Diseases Commons^™

Role Of P53 Deficient Clonogenic Endothelial Cells In The Pathogenesis Of Pulmonary Hypertension, Aneel Roy Bhagwani

Theses and Dissertations

Pulmonary Artery Hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disorder of the small vessels of the pulmonary vasculature. It is characterized by occlusive vascular remodeling leading to right heart failure and ultimately death. PAH pathogenesis involves a multifactorial etiology leading to formation of occlusive lesions in small (preacinary) pulmonary arteries. These lesions contain hyper-proliferative, apoptosis resistant endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. ECs play a major role in the development of PAH. These ECs in vascular lesions are primitive and express progenitor cell markers, including CD117 (c-kit).

We have isolated clonally expanded, c-kit+ ECs from the lungs of Green Fluorescent …

Cost-Effectiveness Of Interventions Targeting Hard-To-Reach Populations Living With Hiv In Eastern And Southern Africa, Deo Mujwara

Theses and Dissertations

In Eastern and Southern Africa, hard-to-reach populations (e.g., long distance truck drivers and female sex workers), defined as populations that are difficult to interact or engage with due to their unique behaviors and characteristics, are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic and are at high-risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV. Further, these populations have substantially low uptake of HIV testing services, and those that have been diagnosed with HIV and on antiretroviral therapy experience high loss-to-follow-up from treatment programs.

Hard-to-reach populations face unique barriers in accessing and utilizing routine HIV care such as provider stigmatization towards sex workers and highly …

Cardiac Arrest And Global Ischemia Reperfusion Injury: Role Of Mitochondria And Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Signaling., Jennifer L. Bradley

Theses and Dissertations

We explored the effects of cardiac arrest on mitochondria populations and heart whole tissue lysate proteomics utilizing the Weil Institute’s in vivo rat model of cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We have discovered that brain mitochondria are more sensitive to global ischemia compared to heart mitochondria. Additionally, complex I is the most sensitive electron transport chain complex to ischemic injury and is a major control point of the rate of oxidative phosphorylation following cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Preservation of brain mitochondrial activity and function during cardiac arrest may enhance outcomes and recovery.

A recent article focusing on acute myocardial …

The Effects Of Interleukin-1Β On Cardiac Reserve And Exercise Capacity In The Mouse, Habeebah Z. Vohra

Theses and Dissertations

Heart failure (HF) is characterized by dyspnea, fatigue, and exercise intolerance. Clinical evidence points to increased interleukin-1β (IL-1β) activity in patients with HF, with an IL-1 blockade improving the exercise capacity in HF patients. In healthy mice, recombinant-mouse IL-1β (rmIL-1β) induces acute systolic dysfunction, peaking 4 hours after administration. However, the direct effects of rmIL-1β on exercise capacity are unknown. We hypothesized that rmIL-1β diminishes the exercise capacity in the mouse. Adult mice were trained to run on a treadmill and exercise capacity was assessed before, 4 hours, and 96 hours after intraperitoneal administration of rmIL-1β (3 μg/kg) or vehicle …

Use Of Lymesim 2.0 To Assess The Potential For Single And Integrated Management Methods To Control Blacklegged Ticks (Ixodes Scapularis; Acari: Ixodidae) And Transmission Of Lyme Disease Spirochetes, Shravani Chitineni, Elizabeth R. Gleim, Holly D. Gaff

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Annual Lyme disease cases continue to rise in the U.S. making it the most reported vector-borne illness in the country. The pathogen (Borrelia burgdorferi) and primary vector (Ixodes scapularis; blacklegged tick) dynamics of Lyme disease are complicated by the multitude of vertebrate hosts and varying environmental factors, making models an ideal tool for exploring disease dynamics in a time- and cost-effective way. In the current study, LYMESIM 2.0, a mechanistic model, was used to explore the effectiveness of three commonly used tick control methods: habitat-targeted acaricide (spraying), rodent-targeted acaricide (bait boxes), and white-tailed deer targeted acaricide (4-poster …

Covid-19 Presenting With Spontaneous Pneumothorax, Intisar Ahmed, Hunaina Shahab, Muhammad Arslan Ahmed, Muhammad Sohaib

Section of Cardiology

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease mainly affects respiratory system. Its common clinical findings include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Characteristic radiological features of the disease include peripherally distributed, bilateral ground-glass opacities, predominantly involving the lower lung zones. In this report, we present a case of COVID-19 disease presenting with spontaneous pneumothorax. A 26-year male patient was admitted to the Emergency Department with fever, dry cough, shortness of breath and right-sided chest pain. Radiographic imaging of the patient revealed pneumothorax on the right and peripherally distributed non-homogenous opacification. …

Occurrence Of Pulmonary Arteritis With Lungworm Infections In Gray Seals From New England, 2013-2020, Jillian R. Broadhurst, Inga Sidor Dvm, Ms, Dacvp

Honors Theses and Capstones

Gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) are a common pinniped species in New England coastal waters. Parasitic infection is an important cause of mortality for this species, and lungworm species are frequently implicated in cases of respiratory infection, especially in pups and weanling seals. The most common of these is Otostrongylus circumlitus, a large nematode found in the bronchi and bronchioles of affected seals. The full life cycle is unknown but its presence in lungs and sometimes pulmonary arteries suggests that migration via arterial circulation occurs. Signs and microscopic findings are widely variable; our cases included dyspnea, bloody mucoid …

Imaging Patterns Of Encephalopathy In Patients With Covid-19, Kumail Khandwala, Fatima Mubarak, Nadeem Ahmad

Department of Radiology

The aim of this retrospective observational study was to describe the neuroimaging manifestations of patients with COVID-19. This study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan from March to July 2020. COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms and positive neuroimaging were included after confirmation of COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction test (PCR). In the 12 included patients, seizures and altered mentation were predominant neurological manifestations. Three cases had acute watershed infarcts (25%), two cases had posterior cerebral artery territorial infarcts (16.7%), two cases had periventricular corona radiata infarcts (16.7%), three cases had hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (25%), two cases had …

Predicting Tomorrow: Optimizing The Early Detection Of Disease And Disease Recovery In Dairy Calves Using Precision Technologies, Melissa Cantor

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The leading causes of morbidity and mortality in preweaned dairy calves are diarrhea and bovine respiratory disease complex (BRD). The delayed detection of these diseases in calves can also delay intervention and disease recovery. The overarching objective of this dissertation was to follow a cohort of calves daily for the first 90 days of life for naturally occurring clinical BRD bouts and diarrheal bouts. The objective answered if feeding behaviors and activity levels were different in at-risk calves during BRD development and BRD recovery from an antimicrobial intervention. Furthermore, the potential of colostrum replacer as a feeding intervention strategy to …

Drug Loaded Mesoporous Nanocarriers For The Treatment Of Aspergilliosis, Madeline Brooks, Emily Hunt

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

Structural Changes In Neurons In Multiple Sclerosis, Saad Bhatti

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Season And Nutrition On Insulinemic Responses In Insulin Dysregulated Horses, Erica Lyn Macon

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Insulin dysregulation (ID) is the main risk factor for the development of hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis (HAL). ID in the equid has been extensively researched; however, recommendations for diagnosing and managing ID horses have originated from work completed in other models, such as the ID pony and healthy horse. Therefore, our overall objective was to improve current diagnostic tools and nutritional management strategies by investigating the effect of season, the fed and fasted state on the oral sugar test (OST) and dietary nutrient content on insulinemic responses in the ID horse. To address this, four main objectives with three specific aims were …

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus And Oral Health Problems Cross-Sectional Study, Asmaa Ras, Eman Khalil

Dentistry

ABSTRACT In Egypt, diabetes mellitus is considered to be a foremost health issue with a major influence on the disease and the rate of death. Diabetes mellitus is a communal disorder having affiliated oral disorders that influence dental care. The purpose of this study was to study the prevalence of oral changes in diabetes type 2 in the Egyptian participants to raise awareness between diabetic patients and dental professionals. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was done on 200 patients who were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2 at Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic in Kasr Al Ainy, Cairo University …

High Rates Of Misdiagnosis Of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome And How To Reduce Them, Aliya Centner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) is a clinical diagnosis characterized by sudden onset of obsessive compulsive disorder and is considered a type of Autoimmune Encephalitis. Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder associated with Streptococcal Infection (PANDAS) is a subset of PANS characterized by a similar presentation but specifically results from infection by Group A β-hemolytic streptococcus. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential, as PANS can become a chronic condition. PANS and PANDAS are frequently misdiagnosed. There are a variety of differential diagnoses. The intent of this thesis is to evaluate differences in symptoms between PANDAS patients and those with a differential diagnosis …

Using A Lubricin Reporter Cell To Test Current Vs. Optimized Media Compositions, Sean M. Kennedy

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Osteoarthritis is a joint disease characterized by the breakdown of articular cartilage. The field of tissue engineering is interested in developing methods to produce biological alternatives to current orthopedic procedures. Lubricin is a molecule which is important in the proper lubrication of articular cartilage. It is a challenge in the field of tissue engineering to produce cartilage with sufficient lubricin expression. Developing a reporter cell for lubricin allowed for a more efficient investigation of the conditions wh­­­ich may influence its expression. By comparing "optimized" and traditional media solutions, it was determined that the use of a previously reported type II …

Covid-19 Infection In Hypertensive Patients In Correlation With Race, Elizabeth Durkin

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Disparities in healthcare exist in the U.S., particularly between different racial categories. This study investigated the frequency of COVID-19 cases and hypertension cases among five different racial groups (White, Black, Asian, Native American, and Native Hawaiian). The study also examined the correlation between COVID-19 and hypertension. It was hypothesized that, because of genetic predisposition to certain diseases and existing socioeconomic barriers, Black populations would have the highest rates of both COVID-19 and hypertension. It was also proposed that a positive correlation exists between COVID-19 and hypertension frequency. To test this, the Kaiser Family Foundation's data for COVID-19 cases and race …

Sequence-Independent Assay For Hiv Viral Load Quantitation, Omar El Merhebi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Although nucleic acid tests (NATs) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exhibit many advantages, such as early detection and viral load quantification, over immunological assays, their widespread use is limited by their demand for high-level infrastructure, sophisticated equipment, and advanced staff competence. Furthermore, when quantifying viral loads of patients, it has been reported that these assays can underestimate viral quantities by 22- to 100-fold due to primer-template mismatches in more divergent HIV subtypes. Therefore, we have developed a cost-effective and sequence-independent assay for the detection and quantification of HIV utilizing a modified nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) protocol coupled to an …

Acoustic Detection Of Developmental Dysplasia Of The Hip In Models Representing Neonates, Pinak Raodeo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a condition that involves the dislocation of the head of the femur in the acetabulum of the pelvic bone. Although it may not interfere with a child's range of motion during infancy, DDH can cause various effects over time such as joint pain, abnormal gait, and even paralysis. It is crucial to catch this phenomenon early on so that permanent disability is not introduced to the patient. In this study, an excitation device was used to send a broadband frequency signal through a hip joint simulated by a 3D printed bone apparatus consisting …

Chitosan-Gallium Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Characterization And Antibacterial Activity, Samjhana Bhandari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of bacteria and the lack of a novel class of antibiotics has become a global health concern. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one common MDR bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections and related mortality worldwide. It has developed resistance against commonly available antibiotics and is in the WHO's priority list of bacteria for which new antibiotics are desperately needed. Currently there is a growing interest in developing metal and non-metal-based nanoparticles to target multidrug-resistant bacteria. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a novel nanocomposite of two non-traditional antimicrobials: a metal (Ga-III) and …

A Pilot Study: Periodontal Risk Factor Screening Tool For Certified Diabetes Care Education Specialists, Holly Brawner

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: There is a bidirectional link between uncontrolled diabetes and untreated periodontal disease. Controlling periodontal infection plays an essential role in the overall management of diabetes. This study explored an interprofessional (IP) collaboration between Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) and Dental Hygienists and the utility of a point of care Periodontal Screening Tool (PST) for CDCES to build confidence in informing their clients on periodontal disease risk factors and providing resources to seek dental care.

Methods: This pilot study used a pre-test post-test design where a survey was administered prior to CDCES participating in an Education and Training …

The Impact Of Powered Toothbrushing On Patients With Diabetes, Kristian Ariel Carrasco

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Purpose: Studies have shown that periodontal therapy can help manage diabetes and that powered toothbrushes promote better home care. However, there is no literature making the connection whether powered toothbrushes could assist in blood glucose management in diabetic patients. The primary aim for this study was to evaluate the efficacy of brushing with a powered toothbrush in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This clinical study included 8 (N = 8) adult participants from Willamette Dental group in Richland, WA. The individuals were asked to participate in a 6-week study testing whether brushing with a powered toothbrush affected their blood glucose …

Reducing Turnaround Time From Pathology Collection To Patient Awareness In Gastroenterology Practice, Adrianna Hyams

DNP Scholarly Projects

Background: Means of improving the turnaround time from specimen completion to the patient being notified of results are not well known or researched. The aim of this study is to decrease the turnaround time (TAT) from when the specimen is collected to the time the patient is notified from 4 weeks to 2 weeks. This quality improvement project took place in a privately owned gastroenterology office in southern Indiana.

Methods: An exhaustive literature review was completed to determine the best means of improving pathology TAT. The Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) method of quality improvement was used for this project. …

Characterizing The Physiology And Genetics Of Contact Dependent Growth Inhibiton Systems In Burkholderia Species, Alice Elizabeth Oates

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

Contact-dependent growth inhibition (CDI) systems mediate interbacterial competition. The genes encoding these systems are widespread among Gram-negative bacteria, including Burkholderia pathogens. CDI systems of Burkholderia species are composed of two-partner secretion pathway proteins and function to deliver the toxic C-terminus of a polymorphic surface-exposed exoprotein BcpA (Burkholderia CDI protein A) to the cytoplasm of neighboring recipient bacteria upon cell-cell contact. Specific outer and inner membrane proteins facilitate BcpA translocation both out of the donor bacterium and into the recipient cell cytoplasm. Most Burkholderia species-specific CDI translocation factors in recipient cells are unknown. BcpA intoxication functions as a mechanism by …

Human Regulatory T Cells Control Inflammation From Effector T Cells In Prediabetes, Rui Liu

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic low-grade inflammatory disease. A T cell cytokine profile (Th17) from PBMCs can distinguish obese T2D from obese non-diabetes subjects. Individual T cell subsets interact with each other and the diverse subsets jointly determine overall inflammation. Cellular metabolism drives cytokine production of CD4⁺ T cells, and therefore contributes to inflammation in T2D. However, specific changes in metabolism and function of CD4⁺ T cells during the progression from lean healthy to obese and diabetic stages in people have not been clarified.

We hypothesize that human regulatory T cells (Treg) impact metabolism of effector …

Abc Transporters In Glioblastoma: Anticancer Drug Transport And Transporter Regulation At The Blood-Brain Barrier, Julia A. Schulz

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest cancers, with a median survival of only one year. Even after aggressive treatment consisting of surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy, most glioblastoma patients suffer from tumor recurrence within 6-9 months. One reason for treatment failure of anticancer drugs is the blood-brain barrier that protects the brain by impeding xenobiotic uptake from the blood. To this end, efflux transporters at the human blood-brain barrier, such as P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) and Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (ABCG2), prevent many compounds, including anticancer drugs, from entering the brain. Thus far, approaches to deliver anticancer drugs across the blood-brain barrier …

Identification And Characterization Of Epitope Specific Immune Responses In Humans And Mice, David Henson

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the world causing approximately 14% of total disease burden. A major factor in the progression to major CVD within patients is immune activation, which led to the study of various immune products as potential biomarkers for the prediction of cardiovascular events, including antigen-specific antibodies and immune complexes. One focus of this biomarker research is IgG autoantibodies targeting apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), and several studies of these antibodies have found an association with increased CVD events. Based on the encouraging results from these studies and previous research which has identified …

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Of Beta-Lactam Antibiotics In Critically Ill Patients With Sepsis, Melissa Thompson Bastin

Theses and Dissertations--Clinical and Translational Science

Sepsis is a devastating diagnosis affecting over 750,000 patients a year, accounting for approximately 10% of all hospital admissions, costs more than $50,000 per patient, and exceeds $17 billion annual spending. The mortality rate for sepsis remains unacceptably high: one out of every three patients diagnosed with sepsis dies. Sepsis physiology induces physiologic changes to drug pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters that alter the ability to achieve the goal pharmacodynamic (PD) target for beta-lactams of >4-fold unbound concentration above the minimum inhibitory concentration for 100% of the dosing interval (100% fT >4x MIC). Sepsis treatment such as volume resuscitation and vasopressor …

The Gestation Of Health: Environmental Insults, Behavioral Interventions, And Protective Mechanisms, Brittany Breon Rice

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Diabetes remains a leading cause of death nationwide despite pharmacological advances. Recent etiological investigations of the disease detail the role of perinatal exposure to environmental contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in enhancing disease susceptibility. Polychlorinated biphenyl 126, a coplanar PCB, elicits its toxic effects through the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor and the disruption of endocrine signaling. The goal of this dissertation was to focus on delineating the differences in the developmental windows of diabetes susceptibility respective to the timing of PCB126 exposure and to understand the influence of maternal exercise and nuclear-factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression in combating the negative …

The Role Of Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau In Neuronal Excitability And Epileptogenesis, Ryan A. Cloyd

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), are devastating diseases with an immense burden on society which is predicted to increase in coming decades. In addition to progressive loss of memory and cognitive function, patients with tauopathies have a 6-10 fold increase in lifetime risk for seizures, and many are diagnosed with epilepsy. The presence of epileptiform activity on electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings from patients with AD predicts faster cognitive decline compared to patients without abnormal EEG readings. Electrophysiological measurements in murine models of AD have identified neuronal hyperexcitability. Furthermore, reducing tau phosphorylation or expression confers seizure resistance in animal epilepsy models. Although …

An Assessment Of The Carrier State And A Novel Marker Of Leptospira And Abortion In Central Kentucky Horses, Gloria Louise Gellin

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Leptospirosis is a reemerging zoonotic infection of worldwide importance and affects all mammals. The bacterium is transmitted to animals and humans by urine, fetal membranes and body fluids. Leptospira shedding in the urine contaminates both soil and water, exposing both humans and animals to the bacterium. Leptospirosis in horses can cause abortion and is one of the etiologies of equine recurrent uveitis which can lead to blindness. Equine leptospiral abortion in Central Kentucky is primarily caused by serovar Pomona, with occasional cases attributed to serovar Grippotyphosa. There are a few reports in the literature attributing abortion to serovar Bratislava in …