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A Dietary Intervention For Chronic Diabetic Neuropathy Pain: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study, A. E. Bunner, C. L. Wells, J. Gonzales, U. Agarwal, Elham Bayat, Neal D. Barnard

Neurology Faculty Publications

Background:

Diabetic neuropathy is a common and often debilitating condition for which available treatments are limited. Because a low-fat plant-based diet has been shown to improve glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes, we hypothesized that such a diet would reduce painful symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

Methods:

In this 20-week pilot study, individuals with type 2 diabetes and painful diabetic neuropathy were randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group was asked to follow a low-fat, plant-based diet, with weekly classes for support in following the prescribed diet, and to take a vitamin B12 supplement. The control group was …

Graduate Medical Education 2014-2015 Annual Report, Children's Mercy Hospital

GME Annual Reports

Annual report of the Children's Mercy Hospital Graduate Medical Education department, including pediatric residency, internal medicine/pediatrics residency, fellowship programs, medical students, continuing medical education, and library services.

A Mobile Image Enhancement Technology For Visually Impaired, Fahao Qiao

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

In this thesis, an image enhancement application is developed for low-vision patients when they use iPhones to see images/watch videos. The thesis has two contributions. The first contribution is the new image enhancement algorithm which combines human vision features. The new image enhancement algorithm is modified from a wavelet transform based image enhancement algorithm developed by Dr. Jinshan Tang. Different from the original algorithm, the new image enhancement algorithm combines human visual feature into the algorithm and thus can make the new algorithm more effective. Experimental simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has better visual results than the algorithm …

Nitric Oxide Generating/Releasing Materials, Honying Liang, Parimala Nacharaju, Adam J. Friedman, Joel Friedman

Dermatology Faculty Publications

Harnessing the impressive therapeutic potential of nitric oxide (NO) remains an ongoing challenge. This paper describes several of the current strategies both with respect to the underlying chemistry and physics and to the applications where they have shown promise. Included in this overview are molecular systems such as NONOates that release NO through chemical reactions and delivery vehicles such as nanoparticles that can generate, store, transport and deliver NO and related bioactive forms of NO such as nitrosothiols. Although there has been much positive movement, it is clear that we are only at the early stages of knowing how to …

Role Of Cellular Senescence And Nox4-Mediated Oxidative Stress In Systemic Sclerosis Pathogenesis., Sonsoles Piera-Velazquez, Sergio A. Jimenez

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive fibrosis of skin and numerous internal organs and a severe fibroproliferative vasculopathy resulting frequently in severe disability and high mortality. Although the etiology of SSc is unknown and the detailed mechanisms responsible for the fibrotic process have not been fully elucidated, one important observation from a large US population study was the demonstration of a late onset of SSc with a peak incidence between 45 and 54 years of age in African-American females and between 65 and 74 years of age in white females. Although it is not appropriate …

Liver Perilipin 5 Expression Worsens Hepatosteatosis But Not Insulin Resistance In High Fat-Fed Mice, Michelle B. Trevino, David Mazur-Hart, Yui Machida, Timothy King, Joseph Nadler, Elena V. Galkina, Arjun Poddar, Sucharita Dutta, Yumi Imai

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Perilipin 5 (PLIN5) is a lipid droplet (LD) protein highly expressed in oxidative tissues, including the fasted liver. However, its expression also increases in nonalcoholic fatty liver. To determine whether PLIN5 regulates metabolic phenotypes of hepatosteatosis under nutritional excess, liver targeted overexpression of PLIN5 was achieved using adenoviral vector (Ad-PLIN5) in male C57BL/6J mice fed high-fat diet. Mice treated with adenovirus expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) (Ad-GFP) served as control. Ad-PLIN5 livers increased LD in the liver section, and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry revealed increases in lipid classes associated with LD, including triacylglycerol, cholesterol ester, and phospholipid classes, …

Mechanisms Of Endothelial Dysfunction In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Joy N. Jones Buie

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased propensity for developing endothelial dysfunction. Declines in endothelial derived NO production as evidenced by decreases in brachial artery flow mediated dilation, suggest that inadequate NO levels may be one mechanism whereby vascular homeostasis is perturbed in SLE patients. NO modifies progression to atherogenesis through inhibition of platelet aggregation, smooth muscle cell proliferation, adhesion molecule expression, and prevention of oxLDL. Recent studies suggest that Type I interferons and oxidative stress, leading to endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling, are critical for accelerated vasculopathies observed in SLE. We postulate that two potential mechanisms are …

Polio Eradication And Health Systems In Karachi: Vaccine Refusals In Context, Svea Closser, Rashid Jooma, Emma Varley, Naina Qayyum, Sonia Rodrigues, Akasha Sarwar, Patricia Omidian

Section of Neurosurgery

Community and health worker engagement will be key to polio eradication in Karachi, Pakistan. In this study, the authors conducted participant observation, interviews, and a document review in SITE Town, Karachi, an area that in recent years has harbored poliovirus. SITE’s diverse population includes large numbers of internally displaced persons who are disproportionately affected by polio and are more likely than other populations to refuse the polio vaccine. Vaccine acceptance and worker motivation in SITE Town were shaped by the discrepancy in funding and attention for polio eradication campaigns as compared with routine services. Parental vaccine refusals stemmed from a …

Prevalence Of Tobacco Use Among Women: A Cross Sectional Survey From A Squatter Settlement Of Karachi, Pakistan, Nousheen Iqbal, Muhammad Irfan, Nida Ashraf, Safia Awan, Javaid A. Khan

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

Background: While the prevalence of tobacco use has been slowly declining in the developed countries, rates have been steadily rising in the developing countries. This has led to a rapid rise in tobacco related lung diseases among women.

Objective: Determine the prevalence of tobacco use (both smoking and smokeless) among women in an urban squatter settlement (Orangi Town) in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 19,325 females aged between 15 and 80 years in Orangi Town, an urban squatter settlement in Karachi, Pakistan. Modified questionnaire, developed by World Health Organization WHO and Global Adult …

A Nuclear Fraction Of Turnip Crinkle Virus Capsid Protein Is Important For Elicitation Of The Host Resistance Response, Sung-Hwan Kang, Feng Qu, Thomas J. Morris

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The N-terminal 25 amino acids (AAs) of turnip crinkle virus (TCV) capsid protein (CP) are recognized by the resistance protein HRT to trigger a hypersensitive response (HR) and systemic resistance to TCV infection. This same region of TCV CP also contains a motif that interacts with the transcription factor TIP, as well as a nuclear localization signal (NLS). However, it is not yet known whether nuclear localization of TCV CP is needed for the induction of HRT-mediated HR and resistance. Here we present new evidence suggesting a tight correlation between nuclear inclusions formed by CP and the manifestation of HR. …

Growing Up With Chronic Kidney Disease: What Parents And Children Really Want To Know, Uptal D. Patel, Debbie S. Gipson, Abiodun Aderogba Omoloja, Caitlin Wise Carter

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Adolescents with chronic kidney disease have specific questions about how their disease will affect their quality of life, but they may not always bring this up with their nephrologist. This session is designed to provide pediatricians and pediatric nephrologists with practical information to provide to adolescents with chronic kidney disease and their families. All providers who care for adolescents with renal disease need to be equipped to educate this high risk population and help them navigate through this vulnerable period. This session is designed to explore issues related to athletic participation, academic performance, substance use and abuse and sexual and …

Brca1 185delag Mutation Enhances Interleukin-1Β Expression In Ovarian Surface Epithelial Cells, Kamisha T. Woolery, Mai Mohamed, Rebecca J. Linger, Kimberly P. Dobrinski, Jesse Roman, Patricia A. Kruk

Pathology and Cell Biology Faculty Publications

Familial history remains the strongest risk factor for developing ovarian cancer (OC) and is associated with germline BRCA1 mutations, such as the 185delAG founder mutation. We sought to determine whether normal human ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells expressing the BRCA1 185delAG mutant, BRAT, could promote an inflammatory phenotype by investigating its impact on expression of the proinflammatory cytokine, Interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Cultured OSE cells with and without BRAT were analyzed for differential target gene expression by real-time PCR, western blot, ELISA, luciferase reporter, and siRNA assays. We found that BRAT cells expressed increased cellular and secreted levels of …

Addition Of Interleukin-21 For Expansion Of T-Cells For Adoptive Immunotherapy Of Murine Melanoma, Christine Kathryn Zoon, Wen Wan, Laura Graham, Harry D. Bear

Surgery Publications

We previously demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-7/15 was superior to IL-2 for expansion of T cells in vitrofor adoptive immunotherapy. We sought to ascertain whether IL-21 would further improve yield and therapeutic efficacy of T cells in culture. Naïve T cell receptor (TcR) transgenic splenocytes or antigen-sensitized lymph node cells were harvested from PMEL-1 mice and exposed to bryostatin-1 and ionomycin (B/I) for 18 h. Cells were then cultured in IL-2, IL-21, IL-7/15 or IL-7/15/21 for six days. Harvested cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and used to treat C57Bl/6 mice injected intravenously with B16 melanoma. Lungs were harvested and …

Ceftriaxone-Resistant Salmonella Enterica Serotype Typhimurium Sequence Type 313 From Kenyan Patients Is Associated With The Blactx-M-15 Gene On A Novel Inchi2 Plasmid, Samuel Kariuki, Chinyere Okoro, John Kiiru, Samuel Njoroge, Geoffrey Omuse, Gemma Langridge, Robert A. Kingsley, Gordon Dougan, Gunturu Revathi

Pathology, East Africa

Multidrug-resistant bacteria pose a major challenge to the clinical management of infections in resource-poor settings. Although nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) bacteria cause predominantly enteric self-limiting illness in developed countries, NTS is responsible for a huge burden of life-threatening bloodstream infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Here, we characterized nine S. Typhimurium isolates from an outbreak involving patients who initially failed to respond to ceftriaxone treatment at a referral hospital in Kenya. These Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium isolates were resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, aztreonam, cefepime, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and cefpodoxime. Resistance to β-lactams, including to ceftriaxone, was associated with carriage of a combination …

Proceedings Of The African Pathologists Summit; March 22-23, 2013; Dakar, Senegal: A Summary, Shahin Sayed

Pathology, East Africa

Context: This report presents the proceedings of the African Pathologists Summit, held under the auspices of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer.

Objectives: To deliberate on the challenges and constraints of the practice of pathology in Sub-Saharan Africa and the avenues for addressing them.

Participants: Collaborating organizations included the American Society for Clinical Pathology; Association of Pathologists of Nigeria; British Division of the International Academy of Pathology; College of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa; East African Division of the International Academy of Pathology; Friends of Africa-United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology Initiative; International Academy …

Cell Stimulation And Calcium Mobilization By Picosecond Electric Pulses, Iurii Semenov, Shu Xiao, Dongkoo Kang, Karl H. Schoenbach, Andrei G. Pakhomov

Bioelectrics Publications

We tested if picosecond electric pulses (psEP; 190 kV/cm, 500 ps at 50% height), which are much shorter than channel activation time, can activate voltage-gated (VG) channels. Cytosolic Ca²⁺ was monitored by Fura-2 ratiometric imaging in GH3 and NG108 cells (which express multiple types of VG calcium channels, VGCC), and in CHO cells (which express no VGCC). Trains of up to 100 psEP at 1 kHz elicited no response in CHO cells. However, even a single psEP significantly increased Ca²⁺ in both GH3 (by 114 +/- 48 nM) and NG108 cells (by 6 +/- 1.1 nM). Trains of …

At What Age Should Screening Mammography Be Recommended For Asian Women?, Junko Tsuchida, Masayuki Nagahashi, Omar M. Rashid, Kazuaki Takabe, Toshifumi Wakai

Surgery Publications

Although regular screening mammography has been suggested to be associated with improvements in the relative survival of breast cancer in recent years, the appropriate age to start screening mammography remains controversial. In November 2009, the United States Preventive Service Task Force published updated guidelines for breast cancer, which no longer support routine screening mammography for women aged 40–49 years, but instead, defer the choice of screening in that age group to the patient and physician. The age to begin screening differs between guidelines, including those from the Task Force, the American Cancer Society and the World Health Organization. It remains …

Initial Impressions And Review Of Literature Concerning Factors Affecting The Use Of Palliative Care Assessment Tools In An African Setting, John Weru

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Introduction: Quality palliative care encompasses early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual. Despite the importance of symptom assessment in palliative care, use of assessment tools in practice is limited. The aim of this study was to assess factors that influence use of symptom assessment tools.

Methodology: 1:1 interviews were conducted using a guideline developed by the researcher. Ten participants who met the inclusion criteria were interviewed. The data was recorded and then transcribed with topics and issues being isolated and grouped together into themes.

Findings: The themes were perception of palliative …

Sexual Onset And Contraceptive Use Among Adolescents From Poor Neighbourhoods In Managua, Nicaragua, Peter Decat, Sara De Meyer, Lina Jaruseviciene, Miguel Orozco, Marcia Ibarra, Zoyla Segura, Bernardo Vega, Kristien Michielsen, Marleen Temmerman, Olivier Degomme

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background and objectives: The prevalence of teenage pregnancies in Nicaragua is the highest in Latin-America. This study aimed to gain insight into factors which determine the sexual behaviours concerned.

Methods: From July until August 2011, a door-to-door survey was conducted among adolescents living in randomly selected poor neighbourhoods of Managua. Logistic regression was used to analyse factors related to sexual onset and contraceptive use.

Results: Data from 2803 adolescents were analysed. Of the 475 and 299 sexually active boys and girls, 43% and 54%, respectively, reported contraceptive use. Sexual onset was positively related to increasing age, male sex, alcohol consumption …

A Review Of Factors Associated With The Utilization Of Healthcare Services And Strategies For Improving Postpartum Care In Africa, Danielle Yugbare Belemsaga, Anne Goujon, Joel A. Kiendrebeogo, Els Duysburgh, Seni Kouanda, Olivier Degomme, Marleen Temmerman

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Reducing maternal mortality continues to be a major challenge for African countries. We conducted a literature review to identify the factors associated with the utilization of maternal and child healthcare services during the postpartum period and the strategies for strengthening postpartum healthcare in Africa. We carried out an electronic search in several databases of texts published between 1995 and 2012 related to maternal and child health. Seventy-five publications fitted the eligibility criteria. Our analysis shows that to a large extent the socio-economic context was dominant among the factors associated with the quality and utilization of postpartum services. The best interventions …

Underuse Of Modern Methods Of Contraception: Underlying Causes And Consequent Undesired Pregnancies In 35 Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Saverio Bellizzi, Howard L. Sobel, Hiromi Obara, Marleen Temmerman

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Study question: What is the contribution of the underuse of modern methods (MM) of contraception to the annual undesired pregnancies in 35 low- and middle-income countries?

Summary answer: Fifteen million out of 16.7 million undesired pregnancies occurring annually in 35 countries could have been prevented with the optimal use of MM of contraception.

What is known already: Every year, 87 million women worldwide become pregnant unintentionally because of the underuse of MM of contraception.

Study design, size, duration: Demographic and health surveys (DHS) of 35 countries, conducted between 2005 and 2012, were analysed.

Participants/materials, setting, methods: Contraceptive use of 12 …

Sexual And Reproductive Health Knowledge, Contraception Uptake, And Factors Associated With Unmet Need For Modern Contraception Among Adolescent Female Sex Workers In China, Megan S. C. Lim, Xu-Dong Zhang, Elissa Kennedy, Yan Li, Yin Yang, Lin Li, Yun-Xia Li, Marleen Temmerman, Stanley Luchters

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Objective: In China, policy and social taboo prevent unmarried adolescents from accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Research is needed to determine the SRH needs of highly disadvantaged groups, such as adolescent female sex workers (FSWs). This study describes SRH knowledge, contraception use, pregnancy, and factors associated with unmet need for modern contraception among adolescent FSWs in Kunming, China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using a one-stage cluster sampling method was employed to recruit adolescents aged 15 to 20 years, and who self-reported having received money or gifts in exchange for sex in the past 6 months. A semi-structured questionnaire …

Insulin Patch Pumps In Type 2 Diabetes, Cristin Altendorf

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• DM is a leading cause of death in Americans

• A HbA1c above 6.5% is diagnostic for DM because it is at this level the patient is at risk for retinopathy and other microvascular disease

• The purpose of this study is to determine alternative methods of maintaining tighter control on HbA1c to lessen the effects of type II diabetes.

Mach: A Model For Explaining Molecular And Cellular Mechanisms, Caleb M. Trujillo

Open Access Dissertations

Biologists use mechanistic explanations to understand behaviors of the immense complexity of molecular and cellular systems. In undergraduate biology courses, students are expected to explain molecular and cellular mechanisms, but teaching this skill presents many challenges due to the highly abstract, intangible nature of the cellular world, the influence of everyday language, and the tendency of students to overestimate how much they can explain. Therefore, across three studies this dissertation addresses these obstacles to teach undergraduate biology students to explain molecular and cellular mechanisms. ^ The first step was to model how biology experts explain molecular and cellular mechanisms, and …

Analysis Of Humira, Electro-Acupuncture, And Pulsatile Dry Cupping On Reducing Joint Inflammation In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Natalie Noll

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Humira, an anti-TNF drug aimed at decreasing inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients, can cause skin diseases from rashes to skin cancer. Humira works by blocking the chemical receptor RANKL which inhibits the production of osteoclasts. Osteoclasts are cells that attack and eat bone and cartilage therefore an inhibitory mechanism would cause inflammation.. By analyzing Humira’s effect on the human body, Humira can be compared to other treatments such as electro-acupuncture and pulsatile dry cupping to determine the viability of these alternative treatment methods in regards to their abilities to decrease inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients through blocking RANKL. An analysis …

Photodynamic Therapy As An Effective Therapeutic Approach In Mame Models Of Triple Negative And Inflammatory Breast Cancers, Neha Aggarwal

Wayne State University Dissertations

Introduction: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive, FDA approved therapy for

treatment of several indications including endobronchial and esophageal cancers that are

accessible to light. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)

are aggressive and lethal subtypes of breast cancer that spread to chest wall and dermal

lymphatics, respectively, sites that would be accessible to light. Both TNBC and IBC patients

have a relatively poor survival rate due to lack of targeted therapies. Use of PDT is

underexplored for breast cancers but has been proposed for treatment of subtypes for which a

targeted therapy is unavailable. …

Grid-Based Fourier Transform Phase Contrast Imaging, Sajjad Tahir

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Low contrast in x-ray attenuation imaging between different materials of low electron density is a limitation of traditional x-ray radiography. Phase contrast imaging offers the potential to improve the contrast between such materials, but due to the requirements on the spatial coherence of the x-ray beam, practical implementation of such systems with tabletop (i.e. non-synchrotron) sources has been limited. One recently developed phase imaging technique employs multiple fine-pitched gratings. However, the strict manufacturing tolerances and precise alignment requirements have limited the widespread adoption of grating-based techniques. In this work, we have investigated a technique recently demonstrated by Bennett et al.1 …

Rna Aptamers For Molecular Chaperones Hsp27 And Hsp90, Sathishkumar Kumar Munusamy

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Hsp90 and Hsp27 are members of the heat shock protein family of chaperones that perform multiple roles in cellular maintenance through protein folding and inhibition of apoptosis. They are abundantly expressed in cells and are over-expressed during conditions of stress. Hsp90 requires ATP for its chaperone function while Hsp27 self-associates into higher order oligomers enclosing its substrate. Their ability to interact with other proteins or with themselves lies at the heart of their mechanisms. The specific consequences of each of their interactions on global cellular health have not yet been fully discovered. The sheer diversity of proteins that interact with …

Joint Attention Intervention With Assisting Parent­ Mediated Techniques To Increase A Toddler With Autism Spectrum Disorders' Use Of Joint Attention: A Single Case Study, Rebecca Schulz

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Attention Intervention (JAI) conducted by graduate researcher, parent, and caregiver, would change the use of joint attention (JA) by a three-year-old suspected of having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The participant was a three-­year-­old child suspected of having ASD. Intervention was conducted twice per week for 30-45 minute duration by the student graduate researcher at a university clinic under the supervisor of Dr. Bonnie Berg, CCC­SLP. The parent and child's caregiver were trained in JAI and implemented the intervention daily in the home environment. The author's research question was, "Will the use of a JAI parent­mediated intervention model increase the JA …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Decision Aids For Decision Making In Prostate Cancer Testing: A Systematic Review, Dragan Ilic, Walid Jammal, Pauline Chiarelli, Robert A. Gardiner, Suzanne Hughes, Dana Stefanovic, Suzanne K. Chambers

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background Prostate cancer is a leading disease affecting men worldwide. Conflicting evidence within the literature provides little guidance to men contemplating whether or not to be screened for prostate cancer. This systematic review aimed to determine whether decision aids about early detection of prostate cancer improve patient knowledge and decision making about whether to undergo prostate-specific antigen testing. Methods Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and Health Technology Assessment databases up until March 2014 were searched. All included randomised controlled trials were assessed for methodological quality. Clinical selection and assessment …