Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Commons^™

Assessing Hpv And Hpv Vaccine Awareness And Perception Amongst Undergraduate Students, Maura Hawkins

Honors Theses

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States. Vaccination rates remain low among college-aged students despite an effective vaccine being available. This study investigates HPV and HPV vaccination-related knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions among undergraduate students to inform targeted intervention strategies. Participants included undergraduate students (n = 19) who attended one of three focus groups conducted in April 2025 at the University of South Alabama. Structured interview guides explored HPV knowledge, perceived risk and severity, attitudes towards vaccination, autonomy in health decision-making, trust in health information sources, and preferred educational strategies. Discussions were …

Developing Antibodies Against Galectin-3 And Galectin-9 To Target Endometriosis, Ashleigh Burger, Noah Farnsworth, Jared J. Reisnouer, Cheyenne Vue

2026 Symposium

Endometriosis is a disease characterized by pelvic pain and the formation of endometrial-like tissue on the outside of the uterine lining. This condition affects nearly 10% of women across the globe and confirming whether someone has endometriosis requires visualization in surgery. While the specific causes of this disease remain unclear, the over-expression of the Galectins 3 and 9 in ectopic endometrial tissues suggests a role in the development and maintenance of the condition. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are highly specific proteins with potential as diagnostic or treatment tools. The goal of this study is to generate antibodies against Gal3 and Gal9. …

The Effects Of Body Mass Index On Fertility And In Vitro Fertilization, Morgan R. Kidd

Honors College Theses

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most widely used type of assisted reproductive technology for treating infertility arising from a number of conditions. As obesity rates continue to climb in the United States, infertility has been discovered to have a direct correlation. Individuals that fall below or above the healthy body mass index range are found to have disrupted regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, resulting in diminished reproductive health. Those that are diagnosed as infertile due to conditions caused by the effects of low body mass index or high body mass index may seek assisted reproductive technologies to intervene in achieving …

Dose-Dependent Developmental Toxicity Of Cisplatin In Zebrafish Embryos, Reagan D. Sellers, Katherine T. Doucet, Jinhee Park, Andrea Florian

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapy drug for treating various types of cancer. Although cisplatin is effective in killing cancer, it can also cause toxic side effects in normal tissues. Because cisplatin can cross the placental barrier, its use during pregnancy is generally avoided, particularly during early embryonic stages of fetal development. Exposure to cytotoxic drugs during embryogenesis may lead to developmental abnormalities, birth defects, or pregnancy complications. Understanding how cisplatin affects early development is therefore important.          
       Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are an established model for studying developmental toxicity due to their rapid external development, transparent embryos, and genetic similarity to …

Oxytocin Dosing During Trial Of Labor After Cesarean To Minimize The Risk Of Uterine Rupture: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Pierpaolo Nicolì, Moti Gulersen, Jordan Beacham, Hila Hochler, Alessandra Familiari, Anna Locatelli, Cynthia Abraham, Ettore Cicinelli, Amerigo Vitagliano, Vincenzo Berghella

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Oxytocin remains the mainstay for induction and for the management of labor arrest during trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). Therefore, the clinical question should be not whether to use oxytocin, but how to optimize its administration. This meta-analysis aimed to assess which oxytocin protocol, in terms of initial dose, amount of increase, timing to next increase, and maximum dose, may minimize the risk of uterine rupture (UR) during TOLAC.

DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched up to September 21, 2024.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Randomized and nonrandomized studies evaluating the association between induction and/or augmentation with oxytocin …

Timelines Of Care: Analyzing Treatment Access For Women With Ongoing Reproductive Health Needs, Nyla M. Keith

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Mandates in the United States created pressure on an already strained healthcare system post-COVID-19 pandemic. With new regulations placed upon abortion care forcing the closing of low-cost health clinics such as Planned Parenthood, legislation that has made health insurance more expensive, and rising pharmaceutical prices, women’s OB/GYN care in America has struggled to meet patient needs. A cross-sectional survey was developed and distributed to four clinics in the Orlando area to assess patients' perceived access to care and identify barriers to receiving OB/GYN care. The survey took approximately 10 – 15 minutes to complete, was available in print and online …

At1-Aa Induced Hypertension During Pregnancy Contributes To Developmental Programming Of Hypertension In Female Offspring, Nathan Campbell, James P. Lemon, Melissa Helmich, Dylan Solise, Alexandra Demesa, Ella Goolsby, Evan Lamarca, Evangeline Deer, Denise C. Cornelius, Ty Turner, Lorena M. Amaral, Baoying Zheng, Babbette Lamarca

Pharmacology and Toxicology

Preeclampsia (PE), new-onset hypertension during pregnancy, is accompanied by organ dysfunction, in addition to placental dysfunction, and is associated with chronic inflammation and fetal growth restriction. Agonistic autoantibodies against the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-AA) are produced in PE women and induce a PE-like phenotype when infused into pregnant rats. PE offspring are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and hypertension; however, AT1-AA’s role in these risks is unknown. Therefore, we hypothesized that AT1-AA exposure during pregnancy contributes to hypertension in adult offspring. We infused AT1-AA (1:40) starting on gestational day (GD) 14, allowed the dams to give birth, …

Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice Towards Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Aged 20 Years And Above In Mysuru, India, Sneha Manosh Kumar, Rashmi S, Amogha Shree

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer among women globally and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in India. Despite being largely preventable through screening, uptake remains suboptimal due to socio-cultural and systemic barriers.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 women aged ≥20 years residing in urban and rural areas of Mysuru. Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 30.

Results: Awareness of cervical cancer was reported by 90% of participants and of screening methods by 80%. However, only 21% had ever undergone screening and 17% within the preceding …

Genotype Distribution Of Human Papillomavirus Among Women With Cervical Cancer Stratified By Hiv Status In Tanzania, Alita Mrema, Mamsau Ngoma, Emmanuel L. Lugina, Atukuzwe Kahakwa, Chacha Josiah Mwita, Salama Iddy, Eulade Rugengamizi, Kandali Samwel, John Ngowi, Salum J. Lidenge, Charles Wood, Julius Mwaiselage

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background Cervical cancer (CC) is the leading cancer among women in Tanzania, especially among those between the ages of 15 and 44. The prevalence of high-risk Human papillomavirus (HR-HPV)-16/18 women in the general population at any given time is 3.3%. HR-HPVs 16 or 18 are the primary cause of CC. The distribution of HPV genotypes among women with CC according to HIV status is unknown in Tanzania. This study aimed to determine the HPV genotype distribution according to HIV status among women with CC in Tanzania. Methods This cross-sectional study was done at Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) in Tanzania …

Ovarian Cancer G Protein-Coupled Receptor-1 Signaling Bias Dictates Anti-Contractile Effect Of Benzodiazepines On Airway Smooth Muscle, Dominic R. Villalba, Arun K. Jannu, Elham Javed, Isha Dandekar, Ruping Wang, Deepak A. Deshpande, Steven S. An, Reynold A. Panettieri, Dale D. Tang, Raymond B. Penn, Ajay P. Nayak

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: We recently reported that the ovarian cancer G protein-coupled receptor-1 (OGR1) can be pharmacologically biased with specific benzodiazepines to couple with distinct heterotrimeric G proteins in human airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. Lorazepam stimulated both G

METHODS: Models of histamine (His) -stimulated contraction included imaging of ex vivo human precision cut lung slices (hPCLS) and Magnetic Twisting Cytometry (MTC) analysis of human ASM cell stiffness. To explore mechanisms of regulation, we examined effects on myosin light chain (pMLC) phosphorylation and PKA activity in primary human ASM cultures, as well as actin cytoskeleton integrity as defined by changes in the …

The Impact Of An Iron-Rich Diet On Fatigue In Menstruating Women With Non-Anemic Iron Deficiency, Meagan Seraydar, Lauren Latimer, Sam Miragliatto

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Fatigue without diagnosed anemia is prevalent in menstruating women, with iron deficiency being a potential contributor. While iron supplementation is a standard intervention, dietary sources of iron may offer a sustainable alternative. This study aims to assess the impact of an iron-rich diet on fatigue levels in menstruating women. A 12-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted, assigning participants to either an iron-rich diet group or a control group following their usual diet without specific iron recommendations. Fatigue will be measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) at baseline, six weeks, and twelve weeks, alongside iron status biomarkers, including …

The Obstetric Experience Among Vascular Surgery Trainees, Ruojia Debbie Li, Eric B. Pillado, Margaret Reilly, Lauren M. Janczewski, Christina Cui, Kathryn Dilosa, Joshua S. Eng, Matthew C. Chia, Malachi G. Sheahan, Karl Y. Bilimoria, Erika L. Rangel, Yue-Yung Hu, Dawn M. Coleman

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Vascular surgery training poses unique risks to pregnancy, including long hours, physically demanding work, and radiation exposure. Our objectives were to (1) understand pregnancy and parenthood experiences among vascular surgery trainees, (2) assess the rate of obstetric complications among vascular trainees, and (3) evaluate factors associated with trainee-parent wellness. METHODS: A survey was administered after the 2021 Vascular Surgery In-Training Examination. Residents and fellows who (or whose partners) experienced pregnancies during their clinical years of training were asked about their perceptions of the learning environment (work hours and mistreatment, including discrimination, bullying, and harassment), obstetric complications (miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, placental …

Blood Tnf-Α And Gabra-1 Levels In Individuals With Poor Ovarian Response Underwent In Vitro Fertilization Program, Gadsara Ruangprachum, Paweena Thuwanut, Wisan Sereepapong, Vorasuk Shotelersuk, Siraprapa Tongkobpetch, Porntip Sirayapiwat

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: Poor ovarian response (POR) to ovarian stimulation during in vitro fertilization (IVF) program remains a critical issue contributing to decreased ovarian reserve and cancellation of IVF cycles. Nevertheless, the complete etiology of PRO condition remains inadequately understood.

Objectives: This research primarily aimed to compare levels of blood pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) and apoptotic marker (GABRA-1) between those exhibiting normal ovarian response (NOR) and those with poor ovarian response during IVF program.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving whole blood collection from 25 participants was conducted (15 individuals in NOR group and 10 in POR group). Relative gene expression levels of blood …

A Randomized Phase Ii/Iii Study Of Paclitaxel/Carboplatin/Metformin Versus Paclitaxel/Carboplatin/Placebo As Initial Therapy For Measurable Stage Iii Or Iva, Stage Ivb, Or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer: An Nrg Oncology/Gog Study, Victoria L. Bae-Jump, Michael W. Sill, Paola A. Gehrig, Jason D. Merker, David L. Corcoran, Adam D. Pfefferle, Michele C. Hayward, Joan L. Walker, Andrea R. Hagemann, Steven E. Waggoner, Roisin E. O'Cearbhaill, Megan E. Mcdonald, Mitchell I. Edelson, Paul A. Disilvestro, Amy L. Mcnally, Aimee Fleury, Ramey D. Littell, Frederick R. Ueland, Heather A. Lankes, Carol Aghajanian

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the efficacy of the addition of the anti-diabetic drug metformin to standard-of-care paclitaxel and carboplatin (PC) in patients with advanced and recurrent endometrial cancer (EC).

METHODS: In this phase II/III trial, EC patients with chemotherapy-naïve stage III/IVA (with measurable disease) and stage IVB or recurrent (with or without measurable disease) disease were randomly assigned to PC/metformin (850 mg BID) versus PC/placebo. Metformin or placebo was continued as maintenance therapy after completion of PC until disease progression. The primary endpoint of phase II was progression-free survival (PFS). The primary endpoint of phase III was overall survival (OS). Secondary …

Implementation Of Endometriosis Toolkit: A Quality Improvement Project To Enhance Nurse Practitioners’ Knowledge And Management, Hasbun Rachel

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Abstract

Background: Endometriosis, characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial-like tissue, affects approximately 11% of reproductive-aged women in the United States. Diagnosing endometriosis is challenging due to its diverse clinical presentations, reliance on laparoscopic procedures, absence of biomarkers, and limited awareness among healthcare providers and patients.

Local Problem: The diagnostic complexity of endometriosis, compounded by reduced provider awareness and a lack of comprehensive resources, leads to delayed and suboptimal care for affected women.

Methods: This Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project aimed to enhance nurse practitioners’ (NPs) knowledge and management of endometriosis through a 1-hour educational session at the …

Reproductive Autonomy In Immunological Intervention: Ethical Boundaries In Maternal-Fetal Immune Therapy, Marium Z. Rizvi

Journal of Health Ethics

Recent advances in immunology have broken barriers in reproductive medicine through immune-modulating therapies that support fertility and pregnancy. Treatments such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and intralipid infusions are increasingly offered to patients with Recurrent Implantation Failure (RIF) or Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL), conditions that result in miscarriages and failed IVF treatments (Pillarysetti et al., 2023). Maternal-fetal immunology reveals a delicate interplay between immune tolerance and defense: the maternal system must accept a genetically foreign fetus while preserving immunological protection. Disruptions in this balance are implicated in implantation disorders and pregnancy failure. As a result, immune-based therapies have emerged as promising …

Improving Knowledge And Confidence Of Family Nurse Practitioners In Offering The Hpv Vaccine, Leni Terano Fisher

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Abstract

Introduction

Despite the recommendations of the United States Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, HPV immunization lags behind other routine vaccines by up to 31%. Although there are many reasons for the low vaccine rate, provider hesitancy and lack of confidence significantly contribute to suboptimal HPV vaccine uptake.

Objectives

This project aimed to utilize evidence-driven interventions to increase family nurse practitioners' (FNPs) knowledge and confidence in offering the HPV vaccine.

Methods

Participants were given pre- and post-questionnaire surveys. The Wilcoxon Rank Test was used to compare, quantify, and measure the results of the eight-week data collection.

Results

The subjects were …

Investigating The Impact Of Phthalate Exposures From Personal Care Products On Uterine Fibroid Incidence And Prevalence In Us-Born Black Women, Ella Brissett

CMC Senior Theses

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors composed of smooth muscle cells and connective tissue that develop within or on the walls of the uterus. Despite being non-cancerous, they can severely affect quality of life by causing heavy bleeding, chronic pain, and reproductive complications. Fibroids are typically found in women of reproductive age, but they disproportionately affect Black women, who experience higher incidence and severity. The underlying causes of this disparity is poorly understood; however, an emerging body of research is highlighting the role of phthalates, endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in many personal care products, in exacerbating fibroid development. Through a critical analysis …

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 …

Diagnosis Of Hypertensive Disorders In Pregnancy, Rebecca Horgan, Yara Hage Diab, Maged Costantine, George Saade, Baha Sibai

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including chronic hypertension, superimposed preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia, affect 10-20% of pregnancies and are a significant cause of maternal and perinatal mortality. The incidence of these disorders is rising due to factors such as advanced maternal age, obesity, assisted reproductive technology, and increased rates of preexisting comorbidities. Differentiating pregnancy-associated hypertension from pre-existing chronic hypertension is challenging, as the overlap between the two may be broadening due to the changing demographics of the pregnant population. This review critically evaluated the evidence regarding the current time periods recommended to make a diagnosis of a hypertensive disorder of …

Machine Learning-Enabled Maternal Risk Assessment For Women With Pre-Eclampsia (The Piers-Ml Model): A Modelling Study, Tünde Montgomery-Csobán, Kimberley Kavanagh, Paul Murray, Chris Robertson, Sarah J E Barry, U Vivian Ukah, Beth A Payne, Kypros H Nicolaides, Argyro Syngelaki, Olivia Ionescu, Ranjit Akolekar, Jennifer A Hutcheon, Laura A Magee, Peter Von Dadelszen, Piers Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Affecting 2-4% of pregnancies, pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal death and morbidity worldwide. Using routinely available data, we aimed to develop and validate a novel machine learning-based and clinical setting-responsive time-of-disease model to rule out and rule in adverse maternal outcomes in women presenting with pre-eclampsia.

METHODS: We used health system, demographic, and clinical data from the day of first assessment with pre-eclampsia to predict a Delphi-derived composite outcome of maternal mortality or severe morbidity within 2 days. Machine learning methods, multiple imputation, and ten-fold cross-validation were used to fit models on a development dataset (75% of …

Pessary Use In Urology Clinics, Kathy Z. Lu Bs, Emily Brodowsky Md, Alex Stephens Ms, Samantha Raffee Md, Humphrey Atiemo Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction: Pessaries are a non-invasive treatment option for patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) or stress urinary incontinence (SUI). There is currently limited data regarding pessary usage among urology patients. The aim of this study is to determine the patient characteristics that predict long term pessary usage versus surgical intervention.

Methods: A 10-year retrospective review of pessary usage in women with either SUI or POP was performed. Patients were stratified into pessary longevity of less than or greater than one year. Quality of life measures before and after pessary use included pads per day, incontinence symptom index (ISI) scores, and …

Prenatal Androgen Exposure Reduces Ovarian Function, Marlee Weets

All Master's Theses

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive and endocrine disorder, being the leading cause of infertility for females of reproductive age. The etiology of PCOS is not fully known, although it is hypothesized that there is a genetic, epigenetic, and environmental component to the disease. One of the environmental influences that can cause an abnormal reproductive phenotype similar to PCOS is prenatal exposure to excess androgens (male sex hormones). Previous studies have shown that prenatal exposure to androgens in mice can cause a PCOS-like ovarian phenotype similar to people with PCOS. To examine how prenatal androgen exposure causes …

Folate Deficiency Modifies The Risk Of Cin3+ Associated With Dna Methylation Levels: A Nested Case–Control Study From The Ascus-Col Trial, María C. Agudelo, Samuel Agudelo, Attila Lorincz, Arianis Tatiana Ramírez, Kelly Melisa Castañeda, Isabel Garcés-Palacio, Arnold H. Zea, Chandrika Piyathilake, Gloria Ines Sanchez

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Purpose: To our knowledge, there are very few studies evaluating if the levels of folate modify the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 and higher (CIN2+ and CIN3+) associated with the levels of HPV genome methylation, two cofactors related to single carbon metabolism and independently associated with cervical cancer in previous studies. We conducted a case–control study nested in a three-arm randomized clinical pragmatic trial (ASCUS-COL trial) to evaluate the risk of CIN3+ associated with methylation levels according to serum folate concentrations. Methods: Cases (n = 155) were women with histologically confirmed CIN2+ (113 CIN2, 38 CIN3, and 4 …

Tumor-Resident Lactobacillus Iners Confer Chemoradiation Resistance Through Lactate-Induced Metabolic Rewiring, Lauren E. Colbert, Molly B. El Alam, Rui Wang, Tatiana Karpinets, David Lo, Erica J. Lynn, Timothy A. Harris, Jacob H. Elnaggar, Kyoko Yoshida-Court, Katarina Tomasic, Julianna K. Bronk, Julie Sammouri, Ananta V. Yanamandra, Adilene V. Olvera, Lily G. Carlin, Travis Sims, Andrea Y. Delgado Medrano, Tatiana Cisneros Napravnik, Madison O'Hara, Daniel Lin, Chike O. Abana, Hannah X. Li, Patricia J. Eifel, Anuja Jhingran, Melissa Joyner, Lilie Lin, Lois M. Ramondetta, Andrew M. Futreal

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Tumor microbiota can produce active metabolites that affect cancer and immune cell signaling, metabolism, and proliferation. Here, we explore tumor and gut microbiome features that affect chemoradiation response in patients with cervical cancer using a combined approach of deep microbiome sequencing, targeted bacterial culture, and in vitro assays. We identify that an obligate L-lactate-producing lactic acid bacterium found in tumors, Lactobacillus iners, is associated with decreased survival in patients, induces chemotherapy and radiation resistance in cervical cancer cells, and leads to metabolic rewiring, or alterations in multiple metabolic pathways, in tumors. Genomically similar L-lactate-producing lactic acid bacteria commensal to other …

Time Is Ticking For Cervical Cancer, Vijay Kumar, Caitlin Bauer, John H. Stewart

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Cervical cancer (CC) is a major health problem among reproductive-age females and comprises a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the major risk factor associated with CC incidence. However, lifestyle is also a critical factor in CC pathogenesis. Despite HPV vaccination introduction, the incidence of CC is increasing worldwide. Therefore, it becomes critical to understand the CC tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) to develop immune cell-based vaccination and immunotherapeutic approaches. The current article discusses the immune environment in the normal cervix of adult females and its role in HPV infection. The subsequent sections discuss the alteration of different …

A Novel Gardnerella, Prevotella, And Lactobacillus Standard That Improves Accuracy In Quantifying Bacterial Burden In Vaginal Microbial Communities, Jacob H. Elnaggar, Caleb M. Ardizzone, Nuno Cerca, Evelyn Toh, Paweł Łaniewski, Rebecca A. Lillis, Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz, Alison J. Quayle, Christina A. Muzny, Christopher M. Taylor

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal dysbiosis. In this condition, a polymicrobial biofilm develops on vaginal epithelial cells. Accurately quantifying the bacterial burden of the BV biofilm is necessary to further our understanding of BV pathogenesis. Historically, the standard for calculating total bacterial burden of the BV biofilm has been based on quantifying Escherichia coli 16S rRNA gene copy number. However, E. coli is improper for measuring the bacterial burden of this unique micro-environment. Here, we propose a novel qPCR standard to quantify bacterial burden in vaginal microbial communities, from an optimal state to a mature BV biofilm. …

Early Postpartum Hba1c After Hyperglycemia First Detected In Pregnancy-Imperfect But Not Without Value, Ankia Coetzee, David R Hall, Mari Van De Vyver, Magda Conradie

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: South African women of childbearing age are disproportionally affected by obesity and at significant risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Unless pregnant, they do not readily undergo screening for T2DM. With a local focus on improved antenatal care, hyperglycemia is often first detected in pregnancy (HFDP). This may erroneously be attributed to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) in all without considering T2DM. Glucose evaluation following pregnancy is essential for early detection and management of women with T2DM in whom persistent hyperglycemia is to be expected. Conventional testing with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is cumbersome, prompting investigation for …

Sexual Dimorphism Of Glomerular Capillary Morphology In Rats, Zackarias Coker

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) progresses faster in males than females; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Sex differences in glomerular capillary morphology has been hypothesized to contribute, in part, to the increased susceptibility to hypertension-induced renal injury and CKD progression in males, but this has not been investigated. The goal of the present study was to assess glomerular capillary morphology in male vs. female rats with intact kidneys and after uninephrectomy (UNX). We hypothesized that glomerular capillary radii (R_CAP) and length (L_CAP) would be greater in male rats.

Male (n=4) and female (n=4) with intact …

Diagnosis Of Urinary Tract Infections And Rapid Molecular Characterization Of Antibiotic Resistance, Mohammed Harris

All Dissertations

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infectious clinical entities in both community and hospital settings. They have a broad range of clinical severity yet inflict large epidemiological burden of morbidity and mortality on patients and the healthcare system with billions of dollars in cost of treatment. Understanding what methods are optimal for diagnosing UTIs are critical to mitigate the marked impact and cost of these infections.

Chapter 1 and 2 in this work surveys the broad array of diagnostic modalities for UTIs and highlights their advantages and limitations in the context of the current standard of …