Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Cholera Vaccination Campaign Contributes To Improved Knowledge Regarding Cholera And Improved Practice Relevant To Waterborne Disease In Rural Haiti, Omowunmi Aibana, Molly F Franke, Jessica E Teng, Johanne Hilaire, Max Raymond, Louise C Ivers

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Haiti's cholera epidemic has been devastating partly due to underlying weak infrastructure and limited clean water and sanitation. A comprehensive approach to cholera control is crucial, yet some have argued that oral cholera vaccination (OCV) might result in reduced hygiene practice among recipients. We evaluated the impact of an OCV campaign on knowledge and health practice in rural Haiti.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We administered baseline surveys on knowledge and practice relevant to cholera and waterborne disease to every 10th household during a census in rural Haiti in February 2012 (N = 811). An OCV campaign occurred from May-June 2012 after …

Website Usage And Weight Loss In A Free Commercial Online Weight Loss Program: Retrospective Cohort Study, Kevin O Hwang, Jing Ning, Amber W Trickey, Christopher N Sciamanna

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Online weight loss programs are increasingly popular. However, little is known about outcomes and associations with website usage among members of free online weight loss programs.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective cohort study examined the association between website usage and weight loss among members of a free commercial online weight loss program (SparkPeople).

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a systematic random sample of members who joined the program during February 1 to April 30, 2008, and included follow-up data through May 10, 2010. The main outcome was net weight change based on self-reported weight. Measures of website usage included …

Biomarkers Of Maternal And Fetal Exposure To Organochlorine Pesticides Measured In Pregnant Hispanic Women From Brownsville, Texas, Ken Sexton, Jennifer J Salinas, Thomas J Mcdonald, Rose M Z Gowen, Rebecca P Miller, Joseph B Mccormick, Susan P Fisher-Hoch

Journal Articles

Biomarkers of organochlorine pesticides were measured in both venous and umbilical cord blood from 35 pregnant Hispanic women living in Brownsville, Texas, USA. Gas chromatography with an electron capture detector was used to analyze specimens for 30 individual pesticides or their metabolites. Results indicate that blood concentrations were relatively low for most individual compounds, but that high-end (upper 10th percentile) values for total DDT were comparatively high. Although health effects associated with measured blood concentrations are uncertain, there is concern that fetal exposure to low levels of these OC compounds, either individually or in combination, might contribute to subsequent health …

Sequential Bilateral Central Retinal Vein Occlusions In A Cystic Fibrosis Patient With Hyperhomocysteinemia And Hypergamma-Globulinemia, R. Gelman, E. A. Dimango, W. M. Schiff

Journal Articles

PURPOSE: To report a case of sequential bilateral central retinal vein occlusions in a cystic fibrosis patient with hyperhomocysteinemia and hypergamma-globulinemia over 6 years of follow up. METHODS: Observational case report of one patient. RESULTS: A 31 year-old male with a history of cystic fibrosis presented with a central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in his left eye, followed by a CRVO in his right eye 4 years later. His medical workup was significant for elevated levels of homocysteine and gamma-globulins, which coincided with initiation of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) proceeding his second CRVO. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a case of sequential bilateral …

Loss Of Dok2 Induces Carboplatin Resistance In Ovarian Cancer Via Suppression Of Apoptosis, E. Lum, M. Vigliotti, N. Banerjee, N. Cutter, K. O. Wrzeszczynski, S. Khan, S. Kamalakaran, D. A. Levine, N. Dimitrova, R. Lucito

Journal Articles

Objective. Ovarian cancers are highly heterogeneous and while chemotherapy is the preferred treatment many patients are intrinsically resistant or quickly develop resistance. Furthermore, all tumors that recur ultimately become resistant. Recent evidence suggests that epigenetic deregulation may be a key factor in the onset and maintenance of chemoresistance. We set out to identify epigenetically silenced genes that affect chemoresistance. Methods. The epigenomes of a total of 45 ovarian samples were analyzed to identify epigenetically altered genes that segregate with platinum response, and further filtered with expression data to identify genes that were suppressed. A tissue culture carboplatin resistance screen was …

Interactions Between Estradiol, Bdnf And Dendritic Spines In Promoting Memory., V. Luine, M. Frankfurt

Journal Articles

Several lines of evidence have converged to indicate that memory formation involves plasticity of dendritic spines in the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the hippocampus. Memory varies with estrogen levels throughout the lifespan of the female. Generally, increased levels of estrogen are related to greater dendritic spine density on pyramidal cells in the PFC and the hippocampus and to improved memory function. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a growth factor which increases dendritic spines and enhances memory function. Estrogens increase BDNF levels in the PFC and the hippocampus. In the present review we provide evidence that estradiol and BDNF may …

Comparison Of Endorectal Coil And Nonendorectal Coil T2w And Diffusion-Weighted Mri At 3 Tesla For Localizing Prostate Cancer: Correlation With Whole-Mount Histopathology, B. Turkbey, M. J. Merino, E. C. Gallardo, V. Shah, O. Aras, A. R. Rastinehad, W. M. Linehan, B. J. Wood, P. A. Pinto, P. L. Choyke, +3 Additional Authors

Journal Articles

PURPOSE: To compare utility of T2-weighted (T2W) MRI and diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI-MRI) obtained with and without an endorectal coil at 3 Tesla (T) for localizing prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This Institutional Review Board-approved study included 20 patients (median prostate-specific antigen, 8.4 ng/mL). Patients underwent consecutive prostate MRIs at 3T, first with a surface coil alone, then with combination of surface, endorectal coils (dual coil) followed by robotic assisted radical prostatectomy. Lesions were mapped at time of acquisition on dual-coil T2W, DWI-MRI. To avoid bias, 6 months later nonendorectal coil T2W, DWI-MRI were mapped. Both MRI evaluations were performed by …

Efficacy Of Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy In Advanced Bladder Cancer: Results From The International Radical Cystectomy Consortium (Ircc), A. Al-Daghmin, E. C. Kauffman, Y. Shi, K. Badani, M. D. Balbay, E. Canda, P. Dasgupta, R. Ghavamian, L. Richstone, K. A. Guru, +24 Additional Authors

Journal Articles

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the surgical feasibility and outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) for pathologic T4 bladder cancer. SUBJECTS/PATIENTS: Retrospective evaluation of a prospectively maintained IRCC database was conducted for 1118 patients who underwent RARC between 2003 and 2012. We dichotomized patients based on pathologic stage (10 days, and 90-day readmission were significantly associated with complications in pT4 patients. Meanwhile, BMI, LOS >10 days, grade 3-5 complications, 90-day readmission, smoking, previous abdominal surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy were significantly associated with mortality in pT4 patients. On multivariate analysis, BMI was an independent predictor of complications in pT4 patients, but not for …

Prostate Cancer: Can Multiparametric Mr Imaging Help Identify Patients Who Are Candidates For Active Surveillance?, B. Turkbey, H. Mani, O. Aras, J. Ho, A. Hoang, A. R. Rastinehad, H. Agarwal, V. Shah, M. Bernardo, P. L. Choyke, +8 Additional Authors

Journal Articles

PURPOSE: To determine whether multiparametric magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can help identify patients with prostate cancer who would most appropriately be candidates for active surveillance (AS) according to current guidelines and to compare the results with those of conventional clinical assessment scoring systems, including the D'Amico, Epstein, and Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment (CAPRA) systems, on the basis of findings at prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This institutional review board-approved HIPAA-compliant retrospectively designed study included 133 patients (mean age, 59.3 years) with a mean prostate-specific antigen level of 6.73 ng/mL (median, 4.39 ng/mL) who underwent multiparametric MR imaging at 3.0 …

Use Of Desipramine For The Treatment Of Overactive Bladder Refractory To Antimuscarinic Therapy, J. H. Hillelsohn, S. Rais-Bahrami, N. Bagadiya, M. Kashan, G. H. Weiss

Journal Articles

Purpose: To evaluate the use of desipramine in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 43 patients who were treated with desipramine for OAB refractory to antimuscarinic therapy. These OAB patients were stratified by the presence or absence of bladder pain. Results: Forty-three patients were evaluated with a mean follow up time of 12.2 +/- 4.6 months. The mean age of the patients was 71 16 years. Twelve patients (28%) discontinued desipramine, 9 due to perceived lack of efficacy, 2 due to central anticholinergic side effects, and 1 due to the development of oropharyngeal sores. …

Willingness To Undergo A Repeat Liver Biopsy Among Hiv/Hepatitis C Virus-Coinfected And Hepatitis C Virus-Monoinfected Patients, Valerianna K Amorosa, Omowunmi Aibana, Norah J Shire, Zachariah Dorey-Stein, Thomas Ferrara, Joanne Gilmore, Jay R Kostman, Vincent Lo Re

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Guidelines for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) management have recommended that a liver biopsy be repeated at 3-year intervals for HIV/HCV-coinfected patients and 5-year intervals for those with HCV monoinfection to assess fibrosis progression. However, it is unclear if patients are willing to repeat this procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and factors, particularly HIV coinfection, associated with willingness to repeat a liver biopsy.

METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to 235 HCV-infected patients (113 with HIV coinfection) between January 2008 and June 2011 who previously underwent liver biopsy. The main outcome was self-reported willingness to repeat the biopsy. The …

Neurocognitive Function Declines Following Migraine Headache In College Students, Marguerite Moore, T. Covassin, K.A. Pfeiffer, R.E. Norris, R.L. Jensen, C.F. Branta

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy For Localized Prostate Cancer: Disease Control And Quality Of Life At 6 Years, A. J. Katz, M. Santoro, F. Diblasio, R. Ashley

Journal Articles

Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) may yield disease control for prostate cancer in a brief, hypofractionated treatment regimen without increasing treatment toxicity. Our report presents a 6-year update from 304 low- (n = 211), intermediate- (n = 81), and high-risk (n = 12) prostate cancer patients who received CyberKnife SBRT. Methods: The median PSA at presentation was 5.8 ng/ml. Fifty-seven patients received neoadjuvant hormonal therapy for up to one year. The first 50 patients received a total dose of 35 Gy in 5 fractions of 7 Gy. The subsequent 254 patients received a total dose of 36.25 Gy in 5 …

Urinary Tract Infections And Post-Operative Fever In Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy, J. Gutierrez, A. Smith, P. Geavlete, H. Shah, A. R. Kural, M. De Sio, J. H. A. Sesmero, A. Hoznek, J. De La Rosette

Journal Articles

To review the incidence of UTIs, post-operative fever, and risk factors for post-operative fever in PCNL patients. Between 2007 and 2009, consecutive PCNL patients were enrolled from 96 centers participating in the PCNL Global Study. Only data from patients with pre-operative urine samples and who received antibiotic prophylaxis were included. Pre-operative bladder urine culture and post-operative fever (> 38.5A degrees C) were assessed. Relationship between various patient and operative factors and occurrence of post-operative fever was assessed using logistic regression analyses. Eight hundred and sixty-five (16.2%) patients had a positive urine culture; Escherichia coli was the most common micro-organism found …