Public Health Commons^™

An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Nutrition And Physical Activity Intervention Study On Changes In Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, And Outcome Expectations Of Fathers, Sarah Hortman

Theses & Dissertations

Overweight and obesity rates are a continuing concern resulting in poor health outcomes and annual healthcare costs in the billions of dollars. An upstream approach of health promotion is critical to change the focus from treatment and management to prevention of chronic disease. Preventing chronic disease through evidence-based health promotion practices incorporating educational interventions aimed at dietary and physical activity behaviors will preclude negative health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension.

The family environment is an important consideration in the prevention of chronic disease including obesity. Parents are role models for their children, including fathers who are …

Clinical Consequences And Determinants Of False Positive Blood Cultures In Adult Hospitalized Patients, Sidra Liaquat

Theses & Dissertations

Blood cultures are the gold standard for detecting blood stream infections. However, in the US, 0.6-6% of all blood cultures get contaminated leading to adverse clinical outcomes such as unnecessarily prolonged hospital stay and antibiotic therapy. Using electronic medical records, we explored the clinical outcomes and patient-specific risk factors of contaminated blood cultures in an era where rapid blood culture testing was being utilized to provide blood culture results within hours. Rapid blood culture test results can help clinicians in early and more effective management of patients with contaminated blood cultures, thus improving clinical outcomes. We also studied the impact …

Invasive Therapies For Acute Coronary Syndromes In The Covid-19 Era, Sanket Borgaonkar, Joshua Hahn, Marilyne Daher, Waleed Kayani, Hani Jneid

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To identify and address the challenges associated with the care of ACS patients during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic.

RECENT FINDINGS: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable global impact with over 2.0 million deaths worldwide so far. There has been considerable evidence suggesting that COVID-19 increases the risk of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We propose characterizing ACS patients into 3 distinct categories to better assist in appropriate triage and management: critically ill patients, non-critically ill ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, and non-critically ill non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)/unstable angina (UA) patients. We thoroughly review treatments strategies, …

Headache And Its Association With Adhd/Add And Stimulant Medication, Claire Nitzsche

Honors Scholar Theses

Years of research has shown that headache (in terms of frequency, duration, and severity) is perpetuated by dysregulation of lifestyle behaviors such as sleep habits, eating habits, level of stress, physical activity etc. Our project aims to explore the potential combined and independent impacts that having ADHD/ADD and taking stimulant drugs have on disrupting one’s lifestyle and examine whether dysregulated lifestyle behaviors contribute to one’s headache experience. No research has investigated how both ADHD/ADD and stimulant drug use effect headache experience. In this cross-sectional study, 177 UConn undergraduate students completed a 10-minute survey regarding lifestyle behaviors and headache experience. Participants …

Sarcopenia Screening By Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (Rdns) In The United States (U.S.), Madison Marcom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sarcopenia is a disease of muscle wasting primarily seen in older adults. Although this term was first coined over three decades ago, there is a lack of consensus on a definition, screening criteria, and treatment protocol for sarcopenia. The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) in the United States (U.S.) screen for sarcopenia. Study participants were recruited through a randomized email list and included RDNs throughout the U.S. Respondents completed a survey questioning knowledge of sarcopenia, screening tools and company protocols in place, and the need and desire for sarcopenia education. Data revealed …

Coronavirus Disease-19 And Cardiovascular Disease: A Risk Factor Or A Risk Marker?, Jing Liu, Salim S Virani, Mahboob Alam, Ali E Denktas, Ihab Hamzeh, Umair Khalid

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 causes the clinical syndrome of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) which has become a global pandemic resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. While the virus primarily affects the respiratory system, it also causes a wide variety of complex cardiac manifestations such as acute myopericarditis, acute coronary syndrome, congested heart failure, cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrhythmias. There are numerous proposed mechanisms of cardiac injury, including direct cellular injury, pro-inflammatory cytokine storm, myocardial oxygen-demand mismatch, and systemic inflammation causing multi-organ failure. Additionally, medications commonly used to treat COVID-19 patients have various cardiovascular side effects. We aim to …

Coronavirus Disease-19 And Cardiovascular Disease: A Risk Factor Or A Risk Marker?, Jing Liu, Salim S Virani, Mahboob Alam, Ali E Denktas, Ihab Hamzeh, Umair Khalid

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 causes the clinical syndrome of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) which has become a global pandemic resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. While the virus primarily affects the respiratory system, it also causes a wide variety of complex cardiac manifestations such as acute myopericarditis, acute coronary syndrome, congested heart failure, cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrhythmias. There are numerous proposed mechanisms of cardiac injury, including direct cellular injury, pro-inflammatory cytokine storm, myocardial oxygen-demand mismatch, and systemic inflammation causing multi-organ failure. Additionally, medications commonly used to treat COVID-19 patients have various cardiovascular side effects. We aim to …

Opioid And Naloxone Training In A Rural School District, Allyson C. Waldron

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The opioid epidemic is a national health emergency in the United States, with over 128 people dying each day due to an opioid overdose. It is estimated that 4.3 million people over the age of 12 use opioids without a medical need, and 1.3 million youth ages 12-17 use opioids inappropriately. Drug overdose deaths have become the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, prompting the U.S. Surgeon General and the World Health Organization to advise that more Americans have access to naloxone and understand how to use this life-saving drug correctly. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, used …

The Migration Of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii From The Battlefields Of Iraq And Afghanistan To The Healthcare Facilities Of The Veterans Health Administration, Jeffery Rogers

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) pose a great threat to health across the globe. That threat is also felt in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Wounded warriors returning home from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan may have brought with them MDROs, such as the bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii, as they have transitioned from military service into the VHA facilities. This study investigates the interconnectedness of military service in the Department of Defense (DoD) and a lifetime of care at VHA through a longitudinal tracking of a linked cohort of combat veterans with battlefield injuries and subsequent MDR infections of A. baumannii. …

Epigenome-Wide Association Study Of Kidney Function Identifies Trans-Ethnic And Ethnic-Specific Loci, Charles E. Breeze, Anna Batorsky, Mi Kyeong Lee, Mindy D. Szeto, Xiaoguang Xu, Daniel L. Mccartney, Rong Jiang, Amit Patki, Holly J. Kramer, James M. Eales, Laura Raffield, Leslie Lange, Ethan Lange, Peter Durda, Yongmei Liu, Russ P. Tracy, David Van Den Berg, Nhlbi Trans-Omics For Precision Medicine (Topmed) Consortium, Topmed Mesa Multi-Omics Working Group, Kathryn L. Evans, William E. Kraus, Donna K. Arnett

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: DNA methylation (DNAm) is associated with gene regulation and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a measure of kidney function. Decreased eGFR is more common among US Hispanics and African Americans. The causes for this are poorly understood. We aimed to identify trans-ethnic and ethnic-specific differentially methylated positions (DMPs) associated with eGFR using an agnostic, genome-wide approach.

METHODS: The study included up to 5428 participants from multi-ethnic studies for discovery and 8109 participants for replication. We tested the associations between whole blood DNAm and eGFR using beta values from Illumina 450K or EPIC arrays. Ethnicity-stratified analyses were performed using linear …

The Effect Of Chronic Alcohol Consumption On Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage In Young Men, Emma Hamilton, Grant Hilliard

Honors Theses

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on exercise-induced muscle damage of the knee extensors in young men. METHODS: Twenty-one males (age 21.9 ± 1.1 yr; weight 183.4 ± 27.6 lbs; height 174.0 ± 13.1 cm) performed 100 maximal eccentric contractions at 30°/sec of the knee extensors using their non-dominant leg. The isometric and isokinetic muscle strengths (60°/sec and 180°/sec) were measured pre-exercise and immediately, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h, and 120 h post-exercise. Muscle soreness and plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity were measured pre-exercise and 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h, and …

Thyreos Completes Seed Funding From Invest Nebraska, Strategic Angel Investors, Nebraska Combine

The Combine

First paragraph:

Thyreos (https://www.thyreosvaccines.com/), a vaccine company that is developing a novel vaccine platform that protects against a range of herpesviruses, has announced a $750,000 investment round led by Invest Nebraska with participation from other local angel investors in the animal health and veterinary space.

Suppression Of Human Coronavirus 229e Infection In Lung Fibroblast Cells Via Rna Interference, Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi, Jennifer Totonchy, Parvin Mahdipoor, Keykavous Parang, Hasan Uludağ

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Despite extensive efforts to repurpose approved drugs, discover new small molecules, and develop vaccines, COVID-19 pandemic is still claiming victims around the world. The current arsenal of antiviral compounds did not perform well in the past viral infections (e.g., SARS), which casts a shadow of doubt for use against the new SARS-CoV-2. Vaccines should offer the ultimate protection; however, there is limited information about the longevity of the generated immunity and the protection against possible mutations. This study uses Human Coronavirus 229E as a model coronavirus to test the hypothesis that effective delivery of virus-specific siRNAs to infected cells will …

Zero Balancing In The Chiropractic Practice, Michele Doucette Dc

Journal of Transformative Touch

Discovering the profound gifts of the leading-edge structural and energetic manual therapy Zero Balancing (ZB), and adding it to my chiropractic and nutrition practice, has unified my personal growth with the sustainability of my professional practice. Much of humanity is starving for wholeness, authenticity, and meaningful connection with ourselves, others, and something greater. Chiropractors are well positioned to be leaders in a true evolution of healthcare, especially if, as we continue to explore the various branches of our therapeutic repertoires, we stay connected to our vitalistic roots that are now more supported than ever by new findings in the fields …

Streptococcus Anginosus Lung Infection And Empyema: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature, Nishita Tripathi, Kuldeep Ghosh, Anupama Raghuram

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Streptococcus milleri group (SMG) also referred to as the Streptococcus anginosus group. These are Gram-positive, variable hemolysis, catalase negative, microaerophilic, non-motile facultative anaerobes which have been known to cause abscesses in humans. We report a case of empyema caused by Streptococcus anginosus in a patient with an unresolved pneumonia for over a month. In early October 2018, the patient presented to an emergency room with the complaints of shortness of air, productive cough, chills, subjective fever and weight loss for 4 weeks. A chest X-ray revealed a left lower lobe pneumonia. He was treated with 250 mg of azithromycin for …

Tocilizumab In Hospitalized Patients With Severe Covid-19 Pneumonia, Ivan O Rosas, Norbert Bräu, Michael Waters, Ronaldo C Go, Bradley D Hunter, Sanjay Bhagani, Daniel Skiest, Mariam S Aziz, Nichola Cooper, Ivor S Douglas, Sinisa Savic, Taryn Youngstein, Lorenzo Del Sorbo, Antonio Cubillo Gracian, David J De La Zerda, Andrew Ustianowski, Min Bao, Sophie Dimonaco, Emily Graham, Balpreet Matharu, Helen Spotswood, Larry Tsai, Atul Malhotra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is associated with immune dysregulation and hyperinflammation, including elevated interleukin-6 levels. The use of tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-6 receptor, has resulted in better outcomes in patients with severe Covid-19 pneumonia in case reports and retrospective observational cohort studies. Data are needed from randomized, placebo-controlled trials.

METHODS: In this phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned patients who were hospitalized with severe Covid-19 pneumonia in a 2:1 ratio receive a single intravenous infusion of tocilizumab (at a dose of 8 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo. Approximately one quarter of the participants …

Conditional Survival Among Patients With Oropharyngeal Cancer Treated With Radiation Therapy And Alive Without Recurrence 5 Years After Diagnosis, Kristina R Dahlstrom, Juhee Song, Peter F Thall, Clifton D Fuller, Katherine A Hutcheson, Faye M Johnson, G Brandon Gunn, Jack Phan, Steven J Frank, William H Morrison, Renata Ferrarotto, David I Rosenthal, Erich M Sturgis, Adam S Garden

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Risk of recurrence among patients with oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) who survive 5 years is low. The goal of this study was to assess long-term survival of patients with OPC alive without recurrence 5 years after diagnosis.

METHODS: This study included newly diagnosed patients with OPC, who had been treated with radiation and were alive without recurrence 5 years after diagnosis. Overall survival (OS) probabilities beyond 5 years were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors associated with OS were determined using Bayesian piecewise exponential survival regression. Standardized mortality ratios for all-cause death were estimated controlling for study year, age, and …

B35: Development And Validation Of A Stability Indicating Hplc Method For Quantification Of Estriol In Compounded Glycerinated Gelatin Troches, Tayler Hutto

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

B30: Identifying New G Protein Coupled Receptor Kinase 6 Substrates Among Proteins Closely Linked To Prognoses Of Pancreatic Cancer, Christine Taing, Jelena Jovanovic, Nicole Khalil, Christopher So

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

B29: Exploring The Role Of G Protein Coupled Receptor Kinases In Modulating Behaviors To Fluoxetine Using Caenorhabditis Elegans As An Experimental Model, Victoria Pang

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

B28: Evaluating The Chemotherapeutic Effects Of The Fac Regimen In Mda Mb 231 Breast Cancer Cells With Reduced Beta Arrestin 2 Expression Levels, Angelina Marcee

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

B27: Evaluating The Chemotherapeutic Effects Of The Fac Regimen In Mda Mb 231 Breast Cancer Cells With Reduced G Protein Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 Expression, Samantha Bodan

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

B26: Fastidious Bacteria Grow Better In The Right Media, Kira Jorgensen Duus

Annual Research Symposium

Fastidious Bacteria Grow Better in the Right Media

Purpose: Nisseria gonorrheae is a common bacteria that causes a sexually transmitted disease. This disease can cause significant discomfort for both men and women, which can lead to infertility. Treatment of the bacterium has been a simple matter of diagnosis and antibiotic treatment in the past, but now this bacterium is becoming increasingly antibiotic resistant because of excessive antimicrobial treatments. A novel way to treat N. gonorrheae infection involves focusing on finding bacteriophage that targets N. gonorrheae. N. gonorrheae broth cultures are used to enrich for bacteriophage; but the current …

B24: Efficacy Of Scaffold Mediated Localized Chemotherapy In Cancer: A Systematic Review, Archana Gupta

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

B21: Exposure To Vape Smoke Enhances Sperm Mitochondrial Respiration In Mature Mice., Jeremy Y. Saito

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

B14: Angiogenic Potential Of Oral Cavity Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells And Its Secretomes: A Systematic Review, Madhura Rajendra Shekatkar

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

B13: The Cd5 Coreceptor’S Effect On T Cell Proliferation In Periodontal Disease, Yuko Sperry

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

B2: Presence Of Immunosuppressive Drugs Affect Innate Immune Response And Monocyte Differentiation In Lung Transplant Patients, Inayat Kaur Oms Iii, Ryan Wang Oms Ii, Amy E.L. Stone

Annual Research Symposium

Lung transplant patients are administered Immunosuppressive Drugs (ISDs) to prevent transplant rejection, but this also puts them at constant risk of infection due to the decreased ability of the immune system to respond to subsequent infections by viruses, bacteria etc.

Purpose

This paper focuses on the effect of ISDs on the innate immune response. We are using different parts of viruses and bacteria and allowing them to represent the organism as a whole.

Methods

As representatives of the innate immune system, we are going to be testing monocyte, macrophage, and dendritic cell lineages. We are hypothesizing that the presence of …

C43: Telehealth In The Emergency Department: Impact On Wait Times, Alexander Romero, Carmela Bautista, Gabriella Kelley, Mackenzie Hazen, Rebecca Pullen, Vicente Lujan

Annual Research Symposium

Undergraduate nursing students investigated if implementing telehealth in the Emergency Department (ED) can help reduce wait times.

C41: Treating Proctitis And Pouchitis: A Systematic Review Of Clinical Trial Data, Sarah Tesfaye

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.