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Evaluation Of Common Inherited Variants In Mitochondrial-Related And Microrna-Related Genes As Novel Risk Factors For Ovarian Cancer, Jennifer Permuth Wey

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women in the United States, and the etiology is incompletely understood. Common, low penetrant genetic variants such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) likely contribute to a significant proportion of EOC. We examined whether SNPs in two understudied yet biologically important types of genes, mitochondrial-related and miRNA-related genes, may contribute to EOC susceptibility using data from a large, homogeneous study population of 1,815 EOC cases and 1,900 controls (frequency-matched on age-group and race/ethnicity) genotyped through stage 1 of an ongoing genome-wide association study. Inter-individual variation in genes involved …

Aspects Of The Life History Of The Snowy Grouper, Epinephelus Niveatus, In The Gulf Of Mexico, Kelley Kowal

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Knowledge of many life history parameters are essential to properly assess and manage fish species. Although the snowy grouper, Epinephelus niveatus, is a commercially valuable fish, which is harvested throughout the Gulf of Mexico, little is known about its age, growth, and reproduction from this region. In this study, snowy grouper from the northern and eastern regions of the Gulf of Mexico were examined primarily using commercially-derived samples that were collected between 1984 and 2004. A total of 1,200 snowy grouper with fork lengths between 242 and 1,190 mm were collected. Sectioned saggital otoliths were used to determine the age …

Discovery Of Novel Viruses From Animals, Plants, And Insect Vectors Using Viral Metagenomics, Terry Fei Fan Ng

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Understanding emerging viruses is critical for disease monitoring and prediction; however, surveys of novel viruses are hindered by the lack of a universal assay for viruses. Viral metagenomics, consisting of viral particle purification and shotgun sequencing, is a powerful technique for discovering viruses in a wide variety of sample types. However, current protocols are not effective on tissue samples (e.g., lungs, livers and tumors), where they are hindered by the high amount of host nucleic acids which limits the percentage of sequences that originate from viruses. In this dissertation, a modified viral metagenomics protocol was developed and utilized to effectively …

Down, But Not Out: An Ethnographic Study Of Women Who Struggled With And Overcame Methamphetamine Addiction, Jodi Nettleton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Women suffer methamphetamine (meth) addiction at a rate much higher than rates for addiction to other drugs. Female meth users are susceptible and predisposed to gender-related risks: high rates of unprotected vaginal and anal sex, sex-work, and sexual coercion. Precursors for addiction (e.g., abuse, body dysphasia) put females in a difficult position for recovery and highlight the need for gender-specific research and treatment.

Methamphetamine (a synthetically derived stimulant) creates psychological and physical dependency that affects every neuron of the brain and damages the body immediately. Women ingest meth for initial effects that allay social pressures: feeling euphoric, connecting with others …

African American Athletes And The Negotiation Of Public Spaces: An Examination Of Athletic Capital And African American Perceptions Of Success, Keona Lewis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the culture of sport among African American male football players as well as African American perspectives on sport and success. A case study of six African American, Division 1 FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) collegiate student athletes was conducted along with seventeen supplemental interviews with community members, parents, coaches and former athletes and fans. The participants answered questions that explored education, success, identity construction, ethnicity and sport. Archival data was also reviewed framing the discussion on football in Florida, links between education and sport participation and African American male academic achievement. While many perspectives varied, there were collective …

Urban And Rural-Residential Land Uses: Their Role In Watershed Health And The Rehabilitation Of Oregon’S Wild Salmonids, Michael Harte, Victor W. Kaczynski, Clinton C. Shock, J. Alan Yeakley, Robert M. Hughes, Nancy Molina, Carl B. Schreck

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

This technical report by the Independent Multidisciplinary Science Team (IMST) is a comprehensive review of how human activities in urban and rural-residential areas can alter aquatic ecosystems and resulting implications for salmonid recovery, with a geographic focus on the state of Oregon. The following topics are considered in the form of science questions, and comprise the major components of this report:

1. The effects of urban and rural-residential development on Oregon’s watersheds and native wild salmonids.
2. Actions that can be used to avoid or mitigate undesirable changes to aquatic ecosystems near developing urban and rural-residential areas.
3. The benefits and pitfalls of …

Iron Men Manned Wooden Ships! Vs. Iron Ships Manned By Wooden Men? Socio-Psychological Impacts On Seafarers Due To Accidents/Incidents, Vivek Menon

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Acetate Causes Alcohol Hangover Headache In Rats, Christina R. Maxwell, Rebecca Jay Spangenberg, Jan B. Hoek, Stephen D. Silberstein, Michael L. Oshinsky

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Background

The mechanism of veisalgia cephalgia or hangover headache is unknown. Despite a lack of mechanistic studies, there are a number of theories positing congeners, dehydration, or the ethanol metabolite acetaldehyde as causes of hangover headache.

Methods

We used a chronic headache model to examine how pure ethanol produces increased sensitivity for nociceptive behaviors in normally hydrated rats.

Results

Ethanol initially decreased sensitivity to mechanical stimuli on the face (analgesia), followed 4 to 6 hours later by inflammatory pain. Inhibiting alcohol dehydrogenase extended the analgesia whereas inhibiting aldehyde dehydrogenase decreased analgesia. Neither treatment had nociceptive effects. Direct administration of acetate …

Due Diligence And Demographic Disparities: Effects Of The Planning Of U.S.- Mexico Border Fence On Marginalized Populations, J. Gaines Wilson, Jude A. Benavides, Karen Engle, Denise Gilman, Anthony Reisinger, Jessica Spangler, Joe Lemen

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

In the buildup to the construction the U.S.-Mexico border fence by the United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS), much attention was drawn to security, drug enforcement, and immigration issues. However, there was little quantitative analysis regarding which populations were most likely to be affected by the proposed fence. Using a geographic information system, we classified census blocks in Cameron County, Texas into one of two categories: either ‘fence’ or ‘gap’. A total of 14 demographic factors were tested for disparities between those living in gap areas and those living in areas exposed to the fence. Twelve of fourteen factors …

The Prevalence Of Flatfoot In Taoyuan Teenagers, Huan-Jui Yeh, Huei-Yu Lo, Yau-Wai Wai

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Background: The prevalence of flatfoot is various among each age group, and whether children with flatfoot should receive treatment or not is still controversial. Most studies of flatfoot in Taiwan place emphases on children but not on teenagers. This research aimed to establish a database of a prevalence of flatfoot among Taiwanese local teenagers.Methods: Five hundred forty-four 12- to 14-year-old teenagers in Taoyuan were enrolled in this study. Footprint analysis methods were used to diagnose a flatfoot (plantar arch index more than 1.15 or Denis grade equal or more than grade 1 or footprint index less than 1 cm). The …

Juvenile Muscular Amyotrophy Of Distal Upper Limbs: A Casereport, Tzu-Ying Sung, Shu-Fen Sun, Po-Chin Wang, Chiao-Wen Hwang, Jue-Long Wang

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Juvenile muscular amyotrophy of distal upper limbs (Hirayama disease) is a rare disease predominantly affecting the anterior horn cells of the cervical cord in young men. It is a kind of cervical myelopathy characterized by insidious onset of unilateral distal dominant upper limbs muscle weakness and atrophy due to anterior cervical cord compression. It is difficult to differentiate this disease from other diseases with similar symptoms such as motor neuron disease. Cervical magnetic resonance (MR) study in flexed position is helpful to confirm the diagnosis.We reported a 21-year-old man who complained of slowly progressed muscle atrophy and weakness of right …

The Effects Of Rehabilitation Exercises In Community-Dwelling Elderly With Osteoarthritis And Stroke: A Pilot Study, Jia-Ching Chen, Chun-Hsiang Lin, Li-Chun Chen, Yu-Chun Wei, Jung Hsiao, Nan-Yueh Lin, Chung-Chao Liang

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

The prevalence of chronic disease in community-dwelling elderly has increased with the increase in the elderly population in Taiwan. This study investigated the effects of regular rehabilitation exercises provided by rehabilitation professionals in community-dwelling elderly people with osteoarthritis and stroke. A single group with pretest-posttest design was used in this pilot study. A total of 32 elderly people in the community were recruited and classified into two groups, one with osteoarthritis (n=21) and the other with chronic stroke (n=11). The intervention of one consisted of one 3-hour rehabilitation exercise session each week provided by a physical therapist and consultation with …

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma With Neck Pain: A Casereport, Shih-Wei Huang, Nai-Chiung Huang, Ta-Sen Wei, Tsung-Ju Wu

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is a type of well-differentiated thyroid cancer. This type of cancer is often diagnosed in patients found with palpable neck mass or lymph node enlargement. The clinical characteristics of papillary thyroid carcinoma are slow disease progression, less tendency for distant metastasis, and better prognosis than other types of thyroid cancer. The diagnosis of thyroid cancer is primarily based on the identification of pathological tissue obtained through echo-guide fine needle aspiration biopsy. In laboratory examinations, these patients may or may not be present with hypothyroidism.The subject in our case study is a 82-year-old male patient. He complains of …

The Introduction Of Alien Aquatic Species By Ships In The Arctic : The Role Of The Polar Code And Other International Legal Instruments, Anne Bouyssou

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Florida's Adolescent Literacy Policy: An Alternative Reading And Response, Diane Kroeger

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this qualitative case study, I constructed interpretations of the meanings conveyed by state-level discourse communities as they were manifested in the primary and secondary speech genres of Florida’s adolescent literacy policy. Meanings (or values, beliefs and feelings) are highly tacit understandings embedded in the language, actions and objects of policy (Yanow, 2000), and are conveyed through informal and formal speech (Bakhtin, 1986). Results revealed (a) state policy meanings convey multiple versions of literacy with a heavy focus on receptive aspects of literate practice; (b) a typology of students and their fit within the institutional system; and (c) an emphasis …

Subjective And Objective Evaluation On The Effect Of Splinting In Short-Term Use For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Preliminary Study, Shu-Min Chen, Chun-Kai Liao, Hsiu-Yun Hsu, Ta-Shen Kuan

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Splinting is a conservative treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), but the duration of treatment required for symptom relief has not been determined definitively. The aim of this study was to use subjective and objective methods to investigate the short-term therapeutic effect of splinting for CTS.Six participants with CTS were enrolled in this study. Participants were required to wear the splints for at least eight hours a day. Symptom Severity and Functional Status Scales, pinch power, nerve conduction studies, and high resolution sonography were used to evaluate the patients before and at two weeks and one month after splinting. The …

Orthostatic Postural Deficit In Subjects With Streptococcal Serology-Related Unclassified Arthritis Of The Lumbopelvis, Shao-Chi Lu, Liang-Cheng Chen, Shang-Lin Chiang, Tsung-Ying Li, Yau-Ren Tseng, Shin-Tsu Chang, Chen-Chung Dai

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Titers of antistreptolysin-O (ASO) possess the diagnostic value in discriminating post-streptococcal reactive arthritis. Patients are labeled as ”unclassified arthritis” (UA) while hard to be classified as having a well-defined arthropathy. Posture is important to perform activities of daily living and its abnormality is a negative factor for trunk stability and balance. We hypothesized that an imbalance of the lumbopelvis due to sacroiliac joint disorder might produce a positional change. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a difference in postural sway during orthostatic standing in subjects with UA of the lumbopelvis and high ASO titers. All …

Acute Abdominal Pain In Spinal Cord Injury Patient Induced By Indwelling Urethral Catheter Placed Into The Right Ureter Through The Ureteral Orifice: A Casereport, Chang-Jheng Wu, Huei-Yu Lo, Yau-Wai Wai, Han-Tin Lu

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Diagnosis of acute abdomen in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients remains challenging. Classic peritoneal signs, such as rigid abdomen, rebounding pain and abdominal muscle guarding may be not reliable. It is still an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with SCI.A 45-year-old woman with SCI and 7th and 8th thoracic vertebrae fractures suffered from lower abdominal pain, fever and chills for three days. Physical examination revealed diffuse abdominal tenderness with muscle guarding. Laboratory studies showed severe leukocytosis and mild pyuria. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans (CTS) revealed a urinary catheter, which had been accidentally inserted into the right …

Efficacy Of Wii(Superscript Tm)-Based Virtual Reality Assisted Rehabilitation For Chronic Stroke Patients, Zheng-Yu Hoe, Jue-Long Wang, Yuk-Keung Lo, Shu-Fen Sun, Chao-Hung Chang, Hsin-I Tsai

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Virtual reality assisted rehabilitation provides the opportunity for a safe training environment, allows intensive practice using repetitive tasks, provides real-time auditory and visual performance feedback and also may augment patients’ motivation. Wii(superscript TM) has all of these advantages. In addition, it is relatively cheap and thus it is affordable and practical to be used in clinical settings. We recruited patients with chronic stroke (＞1 yr) and limb function impairment. All patients participated in the Wii(superscript TM)-based virtual reality assisted rehabilitation program with a minimum of 30 minutes/session, three times/week for 3 months. The patients' cognitive function, motor function of both …

Result Of Low Frequency Speech Therapy In Children With Articulation Disorder, Yu-Nan Wang, Mei-Li Cheng, Ya-Wen Li, Xiao-Jun Zhang

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Articulation disorder refers to the mispronunciation of speech sounds by omitting, distorting, substituting, or adding sounds which make speech difficult to understand. It is not an uncommon disorder among children. The prevalence of articulation disorder in preschool and school-age children is about 10%. For children without associated condition, articulation disorder may be treatable with speech therapy. In this study, we examined 55 children with articulation disorder who received speech therapy in our hospital during the past four years. The boys to girls ratio is 2.4 to 1. Among the different types of articulation disorders, substitution is the most common type …

Ultrasonographic Diagnosis Of A Knee Prosthesis Polyethylene Loose Body: A Casereport, Ying-Fang Chen, Yi-Pin Chiang, Baii-Jia Yang

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Polyethylene is an important component of a knee prosthesis, but wear of this material is one of the most frequent complications following total knee arthroplasty. Diagnosis of polyethylene wear is based mainly on history, physical examination, and plain radiographs. However, even when the damage is severe, plain radiographs may not be so sensitive enough to detect the debris. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is infrequently used to evaluate the operated knee, but it is a sensitive method for evaluating the polyethylene component of a knee prosthesis.We report an 80-year-old woman who had a painful, enlarging, inflamed mass on her left knee. She had …

Clinical Outcomes Of Rehabilitation On An 11-Year-Old Girl With Devic's Syndrome: A Casereport, Cheng-Cheng Hsu, Wen-Chih Lin, Tan-Hwui Lau, Ming-Chi Lai, Rong-Bin Hong, Wei-Ni Chou

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Devic's syndrome-neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a rare demyelinating central nervous system diseases, must be clinically differentiated from multiple sclerosis (MS). The diagnostic criteria of Devic's syndrome include optic neuritis, acute myelitis, and at least two of the three symptoms below: brain MRI different from MS, three or more consecutive spinal segments invaded on MRI, and NMO-IgG seropositive.The case prevails over females aged 30-40 years. The courses of Devic's syndrome could be categorized in two types: single invasion and recurrence. The latter has poorer prognosis. The medical treatment mainly lies in immune modulation and the rehabilitative intervention including retaining life functions, preventing …

Dysphagia After Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery: A Casereport, Hsi-Ting Chiu, Ssu-Yuan Chen, Tyng-Guey Wang, Yen-Ho Wang

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Dysphagia is one of the complications that develops after anterior cervical spine surgery. Its etiology is multifactorial. It is transient in most patients, and few patients suffer from dysphagia for more than several months. This study reports 1 patient with a dislocation fracture at the C5-C6 level who suffered from dysphagia for 6 months after the anterior cervical spine surgery. Videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing revealed pharyngeal muscle weakness and cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction with obstruction at the level of the left upper esophageal sphincter. Serial examination revealed neither laryngeal organic lesions, such as those observed in vocal cord palsy, nor evidence …

Toe-Out Landing Position Increases Medial Ground Reaction Force During Walking In Young Individuals, Chein-Teng Chung, Chen-Chia Yang, Chin-Hwa Chiu, Chia-Hung Lin, Yueh-Ling Hsieh

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine how toe-out foot landing position influences ground reaction forces (GRF) during gait.Design: Values of GRF components recorded with a force platform were used to compare 3D GRF vectors of toe-out and non toe-out (including neutral and toe-in) foot landing positions. Methods: Thirty-two healthy males (ranging from 19-21 years old) were repeatedly assigned three foot landing positions: maximum toe-out, maximum toe-in and neutral. Each participant walked with three foot landing positions across a force platform while their three-dimensional motion was captured. Results: No differences were observed for vertical or anteroposterior GRF among …

Application Of Shewhart Cycle Of "Plan-Do-Check-Act" Model To Improve The Waiting Time In Clinical Rehabilitation Therapy, Wen-Hsuan Lin, Ru-Lan Hsieh, Pei-Jei Tsai

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

The Shewhart cycle ”Plan-Do-Check-Act” (PDCA) can be applied by organizations as a model for designing, checking, evaluating, improving, or re-designing plans to improve the quality of service. We applied the PDCA model to clinical rehabilitation services in Taiwan and discussed its effects on the improvement in waiting time. Three issues facing current clinical rehabilitation services were proposed by the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in a medical center to which PDCA was applied: (1) arranging occupational therapy for in-patients within 3 days after consultation, (2) shortening the waiting time for therapy in children with developmental delays, and (3) shortening …

The Therapeutic Effect Of Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy On Severe Spasticity Related Spinal Cord Injury: A Casereport, Shin-Yo Lu, Tsui-Fen Yang, Tai-Tong Wong, Rai-Chi Chan, Chung-Yu Ho, Hung-Yi Chang

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Spasticity refers to a velocity-dependent resistance to passive motion which was characterized as a symptom of upper motor neuron lesion. Though mild spasticity can help patients compensate for muscle weakness which is benefit for transferring and some daily living function, severe spasticity may cause difficulty in positioning, motor performance and predispose to pressure ulcer. The treatment option for spasticity includes physical therapy (positioning, stretching, range of motion exercise), splinting, oral medication (baclofen and diazepam are most commonly used), botulinum toxin or phenal block for focal spasticity, and more invasively, intrathecal baclofen pump (ITB) and selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR). Selective dorsal …

Clinical Diagnosis And Prognosis Of Hirayama Disease: A Casereport, Min-Jung Wu, Jan-Wei Chiu, Chen-Liang Chou, Rai-Chi Chan

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Hirayama disease is a rare disease with unique clinical manifestations. It was first reported by Japanese physician Keizo Hirayama, and tends to develop in young people in their teens and early twenties, predominantly in men. The lower cervical spinal anterior horn cells are usually involved, resulting in asymmetric muscular atrophy or weakness of distal upper extremity. The onset is insidious and gradual. It ends up in a stable status after years of progression. By now the mechanism is still unclear, and two hypotheses are discussed. One is anterior displacement of the cervical dural sac from repeated or sustained neck flexion, …

Autonomic Dysfunction As The Initial Presentation Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency: A Casereport, Hun-Pin Lee, Huey-Wen Liang, Tung-Chou Li

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Background: Vitamin B12 deficiency may be associated with variable neurological involvement, and myelopathy is the most common disorder associated with this deficiency. However, initial presentation with autonomic dysfunction is very rare.Case: The present report describes the case of a 76-year-old man who initially presented with recurrent syncope, followed by impaired vibration and proprioception, and then progressive weakness of the limbs. Result: The findings of a hematological study, blood biochemistry, gastric biopsy by panendoscopy, and electrophysiological examinations all supported the diagnosis of chronic atrophic gastritis-related vitamin B12 deficiency associated with macrocytic anemia, myelopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and autonomic dysfunction. Conclusion: We presented …

The Effect Of Body Weight Support Treadmill Training On Walking Ability In Patients With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury, Chien-Hsing Tseng

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

In modern health care systems that attach importance to acute treatment and health care, there is an increasing number of patients with incomplete spinal cord injury that have increased chance of regaining their ability to walk. However, how to effectively achieve this target of promoting the ability to walk is a question that must be urgently addressed by rehabilitation medicine and public health authorities. International research has already confirmed that body weight support treadmill training has a positive therapeutic effect on walking ability in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury, but in Taiwan not many relevant studies have been performed. …

Ultrasonographic Examination Of Tongue Movement During Articulation In Preschool Children, I-Chun Chen, Chien-Lun Peng

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Ultrasound imaging provides a unique and complete representation of tongue structure in almost all planes of interest and is rapid enough to record real-time tongue movement during speech. Recording tongue movement with ultrasound is non-invasive, and has not been shown to have any biologic effects in humans at diagnostic intensities. As a result, ultrasound has been widely used in speech studies to measure tongue functions in recent years. However, these previous studies are subject to inconsistent plane images caused by additionally movement of the traditional handheld transducer. The artifacts that result from depression of the submental soft tissue contacted by …