Digital Commons Network^™

Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation Modulates Neural Processing Of Sensory And Motor Circuits – From Potential Cellular Mechanisms To Behaviour: A Scoping Review, Weronika Potok, Onno Van Der Groen, Marc Bächinger, Dylan Edwards, Nicole Wenderoth

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Noise introduced in the human nervous system from cellular to systems levels can have a major impact on signal processing. Using transcranial stimulation, electrical noise can be added to cortical circuits to modulate neuronal activity and enhance function in the healthy brain and in neurological patients. Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) is a promising technique that is less well understood than other non-invasive neuromodulatory methods. The aim of the present scoping review is to collate published evidence on the effects of electrical noise at the cellular, systems, and behavioural levels, and discuss how this emerging method might be harnessed to …

Play In Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Psychometric Properties Of A Parent Report Measure ‘My Child’S Play’, Dulce Romero-Ayuso, María Ruiz-Salcedo, Sabina Barrios-Fernández, José Matías Triviño-Juárez, Donald Maciver, Janet Richmond, Miguel A. Muñoz

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Play is essential in childhood, allowing for a positive trend in development and learning. Health professionals need useful tools to assess it, especially in the case of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The aim of this study was to validate and cross-culturally adapt the My Child’s Play questionnaire and to find out if this instrument allows us to differentiate the play of children with neurodevelopmental disorders from the play of children with neurotypical development. A total of 594 parents completed the questionnaire. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted, which showed a similar structure to the English version: (1) executive functions; (2) …

Intake Of Products Containing Anthocyanins, Flavanols, And Flavanones, And Cognitive Function: A Narrative Review, Samantha L. Gardener, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Michael Weinborn, Catherine P. Bondonno, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The purpose of this review is to examine human research studies published within the past 6 years which evaluate the role of anthocyanin, flavanol, and flavanone consumption in cognitive function, and to discuss potential mechanisms of action underlying any observed benefits. Evidence to date suggests the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods, such as berries and cocoa, may have the potential to limit, or even reverse, age-related declines in cognition. Over the last 6 years, the flavonoid subgroups of anthocyanins, flavanols, and flavanones have been shown to be beneficial in terms of conferring neuroprotection. The mechanisms by which flavonoids positively modulate cognitive …

Utilities Value In Diabetic Retinopathy, Pear Pongsachareonnont Ferreira

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Health utilities has been used as weighted for a quality adjusted life year in health technology assessment. There are limited data on the utilites value in diabetic retinopathy and retina diseases in the South Asian region. The aim of this project are to estimate the visual health utility (HU) in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and cataract. Moreover, we intended to evaluate an appropriate health utility instrument among a direct choice-based, traditional time trade-off (tTTO) and composite time trade-off (cTTO), and multiple attribute utility instrument (MAUI) ( EQ-VAS, European Quality of Life (QoL) Five Dimension (EQ-5D-5L), …

Mechanisms Of Colistin Resistance And The Antimicrobial Effects Of Antibiotic And Adjuvant Combination On Colistin-Resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae, Aye Mya Sithu Shein

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The prevalence of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (ColRkp) has progressively increased globally. The purposes of this study were to characterize the molecular mechanisms responsible for colistin resistance among ColRkp clinical isolates in Thailand, to determine the expression levels of virulence factors associated with ColRkp clinical isolates, and to evaluate in vitro and in vivo synergistic activities of novel combination of antibiotic and adjuvant against ColRkp clinical isolates. A total of 165 carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae clinical isolates were obtained from King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital between 2016 and 2021. We discovered a rising trend of ColRkp displaying extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and pandrug-resistant (PDR) …

Alteration Of Extracellular Matrix Components In Anterior Pituitary Gland Of Neonatal Rats Induced By Maternal Bisphenol A (Bpa) Diet During Pregnancy, Bumpenporn Sanannam

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-known endocrine-disrupting chemical that is widely used in the resin and plastic manufacturing sectors. Prenatal exposure to this chemical results in changes of pituitary hormone-producing cells. However, there have been no reports of the alterations of extracellular matrix (ECM) which play a role in controlling cell activities in the pituitary gland. In the present study, a daily oral dose of 5,000 µg/kg BW of BPA was administered to pregnant rats. ECM-producing cells, i.e., pericytes and folliculostelate cells, ECM products, and ECM regulators were investigated in the neonatal anterior pituitary at day 1 at the histology …

Dual Energy Ct In Necrotizing Enterocolitis; A Novel Diagnostic Approach, Özgür Çağlar, Emrullah Cesur, Recep Sade, Bi̇nali̇ Firinci, Mustafa Kara, Mehmet Emi̇n Çeli̇kkaya, Akgün Oral, Murat Yi̇ği̇ter, Sevi̇lay Özmen

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in premature infants. Although there are no specific diagnostic tools, the main factors affecting prognosis are clinical and laboratory findings, and early diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we demonstrate the importance of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in confirming intestinal ischemia in neonates with NEC. Materials and methods: Patients diagnosed with NEC in a neonatal intensive care unit were staged according to modified Bell's classification, and DECT was performed on patients with NEC stages 2-A, 2-B and 3-A. According to their DECT reports, these patients …

The Psychological, Social, And Bioinformatic Considerations For The Return Of Continental Genetic Ancestry Estimates And Other Secondary Sequencing Results, Jaimie Leighan Richards

All ETDs from UAB

With recent advances in sequencing technologies, large scale genome wide sequencing has advanced our understanding of disease risk and etiology. These tests, however, often provide secondary data beyond the scope of the original sequencing objectives, and our understanding of how and if participants want to receive these secondary results is important as clinical and research-based sequencing becomes commonplace. To address this, we completed a systematic review of quantitative research that measures attitudes and preferences on the return of genomic sequencing results. Based on that review, we studied the return of genetic ancestry since these results, popularized in direct-to-consumer sequencing companies …

Modified Pre-Pcr Protocol For Detection Of Bacteria In Blood Samples Of Patients With Sepsis, Phanni Wanthong

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Sepsis and septic shock are leading causes of deaths in hospitals. The most common cause of blood stream infection is bacteria. To reduce mortality, a rapid and accurate bacterial detection in sepsis patients is essential. It is necessary to identify pathogens based on their species for appropriate choice of antibiotics. In this study, we aimed to improve the pre-PCR procedure for detection of bacteria in blood samples and to compare the performance between real-time PCR, conventional PCR and blood culture. Blood samples from 16 sepsis patients were separated into whole blood, plasma, buffy coat and white blood cell. Bacterial nucleic …

Aphasia In Multilingual Patients, Mira Goral, Zahra Hejazi

Publications and Research

Purpose of Review

We summarize recent published work concerning assessment and treatment of aphasia in bilingual and multilingual people and review current related models of treatment outcomes. As well, we discuss studies that address the recently debated topic of cognitive processes in bilingual individuals with aphasia, with a focus on the effects of bilingualism on aphasia recovery and its potential protective effects.

Recent Findings

Providing assessment and treatment tools that best serve multilingual individuals with aphasia and unpacking the variables and mechanisms that underlie response to treatment have emerged as goals of several recent studies. Additionally, while findings are still …

Female And Male-Controlled Livestock Holdings Impact Pastoralist Food Security And Women’S Dietary Diversity, Henriette Gitungwa, Christopher Gustafson, E.Y. Jimenez, E. Wesley F. Peterson, M. Mwanzalila, Asha Makweta, E. Komba, R.R. Kazwala, J.A.K. Mazet, Elizabeth Vanwormer

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: Food insecurity is a global problem that requires a One Health approach. As many households in low- and middle-income nations rely on crops and livestock that they produce to meet their household’s needs, food security and nutrition are closely linked to the health of animals and the environment. Resources controlled by women are more often allocated to uses that benefit the entire household, such as food, health, and educating children, than men’s resources. However, studies of gender control of resources among pastoralist societies are scant. We examined the effect of female and male control of livestock resources on food …

Effective Dose Of Intravenous Oxycodone Depending On Sex And Age For Attenuation Ofintubation-Related Hemodynamic Responses, Keum Young So, Ki Tae Jung, Bo Hyun Jang, Sang Hun Kim

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Preoperative intravenous oxycodone may help to prevent or attenuate intubation-related hemodynamic responses (IRHRs), but its pharmacokinetics differs according to age and sex. Therefore, we investigated the 95% effective dose (ED95) of intravenous oxycodone for attenuating all IRHRs, depending on the age and sex of the study population. Materials and methods: All patients were allocated to one of 6 groups: 1) 20-40 year old males, 2) 41-65yearold males, 3) 66-80 year old males, 4) 20-40 year old females, 5) 41-65yearold females, and 6) 66-80 year old females (groups YM, OM, EM, YF, OF, and EF, respectively). Using Dixon's up-and-down method, …

A Survey Of Bullous Diseases In A Turkish University Hospital: Clinicoepidemiologicalcharacteristics And Follow-Up, Zekayi̇ Kutlubay, Ayşegül Sevi̇m Keçi̇ci̇, Uğur Çeli̇k, Mehmet Cem Mat

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Autoimmune bullous diseases, if left untreated, are life-threatening conditions affecting primarily skin and mucous membranes. These blistering disorders are characterized by epidermal or subepidermal detachment. Autoimmunity plays a key role in pathogenesis; therefore, immunosuppressive agents are the treatment of choice. The aim of this study is to document relative frequencies of different autoimmune bullous diseases, patient characteristics, treatment options, and side effects in patients presenting to our bullous skin disease center at İstanbul University, Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty. Materials and methods: Medical files were examined retrospectively for all patients with autoimmune bullous diseases who were followed up between 2003 …

Clinicopathological Characteristics And Mutational Profile Of Kras And Nras Intunisian Patients With Sporadic Colorectal Cancer, Donia Ounissi, Marwa Weslati, Rahma Boughriba, Meriam Hazgui, Saadia Bouraoui

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health problem worldwide and in Tunisia due to its increasing rate of incidence. KRAS and NRAS mutations have become a pivotal part of CRC diagnosis, given their association to treatment resistance with antiepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies. In this study, we aimed to screen for mutations in KRAS and NRAS genes in Tunisian patients with CRC and explore their correlations with clinicopathological features. Materials and methods: AmoyDx KRAS and NRAS mutation real-time PCR kits were used to screen for mutations in KRAS (exon 2) and NRAS (exons 2, 3, and …

The Evaluation Of Intracellular Energy Metabolism In Prediabetic Patients And Patientsnewly Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Erkan Dulkadi̇roğlu, Hüseyi̇n Özden, Hüseyi̇n Demi̇rci̇

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Increased susceptibility to infections is a serious problem in diabetics. Impairment in the energy metabolism of the immune system is the main source of the problem. Early diagnosis of the impairment in energy metabolism is crucial. Our study aimed to investigate the energy metabolism in leukocytes in patient groups such as prediabetics and patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods: Our study included 21 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients (NDDP), 30 prediabetic patients, and 22 adult volunteers. 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was applied to all patients included in the study. Blood …

Turkish Reliability And Validity Study Of The Medical Outcomes Study (Mos) Sleep Scale Inpatients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Bülent Devri̇m Akçay, Duygu Akçay, Si̇nan Yetki̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the Turkish reliability and validity of the medical outcomes study (MOS) sleep scale in patients who have obstructive sleep apnea. Materials and methods: The data of the study were collected from 120 adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea and from 90 healthy individuals between March 04 and May 31, 2019. Results: The Cronbach's α internal consistency reliability coefficient of the MOS sleep scale was found as 0.82. The test-retest reliability was acceptable (r = 0.76-0.94). Six factors were identified by the factor analysis. These were the same as those in …

The Effect Of Induction Loop System Use Training On Adults With Hearing Aids, Merve Burcu Özay, Hüseyi̇n Özay, Selhan Gürkan, Serpi̇l Mungan Durankaya, Tahsi̇n Oğuz Başokçu, Günay Kirkim

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The study aimed to investigate the effect of training on hearing aid users to benefit from induction loop systems. Materials and methods: A five-question scale was developed to evaluate whether individuals using hearing aids could use the induction loop system effectively. In the first step, validity-reliability studies were performed with 264 individuals using hearing aids. In the second step, 30 individuals using hearing aids were given verbal and hands-on training on the induction loop system. Before and after training with hearing aids (noiseless, noise, noise + induction system active) in three different environments, questions on the scale were asked …

Turkish Validity And Reliability Study Of Type 2 Diabetes Stigma Assessment Scale, Bahar İnkaya, Ezgi̇ Karadağ

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Stigma has a high incidence and adversely affects people with diabetes. In this context, patients face difficulties such as fear of losing their jobs, travel restrictions, isolation from social life, problems related to mental health, and feeling of wellness. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the stigma assessment scale in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Materials and methods: The study sample consisted of 153 diabetic individuals. The validity of language, content, and construct were examined to evaluate the validity of the type 2 diabetes stigma assessment scale. Cronbach's alpha was used to …

Colorectal Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: An Update On Best Practice, Tara Keihanian, Mohamed O Othman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a method of en-bloc resection of neoplastic colorectal lesions which is less invasive compared to surgical resection. Lesion stratification, architecture recognition and estimation of depth of invasion are crucial for patient selection. Expert endoscopists have integrated a variety of classification systems including Paris, lateral spreading tumor (LST), narrow band imaging (NBI), international colorectal endoscopic (NICE) and Japanese NBI expert team (JNET) in their day-to-day practice to enhance lesion detection accuracy. Major societies recommend ESD for LST-non granular (NG), Kudo-VI type, large depressed and protruded colonic lesions with shallow submucosal invasion. Chance of submucosal invasion enhances …

Safety And Efficacy Of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation To Treat And Prevent Recurrent Clostridioides Difficile In Cancer Patients, Hiba Ali, Shruti Khurana, Weijie Ma, Yuanzun Peng, Zhi-Dong Jiang, Herbert Dupont, Hao Chi Zhang, Anusha S Thomas, Pablo Okhuysen, Yinghong Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Cancer patients are at increased risk of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) due to malignancy itself, cancer therapy, and frequent antibiotic use and have a lower response rate to standard oral antibiotics. There are limited data on the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating rCDI in cancer patients. We aim to describe our experience of using FMT to treat rCDI at a tertiary cancer center.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of cancer patients who underwent FMT for rCDI at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from June 2017 through January 2020. Baseline …

Assessment Of The Impact Of Tardive Dyskinesia In Clinical Practice: Consensus Panel Recommendations, Richard Jackson, Matthew N Brams, Leslie Citrome, Amber R Hoberg, Stuart H Isaacson, John M Kane, Rajeev Kumar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a hyperkinetic movement disorder in which patients experience abnormal involuntary movements that can have profound negative impacts on physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning. Use of measures to assess the functional impact of TD in routine clinical practice is lacking. To address this gap, an advisory panel of experts in psychiatry and movement disorder neurology was convened to develop consensus recommendations on assessment of the impact of TD on patients' functioning that can be used in clinical practice.

METHODS: An advisory panel provided recommendations using an iterative process, beginning with a narrative literature review regarding current …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Nafld Detected By Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography Among Us Adults: Results From Nhanes 2017–2018, Xiaotao Zhang, Natalia I Heredia, Maya Balakrishnan, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly common in the adult population. In the United States, the overall burden of NAFLD is unknown due to challenges with population-level NAFLD detection. The purpose of this study was to estimate prevalence of NAFLD and significant NAFLD fibrosis and identify factors associated with them in the U.S.

METHODS: Data came from the 2017-2018 cycle of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We defined NAFLD by controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) scores of ≥248 dB/m in absence of excessive alcohol use and viral hepatitis. We defined significant fibrosis as Vibration controlled transient elastography (VCTE) …

Helicobacter Pylori Diagnosis And Therapy In The Era Of Antimicrobial Stewardship, Akiko Shiotani, Priya Roy, Hong Lu, David Y Graham

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The diagnosis and therapy of Helicobacter pylori infection have undergone major changes based on the use the principles of antimicrobial stewardship and increased availability of susceptibility profiling. H. pylori gastritis now recognized as an infectious disease, as such there is no placebo response allowing outcome to be assessed in relation to the theoretically obtainable cure rate of 100%. The recent recognition of H. pylori as an infectious disease has changed the focus to therapies optimized to reliably achieve high cure rates. Increasing antimicrobial resistance has also led to restriction of clarithromycin, levofloxacin, or metronidazole to susceptibility-based therapies. Covid-19 resulted in …

A Pharmacokinetic Analysis Of Hemodialysis For Metformin-Associated Lactic Acidosis, Stephen A Harding, Rana Biary, Robert S Hoffman, Mark K Su, Mary Ann Howland

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Although hemodialysis is recommended for patients with severe metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA), the amount of metformin removed by hemodialysis is poorly documented. We analyzed endogenous clearance and hemodialysis clearance in a patient with MALA.

METHODS: A 62-year-old man with a history of type II diabetes mellitus presented after several days of vomiting and diarrhea and was found to have acute kidney injury (AKI) and severe acidemia. Initial serum metformin concentration was 315.34 μmol/L (40.73 μg/mL) (typical therapeutic concentrations 1-2 μg/mL). He underwent 6 h of hemodialysis. We collected hourly whole blood, serum, urine, and dialysate metformin concentrations. Blood, urine, …

Pharmacologically Induced Ex Copula Ejaculation In Horses And Donkeys, Afroza Khanam, Ayman A Swelum, Firdous A Khan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Pharmacologically induced ex copula ejaculation is a method used for collection of semen when the traditional methods of semen collection are not feasible. Common indications for this method include health issues that either preclude the physical act of mating or result in impaired erection and ejaculation. The method also offers an alternative when there is a lack of equipment and facilities required for semen collection using the conventional artificial vagina method. A variety of pharmacological protocols for ex copula ejaculation in stallions have been evaluated in both research and clinical settings with no serious side-effects reported. In general, these protocols …

Enhancing Glucose Metabolism Via Gluconeogenesis Is Therapeutic In A Zebrafish Model Of Dravet Syndrome, Rajeswari Banerji, Christopher Huynh, Francisco Figueroa, Matthew T Dinday, Scott C Baraban, Manisha Patel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Energy-producing pathways are novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we focussed on correcting metabolic defects in a catastrophic paediatric epilepsy, Dravet syndrome which is caused by mutations in sodium channel NaV1.1 gene, SCN1A. We utilized a translatable zebrafish model of Dravet syndrome (scn1lab) which exhibits key characteristics of patients with Dravet syndrome and shows metabolic deficits accompanied by down-regulation of gluconeogenesis genes, pck1 and pck2. Using a metabolism-based small library screen, we identified compounds that increased gluconeogenesis via up-regulation of pck1 gene expression in scn1lab larvae. Treatment with PK11195, a pck1 activator …

Buprenorphine For Chronic Pain: A Safer Alternative To Traditional Opioids, Suhani Dalal, Ahish Chitneni, Amnon A Berger, Vwaire Orhurhu, Bilal Dar, Bennett Kramer, Anvinh Nguyen, John Pruit, Charles Halsted, Alan D Kaye, Jamal Hasoon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

With the ongoing public health crisis with prescription opioids, there is a need for safer alternatives for medication management in chronic pain patients. Buprenorphine is a partial mu-opioid agonist which is commonly utilized to treat patients with opioid-use disorders. The purpose of this review is to discuss the potential use of this medication for the treatment of chronic pain instead of resorting to more traditional Schedule II opioids. Buprenorphine offers a safer alternative for patients who require opioids to manage chronic pain, given the unique pharmacological properties that allow it to provide adequate analgesia with less abuse potential.

A Right Para-Tracheal Mass Extending Into The Anterior Mediastinum: An Anesthetic Management Conundrum, Andres Bacigalupo Landa, Kritika Krishnamurthy, Howard S Goldman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The anesthetic management of patients with a mediastinal mass represent a challenge due to the potential for difficult ventilation and intubation, as well as the risk of cardiovascular collapse upon induction of general anesthesia. Different strategies and alternatives have been described. We present the case of a 70-year-old man with a right para-tracheal mass extending into the anterior mediastinum with 90% mid-tracheal lumen obstruction who was successfully managed with venous-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during mass debulking and tracheal stent placement.

Mitral Valve Repair Complicated By Left Circumflex Coronary Artery Occlusion: The Vital Role Of The Anesthesiologist, Andres Bacigalupo Landa, Jason Hoyos, Jayanand D'Mello

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The anatomical relationship between the mitral valve and the left circumflex coronary artery places this vessel at risk for occlusion during mitral valve repair or replacement. In view of the potential high morbidity and mortality of this complication, the anesthesiologist has a vital role in its prompt diagnosis. We present the case of a 47-year-old man who underwent a minimally invasive mitral valve repair, which was complicated by left circumflex coronary artery occlusion.

The Association Of Pre-Kidney Transplant Dialysis Modality With De Novo Posttransplant Heart Failure, Colin R Lenihan, Sai Liu, Medha Airy, Carl Walther, Maria E Montez-Rath, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) after kidney transplantation is a significant but understudied problem. Pretransplant dialysis modality could influence incident HF risk through differing cardiac stressors. However, whether pretransplant dialysis modality is associated with the development of posttransplant HF is unknown.

METHODS: We used the US Renal Data System to assemble a cohort of 27,701 patients who underwent their first kidney transplant in the USA between the years 2005 and 2012 and who had Medicare fee-for-service coverage for >6 months preceding their transplant date. Patients with any HF diagnosis prior to transplant were excluded. Detailed baseline patient characteristics and comorbidities were …