http://hdl.handle.net/1903/1633 Fri, 24 May 2013 12:54:06 GMT 2013-05-24T12:54:06Z http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13865 Title: Residual DNA in Commercial Taq DNA polymerase as a Source of Interference with Immuno-PCR assay Authors: Guag, Jake Abstract: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was developed for a broad range of purposes. As part of developing a very sensitive Immuno-quantitative PCR (iqPCR) assay, we attempted to reproduce two of the published papers, almost always experienced false-positive amplification. Based on personal communication from one of the authors, we suspected that impure reagents were responsible for the false-positive amplification. However, PCR can amplify a small number of DNA into enormous numbers of copies and the possibility of environmental contamination cannot be excluded. In this paper we show that our primers appeared to amplify residual DNA in the Taq DNA polymerase, and induced false-positive results. This finding is not in the published methods papers for iqPCR. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13865 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13810 Title: Alterations in the myogenic capacity of satellite cells in a mouse model of ALS Authors: English, Samuel A Abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that results in pervasive muscle wasting, paralysis, and ultimately death. Recent research efforts have been made to characterize skeletal muscle in the disease, with some evidence suggesting that the tissue may contribute to ALS pathogenesis. Therefore this study was undertaken to continue to describe ALS skeletal muscle, specifically a population of skeletal muscle-specific stem cells known as satellite cells that play a role in regeneration following injury. Satellite cells were isolated and cultured from mutant mice (SOD1 G93A) that recapitulate the disease, assessed for the capacity to differentiate and proliferate, and compared to age-matched control cultures. SOD1 G93A cultures exhibited decreased expression of transcription factors associated with differentiation (i.e. MyoD and myogenin) compared to control cultures, as well as a reduced ability to proliferate in vitro. These results indicate that the satellite cell population in a mouse model of ALS displays dysfunctional myogenic capacity in vitro, and thus may contribute to the atrophic pathology seen in the disease. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13810 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13706 Title: PERCEPTION OF PATIENT-PROVIDER COMMUNICATION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH HEALTH SERVICES UTILIZATION Authors: Villani, Jennifer Abstract: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 has generated an unprecedented emphasis on patient satisfaction and patient-centered care. This dissertation is composed of a series of papers on how patients perceive the quality of care delivered by their healthcare providers and its relationship to their usage of health services. The main hypothesis is that higher perceived quality of care is associated with more effective use of health services. The studies use nationally representative data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) with the research grounded in Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. In the first study, I explore whether differences in satisfaction between English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanics can be explained by acculturation and concordance with their providers with regard to race, ethnicity, gender, and language. I use the econometric Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method to quantify the contributions of each measured characteristic for explaining disparities in patient satisfaction. In the second study, I examine whether a lack of patient-centeredness and poor access to a regular provider are associated with greater nonemergent emergency department (ED) utilization. I employ a hurdle model to account for the two-part decision making process of whether to use the ED and how often to use the ED for nonemergent purposes. In the third study, I investigate the relationship between patient-centered care and receipt of six recommended clinical preventive services including screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, high cholesterol, hypertension, and vaccination against influenza. I use multivariate logistic regression models to determine the probability of compliance with national prevention guidelines. The results reveal the importance of how patients perceive interpersonal communication with their healthcare providers. In the first study, acculturation is implicated as a major contributor to differences in patient satisfaction with communication. Furthermore, the results from the second study indicate language concordance between patients and providers is related to less nonemergent ED use. Findings from the third study suggest a pattern of greater compliance with clinical preventive service recommendations when patients perceive receiving patient-centered care from their providers. Implications for policy and practice are presented. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13706 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13698 Title: DEMOGRAPHIC AND PSYCHOSOIAL CORRELATES OF WATERPIPE USE AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS Authors: Sharma Acharya, Eva Abstract: The primary goal of this study was to characterize the role of demographic and psychosocial factors that influence waterpipe use among college students. Data were gathered in two stages that incorporated mixed methods. A series of 59 in-depth interviews were conducted with college students who were established waterpipe smokers. Participants identified socializing as the main reason to smoke waterpipe. Other reasons included social acceptance of waterpipes compared to cigarettes, peer influence, relaxation, perception of looking "cool" and physiological effects commonly referred to as "buzz." Perceptions that smoking waterpipe was safer and less addictive than smoking cigarettes were fairly common. The second stage involved a cross sectional survey (n=378), conducted among college students. The goal of the survey was to examine the association between demographic factors, background variables (involvement in Greek organizations, participation in athletics, and living arrangements), and psychosocial factors (perceived risks, resistance self efficacy, peer influence) in relation to waterpipe use among college students. Ever use of waterpipe smoking was reported by 59%. Students who had ever smoked cigarettes or cigars and had a best friend who smoked waterpipes were more likely to ever smoke waterpipe. Also, college students with high levels of resistance self-efficacy were less likely to ever smoke waterpipe. The secondary aim of the study was to develop an instrument that measured the social contexts of smoking waterpipe among college students. A pool of 50 items was administered to a purposive sample of college students (n=274), who were regular waterpipe users. Three factors emerged that accounted for a cumulative variance of 47% and possessed adequate reliability. These factors were labeled "social facilitation", "family/cultural influence", and "alternatives to cigarettes." The summed scores for the three social context subscales were examined across frequencies of waterpipe use. Those who reported smoking waterpipe at least on weekly basis reported significantly higher scores on social facilitation than the other two groups. Similar effects were observed for family/cultural influence; weekly smokers used waterpipe more frequently in a context of family/cultural influence than occasional smokers. Understanding patterns of correlates of waterpipe use among college students is critical in developing interventions. Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13698 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z