ICD implantation rates remain low particularly in Africa with a paucity of data regarding factors associated with non-uptake.

Objectives:The primary study objective was to determine the factors associated with non-uptake of ICD among heart failure (HF) patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF

Methods: This was a retrospective study among HF patients eligible for ICD implantation evaluated between 2018 to 2020. Comparison between ICD recipient and non-recipient categories was made to establish determinants of non-uptake.

Results: …