Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Parafoveolar Retinoblastoma Regression With Foveal Preservation Following Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy Documented On Hand-Held Optical Coherence Tomography In A Newborn., Vera Yarovaya, Kareem Sioufi, Carol L Shields

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become an invaluable tool in retinoblastoma management, providing submillimeter visualization of tumor control following treatment. Herein, we document OCT-detection of a subtle tumor recurrence, allowing early intervention and achieving foveal microanatomy preservation.

Case presentation: A 3-week-old girl was diagnosed with bilateral familial retinoblastoma, classified as group D in the right eye (OD) and group B in the left eye (OS), and treated with intravenous chemoreduction. At 6-months follow-up, the right eye was under control, but the left eye revealed a subtle juxtafoveal tumor recurrence, documented on handheld OCT (HH-OCT) and measuring 2750 µm in …

A Murine Model For Developmental Dysplasia Of The Hip: Ablation Of Cx3cr1 Affects Acetabular Morphology And Gait., George J. Feldman, Arlene Offemaria, Hind Sawan, Javad Parvizi, Theresa A. Freeman

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a debilitating condition whose distinguishing signs include incomplete formation of the acetabulum leading to dislocation of the femur, accelerated wear of the articular cartilage and joint laxity resulting in osteoarthritis. It is a complex disorder having environmental and genetic causes. Existing techniques fail to detect milder forms of DDH in newborns leading to hip osteoarthritis in young adults. A sensitive, specific and cost effective test would allow identification of newborns that could be non-invasively corrected by the use of a Pavlik harness. Previously, we identified a 2.5 MB candidate region on human …

Successes And Limitations Of Hepatitis C Screening In The Inpatient Setting: Initial Impact Of Pa Act Of 87 (Apha Roundtable Discussion), Madalene Zale, Mph Candidate, Ashley Park, Mph, Francis Nelson, Ms, Priya Mammen, Md, Mph

College of Population Health Lectures, Presentations, Workshops

The Problem:

• Estimated 3.2 million in US with chronic HCV; Baby Boomers 5 times more likely to be infected compared to other cohorts
• Complex nature of HCV requires confirmation of HCV Ab screens to determine management and treatment needs.

Round table held at 2017 Annual APHA meeting in Atlanta, Georgia

Reaching High-Risk Patient Populations Through Emergency Department Opt-Out Hiv Testing: A Retrospective Chart Review, Tyler G. Boyce, Ba, Priya Mammen, Md, Mph

CwiC Posters

Specific Aims and Hypotheses:

This study aimed to identify socioeconomic (SE), sexual, and other risk factors (RFs), among patients diagnosed with HIV infection through an emergency department-based opt-out HIV screening program, and to examine trends in intravenous drug use (IVDU) as a RF.

• H1: Unsafe sexual practices are the most commonly reported RF.
• H2: Role of IVDU as a RF has increased over the time period studied.

Poster presented at 2017 APHA conference in Atlanta Georgia.

Ros Control Mitochondrial Motility Through P38 And The Motor Adaptor Miro/Trak., Valentina Debattisti, Akos A. Gerencser, Masao Saotome, Sudipto Das, György Hajnóczky

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Mitochondrial distribution and motility are recognized as central to many cellular functions, but their regulation by signaling mechanisms remains to be elucidated. Here, we report that reactive oxygen species (ROS), either derived from an extracellular source or intracellularly generated, control mitochondrial distribution and function by dose-dependently, specifically, and reversibly decreasing mitochondrial motility in both rat hippocampal primary cultured neurons and cell lines. ROS decrease motility independently of cytoplasmic [Ca2+], mitochondrial membrane potential, or permeability transition pore opening, known effectors of oxidative stress. However, multiple lines of genetic and pharmacological evidence support that a ROS-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), p38α, is …

Global Health Nursing Imperative: Using Competency-Based Analysis To Strengthen Accountability For Population Based Practice, Education And Research, Lucille B. Pilling, Edd,Mph, Bsn, Rn, M. Harmon, B. Joyce, R. Johnson, V. Hicks, N. Brown-Scott

College of Population Health Lectures, Presentations, Workshops

Learning Objectives:

Discuss the unique challenges of developing a collaborative global nursing workforce.

Compare three sets of competencies for public health nursing.

Analyze the results of the comparison of the three sets of competencies.

Discuss how the analysis can be used to guide community/public health nursing education, practice and research to encompass local, national and global emphasis.

Presentation presented at 2017 AHPA conference in Atlanta Georgia.

Borders And Blood Pressure: Understanding The Role Of Acculturation In A Hypertension Diagnosis Among Hispanic Americans: 2014 California Health Interview Survey, Lia Scalzo, Mph, Hee-Soon Juon, Phd, Msn, Russell K. Mcintire, Phd, Mph

College of Population Health Posters

Background:

In the U.S. Hispanic population overall, heart disease is the leading cause of death. The prevalence of hypertension among Mexican American immigrants is lower than the general population, yet it is on the rise. Health risks among Hispanics vary depending on their length of stay in the US (as proxy measure of acculturation). The purpose of this study was to examine the association between acculturation and the individual's likelihood of being diagnosed with hypertension among Hispanic Americans.

Methods:

We used data from the 2014 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) and performed univariate analysis to examine racial differences in prevalence …

Climate Change And Resulting Floods: Using Social Capital To Strengthen Community Resilience In Eastwick, Philadelphia A Known Floodplain, Natasha Bagwe, Md, Mph, Richard Pepino, Phd, Mss, Erin Johnson, Mph, Msn, Rn, Julie Becker, Phd, Mph

College of Population Health Posters

• Climate change will produce intense weather events like increased precipitation and flooding

• Based on climate projections, Philadelphia will be hotter and wetter, and will experience more frequent and intense weather events (OOS, 2016)

•Floods are the second most common hazards in our city (OEM, 2017)

• Vulnerable population such as children, people of color, elderly population and people with disability are severely impacted by climate change

Poster presented at AHPA conference in Atlanta Georgia, United States.

Post-Pericardiotomy Syndrome Disguised As Fever Of Unknown Origin, Ida Micaily, Md, Bilal Lashari, Md, Aditya Munshi, Md, Zulfiqar Arif, Md

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Introduction:

Post -Pericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) is a clinical diagnosis characterized by fever, pericardial or pleural effusions, and a pericardial friction rub occurring over several days after cardiac surgery.

The infrequency of PPS can cause delay in recognition and management, thus leading to significant morbidity.

We present a case of fever of unknown origin, pericardial and pleural effusion secondary to postpericardiotomy syndrome 10 days after an Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR)

Poster presented at: American College of Physicians Southeast Regional Meeting on October 15th, 2016

Epigenetic Suppression Of Hippocampal Calbindin-D28k By Δfosb Drives Seizure-Related Cognitive Deficits., Jason C. You, Kavitha Muralidharan, Jin W. Park, Iraklis Petrof, Mark S. Pyfer, Brian F. Corbett, John J. Lafrancois, Yi Zheng, Xiaohong Zhang, Carrie A. Mohila, Daniel Yoshor, Robert A. Rissman, Eric J. Nestler, Helen E. Scharfman, Jeannie Chin

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

The calcium-binding protein calbindin-D28k is critical for hippocampal function and cognition, but its expression is markedly decreased in various neurological disorders associated with epileptiform activity and seizures. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) and epilepsy, both of which are accompanied by recurrent seizures, the severity of cognitive deficits reflects the degree of calbindin reduction in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). However, despite the importance of calbindin in both neuronal physiology and pathology, the regulatory mechanisms that control its expression in the hippocampus are poorly understood. Here we report an epigenetic mechanism through which seizures chronically suppress hippocampal calbindin expression and impair cognition. …

Oral Apolipoprotein A-I Mimetic D-4f Lowers Hdl-Inflammatory Index In High-Risk Patients: A First-In-Human Multiple-Dose, Randomized Controlled Trial., Richard L. Dunbar, Rajesh Movva, Leanne T. Bloedon, Danielle Duffy, Robert B. Norris, Mohamad Navab, Alan M. Fogelman, Daniel J. Rader

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

A single dose of the apolipoprotein (apo)A-I mimetic peptide D-4F rendered high-density lipoprotein (HDL) less inflammatory, motivating the first multiple-dose study. We aimed to assess safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of daily, orally administered D-4F. High-risk coronary heart disease (CHD) subjects added double-blinded placebo or D-4F to statin for 13 days, randomly assigned 1:3 to ascending cohorts of 100, 300, then 500 mg (n = 62; 46 men/16 women). D-4F was safe and well-tolerated. Mean ± SD plasma D-4F area under the curve (AUC, 0-8h) was 6.9 ± 5.7 ng/mL*h (100 mg), 22.7 ± 19.6 ng/mL*h (300 mg), and 104.0 ± …

Allergic Contact Dermatitis To 2-Octyl Cyanoacrylate After Surgical Repair: Humidity As A Potential Factor, Avi Bitterman, Karanjit Sandhu

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Allergic contact dermatitis to 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond; Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) after surgical repair is an extremely rare condition with few reported cases. In recent years, contact dermatitis to Dermabond has been reported with increasing frequency.Cyanoacrylates are the most commonly used surgical adhesives and rely on their rapid polymerization to prevent sensitization from antigen presenting cells (APCs), because APCs are only capable of monomeric recognition of cyanoacrylates. It is thought that arid climates may contribute to increased sensitization of cyanoacrylates because water drives the polymerization reaction, decreasing the number of monomers capable of recognition by APCs. With less water present in …

The Efficacy Of Peripheral Opioid Antagonists In Opioid-Induced Constipation And Postoperative Ileus: A Systematic Review Of The Literature., Eric S. Schwenk, Alexander E. Grant, Marc C. Torjman, Stephen E. Mcnulty, Jaime L. Baratta, Eugene R. Viscusi

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Opioid-induced constipation has a negative impact on quality of life for patients with chronic pain and can affect more than a third of patients. A related but separate entity is postoperative ileus, which is an abnormal pattern of gastrointestinal motility after surgery. Nonselective μ-opioid receptor antagonists reverse constipation and opioid-induced ileus but cross the blood-brain barrier and may reverse analgesia. Peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonists target the μ-opioid receptor without reversing analgesia. Three such agents are US Food and Drug Administration approved. We reviewed the literature for randomized controlled trials that studied the efficacy of alvimopan, methylnaltrexone, and naloxegol in …

A Retrospective Study Evaluating Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Drainage Of Pancreatic Fluid Collections Using A Novel Lumen-Apposing Metal Stent On An Electrocautery Enhanced Delivery System., Douglas G. Adler, Linda Jo Taylor, Raza Hasan, Ali A. Siddiqui

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: To report the safety and clinical efficacy with the novel lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) with an electrocautery enhanced delivery system for the drainage of pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs).

METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients with PFCs who underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage using the LAMS with an electrocautery enhanced delivery system in 2 US centers.

RESULTS: Thirteen patients with PFCs (69% with walled-off necrosis [WON]) underwent drainage using the study device. Successful stent placement was accomplished in all patients. Direct endoscopic necrosectomy was carried out in all nine patients with WON complete resolution of the …

Uveal Effusion Syndrome In 104 Eyes: Response To Corticosteroids - The 2017 Axel C. Hansen Lecture., Carol L. Shields, Kelsey Roelofs, Maura Di Nicola, Kareem Sioufi, Arman Mashayekhi, Jerry A. Shields

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the corticosteroids for uveal effusion syndrome (UES).

METHODS: Retrospective series of 104 eyes with UES treated with oral corticosteroids (OCS), periocular corticosteroids (PCS), topical corticosteroids (TCS), or observation (OBS). Main outcome measure was UES resolution.

RESULTS: Of 104 eyes, treatment included OCS (n = 27), PCS (n = 12), TCS (n = 11), and OBS (n = 54). A comparison of the four groups (OCS vs. PCS vs. TCS vs. OBS) revealed differences in those managed with OCS versus OBS as younger (66 vs. 72 years, P = 0.049), PCS versus …

Renal Scar Formation And Kidney Function Following Antibiotic-Treated Murine Pyelonephritis., Patrick D. Olson, Lisa K. Mclellan, Alice Liu, Kelleigh L. Briden, Kristin M. Tiemann, Allyssa L. Daugherty, Keith A. Hruska, David A. Hunstad

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

We present a new preclinical model to study treatment, resolution and sequelae of severe ascending pyelonephritis. Urinary tract infection (UTI), primarily caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), is a common disease in children. Severe pyelonephritis is the primary cause of acquired renal scarring in childhood, which may eventually lead to hypertension and chronic kidney disease in a small but important fraction of patients. Preclinical modeling of UTI utilizes almost exclusively females, which (in most mouse strains) exhibit inherent resistance to severe ascending kidney infection; consequently, no existing preclinical model has assessed the consequences of recovery from pyelonephritis following antibiotic treatment. …

A Comparison Of Two Conjunctival Rotation Autograft Techniques In Primary Pterygium Surgery., Remzi Karadag, Neslihan Sevimli, Seydi Okumus, Isilay Ozsoy, Huseyin Bayramlar, Ela Durucu, Umit Aksoy, Christopher J. Rapuano

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of 90° and 180° conjunctival rotational autograft (CRA) techniques used in primary pterygium surgery.

METHODS: Forty-five patients were included in this retrospective study. Visual acuity (VA), corneal topography, and auto-refractometer measurements, as well as detailed biomicroscopic examinations, were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. During surgery, the pterygium tissue was excised then rotated 90° in Group 1 and180° in Group 2, after which it was sutured to the bare sclera. Pterygium recurrence was defined as corneal invasion ≥1 mm.

RESULTS: Group 1 consisted of 21 patients with a mean age of 45.1 ± 11.8 years, while Group …

Shell Effects On Acoustic Performance Of A Drug-Delivery System Activated By Ultrasound., Lauren J Jablonowski, Michael C Cochran, John R. Eisenbrey, Nutte T. Teraphongphom, Margaret A Wheatley

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

The composition of microcapsules designed for drug delivery significantly impacts their properties. Ultrasound contrast agents, consisting of stabilized microbubbles (MBs), have emerged as versatile potential drug delivery vehicles to both image and overcome challenges associated with systemic chemotherapy. In our development of polylactic acid MBs decorated with immune-shielding polyethylene glycol chains, we have shown that the balance between acoustic behavior and immune avoidance was scalable and amenable to two distinct PEGylation methods, either incorporation of 5 wt% PEGylated PLA or insertion of 1 wt% PEGylated lipid (LipidPEG) in the polymeric shell. Here we describe the effects of shell compositions on …

Imaging Features Of Rare Mesenychmal Liver Tumours: Beyond Haemangiomas., Rajesh Thampy, Khaled M. Elsayes, Christine O. Menias, Perry J. Pickhardt, Hyunseon C. Kang, Sandeep P. Deshmukh, Kareem Ahmed, Brinda Rao Korivi

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Tumours arising from mesenchymal tissue components such as vascular, fibrous and adipose tissue can manifest in the liver. Although histopathology is often necessary for definitive diagnosis, many of these lesions exhibit characteristic imaging features. The radiologist plays an important role in suggesting the diagnosis, which can direct appropriate immunohistochemical staining at histology. The aim of this review is to present clinical and imaging findings of a spectrum of mesenchymal liver tumours such as haemangioma, epithelioid haemangioendothelioma, lipoma, PEComa, angiosarcoma, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour, solitary fibrous tumour, leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma, Kaposi sarcoma, mesenchymal hamartoma, undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and hepatic metastases. Knowledge of …

Outlier Identification In Radiation Therapy Knowledge-Based Planning: A Study Of Pelvic Cases., Yang Sheng, Yaorong Ge, Lulin Yuan, Taoran Li, Fang-Fang Yin, Qingrong Jackie Wu

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to apply statistical metrics to identify outliers and to investigate the impact of outliers on knowledge-based planning in radiation therapy of pelvic cases. We also aimed to develop a systematic workflow for identifying and analyzing geometric and dosimetric outliers.

METHODS: Four groups (G1-G4) of pelvic plans were sampled in this study. These include the following three groups of clinical IMRT cases: G1 (37 prostate cases), G2 (37 prostate plus lymph node cases) and G3 (37 prostate bed cases). Cases in G4 were planned in accordance with dynamic-arc radiation therapy procedure and include 10 …

Pro-Inflammatory Chemokines And Cytokines Dominate The Blister Fluid Molecular Signature In Patients With Epidermolysis Bullosa And Affect Leukocyte And Stem Cell Migration., Vitali Alexeev, Julio Cesar Salas-Alanis, Francis Palisson, Lila Mukhtarzada, Giulio Fortuna, Jouni Uitto, Andrew P. South, Olga Igoucheva

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Hereditary epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is associated with skin blistering and the development of chronic nonhealing wounds. Although clinical studies have shown that cell-based therapies improve wound healing, the recruitment of therapeutic cells to blistering skin and to more advanced skin lesions remains a challenge. Here, we analyzed cytokines and chemokines in blister fluids of patients affected by dystrophic, junctional, and simplex EB. Our analysis revealed high levels of CXCR1, CXCR2, CCR2, and CCR4 ligands, particularly dominant in dystrophic and junctional EB. In vitro migration assays demonstrated the preferential recruitment of CCR4⁺ lymphocytes and CXCR1⁺, CXCR2⁺, …

Modernizing Dermatology Interest Groups In Medical School: Certificate Programs, Jordan Wang, Dorota Z. Korta, Matthew Keller

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

This commentary addresses the increasingly competitive nature of applying to dermatology residency programs and how both interest groups in medical schools and their dermatology departments can help to better prepare applicants. As previous literature argued that dermatology has been underemphasized in medical school curricula, we propose five fundamental options that interest groups can implement in order to offer increased exposure to our field in medical training. Furthermore, with the recent trend of many schools conferring certificates in various specialized concentrations, we also discuss interest groups pioneering certificate-granting programs in dermatology competency. The pros and cons of having a recognized certificate …

Endothelial Cell-Derived Microparticles From Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypoxia Syndrome And Coronary Artery Disease Increase Aortic Endothelial Cell Dysfunction., Lixin Jia, Jingyao Fan, Wei Cui, Sa Liu, Na Li, Wayne Bond Lau, Xin-Liang Ma, Jie Du, Shaoping Nie, Yongxiang Wei

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Obstructive sleep apnea hypoxia syndrome (OSAHS) is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Treatment of OSAHS improves clinical outcome in some CAD patients, but the relationship between OSAHS and CAD is complex. Microparticles (MPs) are shed by the plasma membrane by either physiologic or pathologic stimulation. In the current study, we investigated the role of MPs in the context of OSAHS.

METHODS AND RESULTS: 54 patients with both suspected coronary artery stenosis and OSAHS were recruited and underwent both coronary arteriography and polysomnography. Circulating MPs were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry. CAD+OSAHS patients exhibited greater …

Hidden Blood Loss Between Pccp And Pfna In Elderly Femoral Intertrochanteric Fracture, Tao Ding, Huilin Yang, James Harrop, Xiaofeng Gu, Dehong Feng, Yafeng Zhang, Fan Zhan Zhang, Yuntao Xue

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

To compare perioperative hidden blood loss in the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fractures with percutaneous compression plate (PCCP) and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) in elderly patients, and analyse its influencing factors in order to provide the necessary data support for clinical perioperative treatment, and choice of appropriate internal fixation method. Retrospective analyses was carried out on data obtained from 158 patients with intertrochanteric fracture treated with PCCP or PFNA from January 2010 to May 2017. Data were obtained from variables such as age, gender, height, weight, operative bleeding and postoperative drainage, operation time, etc. Upon blood routine examination before …

Spectrophotometric Analysis Of Thrombolytic Activity: Sata Assay, Masumeh Zamanlu, Morteza Eskandani, Reza Mohammadian, Nazila Entekhabi, Mohammad Rafi, Mehdi Farhoudi

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Introduction: Measurement of thrombolytic activity i.e. clot lysis is crucial for research and development of novel thrombolytics. It is also a key factor in assessment of the effectiveness of conventionally used thrombolytic agents in the clinic, which are the choice effective therapies for myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Previous methods used for the assessment of thrombolytic activity are often associated with some drawbacks such as being costly, time-consuming, complication and low accuracy. Here, we introduce a simple, economic, relatively accurate and fast method of spectrophotometric analysis of thrombolytic activity (SATA) assay, standardized by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which can quantitatively …

Bimodal Coupling Of Ripples And Slower Oscillations During Sleep In Patients With Focal Epilepsy., Inkyung Song, Iren Orosz, Inna Chervoneva, Zachary J. Waldman, Itzhak Fried, Chengyuan Wu, Ashwini Sharan, Noriko Salamon, Richard Gorniak, Sandra Dewar, Anatol Bragin, Jerome Engel, Michael R. Sperling, Richard Staba, Shennan A. Weiss

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Differentiating pathologic and physiologic high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) is challenging. In patients with focal epilepsy, HFOs occur during the transitional periods between the up and down state of slow waves. The preferred phase angles of this form of phase-event amplitude coupling are bimodally distributed, and the ripples (80-150 Hz) that occur during the up-down transition more often occur in the seizure-onset zone (SOZ). We investigated if bimodal ripple coupling was also evident for faster sleep oscillations, and could identify the SOZ.

METHODS: Using an automated ripple detector, we identified ripple events in 40-60 min intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) recordings from 23 …

Xenobiotic-Induced Activation Of Human Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Target Genes In Drosophila Is Mediated By The Epigenetic Chromatin Modifiers, Angelina A. Akishina, J. E. Vorontsova, Roman O. Cherezov, Ilja B. Mertsalov, Olga G. Zatsepina, Mikhail S. Slezinger, Vladislav M. Panin, Svetlana Petruk, Grigori N. Enikolopov, Alexander M. Mazo, Olga B. Simonova, Boris A. Kuzin

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is the key transcription factor that controls animal development and various adaptive processes. The AHR's target genes are involved in biodegradation of endogenous and exogenous toxins, regulation of immune response, organogenesis, and neurogenesis. Ligand binding is important for the activation of the AHR signaling pathway. Invertebrate AHR homologs are activated by endogenous ligands whereas vertebrate AHR can be activated by both endogenous and exogenous ligands (xenobiotics). Several studies using mammalian cultured cells have demonstrated that transcription of the AHR target genes can be activated by exogenous AHR ligands, but little is known about the effects of …

Chemokine Signaling During Midline Epithelial Seam Disintegration Facilitates Palatal Fusion, Christiaan M. Suttorp, Niels A. Cremers, René E. Van Rheden, Raymond F. Regan, Pia Helmich, Sven Van Kempen, Anne Marie Kuijpers-Jagtman, Frank Wagener

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Disintegration of the midline epithelial seam (MES) is crucial for palatal fusion, and failure results in cleft palate. Palatal fusion and wound repair share many common signaling pathways related to epithelial-mesenchymal cross-talk. We postulate that chemokine CXCL11, its receptor CXCR3, and the cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase (HO), which are crucial during wound repair, also play a decisive role in MES disintegration. Fetal growth restriction and craniofacial abnormalities were present in HO-2 knockout (KO) mice without effects on palatal fusion. CXCL11 and CXCR3 were highly expressed in the disintegrating MES in both wild-type and HO-2 KO animals. Multiple apoptotic DNA fragments …

The Contribution Of Technology To The Development And Sustainability Of An Occupational Therapy Community Of Learners In Doctoral Education, Susan Toth-Cohen, Phd, Otr/L, Mary Gozza-Cohen, Phd, Sandra Schefkind, Otd, Otr/L, Faota

Department of Occupational Therapy Posters and Presentations

This case study describes the pivotal role of technology in developing a community of practice (COP) designed for post professional occupational therapists that enabled doctoral students, alumni and faculty to share information and insights about topics, initiatives and research critical to the Occupational Therapy field. The COP evolved through ongoing development of the post-professional occupational therapy doctorate (PPOTD) program at Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

The conceptual foundation for the COP moved beyond an initial focus on course delivery to an emphasis on development, implementation, and sustainability of a vibrant learning community. Transformation of the COP was greatly facilitated through the …

Lessons From The Field: The Conduct Of Randomized Controlled Trials In Botswana., Janice M. Bonsu, Rosemary Frasso, Allison E. Curry

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The conduct of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in low-resource settings may present unique financial, logistic, and process-related challenges. Middle-income countries that have comparable disease burdens to low-income countries, but greater availability of resources, may be conducive settings for RCTs. Indeed, the country of Botswana is experiencing a rapid increase in the conduct of RCTs. Our objective was to explore the experiences of individuals conducting RCTs in Botswana to gain an understanding of the challenges and adaptive strategies to their work.

METHODS: We conducted in-depth interviews with 14 national and international individuals working on RCTs in Botswana. Participants included principal …