Digital Commons Network^™

Ms211: Overview - Assessing Aid - World Bank Report, Armin Weinberg

Works on Radiation Effects: 1990-2020

A World Bank Policy Research Report that helped inform my leadership of our international projects in the former Soviet Union. See more at Armin Weinberg, PhD Papers and its finding aid.

The Role Of Gap Junctions In Congenital Diseases Of The Heart, Scott Henry Britz-Cunningham

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Gap junctions are thought to have a crucial role in the synchronized contraction of the heart and in embryonic development. Connexin43, the major protein of gap junctions in the heart, is targeted by several protein kinases that regulate myocardial cell-cell coupling. We hypothesized that mutations altering sites critical to this regulation would lead to functional or developmental abnormalities of the heart.

Methods. Connexin43 DNA from 25 normal subjects and 30 children with a variety of congenital heart diseases was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Mutant DNA was expressed in cell culture and examined for its effect …

Moyamoya Disease Presenting With Intracranial Haemorrhage, Ali Akbar, Aftab Qureshi, Rashid Jooma

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Primary Cutaneous Actinomycosis, Anjum Kanjee, Zamaz Wahid, Shahid Pervez

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

No abstract provided.

Preoperative Work Up: Are The Requirements Different In A Developing Country?, K M. Pal, I A. Khan, B Safdar

Department of Surgery Docs

In developing countries there is a tendency to advocate routine testing in asymptomatic healthy patients to identify undocumented significant medical conditions. A retrospective review of pre- operative laboratory investigations undertaken in patients attending the General Surgical department was performed. Three hundred and twenty patients case notes were reviewed, patients were selected on the basis of common general surgical procedures. Two hundred and sixteen patients (67.5%) did not have any associated medical illness on history and physical examination. Analysis of laboratory results showed that 42/216 (19.4%) had low hemoglobin. An abnormal chest X-ray was the next common abnormality 11/103 (10.6%). Mild …

Your Personal Specific Spinal Rehabilitation Program, Richard S. Koch

Koch Collection, Papers of Richard S Koch, DO

General description of Dr Koch's spinal rehabilitation program with hand-out for his patients on their specific rehab program.

Role Of Fibreoptic Bronchoscopy In The Management Of Immunocompromised Patients With Pulmonary Infiltrates, S F. Hussain, I Malik, J A. Khan

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

Immunocompromised patients are prone to develop various pulmonary complications. The range of diagnostic possibilities is wide, infection being the commonest cause. Non-invasive diagnostic tests are often unrewarding. In this study, we have evaluated the diagnostic efficacy and safety of fibreoptic bronchoscopy in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates. Patients tolerated the procedure well. This technique identified the etiology in up tp 75% of cases. After treatment based on the result of bronchoscopy, 63% patients improved and were discharged.

Benzodiazepine Self-Poisoning In Pakistan: Implications For Prevention And Harm Reduction, M M. Khan, Hashim Reza

Department of Psychiatry

The pattern of all index admissions for benzodiazepine self-poisoning to a university hospital in Karachi, Pakistan are described. Of the 329 medication self-poisoning cases, 84% were benzodiazepine overdoses. Diazepam was the preferred drug in 69% of these cases, with majority ingesting between 20-30 tablets of 5 mg each, 44% bought the benzodiazepine over the counter (OTC) for the purpose of overdose. The preference for benzodiazepines over analgesics (as freely available) may be related to the motives underlying parasuicide acts and their popularity as 'sleeping pills' in Pakistan. Educating the 'chemist' and limiting the number of tablets dispensed at a time …

A Cross-Sectional Study Examining Lifestyle And Rheumatoid Arthritis, Leslie Nazaroff

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Objective. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the synovial joints. RA affects 0.5-2% of the population. Though it is predominantly a progressive disease, adjunct therapy may slow the destructive pathway or alleviate affiliated symptoms. This study examined the effects of lifestyle (diet and exercise) and self-efficacy on symptoms of RA as measured by disease activity and health satisfaction.

Methods. Seventy-five RA patients (77% female) from the Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Offices, Rheumatology Department completed self-assessment surveys on their lifestyle practices and RA affliction. Disease symptoms and activity were assessed with the Arthritis Impact Measurement …

Digest Of The Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine (Fall 1998), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Digest

The Fall 1998 issue of the Digest of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine includes the following articles:

• Opening Remarks
• PCOM Updates
• Approaching 100: Our Centennial
• Commencement ‘98
• Remembering David Heilig, Do, '44, OMM Professor Emeritus
• Alumni Make their Mark in the Military
• Profiles
• AHEC Exposes Students to Rural Medicine
• Class Notes
• Just Published
• In Memoriam
• Send Us Your News for Digest!
• Coming Events

The Relationship Of The Incisive Canal To Maxillary Median Diastema, Jeffery S. Corbett

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the incisive canal and maxillary median diastema, and to identify an imaging method capable of documenting the geometry and dimensions of the incisive canal. The sample consisted of 59 dry skulls, 26 of which had a maxillary median diastema ranging in size from 0.1 mm to 2.8 mm (mean 1.0 mm, SD = 0.7 mm). Each skull had all of the permanent maxillary teeth present from first molar to first molar and lacked any apparent non-orthodontic condition that could have caused the diastema. Diastema width and canal diameter were …

Evaluation Of Chest Pain In General Practice, S Dodani

Department of Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (Lif): Murine Preimplantation Embryo Development, Implantation Rates, And Skeletal Development, Michael Hayes Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine which demonstrates perplexing physiological effects. It has been demonstrated that LIF is essential for implantation in mice. Little is known relating to the manner by which LIF effects pre-implantation and post-implantation development. The objectives of this project were to determine the effects LIF on pre-implantation development, to determine the effects that it may have on implantation rates, successful pregnancy rates, and resorption rates, and to determine the effects that LIF has on the skeletal development of mice. For the embryo transfer experiments, embryos were exposed to test compounds in the transfer medium …

Appendicitis: A Continuing Challenge, K M. Pal, A Khan

Department of Surgery Docs

Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency in urban setting, of a developing country. The computerised hospital patient database at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, was utilised to obtain records of all adults with a histologically proven diagnosis of acute appendicitis. A review of patients treated over a 18 month period was undertaken. One hundred and three appendicectomies were performed for acute appendicitis during this period. The diagnosis was clinical in all cases. Investigations like leucocyte count and lower abdominal ultrasound scan were used to improve diagnostic accuracy without a clear advantage. A number of routine investigations like, haemoglobin estimation …

Mouse Embryo Development In The Presence Of Capsaicin, Carlos Santiago Villar-Gosalvez

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Capsaicin is the pungent agent found in hot peppers of the Capsicum genus. It is a potent neurotoxin that stimulates the degranulation and degeneration of C-afferent neurons. Capsaicin is widely used as a food condiment and medicine. Human exposure of capsaicin can exceed levels shown to be neurotoxic in laboratory animals. Additionally, capsaicin can cross the blood/placenta barrier and affect an embryo in utero. In order to assay the potential for toxicity to human embryos, mouse embryos were exposed to capsaicin and the effect of the capsaicin on embryo development was measured. Embryos were co-cultured in Krebs medium with 1% …

Department Of Radiology-Annual Report-July 1, 1997 To June 30, 1998, David C. Levin

Department of Radiology Administrative Documents and Reports

Department of Radiology Annual Executive Summary Report, July 1, 1997 to June 30, 1998. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. 103 pages.

Implantable Controlled Release Device To Deliver Drugs Directly To An Internal Portion Of The Body, Paul Ashton, Paul A. Pearson

Ophthalmology and Visual Science Faculty Patents

A simple and implantable sustained release drug delivery device with an inner core containing an effective amount of a low solubility agent covered by a non-bioerodible polymer coating layer that is permeable to the low solubility agent is disclosed. A method for treating a mammal to obtain a desired local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect by surgically implanting such a sustained release drug delivery device into a mammal in need of treatment is also disclosed.

Clinical Problem-Solving. Through Thick And Thin., David R. Yu, Redonda Miller, Paul F. Bray

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

No abstract provided.

Health Risk Behaviors Among Maine Youth : Results Of The 1997 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Grades 7-12, Chuck Rhoades

Maine Collection

Health Risk Behaviors Among Maine Youth : Results of the 1997 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Grades 7-12

Prepared for the Maine Department of Education by Chuck Rhoades of CERES Associates, Inc., Survey Administered by Pan Atlantic Consultants / Strategic Marketing Services (June, 1998).

Contents: Introduction / Methodology / Demographics / Safety, Violence & Suicide / Alcohol, Drug & Tobacco Use / Sexual Behaviors / Health Care, Physical Activity & Nutrition / References

The Relation Of Weight Loss And Improved Fitness To Survival In Healthy Males, Joanna Lynn Bokovoy

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Obesity is a critical public health problem because of its prevalence, medical and psychosocial effects, and resistance to intervention. Weight loss in overweight individuals has been encouraged by the United States Public Health Service and by the medical community as a means for improving health. However, recent studies have suggested either positive or negative effects of weight loss on survival. It is possible that physical fitness may have a confounding effect, or be an effect modifier on survival in weight loss studies.

This study used Cox Regression analysis to address the separate and combined association of weight loss and improved …

Nursing Home Ownership And Public Policy: An Historical Analysis, K. R. Kaffenberger

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

In the early days of the United States, care of the disabled elderly outside the home meant the public almshouse. By the 1920s, private, nonprofit homes for the aged were prevalent. More recently, private, for-profit facilities have grown to dominate the field.

For-profit ownership has been controversial. Underlying the controversy is the concern that quality might be lowered in order to enhance profit.

This study asks why most nursing homes are privately owned and why most privately owned nursing homes are operated for profit. It does so with reference to The Nonprofit Economy, in which Burton Weisbrod describes a …

A Model Using Radiation And Pws4-Htnf-Α Gene Therapy For Treatment Of Glioblastomas, Angelo G. Baher

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The efficacy of radiotherapy for cancer is limited by the dose that can be safely delivered to the tumor without causing debilitating side effects. In addition, successful treatment of highly malignant tumors such as glioblastomas is likely to require adjunctive therapies to enhance tumor response to radiation. Previous studies have shown immunomodulation and a synergestic reduction in tumor volume of malignant tumors when tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) protein is administered prior to radiation. The major goal of the present investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of pWS4-human TNF-α (pWS4-hTNF-α), a new plasmid construct that expresses human TNF-α protein, together with …

Principles Of Family Medicine, Riaz Qureshi

Department of Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Patient-Guided Investigation Of The Restoration Of Health Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Nancy Ann Carney

Dissertations and Theses

The development of emergency department medical interventions and the implementation of fast-transport trauma systems has decreased the rate of death resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Without corresponding methods for long-term treatment and recovery, the prevalence of people disabled by TBI has increased, creating a growing public health problem. Investigations generated by physicians, rehabilitation programs, and social scientists, which attempt to associate standard measures of injury severity with outcome, leave unexplained variance in long-term functional status for persons with TBI.

The purpose of this investigation was to use persons with brain injury and their family members, to guide an analysis …

Oncolog, Volume 43, Number 04, April 1998, Sunita Patterson, Sunni Hosemann, Alison Ruffin, Mitchell Morris Md

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• Molecular research leads to clinical trials for bladder cancer
• Patients to test exercise theory in quality-of-life study
• Practice guidelines and collaborative paths point the way
• Protocols: Bladder Cancer Clinical Trials Interventions Span Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, and Genetic Manipulation
• DiaLog: The New Math of Today’s Health Care, by Mitchell Morris, MD, Vice President for Information and Health Care Systems

Digest Of The Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine (Spring 1998), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Digest

The Spring 1998 issue of the Digest of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine includes the following articles:

• Opening Remarks
• PCOM Updates
• Our Centennial
• Planting the Seeds for Better Physician Communication
• Library Steps into 21st Century
• Convention Highlights
• Uncle Manny Leaves a Legacy
• Mission Milestones
• Profiles
• Lights, Camera, Action
• Class Notes
• Just Published
• In Memoriam
• Coming Events

The Role Of Glycoconjugates In Mediating Human Fertilization And Induction Of Fetomaternal Tolerance, Manish S. Patankar

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Using the hemizona assay (HZA), a in vitro sperm-egg binding assay, we show that specific glycoconjugates known to inhibit immune cell interactions mediated by the selectins, potently block human sperm-egg binding. The selectin ligand sialyl Lewis^x inhibits sperm binding in the HZA by 60% at a concentration of 1 mg/ml. Our data indicates that glycodelin-A, a endometrial glycoprotein known to block sperm-egg binding in the HZA at low concentrations expresses unusual fucosylated lacdiNAc type glycans. The fucosylated lacdiNAc type sugars have been previously shown to be 15-20 fold more potent ligands of E-selectin. Glycodelin-S a seminal plasma glycoform of …

Mathematical Models Of Tumors And Their Remote Metastases, Carryn Bellomo

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Clinical observations and indications in the literature have led us to investigate several models of tumors. For example, it has been shown that a tumor has the ability to send out anti-growth factors, or inhibitors, to keep its remote metastases from growing. Thus, we model the depleting effect of such a growth inhibitor after the removal of the primary tumor (thus removing the source) as a function of time t and distance from the original tumor r.

It has also been shown clinically that oxygen and glucose are nutrients critical to the survival and growth of tumors. Thus, we model …

Reaction-Diffusion Models Of Cancer Dispersion, Kim Yvette Ward

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

The phenomenological modeling of the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of one-dimensional models of cancer dispersion are studied. The models discussed pertain primarily to the transition of a tumor from an initial neoplasm to the dormant avascular state, i.e. just prior to the vascular state, whenever that may occur. Initiating the study is the mathematical analysis of a reaction-diffusion model describing the interaction between cancer cells, normal cells and growth inhibitor. The model leads to several predictions, some of which are supported by experimental data and clinical observations $\lbrack25\rbrack$. We will examine the effects of additional terms on these characteristics. …

Acute Blood Pressure Responses To Static And Dynamic Exercise: Racial Differences, Reuben Leon Wright

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

African Americans have a higher incidence of hypertension than other racial groups. Furthermore, some research suggests that normotensive individuals who exhibit exaggerated blood pressure (BP) responses to exercise may be at risk for future hypertension. This study sought to determine if normotensive African Americans exhibited exaggerated BP responses to static exercise or dynamic exercise relative to Caucasian Americans and Asian Americans. Thirty normotensive subjects participated from each of the three racial groups (15 males and 15 females). Subjects held 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (right knee extension) for 3 minutes, and BP was recorded during the third minute. On a …