Digital Commons Network^™

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Jessica L. Kaufman

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is defined as lung failure with a ratio of partial pressure oxygen (PaO2) to fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) <100 (Michaels, Hill, Long, Young, Sperley, Shanks, & Morgan, 2013). ARDS is characterized by acute, widespread pulmonary inflammation due to infection (viral or bacterial), trauma, and/or inhaled toxins (Aokage, Palmer, Ichiba, & Takeda, 2015). Approximately 150,000 patients are diagnosed with ARDS each year in the U.S. with reported mortality rates varying from 20%-40% (Butt, Kurdowska, & Allen, 2016; Drahnak & Custer, 2015). The pathophysiology of acute respiratory syndrome is complex, and can result from a number of different insults. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a life threatening condition that requires aggressive treatment with close monitoring. Successful treatment of ARDS requires expert knowledge from physicians, advanced practice nurses, bedside nurses, and respiratory therapists; all of whom must understand the complex underlying pathophysiology and critical nature of this condition.

Stretching The Boundaries Of Medical Education: A Case Of Medical College Embracing Humanities And Social Sciences In Medical Education, Kulsoom Ghias, Kausar S. Khan, Rukhsana Ali, Shireen Azfar, Rashida Ahmed

Community Health Sciences

Objective:

Aga Khan University, a private medical college, had a vision of producing physicians who are not only scientifically competent, but also socially sensitive, the latter by exposure of medical students to a broad-based curriculum. The objective of this study was to identify the genesis of broad-based education and its integration into the undergraduate medical education program as the Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) course.

Methods:

A qualitative methodology was used for this study. Sources of data included document review and in-depth key informant interviews. Nvivo software was utilized to extract themes.

Results:

The study revealed the process of operationalization …

The Future Is In The Numbers: The Power Of Predictive Analysis In The Biomedical Educational Environment, Charles A. Gullo Phd

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Biomedical programs have a potential treasure trove of data they can mine to assist admissions committees in identification of students who are likely to do well and help educational committees in the identification of students who are likely to do poorly on standardized national exams and who may need remediation. In this article, we provide a step-by-step approach that schools can utilize to generate data that are useful when predicting the future performance of current students in any given program. We discuss the use of linear regression analysis as the means of generating that data and highlight some of the …

Type Iv Pili Promote Early Biofilm Formation By Clostridium Difficile, Grace A. Maldarelli, Kurt H. Piepenbrink, Alison J. Scott, Jeffrey A. Freiberg, Yang Song, Yvonee Achermann, Robert K. Ernst, Mark E. Shirtliff, Eric J. Sundberg, Michael S. Donnenberg, Erik C. Von Rosenvinge

Food for Health: Publications

Increasing morbidity and mortality from Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) present an enormous challenge to healthcare systems. Clostridium difficile express type IV pili (T4P), but their function remains unclear. Many chronic and recurrent bacterial infections result from biofilms, surface-associated bacterial communities embedded in an extracellular matrix. CDI may be biofilm mediated; T4P are important for biofilm formation in a number of organisms. We evaluate the role of T4P in C. difficile biofilm formation using RNA sequencing, mutagenesis and complementation of the gene encoding the major pilin pilA1, and microscopy. RNA sequencing demonstrates that, in comparison to other growth phenotypes, C. difficile …

Sexually Dimorphic Adaptation Of Cardiac Function: Roles Of Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid And Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors, Jun Qin, Yicong Le, Ghezal Froogh, Sharath Kandhi, Houli Jiang, Dong Sun, An Huang

NYMC Faculty Publications

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are cardioprotective mediators metabolized by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) to form corresponding diols (DHETs). As a sex-susceptible target, sEH is involved in the sexually dimorphic regulation of cardiovascular function. Thus, we hypothesized that the female sex favors EET-mediated potentiation of cardiac function via downregulation of sEH expression, followed by upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Hearts were isolated from male (M) and female (F) wild-type (WT) and sEH-KO mice, and perfused with constant flow at different preloads. Basal coronary flow required to maintain the perfusion pressure at 100 mmHg was significantly greater in females than males, and …

Week Of June 20, 2016, New York Medical College

InTouch

• Victor T. Madubuko Is Named Diversity and Inclusion Officer
• Department of Family and Community Medicine Hosts Annual Faculty Appreciation Dinner
• NYMC Honors Preceptors and Seminar Leaders at Annual Dinner
• School of Medicine Joins Ranks of AAMC Te4Q Sites

N-Acetyl Cysteine May Support Dopamine Neurons In Parkinson's Disease: Preliminary Clinical And Cell Line Data., Daniel A. Monti, George Zabrecky, Daniel Kremens, Tsao-Wei Liang, Nancy A. Wintering, Jingli Cai, Xiatao Wei, Anthony J. Bazzan, Li Zhong, Brendan Bowen, Charles Intenzo, Lorraine Iacovitti, Andrew B. Newberg

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Faculty Papers

BACKGOUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the biological and clinical effects of n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) in Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODS: The overarching goal of this pilot study was to generate additional data about potentially protective properties of NAC in PD, using an in vitro and in vivo approach. In preparation for the clinical study we performed a cell tissue culture study with human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons that were treated with rotenone as a model for PD. The primary outcome in the cell tissue cultures was the number of cells that survived the insult …

Inhibiting The Interaction Between Grp94 And Myocilin To Treat Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma, Andrew Stothert

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative protein misfolding disorder classified by increases in IOP, damage to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), optic nerve (ON) head damage, and progressive irreversible blindness. Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common form of glaucoma, constituting over 90% of clinical cases. POAG is observed in patients where normal outflow channels, mainly the trabecular meshwork (TM), are exposed at the angle formed by the iris and cornea. However, due to TM cellular dysfunction, aqueous outflow resistance is increased preventing normal circulation of aqueous humor. Recent studies have shown that in 2-4% of POAG cases, increased intracellular levels of …

The Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Efflux Pump Mexghi-Opmd Transports A Natural Phenazine That Controls Gene Expression And Biofilm Development, Hassan Sakhtah, Leslie Koyama, Yihan Zhang, Diana K. Morales, Blanche Fields, Alexa Price-Whelan, Deborah Hogan

Dartmouth Scholarship

Redox-cycling compounds, including endogenously produced phenazine antibiotics, induce expression of the efflux pump MexGHI-OpmD in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa Previous studies of P. aeruginosa virulence, physiology, and biofilm development have focused on the blue phenazine pyocyanin and the yellow phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA). In P. aeruginosa phenazine biosynthesis, conversion of PCA to pyocyanin is presumed to proceed through the intermediate 5-methylphenazine-1-carboxylate (5-Me-PCA), a reactive compound that has eluded detection in most laboratory samples. Here, we apply electrochemical methods to directly detect 5-Me-PCA and find that it is transported by MexGHI-OpmD in P. aeruginosa strain PA14 planktonic and biofilm cells. We …

Targeting Tau Degradation By Small Molecule Inhibitors For Treatment Of Tauopathies, Mackenzie Martin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases that affect millions of people around the world. Tauopathies include more than 20 neurodegenerative diseases. Some of the most common tauopathies are Alzheimer’s disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Pick’s disease, corticobasal degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), agyrophillic grain disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These diseases can cause significant memory loss, behavioral changes, motor deficits and speech impairments. Tauopathies stem from accumulation of the microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT). Tau stabilizes microtubules and helps with axonal transport. In a disease state tau becomes hyperphosphorylated and truncated leading to its aggregation. More recently …

Priming Cardiovascular Stem Cells For Transplantation Using Short-Term Hypoxia, Ivan Hernandez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Conventional medical treatments fail to address the underlying problems associated with the damage inflicted by a coronary event. Thus, the long-term prognosis of patients admitted for heart failure is disheartening, with reported survival rates of 25 percent. Recent advances in stem cell research highlight the potential benefits of autologous stem cell transplantation for stimulating repair in heart tissue. However, a majority of those suffering from cardiovascular diseases are older adults whose autologous cells no longer possess optimum functional capacity. Additional work is needed to identify the optimal cell types or conditions that will promote cardiovascular regeneration across all age groups. …

Gene Delivery Using Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles: Optimization Of The Transfection Process And The Effects Of Citrate And Poly(L-Lysine) As Additives, Mohammed A. Khan, Victoria M. Wu, Shreya Ghosh, Vuk Uskoković

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Despite the long history of nanoparticulate calcium phosphate (CaP) as a non-viral transfection agent, there has been limited success in attempts to optimize its properties for transfection comparable in efficiency to that of viral vectors. Here we focus on the optimization of: (a) CaP nanoparticle precipitation conditions, predominantly supersaturation and Ca/P molar ratios; (b) transfection conditions, mainly the concentrations of the carrier and plasmid DNA; (c) the presence of surface additives, including citrate anion and cationic poly(l-lysine) (PLL). CaP nanoparticles significantly improved transfection with plasmid DNA encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) in pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells compared to a commercial …

Comparative Studies Of Tslp And Il-7 In Normal Early Human Neonatal And Adult B Cell Development, Terry-Ann Milford

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Defining the role of cytokines in promoting human B cell development is important for understanding B cell leukemia and for developing strategies to restore B cell production that is lost during some therapies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of the IL-7R ligands, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and IL- 7, in the early stages of normal postnatal and adult human B cell development. Using novel in vitro and in vivo model systems, we show that TSLP and IL-7 are able to expand B cell precursors individually and in combination from CB hematopoietic stem cells. In this …

The Role Of Collagen Interacting Proteins In The Pathogenesis Of Filifactor Alocis, Ozioma Salomey Chioma

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Filifactor alocis is a Gram-positive, asaccharolytic; obligate anaerobe that has emerged as a potential periodontal pathogen due to its presence in high numbers in patients who have periodontal disease and least detection in healthy individuals (Kumar et al., 2003, Kumar et al., 2006, Wade, 2011). There is compelling evidence in the literature that demonstrates that F. alocis has virulence properties that may play an important role in infection-induced periodontitis (Abusleme et al., 2013, Griffen et al., 2012, Hutter et al., 2003, Khader et al., 2006, Siqueira and Rocas, 2003, Siqueira et al., 2009). However, there is a gap in our …

Effects Of Neonatal Dexamethasone On The Maturation And Endowment Of Cardiomyocytes, Maresha Gay

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Each year 1 in 9 infants are born preterm in the United States. Preterm infants have a host of complications associated with prematurity, including respiratory distress syndrome. Dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid is the ‘gold standard’ intervention in the treatment of preterm infants and mothers at risk of preterm birth because it promotes organ maturation, particularly the lungs and aids in surfactant production. However, a growing body of evidence suggests perinatal dexamethasone exposure is associated with health consequences later in life including increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Cardiomyocytes are the functional unit of the heart and are unique in that they …

There Is Relief For Constipated Patients Taking Opioids., Ahmad Mohammadieh, James Choi, Md, Chelsea Gonzalez, Do, Diyanah Elyaman, Md

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A critical appraisal and clinical application of Tack J, Lappalainen J, Diva U, Tummala R, Sostek M. Efficacy and safety of naloxegol in patients with opioid-induced constipation and laxative-inadequate response. United European Gastroenterol J. 2015 Oct;3(5):471-80. doi: 10.1177/2050640615604543

Week Of May 31, 2016, New York Medical College

InTouch

• Class of 2016 Gets a Rousing Sendoff at Carnegie Hall
• College Hosts 6th Annual Paul K. Woolf, M.D., Pediatric Trainee Research Symposium
• NYMC Mentees Take Awards at Intel ISWEEP and ISEF
• Reflections on Graduation
• Office of Development Update

Prior Binge Ethanol Exposure Potentiates The Microglial Response In A Model Of Alcohol-Induced Neurodegeneration, Simon Alex Marshall, Chelsea Rhea Geil Nickell, Kimberly Nixon

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Excessive alcohol consumption results in neurodegeneration which some hypothesize is caused by neuroinflammation. One characteristic of neuroinflammation is microglial activation, but it is now well accepted that microglial activation may be pro- or anti-inflammatory. Recent work indicates that the Majchrowicz model of alcohol-induced neurodegeneration results in anti-inflammatory microglia, while intermittent exposure models with lower doses and blood alcohol levels produce microglia with a pro-inflammatory phenotype. To determine the effect of a repeated binge alcohol exposure, rats received two cycles of the four-day Majchrowicz model. One hemisphere was then used to assess microglia via immunohistochemistry and while the other was used …

Membrane Insertion For The Detection Of Lipopolysaccharides: Exploring The Dynamics Of Amphiphile-In-Lipid Assays, Loreen R. Stromberg, Nicolas W. Hengartner, Kirstie L. Swingle, Rodney A. Moxley, Steven W. Graves, Gabriel A. Montaño, Harshini Mukundan

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli is an important cause of foodborne illness, with cases attributable to beef, fresh produce and other sources. Many serotypes of the pathogen cause disease, and differentiating one serotype from another requires specific identification of the O antigen located on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule. The amphiphilic structure of LPS poses a challenge when using classical detection methods, which do not take into account its lipoglycan biochemistry. Typically, detection of LPS requires heat or chemical treatment of samples and relies on bioactivity assays for the conserved lipid A portion of the molecule. Our goal was to develop assays …

Transitioning Care From Hospital To Home, Increasing Awareness Of Take-Home Pressure Injury Prevention Kits, Erika A. Yazdanbakhsh Mrs

Master's Projects and Capstones

With proper implementation of evidence-based interventions, most pressure injuries (PI) can be prevented. While prevention is considered standard of care while inpatient, there is a need to transition this care from hospital to home. This CNL project aimed to increased awareness of take home PI prevention kits made available to staff nurses at on medical surgical hospital unit with 15 staff nurses. An author-blinded, internal chart review and a comprehensive review of evidence-based literature were studied to provide background data and support for implementation using the staff huddle. Direct observation and staff interaction was incorporated with Lewin’s change theory to …

Week Of May 16, 2016, New York Medical College

InTouch

• SHSP Hosts Fourth Annual Research and Scholarship Day
• Department of Family and Community Medicine Hosts Fourth Annual Research Day
• Historical Footman Statues Restored and Returned to NYMC Campus
• Peer to Peer Committee Announces New Professionals of NYMC

Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury Induces Prolonged Immune Sysregulation And Potentiates Hyperalgesia Following A Peripheral Immune Challenge, Rachel K. Rowe, Gavin I. Ellis, Jordan L. Harrison, Adam D. Bachstetter, Gregory F. Corder, Linda J. Van Eldik, Bradley K. Taylor, Francesc Marti, Jonathan Lifshitz

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Background: Nociceptive and neuropathic pain occurs as part of the disease process after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in humans. Central and peripheral inflammation, a major secondary injury process initiated by the traumatic brain injury event, has been implicated in the potentiation of peripheral nociceptive pain. We hypothesized that the inflammatory response to diffuse traumatic brain injury potentiates persistent pain through prolonged immune dysregulation.

Results: To test this, adult, male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to midline fluid percussion brain injury or to sham procedure. One cohort of mice was analyzed for inflammation-related cytokine levels in cortical biopsies and serum along an …

Development Of A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience To Introduce Drug-Receptor Concepts, Hollie I. Swanson, Ok-Kyong Park-Sarge, Thushani Rodrigo-Peiris, Lin Xiang, Vincent M. Cassone

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Course-based research experiences (CUREs) are currently of high interest due to their potential for engaging undergraduate students in authentic research and maintaining their interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors. As part of a campuswide initiative called STEMCats, which is a living learning program offered to freshman STEM majors at the University of Kentucky funded by a grant from Howard Hughes Medical Institute, we have developed a CURE for freshmen interested in pursuing health care careers. Our course, entitled “Drug–Drug Interactions in Breast Cancer,” utilized a semester-long, in-class authentic research project and instructor-led discussions to engage students in …

Week Of May 9, 2016, New York Medical College

InTouch

• NYMC Marks Holocaust Remembrance Day
• Capstone Projects Address Challenging Issues
• SHSP Students Win Poster Competition at NYSPHA Annual Meeting
• School of Medicine Office of Admissions Offers Second-Look Program for Accepted Students

Modulation Of Nitric Oxide Synthase I Transcription By Tau And Alpha-Synuclein And Its Relevance To Alzheimer's And Parkinson's Diseases, Taelor A. Weaver, Alexandra L. Deal

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD) are both progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect millions of Americans and for which there are no cures. AD can significantly impair the ability to think, remember, communicate, and carry out daily activities, while PD can affect motor functions such as balance, coordination, and the ability to speak. Intracellular protein aggregation is a hallmark of both diseases, with AD being characterized by the build up of neurofibrillary tangles composed of misfolded tau protein and PD being characterized by Lewy bodies composed of alpha-synuclein. Both normal tau and alpha-synuclein can localize to the nucleus; however, …

Gross Anatomy Dissection Videos: Effect On Student Dissection Confidence And Laboratory Examination Scores, Kevin J. Selting

Theses & Dissertations

As medical colleges across the world experience cadaver shortages, faculty shortages, and decreased time allotted to teaching gross anatomy, a need for different teaching modalities has emerged. New ways of teaching are being studied to optimize efficiency and to acquire the same, or better, student outcomes as before the previously mentioned variables became prevalent. This was the stimulus for our research. Dissection videos were made, closely adhering to the dissections performed by Physician Assistant, Physical therapy, and Medical students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). The current Gross Anatomy course at UNMC involves four written examinations covering material …

Genetic Predisposition And M1 Macrophage Polarization Created By Elastin-Derived Peptides Drive Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation, Matthew A. Dale

Theses & Dissertations

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a dynamic vascular disease characterized by inflammatory cell invasion and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Evidence has demonstrated a profound influence of genetic background on AAA formation. The work presented herein discusses two studies: the first demonstrates how genetic components can enhance the susceptibility to AAA formation and the second demonstrates how ECM degradation enhances AAA progression by influencing inflammatory cell phenotypes. An understanding of the pathways involved in AAA pathogenesis can help not only to identify potential patients at risk of AAA development, a heritable disease in which the incriminating component has yet to be …