Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Comparison Of Prostatic Acid Phosphatase With Testosterone And Prostate Specific Antigen For The Serodiagnosis Of Prostate Cancer In Adult Males, Hannah R. Rice

Honors Theses

Cancer is a hyperplastic cellular malignancy that affected 1,436,000 people (newly diagnosed cases) in the United States last year. The top three most frequent forms of cancer were lung, prostate, and breast. Oncogenesis is associated with both genetic predisposition and environmental onslaught, with a mixture of the two being required for the malignancy to progress. Tumor markers, circulating serum factors, are used in the diagnosis of cancer. Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of this malignancy, affecting 230,110 men in 2004 alone. Diagnosis of prostate cancer is currently performed using results of an assay for prostate specific …

Mediterranean Diet Is An Effective Method For Treating Type 2 Diabetes In Adults, Amy Bois

Health Sciences Undergraduate Publications

Type 2 diabetes has been a health issue for many years, and as more people throughout the world become obese or overweight this issue becomes more serious. Type 2 diabetes is called insulin resistance which means the body does not use insulin properly. At first the pancreas will make extra insulin, but over time the pancreas is not able to keep up and cannot make enough insulin to keep blood glucose at normal levels. Type 2 diabetes is most common in adults who are obese or overweight, and this health problem can be life-threatening. There is no cure for type …

High Hiv Incidence Among Persons Who Inject Drugs In Pakistan: Greater Risk With Needle Sharing And Injecting Frequently Among The Homeless., Rab Nawaz Samo, Arshad Altaf, Ajmal Agha, Omrana Pasha, Shafquat Rozi, Ashraf Memon, Saleem Azam, Meridith Blevins, Sten Vermund, Sharaf Ali Shah

Community Health Sciences

BACKGROUND:

The incidence of HIV among persons who inject drugs (PWIDU) has fallen in many nations, likely due to successes of clean needle/syringe exchange and substance abuse treatment and service programs. However in Pakistan, prevalence rates for PWID have risen dramatically. In several cities, prevalence exceeded 20% by 2009 compared to a 2003 baseline of just 0.5%. However, no cohort study of PWID has ever been conducted.

METHODS:

We enrolled a cohort of 636 HIV seronegative PWID registered with three drop-in centers that focus on risk reduction and basic social services in Karachi. Recruitment began in 2009 (March to June) …

Attenuation Of Parenteral Nutritionassociated Liver Disease By Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Emma Monique Tillman

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

No abstract provided.

Signal Transduction And Transcriptional Regulation Pathways Essential For Azole Resistance In Candida Albicans, Erin M. Vasicek

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Candida albicans is the most prevalent human fungal pathogen, found as a commensal organism in the mucosa, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts of humans. This pathogenic fungus causes a wide spectrum of diseases, including the mucosal infection oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) which frequently effects patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The azole antifungals (such as fluconazole) are the most widely used and important ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors (EBIs) for the treatment of Candida infections, including OPC. However, the azoles are fungistatic against C. albicans and therefore have limited efficacy against this organism, especially for immunocompromised patients. In C. albicans, the transcription factor Upc2 …

Identification Of Novel Hif1a Target Genes That Regulate Tumor Progression And Metastasis, Danielle L. Peacock

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Hypoxia is a hallmark of most solid tumors. In response to hypoxic stress tumor cells adapt by regulating survival, metabolism and angiogenesis. The heterodimeric HypoxiaInducible Factor (HIF) transcription factors are the master regulators of this response. HIFs play key roles in many critical aspects of cancer biology including angiogenesis, stem cell maintenance, metabolic reprogramming, invasion, metastasis and resistance to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Overexpression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α has been documented in multiple human cancers and HIF-1 protein is over-expressed in ~30% of primary breast tumors and ~70% of metastases, which independently correlates with poor prognosis and decreased survival in …

Nkg2d Ligands In Cancer, Neha Das Gupta

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

NK cell transplantation has been increasingly used to treat cancers that are resistant to chemotherapy. However, not all cancers are susceptible to NK cell killing. The prevalence and mechanisms of NK cell resistance have not been well elucidated. Because NKG2D is a major activating receptor on NK cells, we sought to test the hypothesis that NKG2D is the primary pathway in tumor cell recognition. Herein, we comprehensively assessed 20 cancer cell lines representing a broad array of cancer types. In line with our primary hypothesis, no cancer cell lines that expressed low levels of NKG2D ligands were susceptible to NK …

Toll-Like Receptors 2 And 9 Are Important For Innate Immune Cell Activation And Recruitment In Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, Kelly J. Andrews

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease caused by repeated inhalation of environmental antigens. The disease is characterized by alveolitis and granuloma formation; however, some patients develop chronic HP (CHP), a restrictive lung disease characterized by fibrosis. Previous studies revealed that neutrophils are recruited into the lung via a MyD88- dependent pathway and regulate disease severity through cytokine production. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 9 recognize conserved molecular patterns present in bacteria, and signal through the adaptor molecule MyD88. The goal of my project is to investigate the role of TLRs 2 and 9 in the pathogenesis of HP …

Radiosensitization Of Head & Neck Carcinoma Cells By Linifanib, A Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, Heng-Wei Hsu

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Tumor angiogenesis is a hallmark of advanced cancers and promotes invasion and metastasis. Over 90% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) express angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Since radiotherapy is one of the most commonly used treatments for HNSCC, it is imperative to identify the interactions between antiangiogenic therapy and radiotherapy, and to develop combination therapy to improve clinical outcome. The mechanisms between antiangiogenic agents and ionizing radiation are complicated and involve many interactions between the vasculature, tumor stroma and tumor cells. The proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells rely on angiogenesis/blood vessel formation. …

On Head Lice And Social Interaction In Archaic Andean Coastal Populations, Bernardo Arriaza, Vivien Standen, Karl Reinhard, Aduto Araújo, Jörg Heukelbach, Katharina Dittmar

Karl Reinhard Publications

Archaic mummies from northern Chile were examined for the presence of Pediculus humanus capitis. The excellent preservation of mummies and louse nits/eggs permitted a study of the degree of head lice infestation. We studied 63 Chinchorro mummies (ca. 5000–3000 years B.P.) from the Arica-Camarones coast. An area of 2 cm × 2 cm on each mummy’s head was systematically inspected for louse nits/eggs. Hairs with nits/eggs and lice were collected and analyzed using optic and scanning electronic microscopy. About 79% (50/63) of the mummies resulted positive for pediculosis, with an average of 2.1 nits/ eggs/cm2 per positive individual. Microscopic …

Consensus Interferon Plus Ribavirin For Hepatitis C Genotype 3 Patients Previously Treated With Pegylated Interferon Plus Ribavirin, Zaigham Abbas, Ghiasun Nabi Tayyab, Mustafa Qureshi, Mohammad Sadik Memon, Amna Subhan, Tanzila Shakir, Wasim Jafri, Saeed Hamid

Section of Gastroenterology

Background

Not enough data are available about the effectiveness of consensus interferon (CIFN) among HCV genotype 3 patients who failed to respond to pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

Objectives

We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of CIFN and ribavirin in non-responders and relapsers to pegylated interferon with ribavirin therapy.

Patients and Methods

This open-label investigator-initiated study included 44 patients who received CIFN 15 µg /day plus ribavirin 800-1200 mg daily. In patients with an early virological response (EVR), the dose of CIFN was reduced to 15 µg thrice a week for further 36 weeks. Patients with delayed virological response …

Risk And Protective Factors Associated With Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Older Gay And Bisexual Men Living With Hiv Disease, Charles A. Emlet, Karen I. Fredriksen-Goldsen

Charles Emlet

No abstract provided.

The Cell And Molecular Biology Of Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Overview, Heather L. Montie, Thomas M. Durcan

PCOM Scholarly Papers

There is no abstract for this article.

A Huntington’S Thanksgiving Message: Gratitude For Health And The Ability To Work, Kenneth P. Serbin

At Risk for Huntington's Disease

No abstract provided.

Experiences Of Community And Parental Violence Among Hiv Positive Young Racial/Ethnic Minority Men Who Have Have With Men, Sheldon D. Fields

Sheldon D. Fields

Adolescents and young adults (ages 13–24) in the USA are frequently exposed to violence in their community and home. While studies have examined the prevalence and impact of violence exposure among adolescents, there is a lack of data focusing specifically on adolescent men of color who have sex with men. Eight demonstration sites funded through a Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Initiative recruited 363 HIV-positive racial/ethnic minority young men who have sex with men (YMSM) for a longitudinal study between 2006 and 2009. Over two-thirds of participants (83.8%) had witnessed community violence, 55.1% in the prior three months. Witnessing …

Increase In The Proportion Of Patients Hospitalized With Acute Myocardial Infarction With Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders Already In Place Between 2001 And 2007: A Nonconcurrent Prospective Study, Jane Saczynski, Ezra Gabbay, David Mcmanus, Richard Mcmanus, Joel Gore, Jerry Gurwitz, Darleen Lessard, Robert Goldberg

Richard H. McManus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Shared decision making and advance planning in end-of-life decisions have become increasingly important aspects of the management of seriously ill patients. Here, we describe the use and timing of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: The nonconcurrent prospective study population consisted of 4182 patients hospitalized with AMI in central Massachusetts in four annual periods between 2001 and 2007. RESULTS: One-quarter (25%) of patients had a DNR order written either prior to or during hospitalization. The frequency of DNR orders remained constant (24% in 2001; 26% in 2007). Among …

Transitions, Risks, And Actions In Coronary Events--Center For Outcomes Research And Education (Trace-Core): Design And Rationale, Molly Waring, Richard Mcmanus, Jane Saczynski, Milena Anatchkova, David Mcmanus, Randolph Devereaux, Robert Goldberg, Jeroan Allison, Catarina Kiefe

Richard H. McManus

Background: Cardiovascular disease continues to cause significant morbidity, mortality, and impaired quality of life, with unrealized health gains from the underuse of available evidence. The Transitions, Risks, and Actions in Coronary Events Center for Outcomes Research and Education (TRACE-CORE) aims to advance the science of acute coronary syndromes by examining the determinants and outcomes of the quality of transition from hospital to community and by quantifying the impact of potentially modifiable characteristics associated with decreased quality of life, rehospitalization, and mortality. Methods and Results: TRACE-CORE comprises a longitudinal multiracial cohort of patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes, 2 research projects, …

Increase In The Proportion Of Patients Hospitalized With Acute Myocardial Infarction With Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders Already In Place Between 2001 And 2007: A Nonconcurrent Prospective Study, Jane Saczynski, Ezra Gabbay, David Mcmanus, Richard Mcmanus, Joel Gore, Jerry Gurwitz, Darleen Lessard, Robert Goldberg

Richard H. McManus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Shared decision making and advance planning in end-of-life decisions have become increasingly important aspects of the management of seriously ill patients. Here, we describe the use and timing of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: The nonconcurrent prospective study population consisted of 4182 patients hospitalized with AMI in central Massachusetts in four annual periods between 2001 and 2007. RESULTS: One-quarter (25%) of patients had a DNR order written either prior to or during hospitalization. The frequency of DNR orders remained constant (24% in 2001; 26% in 2007). Among …

Transitions, Risks, And Actions In Coronary Events--Center For Outcomes Research And Education (Trace-Core): Design And Rationale, Molly Waring, Richard Mcmanus, Jane Saczynski, Milena Anatchkova, David Mcmanus, Randolph Devereaux, Robert Goldberg, Jeroan Allison, Catarina Kiefe

Richard H. McManus

Background: Cardiovascular disease continues to cause significant morbidity, mortality, and impaired quality of life, with unrealized health gains from the underuse of available evidence. The Transitions, Risks, and Actions in Coronary Events Center for Outcomes Research and Education (TRACE-CORE) aims to advance the science of acute coronary syndromes by examining the determinants and outcomes of the quality of transition from hospital to community and by quantifying the impact of potentially modifiable characteristics associated with decreased quality of life, rehospitalization, and mortality. Methods and Results: TRACE-CORE comprises a longitudinal multiracial cohort of patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes, 2 research projects, …

Braving Bioethical Challenges: The Importance Of Huntington's Disease, Kenneth P. Serbin

At Risk for Huntington's Disease

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Age, Ethnicity, Sexual Dysfunction, Urinary Incontinence, Masculinity, And Relationship With The Partner On The Quality Of Life Of Men With Prostate Cancer, Suha Ballout

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer, the leading cause of cancer in men, has positive survival rates and constitutes a challenge to men with its side effects. Studies have addressed the bivaritate relationships between prostate cancer treatment side effects masculinity, partner relationship, and quality of life (QOL). However, few studies have highlighted the relationships among prostate cancer treatment side effects (i.e., sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence), masculinity, and relationship with the partner together on QOL in men. Most studies were conducted with predominately Caucasian sample of men. Miami is a unique multiethnic setting that hosts Cuban, Columbian, Venezuelan, Haitian, other Latin American and Caribbean communities …

A Multidisciplinary Approach To The Prevention Of Infant Torticollis And Plagiocephaly, Anne H. Zachry, S. K. Slaughter

Faculty Presentations

Research suggests that parents are more likely to carry out positioning recommendations from a health care professional than any other source. Occupational therapy practitioners can play an important role in educating parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers about the importance of providing tummy time and limiting infant time spent in baby gear.

One Year Out Of The Terrible, Lonely Huntington’S Disease Closet, Kenneth P. Serbin

At Risk for Huntington's Disease

No abstract provided.

Outcomes Of Peginterferon Alfa-2a And Ribavirin Combination Therapy In A Resident-Initiated, Multidisciplinary, Hepatitis C Clinic, Nicole M. Agostino Do, Erini Vasiliadis Do, K Nadeem Ahmed Md, Suzanne J. Templer Do, Edward R. Norris Md, Fapa, Fapm, Charles M. Brooks Md, Eric J. Gertner Md, Mph, Joseph L. Yozviak Do, Facp

Edward R Norris MD, FAPA, FAPM

No abstract provided.

A Multidisciplinary, Resident-Run Clinic For The Treatment Of Hepatitis C In An Underserved, Urban Primary Care Setting, Suzanne J. Templer Do, Joseph L. Yozviak Do, Facp, Vishal Patel Md, Edward Norris Md, Fapm, Eric J. Gertner Md, Mph

Edward R Norris MD, FAPA, FAPM

No abstract provided.

Modeling Acute Respiratory Illness During The 2007 San Diego Wildland Fires Using A Coupled Emissions-Transport System And General Additive Modeling, Brian Thelen, Nancy H. F. French, Benjamin W. Koziol, Michael Billmire, Robert Chris Owen, Jeffrey Johnson, Michele Ginsberg, Tatiana Loboda, Shiliang Wu

Michigan Tech Research Institute Publications

Background

A study of the impacts on respiratory health of the 2007 wildland fires in and around San Diego County, California is presented. This study helps to address the impact of fire emissions on human health by modeling the exposure potential of proximate populations to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) from vegetation fires. Currently, there is no standard methodology to model and forecast the potential respiratory health effects of PM plumes from wildland fires, and in part this is due to a lack of methodology for rigorously relating the two. The contribution in this research specifically targets that absence by modeling …

Multicenter Study Comparing Shunt Type In The Norwood Procedure For Single-Ventricle Lesions: Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Analysis., Gerald R. Marx, Girish S. Shirali, Jami C. Levine, Lin T. Guey, James F. Cnota, Jeanne M. Baffa, William L. Border, Steve Colan, Gregory Ensing, Mark K. Friedberg, David J. Goldberg, Salim F. Idriss, J Blaine John, Wyman W. Lai, Minmin Lu, Shaji C. Menon, Richard G. Ohye, David Saudek, Pierre C. Wong, Gail D. Pearson, Pediatric Heart Network Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: The Pediatric Heart Network's Single Ventricle Reconstruction (SVR) trial randomized infants with single right ventricles (RVs) undergoing a Norwood procedure to a modified Blalock-Taussig or RV-to-pulmonary artery shunt. This report compares RV parameters in the 2 groups using 3-dimensional echocardiography.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Three-dimensional echocardiography studies were obtained at 10 of 15 SVR centers. Of the 549 subjects, 314 underwent 3-dimensional echocardiography studies at 1 to 4 time points (pre-Norwood, post-Norwood, pre-stage II, and 14 months) for a total of 757 3-dimensional echocardiography studies. Of these, 565 (75%) were acceptable for analysis. RV volume, mass, mass:volume ratio, ejection fraction, …

Predictors Of Disease Progression In Pediatric Dilated Cardiomyopathy., Kimberly M. Molina, Peter Shrader, Steven D. Colan, Seema Mital, Renee Margossian, Lynn A. Sleeper, Girish S. Shirali, Piers Barker, Charles E. Canter, Karen Altmann, Elizabeth Radojewski, Elif Seda Selamet Tierney, Jack Rychik, Lloyd Y. Tani, Pediatric Heart Network Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background: Despite medical advances, children with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) remain at high risk of death or need for cardiac transplantation. We sought to identify predictors of disease progression in pediatric DCM.

Methods and results: The Pediatric Heart Network evaluated chronic DCM patients with prospective echocardiographic and clinical data collection during an 18-month follow-up. Inclusion criteria were age <22 years and DCM disease duration >2 months. Patients requiring intravenous inotropic/mechanical support or listed status 1A/1B for transplant were excluded. Disease progression was defined as an increase in transplant listing status, hospitalization for heart failure, intravenous inotropes, mechanical support, or death. Predictors of disease progression were identified using …

Diagnosis, Treatment And Follow-Up In Four Children With Biotinidase Deficiency From Pakistan, Bushra Afroze, Mohammad Wasay

Department of Medicine

Biotinidase deficiency is an inherited disorder in which the vitamin biotin is not recycled. If untreated, affected individuals develop neurological and cutaneous symptoms. Untreated individuals with biotinidase deficiency either succumb to disease or are left with significant morbidity. We describe clinical course and follow-up of 4 children from Pakistan. All 4 presented with classical symptoms of biotinidase deficiency and responded dramatically to oral biotin within days to weeks. Biotinidase deficiency is reported in Pakistani children from different part of world, however; there is no such report from Pakistan. This highlights lack of awareness of biotinidase deficiency among physicians in Pakistan

Harnessing Poverty Alleviation To Reduce The Stigma Of Hiv In Sub-Saharan Africa, Alexander C. Tsai, David Bangsberg, Sheri D. Weiser

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

HIV is highly stigmatized throughout sub-Saharan Africa. In studies conducted among general population samples, stigma has been shown to impede uptake of HIV testing and increase sexual risktaking behavior. Among HIV-infected persons, stigma has also been associated with inhibited serostatus disclosure to sexual partners and potential treatment supporters, delays in HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, and ART nonadherence. The stigma of HIV also intensifies the poverty, stress, and insecurity endemic to many resource-limited settings, resulting in worsened mental health, itself an important determinant of AIDS-related mortality. Until we can better understand how to effectively intervene to reduce the stigma of …