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Medicine and Health Sciences Commons

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The University of Maine

2012

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Articles 1 - 13 of 13

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Characterization Of Nrk2b Overexpression In A Transgenic Zebrafish Congenital Muscular Dystrophy Model, Anna Burgess Dec 2012

Characterization Of Nrk2b Overexpression In A Transgenic Zebrafish Congenital Muscular Dystrophy Model, Anna Burgess

Honors College

Everyday movement, whether sitting or running a marathon, exerts stressful forces on myotendinous junctions (MTJs). As the sites which skeletal muscle fibers anchor to surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) material of tendon, MTJs need to maintain homeostasis under stress for muscle to function normally. Human congenital muscular dystrophies (CMDs) are a heterogeneous group of diseases that disrupt muscle homeostasis, are severely debilitating, and currently have no cure. In many CMDs, genetic mutations effect cell adhesion complexes located at the MTJ. The adherence of muscle fibers’ cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is weakened when these complexes as compromised. Many genes resulting …


Collaborative Research: North East Cyberinfrastructure Consortium, Michael Eckardt Nov 2012

Collaborative Research: North East Cyberinfrastructure Consortium, Michael Eckardt

University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports

EPS-0918284, University of Vermont & State Agricultural College, J. L. Van Houten, linked to EPS-0918033 (University of New Hampshire), EPS-0918078 (University of Delaware), EPS-0918018 (University of Maine), EPS-0918061 (University of Rhode Island)
Collaborative Research: North East Cyberinfrastructure Consortium

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).

The North East Cyberinfrastructure Consortium (NECC) unites Maine (ME), New Hampshire (NH), Vermont (VT), Rhode Island (RI), and Delaware (DE) to support cyber-enabled research that requires analyses of large datasets. The project is organized around sharing resources, expertise and facilities in order to make cyber-enabled collaborative …


Cell-Matrix Adhesion In Muscle Development And Disease, Michelle F. Goody Aug 2012

Cell-Matrix Adhesion In Muscle Development And Disease, Michelle F. Goody

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A variety of diseases, both inherited and acquired, affect muscle tissues in humans. The anchoring of muscle fibers to their surrounding environment is critical for muscle homeostasis. Muscle fibers attach to their microenvironment through cell-matrix adhesion complexes. These anchoring complexes are placed under repeated stress during muscle contraction. Genetic mutations in these complexes weaken the attachment between muscle fibers and their microenvironment, making fibers more susceptible to damage and death. This increased fiber degeneration eventually leads to progressive muscle wasting diseases, known as congenital muscular dystrophies. Although clinical trials are ongoing, there is presently no way to cure the loss …


Hypertension And Cognitive Functioning: A Perspective In Historical Context, Merrill F. Elias, Amanda L. Goodell, Gregory A. Dore Jul 2012

Hypertension And Cognitive Functioning: A Perspective In Historical Context, Merrill F. Elias, Amanda L. Goodell, Gregory A. Dore

Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Papers

Our objective is to characterize the development of the literature on hypertension and cognitive functioning from a historical perspective. This goal was stimulated by the review on “Historical Trends and Milestones in Hypertension Research” in the October 2012 issue of Hypertension. Our specific aims are threefold: (1) to trace and describe the history of this area of research; (2) to identify milestones in knowledge and methods; and (3) to discuss briefly how this literature translates into patient care. The topic is of major relevance to research and practice because hypertension is a well-known risk factor for decline in cognitive performance …


The Six Dimensions Of Wellness And Cognition In Aging Adults, Kelley A. Strout, Elizabeth P. Howard Jun 2012

The Six Dimensions Of Wellness And Cognition In Aging Adults, Kelley A. Strout, Elizabeth P. Howard

Nursing Faculty Scholarship

Objective: Examine how wellness in six dimensions (occupational, social, intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual) protects cognition in aging adults. Background: cognitive impairment increases with age. Baby boomers represent a significant percent of the population at risk for cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment has a negative impact on nursing resources, health care finances, patient mortality, and quality of life. Wellness and prevention is one focus of Institute of Medicine’s vision for the future of nursing. Method: Literature was retrieved from Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and MEDLINE. Research that examined the affect of wellness in each of the six …


Wellness Promotion And The Institute Of Medicine's Future Of Nursing Report: Are Nurses Ready?, Kelley A. Strout Dr May 2012

Wellness Promotion And The Institute Of Medicine's Future Of Nursing Report: Are Nurses Ready?, Kelley A. Strout Dr

Nursing Faculty Scholarship

This article highlights the gap between wellness in nursing practice and the mission statement of the Institute of Medicine's Future of Nursing Report. It explores wellness from 3 philosophical arguments, provides a historical evolution of wellness, and explores nurses' current understanding of wellness. Future directions for implementing wellness in nursing practice are provided for science, education, and leadership.


Characteristics Of Young Children's Longest Utterances, Alise R. Ranalli May 2012

Characteristics Of Young Children's Longest Utterances, Alise R. Ranalli

Honors College

This paper reviews research on mean length of utterance (MLU) and longest length of utterance (LLU) as measures of child language development. Although there has been much research on MLU, there is some controversy as to its validity, especially across different data gathering procedures and clinical populations. In contrast, LLU has rarely been the focus of research, but the limited amount of information available indicates that it is a potentially useful way to analyze child speech. This study provides a detailed analysis of 1655 utterances from three children at ages 3;10, 4;1 and 4;4, and 2938 utterances from adults interacting …


Identification Of Internal Parasites Of Sheep And Goats, Amanda Chaney May 2012

Identification Of Internal Parasites Of Sheep And Goats, Amanda Chaney

Honors College

Abomasal worms are a major cause of small ruminant disease. Differentiation of the most pathogenic nematode, H. contortus, from the other common species can be difficult using standard diagnostic fecal floatation techniques because the ova are similar in size and morphology. Known pure culture H. contortus fecal samples from West Virginia University were used to develop morphologic assays using FITC-labeled lectin agglutination and immunocytochemistry to identify species of abomasal worms. These assays were applied to assess disease due to abomasal worms on selected small ruminant farms in Maine. The diagnostic tests were used to test the hypothesis that H. contortus …


Endoscopic Evaluation Of The Response To Intrauterine Irrigation With 3.3% N-Acetylcysteine In Mares, Christine T. Kissinger May 2012

Endoscopic Evaluation Of The Response To Intrauterine Irrigation With 3.3% N-Acetylcysteine In Mares, Christine T. Kissinger

Honors College

Strangles is a contagious disease caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi that has continued to affect horses through the development of long-term asymptomatic carriers. Effective identification of horses carrying S. equi and treatment of these horses has proven difficult. The chemical N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has mucolytic properties and has been used in the treatment of carriers; however the reports show controversial and anecdotal evidence regarding the effectiveness and inflammatory side effects. The goal of this study is to observe whether NAC is irritating to mucosal tissue with the interest of determining if NAC could be used to treat the carrier state …


Concussion Management, Education And Diagnosis In Eastern Maine High School Football, Sarah K. Lockhart May 2012

Concussion Management, Education And Diagnosis In Eastern Maine High School Football, Sarah K. Lockhart

Honors College

Recent evidence has shown that concussions are more serious than previously anticipated, particularly in young adults. Football is one of the sports in which concussions are most commonly seen. It is important for high schools to educate, diagnose and manage concussions correctly to prevent the occurrence of potentially catastrophic events like second impact syndrome. Through interviews and observations of practices and games, three Eastern Maine high schools were assessed to evaluate their concussion policies. Administrators, coaches and medical personnel were interviewed regarding their concussion awareness. Through a qualitative coding process, themes were found and assessed. Themes found included: honesty; misconceptions; …


Development Of Porous Polymeric Implants For Use In Orthopedic Research And Development Applications, Alexander Caddell Apr 2012

Development Of Porous Polymeric Implants For Use In Orthopedic Research And Development Applications, Alexander Caddell

Honors College

Current orthopedic implants comprised of plastic, ceramic, or metal alloys are susceptible to surface degradation at the implant-implant interface. The resulting microscopic fragments cause tissue irritation that can lead to osteolysis. In addition, existing percutaneous implants, such as pins used to stabilize fractures, are prone to bacterial infections due to the inability of the surrounding soft tissue to adhere to the implant and form a biologic seal. The goal of this Honors Thesis was to develop porous polymeric implants for orthopedic research and development applications that improve upon current designs in an attempt to remedy the issues detailed above. A …


Nue: Nanotechnology Education And Experiences In Maine (Nano-Teem), Rosemary L. Smith, Scott Collins Jan 2012

Nue: Nanotechnology Education And Experiences In Maine (Nano-Teem), Rosemary L. Smith, Scott Collins

University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports

This Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE) in Engineering program entitled NUE: NanoTechnology Education and Experiences in Maine (Nano-TEEM), at the University of Maine, under the direction of Dr. Rosemary Smith, will result in a new, three-credit, undergraduate course, that introduces first-year engineering students at the University of Maine to the interdisciplinary concepts, applications, and implications of nanoscale science and engineering. The broader impacts of this project include improved student recruitment, retention, and future workforce preparation achieved through the intentional integration of research and education at the undergraduate level, interactions with Maine's (in-service and pre-service) middle and high school teachers and students, …


Outdoor Smoke-Free Policies In Maine, David E. Harris, Suzanne Roy, Sarah Mayberry Jan 2012

Outdoor Smoke-Free Policies In Maine, David E. Harris, Suzanne Roy, Sarah Mayberry

Maine Policy Review

Incontrovertible evidence of the deadly impacts from both direct tobacco use and environmental exposure to tobacco smoke has led to the institution of smoking bans, first in indoor venues and, more recently, in some outdoor area. This article reviews the science behind smoking bans as well as the history and policy implications of smoking bans with an emphasis on the experience in Maine. As examples we focus on recent outdoor smoking bans in South Portland (parks and beaches) and smoke-free campus rules at a Maine hospital (Franklin Memorial Hospital) and a part of the University of Maine system (University of …