Honors Program Theses: Summer 2023
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/625487
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Item Restricted The Effects of Quinolinic Acid on Muscles and Bones(Augusta University, 2023-07) Patel, Rohan; Department of Biological Sciences; Honors ProgramQuinolinic 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 it 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.Item Restricted The Effect of Adenosine in the Phenotype of Gingival Fibroblast(Augusta University, 2023-06) Serrano-Lopez, Rogelio; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Honors ProgramThe oral microenvironment is the first site exposed to external factors such as food, liquids, allergens, microbes or even micro injuries from masticatory forces. The gingival mucosa has the specific ability to heal from micro injuries such as minor cuts without significant scar tissue formation when compared to skin. Although the gingival mucosa shows fascinating behaviors, it is still prone to inflammatory diseases, such as periodontitis. Periodontitis is an aging-associated and infection-driven inflammatory disease affecting almost half of the American adult population that leads to structural deterioration of the gingival mucosa, and ultimately to alveolar bone loss. Substantial variation in the clinical presentation of periodontitis is recognized, based on age of onset, extent, and severity (staging/grading). The specific biological mechanisms underlying phenotypic variations in the clinical presentation of periodontitis are poorly understood. Different cell types exist within the gingival tissue, including stromal gingival fibroblasts, which are a very heterogeneous population of cells that can assume diverse phenotypes. Our research was focused on the role of gingival fibroblasts in periodontitis. Previous work in our lab has identified adenosine signaling as a key pathway able to control inflammatory cytokine secretion of gingival fibroblasts. Adenosine signaling is a key metabolic pathway that regulates mucosal inflammation and tissue homeostasis. In this project, we combined data from human correlative studies and in vitro analysis of immunofluorescence to demonstrate the effect of adenosine in the inflammatory response of gingival fibroblasts, typified by the expression of CXCL1 chemokine. The selection of this chemokine is due to its ability to mediate neutrophil adhesion (a crucial event during inflammation) and attraction of additional immune cells to propagate inflammation. Thus, the overall goal of this project is to unveil the effect of adenosine in the inflammatory phenotype of gingival fibroblasts.Item Restricted Effects of Compression Garments on Oxygen Consumption and Heart Rate(Augusta University, 2023-07) Gilbert, Haley; Department of Kinesiology; Honors ProgramFor 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.Item Restricted Impact of Community-based Cancer Initiative on Health Knowledge Regarding Prostate Cancer(Augusta University, 2023-06) Idun, Ara; Department of Health, Society, and Policy; Honors ProgramIntroduction: 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.