Honors Program Theses
http://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/560340
2024-03-07T05:39:47ZThe Effect of Adenosine in the Phenotype of Gingival Fibroblasts
http://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/624905
The Effect of Adenosine in the Phenotype of Gingival Fibroblasts
Serrano-Lopez, Rogelio
Our research was focused on the role of gingival fibroblasts in the gingival inflammatory
response and in periodontitis. Previous work in our lab has identified adenosine signaling as a key
pathway able to control inflammatory chemokine secretion of gingival fibroblasts. The data from
human correlative studies comparing chemokine expression in healthy versus periodontitis was
combined with our in vitro analysis of immunofluorescence. Our in vitro data from
immunofluorescence results demonstrated the effect of adenosine in the inflammatory response of
gingival fibroblasts, typified by the expression of CXCL8- family of cytokines, including CXCL1.
We demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effect of adenosine on fibroblast phenotype typified by
the decreased IL-1β-stimulated CXCL1 expression.
CXCL1 was also significantly higher in samples derived from different grades/severity of
periodontitis compared to healthy-derived samples in our analysis of a public dataset. Our data
indicated fibroblasts have an important role in gingival inflammatory response. In our findings,
the expression or production of CXCL1 was abrogated after treating the human gingival
fibroblasts with adenosine after IL-1β stimulation. Thus, adenosine may influence the stromal
gingival inflammatory response in periodontitis by reducing the fibroblast-mediated activation of
inflammatory cells.
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2023-08-01T00:00:00ZEffects of Compression Garments on Oxygen Consumption and Heart Rate
http://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/624904
Effects of Compression Garments on Oxygen Consumption and Heart Rate
Gilbert, Haley
For my thesis I will be examining the influence full-leg compression garments have on oxygen
consumption and heart rate. It is speculated that compression garments assist with blood flow
velocity as well as increasing oxygen delivery to the muscles. It is well known that compression
garments aid in recovery and are widely used in the diabetic community to reduce pooling in the
lower limbs. What has not been well explored are the benefits to performance during running.
Studies show that compression garments reduce muscle oscillation, as well as soft tissue
movement (Bringard et al. 2006; Doan et al. 2003). It has been theorized this reduction creates
lower stress at the joints and a reduction in injury risk. It is reasonable to question that if
compression garments reduce muscle oscillation, then muscle activation time will also be
reduced because the muscles will not have to work as hard to counteract the additional
oscillating stress at impact. If muscles are not active for as long, then the muscles will not need
to produce as much energy or use as much oxygen. With an increase in blood flow and reduction
in muscle activation, the heart will not have to work as hard to circulate oxygen and similar
effects may occur for heart rate. However, very few studies have examined full-leg compression
garments while performing a submaximal endurance run. Therefore, we are testing subjects in
full-leg compression garments while performing a 40-minute submaximal effort run to determine
the effect on oxygen consumption and heart rate. From a runner's perspective I am intrigued with this topic because I am always looking for new
ways to enhance my performance during competition and compression garments could be that
next step. By gathering results from this research, it could potentially give us more information
on enhancing running performance. In the future we could expand on this research by looking at
more variables such as maximal oxygen uptake or examining the effects for longer endurance
runs like marathons.
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2023-08-01T00:00:00ZThe Effects of Quinolinic Acid on Muscles and Bones
http://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/624903
The Effects of Quinolinic Acid on Muscles and Bones
Patel, Rohan
Quinolinic acid(QA) is an NMDA-receptor agonist associated with several neurological
illnesses, including Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. QA is a metabolite of tryptophan
known for its excitotoxic nature in high concentrations. However, in normal conditions its acts as
a precursor in the manufacture of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a key molecule for
energy synthesis. As people age, the quantity of tryptophan and its metabolites, such as QA,
fluctuates. With age, QA levels rise, while tryptophan and NAD+ levels decline. QA’s known
association with energy production and beneficial properties is overlooked due to its toxic
behavior. In this study, we hope to further examine QA through a different perspective by
focusing on its potential healing properties rather than its harmful ones. We intend to investigate
QA by identifying its effects on muscles and bone marrow stem cells. To decipher its effects, in
vitro studies will be conducted. Through this process, we seek to learn if it has therapeutic
qualities through cell proliferation and whether it stimulates stem cell differentiation. In the end,
we believe that QA, a chemical with a negative connotation, will have notable healing effects on
bones and muscles and will be able to provide possible linkage with healthy aging.
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2023-07-29T00:00:00ZImpact of Community-based Cancer Initiative on Health Knowledge Regarding Prostate Cancer
http://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/624902
Impact of Community-based Cancer Initiative on Health Knowledge Regarding Prostate Cancer
Idun, Barbara
Although in recent decades deaths from prostate cancer have declined among all men,
Black men in the US are twice as likely as non-Hispanic White men to die of prostate cancer and
continue to have the highest prostate cancer mortality among all US population groups
(American Cancer Society, 2021). Within the United States this phenomenon becomes more
apparent in areas with a high density of Black Americans, for example the state of Georgia.
There, disparity can be seen in prostate cancer with a rate of 50.3 deaths per 100,000 versus 18.4
deaths per 100,000 for non-Hispanic White men (Georgia Cancer Data Reports, 2016).
Consensus agrees that these health inequalities exist due to a multitude of social, economic, and
cultural factors. These include cultural attitudes towards cancer, and accessibility to healthcare.
The cost of health inequality is human lives, thus, reducing the disparities seen in the Black
American community is imperative. One initiative that has set out to tackle this is the Cancer
Health Awareness through screeNinG and Education (CHANGE) program. CHANGE aims to
reduce Black American racial disparities in prostate, colorectal, and breast cancer through
education, navigation to screening, and provider cultural competency improvement. Researchers
used an evidence-based template, with an emphasis on modifiable risk factor prevention (such as
smoking or obesity), to develop informative classes on cancer screening eligibility, access to
screening at the Georgia Cancer Center, and encouragement of early detection behaviors to
promote health knowledge and self-efficacy. The CHANGE initiative presented four
community-tailored sessions with a focus on cancer, screening, and modifiable risk factors
guided by a trained facilitator. To gather evidence of acquired health knowledge an assessment
survey was sent out before and after the sessions took place
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2023-06-27T00:00:00Z