Immune System Diseases Commons^™

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 …

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 …

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 …

Another One Bites The Joint: A Case Of Reactive Arthritis In An Otherwise Healthy Hispanic Male, Christine E. Loftis, Emilia C. Dulgheru

School of Medicine Publications

Reactive Arthritis is a spondyloarthritis following gastrointestinal or genitourinary infections, traditionally described as a triad of conjunctivitis, urethritis, and arthritis. It is important to identify patients with reactive arthritis as certain disease features portend a poorer prognosis. We present a case of reactive arthritis in a 36-year-old gentleman after a self-limited episode of gastroenteritis.

A 36-year-old man presented to the Rheumatology clinic for a 2-week history of multiple arthralgias. The patient reported that one week before the onset of arthritis he experienced a self-limited episode of gastroenteritis. Succeeding, the patient noticed pain and swelling to right wrist, left elbow, and …

Efficacy Of Sublingual Immunotherapy In The Treatment Of House-Dust Mite Induced Allergic Rhinitis, Sirena Saleet

Capstone Showcase

Introduction: House-dust mite (HDM) induced allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic condition associated with rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, nasal pruritus and sneezing. The current mainstay of treatment is intranasal corticosteroids, which have shown variable degrees of symptom control among patients. Chronic use is typically required to achieve continued relief. Immunotherapy works to increase peripheral immune tolerance by administration of the allergen itself. Not only does it have the potential to decrease acute symptoms of allergic rhinitis, but it is also the sole treatment offering disease-modifying potential with long-term use. Immunotherapy is an option which can eliminate both the chronic administration …

The Intellectual Property Of Covid-19, Ana Santos Rutschman

All Faculty Scholarship

The response to COVID-19 is indissolubly tied to intellectual property. In an increasingly globalized world in which infectious disease pathogens travel faster and wider than before, the development of vaccines, treatments and other forms of medical technology has become an integral part of public health preparedness and response frameworks. The development of these technologies, and to a certain extent the allocation and distribution of resulting outputs, is informed by intellectual property regimes. These regimes influence the commitment of R&D resources, shape scientific collaborations and, in some cases, may condition the widespread availability of emerging technologies. As seen throughout this chapter, …

A Role For Endothelial Tissue-Nonspecific Alkaline Phosphatase In Blood-Tissue Barrier Health And Disease, Allison L. Brichacek

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sepsis is a disorder that targets the microcirculation with significant effects at blood-tissue barriers such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and gut-vascular barrier (GVB). Intestinal barrier dysfunction is thought to be one of the most important contributors to multi-organ dysfunction in sepsis. As a common site of infection, the impaired gut allows the dissemination of bacteria, which exacerbates the disease pathophysiology, and can lead to long-term morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms that influence altered barrier permeability in the GVB in sepsis and other inflammatory disorders are not well understood. Tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) enzyme activity, which has been shown to …

Developing A Vector For Expressing Serratiopeptidase In Lactococcus Lactis, Taylor C. Mauzy

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Chronic inflammation stems from the inability of the body to resolve acute inflammation. Chronic inflammation is a growing health concern, as nearly 60% of Americans reported coping with at least one chronic condition (as of 2014). On a world scale, three fifths of deaths result from a chronic inflammation disease. Treatments for chronic inflammation include lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) and a variety of conventional drugs. Beyond these treatments, supplementing the body with systemic enzymes may attenuate inflammation. One promising enzyme is serratiopeptidase. Serratiopeptidase is a serine protease expressed by Serratia marcescens which has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, anti-edemic, and analgesic activity …

Intrapulmonary Administration Of Purified Neil2 Abrogates Nf-Κb-Mediated Inflammation, Nisha Tapryal, Shandy Shahabi, Anirban Chakraborty, Koa Hosoki, Maki Wakamiya, Gobinda Sarkar, Gulshan Sharma, Victor J Cardenas, Istvan Boldogh, Sanjiv Sur, Gourisankar Ghosh, Tapas K Hazra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aberrant or constitutive activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) contributes to various human inflammatory diseases and malignancies via the upregulation of genes involved in cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, inflammation, and metastasis. Thus, inhibition of NF-κB signaling has potential for therapeutic applications in cancer and inflammatory diseases. We reported previously that Nei-like DNA glycosylase 2 (NEIL2), a mammalian DNA glycosylase, is involved in the preferential repair of oxidized DNA bases from the transcriptionally active sequences via the transcription-coupled base excision repair pathway. We have further shown that Neil2-null mice are highly sensitive to tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)- and lipopolysaccharide-induced …

Epigenetic Mechanisms Underlying Hiv-Infection Induced Susceptibility Of Cd4+ T Cells To Enhanced Activation-Induced Fasl Expression And Cell Death., Smita Ghare, Paula M. Chilton, Aakarsha V. Rao, Swati Joshi-Barve, Paula Peyrani, Andrea Reyes-Vega, Craig J. Mcclain, Kendall Bryant, Robert L. Cook, Mathew Freiberg, Shirish Barve

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Background:

Chronic immune activation and CD4⁺ T cell depletion are significant pathogenic features of HIV infection. Expression of Fas ligand (FasL), a key mediator of activation-induced cell death in T cells, is elevated in people living with HIV-1 infection (PLWH). However, the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the enhanced induction of FasL expression in CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in PLWH are not completely elucidated. Hence, the current work examined the effect of HIV infection on FasL promoter-associated histone modifications and transcriptional regulation in CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in PLWH.

Method:

Flow cytometric analysis was performed to examine the Fas-FasL expression on …

A Rare Case Of C3 Glomerulonephritis Presenting As Pulmonary Renal Syndrome, Gerardo Mederos, Harsh Patel, Menalee Hapuarachchi, Machaiah Madhrira, Ranjit Nair, Dana Ciobanu

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN) is a rare disease that falls under the umbrella of C3 glomerulopathy (C3G). Classic manifestations of C3G include acute renal failure, proteinuria, and hematuria. In some cases, extrarenal manifestations can include ocular drusen. Until recent reports, C3G manifesting with pulmonary symptoms has not been reported. In this report, we describe a patient that initially presented with hemoptysis and acute renal failure, eventually leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary renal syndrome. Renal biopsy showed C3GN. The patient’s symptoms improved with pulse dose steroids, plasmapheresis and mycophenolate mofetil. C3G presenting with pulmonary symptoms is rare. Further research is needed …

Molecular Virology Of Kshv In The Lymphocyte Compartment—Insights From Patient Samples And De Novo Infection Models, Farizeh Aalam, Jennifer Totonchy

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The incidence of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)-associated Kaposi Sarcoma has declined precipitously in the present era of effective HIV treatment. However, KSHV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders although rare, have not seen a similar decline. Lymphoma is now a leading cause of death in people living with HIV (PLWH), indicating that the immune reconstitution provided by antiretroviral therapy is not sufficient to fully correct the lymphomagenic immune dysregulation perpetrated by HIV infection. As such, novel insights into the mechanisms of KSHV-mediated pathogenesis in the immune compartment are urgently needed in order to develop novel therapeutics aimed at prevention and treatment of KSHV-associated lymphoproliferations. …

Comorbidity And Quality Of Life Of Hiv-Positive Adults Living In Supportive Housing, Rose Sharp

Dissertations

Problem: Life expectancy for people living with HIV significantly increased with widespread use of antiretroviral therapy, resulting in population increases in comorbidity prevalence. The increased burden of living with both HIV and comorbidities lowers health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: Using a descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design, a convenience sample of HIV-positive adults was selected from seven supportive housing communities. Comorbidities were assessed using a modified Self-Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire, and HRQoL using the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Scale v1.2 – Global Health.

Results: A sample of 17 (N = 17) adults reported a mean of 4.2 (SD = …

Applying Immuno-Epidemiology Principles To Violence, Anna H. Sisk, Nina H. Fefferman, Judy Day, Patricia Bamwine

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Idiopathic Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis In The Setting Of Chronic Cutaneous Lupus Erythmatosus: A Case Report, Andrew Cappiello, Seba Issa, Sana Khan, Kenneth Crager

Rheumatology

No abstract provided.

From Caregiver To Patient And Back Again ... My Covid Experience, Marie B. Thornton

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

As a Registered Nurse and a member of the nursing faculty at a public university, my primary role and instinct is to be a caregiver. Here is my story about becoming a patient with COVID-19 and finally returning to be a caregiver once again.

Can Viruses Cause Lupus?, Stephen I. Reeder

Selected Honors Theses

Like so many autoimmune diseases, the exact cause of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains unknown. Evidence points to both genetics and environment playing roles in the onset of the disease, but neither acts independent of the other. Genetics are the easier of the two to study with recent advances in the field making it easier to isolate genes shared by individuals with the disease. However, genetic studies reveal that there is almost certainly an environmental component to the development of SLE. The underlying pathology and existing research on environmental contributors to the development of SLE suggest that viruses could potentially …

Haiti's Hiv Surveillance System: Past, Present, And Future, Chris Delcher, Ermane G. Robin, Daniella Myriam Pierre

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Plasma Proteins That May Cause Parkinson’S Disease And Multiple Sclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study, Brigid A. Staley

Dissertations and Theses

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are progressively disabling neurologic disorders that profoundly affect quality of life and shorten life expectancy. There is no cure for either disease, and current treatments only alleviate symptoms and may cause serious side effects. The causes of MS and PD are not well understood. Previous epidemiologic studies have documented numerous environmental risk factors for both diseases. However, these studies are inherently prone to bias from confounding which may generate spurious results. The lack of unbiased evidence on environmental causes of MS and PD has been a critical barrier to fully understanding their pathophysiology. …

Factors Affecting The Characterization Of Post-Exertional Malaise Derived From Patient Input, Carly S. Holtzman, Claire Fisher, Shaun Bhatia, Leonard A. Jason

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

The National Institutes of Health/Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NIH/CDC) Common Data Elements (CDE) established a post-exertional malaise (PEM) workgroup with the task of describing PEM and recommending a standardized way of assessing it in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). As a stigmatized group, patients with ME/CFS are in need of instruments which can properly describe their symptomatic experiences, which can help reduce the disparity between illness seriousness and appropriate attention from healthcare. The current study explored attitudes and preferences among 115 patients with ME/CFS who participated in the creation of a patient-driven instrument to …