Diseases Commons^™

A Tri-Modality Comparison Of Volumetric Bone Measure Quantification Using 1.0 Tesla Peripheral Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography And High-Resolution-Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography Images, Andy Kin On Wong

Open Access Dissertations and Theses

This comparative study of peripheral (p) QCT, high-resolution pQCT (hr-pQCT) and 1.0 Tesla pMRI technologies quantified short-term test-retest reproducibility, validity, one-year detection limit and clinical sensitivity of each modality’s derived bone measures. Select bone outcomes were evaluated from scans performed on Hamiltonian women above 50 years old and externally validated in a population-based cohort. In the local cohort (age: 74 ± 9 years and BMI 27.65 ± 5.74 kg/m²), Tb.Sp measured on pMRI, Ct.Th and vBMD from pQCT showed significant correlations (r²=0.52-0.85) with hr-pQCT, yielding slopes near unity. Bland-Altman analyses ...

The Biology Of Dendritic Cell Subsets In Allergen-Induced Asthma, Benny Dua

Open Access Dissertations and Theses

Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways, and there has been growing insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the inflammatory basis of this disease. Research into the inflammatory mechanisms of asthma has progressively shifted focus from downstream effectors, such as mast cells and eosinophils, up to Th2 lymphocytes and their proallergic cytokines. Even more upstream in the allergic cascade are dendritic cells (DCs), potent APCs that orchestrate immune responses. Evidence supporting a role of DCs in regulating airway allergic inflammation is derived mainly from animal studies. In animal models of asthma, myeloid DCs (mDCs) induce and maintain ...

Lupus Nephritis Pathoprofile, Annie Cheung, Arlinda Deng, Annie Zhu

The Meducator

Lupus nephritis (LN) is the inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is an autoimmune disease involving neutrophils. Neutrophils are a class of circulating immune cells that can immobilize and kill invading microbes by generating neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). In usual circumstances, NETs are removed from the body in order to maintain tissue homeostasis and avoid autoimmunity. However, it has been implicated that there is an impairment of NET degradation in LN, resulting in the initiation of an auto-inflammatory response that involves the production of autoantibodies against neutrophil DNA and proteins. LN is characterized by renal ...

From Heart Beats To Health Recipes: The Role Of Fractal Physiology In The Ancestral Health Movement, Aaron P. Blaisdell, Brent Pottenger, John S. Torday

Journal of Evolution and Health

The human body—an amazing biological system that scales up fractally from its cellular building blocks—exhibits an incredible ability to self heal. Why then, are chronic diseases and degeneration on the rise in the population? Why are we sicker, more obese, and more depressed and stressed than ever before in human history? Why can’t we heal? The answers to these questions may lie in our ancestry, and modern departure from the human ecological niche. The ability to heal requires proper spatio-temporal inputs—nutrition, sleep, stress, activity, and socialization—in order for cellular signaling to occur properly across semi-permeable ...

Experiences Of Community And Parental Violence Among Hiv Positive Young Racial/Ethnic Minority Men Who Have Have With Men, Sheldon D. Fields

Sheldon D. Fields

Adolescents and young adults (ages 13–24) in the USA are frequently exposed to violence in their community and home. While studies have examined the prevalence and impact of violence exposure among adolescents, there is a lack of data focusing specifically on adolescent men of color who have sex with men. Eight demonstration sites funded through a Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Initiative recruited 363 HIV-positive racial/ethnic minority young men who have sex with men (YMSM) for a longitudinal study between 2006 and 2009. Over two-thirds of participants (83.8%) had witnessed community violence, 55.1% in the ...

Heart Screenings In Young Athletes Identify Risk Factors For Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Karen Tougas, Stephanie Chalupka

Community Engagement and Research Symposium

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the young is the leading cause of death in the U.S. afflicting over 300,000 individuals each year. SCA is also the leading cause of death in young athletes during sports participation, and typically the result of undiagnosed structural or electrical cardiovascular disease. Sport's physical exams that include cardiac screenings (EKG, cardiac ultrasound if warranted, and review of family heart history) will assist in identifying those young athletes most at risk for a sudden cardiac arrest.

Uncovering The Evidence: Systematic Review Of Interventions To Reduce Oral Health Disparities Between Adults With Intellectual Disability And The General Population, Christine J. Clifford, Alexandra Bonardi, Nancy E. Harger, Matthew Holder

Shriver Center Publications and Presentations

Oral health is a public health concern for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). Research consistently shows that the population with I/DD experiences poorer oral hygiene, higher prevalence and severity of periodontal disease, and higher incidence of untreated caries when compared to the general population. Poor oral health can cause chronic pain, affect the ability to eat and communicate, and adversely affect physical health and quality of life. Intervention strategies include enhanced prevention, increased routine care, expanded insurance coverage, and training for dentists and hygienists. Research is needed to identify the most effective interventions. A standard systematic ...

Hume, Nevins S., B. 1870 (Sc 1170), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

MSS Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 1170. Letter written by Nevins S. Hume, Circuit Court Clerk, Cumberland County, Kentucky, to C.E. McClellan, Nashville, Tennessee, regarding the cancellation of the fall court term because of the flu epidemic. Also, he outlines for McClellan steps he needs to take regarding a certain claim.

Measuring The Sixth Vital Sign: A Descriptive Analysis Of Distress In Individuals With Head And Neck Cancer And Their Caregivers, Catherine C. Bornbaum

University of Western Ontario - Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction: Distress has become so problematic in oncology that it has been recognized as the “sixth vital sign” implying that distress monitoring should occur as routinely as the monitoring of one’s temperature or blood pressure. The research reported herein investigated the impact of head and neck cancer on levels of distress, commonly reported problems, and perceptions of quality of life in individuals with head and neck cancer and their caregivers.

Method: Two distinct studies were conducted; the first explored the patient experience of distress and quality of life while the second assessed the caregiver experience of these same constructs ...

Increased Risk And Related Factors Of Depression Among Patients With Copd: A Population-Based Cohort Study, Tzung-Yi Tsai, Hanoch Livneh, Ming-Chi Lu, Pang-Yau Tsai, Pei-Chun Chen, Fung-Chang Sung

Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background

Depression is a common and mostly undertreated problem in patients with chronic diseases. However, population-based studies on the association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and subsequent depression are limited in Asian populations. This study evaluated the incidence and risk factors of depression for patients with COPD in Taiwan.

Methods

Using the claims data from the National Health Insurance of Taiwan, we identified 38,010 COPD patients newly diagnosed in 2000–2004 and 38,010 subjects without COPD frequency, matched by sex, age and index date. The incidence rate and hazard ratio for depression were estimated by the end ...

Predictors Of Seizure Outcomes In Children With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Undergoing Resection Epilepsy Surgery: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis, Aria Fallah

Open Access Dissertations and Theses

Objective: To perform a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis to identify preoperative factors associated with a good seizure outcome in children with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) undergoing resective epilepsy surgery.

Data sources: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Web of Science), archives of major epilepsy and neurosurgery meetings, and bibliographies of relevant articles, with no language or date restrictions.

Study selection: We included case-control or cohort studies of consecutive participants undergoing resective epilepsy surgery that reported seizure outcomes. We performed title and abstract and full text screening independently and in duplicate.

Data extraction: One author performed data extraction ...

Novel Antipsychotic Drug Carriers: The Development Of Nanoparticle And Microgel Drug Carriers For Antipsychotic Delivery In The Treatment Of Schizophrenia, Justin E. Piazza

Open Access Dissertations and Theses

Lectin-functionalized, Poly [oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (POEGMA) loaded with 3(R)-[(2(S)-pyrrolidinylcarbonyl)amino]-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidineacetamide (PAOPA) and poly(ethylene glycol)–block-poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PEG-PLGA) nanoparticles loaded with haloperidol were prepared with narrow size distributions and sizes < 135 nm. The microgels and nanoparticles exhibited high Solanum tuberosum lectin (STL) conjugation efficiencies, encapsulation efficiencies, and drug loading capacities. The in vitro release of PAOPA and haloperidol was slow in physiological conditions over 96 hours, demonstrating minimal drug leakage and the potential for efficient drug transport to the targeted brain tissue. POAPA, POEGMA and the STL-functionalized POEGMA microgels were found to be non-toxic in both cell lines ...

Characterizing The Role Of Toll-Like Receptor 2 In Sensing And Regulating Human Immundeficiency Virus-1 Infection From Mother-To-Child Through Breast Milk, Bethany M. Henrick

Open Access Dissertations and Theses

Breastfeeding from HIV-infected mothers is one of the major sources of pediatric HIV-1 infection; however, an intervention that promotes exclusive breastfeeding has significantly reduced vertical HIV transmission rates and infant mortality. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unknown; however, have been closely linked to high levels of innate immune factors in breast milk. Indeed, the level of several innate factors in breast milk correlate with protection and/or have direct anti-viral properties in vitro. The innate immune factor, soluble TLR2 (sTLR2) is found in high concentration in breast milk and has previously been investigated for its anti-bacterial properties; however, its ...

Incorporating Physical Activity Into The Rehabilitation Process After Spinal Cord Injury, Chelsea A. Pelletier

Open Access Dissertations and Theses

It is well established that physical activity can improve aspects of physical fitness in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite reports of declining health and fitness post-discharge from rehabilitation, there is a limited amount of research exploring exercise status or interventions during this period. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the integration of structured exercise into the rehabilitation process following SCI, and to optimize the exercise prescription in the community setting. Findings from the first study indicated that exercise is well tolerated among individuals with sub-acute SCI; performance of a peak exercise test on an arm ergometer ...

Role Of Pre-Operative Weight, Depression, Self-Esteem And History Of Sexual Abuse In Predicting Weight Loss After Gastric Bypass, Kashmala Qasim

Open Access Dissertations and Theses

Background: The objective of this thesis was to examine the role of psychosocial factors in weight loss success after bariatric surgery. It was proposed that a higher pre-operative body mass index (BMI), greater weight, depression, low self-esteem, and a childhood history of sexual abuse (CSA) would predict poor outcomes one year after Roux-en-y gastric bypass as evidenced by a BMI > 35 kg/m² and a lower percent total weight loss (%TWL). Methods: We administered a battery of psychological screening tools, including the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and a self-report measure assessing CSA, to 262 patients seeking ...

Relationship Between Cd8+ T Cell Immunity And Aging Using West Nile Virus Infection As A Model, Alina Lelic

Open Access Dissertations and Theses

The incidence and severity of infectious diseases increases in elderly people (>60 years of age). It is believe that the age-associated changes in the immune system, termed immunosenescence, lead to diminished effectiveness of the immune system leaving the aged susceptible to infectious pathogens and associated diseases. The limited efficacy of the currently available vaccines in elderly populations contribute immensely to the frequency of infectious diseases in the globally growing aging population. As such, the demographic shift warrants the development of effective prophylactic vaccines for the elderly.

West Nile virus (WNV) became endemic in North America in 1999, and although it ...

Welcome To The Journal Of Evolution And Health, Aaron Blaisdell, Paul Jaminet, David C. Pendergrass

Journal of Evolution and Health

Welcome to the first issue of the Journal of Evolution and Health! The Journal of Evolution and Health is the peer-reviewed, open-access journal of the Ancestral Health Society, a community of scientists, healthcare professionals, and laypersons who collaborate to understand health challenges from an evolutionary perspective.

Image Quality Of Energy-Dependent Approaches For X-Ray Angiography, Jesse Evan Tanguay

University of Western Ontario - Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is an x-ray-based imaging method widely used for diagnosis and treatment of patients with vascular disease. This technique uses subtraction of images acquired before and after injection of an iodinated contrast agent to generate iodine-specific images. While it is extremely successful at imaging structures that are near-stationary over a period of several seconds, motion artifacts can result in poor image quality with uncooperative patients and DSA is rarely used for coronary applications.

Alternative methods of generating iodine-specific images with reduced motion artifacts might exploit the energy-dependence of x-ray attenuation in a patient. This could be performed ...

The Role Of Il-22 Produced By Th17 Cells In Type 1 Diabetes, Stacey M. Bellemore

University of Western Ontario - Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is produced by T helper 17 (Th17) cells. Th17 cells have been shown to be pathogenic in autoimmune diseases, however their role in type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains controversial. We have shown that Th17-differentiation of naïve T cells can be driven by IL-23 + IL-6 to produce large amounts of IL-22 and induce T1D. Conversely, polarizing T cells using TGF-β + IL-6 led to nonpathogenic Th17 cells that produced lower IL-22 levels. We have shown that neutralizing IFN-γ during polarization leads to a drastic increase in IL-22. We have also found IL-22-producing cells in the pancreas of diabetic NOD mice ...

Vascular Stem Cells In Diabetic Complications, Emily C. Keats

University of Western Ontario - Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Diabetes leads to a variety of secondary complications. At the heart of these complications lies endothelial cells (ECs) – cells that take up unregulated plasma glucose, experience various biochemical alterations, and provide the basis for whole organ vascular dysfunctions. With the purpose of generating new vascular networks for the treatment of these chronic complications, my initial work focused on vascular stem cells (VSCs). VSCs have the ability to differentiate into both endothelial (EPC) and mesenchymal (MPC) progenitor cells, both of which are necessary for the creation of stable and functional blood vessels. To establish whether these progenitor populations retain their integrity ...