Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Is Parathyroid Hormone (Pth) Replacement Therapy Effective In Treating Patients With Hypoparathyroidism?, Kaidden G. Kelly

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) replacement therapy an effective treatment for patients with hypoparathyroidism?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of a randomized control trial published in 2011, a prospective cohort study published in 2013, and a randomized crossover study published in 2012.

DATA SOURCES: All articles used were published in English, and were found in peer-reviewed journals using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The need to remove supplemental calcium from the diet, the amount PTH was used to maintain a normal range, and the method of PTH …

Developing A Model System To Study The Mechanisms Of Resveratrol Inhibition Of Ar-V7 Transcriptional Activity, Sarah R. Wilson

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Prostate cancer is one of the biggest threats to men’s health in the western world and it accounts for the second largest number of male cancer-related deaths in the United States. It is well established that prostate cancer cells depend on the androgen/androgen receptor pathway. Therefore, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has become the primary treatment option for prostate cancer. Patients with metastatic prostate cancer who receive (ADT) have shown increased quality of life. However, survival benefit with ADT is reduced dramatically in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Androgen receptor (AR) continues to be functional in CRPC through various mechanisms. It is …

Mass Culturing Soil Bacteria From Radium Springs And Analysis Of Antibiotic Activity, Amanda Nguyen

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Antibiotics have become a regularity in human life. Discovered accidentally, they proved to be vital to public health. Since then, they have become integrated into a variety of widely used products such as detergents, soaps, and clothes. Unfortunately, the overuse of antibiotics as a precautionary tool for the betterment of public health has led to an era in which bacterial strains have evolved resistance and antibiotics are becoming increasingly useless. For example, Enterococcus faecalis, one of six ESKAPE pathogens prevalent in nosocomial infections, is commonly found in the GI tract, but frequently causes infections leading to endocarditis, urinary tract infections, …

Effects Of Nox-1 Inhibition On Real-Time Blood Nitric Oxide And Hydrogen Peroxide In Acute Hyperglycemia, Ashley Mawhinney

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Hyperglycemia has been associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction in part by a reduction in nitric oxide (NO) production and increased oxidative stress (e.g., increased superoxide (SO) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Endothelial-derived NO can be significantly reduced by increased SO/H₂O₂ in part by the activation of NADPH oxidase during hyperglycemia. Of the 7 NADPH oxidase isoforms, NADPH oxidase isoform 1 (NOX1) is mainly expressed in the vasculature and may play a major role in hyperglycemia induced oxidative stress and vascular endothelial dysfunction. This hypothesis was tested by measuring blood NO and H2O2 levels in …

The Relationship Of Chlamydia Antigen, Ad-Like Pathology, And Inflammation In The Brains Of Intranasally Infected Balb/C Mice, Brittany L. Kane

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Alzheimer's' Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects millions of elderly individuals in the western world. There are two forms of AD, sporadic late-onset AD and Familial AD. The neuropathy seen in both cases of AD is the same; neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) that are composed of modified tau protein, and neuritic senile plaques (NSPs) composed of deposited beta amyloid peptide. The objective of this study is to continue to investigate the role of infection as a possible risk factor for sporadic AD. Previous mouse models using Chlamydia pneumoniae demonstrated that intranasal inoculation with this organism induced AD-like pathology …

Effects Of Hormonal Withdrawal On Prostate Cancer Progression, Jacqueline Chakrya So

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Prostate cancer, or prostatic carcinoma (PrCa), is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in the Western world. One in seven men are expected to be diagnosed with the disease in the United States. Suppressing androgen/androgen receptor pathway is a first-line therapeutic treatment known as Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT). Most patients respond well to ADT, but an overwhelming majority of PrCa progress to an advanced stage of PrCa independent of hormone, known as Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC). There is currently no known cure for CRPC. In this study, the androgensensitive LNCaP cells served as an in vitro …

Is Brimonidine Tartrate Gel .5% Effective In Reducing Facial Erythema Of Rosacea?, Meeta Aggarwal

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) review is to determine whether or not “Is Brimonidine Tartrate gel 0.5% effective in reducing facial erythema of Rosacea?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two randomized controlled trials (RCT), and one 1-year longitudinal open-label study.

DATA SOURCES: All studies were published in peer-reviewed journals found via the use of PubMed or Medline.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Patients were divided into two groups: those who received the Brimonidine Tartrate gel and those who received the vehicle (placebo) gel. Efficacy of Brimonidine tartrate gel was compared to the efficacy of the vehicle gel. Outcomes were …

Does Routine Use Of Medical Cannabis (Marijuana) Decrease The Intensity Of Chronic Neuropathic Pain In Adults?, Ben Arpin

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM was to investigate the question, “Does routine use of medical cannabis (marijuana) decrease the intensity of neuropathic chronic pain in adults?

STUDY DESIGN: systematic review of 3 English language primary studies, published between 2005 and 2009.

DATA SOURCES: Three Randomized Controlled Trials (RTC’s) published on or after 2005 were selected based on their relevance to the proposed question via PubMed. All three RTC’s compared cannabis use vs. placebo for chronic neuropathic pain, with two RTC’s focusing on HIV neuropathic pain and the third focusing on MS.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured in these …

Does Nebulized Hypertonic Saline Solution Decrease Hospital Admission Rates When Compared To Nebulized Normal Saline In Children Less Than Or Equal To 24 Months Old With Bronchiolitis?, Korie Alecxih

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not nebulized hypertonic saline solution reduces hospital admission rates when compared to nebulized normal saline solution in children less than or equal to 24 months of age diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis in the emergency department setting.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trials in the English language all published in 2014.

DATA SOURCES: Data sources obtained for this review were articles published in peerreviewed journals found using PubMed Database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome measured was hospital admission rate. Hospital admission rate is calculated …

Is Viscosupplementation Effective In Reducing Osteoarthritis Knee Pain?, Amalia Antonoplos

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not viscosupplementation is effective in reducing osteoarthritis knee pain

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three randomized, double blind, placebo control trials between 2009- 2010

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized, double blind, placebo control trials were found via PubMed and NCBI

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Each randomized control trial measured knee pain and/or patient satisfaction following their intervention (placebo or hyaluronic acid) in patients with knee osteoarthritis, which was measured via WOMAC pain scale and patient global assessment forms.

RESULTS: (P<0.05) for change in pain at 14-26 weeks after injection (NNT=6- 8 for Chevalier et al and 4 for Kul-Panza & Berker). Patient satisfaction was higher in the experimental groups as compared to the control with conclusions of NNT between 11 and 20 for Chevalier et al and Kul-Panza & Berker respectively. Chavelier et al found adverse events such as arthralgias and joint effusion in <10% of their study population (NNH=39). No dichotomous data was presented in Diacoglu et al; however an ANOVA was deemed statistically significant (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Review of these articles concludes that the use of hyaluronic …

Is Laser Therapy An Effective Alternative Treatment For Women With Fibromyalgia?, Michelle B. Astrove

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not, “Is the use of laser therapy an effective alternative treatment for women with fibromyalgia?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies, published between 2002 and 2013.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were found using Cochrane Systematic Reviews. These studies analyzed the effectiveness of laser therapy in women with fibromyalgia.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Main outcomes measured were improvement in pain, number of tender points, muscular spasm, skinfold tenderness, sleep disturbance, fatigue and morning stiffness measured by an ordinal likert scale, Pain and FM impact …

Is Topical Phenytoin Effective In Healing Diabetic Foot Ulcers In Patients Over Age 18?, Jordan Byrd

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not topical phenytoin is effective in healing diabetic foot ulcers in patients over age 18.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials, published in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials comparing the effectiveness of topical phenytoin to placebo in healing diabetic foot ulcers. Data sources found using PubMed and Google Scholar.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Greater than 50% reduction in ulcer area measured via graph paper tracings and area reduction calculations, discontinuation of slough and discharge from ulcers via blind observer decision, complete …

Does Oral Gabapentin Administered Prior To Scheduled Cesarean Delivery Decrease Pain With Movement In Adult Women At 24 Hours As Compared To Placebo?, Ashley E. Boller

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective evidence based medicine review is to determine whether or not oral gabapentin administered prior to scheduled cesarean delivery decreases pain with movement in adult women at 24 hours postpartum as compared to placebo.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language, peer-reviewed, primary studies published after 2000.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized, placebo-controlled trials comparing the efficacy of oral gabapentin to a lactose placebo in adult women undergoing elective cesarean delivery. Sources were selected from PubMed, Medline, Ovid, and the Cochrane Database to include all studies matching the keywords that were published in peer-reviewed, English language …

Are Statins An Effective Treatment In Men With Erectile Dysfunction?, Kelsey Caton

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not HMG-CoA Inhibitors (Statins) are an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED).

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three English language randomized controlled trials published between 2011-2013.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials published in peer-reviewed journals comparing the effects of statins on erectile function found using the PubMed database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured included erectile function, assessed using the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction Questionnaire (IIEF) in all three studies and Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT) in one study, and male ED-quality of life using the MED-QoL …

Is Glyceryl Trinitrate An Effective Treatment For Reducing Visibility Of Anal Fissures In Patients Without Heart Disease Compared To Placebo?, Christopher Deneault

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not topical glyceryl trinitrate is an effective treatment for reducing visibility of anal fissures in patients without heart disease compared to placebo.

STUDY DESIGN: Evidence based review of three randomized controlled trials published in 1999, 2001, and 2007.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials each evaluating the effectiveness of topical glyceryl trinitrate in the treatment of anal fissure, published in the English language, and containing exclusion criteria disqualifying participants with a history of heart disease.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Healing was measured via visibility of fissure through examination and structured …

Is Enbrel (Etanercept) Safe And Effective In Treating Patients With Sciatic Nerve Pain Resulting From Lumbar Disc Herniation Or Spinal Stenosis?, Abigail Lee Ferry

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Enbrel (etanercept) is safe and effective in treating patients with sciatic nerve pain resulting from lumbar disc herniation or spinal stenosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled trials from 2012- 2013.

DATA SOURCES: One triple-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, one double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, and one prospective randomized clinical trial were found using PubMed. These studies compared treatment with etanercept to treatment with saline and steroids (dexamethasone or methylprednisolone).

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Clinical outcomes of leg and back pain were measured using …

What Is The Efficacy Of Peppermint Oil In Reducing The Symptoms And Improving The Quality Of Life In Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Ibs)?, Danielle Farnell

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not peppermint oil reduces the symptoms and improves the quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trials were used in this review. The articles were found on PubMed, and selected based on outcomes measured and relevance to the objective.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured were based on Quality of life and Reduction in Symptoms. Quality of life was measured using the Persian translation of the SF-6 form for assessment of quality of life before …

Is Aprepitant Effective In Preventing Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting?, Rebeccah M. Gomberg

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not aprepitant is effective in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled trials from 2012-2014.

DATA SOURCES: Three double-blind, randomized controlled trials comparing oral aprepitant with placebo. All articles were found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The three studies measured nausea severity using a verbal rating system and number of episodes of nausea and vomiting recorded by a blinded study investigator.

RESULTS: Vallejo et al found that 29.7% of the patients in the placebo group vomited compared to 9.3% of …

Is Botulinum Toxin A Safe And Effective For The Treatment Of Trigeminal Neuralgia In Adults?, Bryan Frank

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this evidence based medicine review is to determine whether or not Botulinum Toxin A is safe and effective for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia in adults.

STUDY DESIGN: Three double blind, randomized controlled trials were reviewed and selected based on their relevance to the clinical question and their inclusion of patient oriented outcomes (POEMS).

DATA SOURCES: Each study was obtained by searching NCBI and PubMed database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes were measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Quality of Life (QoL), Patient Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC), Last Observation Carried Forward (LOCF), and detected …

Is A Vitamin Supplement Effective In Treatment Of Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers?, Annalyse Grayson

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this EBM review is to determine whether or not a daily vitamin supplement is effective treatment for recurrent aphthous ulcers.

STUDY DESIGN: A review of 3 randomized control trials. All three trials are in English between 2009-2014.

DATA SOURCES: 3 randomized double blind placebo-controlled parallel-arm single center trials were found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Each of the RCTs measured the efficacy of treatment for RAU in patients with aphthous ulcer outbreaks for at least a year or at least one to three outbreaks a month. This was performed by subjects of the study reporting on efficacy …

Does Temporal Lobe Resection Cure Seizures In Epileptics?, Alyssa Hall

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not temporal lobe resection cures seizures in epileptics.

Study Design: Systematic review of three English language, peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials, published between 2001 and 2012

Data Sources: Two randomized controlled trials comparing temporal lobe resection surgery to antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of epileptic seizures, and one randomized controlled trial comparing 3.5 cm temporal lobe resection to 2.5 cm temporal lobe resection in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Studies were obtained by the author through the PubMed database.

Outcomes Measured: Primary outcome measured by the three studies was …

Is Non-Nutritive Sucking An Effective Method Of Providing Analgesia To Newborns Undergoing Painful Procedures?, Eric B. Hooper

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: “The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not nonnutritive sucking is an effective method of providing analgesia to infants undergoing painful procedures.”

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of three blinded randomized-controlled trials (RCT’s), published from 2011 to 2013. All were published in English, one of which was translated from its original Spanish version to an English publication. DATA

SOURCES: Three RCT’s were found using the PubMed database and all were published in peer-reviewed journals.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The incidence and severity of pain were measured during procedures using the Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) and/or …

Is Safinamide Effective As An Add-On Medication In Treating Parkinson's Disease Motor Symptoms?, Erin E. Kilonsky

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not “Is safinamide effective as an add-on medication in treating Parkinson's disease motor symptoms?”

Study Design: Review of three randomized, controlled studies published in peer reviewed journals in English between 2012-2014.

Data Sources: The three randomized, double-blind clinical trials were found via PubMed and EBSCOhost Web. Articles were selected based on relevance, the date of publication, and whether or not they included patient outcomes.

Outcomes Measured: Among other measures, each trial measured improvement in motor symptoms using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part III (motor) scores, …

Is Yoga An Effective Treatment For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd)?, Marissa Ionna

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is Yoga An Effective Treatment For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?”

Study Design: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in peer reviewed journals between 2010-2014, all English language.

Data Sources: Three randomized controlled trials were found using PubMed.

Outcomes Measured: All three studies measured improvement in PTSD symptoms through yoga therapy using self-reported patient questionnaires, visual analog scales, and vital signs.

Results: Studies by Telles et al. and van der Kolk et al. found that yoga therapy significantly improved symptoms in patients with Post-Traumatic …

Does Music Therapy Reduce Anxiety Levels In End-Stage Renal Disease Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis?, Andrew C. Konopacki

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not music therapy reduces anxiety levels in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic Review of two randomized controlled trials and one crossover study published in English in 2008, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

DATA SOURCES: Two non-blind randomized controlled trials and one cross-over study were found via PubMed and EBSCOhost databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Subjective Anxiety Levels were measured in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis pre and posttest via patient self-reporting. An anxiety level survey graded on a scale of 1-10 was used in the study by …

Is Laser Therapy Effective At Relieving Pain In Adult Patients With Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis?, Kevin Jackson

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not laser therapy is effective at relieving pain in adult patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials published in 2009, 2009, and 2013.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials were obtained using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The symptom of pain was measured for improvement by patient survey of visual analog pain scales.

RESULTS: Prasad et al. (2013), Tezel et al. (2009), and Zand et al. (2009) all demonstrated improvement in a majority of the subjects’ pain relief from treatment with laser …

Is Flibanserin A Safe And Effective Treatment To Increase Sexual Desire In Premenopausal Women With Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder?, Rebecca Lee

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Flibanserin is a safe and effective treatment to increase sexual desire in premenopausal women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three randomized controlled trials published in 2013, 2012, and 2012; selection was based on their relevance to the clinical question and if they contained patient oriented outcomes.

DATA SOURCES: Three peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials comparing the use of Flibanserin to placebo in the treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder were found on PubMed.

OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: For each trial patients were divided into two …

Does Aerobic Exercise During Pregnancy Prevent Cesarean Sections?, Kait Lassen

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not aerobic exercise in pregnant women prevents cesarean sections (“C-sections”).

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two English articles and one English/Portuguese article, two of which were randomized control trials (RCTs) and one was a prospective study, all published after 2011.

DATA SOURCES: Two RCTs and one prospective study found via PubMed and Cochrane Database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The main clinical outcome in all studies measured the incidence of C-section as compared to vaginal delivery. The outcomes were measured by method of delivery which was categorized as either vaginally or …

Does Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Relieve Post-Concussion Symptoms And Improve Quality Of Life?, Kevin (Sung Min) Lee

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not hyperbaric oxygen therapy relieves post-concussion symptoms and improve quality of life.

Study Design: Review of three randomized controlled trials published in English in peer review journals.

Data Sources: Three randomized controlled trials which evaluated the therapeutic benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy compared to control group that did not receive any treatment. All studies were found in PubMed database.

Outcomes Measured: All three studies analyzed the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on quality of life. Rivermead Postconcussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ) and EQ-VAS questionnaire were used to measure …

Is Juvederm Ultra Plus Effective For Treatment Of Nasolabial Fold Wrinkles Over A One Year Period?, Meghan M. Maloney

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this evidence based medicine review is to determine whether or not Juvederm Ultra Plus is effective in treating nasolabial fold wrinkles over a one year period.

Study Design: Three blinded, randomized controlled trials were reviewed and selected based on their relevance to the clinical question and their inclusion of patient oriented outcomes (POEMS).

Data Sources: Each study was obtained by searching Cochrane, PubMed databases, and product package insert.

Outcome Measured: The outcomes measured were improvement in NLF wrinkle on a five point Wrinkle Assessment Scale compared to baseline.

Results: The studies by Lupo et al, Goodman …