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EFFECT OF THE IMMUNE STRESS RESPONSE ON HYALURONIC ACID METABOLISM IN THE BRAIN UNDER CHRONIC STRESS CONDITIONS
No full text2023Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan present in the extracellular matrix of the brain that has been shown to exhibit a wide range of cell signaling functions based on differing molecular weights metabolized by cells. For my thesis, I evaluated how HA metabolism of the brain is altered by and involved in the immune stress response under conditions of chronic stress in the presence of latent viral infection. Characterization of how HA is involved in the stress response has become an ever-increasing area of research associated with anxiety, depression, and even suicide. However, little has been revealed as to how HA metabolism is affected by stress and whether these changes are associated with pathological manifestation. Our murine model of chronic stress included four main groups with an additional baseline (N=6) control collected prior to experimentation. The remaining mice were divided in half comprising virally infected and non-virally infected groups. Virally infected mice were intranasally inoculated with murine herpes virus (MHV4) strain 68. The infected and non-infected mice groups were further divided into two more groups where animals were subjected to a 30-day period of chronic unpredictable mild stressors (CUMS model). The 4 groups in the study were designated Non-stressed/Non-Viral (S-V-; N=7), Stressed/Non-Viral (S+V-; N=8), Non-stressed/Viral (S-V+; N=8), and Stressed/Viral (S+V+; N=8). Following the 30-day period of stress the mice were sacrificed and key organs/tissues (brain, spleen, and blood plasma) were collected. During the stress period, animal weights were measured at regular intervals along with performing marble tests to gauge how the stressors were affecting behavioral reactivity of the mice. Statistically significant differences in food consumption and mice weights based on the presence of stress and viral infection were found. As well, lymphocyte subset distribution, systemic cytokine, and corticosterone levels were altered significantly enough to suggest active immune stress response in the animals. Gene expression of all hyaluronic acid synthase isoforms (HAS) were affected with the most changes (16-fold increase) in HAS-3, which produces pro-inflammatory low molecular weight HA (LMW-HA). An increased presence of LMW-HA could lead to an increased inflammatory state in the brain and contribute to psychological pathologies.Uchakin, Peter NDrummond, JamesNoble, PamelaMcKallip, RobertChinnadurai, RaghavanM.S
Minutes of the Proceedings of the Eighth Anniversary of the Georgia Baptist Convention [1829]
No full textMinutes of the Georgia Baptist Convention, 182
Minutes of the Twenty-Seventh Anniversary of the Georgia Baptist Convention [1848]
No full textMinutes of the Georgia Baptist Convention, 184
Minutes of the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Georgia Baptist Convention [1851]
No full textMinutes of the Georgia Baptist Convention, 185
Minutes of the Fortieth Anniversary of the Baptist Convention of the State of Georgia [1862]
No full textMinutes of the Georgia Baptist Convention, 186
Minutes of the Sixty-First Anniversary of the Baptist Convention of the State of Georgia [1883]
No full textMinutes of the Georgia Baptist Convention, 188
Minutes of the Seventieth Anniversary of the Baptist Convention of the State of Georgia [1892]
No full textMinutes of the Georgia Baptist Convention, 189
Minutes of the Seventy-Seventh Anniversary of the Baptist Convention of the State of Georgia [1899]
No full textMinutes of the Georgia Baptist Convention, 189
WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW CAN HURT YOU: HOW A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ADDICTION AND RECOVERY MIGHT LEAD TO HEALTHIER FAMILIES AND CONGREGATIONAL SYSTEMS
No full text2023ABSTRACT
MATTHEW THOMAS DUVALL
WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW CAN HURT YOU: HOW A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ADDICTION AND RECOVERY MIGHT LEAD TO HEALTHIER FAMILIES AND CONGREGATIONAL SYSTEMS
Under the Direction of Graham B. Walker, Ph.D.
The topics of addiction and recovery are neither uniformly nor sufficiently covered in the M.Div. program for ministers going into the local church. Yet no more universal issue impacts every congregation than addiction to substances and processes and the need for healing through recovery. The lack of knowledge leads to silence and inaction on these issues, which perpetuates shame and judgment and continued struggles with addiction. This project explores how effective a compressed educational module about addiction and recovery might be in shifting the knowledge, attitude, and sense of competency in a local church minister lacking in this area.
I pulled together a cohort of ministers from local churches in the greater Atlanta area. We explored the concepts and history of the understanding and approach to treatment for addiction. We discussed concepts around recovery, particularly focused on the 12-step programs because of how widespread and effective they have been through the years. We thought about how ministers and congregations have a unique and essential role in supporting individuals and their families in addiction and recovery and how the church can create an ecosystem of healthy flourishing through recovery.
The results of the project, surveys, and interviews were encouraging. The participating ministers communicated that they did not know enough and that this information should have been a part of their ministry since seminary. Through the project, all eight ministers demonstrated a shift in their knowledge, attitude, and sense of competency around addiction
and recovery. Each of the participants had clear and practical next steps they planned to take to engage these issues further.Walker, Graham BMassey, Denise MHall, Jake ED.Min
Am I Enough?: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of the Academic Influences of Black Women in Counselor Education and Supervision Doctoral Programs
No full text2023Despite the high retention rate and challenges of program preparation, counselor education programs are inevitably challenging previous approaches to ensure that students are staying in their programs (Denecke et al., 2017; Evans et al., 2018; Zhou & Okahana, 2016). The purpose of this study is to establish a foundation by identifying the factors that lead to academic achievement among Black women in counselor education and supervision programs. This study used a convergent mixed-methods approach using a One-Way ANOVA and Grounded Theory to identify and examine emotional exhaustion, microaggressions, peer mentorship, and supportive networks as academic influences that affect the retention and matriculation process of Black Women in Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral programs. The theoretical framework used Brooks’ (1994) Critical Race Theory (as used in the educational context) and Collin’s (1989) Black Feminist Theory to understand experiences and outcomes through the lens of Black women. Results, implications, and future research were discussedLane, DavidWilkinson, TylerPrioleau, BrittanyJohnson, LeonissaD.Phil