Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Investigation Of Lubricin-Stimulating Fda-Approved Compounds For A Disease-Modifying Osteoarthritic Drug, Swathi S. Menon

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that affects many people worldwide. Current methods of treatment are palliative, and no treatment exists to fully reverse or cure OA once it begins to progress. The discovery of a disease-modifying osteoarthritic drug (DMOAD) would increase the quality of life for millions and reduce the need for invasive procedures. Screening FDA-approved drugs ensures more promise due to their known safety profile and potential for faster translation to the clinic. The goal of this project was to conduct dose-response assays with FDA-approved drugs that have been shown to stimulate lubricin production in cells that mimic …

Development Of A Proposed Selective Medium For The Isolation And Differentiation Of P. Sordellii, Dimyana Bottros

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Clostridium, a genus of anaerobic, spore-forming bacteria, includes clinically and ecologically significant species like Clostridium difficile and Paeniclostridium sordellii. C. difficile causes antibiotic-associated colitis, while P. sordellii is linked to fatal infections and spontaneous abortions. Recent studies found both species in marine sediments, suggesting their role in environmental and wildlife health disturbances, including the 2013 mass mortality of over 300 manatees in the Indian River Lagoon. However, isolating and differentiating P. sordellii is challenging due to the lack of selective media optimized for its growth. This thesis proposes a novel selective medium tailored to P. sordellii’s physiological …

“Regression To The Mean”: The Confluence Of Eugenics And Statistics In The 19th And 20th Centuries, Emrys G. King

Pomona Senior Theses

The work of this thesis is twofold — first, qualitatively characterizing the confluence between the British eugenics and statistics movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and second, quantitatively analyzing the effect of this foundation on pedagogical materials in the growing field of statistics between 1880 and 1970. Towards the first goal, the history of the method of least squares, state statistics, and positive and negative eugenics are outlined, followed by a close reading of the foundational texts authored by Francis Galton and Karl Pearson that introduced linear regression. Towards the latter goal, English-language statistics textbooks published between …

Biomechanics Of The Atherosclerotic Lipidome: (Un)Expected Statin Interactions And Membrane Remodelling, Ethan M. Fong

Pomona Senior Theses

Statins interact with lipid membranes in ways that shape their pharmacokinetics, off-target effects, and pleiotropic actions, yet these interactions' mechanical and biophysical consequences remain poorly understood. This thesis employs a combination of surface plasmon resonance (SPR), quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), and rheological modelling to characterize how representative statins intercalate within biomimetic supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) of healthy and diseased composition. SPR reveals that lipophilic statins exhibit higher apparent affinities and slower dissociation kinetics, especially in cholesterol- and anionic lipid-rich membranes. QCM-D analyses demonstrate that statins alter membrane mass, dissipation, and interfacial stiffness in a statin- and membrane-dependent …

A Qualitative Case Study Exploring The Implementation And Influence Of An Inter/Intragenerational Digital Equity Training Program, Josie Santilli

Open Access Dissertations

Background: Many older adults are unable to fully engage in society because of the digital divide, leaving them disconnected from essential services, social networks, and community engagement. This lack of access to technology leads to greater isolation and loneliness, significantly increasing their risk of physical and mental health issues. It also threatens their ability to age in place, as they struggle to navigate everyday tasks like managing healthcare, finances, and communication. Without digital literacy, maintaining independence becomes an increasingly difficult challenge, leaving them vulnerable and reliant on others for support. The purpose of the research completed in manuscript 1 …

Investigating Mono-Driver Versus Multi-Driver Oncogenesis Via Alterations To Cell Signaling Pathways, Abygail Chapdelaine

Open Access Dissertations

The latest edition of Global Cancer Statistics released by the American Cancer Society reported approximately 20 million newly diagnosed cancer cases worldwide in 2022 with 9.7 million deaths. This ranks cancer as the second leading cause of death worldwide. For the majority of cancer patients, the standard treatment approach is chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, and while this has been successful in some patients, a lack of specificity to cancer cells causes severe side-effects when these agents damage healthy cells. Despite extensive efforts that have gone into developing targeted cancer therapeutics that block functions specific to cancer, they have not been …

Digital Health Literacy On Diabetes Knowledge Among Older Adults In The United States, Jung Eun Kim, Susana J. Calderon, Myoungjin Kim

Faculty Publications - Mennonite College of Nursing

Purpose

This study examines the relationship between selected socio-demographics and digital health literacy on diabetes knowledge among older adults in the United States.

Design

Cross-sectional study

Methods

The eHealth Literacy Scale and the Short Diabetes Knowledge Instrument were used. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s r, point-biserial correlation coefficient, Kendall’s tau, ANOVA, and Poisson regression were used for data analysis.

Findings

The mean age was 71. The mean sum score for digital health literacy was 28.32 (SD = 7.95; range, 8–40), and the mean score for diabetes knowledge was 8.8 (SD = 2.3; range, 2–13). The education level, annual income, number of digital …

One Man Show/ Who Am I, Devin Baker

Dance (MFA) Theses

Historically, stereotypes of ideal masculine physiques and attributed qualities have led to discriminatory and exclusionary practices that adversely affect black queer men and how they show up in various performance and social spaces. As a result, black male bodies in these spaces have employed the alter ego as a tool to imagine themselves inside/outside these constructed masculinities. How can the alter ego aid in transcending dated notions of race and gender, beholden to black male bodies within concert dance? Through the intertwining of personal narrative and research rooted in psychology and gender studies, this work examines the alter ego as …

State Of The States: Blueprints For Building Age-Friendly Futures, Megan Stubbs-Richardson, Lauren E. Etheredge, Tockie V. Hemphill, Zaccheus J. Ahonle, Danielle K. Nadorff

Publications

Executive Summary:

Mississippi’s aging population growth mirrors national trends and suggests a need to establish equitable and sustainable age-friendly policies and programs. This report offers an overview of the best practices from age-friendly states, which can be adapted to meet unique challenges and opportunities for Mississippi’s aging population. We highlight five age-friendly policy areas that can improve Mississippi’s livability.

• Aging in Place: Best practices from California, Florida, and Massachusetts can be adapted to promote aging in place through structural changes to homes via universal design and home modifications, or through supportive housing programs and home care.

• Cross-Sector Collaboration: …

Wound Care 101, Kristen Delarosa, Katelyn Moore, Lauren Rossi, Marissa Yorita

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Know Your Birth: Improving Patient Education Through Informed Maternity Care In Sega, Kenya, Morgan Thaxter, Puneet Dhillon, Angela Kokhovets, Sarah Aguiar, Zainab Bahia

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Empower Birth: Black Maternal Health Project Improving Health Literacy And Health Management In Black Pregnant Women, Harman Aujla, Carsyn Hoogendoorn, Blair Price, Morgan Rohmann

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Mindful Aging Project Mental Wellness Education In Partnership With Older Adults In Sacramento County, Yesica Garcia, Sarah Molla, Kristin Provencher, Sharon Yeong

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Empathetic Dementia Care Through Cognitive Training: A Holistic Approach To Improving Patient Outcomes, Truyen Do, Yasmin Khouri, Millie Patel, Levan Petrossian

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Camino A La Salud: Culturally Tailored Diabetes Education For Hispanic Older Adults In Stockton, California, Alondra Aldaba, Alexis Irvine, Jazmyn Monares, Marissa Doblados-Wood

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

AIM: Camino a la Salud addresses diabetes in one of the most affected populations in San Joaquin County, older Hispanic adults and their caregivers. This project aims to increase diabetes knowledge, confidence, and self-management among older adults in Stockton through culturally tailored education and hands-on learning. The project also provided glucometers and visual teaching tools to support skill development and improve diabetes awareness and prevention in this community.

METHODS: This project included three weekly bilingual diabetes education sessions held at El Concilio during their senior food distribution program. Each session covered a different topic: diabetes risks and complications, understanding glucose …

The Sweet Solution Project - Improving Gestational Diabetes Management Of The Mothers In Stockton, California, Joelynn Ali, Cayla Cook, Jessica Frey, Hector Rizo, Teresa Serna

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Tam Receptors Mediate The Fpr2-Driven Pain Resolution And Fibrinolysis After Nerve Injury, Beate Hartmannsberger, Adel Ben‑Kraiem, Sofia Kramer, Carolina Guidolin, Ida Kazerani, Kathrin Doppler, Dominique Thomas, Robert Gurke, Marco Sisignano, Pranav P. Kalelkar, Andrés J. García, Paula V. Monje, Michael Sammeth, Asma Nusrat, Alexander Brack, Susanne M. Krug, Claudia Sommer, Heike L. Rittner

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Nerve injury causes neuropathic pain and multilevel nerve barrier disruption. Nerve barriers consist of perineurial, endothe- lial and myelin barriers. So far, it is unclear whether resealing nerve barriers fosters pain resolution and recovery. To this end, we analysed the nerve barrier property portfolio, pain behaviour battery and lipidomics for precursors of specialized pro-resolving meditators (SPMs) and their receptors in chronic constriction injury of the rat sciatic nerve to identify tar- gets for pain resolution by resealing the selected nerve barriers. Of the three nerve barriers—perineurium, capillaries and myelin—only capillary tightness specifically against larger molecules, such as fibrinogen, recuperated with …

Extracellular Vesicles Released By All Patients Contain Hne-Adducted Proteins: Implications Of Collateral Damage, Jenni Ho, Suriyan Sukati, Tamara Taylor, Sherry Carter, Brittany Fuller, Amy Marmo, Caryn Sorge, John A. D'Orazio, D. Allan Butterfield, Subbarao Bondada, Heidi Weiss, Daret K. St. Clair, Luksana Chaiswing

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Off-target neuronal injury is a serious side-effect observed in cancer survivors. It has previously been shown that pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors have a decline in neurocognition compared to healthy age-matched counterparts. Elevated oxidative stress has been documented to be a mediator in off- target tissue damage in cancer survivors. Early detection of oxidative stress markers may provide an opportunity to prevent off-target tissue damage. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have surfaced as a potential diagnostic tool due to molecular cargo they contain. We investigated the potential for EVs to be a sensitive indicator of oxidative stress and off-target tissue damage …

Engaging Nurses In Effective Cost Of Care Conversations To Address Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity: Results From An Exploratory Survey, Jean Edward, Amanda T. Wiggins, Louis G. Baser, Haafsah Fariduddin, Joanna F. Doran, Monica F. Bryant, John August D'Orazio, Kimberly D. Northrip

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Few evidence-based trainings exist on how to equip healthcare providers, particularly nurses, with the skills to engage in cost of care conversations with patients/caregivers to mitigate the impact of cancer-related financial toxicity. This study evaluated a pilot training developed in collaboration with Triage Cancer® to prepare oncology nurses to identify and assist patients/caregivers facing financial and/or legal barriers to care. Ten pediatric oncology nurses completed the training and pre/post-surveys on behaviors related to financial and legal need screening, frequency and comfort level of answering questions, knowledge, and behavior changes, along with training evaluation questions. At baseline, six nurses reported never …

Pharmacological Or Genetic Inhibition Of Ltcc Promotes Cardiomyocyte Proliferation Through Inhibition Of Calcineurin Activity, Lynn A. C. Devilée, Abou Bakr M. Salama, Jessica M. Miller, Janice D. Reid, Qinghui Ou, Nourhan M. Baraka, Kamal Abou Farraj, Madiha Jamal, Yibing Nong, Todd K. Rosengart, Douglas A. Andres, Jonathan Satin, Tamer M. A. Mohamed, James E. Hudson, Riham R. E. Abouleisa

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Cardiomyocytes (CMs) lost during ischemic cardiac injury cannot be replaced due to their limited proliferative capacity. Calcium is an important signal transducer that regulates key cellular processes, but its role in regulating CM proliferation is incompletely understood. Here we show a robust pathway for new calcium signaling-based cardiac regenerative strategies. A drug screen targeting proteins involved in CM calcium cycling in human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac organoids (hCOs) revealed that only the inhibition of L-Type Calcium Channel (LTCC) induced the CM cell cycle. Furthermore, overexpression of Ras-related associated with Diabetes (RRAD), an endogenous inhibitor of LTCC, induced CM cell cycle …

The Adiponectin-Pparγ Axis In Hepatic Stellate Cells Regulates Liver Fibrosis, Shangang Zhao, Qingzhang Zhu, Wang-Hsin Lee, Jan-Bernd Funcke, Zhuzhen Zhang, May-Yun Wang, Qian Lin, Bianca Field, Xue-Nan Sun, Guannan Li, Mbolle Ekane, Toshiharu Onodera, Na Li, Yi Zhu, Christine M. Kusminski, Terry D. Hinds Jr., Philipp E. Scherer

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are key drivers of local fibrosis. Adiponectin, conventionally thought of as an adipokine, is also expressed in quiescent HSCs. However, the impact of its local expression on the progression of liver fibrosis remains unclear. We recently generated a transgenic mouse line (Lrat-rtTA) that expresses the doxycycline-responsive transcriptional activator rtTA under the control of the HSC-specific lecithin retinol acyltransferase (Lrat) promoter, which enables us to specifically and inducibly overexpress or eliminate genes in these cells. The inducible elimination of HSCs protects mice from methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced liver fibrosis, confirming their causal involvement in fibrosis development. We generated …

Urobilin Derived From Bilirubin Bioconversion Binds Albumin And May Interfere With Bilirubin Interacting With Albumin: Implications For Disease Pathology, Kevin I. Williams, Priyanka Suryadevara, Chang-Guo Zhan, Terry D. Hinds Jr., Zachary A. Kipp

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Bilirubin is a hydrophobic molecule that binds the carrier protein albumin for transport through systemic circulation. Bilirubin is cleared from the body through the liver and excreted into the intestines, where the microbiota modifies the chemical structure, forming urobilin, which can be reabsorbed into circulation by the hepatic portal vein. Urobilin has no known function. It is also unknown whether urobilin binds albumin for transport in circulation. We hypothesized that because of the likeness of their chemical structures, urobilin would also bind albumin like bilirubin does. Methods: First, we used in silico docking to predict if urobilin would bind …

Heme Oxygenase, Biliverdin Reductase, And Bilirubin Pathways Regulate Oxidative Stress And Insulin Resistance: A Focus On Diabetes And Therapeutics, Wang-Hsin Lee, Zachary A. Kipp, Sally Pauss, Genesee J. Martinez, Evelyn A. Bates, Olufunto O. Badmus, David E. Stec, Terry D. Hinds Jr.

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Metabolic and insulin-resistant diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have become major health issues worldwide. The prevalence of insulin resistance in the general population ranges from 15.5% to 44.6%. Shockingly, the global T2DM population is anticipated to double by 2050 compared with 2021. Prior studies indicate that oxidative stress and inflammation are instrumental in causing insulin resistance and instigating metabolic diseases. Numerous methods and drugs have been designed to combat insulin resistance, including metformin, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA), and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i). Bilirubin is an antioxidant with …

Dissecting The Biophysical Mechanisms Of Oleate Hydratase Association With Membranes, William A. Lathram, Robert J. Neff, Ashley N. Zalla, James D. Brien, Vivekanandan Subramanian, Christopher D. Radka

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

This study investigates the dynamics of oleate hydratase (OhyA), a bacterial flavoenzyme from Staphylococcus aureus, and its interactions with lipid membranes, focusing on the factors influencing membrane binding and oligomerization. OhyA catalyzes the hydration of unsaturated fatty acids, playing a key role in bacterial pathogenesis by neutralizing host antimicrobial fatty acids. OhyA binds the membrane bilayer to access membrane-embedded substrates for catalysis, and structural studies have revealed that OhyA forms oligomers on membrane surfaces, stabilized by both protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions. Using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), we examined the effects of membrane curvature and lipid availability on OhyA binding to …

Advances In Magnetic Nanoparticles For Molecular Medicine, Xiaoyue Yang, Sarah E. Kubican, Zhongchao Yi, Sheng Tong

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are highly versatile nanomaterials in nanomedicine, owing to their diverse magnetic properties, which can be tailored through variations in size, shape, composition, and exposure to inductive magnetic fields. Over four decades of research have led to the clinical approval or ongoing trials of several MNP formulations, fueling continued innovation. Beyond traditional applications in drug delivery, imaging, and cancer hyperthermia, MNPs have increasingly advanced into molecular medicine. Under external magnetic fields, MNPs can generate mechano- or thermal stimuli to modulate individual molecules or cells deep within tissue, offering precise, remote control of biological processes at cellular and molecular …

Mir-27a-3p Regulates Intestinal Cell Proliferation And Differentiation Through Wnt/Β-Catenin Signalling, Chang Li, Yuning Zhou, Yinping Jiang, Zhijie Yin, Heidi L. Weiss, Qingding Wang, B. Mark Evers

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Intestinal stem cells differentiate into absorptive enterocytes, characterised by increased brush border enzymes such as intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), making up the majority (95%) of the terminally differentiated cells in the villus. Loss of integrity of the intestinal epithelium plays a key role in inflammatory diseases and gastrointestinal infection. Here, we show that the intestinal microRNA (miR)-27a-3p is an important regulator of intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and enterocyte differentiation. Repression of endogenous miR-27a-3p leads to increased enterocyte differentiation and decreased intestinal epithelial cell proliferation in mouse and human small intestinal organoids. Mechanistically, miR-27a-3p regulates intestinal cell differentiation and proliferation at …

Engaging Nurses In Effective Cost Of Care Conversations To Address Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity: Results From An Exploratory Survey, Jean Edward, Abigail Wiggins, Louis G. Baser, Haafsah Fariduddin, Joanna F. Doran, Monica F. Bryant, John A. D'Orazio, Kimberly D. Northrip

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Few evidence-based trainings exist on how to equip healthcare providers, particularly nurses, with the skills to engage in cost of care conversations with patients/caregivers to mitigate the impact of cancer-related financial toxicity. This study evaluated a pilot training developed in collaboration with Triage Cancer® to prepare oncology nurses to identify and assist patients/caregivers facing financial and/or legal barriers to care. Ten pediatric oncology nurses completed the training and pre/post-surveys on behaviors related to financial and legal need screening, frequency and comfort level of answering questions, knowledge, and behavior changes, along with training evaluation questions. At baseline, six nurses reported never …

Association Between Education And Allostatic Load With Risk Of Cancer Mortality Among Hispanic Women, Melissa Lopez-Pentecost, Cynthia Li, Marlo Vernon, Sydney P. Howard, Jessica Amezcua, Justin Xavier Moore

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Purpose: Cancer remains the leading cause of death among Hispanics in the US. While social determinants of health, such as educational attainment, have been linked to negative health outcomes, their biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. We evaluated the association between educational attainment and allostatic load (AL), a measure of chronic physiologic stress, with risk of cancer mortality in Hispanic women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis among 5637 Hispanic women in NHANES from 1988 to 2010 with follow-up data through 2019. Educational attainment was categorized into a two-level variable: less than …

Functional Assessment Of Migration And Adhesion To Quantify Cancer Cell Aggression, Lauren E. Mehanna, James D. Boyd, Chloe G. Walker, Adrianna R. Osborne, Martha E. Grady, Brad J. Berron

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

During epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cancer cells lose their cell–cell adhesion junctions as they become more metastatic, altering cell motility and focal adhesion disassembly associated with increased detachment from the primary tumor and a migratory response into nearby tissue and vasculature. Current in vitro strategies characterizing a cell’s metastatic potential heavily favor quantifying the presence of cell adhesion biomarkers through biochemical analysis; however, mechanical cues such as adhesion and motility directly relate to cell metastatic potential without needing to first identify a cell specific biomarker for a particular type of cancer. This paper presents a comprehensive comparison of two functional metrics …

Inclusion Of Surgery In Multimodality Treatment Is Predictive Of Better Survival In Stage Iiia Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: An Inverse Probability Treatment-Weighting Analysis, Feitong Lei, Janeesh Sekkath-Veedu, Bin Huang, Quan Chen, Mansi Shah-Jadeja, Thomas E. Stinchcombe, Zhonglin Hao

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Introduction: Stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) are treated with surgery-based multimodality approach or definitive chemoradiation therapy plus durvalumab consolidation. It is not clear whether surgery-based multimodality therapy has any survival advantage over definitive chemoradiation plus immunotherapy consolidation.

Method: National Cancer Database (NCDB) was used to identify NSCLC patients at stage IIIA (AJCC8, T3N1/T4N0-1 or T1N2/T2N2) who are treated with surgery-based multimodality approach or definitive chemoradiation plus durvalumab. Survival between groups were compared using inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW)-adjusted Kaplan Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results were independently confirmed by Landmark Inverse and Clone Censor Weight …