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Colonoscopy education and outcome optimization
No full text2024In endoscopic procedures, there is a gold standard for helping diagnose patients with intestinal inflammatory, allergic, or infectious processes. The success of these procedures depends on the success of completing a clean-out preparation (CoP), which helps clean out the intestinal contents that otherwise would obscure the visualization of the intestine during the procedure. A poor CoP could result in a physician missing the clinical findings during the procedure. A poor CoP could also result in a longer procedure and greater exposure to anesthesia.This study is designed to understand the patient experience with a CoP to understand better the education the patients receive to complete the CoP. This study also assesses the access to medication and information. This study will assess the quality of the CoP rates across diagnoses, ages, gender, race, preferred language, and ethnicity. By taking in all these factors, this study will help improve the quality of the CoP and create a better outcome for the endoscopic procedures and better patient care
Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 5, no. 4: Booklet, no cover (8.5 x 11 format), print-ready
No full textThe full issue of Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 5, no. 4 is available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2144/4158
Modulating behavior deficits in Alzheimer’s disease models by targeting interneurons
No full text2024Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and a multifaceted challenge. AD is represented by cognitive decline, memory deficits, and diversification in behavior. The hallmark pathological characteristics of AD include amyloid-beta plaques and phosphorylated tau tangles; however, recent studies have explored the dysregulation of neuronal networks and its effect on behavior and memory deficits in AD mouse models (APP/PS1 mice). Here we investigate the role of amyloid pathology on interneurons using chemogenetics, behavioral testing, calcium imaging, and multiphoton and confocal microscopy. We show that APP/PS1 mouse models are more hyperactive than Wild-type (WT) mice and found that caffeine administered in WT mice mimic phenotypic behavior of APP/PS1 mice. Based on these findings, we use chemogenetics to target inhibitory somatostatin-expressing (SOM) interneurons to establish a comparison between spontaneity of excitatory and inhibitory interneurons in APP/PS1 mice. We found that hyperactive SOM interneurons were accompanied by decreased excitatory neuron activity in APP/PS1 mice, hypothesizing that inhibiting SOM restores brain-wide network dysfunction in mouse models
Evaluation of target gene deletion in conditional interleukin-17 receptor C knockout mice
No full text2024BACKGROUND: Spondyloarthritis is a family of inflammatory rheumatic conditions that primarily target the spine (“spondylitis”) and joints (“arthritis”) with genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and aberrant immune regulation at the center of disease pathogenesis. IL-17A is a cytokine produced by a variety of immune cells that plays a role in initiating and perpetuating the inflammatory response in spondyloarthritis. IL-17RC, a critical component of the receptor that responds to IL-17A is found on a diverse range of cell types including those responsible for bone remodeling, i.e., osteoblasts and osteoclasts, as well as antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages. The specific interplay that occurs between these cells remains incompletely understood. Previously in the Ermann lab, the Cre-loxP method of conditional Il17rc gene deletion was employed to determine which cells were the critical mediators of IL-17A effects on bone in a mouse spondyloarthritis model. However, no definitive evidence of Il17rc deletion in these specific cells was obtained.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to interrogate the efficacy of Il17rc conditional deletion in osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and macrophages. In addition, Il17rc deletion in germline knockout mice as well as various target tissue was investigated.
METHOD: Il17rcfl/fl.Ctsk-cre (Il17rc deletion in osteoclasts), Il17rcfl/fl.LyzM-cre (Il17rc deletion in myeloid cells, macrophages), Il17rcfl/fl.Prx1-cre (Il17rc deletion in early limb bud mesenchymal cells, osteoblasts), and Il17rc-/- (germline deletion of Il17rc) mice were generated. Cells from these mice were then cultured and subjected to DNA genotyping and IL17rc gene expression analysis. The functional impact of Il17rc gene deletion was analyzed by stimulation with IL-17A, TNF, or a combination of both cytokines (IL-17A + TNF). Gene expression changes of neutrophil-attracting chemokines (CXCL1 and CXCL2) were measured with real-time quantitative PCR.
RESULTS: Genotyping results of IL17rc-/- mice demonstrated successful Il17rc deletion, but results obtained in gene expression and functional analyses were ambiguous. LyzM- cre facilitated Il17rc gene deletion in macrophages to a moderate extent, and we observed heightened chemokine gene expression in response to TNF. Cells cultured in osteoblast assays in vitro appeared to be mostly of the myeloid lineage. Finally, when examining target tissues, only the Il17rcfl/fl.Prx1-cre mouse displayed the expected pattern of Il17rc deletion, i.e., in muscle, tendon, and bone, while Il17rcfl/fl.Ctsk-cre and Il17rcfl/fl.LyzM- cre mice exhibited widespread Il17rc deletion. Overall, the results need to be considered preliminary. A high degree of variability observed within groups underscores the need for further assay optimization and larger sample sizes
The mission work of the Rev. Canon Jonathan Kituri (1884-1964)
No full text[Jonathan Kituri played a significant role in spreading the gospel among the coastal peoples of Kenya, especially the Taita, a group comprising three distinct communities: the Dawida, Sagalla, and Kasigau. In 1907, he became the first Mtaita sent to divinity school. He is also believed to have been the seventeenth man to be ordained in all of Kenya.
Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 1, no. 3-4: Booklet, no cover (8.5 x 11 format), print-ready
No full textThe full issue of Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 1, no. 3-4 is available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2144/3566
Association between demographic and drug use characteristics on drug use behaviors following fentanyl testing strip use
No full text2024Fentanyl and its analogues are highly potent drugs contributing to the continuous rise in opioid-related drug overdose deaths. This is because of rates of fentanyl use are increasing due to its adulteration in the drug supply as well as intentional fentanyl use. To help combat this public health problem, harm reduction techniques are being used. One notable technique, fentanyl testing strips (FTS), can be used to detect the presence of fentanyl and some analogues from a drug sample. Identification of fentanyl through a FTS may promote the implementation of a behavior, such as deciding not to use the drug, or using the drug while implementing an additional harm reducing behavior. Existing literature suggests that FTS use yields drug use behavior change in some users but not all. We hypothesize that there are certain demographic and drug use characteristics that are associated with drug use behaviors in response to FTS testing. This cross-sectional study will allow for the identification of associations between demographic and drug use characteristics and certain drug use behaviors following FTS use. With data from this study, the efficacy of FTS as a harm reduction technique will be measured; and, with this information, harm reduction recommendations and education can be better-tailored and, thus, more effective at preventing opioid-related drug overdose deaths
Identification of mTOR interaction partners in the nucleus
No full text2024Embryonic diapause is a vital reproductive strategy that allows the continuing fitness of various species in response to stressful conditions. The blastocyst can remain in this paused state for an extensive duration while remaining pluripotent. This diapaused state can be recapitulated by inhibiting mTOR, a central regulator of cellular growth. This classically cytoplasmic protein was found to have nuclear function in regard to the epigenetic landscape. However, the mechanism of how mTOR enters the nucleus or binds to DNA is not well understood. This thesis attempts to identify the potential interactors of nuclear mTOR in its role in pluripotency maintenance
Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 3, no. 3: Booklet, no cover (A4 format), print-ready
No full textThe full issue of Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 3, no. 3 is available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2144/3567
Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 7, no. 4: Separate cover file (Word), print-ready
No full textThe full issue of Journal of African Christian Biography: v. 7, no. 4 is available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2144/4524