Matching Items (172)

Curanderismo: A Cultural and Biochemical Approach to Latin American Natural Healing

Description
Curanderismo can be defined as a blend between ancient Aztec natural healing methods and modern day Catholicism. Today, it is practiced through various techniques, which can be observed in yerberias. Upon visiting these yerberias, the attendants were interviewed to understand which products are commonly sold, what they are used to…

Curanderismo can be defined as a blend between ancient Aztec natural healing methods and modern day Catholicism. Today, it is practiced through various techniques, which can be observed in yerberias. Upon visiting these yerberias, the attendants were interviewed to understand which products are commonly sold, what they are used to treat, and the cultural significance behind the practice. After purchasing a number of products from each yerberia, a literature analysis of potential biochemical pathways was conducted to determine if these products have efficacy in what they treat. While potential pathways were found for a number of the products, it has been determined that further clinical research must be conducted to state whether these products are effective in treatment.
ContributorsBreitweiser, Mya (Author) / Mullenmeister, William (Co-author) / Dickey, Erin (Co-author) / Holechek, Susan (Thesis director) / Redding, Kevin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor)
Created2024-05

Mapping Leptospirosis Dynamics: Integrating Environmental and Cellular Perspectives for One Health Understanding

Description
Leptospirosis, a globally relevant zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Leptospira interrogans, serves as a classic model for understanding the dynamics of one health disease. Its incidence prevalence reflects the relationship between human-animal-environmental interactions, with cases now transcending socioeconomic boundaries. This poses a multifaceted public health challenge, particularly along the densely…

Leptospirosis, a globally relevant zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Leptospira interrogans, serves as a classic model for understanding the dynamics of one health disease. Its incidence prevalence reflects the relationship between human-animal-environmental interactions, with cases now transcending socioeconomic boundaries. This poses a multifaceted public health challenge, particularly along the densely populated East Coast of the United States with 100 to 150 cases reported annually. We hypothesize that understanding the spatial distribution of leptospirosis cases on the East Coast, particularly their association with flooding events, will shed light on the disease’s transmission dynamics. Using epidemiological data obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Division of Health Informatics and Surveillance (DHIS), and the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS), we explore the correlation between leptospirosis cases, population density, climate-induced sea level rise flooding. Advanced geographic information systems (GIS) are employed to pinpoint high-risk areas and vulnerabilities, enabling tailored interventions for both urban and rural populations. In addition to examining the epidemiology of Leptospirosis, this project also investigated a molecular mechanism of pathogenesis. Leptospira cell membranes contain lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a molecule which has been shown to help them evade detection by the host immune system. We examined LPS effects on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells to see the cellular responses and possible susceptibility factors relevant to renal pathology in leptospirosis.
ContributorsKaucky, Gabrielle (Author) / Holechek, Susan (Thesis director) / Kelly, Keilen (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2024-05