Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Self-Harm And Suicidal Behaviors In Hong Kong Adolescents: Prevalence And Psychosocial Correlates, Daniel T. L. Shek, Lu Yu

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The present paper examined the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of adolescent deliberate self-harm (DSH) and suicidal behavior in a representative sample of 3,328 secondary school students in Hong Kong. With reference to the previous year, 32.7% of the students reported at least one form of DSH, 13.7% of the respondents had suicide thoughts, 4.9% devised specific suicidal plans, and 4.7% had actually attempted suicide. Adolescent girls had significantly higher rates of DSH and suicidal behavior than did adolescent boys. Having remarried parents was related to an increased likelihood of DSH and suicide. While high levels of family functioning, overall positive …

Oral Microbial Biofilm Stimulation Of Epithelial Cell Responses, Rebecca Peyyala, Sreenatha S. Kirakodu, Karen F. Novak, Jeffrey L. Ebersole

Center for Oral Health Research Faculty Publications

Oral bacterial biofilms trigger chronic inflammatory responses in the host that can result in the tissue destructive events of periodontitis. However, the characteristics of the capacity of specific host cell types to respond to these biofilms remain ill-defined. This report describes the use of a novel model of bacterial biofilms to stimulate oral epithelial cells and profile select cytokines and chemokines that contribute to the local inflammatory environment in the periodontium. Monoinfection biofilms were developed with Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus gordonii, Actinomyces naeslundii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Porphyromonas gingivalis on rigid gas-permeable contact lenses. Biofilms, as well as planktonic cultures …

“Pico”: PRactice Ebm Skills, INcrease Student Interests With COllaboration Of Librarians And Improve OUtcomes, Archana Kudrimoti, Janice Kuperstein, Shari Levy, Tag Heister, Frank Davis

Library Presentations

Available literature on teaching evidence-based medicine (EBM) to medical students focuses on teaching critical appraisal skills, often in the context of a journal club, workshops or lectures. Being able to utilize EBM effectively means that a learner is able to take a clinical scenario, develop a clinically relevant question, search for the evidence, appraise that evidence, and apply the results of this appraisal back to the individual patient. Hence EBM activity is more likely to become a part of clinical decision-making if medical students practice the skills in the context of direct patient care.

A Non-Canonical E-Box Within The Myod Core Enhancer Is Necessary For Circadian Expression In Skeletal Muscle, Xiping Zhang, Samir P. Patel, John J. Mccarthy, Alexander G. Rabchevsky, David J. Goldhamer, Karyn A. Esser

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

The myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD) gene is a master regulator of myogenesis. We previously reported that the expression of MyoD mRNA oscillates over 24 h in skeletal muscle and that the circadian clock transcription factors, BMAL1 (brain and muscle ARNT-like 1) and CLOCK (circadian locomotor output cycles kaput), were bound to the core enhancer (CE) of the MyoD gene in vivo. In this study, we provide in vivo and in vitro evidence that the CE is necessary for circadian expression of MyoD in adult muscle. Gel shift assays identified a conserved non-canonical E-box within the CE that …

Special Ops: Vulnerable Populations And Tobacco Treatment, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Audrey Darville

Nursing Presentations

• Reasons for Smoking among individuals with co-morbid substance use (SUD)and/or psychiatric disorders (PD)

• Smoking cessation treatment for individuals with co-morbid substance use (SUD) and/or psychiatric disorders (PD)

• Smoking among the Homeless population

A Unique Treasure: Transylvania's 1,760 Medical Theses From The Early Nineteenth Century--11 On Yellow Fever, Charles T. Ambrose

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Evidence-Based Medicine Versus Personalized Medicine: Are They Enemies?, Jose De Leon

Psychiatry Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of The Training Program Of The Project P.A.T.H.S.: Findings Based On The Perspective Of The Participants From Different Cohorts, Daniel T. L. Shek, Yammy L. Y. Chak

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Subjective outcome evaluation findings based on the perspective of the participants participating in a 3-day training program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. are reported in this paper. The findings were based on the data collected from the training workshops conducted between 2005 and 2009 (N = 4.167). Results showed that the respondents had good and positive perceptions of the training program and found it very valuable, particularly with respect to training instructors and familiarization with the project. Besides, the training participants were able to acquire attitude, knowledge and skills that are conducive to the successful implementation of the program. Based on …

Subjective Outcome Evaluation And Factors Related To Perceived Effectiveness Of The Project P.A.T.H.S. In Hong Kong, Daniel T. L. Shek, Lu Yu, Vicky Y. T. Ho

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Based on a sample of 24,457 participated students, the present study investigated participants' subjective evaluation of the Tier 2 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in the 2009/2010 academic year. Participants generally held positive views toward the Tier 2 Program and program instructor and perceived the program to be beneficial to their development. Programs involving adolescents alone were evaluated more positively than programs involving parents and/or teachers. Students' grade and program type did not show significant impact on participants' subjective evaluation of the project. Consistent with previous reports, perceived effectiveness of the program was significantly predicted by students' perceptions about the …

The Project P.A.T.H.S. In Hong Kong--Lessons Learned And Implications For Positive Youth Development Programs, Daniel T. L. Shek, Rachel C. F. Sun

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The Project P.A.T.H.S. is a positive youth development program which attempts to promote holistic development of junior secondary schools in Hong Kong. It is ground breaking in terms of the number of schools participating in the project and financial resources injected into the project. Based on the experiences gained from the implementation of the project and evaluation data collected from 2005 to 2011, several issues pertinent to the development of positive youth development programs in the Chinese culture are discussed. These issues include complexity of program development, importance of training, identification of factors governing program implementation, need for evaluation, and …

Helping Adolescents With Greater Psychosocial Needs: Subjective Outcome Evaluation Based On Different Cohorts, Daniel T. L. Shek, Tak Yan Lee

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The Tier 2 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) is designed to help students with greater psychosocial needs. This paper examines nine sets of subjective outcome evaluation data collected from 2005 to 2009 (n = 60, 241 participants). Based on the consolidated data with schools as units, results showed that participants generally had positive perceptions of the program, implementers, and benefits of the program. The subjective outcome evaluation instrument was found to be internally consistent. Multiple regression analysis revealed that perceived qualities of the program and the program implementers predicted perceived effectiveness of the …

Chain Community Pharmacists' Willingness, Attitudes, And Barriers In Providing Self-Care Medication And Supplement Recommendations, Clark Kebodeaux, William M. Grise, Brooke Hudspeth, Holly Divine

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists are commonly called on as the first resource for patients when selecting an appropriate self-care medication or supplement. This study examines pharmacists’ over-the-counter (OTC) recommendations in the chain community pharmacy setting in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to assess chain community pharmacists’ willingness and attitudes to provide self-care recommendations to patients and to identify chain community pharmacists’ barriers to making OTC medication and supplement recommendations.

METHODS: An anonymous survey was created to identify pharmacists’ attitudes and their willingness to perform these recommendations. The questionnaire included specific questions to identify barriers that exist to …

Semi Tractor-Trailer Driver Dies In Median Crossover Crash; 10 Others Die, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Motor Vehicle

At approximately 5:00 AM on a spring morning, a 45 year-old male semi-tractor trailer driver headed south on an interstate highway with a back-haul of brake drums. He crossed a 60’ grass depressed median, drove over a cable barrier, was struck by a northbound 15-passenger van with 12 occupants, hit a cut rock wall and caught fire. The semi truck driver and 10 occupants within the van died.

To prevent future occurrences of similar incidents, the following recommendations have been made:

Recommendation No. 1: Commercial vehicle carriers should establish and implement an appropriate comprehensive safety and driver training program that …

Steel Worker Falls From Highway Bridge And Dies, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Falls

On a fall day in 2010, a 49 year-old steel worker fell from a highway bridge he was working from and died. The steel worker was in the process of leveling jacks for concrete forms. He had donned a fall protection harness with an attached lanyard then stepped outside the lifeline onto a 10”x2” wooden board to verify the jacks were level. As the steel worker stepped over the lifeline, he did not attach the lanyard and fell approximately 28 feet onto the railroad tracks below. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died in surgery approximately two …

Does Emotional Memory Enhancement Assist The Memory-Impaired?, Lucas S. Broster, Lee X. Blonder, Yang Jiang

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

We review recent work on emotional memory enhancement in older adults and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer dementia (AD) and evaluate the viability of incorporating emotional components into cognitive rehabilitation for these groups. First, we identify converging evidence regarding the effects of emotional valence on working memory in healthy aging. Second, we introduce work that suggests a more complex role for emotional memory enhancement in aging and identify a model capable of unifying disparate research findings. Third, we survey the neuroimaging literature for evidence of a special role for the amygdala in MCI and early AD in …

Inflammatory Responses To Induced Infectious Endometritis In Mares Resistant Or Susceptible To Persistent Endometritis, Mette Christoffersen, Elizabeth Woodward, Anders M. Bojesen, Stine Jacobsen, Morten R. Petersen, Mats H. T. Troedsson, Henrik Lehn-Jensen

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to evaluate the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, IL-1 receptor antagonist [ra] and serum amyloid A (SAA) in endometrial tissue and circulating leukocytes in response to uterine inoculation of 105 colony forming units (CFU) Escherichia coli in mares. Before inoculation, mares were classified as resistant or susceptible to persistent endometritis based on their uterine inflammatory response to infusion of 109 killed spermatozoa and histological assessment of the endometrial quality. Endometrial biopsies were obtained 3, 12, 24 and 72 hours (h) after bacterial inoculation and …

Motor Neuron Apoptosis And Neuromuscular Junction Perturbation Are Prominent Features In A Drosophila Model Of Fus-Mediated Als, Ruohan Xia, Yajuan Liu, Liuqing Yang, Jozsef Gal, Haining Zhu, Jianhang Jia

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of motor function. Several ALS genes have been identified as their mutations can lead to familial ALS, including the recently reported RNA-binding protein fused in sarcoma (Fus). However, it is not clear how mutations of Fus lead to motor neuron degeneration in ALS. In this study, we present a Drosophila model to examine the toxicity of Fus, its Drosophila orthologue Cabeza (Caz), and the ALS-related Fus mutants.

RESULTS: Our results show that the expression of wild-type Fus/Caz or FusR521G induced progressive toxicity in multiple tissues of the …

Genetically Engineered Equine Influenza Virus And Uses Thereof, Peter Palese, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Thomas Chambers

Veterinary Science Faculty Patents

The present invention relates, in general, to attenuated equine influenza viruses having an impaired ability to antagonize the cellular interferon (IFN) response, and the use of such attenuated viruses in vaccine and pharmaceutical formulations. In particular, the invention relates to attenuated equine influenza viruses having modifications to an equine NS1 gene that diminish or eliminate the ability of the NS1 gene product to antagonize the cellular IFN response. These viruses replicate in vivo, but demonstrate decreased replication, virulence and increased attenuation, and therefore are well suited for use in live virus vaccines, and pharmaceutical formulations.

Inhibition Of Fatty Acid Synthase Attenuates Cd44-Associated Signaling And Reduces Metastasis In Colorectal Cancer, Yekaterina Y. Zaytseva, Piotr G. Rychahou, Pat Gulhati, Victoria Allison Elliott, William Conan Mustain, Kathleen O'Connor, Andrew J. Morris, Manjula Sunkara, Heidi L. Weiss, Eun Young Lee, B. Mark Evers

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) and ATP-citrate lyase, key enzymes of de novo lipogenesis, are significantly upregulated and activated in many cancers and portend poor prognosis. Even though the role of lipogenesis in providing proliferative and survival advantages to cancer cells has been described, the impact of aberrant activation of lipogenic enzymes on cancer progression remains unknown. In this study, we found that elevated expression of FASN is associated with advanced stages of colorectal cancer (CRC) and liver metastasis, suggesting that it may play a role in progression of CRC to metastatic disease. Targeted inhibition of lipogenic enzymes abolished expression of …

Drug Dosage Individualization Based On A Random-Effects Linear Model, Francisco J. Diaz, Myladis R. Cogollo, Edoardo Spina, Vincenza Santoro, Diego M. Rendon, Jose De Leon

Psychiatry Faculty Publications

This article investigates drug dosage individualization when the patient population can be described with a random-effects linear model of a continuous pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic response. Specifically, we show through both decision-theoretic arguments and simulations that a published clinical algorithm may produce better individualized dosages than some traditional methods of therapeutic drug monitoring. Since empirical evidence suggests that the linear model may adequately describe drugs and patient populations, and linear models are easier to handle than the nonlinear models traditionally used in population pharmacokinetics, our results highlight the potential applicability of linear mixed models to dosage computations and personalized medicine.

Fibrinogen, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Copd) And Outcomes In Two United States Cohorts, Deepa Valvi, David M. Mannino, Hana Müllerova, Ruth Tal-Singer

Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Fibrinogen is a marker of systemic inflammation and may be important in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS: We used baseline data from Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities and Cardiovascular Health Studies to determine the relation between fibrinogen levels and COPD and to examine how fibrinogen levels at baseline affected outcomes of death, development of COPD, lung function decline, and COPD-hospitalizations.

RESULTS: Our study sample included 20,192 subjects, of whom 2995 died during the follow-up period. The mean fibrinogen level was 307.6 mg/dL and 10% of the sample had levels >393.0 mg/dL. Subjects with Stage …

Inverse Relationship Between Psa And Il-8 In Prostate Cancer: An Insight Into A Nf-Κb-Mediated Mechanism, Yong Xu, Daret K. St. Clair, Fang Fang, William H. St. Clair

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

Background: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is traditionally used as an indicator for the presence of prostate cancer (PCa) and radiotherapy is generally used to treat inoperable and locally advanced PCa. However, how cellular PSA level is associated with sensitivity of PCa to radiotherapy is unknown. The previous finding that the RelB-based NF-κB alternative pathway differentially regulates PSA and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in aggressive PCa has directed our attention to the role of RelB in the response of PCa to radiotherapy.

Methodology/Principal Findings: RelB and its targets PSA and IL-8 in PCa cells were manipulated by ectopic expression in PCa …

Smoking On The Margins? Assessing The Effects Of A Smoke-Free Law In Parks And On Beaches, Ann Pederson, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Wendy Rice, Steve Chasey, Arezu Moshrefzadeh, Joan L. Bottorff, Natalie Hemsing, Lorraine Greaves, Nancy Poole

Nursing Presentations

This study uses a health equity lens to examine the development, adoption and implementation of an outdoor smoke-free bylaw in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The study aims to:

• Understand the health and health equity effects of a new outdoor smoke-free policy in parks and on beaches;

• Assess the differential impacts of the policy for diverse groups of women and men, in particular those with a high prevalence and susceptibility to smoking and those who are exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS);

• Develop recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of future smoke-free policies to reduce any unintended contributions to health inequities arising from their …

Effects Of A Smoke-Free Law In Parks And Beaches On Smoking Behaviour: Methods To Determine Effectiveness, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Ann Pederson, Steve Chasey, Anna Liwander, Andrew Johnson

Nursing Presentations

OVERVIEW

As part of a comprehensive approach to tobacco control, smoke free laws have resulted in reductions of indoor air pollution, improvements in respiratory and cardiovascular health, reduction of smoking uptake by youth, and increasing tobacco use cessations in various jurisdictions.

Although many studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of smoke-free policies in indoor spaces (e.g. restaurants, bars, workplaces, hospital settings, etc.), little is known about the effectiveness of such policies in outdoor public spaces.

On September 1^st, 2010, Vancouver’s smoke-free by-law for the city’s parks, beaches, and facilities came into effect.

The aims of this study are …

Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding And Paroxetine Use: Two Case Reports, Hilario Blasco-Fontecilla, Jose De Leon

Psychiatry Faculty Publications

Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and an effective long-term treatment for social anxiety and major depression. SSRIs in general, and paroxetine in particular, were described as associated with depletion of serotonin in platelets. Serotonin is involved in platelet aggregation, and the association of bleeding and SSRI use was suggested two decades ago. In the last few years, some reviews have confirmed that initial fear. In contrast with aspirin, SSRIs seem to be related to non-ulcer, non-variceal gastrointestinal bleeds. SSRIs are usually associated with upper gastrointestinal bleeding but there is surprisingly little literature on lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) …

Equity, Evidence & Ethics: Assessing The Implications Of Outdoor Smoke-Free Policies For Vulnerable Populations, Natasha Jategaonkar, Ann Pederson, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Wendy Rice, Phoebe M. Long, Joan L. Bottorff, Natalie Hemsing, Lorraine Greaves

Nursing Presentations

Smoke-free policies in outdoor settings are becoming increasingly common. Economic and social conditions tend to influence tobacco use patterns as well as exposure to secondhand smoke. Thus, active and passive smoking are both health equity and social justice concerns.

Smoking on the Margins is a multi-component,mixed-methods project that applies an ethical framework to outdoor smoke-free policies in order to identify both concerns and opportunities to promote health and health equity.

Justification for smoke-free policies

Smoke-free spaces are primarily justified on the basis of three goals:

1) Reducing exposure to secondhand smoke;

2) Encouraging people to quit smoking; and

3) Preventing …

Outcomes Of A Tailored Smoking Cessation Program For Individuals With A Substance Use And/Or Psychiatric Disorder, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Milan Khara

Nursing Presentations

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Although there has been a steady decline in the overall smoking prevalence in North America during the last decade some subsets of the population continue to smoke at high rates, particularly individuals with a history of substance use disorders (SUD) and/or psychiatric disorders (PD). Studies suggest that individuals with SUD’s and PD’s often have disproportionately higher smoking-related mortality. Studies further suggest that in clinical samples an estimated 75% of individuals with PD and up to 90% of individuals with PD concurrently smoke. This high prevalence of smoking among …

The Economic, Institutional, And Political Determinants Of Public Health Delivery System Structures, Richard C. Ingram, F. Douglas Scutchfield, Glen P. Mays, Michelyn W. Bhandari

Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: A typology of local public health systems was recently introduced, and a large degree of structural transformation over time was discovered in the systems analyzed. We present a qualitative exploration of the factors that determine variation and change in the seven structural configurations that comprise the local public health delivery system typology.

METHODS: We applied a 10-item semistructured telephone interview protocol to representatives from the local health agency in two randomly selected systems from each configuration--one that had maintained configuration over time and one that had changed configuration over time. We assessed the interviews for patterns of variation between …

Interactions Between Antiepileptics And Second-Generation Antipsychotics, Jose De Leon, Vincenza Santoro, Concetta D'Arrigo, Edoardo Spina

Psychiatry Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug interactions (DIs) can occur between antiepileptics (AEDs) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAPs). Some AED and SGAP pharmacodynamic mechanisms are poorly understood. AED-SGAP combinations are used for treating comorbid illnesses or increasing efficacy, particularly in bipolar disorder.

AREAS COVERED: This article provides a comprehensive review of the interactions between antiepileptics and second-generation antipsychotics. The authors cover pharmacokinetic AED-SGAP DI studies, the newest drug pharmacokinetics in addition to the limited pharmacodynamic DI studies.

EXPERT OPINION: Dosing correction factors and measuring SGAP levels can help to compensate for the inductive properties of carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital and primidone. Further studies …

Gender Identity, Ethnic Identity, And Smoking Among First Nations Adolescents, Lorraine Greaves, Joy Johnson, Annie Qu, Chizimuzo T.C. Okoli, Natalie Hemsing, Lucy Barney

Nursing Faculty Publications

Smoking rates among Aboriginal adolescents are the highest of any population group in British Columbia, Canada. Recent studies suggest that substance use is affected by gender and ethnic identity among youth. The purpose of our study was to explore the association of gender and ethnic identity with smoking behaviour among First Nations adolescents. This study is based on a convenience sample (i.e., an on-hand, readily available sample) of 124 youth (123 First Nations and 1 Métis) recruited at youth drop-in centres, health fairs, and cultural activities. We obtained information on demographics, smoking history, Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI), composite measure …