Elizabeth Thomas, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, COHN-S, FAAOHN

Home•Faculty Group•Faculty•Elizabeth Thomas, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, COHN-S, FAAOHN

Associate Professor
Deputy Director, Occupational Environmental Health Nursing Program
Assistant Director, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Program 
School of Nursing

University of California, Los Angeles
3-153 Factor Building
Los Angeles, CA 90095

Phone: 310.825.3513
Email: ethomas@sonnet.ucla.edu

Website: School of Nursing

Research Areas:
Type 2 Diabetes in Working Adults
Occupational Health Programs for Employees
Ergonomics

Dr. Elizabeth Anne Thomas had more than 20 years of experience as an occupational health nurse practitioner prior to moving to academia. Having worked in high technology industries, in which she focused on meeting the health, safety, and ergonomic needs of employees, Dr. Thomas has extensive experience as a team leader in Total Quality Management. She has designed, implemented, and managed numerous occupational health programs, including award-winning workers' compensation and ergonomics programs. Dr. Thomas’s research at UCLA focuses on issues affecting older working adults, including type 2 diabetes, hearing loss, and work-related exposures such as noise and chemicals as well as preventing work-related musculoskeletal injuries.

 

Research Publications

Histone Posttranslational Modifications in Schizophrenia.
The neurobiology of apolipoproteins in psychiatric disorders.
Apolipoprotein D modulates arachidonic acid signaling in cultured cells: implications for psychiatric disorders
Molecular profiling of antipsychotic drug function: convergent mechanisms in the pathology and treatment of psychiatric disorders.
Evidence for disruption of sphingolipid metabolism in schizophrenia.
Molecular profiles of schizophrenia in the CNS at different stages of illness.
The HDAC inhibitor 4b ameliorates the disease phenotype and transcriptional abnormalities in Huntington’s disease transgenic mice.
Normal human aging and early-stage schizophrenia share common molecular profiles.
Focal nature of neurological disorders necessitates isotype-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors.
Coexpression network analysis of neural tissue reveals perturbations in developmental processes in schizophrenia.
In vivo cell-autonomous transcriptional abnormalities revealed in mice expressing mutant huntingtin in striatal but not cortical neurons.
Sphingolipid abnormalities in psychiatric disorders: a missing link in pathology
Differential age- and disease-related effects on the expression of genes related to the arachidonic acid signaling pathway in schizophrenia.
Forkhead box protein p1 is a transcriptional repressor of immune signaling in the CNS: implications for transcriptional dysregulation in Huntington disease.
Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors targeting HDAC3 and HDAC1 ameliorate polyglutamine-elicited phenotypes in model systems of Huntington’s disease.
Selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition imparts beneficial effects in Huntington’s disease mice: implications for the ubiquitin-proteasomal and autophagy systems.
Epigenetic changes at gene promoters in response to immune activation in utero.
Involvement of HDAC1 and HDAC3 in the Pathology of Polyglutamine Disorders: Therapeutic Implications for Selective HDAC1/HDAC3 Inhibitors.
HDAC inhibition imparts beneficial transgenerational effects in Huntington’s disease mice via altered DNA and histone methylation
DNA methylation in Huntington’s disease: Implications for transgenerational effects.
The Effects of Pharmacological Inhibition of Histone Deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) in Huntington’s Disease Mice.
Beneficial effects of glatiramer acetate in Huntington’s disease mouse models: Evidence for BDNF-elevating and immunomodulatory mechanisms
Complex neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects of histone deacetylases
Reducing Mcl-1 gene dosage induces dopaminergic neuronal loss and motor impairments in Park2 knockout mice.
Evaluation of Biochemical and Epigenetic Measures of Peripheral Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) as a Biomarker in Huntington’s Disease Patients.
Novel isoform of insulin receptor substrate p53/p58 is generated by alternative splicing in the CRIB/SH3-binding region.
Striatal specificity of gene expression dysregulation in Huntington’s disease.
Functional roles for the striatal-enriched transcription factor, Bcl11b, in the control of striatal gene expression and transcriptional dysregulation in Huntington’s disease.
Gene expression profiling of R6/2 transgenic mice with different CAG repeat lengths reveals genes associated with disease onset and progression in Huntington’s disease.
Peripheral reduction of β-amyloid is sufficient to reduce brain β-amyloid: implications for Alzheimer’s disease.
Salivary levels of total huntingtin are elevated in Huntington’s disease patients.
Disease Modifying Potential of Glatiramer Acetate in Huntington’s Disease.
A new UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase mRNA exhibits predominant expression in the hypothalamus, thalamus and amygdala of mouse forebrain.
Glycolipid and ganglioside metabolism imbalances in Huntington’s disease.
Selective deficits in the expression of striatal-enriched mRNAs in Huntington’s disease.
Apolipoprotein D levels are elevated in prefrontal cortex of subjects with Alzheimer’s disease: no relation to apolipoprotein E expression or genotype.
Genome-wide identification of Bcl11b gene targets reveals role in brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling.
Friedreich’s ataxia induced pluripotent stem cells model intergenerational GAA⋅TTC triplet repeat instability
Relationships among non-interpersonal and interpersonal trauma types, posttraumatic stress, and posttraumatic growth
Plasma neurofilament light in Huntington’s disease: A marker for disease onset, but not symptom progression.
Probabilistic outlier identification for RNA sequencing generalized linear models
Later Meal and Sleep Timing Predicts Higher Percent Body Fat
Pityriasis rubra pilaris type 6: A case report in an AIDS patient.
Levels of Interleukin-6 in Saliva, but Not Plasma, Correlate with Clinical Metrics in Huntington’s Disease Patients and Healthy Control Subjects.
Association of blood pressure with cognitive function at midlife: a Mendelian randomization study.
User-centered design of an air quality feedback technology to promote adoption of clean cookstoves.
Uric Acid as a Potential Peripheral Biomarker for Disease Features in Huntington’s Patients.
Effectiveness of Intermittent Fasting and Time-Restricted Feeding Compared to Continuous Energy Restriction for Weight Loss.
Red Listing can protect deep-sea biodiversity.
Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement Restructures Reward Processing and Promotes Interoceptive Awareness in Overweight Cancer Survivors: Mechanistic Results From a Stage 1 Randomized Controlled Trial.
Effects of a large-scale distribution of water filters and natural draft rocket-style cookstoves on diarrhea and acute respiratory infection: A cluster-randomized controlled trial in Western Province, Rwanda.
Quantifying increased groundwater demand from prolonged drought in the East African Rift Valley.
Understanding the Workplace Interactions of Young Adult Cancer Survivors With Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals
Sweat rate analysis of ivacaftor potentiation of CFTR in non-CF adults
Tiered Approach to Resilience Assessment.
Greater Reward-Related Neuronal Response to Hedonic Foods in Women Compared with Men.
Ensemble machine learning and forecasting can achieve 99% uptime for rural handpumps.
Comparison of respondent-reported and sensor-recorded latrine utilization measures in rural Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study.
Use, microbiological effectiveness and health impact of a household water filter intervention in rural Rwanda-A matched cohort study.
Isoform specific differences in phospholipase C beta 1 expression in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia and suicide.
Pain, hedonic regulation, and opioid misuse: Modulation of momentary experience by Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement in opioid-treated chronic pain patients.
Mindfulness is Associated With Increased Hedonic Capacity Among Chronic Pain Patients Receiving Extended Opioid Pharmacotherapy
Comparing Sanitation Delivery Modalities in Urban Informal Settlement Schools: A Randomized Trial in Nairobi, Kenya.
Changed gene expression in subjects with schizophrenia and low cortical muscarinic M1 receptors predicts disrupted upstream pathways interacting with that receptor.
Accelerated aging of the putamen in patients with major depressive disorder.
Study design of a cluster-randomized controlled trial to evaluate a large-scale distribution of cook stoves and water filters in Western Province, Rwanda
Process evaluation and assessment of use of a large scale water filter and cookstove program in Rwanda.
Increased cortical expression of the zinc transporter SLC39A12 suggests a breakdown in zinc cellular homeostasis as part of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Behavioral Reactivity Associated With Electronic Monitoring of Environmental Health Interventions–A Cluster Randomized Trial with Water Filters and Cookstoves.
Linking dispositional mindfulness and positive psychological processes in cancer survivorship: a multivariate path analytic test of the mindfulness-to-meaning theory.
Preliminary Investigations of the Anti-asthmatic Properties of the Aqueous Extract of Justicia pectoralis (Fresh Cut).
Evaluating Cellular Instrumentation on Rural Handpumps to Improve Service Delivery-A Longitudinal Study in Rural Rwanda
Greater hunger and less restraint predict weight loss success with phentermine treatment
Autism Phenotypes in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations
LPA signaling initiates schizophrenia-like brain and behavioral changes in a mouse model of prenatal brain hemorrhage.
Propensity to obesity impacts the neuronal response to energy imbalance.
Usual breakfast eating habits affect response to breakfast skipping in overweight women.
Levocetirizine and rupatadine in chronic idiopathic urticaria.
Low dispositional mindfulness predicts self-medication of negative emotion with prescription opioids
The effects of energy balance, obesity-proneness and sex on the neuronal response to sweet taste.
A detailed, conductance-based computer model of intrinsic sensory neurons of the gastrointestinal tract
The effectiveness of breakfast recommendations on weight loss: a randomized controlled trial.
Designing and piloting a program to provide water filters and improved cookstoves in Rwanda.
A little CFTR goes a long way: CFTR-dependent sweat secretion from G551D and R117H-5T cystic fibrosis subjects taking ivacaftor.
Mathematical modelling of enteric neural motor patterns
Behavioral and transcriptome alterations in male and female mice with postnatal deletion of TrkB in dorsal striatal medium spiny neurons.
In vivo readout of CFTR function: ratiometric measurement of CFTR-dependent secretion by individual, identifiable human sweat glands.
Choosing a physician depends on how you want to feel: the role of ideal affect in health-related decision making.
Use of remotely reporting electronic sensors for assessing use of water filters and cookstoves in Rwanda.
ARTSENS – an image-free system for noninvasive evaluation of arterial compliance.
Place knowing of persons and populations: restoring the place work of nursing
Global occupational health and safety responsibilities of occupational health nurses based in the United States
Axon initial segment structural plasticity in animal models of genetic and acquired epilepsy.
Network-specific mechanisms may explain the paradoxical effects of carbamazepine and phenytoin.
Eating-related behaviors and appetite during energy imbalance in obese-prone and obese-resistant individuals.
Differences in the neuronal response to food in obesity-resistant as compared to obesity-prone individuals
Brain structure predicts risk for obesity.
Work-related injury and the older adult.
Parametric computation predicts a multiplicative interaction between synaptic strength parameters that control gamma oscillations.
A prospective study of cutaneous abnormalities in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Egr-1 induces DARPP-32 expression in striatal medium spiny neurons via a conserved intragenic element.
High spatial and temporal resolution wide-field imaging of neuron activity using quantum NV-diamond
Implementation of occupational health service improvements through application of total quality management processes.
Cushioning, weathering, place, and community in rural grandmother-mothering.
Multiple neural oscillators and muscle feedback are required for the intestinal fed state motor program.
Diabetes at work: a grounded-theory pilot study.
Ergonomic microscope comfort and control.
Disease- and age-related changes in histone acetylation at gene promoters in psychiatric disorders.
Phospholipase C beta 1 expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex from patients with schizophrenia at different stages of illness
Should I or shouldn’t I: decision making, knowledge and behavioral effects of quadrivalent HPV vaccination in men who have sex with men.
Cerebellar lipid differences between R6/1 transgenic mice and humans with Huntington’s disease.
Chronic monoacylglycerol lipase blockade causes functional antagonism of the endocannabinoid system
Augmented currents of an HCN2 variant in patients with febrile seizure syndromes.
Mucocutaneous manifestations of Dengue fever
Molecular correlates of age-dependent seizures in an inherited neonatal-infantile epilepsy
A role of apolipoprotein D in triglyceride metabolism.
Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein and Apolipoprotein E Expression is Altered in Schizophrenia.
Differential expression of exon 5 splice variants of sodium channel alpha subunit mRNAs in the developing mouse brain
Prediction by modeling that epilepsy may be caused by very small functional changes in ion channels
Heat opens axon initial segment sodium channels: a febrile seizure mechanism?
Mossy fiber sprouting interacts with sodium channel mutations to increase dentate gyrus excitability.
Indirect evidence for increased mechanosensitivity of jejunal secretomotor neurones in patients with idiopathic bile acid malabsorption.
Regional and duration of illness differences in the alteration of NCAM-180 mRNA expression within the cortex of subjects with schizophrenia
Case for realistic modeling in understanding seizures.
Regulator of G-protein signalling 4 expression is not altered in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia.
Insights into mechanisms of intestinal segmentation in guinea pigs: a combined computational modeling and in vitro study.
Integrating herbs and supplements in managed care: a pharmacy perspective
HSE’s safety assessment principles for criticality safety.
HSE’s Safety Assessment Principles for radiation protection.
Alopecia areata and autoimmunity: a clinical study
Pharmacological analysis of components of the change in transmural potential difference evoked by distension of rat proximal small intestine in vivo.
Elevated motility-related transmucosal potential difference in the upper small intestine in the irritable bowel syndrome.
Generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus-associated sodium channel beta1 subunit mutations severely reduce beta subunit-mediated modulation of sodium channel function.
Cutaneous manifestations of dengue viral infection in Punjab (north India).
Computational analysis of the R85C and R85H epilepsy mutations in Na+ channel beta1 subunits.
A childhood epilepsy mutation reveals a role for developmentally regulated splicing of a sodium channel
Gene expression profiling in Brodmann’s area 46 from subjects with schizophrenia.
Chronic haloperidol treatment results in a decrease in the expression of myelin/oligodendrocyte-related genes in the mouse brain.
Group differences in fairness perceptions and decision making in voting rights cases.
Clozapine specifically alters the arachidonic acid pathway in mice lacking apolipoprotein D.
An unusual cause of a frozen pelvis. Diagnosis: actinomycosis.
Effects of cholera toxin on the potential difference and motor responses induced by distension in the rat proximal small intestine in vivo.
Different types of potassium channels underlie the long afterhyperpolarization in guinea-pig sympathetic and enteric neurons.
Regulation of alpha-synuclein expression in limbic and motor brain regions of morphine-treated mice
Recurrent networks of submucous neurons controlling intestinal secretion: a modeling study.
Multiple levels of sensory integration in the intrinsic sensory neurons of the enteric nervous system.
Association of plasma apolipoproteins D with RBC membrane arachidonic acid levels in schizophrenia.
Segmentation induced by intraluminal fatty acid in isolated guinea-pig duodenum and jejunum.
Antipsychotic drug treatment alters expression of mRNAs encoding lipid metabolism-related proteins.
Computational model of the migrating motor complex of the small intestine.
Increased levels of apolipoprotein E in the frontal cortex of subjects with schizophrenia.
From pharmacotherapy to pathophysiology: emerging mechanisms of apolipoprotein D in psychiatric disorders.
Inhibitory cotransmission or after-hyperpolarizing potentials can regulate firing in recurrent networks with excitatory metabotropic transmission.
Differences in neuroanatomical sites of apoD elevation discriminate between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
No hypothermic response to serotonin in 5-HT7 receptor knockout mice.
Preliminary investigation of the anti-inflammatory properties of an aqueous extract from Morinda citrifolia (noni).
Predicting Job Satisfaction Among Speech-Language Pathologists Working in Public Schools.
Apolipoprotein D mRNA expression is elevated in PDAPP transgenic mice
Insulin receptor substrate protein p53 localization in rats suggests mechanism for specific polyglutamine neurodegeneration.
Dietary boron supplementation enhances the effects of estrogen on bone mineral balance in ovariectomized rats.
Redox properties of the PutA protein from Escherichia coli and the influence of the flavin redox state on PutA-DNA interactions.
Increased CNS levels of apolipoprotein D in schizophrenic and bipolar subjects: implications for the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders.
Clozapine increases apolipoprotein D expression in rodent brain: towards a mechanism for neuroleptic pharmacotherapy.
Inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum clag9 gene function by antisense RNA.
Malaria: A new gene family (clag) involved in adhesion – reply.
A parallel algorithm for simulation of large neural networks.
Pertussis toxin treatment prevents 5-HT(5a) receptor-mediated inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation in rat C6 glioma cells.
A computer simulation of recurrent, excitatory networks of sensory neurons of the gut in guinea-pig.
Evolutionarily distinct classes of S27 ribosomal proteins with differential mRNA expression in rat hypothalamus.
A simple mathematical model of second-messenger mediated slow excitatory postsynaptic potentials.
clag9: A cytoadherence gene in Plasmodium falciparum essential for binding of parasitized erythrocytes to CD36.
Medical students can learn the basic application, analytic, evaluative, and psychomotor skills of critical care medicine.
Allosteric regulation by oleamide of the binding properties of 5-hydroxytryptamine7 receptors.
Genesis and role of coordinated firing in a feedforward network: a model study of the enteric nervous system.
The cytoadherence linked asexual gene family of Plasmodium falciparum: are there roles other than cytoadherence?
The endogenous lipid oleamide activates serotonin 5-HT7 neurons in mouse thalamus and hypothalamus.
Long-term effects of synaptic activation at low frequency on excitability of myenteric AH neurons.
Oleamide-induced modulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor-mediated signaling.
RGS9: a regulator of G-protein signalling with specific expression in rat and mouse striatum.
Unique allosteric regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor-mediated signal transduction by oleamide.
Fatty acid amide hydrolase, the degradative enzyme for anandamide and oleamide, has selective distribution in neurons within the rat central nervous system.
Experimental basis for realistic large-scale computer simulation of the enteric nervous system.
The 5HT5A serotonin receptor is expressed predominantly by astrocytes in which it inhibits cAMP accumulation: a mechanism for neuronal suppression of reactive astrocytes.
Research curricula in critical care fellowships–a survey.
Involvement of the M2 muscarinic receptor in contractions of the guinea pig trachea, guinea pig esophagus, and rat fundus.
Controlled dietary folate affects folate status in nonpregnant women.
A pilot study of the use of clinical guidelines to determine appropriateness of patient placement on intensive and high dependency care unit.
Functional role of M2 muscarinic receptors in the guinea pig ileum.
Pertussis toxin blocks M2 muscarinic receptor-mediated effects on contraction and cyclic AMP in the guinea pig ileum, but not M3-mediated contractions and phosphoinositide hydrolysis.
Case report: radiological appearances in peliosis hepatis
Physician sets diabetes education as top priority.
Functional role for the M2 muscarinic receptor in smooth muscle of guinea pig ileum
Kinetics of activation and in vivo muscarinic receptor binding of N-(2-bromoethyl)-4-piperidinyl diphenylacetate: an analog of 4-DAMP mustard
Erythrocyte metallothionein response to dietary zinc in humans
Conversion of N-(2-chloroethyl)-4-piperidinyl diphenylacetate (4-DAMP mustard) to an aziridinium ion and its interaction with muscarinic receptors in various tissues.
Irreversible effects of 4-DAMP mustard on muscarinic receptors in vivo.
The radiologist cries “HELLP”!
Diagnosing splenic trauma.
The role of ultrasound in the early diagnosis and management of heterotopic bone formation.
Physicians mobilize to provide health care to indigent.
Duplex ultrasound of the abdominal aorta–a neglected tool in aortic dissection.
Traumatic paramediastinal air cysts–a continuing source of confusion.
Liquid crystal thermography and C reactive protein in the detection of deep venous thrombosis.
Nucleoid halo expansion indirectly measures DNA damage in single cells.
Pre-operative fasting–a question of routine?
Toboggan or Not Toboggan
The accuracy of digital subtraction angiography for the quantification of atherosclerosis.
Behavior-dependent contexts for repeated plays of the Prisoner’s Dilemma: II. Dynamical aspects of the evolution of cooperation.
Strategic deworming for spring-calving beef cow/calf herds.
Training in geropsychology at the doctoral level: 1984.
Intravenous opioids in chronic cancer pain.
Maggot control
Children’s Rorschachs: description and prediction.
The short-term dynamics of social organization in preschool triads
Notes on effort and achievement-oriented behavior.
The LP/VN’s role in medication counseling
Evaluating ancillary staff of a health center.
Response to 30 generations of selection for open-field activity in laboratory mice.
Control of attention in the processing of temporal and spatial information in complex visual patterns.
The chemotherapy of rodent malaria. IV. Host-parasite relationships. 4. The relationship between haemozoin formation and host-cell age in chloroquine- and primaquine-resistant strains of Plasmodiun berghei.
The chemotherapy of rodent malaria. 3. Host-parasite relationships. 3. The relationship between haemozoin formation and the age of the host cell.
Surgical results in the treatment of pressure equalization stress incontinence.
Reaction-time studies: the anticipation and interaction of responses.
An optimum interval in the assessment of pain threshold.
Mathematical models for the clustered firing of single cortical neurones.
On determining pain thresholds using the limiting method.
The detrusor muscle and urinary incontinence.
A technique for the division of difficult patent ductus arteriosus and report of its successful use in a sixty-year-old woman.
[Zinc in the drinking water as a poison for algae (Cladophora, Rhizoclonium)]
[Wave of maritime studies].
A Note on Two Abnormal Laryngeal Muscles in a Zulu.
Educating the Educators.