Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Characterization Of A Hyperthermophilic Redox Protein, Rubredoxin, As A Potential Targeted Cancer Therapeutic, Siri Lakshmi Chirumamilla

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Cancer is an elusive neoplastic disease that claims the lives of many people around the world every year. Though treatments have become more specific to the different types of cancer, the need remains for antineoplastic drugs that target cancer cells and leave normal cells unharmed, with little to no systemic toxicity. The search for a targeted cancer therapeutic is necessary and urgent, and Pyrococcus furiosus rubredoxin might be such a tool. Rubredoxin is a small (53 amino acids), water soluble, non-heme iron electron transfer protein that contains an iron atom cofactor bound by the sulfurs of four cysteine residues, which …

Is Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Of High-Risk Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (All) Patients More Effective In Preventing Future Relapses Of Disease And/ Or Mortality In Comparison With Chemotherapeutic Regimens Alone?, Patricia A. Ajizadeh

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not allogeneic SCT of HR pediatric ALL patients is more effective in preventing future relapses of disease and/or mortality in comparison with chemotherapeutic regimens alone.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled trial studies published between 1996 and the present.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized controlled trial studies were found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Each of the three studies evaluated the incidence of recurrent disease and/or mortality in high-risk pediatric ALL patients. These outcomes were analyzed according to the following categories: duration of event-free survival …

Is Intravenous Ramosetron 0.3 Mg Effective In The Prevention Of Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting In Women Undergoing Gynecologic Surgery?, Keith S. Elsner

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not intravenous ramosetron 0.3 mg is effective in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in women undergoing gynecologic surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary research articles published later than 1995.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trials comparing intravenous ramosetron to placebo or other control groups were identified using Ovid MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Measured outcomes include a complete response to the intervention within the first 24-48 hours, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, need for rescue antiemetic, …

Does The Use Of Intravenous Zoledronic Acid, In Combination With Chemotherapy Regimens, Arrest The Development And Spread Of Cancer Cells To Increase Disease-Free Survival In Breast Cancer Patients?, Dara Colasurdo

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does the use of intravenous zoledronic acid, in combination with chemotherapy regimens, arrest the development and spread of cancer cells to increase disease-free survival in breast cancer patients.“

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled trials published between 2009 and 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized controlled trials and open label, randomized, phase 2 trial comparing the use of zoledronic acid in combination with chemotherapy to the use of chemotherapy alone were found using Medline/PubMed and Cochrane Databases

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured were incidence …

Is Aspirin Effective In Helping To Prevent Breast Cancer In Women Ages 45 Years And Older?, Kristen M. Quartuccio

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not aspirin is effective in helping to prevent breast cancer in women ages 45 years and older.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies published in 2005, 2007, and 2008

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trials and one prospective, population based cohort study comparing aspirin to placebo were found using PubMed and Cochrane databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Breast cancer development was measured in several ways. Tumor characteristics were measured at diagnosis, including size, metastasis to lymph nodes, histology of the mass, histology …

Is Etanercept A Safe And Effective Treatment For Ankylosing Spondylitis?, Robyn M. Albert

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not etanercept is a safe and effective treatment for ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Study Design: Review of three English language randomized control trials published in 2007, 2008, and 2010.

Data Sources: Two double-blind placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials and one placebo-controlled randomized control trial comparing etanercept to placebo were found using PubMed.

Outcomes Measured: Work instability was measured through the Ankylosing Spondylitis Work Instability Scale (AS-WIS) based on scores of 1-20. Quality of life was measured through the EuroQOL-5D (EQ-5D), which assesses mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. …

Is The Use Of Apixaban Or Enoxaparin, More Effective In The Prophylaxis Of Venous Thromboembolism Post-Orthopedic Surgery?, Jolene Bohensky

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the use of Apixaban or Enoxaparin is more effective in the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism post-orthopedic surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials from 2009-2010.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized, double-blind placebo controlled, clinical trials comparing the effectiveness of Apixaban and Enoxaparin in the prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) post-orthopedic surgery were found using PubMed, the Cochrane Database of Randomized Controlled Trials, and the Cochrane Databases of Systematic Reviews.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) post-orthopedic surgery including Total …

Is Weight Lifting Effective In Reducing Lymphedema In Breast Cancer Survivors?, Diana Petrucello

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not weight lifting is effective in reducing lymphedema in breast cancer survivors.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three English language primary studies published in 2009 and 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Three single blind, randomized controlled trials comparing progressive weight lifting and other treatments in breast cancer survivors were found using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Incidence of breast cancer-related lymphedema onset measured by blinded certified lymphedema therapists using a standardized clinical evaluation derived from the Common Toxicity Criteria version 3.0, comprising of interlimb …

Is There A Benefit To Suturing Vs. Stapling In Cesarean Section Closure When Comparing Postoperative Pain And Patient Satisfaction?, Jennifer Pilchman

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE:The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not there is a benefit to suturing vs stapling in cesarean section closure when comparing postoperative pain and patient satisfaction.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies published in 2009 and 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing the surgical closures for cesarean section delivery. All RCTs were found by the author using MEDLINE, PUBMED, and COCHRANE databases. They are all published articles written in English.

OUTCOME MEASURED: Outcomes were measured by assessing patient satisfaction, postoperative pain, cosmetic appearance and wound complications. Rousseau …

Will The Use Of Fiber Be As Effective As Laxatives In Relieving Constipation In The Geriatric Population?, Saunders Batunkyi

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the use of fiber can be as effective as laxatives in relieving constipation in the geriatric population.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three journals published in English in peer-reviewed journals.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized controlled trials and one parallel interventional trial investigating the effectiveness of supplemental dietary fiber in managing constipation in elderly populations that are presently reliant on prescription laxatives.

OUTCOMES (S) MEASURED: The outcomes were measured by the frequency of defecation, ease of bowel movement, patient discomfort, patient well being, and undesired effects …

Does Reiki Therapy Decrease Pain During Chemotherapy And Radiation Treatment In Patients With Gynecological And Breast Cancer?, Samantha L. Ciaccia

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Reiki therapy decreases pain during chemotherapy and radiation treatment in patients with gynecological and breast cancer.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two randomized control trials and one randomized prospective cross-over study published in 2003, 2004, and 2011.

DATA SOURCES: One double blind randomized control trial, one 2-arm single blind randomized control trial and one randomized, prospective, 2-period crossover intervention study comparing Reiki therapy to placebo. Articles were found using PubMed and Medline.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Pain by BPI (brief pain inventory linear analog scale), SF-36 questionnaire, …