Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Sart Influences Sars Expression In Staphylococcus Aureus, Katherine A. Schmidt, Adhar C. Manna, Ambrose L. Cheung

Dartmouth Scholarship

Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive pathogen that is capable of expressing a variety of virulence proteins in response to environmental signals. Virulence protein expression in S. aureus is controlled by a network of regulatory loci including sarA and agr. The sarA/agr network is associated with the expression of cell wall-associated adhesins during exponential growth and the expression of secreted enzymes and toxins in the transition to post-exponential growth. A number of sarA homologs, including sarT and sarS, have been identified in the S. aureus genome. Previous studies have shown that sarA influences expression of both sarT and sarS in the …

Laparoscopic Appendicectomy At The Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi, S. C. Patel, G. F. Jumba, S. Akmal

General Surgery, East Africa

Objective: To evaluate our experience of laparoscopic appendicectomy at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi over a six year period from the inception of the technique and to assess its advantages and disadvantages.

Design: Case series study.

Setting: The Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi.

Patients: One hundred and six cases operated on from May 1996 to June 2002. Main outcome measures: Clinical presentation, age and sex demographics, average hospital stay, operating time, intra-operative and post-operative complications and outcome.

Results: There was a female preponderance with a female to male ratio of 2:3:I. Mean age was 30.6 years. There was a slightly more …

Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Disease In School Children--A Pilot Study., A. K. Khuwaja, Zafar Fatmi, W. B. Soomro, N. K. Khuwaja

Community Health Sciences

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the frequencies of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in school children. The information may help in designing interventions aimed at modifying unhealthy lifestyle in children, which may reduce the later incidence of cardiovascular disease in adults.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 206 students (ages 14-18 years), enrolled in higher secondary school. Students were interviewed about their lifestyles, family history of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. Moreover, they were assessed for height, weight and blood pressure.

RESULTS:

Twenty nine percent of the children were physically inactive, 31% were taking unhealthy diet daily, 21% were overweight …

Spectrum Of Cutaneous Appendage Tumors At Aga Khan University Hospital, N Yaqoob, Z Ahmad, S Muzaffar, M S. Gill, I N. Soomro, S H. Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To determine the frequency of various types of cutaneous appendage tumors in our practice.
Method: This is a partly retrospective and partly prospective study conducted at the Department of Pathology, Histopathology Section, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi between 1st January 1997 and 31st December 2001.
Results: One hundred sixty six skin appendage tumors were diagnosed during the study period. 87.3% were benign, while 12.6% were malignant. Male female ratio was almost equal. Mean age was 41.72 years. 37.34% showed eccrine differentiation, 14.45% showed apocrine differentiation and 41.56% showed pilosebaceous differentiation, 6.62% exhibited mixed differentiation. The 5 commonest tumors …

Radiation Effects On Dopamine-Mediated Prepulse Inhibition In The C57bl/6 Mouse, Cara Nicole Zuccarelli Miller

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study examined the effects of proton and gamma radiation on a dopamine-dependent sensory gating mechanism: prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex. The purpose of this research was to describe potential hazards of proton radiation to the central nervous system in long-term space fight and for proton therapy patients. Results from previous research indicate that startle behavior is modified by proton and iron radiation. Forty-eight 10-½ week old, male C57BL/6 mice were used to characterize the optimal parameters for the model (prepulse duration, probe duration, and stimulus-onset-asynchrony). Three hundred and fifty two mice were used to characterize the time course …

Seek And Ye Shall Find, Vivian Mcalister

Data and Test Instruments

The United States has relaxed its ban on the importation of Canadian meat cuts from cattle less than 30 months of age. Mexico, too, is reopening its borders to Canadian beef.The principal argument Canada has used to reassure its trading partners is that only one older cow, and none of the 2,700 animals with which that cow came into contact, tested positive for mad-cow disease. Meanwhile, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has detailed measures it is taking to prevent mad-cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, "from entering Canada." Surveillance and testing of animals has been increased.But it's folly to try …

Vegf164-Mediated Inflammation Is Required For Pathological, But Not Physiological, Ischemia-Induced Retinal Neovascularization, Susumu Ishida, Tomohiko Usui, Kenji Yamashiro, Yuichi Kaji, Shiro Amano, Yuichiro Ogura, Tetsuo Hida, Yoshihisa Oguchi, Jayakrishna Ambati, Joan W. Miller, Evangelos S. Gragoudas, Yin-Shan Ng, Patricia A. D'Amore, David T. Shima, Anthony P. Adamis

Ophthalmology and Visual Science Faculty Publications

Hypoxia-induced VEGF governs both physiological retinal vascular development and pathological retinal neovascularization. In the current paper, the mechanisms of physiological and pathological neovascularization are compared and contrasted. During pathological neovascularization, both the absolute and relative expression levels for VEGF₁₆₄ increased to a greater degree than during physiological neovascularization. Furthermore, extensive leukocyte adhesion was observed at the leading edge of pathological, but not physiological, neovascularization. When a VEGF₁₆₄-specific neutralizing aptamer was administered, it potently suppressed the leukocyte adhesion and pathological neovascularization, whereas it had little or no effect on physiological neovascularization. In parallel experiments, genetically altered VEGF_{164 …}

External Ankle Stablization: Male High School Basketball Players' Perceptions On Functional Performance, Renae E. Bomar

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure and report athletes' perceptions of the effects an external ankle support has on functional performance, and to gain knowledge ofwhat type of ankle support the athletes choose to wear. Design and Setting: A questionnaire containing demographic information and 4 construct areas was designed to focus on assessing high school male basketball players' perception of functional performance while wearing an external ankle support. Survey p~ckets were sent to high school certified athletic trainers (ATCs) to be distributed to each male basketball player. Subjects: Approximately 770 surveys were sent out to ATCs in …

Prevalence Of Overweight In Preschool Children And The Association With Dietary And Lifestyle Factors, Anthony H. Ng

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For the past several decades, there has been a steady increase in obesity in the United States. National surveys indicate that 64% of American adults are overweight or obese and more than 1 0% of preschool children are overweight. This study determined the prevalence of overweight in a group of preschool children aged between three and five years at a Head Start Center and evaluated the relationship of specific lifestyle factors between caregivers and their children and the relationship of these patterns to the development of overweight. The caregivers were asked to complete a questionnaire, which assessed specific dietary and …

Certified Athletic Trainers' Knowledge And Perception Of Professional Preparation Involving Eating Disorders Among Athletes, Emily Jo Reliford

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Context: It was unclear in the current research how Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC) perceived their professional preparation about eating disorders and disordered eating. Objective: To establish how ATCs perceived their professional preparation and educational background in managing eating disorders. Design and Setting: A 42 item web based survey was specifically created for this study and disseminated to certified members of the NATA. Subjects: The survey was disseminated to 14,477 certified NATA members. The response rate was 13.6% (n=l 966) with a mean age 31.87±7.82. Measurements: This survey consisted of an 11 question demographics section, 13 Likert ( 1-7) scale questions, …

Treatment Failure Of Tuberculosis Due To Concomitant Pathology, Z A. Qasim, A R. Sarwari, S M. Jilani

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

No abstract provided.

Peritumoral Cystic Meningioma, Arshad A. Siddiqui, Junaid Asharaf, Ahmed Ali Shah

Section of Neurosurgery

A case of 39 years old male is described who presented with headache, right-sided focal fits and decreased power in the right hand. CT scan brain showed a left fronto-parietal cystic lesion with centrolateral intramural nodule with homogenous enhancement. At surgery, the extra-axial lesion with cyst containing xanthochromic fluid had a well-defined capsule that could easily be separated from the peri-lesional cortical surface. The dural-based nodule with its cyst wall was resected in toto. The histopathology of mural nodule was reported as meningioma while the cyst wall histology revealed meningothelial cells.

Predictors That Affect The Caregiver's Health Status And The Role Of Social Support On The Caregiver's Health Status, Hong Wang

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines whether the caregiver's self-rated health status is affected by the caregiver's demographic characteristics (age, education level, and income), caregiver's stressor (the number of ADL and IADL), mediating variables of the caregiver's appraisal (willingness to help non-family members, level satisfaction with life, and financial burden), of and mediating variable of social support (information and/or advice from other family members or friends). Data were drawn from Chronic Illness and Caregiving, a national telephone survey conducted by Harris Interactive Inc. on behalf of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Johns Hopkins University, and Partnership for Solutions. The sample size of caregivers …

Vital Signs, Fall 2003, Boonshoft School Of Medicine

Vital Signs

A twenty-eight page newsletter created by the Boonshoft School of Medicine to document the current affairs of the school. This issue includes a variety of feature articles, faculty profiles, and more.

Diagnosis Of Pulmonary Embolism With Helical Ct Scan, M U. Usman, V Bari, Javed Yakoob, Murad M. Khan Dr.

Department of Radiology

Objective: To determine the role of helical C.T. scan in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.SETTING: Radiology department, Aga Khan University Hospital. One year prospective study May 2001 to May 2002.Methods: Sixty patients suspected of having pulmonary embolism were included in this study. Helical C.T. scan chest was performed from aortic arch to lung bases with intravenous contrast medium. Images were acquired in mediastinal and lung windows. Image interpretation was performed on the console and hard copies for main branch and segmental thrombus.Results: Fifteen patients were diagnosed of having pulmonary embolism on C.T. scan. Clinical correlation and follow up with pulmonary …

Isolated Congenital Bilateral Absence Of Vas Deferens (Cbavd): A Rare Anomaly And Diagnostic Dilemma, M Moazzam, Syed Raziuddin Biyabani, C K. Jadoon

Section of Urology

No abstract provided.

What Is Wrong With Medical Audit?, J H. Rizvi

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

No abstract provided.

Ccr5 Mediates Specific Migration Of Toxoplasma Gondii—Primed Cd8+ Lymphocytes To Inflammatory Intestinal Epithelial Cells, Souphalone Luangsay, Lloyd H. Kasper, Nicolas Rachinel, Laurie A. Minns

Dartmouth Scholarship

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite, can invade intestinal epithelial cells and elicit a robust Th1 immune response. In this model of intestinal inflammation, CD8⁺ intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) secrete transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, which appears necessary for the maintenance of homeostasis in the intestine. However, the mechanism responsible for the IEL migration to the inflamed intestine is still unclear.An in vitro coculture cell system was used to quantify the IEL attraction by an infected intestinal epithelial cell line (m-IC_cl2). We used CCR5-deficient mice to determine which chemokine receptor—chemokine interaction could be responsible for the recruitment of …

Genetic Polymorphisms Of The Interleukin-1 Gene And Early Marginal Bone Loss Around Endosseous Dental Implants, Hitomi Shimpuku, Yasuhiro Nosaka, Tatsuya Kawamura, Yoichi Tachi, Mitsuko Shinohara, Kiyoshi Ohura

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dental implant surgery commonly proceeds in two stages. It is generally accepted that bone loss around implants does not occur at stage-II surgery because implants do not receive mechanical loading. However, early marginal bone loss around implants occasionally does occur during the healing period. Genetic polymorphisms in the interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene have been reported to be important for bone homeostasis and susceptibility to bone disease. We therefore investigated whether the idiopathic early marginal bone loss around implants is related to polymorphisms in the IL-1 gene. We performed a case-control study. Patients demonstrating marginal bone loss around implants at stage-II surgery …

Medical Education Digest, Vol. 5 No. 4 (July 15, 2003), Nova Southeastern University

Medical Education Digest

No abstract provided.

Adjusting For Non-Ignorable Verification Bias In Clinical Studies For Alzheimer’S Disease, Xiao-Hua Zhou, Pete Castelluccio

UW Biostatistics Working Paper Series

A common problem for comparing the relative accuracy of two screening tests for Alzheimer’s disease (D) in a two-stage design study is verification bias. If the verification bias can be assumed to be ignorable, Zhou and Higgs (2000) have proposed a maximum likelihood approach to compare the relative accuracy of screening tests in a two-stage design study. However, if the verification mechanism also depends on the unobserved disease status, the ignorable assumption does not hold. In this paper, we discuss how to use a profile likelihood approach to compare the relative accuracy of two screening tests for AD without assuming …

Use Of In Vivo-Induced Antigen Technology (Iviat) To Identify Genes Uniquely Expressed During Human Infection With Vibrio Cholerae, Long Hang, Manohar John, Muhammad Asaduzzaman, Emily A. Bridges, Cecily Vanderspurt, Thomas J. Kirn, Ronald K. Taylor

Dartmouth Scholarship

In vivo-induced antigen technology is a method to identify proteins expressed by pathogenic bacteria during human infection. Sera from 10 patients convalescing from cholera infection in Bangladesh were pooled, adsorbed against in vitro-grown El Tor Vibrio cholerae O1, and used to probe a genomic expression library in Escherichia coli constructed from El Tor V. cholerae O1 strain N16961. We identified 38 positive clones in the screen, encoding pili (PilA and TcpA), cell membrane proteins (PilQ, MshO, MshP, and CapK), methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins, chemotaxis and motility proteins (CheA and CheR), a quorum-sensing protein (LuxP), and four hypothetical proteins. Analysis of immune …

Com Outlook Summer 2003, College Of Osteopathic Medicine

COM Outlook

No abstract provided.

Compromised Constitutions: The Iranian Experience With The 1918 Influenza Pandemic., Amir Afkhami

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Faculty Publications

The global demographic impact of the 1918-19 influenza pandemic continues to fascinate researchers and scholars. This paper examines the social and demographic effects of this outbreak on Iranian society, through a comprehensive investigation of the modes of transmission and propagation, mortality rates, and other distinctive features of the region, and reveals the importance of taking a country's unique sociopolitical settings into account. Iran was one of the regions hit hardest by the pandemic, with mortality rates significantly higher than in most regions of the world. Though globally the victims of influenza lived primarily in urban areas, it was Iran's rural …

Tuberculosis Diagnosis And Treatment Practices Of Private Physicians In Karachi, Pakistan, J Khan, A Malik, H Hussain, N K. Ali, F Akbani, S J. Hussain, G N. Kazi, S F. Hussain

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

In a densely populated urban area of Karachi, Pakistan, a questionnaire survey was made of the knowledge and practices of 120 private general practitioners about the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB). The majority knew that cough, fever and weight loss were the main symptoms of TB, but less than half knew that blood in sputum, poor appetite and chest pain were associated with the disease. Only 58.3% of physicians used sputum microscopy for diagnosing TB and 35.0% used it as a follow-up test. Only 41.7% treated TB patients themselves, the remaining referring their patients to specialists. Around 73.3% of …

Psychosocial Stress And Cervical Neoplasia Risk, Ann L. Coker, Sharon M. Bond, Margaret M. Madeleine, Kathryn J. Luchok, Lucia Pirisi

CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the association between psychosocial stress and preinvasive cervical neoplasia development controlling for HR-HPV infection.

METHODS: This case-control study enrolled low-income women receiving family planning services at health department clinics. There were 59 cases with biopsy confirmed HSIL and 163 with low-grade SIL and 160 controls with normal cervical cytology. A modified SLE scale was used to measure stressful events and the perceived impact of the event in the prior 5 years. Unconditional logistic regression was used to assess SIL risk and stressful events scores and by subscales.

RESULTS: After adjusting for age, HR-HPV infection, and lifetime number …

Oncolog, Volume 48, Number 07/08, July/August 2003, Ann Sutton, Karen Stuyck, Gayle Nesom

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• Researchers Explore Possible Applications of Nanotechnology in Cancer Treatment
• Sharing the Burden: Palliative Care Team Helps Patients, Families Through Difficult Times
• UPDATE: Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) Nearing Completion Recruitment Efforts Focus on Women in Minority, Medically Underserved Populations
• House Call: Getting the Best Treatment

Digest Of The Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine (Fall 2003), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Digest

The Fall 2003 issue of the Digest of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine includes the following articles:

• Opening Remarks
• PCOM Updates
• The Doctor is out!
• Cover Story: Taking a Closer Look at Forensic Medicine
• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Research Center
• Class Notes
• Computer Age Meets Office Hours…The Doctor is a Click Away
• In Memoriam
• My Turn
• Andrew Taylor Still Legacy Society
• PCOM Events

Adolescent Violence Prevention: A Case Presentation, Hatim A. Omar, Joan Griffith

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Violence in adolescence has seen an increase since the 1990s with dramatic statistics on violent death and risk behaviors. School violence has been focused upon by a huge media coverage of especially violent cases that could have had some endemic consequences worldwide. We present a case of a 14 year old white male with change in school behavior, strategies for the case investigation, its results, and long term prevention. Other research has shown that preventive measures during pregnancy, infancy and childhood can prevent adolescent and adult delinquency.

Homeland (In)Security : Roots And Displacement, From New York, To Toronto, To Salt Lake City, Marusya Bociurkiw

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

[First paragraph]

On September 11, 2001, broadcast and print media around the world narrated the destruction of New York City's World Trade Center and the deaths of thousands of its occupants. This paper will examine the ways in which television and its appendages (the telephone, the internet, the newspaper) operated to organize the discursive meanings of this traumatic event. I will propose that between September 11 and February 2002's Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, ideas about home, roots and rootedness (and their Others: foreignness, homelessness, nomadicism) operated as a discursive mapping of that which could otherwise not be …