Psy. D., Antioch University, 2021, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

This qualitative study on Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) utilized a combined methodology incorporating elements from phenomenology and grounded theory to contribute to the existing body of research on equine therapeutic practices by (a) clarifying foundational understandings its mechanisms of therapeutic action and (b) exploring barriers to the growth of the field from a practitioner point of view. Five phenomenological categories were identified and described as interwoven mechanisms of therapeutic action within the practice of EFP: observation, communication, mindfulness, embodiment and connection. Additionally, six phenomena were identified and explored as challenges to the field's growth: funding, awareness, cohesion, clarity, accessibility and measurability. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Committee: Allen Bishop PhD (Committee Chair); Elizabeth Bates Freed PsyD (Committee Co-Chair); Brenda Murrow PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Cognitive Therapy; Counseling Psychology; Mental Health; Occupational Psychology; Physiological Psychology; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Social Psychology

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2012, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology

Therapeutic interventions with horses are increasing and utilized to treat a number of ailments, including psychological ones. Despite the growth of these interventions, there has been little research performed, particularly quantitative, to determine efficacy. One proposed benefit of therapeutic riding, a particular type of intervention involving horses, is that it enhances or improves emotional well-being. This construct has been poorly defined and operationalized in the literature. The current study sought to operationalize and measure emotional well-being using a multidimensional model. Three proposed sub-domains of emotional well-being: positive affect, life satisfaction, and self-esteem were measured in adults prior to and after participation in a 12 week therapeutic horseback riding program. No significant differences were found from pre-test to post-test in any of the three domains. Lack of participation and thus a low sample size of adults contributed to the lack of significance. The findings suggest a need for further studies on the impact of therapeutic riding on emotional well-being, and suggestions are made for evaluation to be an ongoing and inclusive part of therapeutic riding programs.

Committee: Victor Pantesco Ed.D. (Committee Chair); Barbara Belcher-Timme Psy.D. (Committee Member); Elaine Campbell Psy.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology

Doctor of Education (Educational Leadership), Youngstown State University, 2024, Department of Teacher Education and Leadership Studies

Students at the collegiate level face chronic stress due to the lifestyles of heavy workloads, schoolwork, and adjustment to campus life. Being in prolonged periods of stress could negatively affect students' well-being, which can adversely affect other psychological areas such as mindfulness, motivation and engagement, and sense of belonging, as they are related through Seligman's (2011) Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment (PERMA) model. Large-animal activities, such as equine-facilitated learning activities (EFLA), are unique and innovative strategies to lessen the stress of college endeavors. The current mixed-methods investigation focused on implementing an EFLA program with college students at Youngstown State University. The study aimed to determine the impact of a four-week EFLA program on college students by assessing mindfulness, well-being, motivation, engagement, and a sense of belonging. Results from the current investigation can inform researchers and educators about the impacts an EFLA program on college students. Quantitative data results suggest that there were significant differences amongst the control and treatment groups from pre- and post-survey administration on mindfulness and well-being, along with suggesting no statistically significant differences in the sense of belonging, motivation, and engagement. However, the treatment group's mindfulness, well-being, motivation, engagement, and sense of belonging scores increased after the EFLA program, while the control group's scores decreased. Additionally, qualitative accounts suggested themes and favorable responses in students who felt their well-being, mindfulness, motivation, engagement, and sense of belonging increased from the program. Participant perceptions regarding the EFLA program aligned with the quantitative results in the belief that it improved their well-being, mindfulness, sense of belonging, motivation, and engagement. Additionally, well-being (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Karen Larwin PhD (Committee Chair); Kenneth Miller PhD (Committee Member); Eddie Howard EdD (Committee Member) Subjects: Education; Educational Leadership; Higher Education; Mental Health

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2024, Animal Sciences

An estimated 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives. Equine-assisted interactions (EAI) have been reported to contribute to positive outcomes for a variety of populations. However, little is known of the how previous trauma may influence these outcomes. EAI is a comprehensive term used to refer to a variety of services that utilize horses and other equine to benefit people. Although positive outcomes have been observed among EAI participants, research reports mixed results with few studies utilizing a multifaceted approach to assess responses. Additionally, few studies have sought to investigate the impact of EAI on the equine participant. Limited evidence suggests there is little to no effect of EAI on the equine involved but these studies lack a multifaceted approach which prevents a more comprehensive understanding of the equine experience. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to 1) assess the influence of equine assisted interactions (EAI) on human biopsychosocial responses, 2) assess the influence of previous trauma type on biopsychosocial responses to EAI, and 3) to assess the influence of EAI on equine participants using a biobehavioral approach. Participants (n = 36) interacted with the same equine (n = 10) in four consecutive, weekly 30-min EAI sessions. Human biological measures included heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and salivary analytes oxytocin (OT), TNF- α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8. Human psychological responses included participants' perceived quality of life, PTSD symptoms, momentary anxiety, and psychological distress. Human behavioral responses including standing, locomotion, sitting, and touch were assessed via scan sampling every 30 sec from video recorded every session. EAI sessions were video recorded to assess behavioral responses via scan sampling. Previous trauma was classified as TBI, PTSD, BOTH (PTSD/TBI), or NONE. Equine biological responses included heart rate (HR), heart (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kimberly Cole (Advisor); Joseph Guada (Committee Member); Kathryn Lenz (Committee Member); Aubrey Fine (Committee Member) Subjects: Animal Sciences; Animals; Behavioral Sciences; Immunology; Psychobiology

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2024, Veterinary Clinical Sciences

Equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries heal primarily through fibrosis, in part due to persistent macrophage-induced inflammation throughout the healing process. Despite the low retention and short life of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) following intratendinous injections, benefits including reducing local inflammation, improving histological structure, and reducing tendon re-injury rates, in experimental and naturally occurring equine tendonitis, are well-known. Extracellular vesicle (EV) release at the healing milieu is one of the speculated mechanisms for the immunomodulatory and anti-fibrotic benefits of BM-MSC. EVs are secreted membrane-bound cytokine, growth factor and mRNA/miRNA cargo reflective of the parent cells and facilitate intercellular communication. From a clinical standpoint, EVs circumvent donor site morbidity, time lag for culture expansion and allogenic cell-related immunogenicity limitations of BM-MSC and comprise an ‘off-the-shelf' cell-free therapy for equine tendon injuries.    This research investigates the mitogenic, anti-inflammatory, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling effects of equine BM-MSC-derived EVs (BM-EV) on tenocytes cultured on acellular SDFT matrix. We hypothesized that (1) BM-EV increases the adherence and proliferation of tenocytes during culture on acellular SDFT matrix, and (2) BM-EV modulates inflammation and stimulates extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling during direct (cell-to-cell contact) tenocyte-macrophage co-culture on acellular SDFT matrix.   Undifferentiated (7-day basal media), pro-inflammatory (6-day GM-CSF and 24-hour LPS+IFN-γ priming) and regulatory (6-day basal media and 24-hour IL-4+IL-10 priming) macrophages were generated from peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes. Passage 3 tenocytes (CD90+105+27-45-) were isolated from freshly euthanized cadaveric forelimb mid-metacarpal SDFT via collagenase I digestion and monolayer culture.   BM-EV were isolated via ultra (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Sushmitha Durgam (Advisor); Alison Gardner (Committee Member); Laura Hostnik (Committee Member); Amit Sharma (Committee Member) Subjects: Comparative; Medicine

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), University of Findlay, 2023, Education

Background: Equine facilitated learning (EFL) leadership programs have recently gained recognition as a novel approach to teaching leadership but are not widely known or researched. Methods: A study was conducted from the text of 13 selected EFL leadership program websites using qualitative thematic content analysis. Program characteristics, missions, values, and program goals and objectives were researched. Also investigated were program leadership themes listed on the 13 websites, their relationship to authentic, servant, situational, and transformational leadership theories, evaluation tools used by those theories, and how leadership incorporates into programs. Results: Program characteristics were inconsistent and may be confusing to potential participants. Programs do not specifically tie to leadership theories when teaching their classes, do not appear to be training leadership in specific ways, and lack evidence regarding how they, and their evaluations, relate to authentic, servant, situational, and transformational leadership theories. Conclusions: More consistency among programs and further research is recommended.

Committee: Dr. Kara Parker (Committee Chair); Dr. Jon Brasfield (Committee Member); Dr. Amanda Ochsner (Committee Member) Subjects: Business Administration; Business Education; Curricula; Education; Education Policy; Educational Evaluation; Educational Leadership; Management; Teaching

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2023, Veterinary Clinical Sciences

Equine metabolic syndrome is a collection of clinical and clinicopathologic findings including insulin dysregulation (ID), regional adiposity or obesity, and laminitis. Insulin dysregulation and hyperinsulinemia are associated with development of hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis (HAL), resulting in significant welfare and financial implications. Previous research in our laboratory identified attenuation of activated 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) concentrations and increased downstream activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in digital lamellar tissue of horses with laminitis. Therapy with other AMPK agonists has been investigated alone and in combination (such as metformin and aspirin), yielding variable efficacy in altering ID. Since mTOR is upregulated in laminitis, resveratrol (RES) may also be an attractive therapeutic target for HAL. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of combination treatment with RES (10 mg/kg PO q12hr), metformin (MET; 30 mg/kg PO q12hr), and aspirin (ASP; 20 mg/kg PO q24hr) on experimentally-induced ID. We hypothesized that co-administration of AMPK agonists would improve insulin and glucose dynamics in experimentally-induced equine ID. ID was induced in 33 healthy adult light-breed horses using dexamethasone (0.08 mg/kg by mouth every 24 hours). Horses were randomly assigned to one of 5 treatment groups: RES, MET/ASP, RES/ASP, RES/MET/ASP, and placebo (CON). Frequently-sampled insulin-modified IV glucose tolerance tests (FSIGTT) and oral sugar tests (OST) were performed at baseline, after 7 days of dexamethasone administration (ID), and after ID plus 7 additional days of AMPK agonist treatment. Minimal Model analysis was performed to calculate AIRg (acute insulin response to glucose), insulin sensitivity (SI), glucose effectiveness (Sg), and disposition index (DI) from the FSIGTT [insulin] and [glucose] data. Area under the curve of [insulin] (AUCins) and (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Teresa Burns (Committee Chair); Ramiro Toribio (Committee Member); Laura Hostnik (Committee Member) Subjects: Endocrinology

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2023, Biomedical Sciences

Injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) accounts for up to half of the musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses and is a common reason for retirement. There is growing evidence that SDFT injuries are the result of cumulative microdamage from racehorses working at high speeds that place the tendon under maximal tensile capacity, rather than a single traumatic event. Current therapies consisting of prolonged rest, rehabilitation, and intralesional biologics aim to improve healing of the SDFT, but reduced elasticity of the ‘healed' tendon results in re-injury rates of up to 50%. Therefore, documenting flexor tendon adaptation to athletic training and delineating the mechanisms leading to SDFT injury in racing Thoroughbreds is crucial for reducing tendon injury incidence and associated loss. The objectives of this research are two-fold. First, to assess changes in SDFT hierarchical structure and elastin in mid-metacarpal SDFTs obtained from 2-, 3-, and 4year-old training/racing Thoroughbred cadaver distal limbs. Second, to determine if the biomechanical properties of SDFT are altered by athletic training. Distal forelimb SDFTs were collected from 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses (N=50) within 48 hours of death or euthanasia for reasons other than SDFT injuries and that were necropsied through the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS). A randomly chosen forelimb SDFT was processed for histology and whole tendon biochemical quantification. The contralateral forelimb SDFT was stored at -20°C for whole tendon biomechanical testing. For histological assessment, cryopreserved sections from 1-cm mid-metacarpal SDFT segments were used for elastin immunostaining, prior to concurrent immunofluorescence and second harmonic generation (SHG) confocal microscopy. Stained, paraffin-embedded, histological sections were used for fascicle cross-sectional area (CSA) and interfascicular matrix (IFM) measurements using (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Sushmitha Durgam BVSc, MS, PhD (Advisor); Rebecca Urion (Committee Member); Hilary Rice DVM, MS (Committee Member) Subjects: Animal Sciences; Biomechanics; Biomedical Research

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2023, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

The following dissertation presents a proposal for a program developed on theoretical concepts of the False Self and Persona. Integrative treatment approaches, such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, surfing, equine therapy, and wilderness therapy combined with individual and group psychotherapy, may be helpful in diminishing adolescent substance abuse by increasing connection to their internal resources and exposure to healthy external support. Although there are various programs that have proven to be effective in the treatment of substance abuse in adolescence, they tend to neglect the subjective experience of the individual and fail to address the why, behind the desire to self-negate in adolescence. Thus, the focus of this program is to move towards true self functioning by increasing subjective well-being and fostering a greater connection to self. This program proposal will discuss the underlying goals and proposed implementation of these integrative approaches in the treatment of adolescent substance abuse. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, https://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu

Committee: Johanna Hays Psy.D (Committee Chair); Christopher Howard Psy.D (Committee Co-Chair); Bonnie Goldstein Ph.D (Committee Member) Subjects: Psychology; Psychotherapy; Spirituality

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2022, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive motor disorder resulting from injury to the brain. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social interaction and adaptive behavior. Together, CP and ASD are the second- and third-most-common developmental disabilities. While ASD is not primarily a motor disorder, up to 80% of children with ASD have motor delays. Impairments in upper extremity coordination are present in many children with CP and ASD. Physical therapy is often utilized for children with CP and ASD to improve motor function. Participation outcomes are often the most important element of PT to children with CP and ASD and their families. Participation is a component of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health framework, which refers to participation in life situations. Upper extremity function can play a major role in participation, as the upper extremities are commonly involved in leisure, play, and school activities. Physical therapy (PT) using hippotherapy and the equine environment shows promise for improving function and participation in children with CP and ASD. There is also preliminary evidence that hippotherapy might be effective in improving upper extremity function in children with CP. Hippotherapy is the use of equine movement in therapy, and PT in the equine environment refers to any other therapeutic activities involving equines or aspects of the equine environment. While reach and grasp are inherent to many upper extremity activities, there are few outcome measures to evaluate reach and grasp abilities. The measures that are available involve clinical observation and subjective scoring of performance which could be affected by rater bias. Three-dimensional (3D) motion capture offers an objective and quantitative measurement of human movement and is the gold standard for evaluating gait in motor-impaired populations. A few studies have used 3D motion capture to evaluate (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jill Heathcock PT, MPT, PhD (Advisor); Deborah Larsen PT, PhD (Committee Member); Laura Schmitt PT, MPT, PhD (Committee Member); Ajit Chaudhari PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Biomechanics; Physical Therapy; Rehabilitation

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2022, Comparative and Veterinary Medicine

Intrasynovial tendon injuries are common debilitating conditions characterized by persistent inflammation and tissue degeneration during healing, and are associated with poorer outcomes than extrasynovial tendon injuries. Changes in tendon structure and vascularity following injury facilitate circulating immune cell influx, of which, monocyte-derived macrophages dominate and persist throughout healing. Macrophages are emerging targets for modulating/manipulating tendon healing as they play a fundamental role by initiating and/or resolving inflammation and recruiting fibroblasts via secreted signals for extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. Macrophages respond to local stimuli, exhibit pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory/regulatory phenotypes, and exert differential effects at the tissue healing site. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate macrophage-derived inflammatory and regulatory signals, and subsequently examine their effects on intrasynovial flexor tendon cell bioactivity. Our specific objectives included (1) optimizing peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophage in vitro differentiation protocols, and subsequently determining their inflammatory and regulatory cytokine secretion, and (2) investigating intrasynovial flexor tenocyte-macrophage interactions in direct (cell-to-cell contact) and transwell (non-contact mediated) in vitro co-culture model systems. Peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes were isolated from 5 horses (IACUC approved) via sequential density gradient centrifugation and magnetic bead-based positive selection. Forelimb intrasynovial deep digital flexor tendons opposing the distal sesamoid bone were harvested from 4 of those horses immediately following euthanasia, collagenase digested to obtain single cell suspensions, and monolayer passaged twice to isolate intrasynovial flexor tenocytes (CD90+105+27-45-). (1) Monocytes were maintained in basal medium (RPMI + 10% FBS + 1% penicillin-streptomycin) and ± 50ng/mL equine GM-CSF (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Sushmitha Durgam (Advisor); Teresa Burns (Committee Member); Samantha Evans (Committee Member); Devina Purmessur (Committee Member) Subjects: Biomedical Research; Immunology

MFA, Kent State University, 2020, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of English

The movement of humans across the globe in the shadow of conquest has, for thousands of years, been synonymous with the movement of horses – their bones lie alongside ours in the chronicle of civilization. The Bones of the Horse is a collection of braided essays exploring Man's evolutionary relationship with horses, set alongside a personal narrative exploring the author's own development as a horseperson. The essays braid elements of memoir with research regarding the horse's place as the most universally conscripted, living companion and tool in human history: the use of the horse as a soldier and therapy aid, the horse-dominant culture of nomadic Mongolians, horse welfare and rehabilitation, and the horse's consistent representation in artwork from nearly every millennia and every corner of the world.

Committee: David Giffels (Advisor) Subjects: Animals; Cultural Anthropology; Fine Arts; History; Modern History; Recreation; World History

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2020, Comparative and Veterinary Medicine

Limiting the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria has become a global goal for public health as well as human and veterinary medicine. The heightened use of broad-spectrum antibiotics facilitates the selection and dissemination of resistant bacteria and virulent resistance genes. Epidemiologic studies on antibiotic resistance are frequent in companion animals and livestock, but similar studies in equine populations are few and primarily limited to Europe. Resistant commensal bacteria can produce dangerous opportunistic infections or can potentially transfer antimicrobial resistance genes horizontally to pathogens via mobile genetic elements such as plasmids. Similarly, hospitals create population-dense environments conducive to the transmission of resistant bacteria between commonly-contacted surfaces and patients. The equine microbiota and hospital environment are seldom surveyed but may be important reservoirs of resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of extended-spectrum cephalosporin, fluoroquinolone, and carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the hospital environment and patient gastrointestinal microbiota at two referral equine specialty hospitals. Environmental (n = 315) and patient fecal samples (n = 358) were obtained from The Ohio State University Galbreath Equine Center (OSUGEC) and a private referral equine hospital in Kentucky (KYEC.) Fecal samples were collected upon admission as well as 48 h and 3-7 d post-admission. When compared to admission, patients were more likely to harbor fecal Enterobacteriaceae after 48 h of hospitalization expressing AmpC β-lactamase (OR=4.2, P<0.0001), ESBL (OR=3.2, P<0.0001), and fluoroquinolone resistance (OR=4.0, P<0.0001) phenotypes. Patients hospitalized at KYEC were at greater odds of harboring fluoroquinolone resistant bacteria (OR=2.2, P=0.022) but no significant difference between hospitals was observed for cephalosporin resistance. Hospitalization inc (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Thomas Wittum (Advisor); Teresa Burns (Committee Member); Dubraska Diaz-Campos (Committee Member) Subjects: Epidemiology; Veterinary Services

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2019, Comparative and Veterinary Medicine

The enteroinsular axis (EIA) comprises intestinal factors (incretins) that stimulate insulin release after ingestion of nutrients. Energy dysregulation is frequent in sick foals. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are the main incretins. For Study #1, we hypothesized that secretion of incretins in healthy foals secondary to orally administered carbohydrates would be increased compared to an equivalent dose of glucose administered intravenously or during a period of fasting. We also hypothesized that this incretin response would be linked proportionately to insulin responses. Thirty-six healthy, Standardbred foals ≤ 4 days of age were included. After a 60-minute fast, blood was collected immediately prior to the administration of carbohydrate either orally or intravenously. Blood was collected frequently over a 180-minute period. Foals were not allowed to nurse during the study period. Some foals were sampled following access to free choice nursing. A fasting group of foals experienced this same protocol, but no carbohydrate was administered. Glucose was measured using a portable glucometer and plasma insulin, GIP, and GLP-1 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Enteral glucose did not induce a significant increase in glucose or insulin. GIP and GLP-1 concentrations decreased, regardless of study group, throughout the testing period until foals were allowed to nurse. We documented that healthy equine neonates have a functional enteroinsular axis (EIA) as evidenced by the rapid and significant increases in insulin, GIP and GLP-1 concentrations compared to 180 minutes when allowed to nurse. We also demonstrated that the response of the EIA in equine neonates, in the immediate postpartum period, is highly variable. For Study #2, we hypothesized that blood concentrations of insulin and incretins would be decreased in septic foals compared with healthy controls. We also expecte (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Ramiro Toribio (Advisor); Teresa Burns (Committee Member); Laura Dunbar (Committee Member) Subjects: Veterinary Services

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2018, Comparative and Veterinary Medicine

Objective: To investigate effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) or HA combined with chondroitin sulfate (CS) and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (NAG) by use of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro method. Sample: Monolayer cultures of synovial cells from 4 adult horses. Procedure: Synovial cell cultures were untreated or treated with HA alone or HA- CS-NAG for 24 hours, subsequently unchallenged or challenge-exposed with 2 LPS concentrations (20 and 50 ng/mL) for 2 hours, and retreated with HA or HA-CS-NAG for another 24 hours. Cellular morphology of cultures was evaluated at 0, 24 (before LPS), 26 (after LPS), and 50 (24 hours after end of LPS) hours. At 50 hours, cell number and viability and prostaglandin (PG) E2, interleukin (IL)-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)3, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 production were measured. Results: LPS challenge exposure induced a significant loss of characteristic synovial cell morphology, decrease in cell viability, and increases in concentrations of PGE2, IL-6, MMP-3, and COX-2. Cells treated with HA or HA-CS-NAG had significantly better viability and morphology scores and lower concentrations of PGE2, MMP-3, IL-6, and COX-2 than untreated LPS challenge-exposed cells. Cells treated with HA had significantly better morphology scores at 50 hours than cells treated with HA-CS-NAG. Cells treated with HA-CS-NAG had significantly superior suppression of LPS-induced production of PGE2, IL-6, and MMP-3 than cells treated with HA alone. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: HA and HA-CS-NAG protected synovial cells from the effects of LPS. Treatment with HA-CS-NAG had the greatest anti-inflammatory effect. These results supported the protective potential of HA and HA-CS-NAG treatments.

Committee: Alicia Bertone (Advisor); Matthew Brokken (Committee Member); Prosper Boyaka (Committee Member) Subjects: Veterinary Services

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2018, Antioch New England: Clinical Psychology

This study examined the potential impact of equine-facilitated therapy (EFT) as an adjunct treatment for pre-adolescent girls with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Research on EFT has shown some promise in helping children develop a sense of self and greater awareness of their behavior and body language. It has also shown potential for increasing externalizing and internalizing behaviors. The rationale behind the use of EFT with children with ADHD is that by taking part in an EFT program, they will receive immediate feedback on their behavior and will therefore experience an increase in attentional control and a decrease in impulsivity. Two 11-year-old girls with a diagnosis of ADHD took part in a 12-week EFT program. They received 12 sessions and participated in this study for a total of 14 weeks. Measures were administered four times over the course of the study. Participants completed the BASC-2 Self-Report of Personality and the IVA-CPT-2, while the parents filled out the BASC-2 PRS. The focus of this research was to investigate whether EFT can be beneficial in reducing core symptoms of ADHD (i.e., attention problems, hyperactivity, internalizing and externalizing behavior) according to both participants and their parents. The results suggest that the potential benefits of EFT vary depending on the individual. Both parents and participants reported a decrease in symptoms associated with ADHD on the BASC-2. On the IVA-CPT-2, only the Response Control Auditory scale for Participant 1 showed some improvement throughout the program, while the other scales showed improvements until Time 3. These gains were not maintained on the last testing day. The results for Participant 2 showed a decrease in scores on both attention and response control scales throughout the program.

Committee: Theodore Ellenhorn Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Vincent Pignatiello Psy.D. (Committee Member); Amanda Hitchings Psy.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1979, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: Health Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2016, Comparative and Veterinary Medicine

Sepsis and neonatal maladjustment syndrome (NMS) are the most common diseases of newborn foals. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland axis (HPAA) regulates a multitude of physiological processes including energy metabolism, water and electrolyte balance, immune function, and organ maturation. The HPAA is also the key regulator of the stress response to pathological conditions. Hypothalamic factors including corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) control the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates the adrenal gland to synthesize cortisol, aldosterone, as well as steroid precursors and sex steroids. Relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) or critical illness related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI), defined as an insufficient cortisol response to stress or inadequate cortisol activity for the existing degree of critical illness has been associated with mortality in human patients. Our group and others have shown that RAI is associated with mortality in septic foals. However, a more detailed investigation on the multiple adrenocortical steroid response in critically ill foals is necessary to better understand the pathogenesis of equine perinatal disorders and the contribution of adrenal dysfunction to equine perinatal diseases. The overall aim of the studies reported herein was to investigate the association of multiple adrenal steroids and steroid precursors (e.g. pregnenolone, progesterone) with disease severity and outcome in foals. First, a new scoring method (Foal Survival Score) was developed to predict severity of disease and survival in hospitalized foals (Chapter 2). The second study determined the association of AVP and aldosterone concentrations with clinical signs and laboratory findings of tissue hypoperfusion in hospitalized foals (Chapter 3). Next, the response of adrenal corticosteroids and steroid precursors to stressful events was evaluated in hospitalized foals on admission. I (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Ramiro Toribio DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM (Advisor) Subjects: Animal Diseases; Animal Sciences; Animals; Veterinary Services

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2016, Comparative and Veterinary Medicine

Sepsis-related laminitis (SRL) is a common complication in the septic/endotoxemic critically-ill equine patient, in which lamellar injury and failure commonly lead to crippling distal displacement of the distal phalanx. Similar to organ injury in human sepsis, lamellar injury in SRL has been associated with inflammatory events, including the influx of leukocytes into the lamellar tissue and markedly increased expression of a wide array of inflammatory mediators at the onset of Obel grade 1 (OG1) laminitis. The only treatment reported both clinically and experimentally to protect the lamellae in SRL, local hypothermia, has been demonstrated to effectively inhibit lamellar expression of multiple inflammatory mediators when initiated at the time of administration of a carbohydrate overload in experimental models of SRL. However, the effect of hypothermia on leukocyte influx into affected tissue has not been assessed. We hypothesized that hypothermia inhibits leukocyte emigration into the digital lamellae in SRL. Immunohistochemical staining using leukocyte markers MAC387 (marker of neutrophils, activated monocytes) and CD163 (monocyte/macrophage-specific marker) was performed on archived lamellar tissue samples from an experimental model of SRL in which one forelimb was maintained at ambient temperature (AMB) and one forelimb was immersed in ice water (ICE) immediately following enteral oligofructose administration (10g/kg, n=14 horses). Lamellae were harvested at 24 hours post-oligofructose administration (DEV, n=7) or at the onset of OG1 laminitis (OG1, n=7). Both MAC387-positive (+) and CD163-positive (+) cells were counted by a single blinded investigator on images [n=10 (20x fields/digit for MAC387 and 40x fields/digit for CD163)] obtained using Aperio microscopy imaging analysis software (Leica Biosystems Inc. Buffalo Grove, IL USA). Data were assessed for normality and analyzed with a paired t-test and one-way ANOVA with significance set at p<0.05. MAC387(+ (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: James Belknap DVM PhD (Advisor); Teresa Burns DVM PhD (Committee Member); Margaret Mudge VMD (Committee Member); Eric Schroeder DVM MS (Committee Member) Subjects: Cellular Biology; Immunology; Veterinary Services

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2015, Comparative and Veterinary Medicine

Cathepsin K (CatK), a cysteine protease, has been implicated in the process of bone resorption and inflammation. Selective inhibitors of CatK are promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases associated with excessive bone loss and osseous inflammation, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, periodontitis, osteoporosis, and multiple myeloma. Multiple reports have emerged over the last several years demonstrating the effect of different CatK inhibitors on osteo-inflammatory conditions. Therefore, the study of CatK inhibition as a target to prevent bone loss and inflammation, and influence bone marrow osseous progenitor cells, in a large animal model, is the subject of this dissertation. The horse was selected as the large animal model because this species suffers from ailments of adaptive bone remodeling in their sport performance and CatK inhibitors may serve as therapeutics in this species as well as serve as a large animal model for human applications. In the first phase of this work, we determined an optimal dose and dose interval for a CatK inhibitor (CatKI), VEL-0230, in healthy adult horses. Plasma pharmacokinetic (PK) and bone resorption biomarker [carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-1)] analyses were performed following single and multiple oral dose protocols of a CatKI (VEL-0230) in horses. Weekly administration of VEL-0230, at a dose of 4 mg/ kg body weight, provided effective inhibition of bone resorption in young exercising horses that returned to baseline within 7 days after drug withdrawal even after multiple doses. In the second phase of this work, we evaluated bone structure and turnover in healthy young exercising horses receiving repeated oral dosing of a CatKI in a randomized, controlled, double-blinded, prospective, sufficiently powered clinical trial. With the objectives of: 1. To determine whether repeated dosing of a CatKI produced a desired inhibition of the bone resorption biomarker (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Alicia Bertone PhD (Advisor); Maxey Wellman PhD (Committee Member); Prosper Boyaka PhD (Committee Member); Teresa Burns PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Biomedical Research; Cellular Biology