The purpose of the study was to provide a descriptive data analysis for program planners on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding organ donation among undergraduate students enrolled at Ball State University. An 84-item questionnaire was administered to undergraduate students. The subjects were obtained from a convenient sample.The data were analyzed using mean and Pearson's r to answer the research questions. The overall attitudes of the subjects were positive (M=20.88 out of a possible 26). The knowledge of the subjects toward organ donation was low (M=9.98 out of a possible 22). About one half of the subjects indicated that they are organ donors, by indicating on the survey that they have signed an organ donor card or a similar document. Attitude regarding organ donation (r =.232) was found to be a greater influence on willingness to become an organ donor than was knowledge about organ donation (r = .106). Recommendations are to submit results to program planners to help create more effective organ donation recruitment. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

The dualist paradigm, which has been criticized by sources in both the Catholic tradition and feminism for alienating persons from their bodies and allowing the treatment of persons as objects and property, has greatly influenced the development and practice of medicine. Particularly now, with the advent of modern molecular biology techniques as well as the potential for commercial profit-making from human biomaterials, the use of patient-derived tissue in biomedical research brings forth many questions for discussion. The notion of embodiment, what it means to have and to be a body, can be seen as a useful perspective from which to gain insight into these questions concerning person's bodies. Although stated in different terms and employing different methodologies, many sources from both the Catholic and feminist traditions of thought on embodiment converge on a holistic understanding of the person, one that counters pervasive dualistic tendencies. Within the Catholic tradition, a person is considered to be an integrated unity of body and soul; as Pope John Paul II has said, 'touch the body, touch the person.' Within the feminist perspective, the classic 'our bodies, ourselves,' is a reference to the fundamental understanding of the self as incorporating the body in an essential sense. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1996.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1996.

M.Cur. (Intensive General Nursing) / Knowledge and technological advancement in the field of transplantation has increased the demand for organ donation. However, the supply of organs does not meet this demand, especially, among the black communities. Literature reviewed associate this imbalance with the few sources of organs, the technique of organ retrieval, discrepancies in the allocation of organs and sociocultural factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which the Zulu cultural norms and social structural dimensions influence an individual's decision to donate an organ or to undergo a transplantation, based on the theoretical assumptions of Leininger and Chrisman. A qualitative approach using an ethno- nursing method was selected, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the transplant co-ordinator representing the professional sector, the religious leaders and traditional healers representing the folk sector and the general public representing the popular sector of the health care system. The respondents were extracted from both the urban and rural settings. The conclusions arrived at were that there is lack of knowledge among the Zulu speaking people on organ donation and transplantation, related mainly to misconceptions associated with their life patterns, beliefs about death, burial and life hereafter, values and social structural dimensions. The recommendations with regard to the promotion of organ donation and transplantation among the Zulu speaking people were made based on culture sensitive and culture congruent principles, namely: • Cultural care preservative or maintenance such as ancestor worship, extended families etc. • Cultural care accommodation or negotiation such as their knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the human body especially the transplantable organs and their fear to discuss death, etc. • Cultural care repatterning and restructuring such as culture sensitive educational campaigns to dispel the fears and correct misconceptions.

No description available.

The human immune system is made up of cells and molecules distributed across the body, which provide protection from acute viral infection and can be maintained in diverse tissue sites as memory to protect against repeat viral exposure. Vaccine technology has leveraged our understanding of human immunity to induce immune memory in humans without infection. However, we continue to encounter novel infections, as evidenced by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, which necessitates the development of new vaccines and formulations, including the mRNA vaccine platform. Vaccine development began with serendipitous discoveries and, even today, often relies on empirical approaches that prioritize clinical outcomes over immunologic ones. For the recently developed coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines, we know that they confer clinical protection that wanes over time but have a more limited understanding of the immune memory they induce. Specifically, we do not know the tissue distribution of vaccine memory, these vaccines’ capacity to induce tissue-resident memory or various functional programs, and the relative role of B and T cells in protection. Through a unique collaboration with the New York City area organ procurement organization, LiveOnNY, we collected blood, bone marrow, spleen, lung, and various lymph nodes (LN) from human organ donors who had received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Using these tissues, we employed multimodal, high-dimensional analysis tools to investigate the localization, phenotype, maintenance, and functions of COVID-19 vaccine-induced memory in the context of host factors such as age, time post-vaccination, and prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. In samples from 63 organ donors aged 23-86, we found that COVID-19 vaccine memory was distributed across tissues, especially in LN, and was more durable across time post-vaccination and age in tissues than in circulation. Vaccine-specific B cells were mostly class-switched resident memory, while vaccine-specific T cells were variably tissue-resident depending on infection history. Vaccine-specific T cell effector functions were diverse and site-specific with an enhanced regulatory profile in tissues compared to circulating populations. To investigate the interaction between T and B cells in immune memory generation and their relative roles in protection, we also compared the quantity and quality of circulating COVID-19 vaccine induced memory from patients with multiple sclerosis taking B cell depleting (BCD) therapies to those taking other immunomodulatory therapies (non-BCD). In 281 samples from 216 subjects aged 24-78 we found that COVID-19 vaccine induced humoral immunity was completely diminished in the context of B cell depletion, but that cellular immunity, especially CD8+T cells, were enhanced in this context and maintained over time. Further, BCD subjects experienced equivalent numbers of infections following vaccination as non-BCD subjects. Together, these findings demonstrate that T cell responses can develop independently from, and may even be limited by, B cell responses, and that T cells but not B cells are critical for vaccine-induced protection. Ultimately, these findings provide critical insights for future vaccine development; studies must assess LN responses and aim to generate a robust cellular response that includes both regulatory and effector functional profiles within tissues.

This dissertation is the compilation of three separate works of research revolving around the theme of regulation of biomedical technologies that are either emerging or that have undergone significant developments over the past decade or so. Each of these three research works examines a legal response to a technological development in the areas of biotechnology and/or medicine and addresses one or more challenges - ethical, constitutional, legal or one that is related to public policy - created by that response. The first work of research, which was published in the Administrative Law Review in March 2008, examines the legality of the restrictions imposed by the administration of President George W. Bush on the funding of research involving human embryonic stem cells. Reaching the conclusion that the Bush Administration's actions were outright illegal in more than one way, the research highlights existing tensions in the division of decision-making power between the President and executive agencies and between Congress and the President. The second work of research, which was published in the Columbia Science and Technology Law Review in August 2010, reviews the regulation of genetic screening and testing of donated reproductive tissue in the United States. Analyzing the regulation in the federal, state and industry level, the research highlights significant shortcomings of the regulation of this area and, drawing on the experience of other countries, advocates the regulation of this area by the FDA. The third and last work of research of which this dissertation consists is dedicated to the examination of the newly created regime of statutory exclusivities afforded to biological pharmaceuticals under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) as it compares to the protection afforded to such products under patent law. The research concludes that allowing biological pharmaceuticals to benefits from parallel protection under both patent law and the statutory exclusivities regime established under BPCIA does not contribute to incentivizing innovation and might have undesirable ramifications from a public policy perspective. Hence, the research proposes limiting the protection afforded to biological pharmaceutical products, namely to the protection under either patent law or BPCIA, by suspending the ability to enforce patents covering biological pharmaceuticals against generic applicants under BPCIA. In addition, the research examines the proposition that under some circumstances it would be possible to substitute patent protection for statutory exclusivities.

The views of medical doctors regarding organ donation and transplantation in the Durban Metropolitan Region were examined in an exploratory and explanatory study, which included a descriptive, convenience sampled study of 43 graduate and postgraduate professionals, practicing in the private and provincial sectors. Characteristics were obtained from a 1 D6-item questionnaire that were later divided into component contributions according to Fazio's attitude to behavior process model (Fazio, 1989; Fazio & RoskosEewoldson, 1994). Variables which were analysed included personal demographics, personal views, knowledge and skills, practice-related issues, attitudes and perceptions as well as future recommendations. Analysis of the information revealed that most medical doctors approved of organ donation practices and viewed transplantation as a significant roleplayer in both the community and medical sectors. However, a knowledge and skills deficit combined with religious presumptions and general uncertainty regarding issues surrounding the practical, legal and emotional concepts of brain death may be responsible for the relatively low personal dedication and practice participation rate among the sample. Medical doctors from the provincial sector appeared to have considerable concerns which included: time constraints; a perceived lack of support from colleagues, nurses and hospital administrators; a lack of medico-Iegal awareness relating to organ donation and brain death and a scarcity of experience and insight into the transplant process. In order to address the paucity of awareness pertaining to brain death and organ donation activities, the findings indicate that formal and interactive education programs during the undergraduate, postgraduate and medical development phases are required in which issues surrounding death and dying can be explored by a multidisciplinary team. It appears that this team must comprise of doctors, lawyers, religious leaders, psychologists, administrators, nurses, donor families and transplant co-ordinators. This development may serve to emphasize the professional importance of holistic bereavement counseling, improve doctor and patient satisfaction, increase organ donation referrals and transplantation rates as well as diminish medico-Iegal concerns. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the knowledge of clients regarding renal donation at a specific urban health care facility in the Limpopo province. A quantitative, explorative, descriptive and cross-sectional design was used. Data was collected using a structured pre-tested questionnaire. Out of 317 questionnaires, 300 were valid and considered for the study. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software version 25. Data was presented using tables, graphs and charts. The study revealed that 32% (n=95) were males and 68% (n=205) were females. The results showed that there are a significant correlations between the attitudes, knowledge and actions of clients with regards to renal donation. The study revealed inadequate knowledge on the majority 74,7% (n=224) of the respondents on renal donation. A recommendation was that awareness campaigns on renal donation to be planned on world kidney days. Furthermore, the recommendations of the study will be presented to the Limpopo Department of health to take effective measures to educate people with relevant information on renal donation. A policy regarding awareness programme of renal donation should be developed. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)