Digital Commons Network^™

Caring As Catalyst; A Model For Health Possibilities, Brenda A. Becker

Theses and Graduate Projects

This graduate field project presents a conceptual model based on the theoretical frameworks of Brentano, Frankl, Rogers, Merry, Benner, and Wrubel and is designed to facilitate the life journey to more complex levels. The model has a foundation in chaos theory and in the search for meaning. Key concepts of catalyst, presence, polarization, and participation are defined and described. Presence is defined at three levels: physical, psychological, and therapeutic. Participation is defined as a sharing of the life and experience between nurse and person. Polarization, or change in pattern, is also defined at three levels: active, collaborative, and passive. The …

Treatment Of Hypertriglyceridemia With Omega-3 Fatty Acids: A Systematic Review, Amanda Gloria Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To 1) critically appraise available randomized controlled trials (RTCs) addressing the efficacy of long-chain ω-3 fatty acids as a secondary prevention agent of hypertriglyceridemia, and 2) make recommendations for clinical practice.

Data Sources: All RCTs identified from several databases from 1993-2003 were reviewed by two independent reviewers who extracted data from each study and used the previously tested Boyack and Lookinland Methodological Quality Index (MQI) to determine study quality.

Results: Ten studies reported long-chain ω-3 fatty acids to be effective in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia. The average decrease in triglycerides (TG) was 29%, total cholesterol (TC) 11.6%, very low …

Efficacy Of Quality Criteria To Identify Potentially Harmful Information: A Cross-Sectional Survey Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine Web Sites, Muhammad Walji, Smitha Sagaram, Deepak Sagaram, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Craig Johnson, Nadeem Q Mirza, Elmer V Bernstam

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Many users search the Internet for answers to health questions. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a particularly common search topic. Because many CAM therapies do not require a clinician's prescription, false or misleading CAM information may be more dangerous than information about traditional therapies. Many quality criteria have been suggested to filter out potentially harmful online health information. However, assessing the accuracy of CAM information is uniquely challenging since CAM is generally not supported by conventional literature. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether domain-independent technical quality criteria can identify potentially harmful online CAM content. …

Racial Discrepancies In The Association Between Paternal Vs. Maternal Educational Level And Risk Of Low Birthweight In Washington State, Christina Nicolaidis, Cynthia W. Ko, Somnath Saha, Thomas D. Koepsell

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: The role of paternal factors in determining the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes has received less attention than maternal factors. Similarly, the interaction between the effects of race and socioeconomic status (SES) on pregnancy outcomes is not well known. Our objective was to assess the relative importance of paternal vs. maternal education in relation to risk of low birth weight (LBW) across different racial groups.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study using Washington state birth certificate data from 1992 to 1996 (n = 264,789). We assessed the associations between maternal or paternal education and LBW, adjusting for …

Methods For Increasing Leptin Levels Using Nicotinic Acid Compounds, Elaine L. Jacobson, Myron Jacobson, Hyuntae Kim

Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences Faculty Patents

The invention relates to the use of nicotinic acid and nicotinic acid esters, such as nicotinic acid alkyl esters, to increase the amount of leptin in a subject. As a result, one can treat conditions, such as conditions characterized by wounds, by administering sufficient amounts of nicotinic acid or nicotinic acid ester to increase leptin levels to alleviating amounts. Various conditions and modes of treatment are disclosed.

A Model Integrating Transcultural Nursing Concepts And Experiences Into A Baccalaureate Nursing Curriculum, Mary Ellen Joswiak

Theses and Graduate Projects

Each dry the population of the world becomes more interconnected, placing huge challenges before health care providers to deliver care that is culturally appropriate. As the largest group of health care providers, nurses are especially challenged to provide culturally appropriate and congruent care to those they serve. It is therefore essential that nursing education provide students with opportunities to develop transcultural nursing knowledge. Students need practical experiences with culture in order to increase their understanding of cultural similarities and differences. The purpose of this project is to foster the development of beginning transcultural competence among baccalaureate nursing students and to …

The Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Vector (Raav2)-Mediated Apolipoprotein B Mrna-Specific Hammerhead Ribozyme: A Self-Complementary Aav2 Vector Improves The Gene Expression, Shumei Zhong, Shihua Sun, Ba-Bie Teng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: In humans, overproduction of apolipoprotein B (apoB) is positively associated with premature coronary artery diseases. To reduce the levels of apoB mRNA, we have designed an apoB mRNA-specific hammerhead ribozyme targeted at nucleotide sequences GUA6679 (RB15) mediated by adenovirus, which efficiently cleaves and decreases apoB mRNA by 80% in mouse liver and attenuates the hyperlipidemic condition. In the current study, we used an adeno-associated virus vector, serotype 2 (AAV2) and a self-complementary AAV2 vector (scAAV2) to demonstrate the effect of long-term tissue-specific gene expression of RB15 on the regulation apoB mRNA in vivo. METHODS: We constructed a hammerhead ribozyme …

Risk Factors For Pre-Post Monsoon Cholera Epidemics In Bangladesh From 1992-1994, Rhonda Rae Robb

Dissertations and Theses

The primary objective of this thesis is to differentiate between the risk factors for pre-and post-monsoon cholera epidemics in rural Bangladesh by analyzing the complex interaction between select environmental, cultural/behavioral, and socioeconomic variables over space and time. In rural Bangladesh, cholera epidemics correspond with the annual monsoon: the first, and smallest, occurs between March and June, while the larger cholera peak occurs between September and December. The differences between the spatial and temporal patterns of seasonal cholera are analyzed, and the risk factors are calculated for pre-and post-monsoon cholera epidemics.

The theoretical approach that underlies this medical geographical study is …

Ada News - 06/07/2004, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

6th Annual Pacific Research Day Abstracts, University Of The Pacific

Excellence Day

No abstract provided.

College Of Optometry Student Handbook June 2004, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

College Of Dental Medicine Student Handbook June 2004, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Ideology Masquerading As Science: The Case Of Endocrine Disrupter Screening Programmes, Troy Seidle

Experimentation Collection

The global move to develop novel testing methods and strategies to identify suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals offers a unique opportunity to move away from traditional animal testing paradigms in this new area of regulatory concern. Regrettably, the programmes under development, both in the USA and internationally through the OECD, have thus far failed to consider in vitro and other nonanimal test methods as more than “pre-screening” or “priority-setting” tools in a larger, animal-based testing strategy. Validation efforts to date have focused almost exclusively on the modification of existing animal tests to detect “endocrine effects”, with no demonstrable effort to promote …

Multisensory Integration Sites Identified By Perception Of Spatial Wavelet Filtered Visual Speech Gesture Information, Daniel E. Callan, Jeffery A. Jones, Kevin Munhall, Christian Kroos, Akiko M. Callan, Eric Vatikiotis-Bateson

Psychology Faculty Publications

Perception of speech is improved when presentation of the audio signal is accompanied by concordant visual speech gesture information. This enhancement is most prevalent when the audio signal is degraded. One potential means by which the brain affords perceptual enhancement is thought to be through the integration of concordant information from multiple sensory channels in a common site of convergence, multisensory integration (MSI) sites. Some studies have identified potential sites in the superior temporal gyrus/sulcus (STG/S) that are responsive to multisensory information from the auditory speech signal and visual speech movement. One limitation of these studies is that they do …

Ionizing Radiation And Endostatin Gene Therapy Against Lung Tumor, Xian Luo

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Although many advances have been made in radiotherapy, tumor radioresistance and normal tissue damage continue to always be important issues for radiation oncologists. Numerous reports have also documented that radiation exposure increases the risk for malignancy and suppresses immune mechanisms. However, increasing evidence has suggested that anti-angiogenic therapy that targets tumor blood supply may alter abnormal tumor vasculature, thus synergizing radiotherapy. The governing hypothesis of the present study was that modification of tumor vasculature by antiangiogenic gene therapy can increase the efficacy of radiotherapy and that radiation can also improve DNA transfection efficiency by increasing expression of the administered gene. …

Familial And Psychosocial Factors Affecting Adolescents' Academic Achievement, Isa Abdulnasir Ribadu

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study examined the influence of family cohesion, family adaptability, self-image, and locus-of-control on two measures of academic achievement among male and female adolescents. Using a self-administered questionnaire, data were gathered from a convenient sample of 230 students from five high schools in San Bernardino County in southern California. The survey included the Offer Self-image Questionnaire, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale III, the Nowick-Strickland Locus-of-Control Scale, academic achievement measures, and demographic measures that assessed individual and family characteristics. Family cohesion, family adaptability, self-image, and locus-of-control were significant predictors of both measures of academic achievement. Also, family cohesion and family …

The Effectiveness Of A Physical Therapy Intervention For Children With Hypotonia And Flatfeet, Charmayne G. Ross

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of physical therapy using Cascade orthotics and an exercise program for children with hypotonia and flatfeet. Subjects: Thirty-seven children, aged 18 months to 5 years, who demonstrated developmental delays and hypotonia with flatfoot dysfunction, participated in this study. Methods: Three groups (control, orthotic, and orthotic-exercise) were studied. The orthotic- exercise group practiced bilateral heel lifts besides wearing the orthoses. An arch index was used to assess the width of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) pre/post interventions. Gait parameters (velocity, step-length, single-limb support, and cadence) were assessed four times in …

Effect Of Anti-Tgfß1 And Pycnogenol® On Scar Formation In Rats, Pilseong Kim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Wound healing is a complex biologic process that involves chemotaxis and division of cells, neovascularization, synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins, and remodeling of the repaired tissues. Of equal importance is the restoration of normal tissue structure and function without scar formation. The aim of this study was to find out the clinical effects of anti-TGFß1 and Pycnogenol® on scarless wound healing on rat skin.

An acute incision wound model was used with 20 healthy rats. Four incisions were made on each rat's skin and 4 different variables were applied by local infiltration. The four variables were anti-TGFß1, Pycnogenol®, PBS, and …

The Anti-Proliferation Effects Of Lycopene On Breast Cancer Cells, Tixieanna Dissmore

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: The incidence and deaths from breast cancer represent the most cause of all cancer deaths among women. Lycopene, the carotenoid in tomatoes has been associated with decreasing risk of prostate, breast, and digestive tract cancers. Various mechanisms of lycopene action have been proposed, including antioxidant activity and pro-differentiation activities. Identifying changes in the expression of proteins modified by lycopene can provide information to study the modulating effects of lycopene carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis development.

Objective: The objective was to study the anti-proliferative effects of lycopene on MCF- 7 human breast cancer cells and to identify changes in protein expression patterns. …

Inside Unlv, Holly Ivy De Vore, Caryn Key, Carol C. Harter, Richard Morgan

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Aaas Lecture Series On Women In Science And Engineering, Maribel Vazquez

Publications and Research

The winning essay for a Travel Award from the American Association for the Advancement in Science Women Lecture Series.

http://ehrweb.aaas.org/womeninscience/essays/vazquez.htm

Oncolog, Volume 49, Number 06, June 2004, Kate O'Suilleabhain, Katie Prout Matias, Jack Roth Md

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

• Despite Initial Setbacks, Researchers Are Focusing on Antiangiogenic Therapy More Than Ever
• Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predicts Response to Antiangiogenesis Agents
• "Smart Bombs": Targeted Therapies Home in on Increasingly Well-Defined Targets
• House Call: Understanding Angiogenesis
• DiaLog: Gene Therapy for Cancer: Safety First, by Jack Roth, MD, Chair, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Michigan Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Project: 2004 Activities Report And Conference Proceedings

Michigan Bovine Tuberculosis Bibliography and Database

On June 9 and 10, 2004, the State of Michigan and U.S. Department of Agriculture hosted the eighth annual Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) Conference, with guest speakers from Georgia, Colorado, Iowa, New York and two Canadian provinces. Our guests came together from across North America to receive policy updates and share the latest scientific data and innovative research on bovine TB.

Among other things, the speakers shared insight on: the promotion of biosecurity; the $30 million annual costs of TB eradication in New Zealand; the latest research in new and improved blood tests; and the first season results of the Michigan …

Commencement Program 2004, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

2 | 2004 Events of Commencement

3 | The Academic Procession

4 | Significance of Academic Regalia

5 | The Speakers

12 | The University Honorees

19 | The School Honorees

27 | The Program

• School of Medicine, 28
• School of Dentistry, 35
• Graduate School, 44
• School of Nursing, 54
• School of Allied Health Professions - Physical Therapy, 59
• School of Allied Health Professions, 65
• School of Public Health, 73

Curad Silver Bandages, Joseph A. Woelfel

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

Review Of Handbook Of Drug Abuse Prevention: Theory Science And Practice. Zili Sloboda & William J. Bukowski (Eds). Reviewed By Sean R. Hogan., Sean R. Hogan

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Zili Sloboda and William J. Bukoski (Eds.), Handbook of Drug Abuse Prevention: Theory, Science, and Practice. New York: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003. $150.00 hardcover.

Ileocolitis Associated With Anaerobiospirillum In Cats, H. E. V. De Cock, S. L. Marks, B. A. Stacy, T. S. Zabka, J. Burkitt, G. Lu, David J. Steffen, Gerald E. Duhamel

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Ileocolitis associated with spiral bacteria identified as an Anaerobiospirillum sp. was found in six cats. Two cats had acute onset of gastrointestinal signs characterized by vomiting and diarrhea in one cat and vomiting in another cat, one cat had chronic diarrhea that was refractory to medical therapy; one cat had acute onset of anorexia and lethargy, and two cats had clinical signs that were not related to the gastrointestinal tract. The presence of an Anaerobiospirillum sp. was demonstrated on the basis of ultrastructural morphology of spiral bacteria associated with intestinal lesions and PCR amplification of a genus-specific 16S rRNA gene …

Diabetes: The Interrelationship Between Vascular, Nervous Systems And Avandia, Salameh Bweir

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Diabetes Mellitus has been linked to vascular and neurological impairments. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between vascular endothelial dysfunction, autonomic and somatic nervous systems impairment in diabetic patients. These studies also evaluated the effects of rosiglitazone (Avandia) on the vascular, autonomic, and somatic nervous systems.

Fourteen diabetic subjects and fourteen control subjects (age matched) participated in three series of experiments. Using Whitney volume plesythmography to assess post occlusion blood flow in the subject’s forearm did assessment of vascular endothelial function. Evaluating skin blood flow, orthostatic tolerance, heart rate, and thermal responses under thermal and postural …

Acoustic, Kinematic, And Auditory Perceptual Characteristics Of Clear Speech, Kristin L. Greilick

Masters Theses

This study characterized the speech motor transformations that underlie speech clarity changes in a group of 49 healthy young speakers. Clarity judgments based on auditory perception of the speech samples were determined by a panel of 30 undergraduate and graduate students. This study specifically aimed to characterize (1) the auditory-perceptual judgments of clarity, (2) the acoustic measures of clear and causal speech, (3) the temporal and spatial features of articulatory movements of clear and casual speech, and (4) test the hypothesis that auditory perceptual scaling of clarity (perceptual salience) would be associated with kinematic indicators of physical effort.

Results suggested …

Bone Formation Using Platelet-Rich Plasma + Allograft: An Experimental Study In Sheep, Edgar Grageda

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Recently Platelet-Rich Plasma has been proven to be an effective regeneration adjunct when combined with autogenous bone in the reconstruction of mandibular defects. However, little is known about the effect of PRP when combined with a bone allograft in the maxillary sinus.

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the ability of PRP to enhance bone regeneration in the maxillary sinus of sheep when combined with DFDBA + CCFDBA. Ten sheep were selected for bilateral sinus augmentation DFDBA + CCFDBA + PRP (test) and DFDBA + CCFDBA (control). Five were sacrificed at 3 months and the other five …