Diseases Commons^™

Monkeypox Virus Hosts And Transmission Routes: A Systematic Review Of A Zoonotic Pathogen, Mary Walker

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is an etiological agent of Monkeypox with origins believed to be of Central/West Africa. As a member of the orthopoxvirus family and due to its increasing emergence, it has become a pathogen in need of research. This paper works to find common trends of transmission routes and reservoir hosts in previous publications through a systematic review. Articles found on Web of Science containing the search term “Monkeypox” were sorted based on relevance to the review topics of potential reservoir hosts and transmission routes of Monkeypox virus. Through Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), 1,036 …

Ulnar Nerve Palsy As Covid-19 Sequelae In 3 Patients, Cristina Terhoeve, Ryan Bliss, Rasheed Ahmad

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The pathophysiology and treatment of COVID-19 have been at the forefront of medical research this past year. While great strides have been made in our knowledge of the disease, there is still much that is unknown. More than one-third of patients with COVID-19 present with symptoms involving the nervous system. The reason for this is unclear, although several theories have been postulated. In this case study, we present 3 patients with severe ulnar nerve dysfunction following treatment for COVID-19 in the intensive care unit. We discuss reasons why this may have occurred, the etiology of which is likely multifactorial. We …

Development And Implementation Of A Protocol For Denosumab Administration In An Outpatient Infusion Clinic, Erin Stavrakas

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing DNP Capstone Projects

Denosumab, or Prolia, is a medication given to increase bone mineral density (BMD) and prevent fracture risk in patients with osteoporosis. Guidelines for monitoring of side effects, data on long-term effects, and appropriate precautions are still being researched and developed. Healthcare teams are often unaware of preventative care measures to guide informed clinical decision making and patient care management. The recognized gap in care also reduces the standardization of health care delivery in clinics administering Prolia; this gap can lead to errors and miscommunication between patients and healthcare teams an increased risk for side effects. The aim of this translation …

Development Of A Nurse Practitioner Driven Program For Cardiology Providers To Increase Knowledge And Awareness Of Neurodevelopmental Assessment Needs In Children With Congenital Heart Defects, Michele Readman

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Children diagnosed with congenital heart defects are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental delays. Timely referral of patients to a neurodevelopmental clinic for initial evaluation and referrals to support services can improve learning outcomes, provide early intervention for neurodevelopmental disorders, and mediate factors affecting low quality of life. Nationally, a substantial proportion of pediatric cardiologists are not referring children for neurodevelopmental evaluation. A review of patient referrals to a Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Clinic within an urban children’s hospital demonstrated an opportunity to improve provider awareness and knowledge of referral recommendations. Using the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care, an …

Increasing The Utilization Of A Cardiovascular Risk Assessment & Screening Tool Through Education In A Primary Care Setting: A Quality Improvement Project, Taylor A. Massey

DNP Projects

Background and Significance: The World Health Organization (WHO) (2021) reports that 55.4 million people died worldwide in 2019; cardiovascular diseases due to ischemic heart disease and stroke were the top two leading causes of these deaths. Experts predict that by the year 2030, more than 22.2 million people will die annually from cardiovascular disease (Ruan et al., 2018). Noninvasive cardiovascular screening tests, such as the "Pulse4Pulse" screening tool, are a way to help providers identify patients at high-risk for cardiovascular disease and initiate treatment to reduce future risk.

Purpose: To increase provider utilization of the "Pulse4Pulse" screening test in a …

Increasing Awareness Of Hereditary Fructose Intolerance: An Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Project, Jacqueline M. Bridge

DNP Projects

Background: Hereditary Fructose Intolerance (HFI) is an inborn error of metabolism which results in the absence of an effective Aldolase B enzyme. Without this enzyme, ingestion of fructose and metabolic precursors leads to acute illness, multiorgan damage, and possible death. The increased presence of these sugars results in earlier onset of symptoms and more difficulty for those with HFI.

Purpose: The project’s aim is to increase awareness of HFI in healthcare providers using a learning module and assessments of knowledge at three different points in time.

Methods: The IOWA model for evidence-based practice projects was applied during the development and …

Implementing A Stroke Process Improvement Group To Reduce Time To Thrombectomy In Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke At Greenwich Hospital, Victoria Merrill

DNP Projects

Introduction: Delays in door to skin puncture time for patients with ischemic stroke are associated with worse clinical outcomes. The following quality improvement study was conducted at Greenwich Hospital which aimed to decrease door to skin puncture time for endovascular stroke treatment. Greenwich Hospital began its new stroke program in January 2020 and opened thrombectomy capable interventional radiology (IR) services. Delays to door to skin puncture times existed with average time being 100 minutes with a goal time of 90 minutes or less for 50% or more of patients directly arriving to the hospital and 60 minutes or less for …

Hiv Virological Non-Suppression Is Highly Prevalent Among 18- To 24-Year-Old Youths On Antiretroviral Therapy At The Kenyan Coast, Moses K. Nyongesa, Mwaganyuma H. Mwatasa, Vincent A. Kagonya, Gabriel Mwambingu, Caroline Ngetsa, Charles R. J. C. Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, data on virologic outcomes of young people living with HIV (YLWH) enrolled on antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains scarce. In this study, we describe the prevalence of HIV virological non-suppression (VNS) and its associated factors among YLWH aged 18–24 years from the Kenyan coast.

Methods: Data were analyzed for 384 YLWH who participated in a larger cross-sectional study conducted between November 2018 and September 2019 in two counties at the Kenyan coast (Kilif and Mombasa). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize sample characteristics and logistic regression was used for statistical modeling of factors associated with …

Effects Of Exercise On Parkinson's Symptom Relief, Brooke Burnett

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this review of twenty research articles, the effects of moderate exercise therapy on the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease will be explored. Appropriate literature was located using the research question, “In older adults with a Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis, how does moderate exercise influence the symptoms of this disease?” Twenty peer-reviewed research articles were examined for the impact of different forms of exercise on various symptoms associated with Parkinson’s. Nineteen of the articles reviewed provide substantial evidence in support of exercise therapy as a treatment option for people with Parkinson’s, and one of the articles found inconclusive evidence neither in support …

The Impact Of A Heart Healthy Diet On The Development Of Heart Disease, Fenina Gonzales

Nursing | Senior Theses

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors contribute to the development of this disease. One modifiable risk factor is diet. Potentially, the right diet, i.e. one that is deemed heart healthy, can aid in the prevention of heart disease.

This thesis aims to determine what constitutes a heart healthy diet First, a literature review related to the use of diet and nutrition for the prevention of heart disease will be provided. Next, this thesis will present a research proposal for a longitudinal study that will compare five-year and 10-year …

An Evaluation Of Covid-19 Vaccination Rates Of The Patients At The Kentucky Racing Health Services Center., Aditya Mehta

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

COVID-19 vaccines have been widely available to the U.S. public since early 2021. However, vaccination rates still vary considerably across geographical areas and different populations. The objective of this study was to research overall vaccination rates against COVID-19 for Latinx patients at the Kentucky Racing Health Services Center (KRHSC). Vaccination and booster data was collected from June to December 2021 for all unique patients visiting the center. It was initially hypothesized that these rates of vaccination and booster doses for the KRHSC patients would be lower than the data reported by Kentucky and Jefferson County. After a retrospective review, the …

Recipe Modification For Cardiovascular Health, Meg Tolbert

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. CVDs affect the heart and blood vessels. The most prominent CVDs are coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, and other conditions. More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes.

The most important behavioral risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, but also include harmful abuse of tobacco and alcohol. These lifestyle factors display themselves as phenotypes like high blood pressure, high blood glucose and blood lipids, diabetes, and obesity. These risk factors, outside of genotype …

“Translation Of Hdac6 Pet Imaging Using [18f]Ekz-001 – Cgmp Production And Measurement Of Hdac6 Target Occupancy In Nhps” – A Review, Dania Rahal

Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Honors Theses

The inhibition of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) has been reported to alleviate the effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The brain-penetrant PET radioligand [¹⁸F]EKZ-001 has high affinity and selectivity towards HDAC6 and therefore suggests great promise in therapeutic treatment studies and development for neurodegenerative diseases. “Translation of HDAC6 PET imaging using [¹⁸F]EKZ-001 – cGMP production and measurement of HDAC6 target occupancy in NHPs” has achieved an effective, fully automated method of producing [¹⁸F]EKZ-001 in compliance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) to support the translation of [¹⁸F]EKZ-001 PET for …

Implementation Of 3-Minute Diabetic Foot Exam For At Risk Diabetic Patients In Urban Primary Care Setting, Suzana Alvarez

DNP Projects

Background: Healthcare providers manage chronic health concerns by reducing the risk of diabetic complications among their patient population. In 2017, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and Connecticut. In Connecticut, there are 19,500 newly diagnosed diabetics and four Connecticut cities have higher occurrence of diabetes: Waterbury, New Britain, Hartford, and Bridgeport. Bridgeport Primary Care (BPC) had no policy or procedure in place to require the providers to complete a routine diabetic foot exam. The aim of this project was to promote and implement a tool to assist the BPC providers in evaluating adult …

Lgbtq+ Health Disparities: Healthcare Intervention, Kara Steinbrecher

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community has carried the burden of countless health disparities throughout its history tied to discrimination, bias, prejudice, and stigma. LGBTQ+ individuals are disproportionately at higher risk for substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, cardiovascular disease, mental illness, suicide, and unequal access to healthcare, related to social stigma and bias that exists in healthcare itself. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to analyze existing health disparities among the LGBTQ+ population in the United States and the efficacy of various interventions of health care professionals to reduce them. Twenty-one articles from multiple online …

Dexmedetomidine Vs. Propofol In Postoperative Delirium Prevention, Jaclyn Burnett Rn, Srna, Montana Betts Rn, Srna, Christhian De Ochoa Rn, Srna, Maciej Chec Rn, Srna, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Crna, Aprn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Postoperative delirium (POD) is an acute neurological condition affecting large numbers of surgical patients in various practice settings. Patients suffering from this condition face postoperative complications, increased lengths of stay, and tremendous financial burden. Understanding the contributing factors for POD, and how adjustments in intraoperative agents can prevent or reduce the incidence, is a crucial aspect of anesthesia practice. This scoping review will examine associations between POD and the intraoperative use of propofol versus dexmedetomidine with general anesthesia.

Methods Studies in this review were limited to peer-reviewed literature, published in medical and nursing journals within the last five years. …

Periodontal Disease And Covid-19, Zhaozhao Chen Dds, Ms, Phd, Laurie K. Mccauley Dds, Ms, Phd, Purnima S. Kumar Bds, Ms, Phd, Hom-Lay Wang Dds, Ms, Phd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

As the gateway to the respiratory system, the oral cavity can play an essential role in SARS-CoV-2 invasion and transmission. Besides high expression of angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the oral cavity can harbor viral particles in saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, and the periodontal pocket. Microbial and inflammatory associations closely link periodontitis and COVID-19. In this review, we summarize the possible oral manifestations of COVID‐19, its association with periodontal diseases, the plausible underlying mechanisms of microbial and inflammatory crosstalk between COVID‐19 and periodontal diseases, and mitigation protocols during periodontal treatment.

Cannabinoids And Retinal Fibrotic Disorders., Lucy June Sloan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Retinal fibrosis is detrimental to vision. Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells contribute to several retinal fibrotic diseases. Upon exposure to TGF-β, a key fibrotic cytokine, RPE cells trans-differentiate to myofibroblasts marked by the integration of α-SMA fibers into F-actin stress fibers, which confer strong contractility. Myofibroblasts produce and contract the collagen-rich fibrotic scar and disrupt retinal architecture. In this study, we investigated the in vitro effects of the putative endocannabinoid compound N-oleoyl dopamine (OLDA) on TGF-β2 induced porcine RPE cell contraction and α-SMA expression. Using an in vitro collagen matrix contraction assay, we found that OLDA inhibited TGF-β2 induced contraction …

Diffusive Dynamics Of Biological Macromolecules In The Cytoplasm Of Live Bacteria, Asmaa Sadoon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Bacteria are small organisms that play important roles in our bodies and in maintaining our surrounding environment. However, bacterial infections are considered as one of the health diseases that threatens the lives of humans. Resistance of bacteria to antibiotics has made treating bacterial infections more challenging. With the emergence of many developed optical techniques, it has become possible to study various biological mechanisms of molecules inside these small organisms with high resolution and precise localization. In this research, single particle tracking photoactivation localization microscopy (sptPALM) technique was used to investigate the dynamics of fluorescent histonelike nucleoid-structuring proteins (H-NS) in live …

Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction Therapy Improves Age-Related Adrenergic Mediated Microvascular Dysfunction And Increases Revascularization Potential Following Injury., Gabrielle Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The role of the microcirculation is to balance blood flow and oxygen delivery to meet local metabolic and oxygen demands. With advancing age, the health of the endothelium declines leading to improper augmentation of the microcirculation; decreasing vasoreactivity and angiogenic potential which can further increase the risk of ischemia. The multiple contributing factors that drive the decline in endothelial health with age make traditional pharmacological interventions challenging whereas cell-based therapies can exert multifactorial gains. Adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is an emerging therapeutic for its easily accessible, autologous, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic properties. It is a heterogenous population comprised of leukocyte …

Spectroscopic Measurements Of Meibum Compositional, Structural, And Functional Relationships To Elucidate The Role Of Meibum In Dry Eye., Anthony Chigozie Ewurum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The major aim of my dissertation was to investigate the etiology of dry eye disease which affects about 7 million people in the United States, causing symptoms that can lead to visual disturbance. Correlation between dry eye and an abnormal lipid layer of the tear film has been found. Tear film lipids originate mostly from the meibomian glands. Cholesteryl ester (CE) and Wax ester (WE) lipids make up most of the human meibum lipidome and the CE/WE ratio has been shown to decrease in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction. Model studies using synthetic CE and WE, although providing some insight, …

Etracellular Vesicles From Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Gg Protect Against Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury Through Suppression Of Intestinal Mir 194 And Subsequent Activation Of Fxr In Mice., Mengwei Jiang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Numerous studies have reported the efficacy of probiotics for alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). These studies indicate a strong interest among the scientific and medical communities in identifying alternative or adjunctive approaches for ALD, for which there is no effective or widely accepted therapeutic option. However, in-depth molecular knowledge on how probiotics render their effects is lacking. Patients with ALD often have increased hepatic bile acids (BAs), which can be toxic and are an important causative factor in liver injury and hepatocyte death. BAs are released into the intestines and serve not only as a “detergent” to promote fat absorption, but …

Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Ethanol, And Chronic Diseases., Nicholas Alan Short

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an investigation into the relationships among Porphyromonas gingivalis, ethanol, and a series of chronic diseases, focusing primarily on atherosclerosis. It uses evolutionary theory to understand clinical parameters related to chronic disease biology. The initial research question was, "If people who drink a glass of wine each day have a lower risk for atherosclerosis, could one explanation involve antibacterial effects on pathogens associated with causing atherosclerosis, namely, Porphyromonas gingivalis?". This dissertation is divided into four chapters. Chapter One provides the foundational information pertinent to the dissertation. Chapter Two describes an in- vitro experiment aimed at understanding …

Protest-Related Tear Gas Exposure And Menstrual Function, Emily Kathleen (Steinmetz) Reece

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During the racial justice protests of 2020 and 2021, crowd control chemical irritants (referred to as “tear gas”) were deployed against protesters, after which there were anecdotal reports of altered menstrual cycles among exposed individuals. There is only one peer reviewed published study on tear gas exposure and menstrual health. This study examined whether tear gas exposure was associated with menstrual cycle outcomes among women attending the 2020-2021 protests. Data from 103 women who attended racial justice protests in 2020 and 2021 were collected through an online questionnaire. Data included protest attendance, acute symptoms of tear gas exposure, whether medical …

The Role Of Obesity In Macrophage-Mediated Mechanisms Promoting Early-Onset Colon Cancer., Katharina Marietta Scheurlen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Early-onset colon cancer (EOCC) is a leading cause of cancer death among people younger than 50 years of age in the United States and is associated with metabolic dysfunction and obesity. Anti-inflammatory tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) and low Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARγ) gene expression in colon cancer (CC) tissue promote tumor progression and decreased patient survival. Obesity-related hormones, such as leptin and adiponectin, have the potential to affect gene expression in TAM to promote CC progression and thereby link obesity and EOCC. The aim of this project was to identify target genes in human CC and to investigate the …

Eat Well, Be Well: Basic Needs Initiative's Online Hub For Nutrition Education, Misha Moseley

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Basic Needs Initiative at California State University, Monterey Bay is a department that provides students with food, housing, and wellness resources. Over half of the university's students experience food insecurity, and over 85% use non-academic resources to learn about nutrition. This project adds a dietary health section to the department’s website to increase students’ access to nutrition education. It addresses the micro-level agency problem that too few students eat a healthy, balanced diet. Unhealthy eating is a risk factor for food insecurity, so the project indirectly addresses the macro-level health problem that too many college students in California experience food …

Parental Engagement To Influence Child Nutrition Habits, Mariah Van Ardenne

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Brighter Bites Salinas is a non-profit agency whose mission is to create healthy communities through fresh food. They do this by providing nutrition education to children and delivering free, fresh produce to parents. In the United States, obesity and food insecurity are common, intertwined issues among children. The contributing factors to these entangled issues are associated with living in poverty, acculturation of minority groups, and negative parental influence. The consequences of this include increased risk of chronic diseases, high-cost treatments, and mental health issues. This capstone project was created to positively engage parents in nutrition education to influence their children’s …

When Problems Become Solutions: Harnessing The Osteogenic Capacity Of Disease-Causing Stem Cells To Repair Bone Fractures, Mehreen Pasha

Honors Scholar Theses

While we often perceive disease as negative, there is potential to engineer seemingly negative biological phenomena into therapeutics to treat a variety of human illnesses. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a genetic disorder involving uncontrolled, widespread, extraskeletal bone growth, or heterotopic ossification (HO). In FOP patients, stem cells called fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) follow an abnormal, osteogenic pathway. In the present study, we investigate whether we can adapt these Acvr1 mutant FAPs, which are exceptional at producing bone, to repair bone fractures in otherwise normal patients. The primary aims of this study are (1) to devise and optimize a novel method …

Disrupting Monoallelic Expression Of Variant Surface Glycoprotein In Trypanosoma Brucei By A Non-Lethal Mutation In Class I Transcription Factor A, Sarah Platt

Honors Scholar Theses

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a lethal disease caused by protozoan hemoflagellates of the genus Trypanosoma. Humans are vulnerable to two subspecies, Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. At the crux of HAT lethality lie two uncommon genetic expression phenomena: monoallelic expression and antigenic variation. Combined, these mechanisms effectively shield trypanosomes from host immune systems, prolonging infections. Variant Surface Glycoproteins (VSGs) are the key outer membrane proteins involved in antigenic variation. By continuously changing the composition of cell surface antigens, trypanosomes can survive bouts of immunological detection and eventually traverse the blood-brain barrier. There are over two …

Plant-Based Diets And Metabolic Syndrome: Evaluating The Influence Of Diet Quality, Lydia Mcgrath

Honors Scholar Theses

Background: Diet plays a critical role in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Plant-based diets (PBDs) have demonstrated a broad range of health benefits, including a protective effect against MetS. Most research on this topic has focused on PBDs as a whole, without considering the influence of diet quality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plant-based diet quality and biomarkers of MetS.

Methods: Data were obtained from a clinical nutrition study at the University of Connecticut. 29 participants with MetS were included. PBD quality was assessed using 2 measures: healthful PBD index (hPDI) …