Digital Commons Network^™

Whole Body Cryotherapy Vs. Cold Water Immersion, Brett M. Johnson

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

In this country a significant percentage of the population present to clinics with generalized musculoskeletal disorders related to pain. More than one-quarter of Americans (26%) age 20 years and over, or an estimated 76.5 million Americans report a problem with general musculoskeletal disorders related to pain that persisted for more than 24 hours in duration. The treatment for various musculoskeletal disorders related to pain are anti-inflammatory agents or opioid analgesics. Another form of anti-inflammatory /analgesia for such ailments is cold therapy.

The purpose of this literature review is to compare Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBCt) to Cold Water Immersion (CWI) in …

Impact Of Increasing Glp-1 On Markers Of Inflammation, Glucose Control And Cardiovascular Risk Factors In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Kristina Sandstedt

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

There is a strong established relationship between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Much of the latest research studies have identified a link between the inflammatory processes and the pathogenesis of both cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Specific inflammatory markers include: Interleukins 1,6,18; C-reactive protein, Fibrinogen, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, PAI-I and cell adhesion molecules. As a result, there has been an emphasis on identifying therapeutic approaches that would improve both markers of inflammation and glucose control. The endocrine hormones known as incretins, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropicpolypeptide (GIP), are produced in the gastrointestinal tract following ingestion of a meal. In individuals with …

Feasibility Of Integrating Tripterygium Wilfordii Into Modern Cancer Therapy For Increased Efficacy With Minimal Toxicity, Andy Vo

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., and millions of novel cancer cases are being diagnosed each year. While chemotherapy and ionizing radiation are effective treatments against these malignant tumors, the adverse effects that accompany such treatments are devastating. In order to find alternative treatment methods with less side effects, we turn to Eastern herbal medicine. Recent scientific research has found that Tripterygium wilfordii, an herbal medicine traditionally used to treat inflammation in China, contains compounds (triptolide and celastrol) that prevent the growth of solid tumors, induce apoptosis, and prevent metastasis of developed tumors. Investigations on …

Sepsis: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Classification, Biomarkers And Management, Noah Pirozzi, Nima Rejali, Matthew Brennan, Anuj Vohra, Trevor Mcginley, Murali G. Krishna

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (Middletown) Publications and Research

Every physician has been trained early in their careers on how to recognize and manage sepsis. Although sepsis has been one of the most researched ailments in medicine, it also remains one of the deadliest diseases in the face of recent advances. In this current article, we review the diagnostic and management criteria for Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock, and Multi Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS). We then examine the implications of the “surviving sepsis” campaign as well as explore the philosophy of Early Goal Directed Therapy (EGDT) and its role in the modern day management …

Is The High Frequency Of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac And Lung Surgeries Related To Hypomagnesemia And Releases Of Ceramides And Platelet-Activating Factor?, Burton M. Altura, Nilank C. Shah, Gatha J. Shah, Aimin Zhang, Wenyan Li, Bella T. Altura

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (Middletown) Publications and Research

The authors discuss the possible role of hypomagnesemia, ceramides and platelet-activating factor in the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac and lung surgeries.

Caspase-12 And Lupus: The Curious Case Of The Dog That Didn’T Bark, Evan Hermel

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Osteopathic Medicine

CASPASE-12 (CASP12) has an anti-inflammatory function during infection, and is a risk factor for sepsis in African-Americans (AA). To determine if CASP12 could be protective for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in AA, we genotyped AA SLE patients and controls. We found that, at best, there was a weak association between CASP12 genotype with the absence of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies in SLE patients. No effect was seen upon serum interleukin-1 beta levels, nor was any other protective effect noted for the CASP12 genotype, whether upon association with SLE, or any of the 11 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria. We concluded that …

Mumps Myocarditis: A Forgotten Disease?, Sheraz Hussain, Mohammad Faizan Zahid, Arshalooz J. Rahman, Mehnaz A. Atiq, S. H. Ibrahim

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Mumps is an acute viral illness that follows a self-limiting course but up to 10% of cases have a complicated course with the involvement of other organ systems. Myocarditis is reported as a complication but the incidence has greatly fallen ever since the development of the mumps vaccine. A child presented to our department with parotid swelling and fever. Persistent tachycardia with irregular pulse led to further cardiac work up which showed decreased ejection fraction and raised serum cardiac enzymes, indicating myocardial damage. With ionotropic agents and supportive care, there was complete normalization of ejection fraction and serum cardiac enzyme …

Is Acupuncture Effective In Reducing The Pain Intensity Due To Primary Dysmenorrhea?, Allison Eichenlaub

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: the objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective in reducing the pain intensity due to primary dysmenorrhea in women ages 15 to 35.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three randomized control trials (RCTs) written in English, one of which was published in 2011 and two in 2013.

DATA SOURCES: Three non-blind randomized control trials published in peer reviewed journals found via PubMed.

OUTCOME MEASURED: Pain intensity due to primary dysmenorrhea was measured using visual analog scale (VAS), Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS), and Cox Retrospective Symptom Scale (RSS COX2 – average …

Mosquito Host Choices On Livestock Amplifiers Of Rift Valley Fever Virus In Kenya, David P. Tchouassi, Robinson O.K. Okiro, Rosemary Sang, Lee W. Cohnstaedt, David Scott Mcvey, Baldwyn Torto

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Animal hosts may vary in their attraction and acceptability as components of the host location process for assessing preference, and biting rates of vectors and risk of exposure to pathogens. However, these parameters remain poorly understood for mosquito vectors of the Rift Valley fever (RVF), an arboviral disease, and for a community of mosquitoes. Methods: Using three known livestock amplifiers of RVF virus including sheep, goat and cattle as bait in enclosure traps, we investigated the host-feeding patterns for a community of mosquitoes in Naivasha, an endemic area of Rift Valley fever (RVF), in a longitudinal study for six …

Phylogenetic Analysis Of Bunyamwera And Ngari Viruses (Family Bunyaviridae, Genus Orthobunyavirus) Isolated In Kenya, C. Odhiambo, M. Venter, O. Lwande, R. Swanepoel, R. Sang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Orthobunyaviruses, tri-segmented, negative-sense RNA viruses, have long been associated with mild to severe human disease in Africa, but not haemorrhagic fever. However, during a Rift Valley fever outbreak in East Africa in 1997-1998, Ngari virus was isolated from two patients and antibody detected in several others with haemorrhagic fever. The isolates were used to identify Ngari virus as a natural Orthobunyavirus reassortant. Despite their potential to reassort and cause severe human disease, characterization of orthobunyaviruses is hampered by paucity of genetic sequences. Our objective was to obtain complete gene sequences of two Bunyamwera virus and three Ngari virus isolates from …

Retrospective Frames Of Disability: Themes Derived From Parents Of Children Who Grew Up With Congenital Disability, Sheryl L. Holt

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Introduction: For children born with physical disabilities, the perspectives and actions of their parents prove significant to their childhood developmental outcomes clinically, educationally, socially, and with regard to community participation. The lived world and perceptions of parents who have children with disabilities however is not well investigated. This study sought to understand parents’ framing of theirs and their children’s disability experiences. Family systems together with family systems intervention models, and disability theory were used to provide structure to interview instrumentation and subsequent analysis. Child-centered and ecologic influences were also used to track the transformative processes over time that infuses parental …

Invasion Of Two Tick-Borne Diseases Across New England: Harnessing Human Surveillance Data To Capture Underlying Ecological Invasion Processes, Katharine S. Walter, Kim M. Pepin, Colleen T. Webb, Holly D. Gaff, Peter J. Krause, Virginia E. Pitzer, Maria A. Diuk-Wasser

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Modelling the spatial spread of vector-borne zoonotic pathogens maintained in enzootic transmission cycles remains a major challenge. The best available spatio-temporal data on pathogen spread often take the form of human disease surveillance data. By applying a classic ecological approach-occupancy modelling-to an epidemiological question of disease spread, we used surveillance data to examine the latent ecological invasion of tick-borne pathogens. Over the last half-century, previously undescribed tick-borne pathogens including the agents of Lyme disease and human babesiosis have rapidly spread across the northeast United States. Despite their epidemiological importance, the mechanisms of tick-borne pathogen invasion and drivers underlying the distinct …

A Feasibility Study Of Lqts-Specific Problem-Solving Workshop: Parents' Problem-Solving Skills, Coping, Hope, And Worry, Elizabeth A. Phelps

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Long-QT Syndrome (LQTS) is an inherited cardiac condition that predisposes individuals to cardiac arrhythmias and is a potentially fatal disorder that affects approximately 1 in 2,000 people. The triggers are difficult to avoid and may cause children and their families to make major life changes to avoid scenarios that can precipitate cardiac events. Parent may become more aware of the risks and may be hypervigilant of their child’s surroundings and exposure to potential triggers. Social problem-solving skills have been shown to enhance the ability to cope with both minor and major daily stressors and minimize psychological problems associated with physical …

Overcoming Treatment Resistance In Heterogeneous Tumors, Nikhil Hebbar

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Most primary tumors are heterogeneous and are often composed of therapy-sensitive and emerging therapy-resistant cancer cells. Rather unexpectedly, treatment of therapy-sensitive tumor cells in heterogeneous tumor microenvironments resulted in apoptosis of the therapy-resistant cancer cells. We identified a novel Par-4 amino-terminal fragment (PAF, which includes amino acids 1-131 of Par-4) that is produced and released by therapy-sensitive cancer cells following therapy-induced caspase-dependent cleavage of the tumor suppressor Par-4. PAF caused paracrine apoptosis in therapy-resistant cancer cells. Unlike Par-4-inducible apoptosis, which is dependent on the cell surface GRP78 receptor, PAF produced cancer-selective apoptosis independent of cell surface GRP78 function. Par-4 contains …

Study And Analysis Of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms Among Students At The University Of Central Florida, Deberly M. Anzueto

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Upper gastrointestinal symptoms can be caused by many different diseases and can present themselves in many different forms and range in intensity depending on the person. In previous research, upper gastrointestinal symptoms have been correlated with stress, smoking, alcohol intake, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), among others. The purpose of this study will be focusing on finding any association between these risk factors mention and symptoms of upper gastrointestinal disease among college students. The study will utilize an Izumo scale questionnaire for the assessment of abdominal symptoms and Quality of Life (QOL). The questionnaire was built using Survey Monkey and …

The Role Of Sox4 In Regulating Choroid Fissure Closure And Retinal Neurogenesis, Wen Wen

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

The development of the vertebrate eye is tightly controlled by precise genetic regulations. From a single ocular primordium to bilateral eyes with complex structures and cell types, it requires intensive proliferation and migration for cells in both the ectoderm and mesoderm to accomplish ocular morphogenesis, and during this process cell differentiation and interaction takes place to establish the complex composition of ocular cell types and cellular connections. Genetic defects can lead to severe abnormalities in eye morphogenesis and cell differentiation during ocular development. A tremendous amount of work has been done to identify both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that regulate …

Looking To The Future Of Stroke Treatment: Combining Recanalization And Neuroprotection In Acute Ischemic Stroke, Michael E. Maniskas

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Stroke is the 5^th leading cause of death in the U.S. with 130,000 deaths and around 800,000 affected annually. Currently, there is a significant disconnect between basic stroke research and clinical stroke therapeutic needs. Few animal models of stroke target the large vessels that produce cortical deficits seen in the clinical setting. Also, current routes of drug administration, intraperitoneal and intravenous, do not mimic the clinical route of intra-arterial drug administration. To bridge this divide, we have retro-engineered a mouse model of stroke from the current standard of care for emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) stroke, endovascular thrombectomy, to …

In Vitro Activity Of Polymyxin B And Meropenem Alone And In Combination Against Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Brandon T. Kulengowski

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Background: Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are among the most urgent threats of the infectious disease realm. The incidence of these infections has only been increasing over the years and due to very limited treatment options, mortality is estimated at about 50%.

Methods: To evaluate the in vitro activity of meropenem and polymyxin B against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and time-kill studies were performed on K. pneumoniae clinical isolates representing a wide range of meropenem resistance (MICs 4 – 128 mg/L).

Results: Regrowth was observed at clinically relevant concentrations of meropenem alone …

Vena Cava Filter Utilization And Retrieval: A Quality Of Care Issue, Joshua Brown

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Vena cava filters (VCFs) are mechanical devices implanted in the inferior vena cava to trap thrombi from travelling to the pulmonary circulation, resulting in pulmonary embolism. VCFs are available as permanent or non-permanent, retrievable devices and are generally indicated for use in patients unable to receive systemic anticoagulation or at exceedingly high risk for pulmonary embolism (PE). Retrievable devices allow for removal of the VCF once the contraindication to anticoagulation or high risk of PE has abated. Since the introduction of retrievable VCFs in the early 2000’s, use of VCFs has increased three-fold, with >85% of all VCFs placed being …

The Role Of Pxr And Ikkβ Signaling In Cardiometabolic Disease, Robert N. Helsley

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and is partially attributed to perturbations in lipid metabolism. Xenobiotics, such as pharmaceutical drugs and environmental chemicals, have been associated with increased risk of CVD in multiple large-scale human population studies, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. We and others have identified several xenobiotics as potent agonists for the pregnane X receptor (PXR), a nuclear receptor that can be activated by numerous drugs as well as environmental and dietary chemicals. However, the role of PXR in mediating the pathophysiological effects of xenobiotic exposure in humans and animals remains elusive. …

Development And Application Of Gadolinium Free Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Fibrosis Imaging For Multiscale Study Of Heart Failure In Patients With End Stage Renal Disease, Tori A. Stromp

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a powerful tool to noninvasively image ventricular fibrosis. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) CMR identifies focal and, with T1 mapping, diffuse fibrosis. Despite prevalent cardiac fibrosis and heart failure, patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) are excluded from LGE. Absence of a suitable diagnostic has limited the understanding of heart failure and obstructed development of therapies in the setting of ESRD. A quantitative, gadolinium free fibrosis detection method could overcome this critical barrier, propelling the advancement of diagnostic, monitoring, and therapy options. This project describes the development of a gadolinium free CMR technique and application …

Evaluation Of A Diabetes Self-Management Program For Hispanics In Lexington Kentucky: A Pilot Study, Miguel A. Gamboa Oropeza

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Hispanics are more affected by diabetes than non-Hispanic whites and they tend to experience more severe complications. Research shows that although self-management is poor among ethnic minorities, it is even more so among Hispanics. The “Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes” (TOYD) program has been shown to be successful in helping individuals manage their diabetes. However, no work has been conducted with Hispanic audiences in Kentucky. TOYD program allows individuals to modify lifestyle risks and solve problems related to diabetes management. The program was translated from English to Spanish. Hispanics males and females between ages 19 to 75 years …

Effects Of Nox-1 Inhibition On Real-Time Blood Nitric Oxide And Hydrogen Peroxide In Acute Hyperglycemia, Ashley Mawhinney

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Hyperglycemia has been associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction in part by a reduction in nitric oxide (NO) production and increased oxidative stress (e.g., increased superoxide (SO) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Endothelial-derived NO can be significantly reduced by increased SO/H₂O₂ in part by the activation of NADPH oxidase during hyperglycemia. Of the 7 NADPH oxidase isoforms, NADPH oxidase isoform 1 (NOX1) is mainly expressed in the vasculature and may play a major role in hyperglycemia induced oxidative stress and vascular endothelial dysfunction. This hypothesis was tested by measuring blood NO and H2O2 levels in …

Looking Into Malaria, Ahmad Ahmad

A with Honors Projects

According to the Centers for Disease Control, malaria has been a concern for more than 4000 years, with symptoms being described in ancient medical writings, and remains a prevalent health concern. In this student paper, the author reports on the history of the disease, it's epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment.

Salt Sensitive Hypertension And Orexin, Mike Huber

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Elevated plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels have been found in human hypertension subjects and several salt dependent experimental animal models of hypertension including the Dahl salt sensitive hypertension (SSHTN) model. The orexin system is involved in AVP regulation and its over activation has been implicated in hypertension, however, the role of brain orexin in SSHTN is unknown. We hypothesized that increased activity of orexin in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), a prominent region in AVP production, contributes to SSHTN via enhancing AVP signaling. Eight-week-old male adult Dahl salt sensitive (DS) and age and sex matched Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were placed …

Differences In Rhodococcus Equi Infections Based On Immune Status And Antibiotic Susceptibility Of Clinical Isolates In A Case Series Of 12 Patients And Cases In The Literature, Praveen Gundelly, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Julie A. Ribes, Alice C. Thornton

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Rhodococcus equi is an unusual zoonotic pathogen that can cause life-threatening diseases in susceptible hosts. Twelve patients with R. equi infection in Kentucky were compared to 137 cases reported in the literature. Although lungs were the primary sites of infection in immunocompromised patients, extrapulmonary involvement only was more common in immunocompetent patients (P > 0.0001). Mortality in R. equi-infected HIV patients was lower in the HAART era (8%) than in pre-HAART era (56%) (P > 0.0001), suggesting that HAART improves prognosis in these patients. Most (85–100%) of clinical isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, clarithromycin, rifampin, aminoglycosides, ciprofloxacin, and imipenem. …

Intrahepatic Cholestasis Of Pregnancy With Severe Elevation Of Bile Acids In The Setting Of Acute Hepatitis C Infection, Megan L. Lawlor, Agatha S. Critchfield

Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Publications

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a complication of pregnancy resulting in elevation of serum bile acid levels. ICP is often associated with underlying liver disease, including hepatitis C. Bile acids in relationship to the acute infection of hepatitis C virus have not yet been delineated in the literature. A 26-year-old gravida 4 para 2103 with dichorionic, diamniotic twin gestation and history of intravenous drug abuse developed ICP in the setting of acute hepatitis C infection. In addition to clinical symptoms of pruritus and right upper quadrant pain, she developed severe elevation in bile acids, 239 micromol/L, and transaminitis aspartate …

The Relationship Of Social Support In Self-Care, Depressive Symptoms, And Quality Of Life Outcomes In Patients With Heart Failure, Shannon C. Shumaker

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate outcomes associated with social support in patients with heart failure and their caregivers. Specific aims were to: 1) examine the association of depressive symptoms with self-care in patients with HF; 2) evaluate the psychometrics properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) instrument as a measure of perceived social support in patients with heart failure; and 3) determine whether patient and caregiver perception of relationship quality measured at baseline upon enrollment predicted quality of life at baseline in both patient and caregiver using a multilevel dyadic analysis in patient and …

Proportionality Between Population Descriptors (Covariables) In An Aggregated Acanthocephalan (Helminth) Infection Of A Microcrustacean: Crofton Revisited, J. J. Daly Sr., K. Wagner

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We have previously shown that population parameters of the trematode metacercariae of Clinostomum marginatum in black bass (Micropterus spp.) were closely correlated with each other with the exception of prevalence (Daly et al. 2007, Daly (2014). Crofton (1971) and Haynes and Nicholas (1963) published raw data on an acanthocephalan, (Polymorphus minutus) in an amphipod intermediate host collected on 6 different sites on a stream. That data was used herein to examine similar correlations, as with Clinostomum, to see if another helminth infection, in this case from a different phylum, also had similar descriptor relationships. Forty one regression analyses were done …

Discriminant Validity Of The Hospital Anxiety And Depression Scale, Beck Depression Inventory (Ii) And Beck Anxiety Inventory To Confirmed Clinical Diagnosis Of Depression And Anxiety In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Tina Phan, Owen Carter, Claire Adams, Grant Waterer, Li Ping Chung, Maxine Hawkins, Cobie Rudd, Mel R. Ziman, Natalie Strobel

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The objective of this study was to investigate the discriminant validity of commonly used depresson and anxiety screening tools in order to determine the most suitable tool for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD patients (n = 56) completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). These scores were compared to confirmed clinical diagnosis of depression and anxiety using the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview. HADS depression subscale (HADS-D) sensitivity/specificity was 78/81 %; BDI-II 89/77 %; HADS anxiety subscale (HADS-A) 71/81 %; and BAI 89/62 %. HADS-D sensitivity/specificity was improved …