Matching Items (161)
Description
The number of cancer survivors in the United States is growing rapidly and it is expected to double by 2040. Arizona is nationally ranked with the 14th highest number of survivors, many of which experience a wide range of persisting medical complications that result from the cancer and associated treatment. Consequently, there is an increased need for services tailored to the health and wellness of survivors. Studies have shown that exercise rehabilitation is effective in improving the physical and mental health of this patient population. This project aimed to investigate the status of medically-based exercise rehabilitation for cancer survivors in Arizona. It focused on services offered by cancer treatment centers and cardiac rehabilitation clinics, with cardiac rehabilitation providing a possible delivery method for future cancer exercise rehabilitation. A directory of resources was compiled based on responses to structured telephone interviews with the cancer treatment centers (n=32) and cardiac rehabilitation clinics (n=34) within the state. The directory will serve as a resource for both patients and clinicians by identifying statewide related services that are available at the medical institutions and within the community. Results showed that 42.9% and 39.4% of the cancer treatment centers and cardiac rehabilitation clinics, respectively, offered exercise related services for cancer survivors. 78.6% of cancer centers stated that they refer cancer survivors to physical therapy, while only 35.7% refer survivors to community-based programs. Only 2 cardiac rehabilitation clinics, or 6%, offered preventative cardiology exercise consultations to cancer survivors. In conclusion, rehabilitative exercise resources for cancer survivors in Arizona were limited. Additional cancer rehabilitation efficacy studies are needed to further clarify evidence-based practice guidelines and provide direction for optimal methods of healthcare delivery. It is recommended that this directory remains current with routine updates in an effort to increase patient accessibility to care.
ContributorsHitt, Ellen (Author) / Scales, Robert (Thesis director) / Huberty, Jennifer (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-12
Description
The purpose of this thesis creative project was to create an educational video to present research findings on the increasingly important issue of human biospecimen preanalytic variables. When a human biospecimen, such as blood, urine, or tissue, is removed from the body, it is subjected to a plethora of variables that are not recorded or regulated in a vast majority of cases. Frequently, these samples arrive at the research or pathology lab with an unknown history, then undergo analysis for translational research purposes, or to guide clinical management decisions. Thus, compromised specimen quality caused by preanalytic variables has substantial, and potentially devastating, downstream effects. To identify the preanalytic variables with the greatest impact on blood and tissue specimen quality, 45 articles were gathered using PubMed and Google Scholar databases and cited. Based on the articles, the top five variables with the most detrimental effects were identified for both blood and tissue samples. Multiple sets of parameters ensuring specimen fitness were compared for each of the five variables for each specimen type. Then, specific parameters guaranteeing the fitness of the greatest number of analytes were verified. To present the research findings in greater detail, a paper was written that focused on identifying the top variables and key parameters to ensure analyte fitness. To present the overall issue in an easy-to-digest format, a storyboard and script were created as a guideline for a final video project. Ultimately, two alternate versions of the video were created to pertain to the audience of choice (one version for patients, one version for professionals). It is the hope that these videos will be used as educational tools to continue efforts to standardize and enforce human biospecimen preanalytic variable parameters. This is a necessary step to improve the accuracy of our biomedical research data and the healthcare of patients worldwide.
ContributorsAzcarate, Heather (Author) / Compton, Carolyn (Thesis director) / LaBaer, Joshua (Committee member) / Borges, Chad (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
Cleavage and polyadenylation is a step in mRNA processing in which the 3’UTR is cleaved and a polyA tail is added to create a final mature transcript. This process relies on RNA sequence elements that guide a large multimeric protein complex named the Cleavage and Polyadenylation Complex to dock on the 3’UTR and execute the cleavage reaction. Interactions of the complex with the RNA and specific dynamics of complex recruitment and formation still remain largely uncharacterized. In our lab we have identified an Adenosine residue as the nucleotide most often present at the cleavage site, although it is unclear whether this specific element is a required instructor of cleavage and polyadenylation. To address whether the Adenosine residue is necessary and sufficient for the cleavage and polyadenylation reaction, we mutated this nucleotide at the cleavage site in three C. elegans protein coding genes, forcing the expression of these wt and mutant 3’UTRs, and studied how the cleavage and polyadenylation machinery process these genes in vivo. We found that interrupting the wt sequence elements found at the cleavage site interferes with the cleavage and polyadenylation reaction, suggesting that the sequence close to the end of the transcript plays a role in modulating the site of the RNA cleavage. This activity is also gene-specific. Genes such as ges-1 showed little disruption in the cleavage of the transcript, with similar location occurring in both the wt and mutant 3’UTRs. On the other hand, mutation of the cleavage site in genes such as Y106G6H.9 caused the activation of new cryptic cleavage sites within the transcript. Taken together, my experiments suggest that the sequence elements at the cleavage site somehow participate in the reaction to guide the cleavage reaction to occur at an exact site. This work will help to better understand the mechanisms of transcription termination in vivo and will push forward research aimed to study post-transcriptional gene regulation in eukaryotes.
ContributorsSteber, Hannah Suzanne (Author) / Mangone, Marco (Thesis director) / Harris, Robin (Committee member) / LaBaer, Joshua (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor, Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Background:
The positive impacts of yoga on stress, pain, and chronic disease has recently led to the integration of yoga as part of physical therapy (PT) treatment. Due to the lack of training for PTs related to yoga, there is currently a need to provide knowledge and education about how to safely and easily implement therapeutic yoga (TY) as a complementary treatment approach.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to assess the readiness of PTs (those who do not currently prescribe TY to patients) to integrate TY into treatment, and secondly, the feasibility (i.e., acceptability, demand, and practicality) of a 5-week online TY training to improve the readiness of PT’s to utilize TY in their practice.
Methods:
Licensed Physical Therapist’s (n=103) were recruited nationally through social media and email. Eligible and consented participants were asked to register in a 5-week online TY training course, Readiness for Integrating Yoga Therapeutics into Rehabilitation for PTs (intervention). PTs perceptions of TY and the role of safety and confidence in prescribing TY to patients were measured at baseline and post-intervention using a customized survey. Feasibility outcomes were measured after completion of the 5-week online training course with a survey. Feasibility was measured with acceptability, demand, and practicality. Our benchmarks included: (1) at least 70% of PTs would find the course acceptable, (2) at least 60% would finish the course (i.e., demand) and (3) there would be significant improvements in PTs perceptions of TY.
Results:
A total of 95 licensed PTs registered in the 5-week online TY training course, with 60 PTs (63%) completing the intervention and surveys. Of the PTs who completed the 5-week online training course, most PTs felt they were not ready (n=19/60, 31.7%) or somewhat ready (n=25/60, 41.7%) to integrate TY prior to taking the online training. Over half of PTs thought the online training was acceptable (n= 50/60, 83.3%) and finished the course (n=60/95, 63%). There were significant improvements in personal readiness to prescribe TY, safety prescribing TY, confidence to prescribe TY, current understanding/knowledge of TY and feeling adequately trained and educated to use some form of TY techniques with patients.
Conclusion:
Findings suggest a 5-week online TY training course is feasible in improving PTs readiness to prescribe TY, safety prescribing TY, confidence to prescribe TY, current understanding/knowledge of TY and feeling adequately trained and educated to use some form of TY techniques with patients. Future studies are proposed to test the effectiveness of TY training and education opportunities with PTs to further advance the adoption of TY into PT practice.
The positive impacts of yoga on stress, pain, and chronic disease has recently led to the integration of yoga as part of physical therapy (PT) treatment. Due to the lack of training for PTs related to yoga, there is currently a need to provide knowledge and education about how to safely and easily implement therapeutic yoga (TY) as a complementary treatment approach.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to assess the readiness of PTs (those who do not currently prescribe TY to patients) to integrate TY into treatment, and secondly, the feasibility (i.e., acceptability, demand, and practicality) of a 5-week online TY training to improve the readiness of PT’s to utilize TY in their practice.
Methods:
Licensed Physical Therapist’s (n=103) were recruited nationally through social media and email. Eligible and consented participants were asked to register in a 5-week online TY training course, Readiness for Integrating Yoga Therapeutics into Rehabilitation for PTs (intervention). PTs perceptions of TY and the role of safety and confidence in prescribing TY to patients were measured at baseline and post-intervention using a customized survey. Feasibility outcomes were measured after completion of the 5-week online training course with a survey. Feasibility was measured with acceptability, demand, and practicality. Our benchmarks included: (1) at least 70% of PTs would find the course acceptable, (2) at least 60% would finish the course (i.e., demand) and (3) there would be significant improvements in PTs perceptions of TY.
Results:
A total of 95 licensed PTs registered in the 5-week online TY training course, with 60 PTs (63%) completing the intervention and surveys. Of the PTs who completed the 5-week online training course, most PTs felt they were not ready (n=19/60, 31.7%) or somewhat ready (n=25/60, 41.7%) to integrate TY prior to taking the online training. Over half of PTs thought the online training was acceptable (n= 50/60, 83.3%) and finished the course (n=60/95, 63%). There were significant improvements in personal readiness to prescribe TY, safety prescribing TY, confidence to prescribe TY, current understanding/knowledge of TY and feeling adequately trained and educated to use some form of TY techniques with patients.
Conclusion:
Findings suggest a 5-week online TY training course is feasible in improving PTs readiness to prescribe TY, safety prescribing TY, confidence to prescribe TY, current understanding/knowledge of TY and feeling adequately trained and educated to use some form of TY techniques with patients. Future studies are proposed to test the effectiveness of TY training and education opportunities with PTs to further advance the adoption of TY into PT practice.
ContributorsThompson, Abigail Ann (Co-author) / Thompson, Abigail (Co-author) / Huberty, Jennifer (Thesis director) / Taylor, Matthew (Committee member) / Ortiz, Alexis (Committee member) / College of Health Solutions (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Approximately 248 million people in the world are currently living with chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HBV and HCV infections are the primary cause of liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinomas in the world with an estimated 1.4 million deaths annually. HBV in the Republic of Peru was used as a case study of an emerging and rapidly spreading disease in a developing nation. Wherein, clinical diagnosis of HBV infections in at-risk communities such the Amazon Region and the Andes Mountains are challenging due to a myriad of reasons. High prices of clinical diagnosis and limited access to treatment are alone the most significant deterrent for individuals living in at-risk communities to get the much need help. Additionally, limited testing facilities, lack of adequate testing policies or national guidelines, poor laboratory capacity, resource-limited settings, geographical isolation, and public mistrust are among the chief reasons for low HBV testing. Although, preventative vaccination programs deployed by the Peruvian health officials have reduced the number of infected individuals by year and region. To significantly reduce or eradicate HBV in hyperendemic areas and countries such as Peru, preventative clinical diagnosis and vaccination programs are an absolute necessity. Consequently, the need for a portable low-priced diagnostic platform for the detection of HBV and other diseases is substantial and urgent not only in Peru but worldwide. Some of these concerns were addressed by designing a low-cost, rapid detection platform. In that, an immunosignature technology (IMST) slide used to test for reactivity against the presence of antibodies in the serum-sample was used to test for picture resolution and clarity. IMST slides were scanned using a smartphone camera placed on top of the designed device housing a circuit of 32 LED lights at 647 nm, an optical magnifier at 15X, and a linear polarizing film sheet. Tow 9V batteries powered the scanning device LED circuit ensuring enough lighting. The resulting pictures from the first prototype showed that by lighting the device at 647 nm and using a smartphone camera, the camera could capture high-resolution images. These results conclusively indicate that with any modern smartphone camera, a small box lighted to 647 nm, and optical magnifier; a powerful and expensive laboratory scanning machine can be replaced by another that is inexpensive, portable and ready to use anywhere.
ContributorsMakimaa, Heyde (Author) / Holechek, Susan (Thesis director) / Stafford, Phillip (Committee member) / Jayasuriya, Suren (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Monoclonal antibody therapy focuses on engineering immune cells to target specific peptide sequences indicative of disease. An impediment in the continued advancement of this market is the lack of an efficient, inexpensive means of characterization that can be broadly applied to any antibody while still providing high-density data. Many characterization methods address an antibody's affinity for its cognate sequence but overlook other important aspects of binding behavior such as off-target binding interactions. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how the binding intensity between an antibody and a library of random-sequence peptides, otherwise known as an immunosignature, can be evaluated to determine antibody specificity and polyreactivity. A total of 24 commercially available monoclonal antibodies were assayed on 125K and 330K peptide microarrays and analyzed using a motif clustering program to predict candidate epitopes within each antigen sequence. The results support the further development of immunosignaturing as an antibody characterization tool that is relevant to both therapeutic and non-therapeutic antibodies.
ContributorsDai, Jennifer T. (Author) / Stafford, Phillip (Thesis director) / Diehnelt, Chris (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally according to the World Health Organization. Although improved treatments and early diagnoses have reduced cancer related mortalities, metastatic disease remains a major clinical challenge. The local tumor microenvironment plays a significant role in cancer metastasis, where tumor cells respond and adapt to a plethora of biochemical and biophysical signals from stromal cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Due to these complexities, there is a critical need to understand molecular mechanisms underlying cancer metastasis to facilitate the discovery of more effective therapies. In the past few years, the integration of advanced biomaterials and microengineering approaches has initiated the development of innovative platform technologies for cancer research. These technologies enable the creation of biomimetic in vitro models with physiologically relevant (i.e. in vivo-like) characteristics to conduct studies ranging from fundamental cancer biology to high-throughput drug screening. In this review article, we discuss the biological significance of each step of the metastatic cascade and provide a broad overview on recent progress to recapitulate these stages using advanced biomaterials and microengineered technologies. In each section, we will highlight the advantages and shortcomings of each approach and provide our perspectives on future directions.
ContributorsPeela, Nitish (Author) / Nikkhah, Mehdi (Thesis director) / LaBaer, Joshua (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and lethal brain tumor, due to its resistance to current conventional therapy. The resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy has been attributed to a special population of cells known as glioma stem cells. Previous literature has shown the importance of a Central Nervous System-restricted transcription factor OLIG2 in maintaining the tumor-propagating potential of these glioma stem cells. OLIG2's function was further elucidated, with its pro-mitogenic function due to its ability to negatively regulate the p53 pathway by suppressing the acetylation of the p53 protein's C terminal domain. Past work in our lab has confirmed that one of OLIG2's partner proteins is Histone Deacetylase 1 (HDAC1). In vitro experiments have also shown that targeting HDAC1 using hairpin RNA in glioma stem cells negatively impacts proliferation. In a survival study using a murine glioma model, targeting Hdac1 using hairpin RNA is shown to reduce tumor burden and increase survival. In this paper, we demonstrate that silencing Hdac1 expression reduces proliferation, increases cell death, likely a result of increased acetylation of p53. Olig2 expression levels seem to be unaffected in GSCs, demonstrating that the Hdac1 protein ablation is indeed lethal to GSCs. This work builds upon previously collected results, confirming that Hdac1 is a potential surrogate target for Olig2's pro-mitotic function in regulating the p53 pathway.
ContributorsLoo, Vincent You Wei (Author) / LaBaer, Joshua (Thesis director) / Mehta, Shwetal (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
CREB3L1 has been previously shown to auto-acetylate itself when prepared from HeLa cell based in vitro protein expression lysates. To circumvent the concerns of the contamination of co-purified human proteins from HeLa lysates, the protein was purified through insect cell transfection in vitro. The objective of this study was to assay the auto-acetylation activity of CREB3L1 prepared from insect cells using the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). To this end, His-tagged CREB3L1 was affinity purified from Hi5 cells using an IMAC column and used for acetylation assay. Samples were taken different time points and auto-acetylation was by western using antibodies specific to acetylated lysines. Auto-acetylation activity was observed after overnight incubation. Future experiments will focus on the improvement of purification yield and the identification of the substrates and interacting proteins of CREB3L1 to better understand the biological functions of this novel acetyltransferase.
ContributorsSchwab, Anna (Author) / LaBaer, Joshua (Thesis director) / Qiu, Ji (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
Description
Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility (e.g., practicality and demand) of a 4-week series of yoga classes in a homeless shelter. Participants: Five current residents of Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) and the Chief of Programming at CASS. Methods: Each shelter resident participated in a 5-minute interview answering questions regarding the demand of implementing a yoga program at CASS. The Chief of Programming participated in a 30-minute interview answering questions regarding the practicality of implementing a 4-week series yoga program at the homeless shelter. Results: CASS residents reported a strong desire to attend a yoga program. The Chief of Programming at CASS reported that implementing a yoga program would conflict with the overall goal of the shelter. Conclusion: Implementing a 4-week series yoga program is not feasible at CASS although there is a strong demand for a yoga program among the homeless population of the Phoenix metro area.
ContributorsSamuels, Jasmyne Angelique (Author) / Hart, Teresa (Thesis director) / Huberty, Jennifer (Committee member) / Pearl, Julia (Committee member) / School of Nutrition and Health Promotion (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12