Digital Commons Network^™

Diet-Induced Obesity: Dopaminergic And Behavioral Mechanisms As Outcomes And Predictors, Vidya Narayanaswami

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Obesity and drug abuse share common neural circuitries including the mesocoticolimbic and striatal dopamine reward system. In the current study, a rat model of diet-induced obesity (DIO) was used to determine striatal dopamine function, impulsivity and motivation as neurobehavioral outcomes and predictors of obesity. For the outcome study, rats were randomly assigned a high-fat (HF) or a low-fat (LF) diet for 8 wk. Following the 8-wk HF-diet exposure, rats were segregated into obesity-prone and obesity-resistant groups based on maximum and minimum body weight gain, respectively, and neurobehavioral outcomes were evaluated. For the predictor study, neurobehavioral antecedents were evaluated prior to …

Chondrodysplasia-Like Dwarfism In The Miniature Horse, John E. Eberth

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Dwarfism is considered one of the most recognized congenital defects of animals and humans and can be hereditary or sporadic in cause and expression. There are two general morphologic categories within this vastly diverse disease. These categories are disproportionate and proportionate dwarfism and within each of these there are numerous phenotypes which have been extensively described in humans, and to a lesser extent in dogs, cattle, mice, chickens, and other domestic species. Ponies and Miniature horses largely differ from full size horses only by their stature. Ponies are often defined as those whose height is not greater than 14.2 hands; …

A Dna Computer For Glioblastoma Multiforme Diagnosis And Drug Delivery, Sumaiya F. Hashmi

CMC Senior Theses

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a debilitating malignant brain tumor with expected patient survival of less than a year and limited responsiveness to most treatments, often requiring biopsy for diagnosis and invasive surgery for treatment. We propose a DNA computer system, consisting of input, computation, and output components, for diagnosis and treatment. The input component will detect the presence of three GBM biomarkers: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), caveolin-1α (CAV), and B2 receptors. The computation component will include indicator segments for each of these genes, and ensure that output is only released if all the biomarkers are present. The output component …

Austrian Syndrome: Triad Of The Past Or Harbinger Of The Future?, Mira Mitry Md, Suzanne J. Templer Do, Stacey Smith Md, Facp, Eugene P. York Md, Facp

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Variceal Bleeding From Cirrhosis: A Clinical Review Of Causes And Pharmacotherapy Options, Hillary Aphaisuwan, Ibrahim Lala, Laura Tsu

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

This home-study CPE activity has been developed to educate pharmacists on the prevention and treatment of hemorrhagic esophageal varices resulting from cirrhosis.

Osteogenic And Antimicrobial Nanoparticulate Calcium Phosphate And Poly-(D, L-Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Powders For The Treatment Of Osteomyelitis, Vuk Uskoković, Charles Hoover, Marija Vukomanović, Dragan P. Uskoković, Tejal A. Dasai, Charles Hoover, Marija Vukomanović, Dragan P. Uskoković, Tejal A. Dasai

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Development of a material for simultaneous sustained and localized delivery of antibiotics and induction of spontaneous regeneration of hard tissues affected by osteomyelitis stands for an important clinical need. In this work, a comparative analysis of the bacterial and osteoblastic cell response to two different nanoparticulate carriers of clindamycin, an antibiotic commonly prescribed in the treatment of bone infection, one composed of calcium phosphate and the other comprising poly-(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)-coated calcium phosphate, was carried out. Three different non-cytotoxic phases of calcium phosphate, exhibiting dissolution and drug release profiles in the range of one week to two months to one year, respectively, …

Kalkidan ('Promise'): Addressing Marital Transmission Of Hiv In Ethiopia, Banchiamlack Dessalegn, Annabel Erulkar

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This program brief describes a Population Council initiative in three low-income areas of Ethiopia. Kalkidan (Amharic for “Promise”) is a three-year program designed to increase discussion and information-sharing on HIV and related topics between marital partners; to promote HIV prevention and health service utilization within marriage, including prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV; and to build husbands’ support of their wives, as well as investment in their health and that of their children. Kalkidan recruits and trains community-based mentors to lead parallel discussion groups of husbands and wives, who periodically come together for joint sessions. The Population Council is …

Growing Up In Rural India: An Exploration Into The Lives Of Younger And Older Adolescents In Madhya Pradesh And Uttar Pradesh, K.G. Santhya, Shireen J. Jejeebhoy, Iram Saeed, Archana Sarkar

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This technical report describes the situation of adolescents according to a baseline assessment conducted in selected villages in India. The objectives of the assessment were to explore the attitudes, practices, and behaviors of adolescent girls, their adolescent brothers and if married, their husbands, with regard to sexual and reproductive matters, including HIV; their perspectives on adolescent girls’ and boys’ vulnerability to HIV and ways in which it can be mitigated; and the perspectives of parents and other critical adults in the community on the vulnerability of adolescent girls and boys to HIV. Results will be used to: (1) enhance adolescent …

The Effectiveness Of Educational Support To Orphans And Vulnerable Children In Tanzania And Uganda, Mary Shann, Malcolm Bryant, Mohamad Brooks, Paul Bukuluki, Denis Muhangi, Joe Lugalla, Gideon Kwesigabo

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Little evidence is available to assist policy makers and donors in deciding what kinds of programs in developing countries are more likely to be effective in supporting the entry and continuation of OVC in secondary schools. This is particularly important for females whose education has direct bearing on child mortality in the next generation. This study gathered four kinds of educational outcome measures in two East African countries ravaged by the AIDS/HIV pandemic. The goal was to determine whether direct scholarship aid to individual students versus various forms of block grants would be more effective in promoting lower rates of …

Initial Survey On Black-Spot Disease (Digenea: Strigeoidea: Diplostomidae) In Select Arkansas Fishes, C. T. Mcallister, R. Tumlison, H. W. Robison, S. E. Trauth

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Lifestyle Factors, Medication Use And Risk For Ischaemic Heart Disease Hospitalisation: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study, Anthony S. Gunnell, K Einarsdottir, Daniel A. Galvao, S Joyce, S Tomlin, Vicki J. Graham, Caroline Mcintyre, Robert U. Newton, T Briffa

Research outputs 2013

Background:Lifestyle factors have been implicated in ischaemic heart disease (IHD) development however a limited number of longitudinal studies report results stratified by cardio-protective medication use.Purpose:This study investigated the influence of self-reported lifestyle factors on hospitalisation for IHD, stratified by blood pressure and/or lipid-lowering therapy.Methods:A population-based cohort of 14,890 participants aged 45+ years and IHD-free was identified from the Western Australian Health and wellbeing Surveillance System (2004 to 2010 inclusive), and linked with hospital administrative data. Adjusted hazard ratios for future IHD-hospitalisation were estimated using Cox regression.Results:Current smokers remained at higher risk for IHD-hospitalisation (adjusted HR=1.57; 95% CI: 1.22-2.03) after adjustment …

Review Of Ear Health And Hearing Among Indigenous Australians, Jane F. Burns, Neil J. Thomson

Research outputs 2013

Indigenous Australians experience some of the highest levels of ear disease and hearing loss in the world, with rates up to ten times more than those for non-Indigenous Australians [4]. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to ear infections. The most common ear disease among Indigenous children is otitis media (OM), which is inflammation/infection of the middle ear typically caused by bacterial and viral pathogens. Indigenous children living in urban, rural and, particularly, remote areas, are more likely than their non-Indigenous counterparts to have OM at younger ages, more often, at a greater level of severity, and with more likelihood …

A Machine Learning Approach To Diagnosis Of Parkinson’S Disease, Sumaiya F. Hashmi

CMC Senior Theses

I will investigate applications of machine learning algorithms to medical data, adaptations of differences in data collection, and the use of ensemble techniques.

Focusing on the binary classification problem of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) diagnosis, I will apply machine learning algorithms to a primary dataset consisting of voice recordings from healthy and PD subjects. Specifically, I will use Artificial Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines, and an Ensemble Learning algorithm to reproduce results from [MS12] and [GM09].

Next, I will adapt a secondary regression dataset of PD recordings and combine it with the primary binary classification dataset, testing various techniques to consolidate …

A Review Of Comparison Of Complications Of Vaginal Hysterectomy With And Without Concomitant Surgery For Sui: A 5 Years’ Experience At A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Pakistan, Raheela Mohsin Rizvi, Munnazza Akhtar, Nadeem F. Zuberi

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Objective. The study was performed to review the complications of surgery for POP with or without surgery for SUI. This included the need for second procedure two years after the primary surgery. Study Design. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional comparative study at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) was used to identify women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy with anterior/posterior repair alone and those with concomitant tension-free vaginal tape surgery for urodynamic stress incontinence. Results. The 28 cases of VH/repair combined with TVT were compared for complications with 430 cases of VH …

Atlas-Based Analysis Of Cardiac Shape And Function: Correction Of Regional Shape Bias Due To Imaging Protocol For Population Studies, Pau Medrano-Gracia, Brett R. Cowan, David A. Bluemke, J. Paul Finn, Alan H. Kadish, Daniel C. Lee, Alistair A. Young

Office of the President Publications and Research

Background: Cardiovascular imaging studies generate a wealth of data which is typically used only for individual study endpoints. By pooling data from multiple sources, quantitative comparisons can be made of regional wall motion abnormalities between different cohorts, enabling reuse of valuable data. Atlas-based analysis provides precise quantification of shape and motion differences between disease groups and normal subjects. However, subtle shape differences may arise due to differences in imaging protocol between studies.

Methods: A mathematical model describing regional wall motion and shape was used to establish a coordinate system registered to the cardiac anatomy. The atlas was applied …

Is The Use Of Intestinal Helminths Safe And Effective In The Treatment Of Allergic Rhinitis?, Tanner Mccalley

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this EBM review is to determine whether the use of intestinal helminths is safe and effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language, blinded randomized controlled trials from 2009, 2010, and 2010.

DATA SOURCE: Randomized, controlled, blinded trials comparing the use of intestinal helminths versus visually matched placebo as a treatment for allergic rhinitis found using PubMed and Ovid databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Several different systems were used to evaluate the symptoms or occurrence of AR. Bager et al.2010 uses symptom scores of AR scale of 0 …

Is Dapsone Gel Safe And Effective For The Treatment Of Acne Vulgaris?, Amy Patel

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not dapsone gel is safe and effective for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

STUDY DESIGN: A review of three English language studies published in 2007. Includes two randomized, double-blind, controlled trials and one open label, noncomparative study. DATA SOURCES: Randomized, controlled trials comparing dapsone gel to vehicle gel control were found using PubMed and Cochrane database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Success on the Global Acne Assessment Score (GAAS) and reduction in acne lesion counts

RESULTS: The two randomized, controlled trials and the open-label noncomparative study …

Is Oral Rivaroxaban Safe And Effective In The Treatment Of Patients With Symptomatic Dvt?, Ami A. Patel

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not oral rivaroxaban is safe and effective in the treatment of patients with symptomatic DVT.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled trial studies published from 2007-2011.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials studying the effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban in the treatment of patients with symptomatic DVT in comparison to enoxaparin and placebo.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Outcomes measured were episodes of recurrent DVT and bleeding. Patients were monitored for the proposed treatment period and seen at fixed intervals that were matching …

Is Valdecoxib An Effective Treatment Option To Improve Pain In Adults With Diagnosed Osteoarthritis Of The Hip Or Knee?, Karen A. Mcsorley

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Valdecoxib is an effective treatment option to improve pain in adults with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.

STUDY DESIGN: This review consists of three randomized control trials; two were published in 2002 and the third in 2006.

DATA SOURCES: Sources were studies comparing groups taking Valdecoxib 10mg QD to placebo, which were found via Pubmed, MEDLINE, Ovid, and Cochrane databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The three articles measured various outcomes: pain improvement, stiffness, physical improvement, adverse effects, and onset of analgesia during acute pain …

Does Metformin Use During Pregnancy Effectively Reduce The Rate Of Early Pregnancy Loss In Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?, Inna Prikhodko

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine “Does Metformin use during pregnancy effectively reduce the rate of early pregnancy loss in women with polycystic ovary syndrome?”

STUDY DESIGN: This review is based on two primary double-blind, randomized controlled trials and a prospective controlled trial that was not randomized or blinded to evaluate whether metformin, a medication used to manage PCOS, can also prevent early pregnancy loss in women with PCOS.

DATA SOURCES: All articles used were published in English, in peer-reviewed journals, and located through PubMed, OVID and COCHRANE databases..

OUTCOMES MEASURED: …

Is Electrical Muscle Stimulation Effective In The Progression Of Oral Feeding, For Patients With Dysphagia, Caused By A Stroke?, Kristen Iaconelli

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not electrical muscle stimulation is effective in the progression of oral feeding, for patients with dysphagia, caused by a stroke.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of 3 randomized controlled trials, published between 2008-2009.

DATA SOURCES: All 3 randomized controlled trials were found using the Cochrane database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: All 3 studies measured subjective swallowing function pre- and post-treatment, however, each trial differed in the way they measured this. Permsirivanich et al used a functional oral intake scale (FOIS), or a 7-point scale reflecting the patient’s report of …

Does Ranibizumab Improve Best Corrected Visual Acuity In Adults With Diabetic Macular Edema Compared To Those Without Ranibizumab?, James E. Huang

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective evidence based medicine (EBM) review is to determine whether or not ranibizumab improves best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in adults with diabetic macular edema compared to patients who do not receive ranibizumab.

STUDY DESIGN: The selective review examined best corrected visual acuity values reported from published, primary literature sources that examined the efficacy of ranibizumab in diabetic macular edema.

DATA SOURCES: Two double blind randomized controlled trials and one case control study were selected and reviewed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) as measured from Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual …

Are Sodium Alginate Solutions Effective In Reducing Postprandial Symptoms In Adults With Gastroesophageal Reflux?, Kristi L. Hackman

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not sodium alginate solutions are effective in reducing postprandial symptoms in adults with gastroesophageal reflux?

STUDY DESIGN: A review of three English language studies published from 2006-2011. Includes two randomized, double-blind, controlled trials and one controlled case series.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized, placebo-controlled studies evaluating the effectiveness and safety of sodium alginate solutions (Gaviscon) for managing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms in adults were located using the PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The primary measures of effectiveness used were the Reflux Severity Index Questionnaire …

Does Daily Intake Of Glucosamine Supplements Prevent The Need For Knee Replacements Later In Life For Adult Patients Predisposed To Osteoarthritis?, Nancy Helmy

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not daily intake of glucosamine supplements prevents the need for knee replacements later in life for adults predisposed to osteoarthritis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled trial studies published between 2001 and 2008

DATA SOURCES: Three double blind randomized control trials comparing glucosamine supplements to placebo were found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Outcomes were measured using radiographic studies of the knees, joint space measurements, and symptoms were evaluated using Lequesne and WOMAC indexes.

RESULTS: The Reginster (2001) and Pavelka (2002) studies demonstrated no …

What Is The Effectiveness Of Roxithromycin In Management Of The Signs And Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis?, Adriana Distanislao

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not roxithromycin is effective in management of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three primary studies in the English language published in 2006, 2009, and 2011.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized, controlled and double blind clinical trials testing the effectiveness roxithromycin in management of inflammation and signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis were found using the PubMed and Ovid databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Improvement in the signs and symptoms of tenderness/inflammation using the American College of Rheumatology-20 (ACR-20) scoring approach, improvement of quality of …

Is Starting Antiretroviral Therapy (Art) In Hiv Positive Adults With Cd4 Cell Count Of <300 Cells/Μl Within Four Weeks Of Initiating New Tuberculosis (Tb) Therapy More Effective In Reducing Mortality Rates Than Starting Art Four Weeks Or Later After Initiating New Tb Therapy?, Janna Erlien

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV positive adults with CD4 cell count of /µl within four weeks of initiating new tuberculosis therapy more effective in reducing mortality rates than starting ART four weeks or later after initiating new tuberculosis therapy.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three English language primary studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2011.

DATA SOURCES: Three open label, randomized, controlled trials published in 2011, comparing the timing of ART for HIV+ adults with confirmed or suspected new TB …

Is Modafinil (Provigil®) Effective In Improving Cognitive Function In Adults With Narcolepsy?, Stephanie V. Bui

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not modafinil (Provigil®) is effective in improving cognitive function in adults with narcolepsy.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of all English language primary randomized controlled trials from 1996 to 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Double-blind, randomized controlled trials that compared modafinil (Provigil®) to a visually matched placebo were found using OVID, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Databases.

OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: Each of the three trials assessed the effect of modafinil on cognitive and executive function by Low-Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA), and the following assessment tools: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Multiple Sleep …

Is The Use Of Honey An Effective Dressing Option For The Treatment Of Diabetic Foot Ulcers?, Michelle A. Wimmer

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not honey could be used as an effective topical treatment for diabetic foot ulcers in diabetic patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three primary journal articles published in English between the years of 2008 and 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Two Randomized Controlled Trials comparing honey as a treatment for diabetic foot ulcers to either previous failed treatments or Povidone Iodine Solution, and a pilot prospective study, exploring the effectiveness of PEDYPHAR a royal jelly ointment. All articles were found using Pubmed, OVID and Cochrane Database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED …

Does Yoga Aid In The Reduction Of Short-Term Anxiety In Adult Female Breast Cancer Patients?, Lora K. Brown

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not yoga aids in the reduction of short-term anxiety in adult female breast cancer patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies, published between 2007 and 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one before and after comparison study were found using PubMed, Medline, and OVID. These studies analyzed yoga intervention in adult female breast cancer patients suffering from anxiolytic effects.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The main outcomes measured were anxiety state level and symptom severity and distress experienced by patients through use of the …

Is Local Infiltration Analgesia (Lia) A Safe And Effective Method For Post-Operative Pain Management After A Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty (Tka)?, Brooke A. Bonnette

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not local infiltration analgesia (LIA) is a safe and effective method for post-operative pain management after a unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies published in 2010 and 2011.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials comparing local infiltration analgesia to three separate controls: epidural analgesia, placebo infiltration and femoral nerve block found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Clinical outcome was measured by total morphine use postoperatively and average knee pain intensity at rest and upon movement postoperatively. Total morphine use …