Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Creating A Gold Medal Olympic And Paralympics Health Care Team: A Satisfaction Survey Of The Mobile Medical Unit/Polyclinic Team Training For The Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, D Ross Brown, Behrouz Heidary, Nathaniel Bell, Leanne Appleton, Richard K. Simons, David C. Evans, S Morad Hameed, Jack Taunton, Kosar Khwaja, Michael O'Connor, Naisan Garraway, Peter Hennecke, Donna Kuipers, Tracey Taulu, Lori Quinn

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND:

The mobile medical unit/polyclinic (MMU/PC) was an essential part of the medical services to support ill or injured Olympic or Paralympics family during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympics winter games. The objective of this study was to survey the satisfaction of the clinical staff that completed the training programs prior to deployment to the MMU.

METHODS:

Medical personnel who participated in at least one of the four training programs, including (1) week-end sessions; (2) web-based modules; (3) just-in-time training; and (4) daily simulation exercises were invited to participate in a web-based survey and comment on their level of satisfaction …

Determination Of Cutpoints For Low And High Number Of Symptoms In Patients With Advanced Cancer, Stephanie Gilbertson-White, B. Aouizerat, T. Jahan, S. Paul, C. West, K. Schumacher, M. Dodd, M. Rabow, A. Abu Raddaha, C. Miaskowski

Stephanie Gilbertson-White

While patients with advanced cancer experience a wide range of symptoms, no work has been done to determine an optimal cutpoint for a low versus a high number of symptoms. Analytic approaches that established clinically meaningful cutpoints for the severity of cancer pain and fatigue provided the foundation for this study. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal cutpoint for low and high numbers of symptoms using a range of potential cutpoints and to determine if those cutpoints distinguished between the two symptom groups on demographic and clinical characteristics and depression, anxiety, and quality of life (QOL). …

Documentation On Withdrawal Of Life Support In Adult Patients In The Intensive Care Unit [Corrected] [Published Erratum Appears In Am J Crit Care 2004 Sep;13(5):370], K. Kirchhoff, P. Anumandla, K. Foth, S. Lues, Stephanie Gilbertson-White

Stephanie Gilbertson-White

BACKGROUND: Patients' charts have been a source of data for retrospective studies of the quality of end-of-life care. In the intensive care unit, most patients die after withdrawal of life support. Chart reviews of this process could be used not only to assess the quality of documentation but also to provide information for quality improvement and research. OBJECTIVE: To assess the documentation of end-of-life care of patients and their families by care providers in the intensive care unit. METHOD: Charts of 50 adult patients who died in the intensive care unit at a large midwestern hospital after initiation of withdrawal …

Support For A Smoke-Free Bylaw In Parks And On Beaches, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Ann Pederson, Wendy Rice

Nursing Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: In September 2010, Vancouver, Canada enacted a smoke-free bylaw in parks and on beaches.

OBJECTIVE: To examine demographic and attitudinal factors associated with the public opinion on Vancouver's outdoor smoke-free bylaw.

METHODS: From 496 randomly selected Vancouver residents, information on demographics, smoking status, and opinions and support for or opposition to the smoke-free bylaw were obtained by telephone surveys.

RESULTS: Approximately 84.2% of the sample endorsed the legislation; a greater proportion of non-smokers supported the bylaw than smokers (88.6% vs. 52.0%). In multivariate analysis, demographic variables significantly associated with supporting the smoke-free bylaw were being female, having completed community …

Decreased Expression Of The Heat Shock Protein Hsp70-2 Is Associated With The Pathogenesis Of Male Infertility, H. Feng, J. Sandlow, Amy Sparks

Amy E.T. Sparks

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of the heat shock protein hsp70-2, and the possible relationship with the pathogenesis of male infertility. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Reproductive testing laboratory in a university hospital. PATIENT(S): Men undergoing testicular biopsy during an investigation of subfertility. INTERVENTION(S): Testicular tissues were obtained from biopsies of men undergoing infertility evaluation and subdivided into three groups: normal testes, maturational arrest and Sertoli cell-only syndrome. Immunostaining and Western blotting techniques determined expression of the heat shock protein hsp70-2 MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Expression of the heat shock protein hsp70-2 in the testes. RESULT(S): The experimental data demonstrated that the …

Semen Quality In Fertile Men In Relation To Psychosocial Stress, A. Gollenberg, F. Liu, C. Brazil, E. Drobnis, D. Guzick, J. Overstreet, J. Redmon, Amy Sparks, C. Wang, S. Swan

Amy E.T. Sparks

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between stressful life events and semen parameters. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis in a pregnancy cohort study. SETTING: Prenatal clinics in five U.S. cities. PATIENT(S): Fertile men (n = 744) in the Study for Future Families, a cohort study of pregnant women and their partners. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm concentration, percent motile, and percent normal morphology and classification above/below World Health Organization (WHO) cutoffs for semen quality. RESULT(S): After adjusting for confounders, men reporting 2+ recent stressful life events had an increased risk of being classified below WHO thresholds for "normal" defined by concentration, motility, …

Serum Inhibin-B In Fertile Men Is Strongly Correlated With Low But Not High Sperm Counts: A Coordinated Study Of 1,797 European And Us Men, N. Jorgensen, F. Liu, A. Andersson, M. Vierula, D. Irvine, J. Auger, C. Brazil, E. Drobnis, T. Jensen, P. Jouannet, J. Overstreet, J. Redmon, Amy Sparks, J. Toppari, C. Wang, N. Skakkebaek, S. Swan

Amy E.T. Sparks

OBJECTIVE: To describe associations between serum inhibin-b and sperm counts, adjusted for effect of time of blood sampling, in larger cohorts than have been previously reported. DESIGN: Cross-sectional studies of spermatogenesis markers. SETTING: Four European and four US centers. PATIENT(S): Fertile men (1,797) were included and examined from October 1996-February 2005. INTERVENTION(S): The study was observational and therefore without any intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Associations between inhibin-b and semen variables controlled for time of blood sampling and other covariates. RESULT(S): Inhibin-b decreased about 2.00% per hour from 8 am-12 pm and then about 3.25% per hour from 12 pm-4 pm. …

Decreased Expression Of The C-Kit Receptor Is Associated With Increased Apoptosis In Subfertile Human Testes, H. Feng, J. Sandlow, Amy Sparks, A. Sandra, L. Zheng

Amy E.T. Sparks

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of the c-kit receptor and its ligand, stem cell factor, and their possible relation with apoptosis in infertile men. DESIGN: Prospective laboratory study. SETTING: Urology laboratory in a university hospital. PATIENT(S): Men undergoing testicular biopsy during an investigation of subfertility. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Expression of the c-kit receptor protein, stem cell factor, and apoptosis in the testes. RESULT(S): The c-kit receptor was strongly present in Leydig cells and type A spermatogonia of normal testes, with decreased staining in Leydig cells and type A spermatogonia of testes with maturational arrest, and staining in only …

Psychological Empowerment And Job Satisfaction Between Baby Boomer And Generation X Nurses, Amy Sparks

Amy E.T. Sparks

AIM: This paper is a report of a study of differences in nurses' generational psychological empowerment and job satisfaction. BACKGROUND: Generations differ in work styles such as autonomy, work ethics, involvement, views on leadership, and primary views on what constitutes innovation, quality, and service. METHOD: A secondary analysis was conducted from two data sets resulting in a sample of 451 registered nurses employed at five hospitals in West Virginia. One data set was gathered from a convenience sample and one from a randomly selected sample. Data were collected from 2000 to 2004. RESULTS: Baby Boomer nurses reported higher mean total …

One Semen Sample Or 2? Insights From A Study Of Fertile Men, A. Stokes-Riner, S. Thurston, C. Brazil, D. Guzick, F. Liu, J. Overstreet, C. Wang, Amy Sparks, J. Redmon, S. Swan

Amy E.T. Sparks

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Exogenous Testosterone On Prostate Volume, Serum And Semen Prostate Specific Antigen Levels In Healthy Young Men, C. Cooper, P. Perry, Amy Sparks, J. Macindoe, W. Yates, R. Williams

Amy E.T. Sparks

PURPOSE: We investigate and define the effects of exogenous testosterone on the normal prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 healthy volunteers 21 to 39 years old were randomized to receive either 100, 250 or 500 mg. testosterone via intramuscular injection once a week for 15 weeks. Baseline measurements of serum testosterone, free testosterone and prostate specific antigen (PSA) were taken at week 1. Semen samples were also collected for PSA content and prostate volumes were determined by transrectal ultrasound before testosterone injection. Blood was then drawn every other week before each testosterone injection for the 15 weeks, every …

Characterization Of Human Sperm Antigens Reacting With Anti-Sperm Antibodies From An Infertile Female Patient's Serum, H. Feng, Y. Han, Amy Sparks, J. Sandlow

Amy E.T. Sparks

Identification of sperm antigens that elicit immunoglobulin (Ig) production and knowledge of their roles in sperm transport and fertilization may enhance diagnosis and treatment of immunologic infertility. Sperm antigens recognized by a female patient's serum anti-sperm antibodies were characterized using an indirect immunobead-binding test, immunoblot analysis, and immunochemical labeling. The anti-sperm antibodies' effect on sperm function was evaluated by acrosome induction by calcium ionophore. Immunobeads specific for IgG were bound to the head of 79% of motile donor sperm. Immunochemical labeling of antibody-binding sites was restricted to the plasma membrane over the acrosomal crescent. No labeling was observed on the …

Social Cognition, Empathy And Functional Outcome In Schizophrenia, Amy Sparks, S. Mcdonald, B. Lino, M. O'Donnell, M. Green

Amy E.T. Sparks

Social and occupational functioning difficulties are a characteristic feature of schizophrenia, and a growing body of evidence suggests that deficits in social cognition contribute significantly to these functional impairments. The present study sought to investigate whether the association between social cognition and social functioning in schizophrenia would be mediated by self-reported levels of empathy. Thirty outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and twenty-five healthy controls completed a well-validated facial affect processing task (Ekman 60-faces facial task from the Facial Expressions of Emotion - Stimuli and Tests; FEEST), The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT; to assess emotion …

Development Of An Immunocontraceptive Vaccine. Current Status, H. Feng, J. Sandlow, Amy Sparks, A. Sandra

Amy E.T. Sparks

Development of an effective and modern contraceptive vaccine is a key factor in the global issue of regional population growth as well as agricultural, medical, economic and social development. A review was done of the current medical literature concerning development of an immunocontraceptive vaccine and relative molecular biology technology. Various approaches have been taken to identify candidate-specific antigens for immunocontraceptive development, such as sperm, zona pellucida and hormonal antigens. Suppressed fertility and the reversibility of these effects on mammalian species, including humans, have been demonstrated. The successful results obtained so far support the continued investigation for an effective immunocontraceptive vaccine.

Are Environmental Levels Of Bisphenol A Associated With Reproductive Function In Fertile Men?, J. Mendiola, N. Jorgensen, A. Andersson, A. Calafat, X. Ye, J. Redmon, E. Drobnis, C. Wang, Amy Sparks, S. Thurston, F. Liu, S. Swan

Amy E.T. Sparks

BACKGROUND: Rodent and in vitro studies have demonstrated the estrogenicity of bisphenol A (BPA). However, few studies have examined the relationship between human exposure to BPA and male reproductive function. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationships between environmental BPA exposure and reproductive parameters, including semen quality and male reproductive hormones, in prospectively recruited fertile men. METHODS: Participants (n = 375) were partners of pregnant women who participated in the Study for Future Families in four U.S. cities, and all of the men provided blood, semen, and urine samples. BPA was measured in urine. Serum samples were analyzed for reproductive hormones, including …

Comparison Of Microscopic Epididymal Sperm Aspiration And Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection/In-Vitro Fertilization With Repeat Microscopic Reconstruction Following Vasectomy: Is Second Attempt Vas Reversal Worth The Effort?, J. Donovan, M. Dibaise, Amy Sparks, J. Kessler, J. Sandlow

Amy E.T. Sparks

Since 1986, we have performed microscopic reconstruction in 18 men following failed microscopic vasectomy reversal. Between 1994 and 1996, nine couples have undergone microscopic epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA)/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment for male infertility due either to congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD) or inoperable excurrent duct obstruction. We compared the cost efficiency of repeat vasectomy reversal to that for MESA combined with ICSI/in-vitro fertilization (ICSI/IVF). The cost of male partner procedures (vasectomy reversal, MESA) was based on physician and hospital charges, while the cost of ICSI/IVF included preparation of the female partner (medications and physician charges) …

In Vitro Fertilization Is Associated With An Increase In Major Birth Defects, C. Olson, K. Keppler-Noreuil, P. Romitti, W. Budelier, Ginny Ryan, Amy Sparks, Bradley Van Voorhis

Amy E.T. Sparks

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of major birth defects in cohorts of children conceived through IVF or through IUI as compared with naturally conceived children. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENT(S): Children conceived by IVF or IUI at the University of Iowa from 1989 through 2002, compared with a matched cohort of naturally conceived children. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Outcome data were obtained from Iowa state birth and fetal death certificates and from the Iowa Birth Defects Registry. RESULT(S): Ninety of 1,462 IVF-conceived children (6.2%) and 17 of 343 IUI-conceived children (5.0%) had a major birth …

Computational Models For Prediction Of Ivf/Icsi Outcomes With Surgically Retrieved Spermatozoa, M. Wald, Amy Sparks, J. Sandlow, Bradley Van Voorhis, Craig Syrop, C. Niederberger

Amy E.T. Sparks

IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using surgically retrieved spermatozoa (SRS) is a key option in the treatment of severe male infertility. It was aimed to develop a computational model for the prediction of this modality's outcome. A dataset of 113 exemplars, derived from patients who underwent IVF/ICSI with SRS, was retrospectively analysed. The dataset, containing input features maternal age, sperm retrieval technique, type of spermatozoa used, type of male factor and output intrauterine pregnancy, was randomized into a modelling ('training') set of 83 and cross-validation ('test') set of 30. neUROn++, a set of C++ programs, was used to model the dataset …

Achievement Test Performance In Children Conceived By Ivf, L. Mains, M. Zimmerman, J. Blaine, B. Stegmann, Amy Sparks, T. Ansley, Bradley Van Voorhis

Amy E.T. Sparks

BACKGROUND: Long-term follow-up studies of children conceived by IVF are limited. We examine academic performance on standardized tests [Iowa Tests of Basic Skills/Educational Development (ITBS/ITED)] of children conceived by IVF. METHODS: Parents of children 8-17 years of age at the onset of the study (March 2008) who were conceived by IVF at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and living in the state of Iowa were contacted by mail. Parents completed questionnaires on their child's health and education and parental education. ITBS/ITED scores from school grades 3-12 were obtained on IVF children and a group of anonymous children matched …

Cost-Effectiveness Of Infertility Treatments: A Cohort Study, Bradley Van Voorhis, Amy Sparks, B. Allen, D. Stovall, Craig Syrop, F. Chapler

Amy E.T. Sparks

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost-effectiveness of infertility treatments. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic medical center infertility practice. PATIENT(S): All patients treated for infertility in a 1-year time span. INTERVENTION(S): Intrauterine inseminations, clomiphene citrate and IUI (CC-IUI), hMG and IUI (hMG-IUI), assisted reproductive techniques (ART), and neosalpingostomy by laparotomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): All medical charges and pregnancy outcomes associated with the treatments were obtained. Cost-effectiveness ratios defined as cost per delivery were determined for each procedure. The effects of a woman's age and the number of spermatozoa inseminated on cost-effectiveness of the procedures was also determined. RESULT(S): Intrauterine inseminations, CC-IUI, …

A Mandatory Single Blastocyst Transfer Policy With Educational Campaign In A United States Ivf Program Reduces Multiple Gestation Rates Without Sacrificing Pregnancy Rates, Ginny Ryan, Amy Sparks, C. Sipe, Craig Syrop, A. Dokras, Bradley Van Voorhis

Amy E.T. Sparks

OBJECTIVE: To reduce the twin rate in our IVF program. DESIGN: A prospective educational study of infertile couples; a retrospective review of IVF outcomes before vs. after mandatory single embryo transfer (mSBT) policy change. SETTING: University-based infertility center. PATIENT(S): One hundred ten of 120 consecutive new infertile couples completed the educational study. Outcomes of all embryo transfers (n = 693) performed 17 months before and 17 months after mSBT were evaluated. INTERVENTION(S): A 1-page educational summary of comparative risks of twins vs. singletons to maternal and child health. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Knowledge of twin risks and desired number of embryos …

Supernumerary Minute Ring Chromosome 14 In A Man With Primary Infertility And Left Varicocele, B. Stahl, S. Patil, Craig Syrop, Amy Sparks, M. Wald

Amy E.T. Sparks

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of supernumerary minute ring chromosome (SMRC) in an infertile man, with the concurrent finding of a left varicocele. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Urologic infertility clinic in a university hospital. PATIENT(S): Male patient presenting with primary infertility. INTERVENTION(S): Karyotyping, genetic counseling, and microsurgical left varicocelectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm concentration and motility, chromosomal number and structure. RESULT(S): Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealing SMRC 14. Sperm concentration and motility improved after left varicocele repair. CONCLUSION(S): A karyotype should be included in the evaluation of severe oligospermia. Although SMRC 14 may be associated with fertility problems, repair of …

Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration, J. Sandlow, J. Donovan, Amy Sparks, Craig Syrop, Bradley Van Voorhis, D. Stovall

Amy E.T. Sparks

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Male Age On The Outcome Of Assisted Reproductive Technology Cycles Using Donor Oocytes, Eyup Duran, D. Dowling-Lacey, S. Bocca, L. Stadtmauer, S. Oehninger

Eyup Hakan Duran

This study assessed the influence of the age of the male partner on the outcome of oocyte donation cycles. A total of 408 couples participating in 519 consecutive anonymous oocyte donation cycles were examined. Main outcome measures were fertilization rate, embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, implantation, miscarriage and live birth rates, as well as the total reproductive potential, which estimates the outcome from fresh and cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfers. A total of 241 cycles resulted in clinical pregnancy (48.5% of transfers). The mean embryo score for transferred embryos (ESTE) was higher in cycles resulting in pregnancy (P=0.003). Semen volume (P<0.001), sperm …

Sperm Dna Quality Predicts Intrauterine Insemination Outcome: A Prospective Cohort Study, Eyup Duran, M. Morshedi, S. Taylor, S. Oehninger

Eyup Hakan Duran

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate whether sperm DNA quality may predict intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcome. METHODS: The study was designed in a prospective cohort fashion, at a tertiary centre for reproductive medicine. A total of 119 patients underwent 154 cycles of IUI. Parameters related to demography, cycle management and semen sample used for IUI were evaluated. Conventional semen parameters, morphology (strict criteria), sperm DNA fragmentation and stability [evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUDP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) and acridine orange staining under both acid and acid + heat denaturing conditions respectively] were measured. The main outcome measure was clinical pregnancy, defined …

The Effect Of Age On The Expression Of Apoptosis Biomarkers In Human Spermatozoa, A. Colin, G. Barroso, N. Gomez-Lopez, Eyup Duran, S. Oehninger

Eyup Hakan Duran

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of age on the expression of apoptotic biomarkers in human spermatozoa. DESIGN: Cross sectional, prospective study. SETTING: Academic centers. PATIENT(S): Healthy volunteers with proven fertility, stratified by age (n = 25, range: 20-68 years). INTERVENTION(S): Examination of serum hormone levels and basic semen parameters, and assessment of early (plasma membrane translocation of phosphatidylserine) and late (DNA fragmentation) sperm apoptotic markers by flow cytometry (using Annexin-V binding and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Apoptosis markers. RESULT(S): Advancing male age was significantly and positively correlated with Annexin-V binding results. Although not significant, …

Comparison Of Hyperbaric Oxygen And Medical Ozone Therapies In A Rat Model Of Experimental Distal Colitis, O. Altinel, S. Demirbas, E. Cakir, H. Yaman, I. Ozerhan, Eyup Duran, T. Cayci, E. Akgul, N. Ersoz, B. Uysal, B. Kurt, M. Yasar, S. Oter, Y. Peker

Eyup Hakan Duran

No abstract provided.

A Logistic Regression Model Including Dna Status And Morphology Of Spermatozoa For Prediction Of Fertilization In Vitro, Eyup Duran, T. Gurgan, S. Gunalp, M. Enginsu, H. Yarali, A. Ayhan

Eyup Hakan Duran

To determine predictive values of routine semen analysis, sperm morphology evaluation using strict criteria and DNA status for in-vitro fertilization (IVF), 66 consecutive couples undergoing IVF in a university hospital IVF programme were prospectively investigated. Semen samples from 66 men were evaluated by routine semen analysis, morphology evaluation using strict criteria and acridine orange staining for determination of DNA status. A new technique is described for acridine orange scoring which consisted of evaluation of two smears per case, with and without heat treatment. Resistance to heat-provoked denaturation was determined by the difference between two evaluations. A logistic regression model was …

Kernicterus By Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature, G. Gurrola, J. Araúz, Eyup Durán, M. Auilar-Medina, R. Ramos-Payán, N. García-Magallanes, G. Pacheco, E. Meraz

Eyup Hakan Duran

No abstract provided.

Incidence Of Anti-Heparin/Platelet Factor 4 Antibodies And Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia In Medical Patients [Turkish], M. Demir, E. Tekgündüz, M. Edis, Eyup Duran, T. Kürüm

Eyup Hakan Duran

OBJECTIVE: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a life threatening complication of heparin therapy, causing thrombosis. The aim of our study was to find out the frequencies of HIT antibody seroconversion and clinical HIT in Turkish medical patients on different forms of heparins. METHODS: Our study included 61 patients who were on unfractionated heparin (UFH) (n: 37) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (n: 24) therapies. The frequency of HIT antibody formation was determined by means of antigenic (ELISA), and functional assays (serotonin release assay-SRA). RESULTS: The seroconversion rates in UFH and LMWH groups were found to be 18.9% and 4.1% (ELISA), …