Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Pathogenesis And Treatment Of Gout, Daniel Silberstein

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

In the past, the etiology of gout was simplistically believed to be based in the generous indulgence of rich foods and alcohol. However, research has revealed that gout has complex environmental and genetic origins. Specifically, researchers have begun to focus attention on the molecular basis of gout and its related features. These features include hyperuricemia, the stages of gout, and the decreased solubility of uric acid. Furthermore, with epidemiologic evidence indicating that the prevalence of gout is consistently rising, it is imperative that medical providers understand the research-based guidelines for treatment. This includes what medications to administer, monitoring for drug-induced …

Efficacy Of Probiotics Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Gg And Saccharomyces Boulardii In The Treatment Of Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea And Clostridium Diffiicile-Associated Disease, Estie Klugmann

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Antibiotic therapy may cause serious side effects. Two disturbing effects of antibiotic administration are antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile-associated disorder. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea occurs as a direct result of the normal flora destruction due to the antibiotics - which do not discriminate against pathogens or healthy forms of bacteria. C. diff disorder also occurs as an indirect result of antibiotic administration, because the destruction of the normal flora prevents people from having healthy bacteria to prevent disease. There have been studies conducted to determine if replacing the destroyed normal flora with probiotics, or beneficial microorganisms will prevent or treat these conditions. …

What Is The Role Of Incretin Mimetics In The Treatment Of Type 2 Diabetes?, Isaac Silberstein

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is an intricate disorder defined by insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion, hyperglycemia, and both microvascular and macrovascular complications. Standard antidiabetic agents like metformin, insulin, sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones are often insufficient at glucoregulation and do not address the decline in beta cell function that characterizes type 2 diabetes. Moreover, the adverse effects of some of these pharmaceuticals, such as hypoglycemia and weight gain, are disappointing and further limit their clinical utility. Research demonstrates that the actions of two potent incretins. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), address these concerns as they stimulate beta …

Is There An Alternative Way Of Treating Drug Resistant Epilepsy? The Effects Of The Ketogenic Diet In Children With Intractable Epilepsy, Chaya M. Weinberg

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Many children with epilepsy experience seizures that cannot be resolved with medication. Since surgical intervention is not always an option, the ketogenic diet (KD). a high fat, low carbohydrate and protein diet, offers a chance for seizure reduction and in some cases freedom from seizures and medication. Side effects do exist, although none are serious. Efficacy has been proven through many studies. The mechanism of the KD's effectiveness is still unknown, although several hypotheses exist, including the theory that ketone bodies themselves are anticonvulsant, and the hypothesis that glucose restriction stops seizures. Adenosine A1 receptors are also thought to have …

The Common Allergic Mechanism Of Rhinitis And Asthma, Esther Feinstein

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are closely linked diseases which are very prevalent within the population, affecting millions. They are both characterized by chronic airway inflammation. They are often present in the same patients and rhinitis is even considered an independent risk factor for asthma. Treating allergic rhinitis can reduce the severity of asthma. Mechanisms connecting the two have been researched for many years. Studies show that they have a similar allergic mechanism that is mediated by the same cells. The allergic inflammation is characterized by the presence of eosinophils and is mediated by T-helper type 2 lymphocytes. The circulation of …

Huntington's Disease And Its Effect On The Brain, Shaina Rivkin-Drizin

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to gradual extensive brain damage, especially in the striatum and the cerebral cortex. Initial symptoms are cognitive difficulties, loss of motor contra and sudden mood imbalances. Cognitive function slowly declines into dementia, coupled with behavioral and psychiatric problems. Sufferers die within 20 years due to illness complications: a fall, pneumonia, or heart disease (Walker, 2007). This paper reviews the principle biological cause of the disease, its effect on the brain, diagnosis, and treatment.

Are Epidermal Barrier Defects Responsible For The Underlying Pathology Of Atopic Dermatitis?, Naomi Davis

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Atopic dermatitis, often referred to as eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition frequently seen in young children. It is a complex disease involving environmental factors, genetics and immune dysregulation. There is currently no cure with conflicting opinions from physicians regarding treatment and management. A clearer understanding of pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis can hopefully lead to new and improved treatment options for patients. Current evidence seems to support epidermal skin barrier defects as the cause of this disease. This paper seeks to investigate if this out-in hypothesis can be responsible as the sole pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. To write this …

2013 Children’S Legislative Briefing Book, Nevada Institute For Children’S Research And Policy, Children’S Advocacy Alliance, Denise Tanata Ashby, Tara Phebus

Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy Reports

The purpose of this Legislative Briefing Book is to provide a quick snapshot of some of the most pressing issues facing Nevada’s children in order to provide advocates and policymakers with a stepping stone in creating positive changes to improve the lives of Nevada’s children. While this book will not cover every issue facing our children, it is intended to highlight some of those where state policy may have an impact, covering issues in education, health, safety and security, and the juvenile justice system. Diligent efforts need to be made during the 2013 Legislative Session to improve policies, procedures and …

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Year Three Outcome Evaluation Report For The Southern Nevada Health District, Nevada Institute For Children’S Research And Policy, Southern Nevada Health District, Dawn Davidson, Tara Phebus

Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy Reports

In the fall of 2010 the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) was awarded funding from the Federal Office of Adolescent Health to implement an evidence based teen pregnancy prevention curriculum. They have partnered with the Department of Juvenile Justice Services, the Clark County Department of Family Services, and the City of Las Vegas to offer this curriculum to the youth in juvenile detention, probation, community centers, and life skills classes for youth aging out of the foster care system. The Nevada Institute for Children’s Research and Policy (NICRP) has been contracted to complete the outcome evaluation for this program and …

Phase Composition Control Of Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles For Tunable Drug Delivery Kinetics And Treatment Of Osteomyelitis. Part 1: Preparation And Drug Release, Vuk Uskoković, Tejal A. Dasai

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Developed in this study is a multifunctional material for simultaneous osseoinduction and drug delivery, potentially applicable in the treatment of osteomyelitis. It is composed of agglomerates of nanoparticles of calcium phosphate (CAP) with different monophasic contents. The drug loading capacity and the release kinetics were investigated on two model drug compounds with different chemical structures, sizes and adsorption propensities: bovine serum albumin and fluorescein. Loading of CAP powders with small molecule drugs was achieved by physisorption and desiccation-induced agglomeration of nanoparticulate subunits into microscopic blocks. The material dissolution rate and the drug release rate depended on the nature of the …

Effects Of Intranasally Administered Dnsp-11 On The Central Dopamine System Of Normal And Parkinsonian Fischer 344 Rats, James H. Sonne

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Due to the blood-brain barrier, delivery of many drugs to the brain has required intracranial surgery which is prone to complication. Here we show that Dopamine Neuron Stimulating Peptide 11 (DNSP-11), following non-invasive intranasal administration, protects dopaminergic neurons from a lesion model of Parkinson’s disease in the rat. A significant and dose-dependent increase in an index of dopamine turnover (the ratio of DOPAC to dopamine) was observed in the striatum of normal young adult Fischer 344 rats by whole-tissue neurochemistry compared to vehicle administered controls.

Among animals challenged with a moderate, unilateral 6-hydroxy-dopamine (6-OHDA) lesion of the substantia nigra, those …

Molecular And Cellular Characterization Of Dopamine Neuron Stimulating Peptides, Kristen Kelps

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra. Currently, the treatments available for PD are symptomatic treatments that do not stop the progression of the disease. Trophic molecules, such as glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), have been evaluated as potential therapeutic molecules that could stop the loss of neurons and potentially restore some of the neurons that have already been lost. However, these trophic molecules are large making them difficult to produce and delivery. Here we characterize three peptides (DNSP-5, DNSP-11, and DNSP-17) to determine it they …

Mechanistic Basis For Atrial And Ventricular Arrhythmias Caused By Kcnq1 Mutations, Daniel C. Bartos

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Cardiac arrhythmias are caused by a disruption of the normal initiation or propagation of electrical impulses in the heart. Hundreds of mutations in genes encoding ion channels or ion channel regulatory proteins are linked to congenital arrhythmia syndromes that increase the risk for sudden cardiac death. This dissertation focuses on how mutations in a gene (KCNQ1) that encodes a voltage-gated K⁺ ion channel (Kv7.1) can disrupt proper channel function and lead to abnormal repolarization of atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes.

In the heart, Kv7.1 coassembles with a regulatory protein to conduct the slowly activating delayed rectifier K^{+ …}

Adherence To Physical Activity Among Individuals With Or Without Cardiovascular Disease, Zyad T. Saleh

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major public health problem and a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Regular physical activity is recommended for prevention and management of CVD. Despite the cardiovascular health benefits of physical activity most adults are physically inactive. Therefore, the aim of this dissertation was to examine the factors associated with adherence to physical activity among individuals with or without CVD.

The first paper is a report of a study conducted to examine which baseline demographic (age, gender, marital status, socioeconomic status, and place of residency), psychosocial (social support, depression, anxiety, and fatalism), …

Diet-Induced Obesity: Dopaminergic And Behavioral Mechanisms As Outcomes And Predictors, Vidya Narayanaswami

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Obesity and drug abuse share common neural circuitries including the mesocoticolimbic and striatal dopamine reward system. In the current study, a rat model of diet-induced obesity (DIO) was used to determine striatal dopamine function, impulsivity and motivation as neurobehavioral outcomes and predictors of obesity. For the outcome study, rats were randomly assigned a high-fat (HF) or a low-fat (LF) diet for 8 wk. Following the 8-wk HF-diet exposure, rats were segregated into obesity-prone and obesity-resistant groups based on maximum and minimum body weight gain, respectively, and neurobehavioral outcomes were evaluated. For the predictor study, neurobehavioral antecedents were evaluated prior to …

Chondrodysplasia-Like Dwarfism In The Miniature Horse, John E. Eberth

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Dwarfism is considered one of the most recognized congenital defects of animals and humans and can be hereditary or sporadic in cause and expression. There are two general morphologic categories within this vastly diverse disease. These categories are disproportionate and proportionate dwarfism and within each of these there are numerous phenotypes which have been extensively described in humans, and to a lesser extent in dogs, cattle, mice, chickens, and other domestic species. Ponies and Miniature horses largely differ from full size horses only by their stature. Ponies are often defined as those whose height is not greater than 14.2 hands; …

Austrian Syndrome: Triad Of The Past Or Harbinger Of The Future?, Mira Mitry Md, Suzanne J. Templer Do, Stacey Smith Md, Facp, Eugene P. York Md, Facp

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Variceal Bleeding From Cirrhosis: A Clinical Review Of Causes And Pharmacotherapy Options, Hillary Aphaisuwan, Ibrahim Lala, Laura Tsu

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

This home-study CPE activity has been developed to educate pharmacists on the prevention and treatment of hemorrhagic esophageal varices resulting from cirrhosis.

Osteogenic And Antimicrobial Nanoparticulate Calcium Phosphate And Poly-(D, L-Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Powders For The Treatment Of Osteomyelitis, Vuk Uskoković, Charles Hoover, Marija Vukomanović, Dragan P. Uskoković, Tejal A. Dasai, Charles Hoover, Marija Vukomanović, Dragan P. Uskoković, Tejal A. Dasai

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Development of a material for simultaneous sustained and localized delivery of antibiotics and induction of spontaneous regeneration of hard tissues affected by osteomyelitis stands for an important clinical need. In this work, a comparative analysis of the bacterial and osteoblastic cell response to two different nanoparticulate carriers of clindamycin, an antibiotic commonly prescribed in the treatment of bone infection, one composed of calcium phosphate and the other comprising poly-(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)-coated calcium phosphate, was carried out. Three different non-cytotoxic phases of calcium phosphate, exhibiting dissolution and drug release profiles in the range of one week to two months to one year, respectively, …

Kalkidan ('Promise'): Addressing Marital Transmission Of Hiv In Ethiopia, Banchiamlack Dessalegn, Annabel Erulkar

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This program brief describes a Population Council initiative in three low-income areas of Ethiopia. Kalkidan (Amharic for “Promise”) is a three-year program designed to increase discussion and information-sharing on HIV and related topics between marital partners; to promote HIV prevention and health service utilization within marriage, including prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV; and to build husbands’ support of their wives, as well as investment in their health and that of their children. Kalkidan recruits and trains community-based mentors to lead parallel discussion groups of husbands and wives, who periodically come together for joint sessions. The Population Council is …

Growing Up In Rural India: An Exploration Into The Lives Of Younger And Older Adolescents In Madhya Pradesh And Uttar Pradesh, K.G. Santhya, Shireen J. Jejeebhoy, Iram Saeed, Archana Sarkar

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This technical report describes the situation of adolescents according to a baseline assessment conducted in selected villages in India. The objectives of the assessment were to explore the attitudes, practices, and behaviors of adolescent girls, their adolescent brothers and if married, their husbands, with regard to sexual and reproductive matters, including HIV; their perspectives on adolescent girls’ and boys’ vulnerability to HIV and ways in which it can be mitigated; and the perspectives of parents and other critical adults in the community on the vulnerability of adolescent girls and boys to HIV. Results will be used to: (1) enhance adolescent …

The Effectiveness Of Educational Support To Orphans And Vulnerable Children In Tanzania And Uganda, Mary Shann, Malcolm Bryant, Mohamad Brooks, Paul Bukuluki, Denis Muhangi, Joe Lugalla, Gideon Kwesigabo

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Little evidence is available to assist policy makers and donors in deciding what kinds of programs in developing countries are more likely to be effective in supporting the entry and continuation of OVC in secondary schools. This is particularly important for females whose education has direct bearing on child mortality in the next generation. This study gathered four kinds of educational outcome measures in two East African countries ravaged by the AIDS/HIV pandemic. The goal was to determine whether direct scholarship aid to individual students versus various forms of block grants would be more effective in promoting lower rates of …

Initial Survey On Black-Spot Disease (Digenea: Strigeoidea: Diplostomidae) In Select Arkansas Fishes, C. T. Mcallister, R. Tumlison, H. W. Robison, S. E. Trauth

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Lifestyle Factors, Medication Use And Risk For Ischaemic Heart Disease Hospitalisation: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study, Anthony S. Gunnell, K Einarsdottir, Daniel A. Galvao, S Joyce, S Tomlin, Vicki J. Graham, Caroline Mcintyre, Robert U. Newton, T Briffa

Research outputs 2013

Background:Lifestyle factors have been implicated in ischaemic heart disease (IHD) development however a limited number of longitudinal studies report results stratified by cardio-protective medication use.Purpose:This study investigated the influence of self-reported lifestyle factors on hospitalisation for IHD, stratified by blood pressure and/or lipid-lowering therapy.Methods:A population-based cohort of 14,890 participants aged 45+ years and IHD-free was identified from the Western Australian Health and wellbeing Surveillance System (2004 to 2010 inclusive), and linked with hospital administrative data. Adjusted hazard ratios for future IHD-hospitalisation were estimated using Cox regression.Results:Current smokers remained at higher risk for IHD-hospitalisation (adjusted HR=1.57; 95% CI: 1.22-2.03) after adjustment …

Review Of Ear Health And Hearing Among Indigenous Australians, Jane F. Burns, Neil J. Thomson

Research outputs 2013

Indigenous Australians experience some of the highest levels of ear disease and hearing loss in the world, with rates up to ten times more than those for non-Indigenous Australians [4]. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to ear infections. The most common ear disease among Indigenous children is otitis media (OM), which is inflammation/infection of the middle ear typically caused by bacterial and viral pathogens. Indigenous children living in urban, rural and, particularly, remote areas, are more likely than their non-Indigenous counterparts to have OM at younger ages, more often, at a greater level of severity, and with more likelihood …

Epidemiology Of Hospital Acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus In A Veterans Affairs Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Unit: Fiscal Years 2008-2011, Rebecca B. Stone

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this retrospective case-control study was to assess risk factors contributing to hospital acquired methicillin Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) and gain a better understanding of the burden of HA-MRSA infection in patients with spinal cord injuries. The study was also conducted to see if new information would be found on HA-MRSA infections and validate or refute current research for patients in a dedicated spinal cord injury unit at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. During the study period, the infection control department identified 95 cases of HA-MRSA. Additional data retrospectively collected were basic demographics, admitting diagnosis, presence of varying comorbidities, …

A Machine Learning Approach To Diagnosis Of Parkinson’S Disease, Sumaiya F. Hashmi

CMC Senior Theses

I will investigate applications of machine learning algorithms to medical data, adaptations of differences in data collection, and the use of ensemble techniques.

Focusing on the binary classification problem of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) diagnosis, I will apply machine learning algorithms to a primary dataset consisting of voice recordings from healthy and PD subjects. Specifically, I will use Artificial Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines, and an Ensemble Learning algorithm to reproduce results from [MS12] and [GM09].

Next, I will adapt a secondary regression dataset of PD recordings and combine it with the primary binary classification dataset, testing various techniques to consolidate …

A Review Of Comparison Of Complications Of Vaginal Hysterectomy With And Without Concomitant Surgery For Sui: A 5 Years’ Experience At A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Pakistan, Raheela Mohsin Rizvi, Munnazza Akhtar, Nadeem F. Zuberi

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Objective. The study was performed to review the complications of surgery for POP with or without surgery for SUI. This included the need for second procedure two years after the primary surgery. Study Design. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional comparative study at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) was used to identify women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy with anterior/posterior repair alone and those with concomitant tension-free vaginal tape surgery for urodynamic stress incontinence. Results. The 28 cases of VH/repair combined with TVT were compared for complications with 430 cases of VH …

Atlas-Based Analysis Of Cardiac Shape And Function: Correction Of Regional Shape Bias Due To Imaging Protocol For Population Studies, Pau Medrano-Gracia, Brett R. Cowan, David A. Bluemke, J. Paul Finn, Alan H. Kadish, Daniel C. Lee, Alistair A. Young

Office of the President Publications and Research

Background: Cardiovascular imaging studies generate a wealth of data which is typically used only for individual study endpoints. By pooling data from multiple sources, quantitative comparisons can be made of regional wall motion abnormalities between different cohorts, enabling reuse of valuable data. Atlas-based analysis provides precise quantification of shape and motion differences between disease groups and normal subjects. However, subtle shape differences may arise due to differences in imaging protocol between studies.

Methods: A mathematical model describing regional wall motion and shape was used to establish a coordinate system registered to the cardiac anatomy. The atlas was applied …

Is The Use Of Intestinal Helminths Safe And Effective In The Treatment Of Allergic Rhinitis?, Tanner Mccalley

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this EBM review is to determine whether the use of intestinal helminths is safe and effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language, blinded randomized controlled trials from 2009, 2010, and 2010.

DATA SOURCE: Randomized, controlled, blinded trials comparing the use of intestinal helminths versus visually matched placebo as a treatment for allergic rhinitis found using PubMed and Ovid databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Several different systems were used to evaluate the symptoms or occurrence of AR. Bager et al.2010 uses symptom scores of AR scale of 0 …