Diseases Commons^™

Rna Isolation In Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (Dmd) Mice Models, Salem Abu Al-Burak

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Fibrosis is a progressive and typically irreversible disease process characterized by the excessive deposition of collagen in organs and in tissues of the musculoskeletal (MSK) system^1,2. This process, which causes loss of organ and tissue function, can be initiated by micro-traumas³, an excessive and/or prolonged immune response¹, the activation and proliferation of fibrosis-inducing progenitor cells⁴, and a pro-fibrotic extra-cellular microenvironment⁵. In parallel with the events that initiate fibrosis, genetic or environmental influences may cause cells and tissues to become predisposed to fibrosis development prior to initiation. This suggests that these …

Intracranial Eeg Patient Analysis: Seizure Reduction In Refractory Epilepsy Following Depth Electrode Insertion, Shreyashish Roy-Chowdhury

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Rationale: The implantation effect describes an immediate reduction in seizure frequency following the insertion of intracranial electrodes. There is limited information regarding which patients will experience a reduction of seizures and the reason for the implantation effect. This study focuses on describing predictor factors for the reduction in seizure frequency in patients with medically resistant epilepsy implanted with depth electrodes.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 89 patients who underwent intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) monitoring with depth electrodes. Sixty-five of these patients had no subsequent therapeutic interventions and had a 3-6 month follow-up. Patients were grouped as either responders …

Ultra-High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging For Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Jonathan Lau

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Stereotactic neurosurgery is a subspecialty within neurosurgery concerned with accurate targeting of brain structures. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a specific type of stereotaxy in which electrodes are implanted in deep brain structures. It has proven therapeutic efficacy in Parkinson’s disease and Essential Tremor, but with an expanding number of indications under evaluation including Alzheimer’s disease, depression, epilepsy, and obesity, many more Canadians with chronic health conditions may benefit. Accurate surgical targeting is crucial with millimeter deviations resulting in unwanted side effects including muscle contractions, or worse, vessel injury. Lack of adequate visualization of surgical targets with conventional lower field …

Investigating The Pathogenesis Of Staphylococcus Aureus In Periprosthetic Joint Infections, Santiago L. Iglesias

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The most challenging complication after total joint replacement is the periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Staphylococcus aureus is a commensal bacterium and a human pathogen. It is responsible for more than half of the PJI. We demonstrated that synovial fluid has antimicrobial properties against S. aureus and the iron restriction is one of the mechanisms used for the host to prevent bacterial growth, and is even able to increase killing of S. aureus. We have shown a clear role of transferrin as a restrictive factor in synovial fluid that functions by iron starving the bacteria and sensitizing them to killing …

Mechanical Properties Of Retrieved Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene Acetabular Liners In Total Hip Arthroplasty, Gurpreet Singh

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) has replaced the conventional ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) as the gold standard bearing surface in total hip arthroplasty (THA) due to superior wear characteristics and survivorship. However, HXLPE has demonstrated poorer mechanical properties, in vivo oxidation, and concerns of rim fractures. The purpose of this project was to study the mechanical properties at the rim of retrieved HXLPE acetabular liners.

We developed a simple technique for measurement of hardness at the rim of irradiated, remelted, HXLPE liners of a specific design. The effect of shelf time on mechanical properties of retrieved liners was determined and showed no correlation …

A Pilot Study To Investigate Concerns In Patients Undergoing Neck Dissection Surgery, Daniel Sundar Raj Arulananda Doss

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Abstract:

This study investigates concerns in patients undergoing neck dissection surgery. Forty patients were recruited at Pre-surgery, Discharge and 1-month Post-surgery. The Patient Concerns Inventory - Level of Importance questionnaire (PCI-LOI), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Neck Dissection Impairment Index (NDII) and the University of Washington - Quality of Life questionnaire (UWQOL) were used.

The study identified "Anxiety" at Pre-surgery and "Appearance" at Discharge and 1-month Post-surgery as the important patient concerns. Patients’ concerns were found to change over time. Support for cross-sectional convergent validity of the PCI-LOI was evidenced by significant correlations between the PCI-LOI and the UWQOL …