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The Relationships Among Adaptive Behaviors Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Their Family Support Networks, Parental Stress, And Parental Coping, Heather Roberts Hall

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the adaptive behaviors of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), their family support networks, parental stress, and parental coping and the relationships among these variables.

Background: Autism is the fastest growing diagnosed developmental disorder. When parents receive a diagnosis of autism for their child, mothers and fathers are affected differently. The costs to families of children with autism are personal, social, and affect family finances and day to day living. Parents of a child with autism are at high risk for increased stress levels. The child’s socially unacceptable behaviors and communication …

Kinematic Demands Of Nucleus Arthroplasty Technology, Elizabeth J. Sander

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Recent advancements in biomaterial technologies have fostered growth in alternative surgical procedures to fusion surgery for treatment of early stages of degenerative disc disease. One application of immediate interest is that of nucleus arthroplasty (NA). Novel materials are being developed to better match the nonlinear biomechanical properties of the native tissue. The effects of changing the motion segment unit (MSU) properties via surgery (nucleotomy) or placement of a nucleus arthroplasty material, changes the effort or work required to move the altered spine condition through a prescribed kinematic path relative to the intact spine condition. The closer the loading mechanics of …

Regional Spillover Effects Of The Iraq War, W. Andrew Terrill Dr.

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The Iraq war has been one of the dominant factors influencing U.S. strategic thinking in the Middle East and globally since 2003. Yet the problems of this highly dynamic and fluid war have sometimes forced U.S. policymakers to address near-term issues that cannot be safely postponed at the expense of long-term strategic thought. Such a technique, while understandable, cannot continue indefinitely as an approach to policy. Long-term planning remains vital for advancing regionwide U.S. and Iraqi interests following a U.S. drawdown from Iraq. Such planning must include dealing with current and potential “spillover” from the Iraq war.

Regional spillover problems …

Streptococcus Pyogenes: A Versatile Human Pathogen, Maria E. Cevallos

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the most medically relevant genera of Gram positive bacteria. S. pyogenes belongs to Group A streptococcus (GAS), the most pathogenic streptococci. S. pyogenes is exclusively a human pathogen that is known for its ability to cause a wide array of infections ranging from superficial pharyngitis and impetigo to invasive life threatening conditions including septicemia, necrotizing fasciitis, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. The dissemination of S. pyogenes within a human host is dependent upon virulence factors aimed at host immune system evasion leading to infection. More specifically, S. pyogenes’ virulence factors are required for bacterial …

Yersiniae Virulence Factors: Type Iii Secretion System, Jessica Blanco

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Several Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria have evolved a complex protein secretion system termed the Type Three Secretion System (TTSS) to deliver bacterial effector proteins into host-cells that then modulate host-cellular functions. These bacterial devices are evolutionarily related to the flagellar apparatus. Although the TTSSs are substantially conserved among different species, the effector molecules they deliver are species-unique. There exist three human pathogenic Yersiniae. Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis cause self-limiting gastro-enteric diseases and infect mesenteric lymph nodes, while Yersinia pestis is transmitted by fleas and can be aerosolized, causing the lethal disease known as plague (also known as Black Death). The …

Characterization Of Dna Sequences That Confer Complement Resistance In Leishmania Chagasi, Rebecca R. Dahlin-Laborde, Eric J. Scolaro, Nathan M. Romine, Amanda Ramer-Tait, Soi Meng Lei, Jeffrey K. Beetham

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Serial passage of axenically cultured Leishmania chagasi promastigotes results in a progressive diminution in resistance to complement-mediated lysis (CML), whereas high CML resistance is seen in infectious metacyclic promastigotes from the sandfly vector as well as metacyclic-like promastigotes within low-passage cultures at stationary growth phase. As we previously reported, in a screen seeking to identify novel genes involved in CML resistance: (1) a genomic cosmid library derived from DNA of CML-resistant L. chagasi promastigotes was transfected into highpassage (constitutively CML-sensitive) L. chagasi promastigotes; (2) transformants were screened for acquisition of CML-resistance; (3) multiple cosmid-transfectants exhibited partial CML resistance; and (4) …

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Confers Higher Rates Of Replicative Fitness To Perinatally Transmitted Viruses Than To Nontransmitted Viruses, Xiaohong Kong, John T. West, Hong Zhang, Danielle Shea, Tendai J. M'Soka, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Selection of a minor viral genotype during perinatal transmission of human Immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been observed, but there is a lack of information on the correlation of the restrictive transmission with biological properties of the virus, such as replicative fitness. Recombinant viruses expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein or the Discosoma sp. red fluorescent (DsRed2) protein carrying the V1 to V5 regions of env from seven mother-infant pairs (MIPs) infected by subtype C HIV-1 were constructed, and competition assays were carried out to compare the fitness between the transmitted and nontransmitted viruses. Flow cytometry was used to …

A Fundamental Study Of The Pcr Amplification Of Gc-Rich Dna Templates, T. G. Mamedov, Elsje Pienaar, Scott E. Whitney, Joel R. Termaat, G. Carvill, R. Goliath, Anuradha Subramanian, Hendrik J. Viljoen

Hendrik J. Viljoen Publications

A theoretical analysis is presented with experimental confirmation to conclusively demonstrate the critical role that annealing plays in efficient PCR amplification of GC-rich templates. The analysis is focused on the annealing of primers at alternative binding sites (competitive annealing) and the main result is a quantitative expression of the efficiency (η) of annealing as a function of temperature (T_A), annealing period (t_A), and template composition. The optimal efficiency lies in a narrow region of T_A and t_A for GC-rich templates and a much broader region for normal GC templates. To confirm the …

A Qualitative Study Of The Achievement Goals Of Recreational Exercise Participants, Helen Rogers, Tony Morris, Melissa Moore

The Qualitative Report

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for many of today’s leading causes of ill health. In-order to increase physical activity (PA) participation and information about why people engage in PA is needed. We interviewed 11 recreational exercise participants to examine their goals for participating in recreation al exercise. Our results revealed 13 first-order themes, which we reduced to seven second-order themes (personal comparison, extrinsic rewards, social, physical condition, psychological condition, mastery, and enjoyment), and two general dimensions (intrinsic and extrinsic goals). We argue that self- determination theory (SDT) of motivation provides a strong foundation for understanding the goals and …

Prescribing Safety In Primary Care. Comparing The United Kingdom And Saudi Arabia, Haya S. Zedan, Anthony J. Avery

Saudi Medical Journal

Most consultations in primary care end with a prescription for medication. As a result, the potential for error in prescriptions and the potential harm to patients must be carefully considered and action taken to increase the safety of patients in these situations. Policy makers and health professionals have an obligation to protect public health. This review aims to compare and critically assess the main policies, initiatives, and guidance that have been developed to improve the safety of prescribing in primary care in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. The report also suggests particular areas of need that might be addressed …

Association And Preferential Transmission Of The Ccr2v64i Polymorphism With Absence Of Asthma In High-Risk Families, Saleh A. Al-Abdulhadi, Mohammed W. Al-Rabia

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To explore a possible association between the major functional CCR2V64I polymorphism and asthma and related phenotypes independent of atopy. METHODS: We conducted this study in the Royal Aberdeen Children9s Hospital, University of Aberdeen Medical School, United Kingdom from September 2004 to December 2006. One hundred and fifty-four unrelated nuclear families (598 individuals including children and parents) were identified from the local Grampian population. The major functional polymorphism CCR2V64I was analyzed for associations with asthma, lung function (forced expiratory volume% [FEV1%] of predicted), bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine, total serum-immunoglobulin E (s-IgE) and allergic sensitization (positive skin prick test to …

In Vitro Testing Of Daptomycin Plus Rifampin Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Resistant To Rifampin, Faisal A. Khasawneh, Deborah S. Ashcraft, George A. Pankey

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To test for synergy between daptomycin (DAP) and rifampin (RIF) against RIF-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates. METHODS: Synergy testing using time-kill assay (TKA) was performed on 6 clinically, and genetically unique RIF-resistant MRSA isolates. The isolates were identified out of 489 (1.2%) samples collected during April 2003 to August 2006, from patients at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America. RESULTS: Synergy testing of DAP plus RIF by TKA showed that 5 isolates were indifferent, but one isolate was antagonistic. CONCLUSION: Our in vitro study failed to demonstrate synergy between DAP plus RIF, …

Low-Dose Chemotherapy For Extra-Abdominal Desmoid Tumor, Mohammed L. Al-Otaibi, Robert E. Turcotte, Ingrid Hings, Julie Beaudet, Marc Isler, Ayoub Nahal, Cindy Wong

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of patients with extra-abdominal desmoid tumor treated with low dose chemotherapy (methotrexate and vinblastine) both for tumor response and treatment related toxicity. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the outcome of 12 patients who underwent low dose chemotherapy for extra abdominal desmoid of different locations. The study took place in the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada between 1996 and 2003. We evaluated the patients for their compliance, tumor response, complications of treatment, and impact of treatment on symptoms. There were 7 females and 5 males with a mean age of 46 years. RESULTS: Disease related morbidity …

Medical Abortion At First Trimester Of Pregnancy With Misoprostol, Sedigheh Ayati, Fatemeh V. Roudsari, Naiereh Khadem, Mohamad T Shakeri

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of medical abortion at first trimester of pregnancy with vaginal misoprostol. METHODS: This is a descriptive analytic study. It was performed on 100 women at first trimester of pregnancy referred to teaching hospitals related to the Medical Sciences of Mashhad University, Mashhad, Iran for termination of pregnancy in 2006. Each patient received first dose of misoprostol (800 μg/vaginal), the second dose (800 μg/vaginal) was administered 24 hours after the first dose if expulsion of conceptus was not successful and curettage was performed if product of conception remained. RESULTS: From 100 patients, 83 women (83%) had …

Oxidative Stress And Antioxidant Status In Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia, Mehmet Davutoglu, Ekrem Guler, Seref Olgar, Ergul B. Kurutas, Hamza Karabiber, Mesut Garipardic, Hasan C. Ekerbicer

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible relationships between plasma bilirubin levels and concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities in newborn infants with hyperbilirubinemia. METHODS: Thirty term (gestational age >/= 37 weeks) newborn infants with indirect hyperbilirubinemia aged less than 10 days were prospectively recruited in the Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Neonatal Unit, Kahramanmaras, Turkey, between January and July 2007. Thirty randomly selected healthy newborns who had similar age and without clinical jaundice comprised the control group. Erythrocyte catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and plasma MDA and NO concentrations were measured. RESULTS: Both …

Folic Acid Awareness Among Female College Students. Neural Tube Defects Prevention, Jameela A. Kari, Ekhlas S. Bardisi, Rabaa M. Baitalmal, Ghofran A. Ageely

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the level of awareness among female college students on the importance of preconception folic acid supplementation in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs). We have also studied their response after educating them. METHODS: This is a questionnaire-based study. Five hundreds questionnaires were distributed to the female students of the 3 colleges, namely, Humanities, Sciences, and Health in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in April 2008. The questions included an enquiry on their knowledge regarding the importance of folic acid preconception, and if they will implement what they learned after listening to lectures, delivered by the 4th year medical …

25-Hydoxyvitamin D Levels Among Healthy Saudi Arabian Women, Haifa A. Al-Turki, Mir Sadat-Ali, Abdulmohsen H. Al-Elq, Fathma A. Al-Mulhim, Amein K. Al-Ali

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To assess the serum level of 25 hydroxyvitamin D 25OHD among healthy Saudi Arabian women living in the eastern province. METHODS: A cross-sectional randomized study was conducted between February 1st 2008 and May 31st 2008 at the King Fahd University Hospital, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 200 Saudi women between 25-35 years group 1 and women of >/=50 years group 2. Clinical examination, laboratory tests, a complete blood picture, serum calcium, phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase, parathormone, and the serum levels of 25OHD levels were carried out. Data on lifestyle, dietary, and demographic questionnaires were collected. Vitamin D was defined …

Hepatitis B And C Knowledge Among Saudi Dental Patients, Nahid Y. Ashri

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To explore Saudi dental patients9 awareness of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and its knowledge of transmission; and to compare the HBV and HCV knowledge and practices of men and women. METHODS: A pre-tested anonymous self-administered one-page questionnaire consisting of 3 parts with 32 different statements concerning basic knowledge of HBV and HCV, their mode of transmission, risk behaviors, prevention, treatment and immunization were randomly distributed to dental patients at clinics and waiting areas of different governmental and private dental clinics. The study was conducted between 2006 and 2007, in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi …

Spatial Modeling Of Malaria Incidence Rates In Sistan And Baluchistan Province, Islamic Republic Of Iran, Masoud Salehi, Kazem Mohammad, Mahmud M. Farahani, Hojjat Zeraati, Keramat Nourijelyani, Farid Zayeri

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effect of environmental factors on malaria risk, and to visualize spatial map of malaria standard incidence rates in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Islamic Republic of Iran. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the data from 42,162 registered new malaria cases from 21 March 2001 (Iranian new year) to 21 of March 2006 were studied. To describe the statistical association between environmental factors and malaria risk, a generalized linear mixed model approach was utilized. In addition, we used the second ordered stationary Kriging, and a variogram to determine the appropriate spatial correlation structure among the malaria standard incidence …

Patients Awareness Of Their Medical Conditions In Multi-Specialty Outpatient Clinics In Saudi Arabia, Saad S. Al-Khowaiter, Abdulaziz M. Al-Maawi, Mamdoh S. Al-Obaidy, Abdulaziz S. Al-Ali, Mohammed O. Al-Rukban, Yasser A. Al-Sedrani, Ayman A. Abdo

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To assess the patients awareness of their medical conditions, identify the factors affecting their awareness, and assess patient9s satisfaction with their doctors explanations of medical conditions. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2005 in the outpatient clinics of King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The statistical package for Social Science was used for analysis. RESULTS: Five hundred and one patients were included in the study. The mean age was 45.6 ± 16.8. Fifty-five percent were female and 29% were highly educated. Most of the patients …

Reliability, Validity, And Feasibility Of The Objective Structured Clinical Examination In Assessing Clinical Skills Of Final Year Surgical Clerkship, Mohammed Y. Al-Naami

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience with measurements of the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) conducted for the final surgical clerkship year. METHODS: A pilot study of the OSCE was conducted on 64 students split over 2 consecutive days lasting 160 minutes each day in May 22-23, 2005 at the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There were 24 actual stations in day one and 22 in day 2, consisting of combinations of history taking/communication skills, physical examination skills, and problem solving skills. RESULTS: The stability of the OSCE measured by Cronbach9s alpha …

Acute Kidney Injury Secondary To Lymphomatous Infiltration And The Role Of Kidney Biopsy, Ahmed M. Alkhunaizi, Riyadh A. Daabil, Mohammad F. Dawamneh

Saudi Medical Journal

We report a 47-year-old male patient who developed acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis, associated with massive enlargement of both kidneys. A part from intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy, there was no other organ or lymph node involvement. A kidney biopsy established the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin9s lymphoma. The patient received chemotherapy with good response. This case demonstrates that the kidney could be the primary organ involved in non-Hodgkin9s lymphoma. In addition, we have shown that renal biopsy is adequate to make a diagnosis of lymphoma without the need to do more invasive testing.

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor Of The Mesentery Associated With High Fever And Positive Widal Test, Camil J. Chouairy, Elie A. Bechara, Sleiman J. Gebran, Ramy H. Ghabril

Saudi Medical Journal

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is associated in 15-30% of cases with systemic symptomatology, such as prolonged fever, weight loss, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), anemia, thrombocytosis, and leukocytosis. We report the case of a 4-year-old Lebanese boy who presented with high-grade fever of long duration, and a single (unpaired) positive Widal agglutination test. Blood culture was negative. A diagnosis of typhoid fever was made. An abdominal (mesenteric) IMT was incidentally discovered, 30 days after the fever had appeared. After surgery, the fever disappeared immediately, and the ESR returned to normal. We strongly favor the possibility of a false positive Widal …

Neonatal Screening Of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency In Khorfakkan, United Arab Emirates, Saad S. Al-Ani, Amin A. Baker, Amal K. Al-Athmani, Bushra J. Al-Jesmi

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Study Of The Etiology Of Adult Mandibular Fractures In The Sultanate Of Oman And South Australia, Ahmed K. Al-Hashmi, Mohammed I. Al-Ismaily, Alastair N. Goss

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Determination Of Free Catecholamines In Urine By Tandem Affinity/Ion-Pair Chromatography And Flow Injection Analysis, David H. Thomas, Jay D. Taylor, Omar S. Barnaby, David S. Hage

David Hage Publications

Background—A system was developed for the simultaneous measurement in urine of free catecholamines (i.e., dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine) and creatinine (i.e., an indicator of urine output and volume). This method was based on the use of tandem affinity/ion-pair HPLC and flow injection analysis.

Methods—The free catecholamines were extracted directly from urine by using an on-line phenylboronic acid affinity column. The extracted solutes were then separated and measured by ionpair chromatography followed by amperometric detection. Creatinine was measured by an on-line flow injection analysis system based on the Jaffe reaction, which analyzed creatinine as it eluted nonretained from the phenylboronic …

How Does A Riverine Setting Affect The Lifestyle Of Shellmound Builders In Brazil?, Sabine Eggers, C. C. Petronilho, K. Brandt, C. Jericó-Daminello, J. Filippini, Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

The contact of inland and coastal prehistoric groups in Brazil is believed to have been restricted to regions with no geographical barrier, as is the case in the Ribeira de Iguape valley. The inland osteological collection from the riverine shellmound Moraes (5800–4500 BP) represents a unique opportunity to test this assumption for this region. Despite cultural similarities between riverine and coastal shellmounds, important ecological and site distribution differences are expected to impact on lifestyle. The purpose of this study is thus to document and interpret health and lifestyle indicators in Moraes in comparison to coastal shellmound groups. Specifically we test …

Breaking Protocol: The Failure Of The Bush Administration To Ratify The Kyoto Protocol As A State Crime, Jacquelynn A. Doyon

Masters Theses

Using the Kyoto Protocol as a centrifugal focus point, this research conceptualizes the failure of the United States to act on global warming as a state crime. The decision of the United States not to ratify the protocol was largely based on economic justifications. However, the actions taken following the Kyoto Protocol indicate that the US government was instead dedicated more to their own economical interests, rather than those of the state was a whole. Through the exploration of possible economic and political motivations, the research identifies ulterior motives of the Bush administration that have proved to be detrimental to …

Emergency Department Nurses' Experience Relating To Hospital Acquisition: A Phenomenological Study, Bernadette Deprez

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

New Mexico Labor Market Review 12-01-2008, New Mexico Department Of Workforce Solutions

Historic Publications

This issue of the New Mexico Labor Market Review presents October 2008 employment, unemployment, wage, and economic activity data for New Mexico, its counties, and metropolitan areas.