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Articles 2941 - 2970 of 5384

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

In Vitro Methods To Predict Aerosol Drug Deposition In Normal Adults, Renishkumar Delvadia Apr 2012

In Vitro Methods To Predict Aerosol Drug Deposition In Normal Adults, Renishkumar Delvadia

Theses and Dissertations

This research was aimed at the development and validation of new in vitro methods capable of predicting in vivo drug deposition from dry powder inhalers, DPIs, in lung-normal human adults. Three physical models of the mouth, throat and upper airways, MT-TB, were designed and validated using the anatomical literature. Small, medium and large versions were constructed to cover approximately 95% of the variation seen in normal adult humans of both genders. The models were housed in an artificial thorax and used for in vitro testing of drug deposition from Budelin Novolizer DPIs using a breath simulator to mimic inhalation profiles …

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Sex Differences In The Oxygen Uptake Kinetic Response To Moderate Intensity Exercise In Obese Adolescents, Mary Bowen Apr 2012

Sex Differences In The Oxygen Uptake Kinetic Response To Moderate Intensity Exercise In Obese Adolescents, Mary Bowen

Theses and Dissertations

The oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetic response to exercise provides insight into aerobic performance and the efficiency of the body to maintain oxygen demand during the initiation of exercise. Previous research in normal weight children reports insignificant differences in gender VO2 on-kinetic responses to moderate exercise. No study has evaluated the impact obesity may have on gender VO2 on-kinetics. PURPOSE: To determine if sex differences exist in the VO2 kinetic response to moderate exercise in obese adolescents. METHODS: Male (n=16) and female (n=39) adolescents completed a graded exercise test to exhaustion on a treadmill. Data from initial 4-min treadmill walking was …

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Compliance-Free Class Ii Correction And Its Relationship To Vertical Facial Characteristics, Michael Shoff Apr 2012

Compliance-Free Class Ii Correction And Its Relationship To Vertical Facial Characteristics, Michael Shoff

Theses and Dissertations

Background: While efficacy of the Forsus appliance has been shown, there are disagreements on its mechanism for Class II correction. Class II studies have been criticized for ignoring potential differences in results based on differing vertical facial phenotypes. The purpose of this study was to better understand the effects of Class II correction using the Forsus appliance and relate changes during and at the completion of treatment to initial MP-SN angles. Materials and Methods: Records of 59 patients obtained at 4 different time points were examined retrospectively. ANOVA was used to describe the cephalometric changes and Pearson’s correlation tested for …

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Mandibular Symphyseal Distraction Osteogenesis (Msdo): Association With Temporomandibular Dysfunction (Tmd) Symptoms, Sheldon Bates Apr 2012

Mandibular Symphyseal Distraction Osteogenesis (Msdo): Association With Temporomandibular Dysfunction (Tmd) Symptoms, Sheldon Bates

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Transverse mandibular discrepancies are often overlooked during orthodontic treatment. MSDO is a treatment to address this issue, but much debate exists over the long-term implications on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Few studies have sample sizes sufficient to draw clear conclusions about the impact of MSDO on TMJ health. Materials and Methods: This study evaluated private practice records including 49 MSDO patients and 57 traditionally-treated controls. The subjects were assessed by TMD exams that evaluated jaw pain and discomfort using visual analog scales, range of motion for opening, right and left lateral, and protrusive movements, and the presence of clenching, …

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The Impact Of Maternal Influences On Early Childhood Dental Caries, Rana Graham-Montaque Apr 2012

The Impact Of Maternal Influences On Early Childhood Dental Caries, Rana Graham-Montaque

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the maternal influences on the development of infant oral biofilm and early childhood dental caries. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional design to evaluate factors influencing biofilm colonization and the identification of bacterial strains present in mother and child by utilizing oral health literacy surveys, clinical examinations, and plaque samples. Participants were enrolled in the Children’s Health Involving Parents of Greater Richmond (CHIP). Plaque samples and dental disease levels were collected from mother and children ages six months to thirty-six months. Oral Health Literacy was compared to both mother and child’s …

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Molecular Analysis Of Oligoclonal T Cells Associated With Graft-Versus-Host Disease Following Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplantation, Kassi Avent Apr 2012

Molecular Analysis Of Oligoclonal T Cells Associated With Graft-Versus-Host Disease Following Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplantation, Kassi Avent

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is to induce graft-versus-tumor effect (GVT), which is the recognition of and response against tumor- associated antigens (TAAs) by donor immune cells to clear the recipient of residual tumor. A complication of HSCT as a treatment for hematologic malignancies is graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which is the recognition and reactivity of donor immune cells against healthy tissues. As of now, the differentiation between GVHD and GVT effects has been a hindrance to the development of effective therapies against GVHD. Certain T cell clones may induce both GVHD and GVT effects, making targeted therapy …

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Parental Understanding Of Anesthesia Risk For Dental Treatment, Andrew Zale Apr 2012

Parental Understanding Of Anesthesia Risk For Dental Treatment, Andrew Zale

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To determine which method of anesthesia risk presentation parents understand and prefer across their demographic variables Methods: As a cross-sectional study, questionnaires were distributed to 50 parents of patients (<7 years of age) in the VCU Pediatric Dental Clinic. Parents were asked of their own and their children’s demographics, previous dental and anesthesia experiences, and anesthesia understanding. Parents were then asked to rate the level of risk of several risk presentations and finally asked which method of risk presentation they most understood or preferred. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, likelihood chi square tests, and repeated measures logistic regression. Results: There was no evidence of a differential preference due to gender (P = 0.28), age (P > .9), education (P = 0.39) or whether they incorrectly answered any risk question (P > 0.7). There was some evidence that the three types were not equally preferred (likelihood ratio chi- square = 5.31, df =2, P-value = 0.0703). The best estimate is that 60% prefer charts, 34% prefer numbers, and 36% prefer activity comparisons. There was a relationship between the average relative risk of general anesthesia and age (r …

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The Effectiveness Of Visual Aids In Motivational Counseling On Oral Health Literacy, Christian Peck Apr 2012

The Effectiveness Of Visual Aids In Motivational Counseling On Oral Health Literacy, Christian Peck

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine if motivational interviewing with written/illustrated infant oral health education provided to caregivers of pediatric dental patients increases caregivers’ oral health literacy compared to verbal only motivational instruction. Methods: This is a cohort study of caregivers and their child receiving oral health anticipatory guidance utilizing motivational interviewing with and without visual aids. Caregivers (N=20) of pediatric dental patients age 0-4 that presented to the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry for a new patient exam were recruited for the study. Caregivers were randomly assigned into 2 groups: the intervention group (IG), and …

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The Fluoride Recharging Capability Of Orthodontic Materials: An In-Vitro Study, Christine Farah Apr 2012

The Fluoride Recharging Capability Of Orthodontic Materials: An In-Vitro Study, Christine Farah

Theses and Dissertations

Enamel demineralization in the form of white spot lesions (WSLs) around fixed orthodontic appliances is a persistent problem in patients with poor oral hygiene.These lesions can form rapidly within 4 weeks of bracket placement.The purpose of this in-vitro study was to investigate the fluoride recharging capability ofa commercially available orthodontic primer used to minimize the development of WSLs in patients. The three groups tested were: OpalSeal (n=20, Ultradent, South Jordan, UT), ProSeal (n=20, Reliance, Itasca, IL) and Transbond XT (control, n=10, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA). The samples(5mmin diameter x 1mm in thickness) weresuspended individually in vials filled with 10mL of …

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The Effect Of Esthetic Crown Lengthening On Perceptions Of A Patient’S Attractiveness, Friendliness, Trustworthiness, Intelligence, And Self-Confidence, Samuel Lyon Malkinson Apr 2012

The Effect Of Esthetic Crown Lengthening On Perceptions Of A Patient’S Attractiveness, Friendliness, Trustworthiness, Intelligence, And Self-Confidence, Samuel Lyon Malkinson

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Smile esthetics play a major role in the perception of a person’s attractiveness, as well as other social parameters. The study aim was to see if altering the gingival display of patients would affect perceptions of the aforementioned social parameters. METHODS: Smiling photographs were taken and then digitally altered so as to lengthen the teeth and reduce the amount of gingiva. These photographs were shown to a group of senior dental students, and a group of evaluators with no formal dental training. Groups were asked to rate each picture’s attractiveness, friendliness, trustworthiness, intelligence, and self-confidence. RESULTS: The digitally altered …

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Examining Racial Differences In Sympathetic Activity Assessed During Recovery From Exercise In Obese Adolescent Females, Stacey Hall Apr 2012

Examining Racial Differences In Sympathetic Activity Assessed During Recovery From Exercise In Obese Adolescent Females, Stacey Hall

Theses and Dissertations

Sympathetic overactivity (SO) is associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Black adolescents have an increased risk of obesity and CVD later in life, particularly females. PURPOSE: To evaluate differences in SO between black (BOA) and white obese female adolescents (WOA). METHODS: Sixty-one BOA (n=49, 13.7±1.6 yrs, 38.1±6.1 kg/m2) and WOA (n=12, 13.3±2.2 yrs, 34.3±4.9 kg/m2) completed a maximal graded treadmill test after which an exercise recovery index (ERI; heart rate/VO2 plateau) was calculated. RESULTS: The ERI was significantly greater in BOA compared to WOA (29.8 ± 6.4 vs. 24.1 ± 3.1, P = 0.004). Multiple linear regression modeling …

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Accuracy Of Cone-Beam Computerized Tomography In Determining The Thickness Of The Palatal Masticatory Mucosa, Justin Hardison Apr 2012

Accuracy Of Cone-Beam Computerized Tomography In Determining The Thickness Of The Palatal Masticatory Mucosa, Justin Hardison

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: The aim was to compare the thickness of the palatal masticatory mucosa as determined on a cone-beam computerized (CBCT) scan versus thickness determined via bone-sounding. METHODS: A total of twenty patients requiring palatal surgery participated. Thickness of the palatal tissue was measured at various points radiographically and clinically. The two techniques were compared to determine the agreement of the two measurement modalities. RESULTS: Analysis of variance determined that there was no significant difference between the two methods. A small bias of the radiographic measurement being larger was found to be statistically significant (0.09 ± 0.69mm; p <0.0001). Moreover, the tissue thickness was shown to increase as the distance from the gingival margin increased and the tissue over the molars was thinner than the tissue over the premolars. CONCLUSIONS: CBCT can be used to accurately determine the soft tissue thickness of the palatal masticatory mucosa with minimal bias.

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Tgf-Beta Receptors And Alcohol Sensitivity In Drosophila, Kristyn Sennett Apr 2012

Tgf-Beta Receptors And Alcohol Sensitivity In Drosophila, Kristyn Sennett

Theses and Dissertations

Clic proteins influence ethanol-related behavior in flies and other species and also mediate TGF-β signaling. These findings suggest that Clics and the TGF-β signaling pathway might work together to modulate behavioral responses to ethanol. I used the Drosophila model to address the hypothesis that TGF-β signaling is important for ethanol sensitivity. Ethanol sensitivity was blunted by multiple transposon insertions in the TGF-β receptor gene thickveins. Collectively, however, I found no consistent correlation between expression of thickveins and altered ethanol sensitivity in flies harboring transposons. I therefore also assessed ethanol sensitivity in flies with loss of function point mutations in thickveins. …

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The Role Of Sulfatide In The Development And Maintenance Of The Nodal And Paranodal Domains In The Peripheral Nervous System, Heather Herman Apr 2012

The Role Of Sulfatide In The Development And Maintenance Of The Nodal And Paranodal Domains In The Peripheral Nervous System, Heather Herman

Theses and Dissertations

Sulfatide is a galactolipid and a major lipid component of the myelin sheath. Its production is catalyzed by the enzyme cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST). To determine the functions of sulfatide, the gene encoding CST was genetically disrupted resulting in mice incapable of sulfatide synthesis. Using these mice, it has been shown in the central nervous system (CNS) that sulfatide is essential for normal myelin synthesis and stability even though the onset of myelination is not impaired. Additionally, proper initial clustering of paranodal proteins and cluster maintenance of nodal proteins is impaired suggesting that paranodal domains are important for long-term node stability. …

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Fullerene C70 Derivatives Dampen Anaphylaxis And Allergic Asthma Pathogenesis In Mice, Sarah Norton Apr 2012

Fullerene C70 Derivatives Dampen Anaphylaxis And Allergic Asthma Pathogenesis In Mice, Sarah Norton

Theses and Dissertations

Fullerenes are carbon nanospheres that can be solublized by the addition of polar chemical groups to the carbon cage, forming fullerene derivatives. One specifically derivatized fullerene compound, termed C70-Tetragylocolate (C70-TGA), has been shown to stabilize mast cell responses in vitro thus we hypothesized it may have an effect on mast cell-driven diseases such as asthma and systemic anaphylaxis. To observe the effects of C70-TGA on systemic anaphylaxis, mice were subjected to a model of passive systemic anaphylaxis. In this model, mice were injected with DNP-specific IgE 16 hours prior to challenge, then treated with C70-TGA. Immediately prior to DNP challenge, …

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The Effect Of Oral Care On Intracranial Pressure In Critically Ill Adults, Christina Szabo Apr 2012

The Effect Of Oral Care On Intracranial Pressure In Critically Ill Adults, Christina Szabo

Theses and Dissertations

A major goal in the care of patients with neurological problems is to prevent or minimize episodes of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Elevations in ICP in response to nursing interventions have been acknowledged since the 1960’s when ICP monitoring was first introduced in the clinical setting. Until recently few studies have specifically examined the effect of oral care on ICP and oral care and other hygiene measures were combined or not specified, prohibiting a direct interpretation of the influence of oral care alone on ICP. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between routine oral care interventions …

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Hydrogen Sulfide As An Allosteric Modulator Of Atp Sensitive Potassium Channels In Colonic Inflammation., Aravind Gade Apr 2012

Hydrogen Sulfide As An Allosteric Modulator Of Atp Sensitive Potassium Channels In Colonic Inflammation., Aravind Gade

Theses and Dissertations

The ATP sensitive potassium channel (KATP) in mouse colonic smooth muscle cell is a complex containing a pore forming subunit (Kir6.1) and a sulfonyl urea receptor subunit (SUR2B). These channels are responsible for maintaining the cellular excitability of the smooth muscle cell which in turn regulates the motility patterns in the colon. We used whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques to study the alterations in these channels in smooth muscle cells in experimental model of colitis (colonic inflammation). Colitis was induced in BALB/C mice following an intracolonic administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). KATP currents were measured at Vh -60 mV in high …

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Retentive Cement Strengths With Passive Fit Primary Anterior Esthetic Crowns, Charles Davis Jr. Apr 2012

Retentive Cement Strengths With Passive Fit Primary Anterior Esthetic Crowns, Charles Davis Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: to assess the retentive strengths of passive fit esthetic anterior restorations using three commercially available cements. Methods: Three resin dies were fabricated from the intaglio surface of each restoration type. Each die was prepared following the current accepted guidelines on primary anterior tooth crown preparation. The three prepared teeth were replicated to produce 30 dies for each of the three restoration types. The prepared teeth were further separated into nine groups of 10 teeth each. Thirty EZ Pedo Crowns, 30 NuSmile Primary Crowns and 30 Unitek crowns were cemented using hand pressure employing the luting cement assigned to the …

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Effect Of Local Anesthesia On Postoperative Pain With General Anesthesia, Belinda Campbell Apr 2012

Effect Of Local Anesthesia On Postoperative Pain With General Anesthesia, Belinda Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine if the use of local anesthesia with general anesthesia results in less postoperative pain. The alternative hypothesis is that children will experience less postoperative discomfort when utilizing intraligamental local anesthetic during the intra-operative time period. Methods: Patients were recruited for this single blind, randomized, prospective cohort study with the following inclusion criteria: English speaking children age 3-6 years, ASA I/II requiring general anesthesia for dental treatment. Randomization was done to place patients in groups of no local anesthetic vs. local anesthetic administration. A Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale was utilized to evaluate …

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Exploring The Social Determinants Of Sexually Transmitted Disease And High-Risk Sexual Behaviors, River Pugsley Apr 2012

Exploring The Social Determinants Of Sexually Transmitted Disease And High-Risk Sexual Behaviors, River Pugsley

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract 1: A multi-level assessment of disproportionate population sex ratios and high-risk sexual behaviors among STD clinic patients Low male-to-female sex ratios in a population may influence high-risk sexual behaviors, such as multiple sex partners and inconsistent condom use, which facilitate the transmission of STDs. This study used multi-level modeling to assess whether population sex ratios were associated with these two individual-level behaviors. All analyses were stratified by gender. Interview data were collected from patients (N = 9,203, 48% male) attending participating STD clinics. Interviews included information on socio-demographics and sexual behavior, including number of sex partners in the previous …

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Workplace Discrimination And The Perception Of Disability, William Draper Apr 2012

Workplace Discrimination And The Perception Of Disability, William Draper

Theses and Dissertations

Decisions by the EEOC in favor of claimants perceived to have disabilities disproportionately exceeded those in favor of claimants with documented disabilities. This finding lends support to the assertion that unconscious/implicit bias is persistent in the workplace.

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Assessing The Effects Of Stress Resilience Training On Visual Discrimination Skills: Implications For Perceptual Resilience In U.S. Warfighters, Andrea Taylor Apr 2012

Assessing The Effects Of Stress Resilience Training On Visual Discrimination Skills: Implications For Perceptual Resilience In U.S. Warfighters, Andrea Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

Current military operational environments are highly improvised and constantly evolving, threatening the lives of U.S. warfighters. For instance, since 2001, 60% of all hostile casualties and 65% of hostile injuries in the Middle East theater have been attributed to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). IEDs are powerful physical weapons, and the stressful atmosphere they, and other operational challenges create, can also result in a range of psychological dysfunctions, including anxiety, depression, alcohol abuse, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Not only are these issues concerning for mental health reasons, they are also problematic in terms of combat performance. Extreme arousal (i.e., stress) …

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Opioid Withdrawal Signs And Symptoms In The Pediatric Patient During Opioid Tapering, Deborah Fisher Apr 2012

Opioid Withdrawal Signs And Symptoms In The Pediatric Patient During Opioid Tapering, Deborah Fisher

Theses and Dissertations

Opioids are used routinely in the pediatric intensive care population for analgesia, sedation, blunting of physiologic responses to stress, and safety. In children, physical dependence may occur in as little as two to three days of continuous opioid therapy. Once the child no longer needs the opioid, the medications are reduced over time. A review of the literature revealed that the majority of the published studies used either a neonatal opioid assessment tool or no assessment tool. A subsequent international survey of pediatric providers found a wide range of opioid tapering practices and sporadic use of opioid withdrawal instruments to …

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Overexpression Of Serum Response Factor In Astrocytes Improves Neuronal Plasticity In A Model Of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Arco P. Paul Apr 2012

Overexpression Of Serum Response Factor In Astrocytes Improves Neuronal Plasticity In A Model Of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Arco P. Paul

Theses and Dissertations

Neuronal plasticity deficits underlie many of the neurobehavioral problems seen in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Recently, we showed that third trimester alcohol exposure lead to a persistent disruption in ocular dominance (OD) plasticity. For instance, few days of monocular deprivation results in a robust reduction of cortical regions responsive to the deprived eye in normal animals, but not in ferrets exposed early to alcohol. This plasticity deficit can be reversed if alcohol-exposed animals are treated with a phosphodiesterase type 1 (PDE1) inhibitor during the period of monocular deprivation. PDE1 inhibition can increase cAMP and cGMP levels, activating transcription factors …

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Myelin Gene Expression: Implications For Alcohol Abuse And Dependence, Sean Farris Mar 2012

Myelin Gene Expression: Implications For Alcohol Abuse And Dependence, Sean Farris

Theses and Dissertations

Acute behavioral responses to ethanol have predictive value for determining an individual's risk of long-term drinking behavior. Although the neurobiology of alcohol abuse is complex, prior studies from our laboratory demonstrated differential myelin-associated gene expression (MAGE) in medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) as one potential mechanism influencing acute ethanol behaviors between C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) mice. Our laboratory and others have also shown MAGE is reduced in PFC of alcoholics. Herein, I have extended these findings through expression profiling of PFC into chronic models of ethanol self-administration from non-human primates and mice. Together, these results suggest that regulation of MAGE …

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Antinociceptive Effects Of Monoamine Reuptake Inhibitors In Assays Of Pain-Stimulated And Pain-Depressed Behaviors, Marisa Rosenberg Mar 2012

Antinociceptive Effects Of Monoamine Reuptake Inhibitors In Assays Of Pain-Stimulated And Pain-Depressed Behaviors, Marisa Rosenberg

Theses and Dissertations

ANTINOCICEPTIVE EFFECTS OF MONOAMINE REUPTAKE INHIBITORS IN ASSAYS OF PAIN-STIMULATED AND PAIN-DEPRESSED BEHAVIOR By Marisa B. Rosenberg A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012 Advisor: Sidney Stevens Negus, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology Noxious stimuli can produce pain-related stimulation of some behaviors (e.g. withdrawal responses) and depression of other behaviors (e.g. feeding, locomotion, responding maintained by many types of positive reinforcement). Monoamine reuptake inhibitors are used clinically to treat depression and to manage some types of pain. This study examined the antinociceptive properties …

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Factors Associated With Access To Palliative Care In A Large Urban Public Teaching Hospital With A Formal Hospital-Based Palliative Care Program, Leland Waters Mar 2012

Factors Associated With Access To Palliative Care In A Large Urban Public Teaching Hospital With A Formal Hospital-Based Palliative Care Program, Leland Waters

Theses and Dissertations

Hospital-based specialist palliative care services are designed to address the needs of critically ill patients by psychosocial and spiritual support, improving symptoms management, and offering discussions on goals of care. Integrating palliative care upstream in the care continuum for patients who eventually die in the hospital will help to address the many individualistic needs of the critically ill patient. The diffusion of specialist hospital-based palliative care services requires an understanding of patterns of utilization by patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the population characteristics of decedents who may or may not have utilized specialist palliative care services …

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A Cellular Automata Model Of Enantiomer Interactions With Beta-Cyclodextrin, Desoi Darren Mar 2012

A Cellular Automata Model Of Enantiomer Interactions With Beta-Cyclodextrin, Desoi Darren

Theses and Dissertations

The binding mechanisms of molecules to cyclodextrins continues to be studied to better explain the interactions occurring. The majority of published models focus on one-to-one molecular binding thermodynamics to explain experimental results. They rely on physical concepts of energies and forces to guide the actions of molecules expressed mathematically in terms of differential and non-linear equations. These models are limited in scope due to their complexity and are not easily expanded to study many diverse analytes. Conversely, cellular automata uses simple mathematical idealizations of systems governed by deterministic and probabilistic rules that are easily adaptable to many types of molecular …

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Use Of Procalcitonin As A Biomarker Of Bacterial Infection In Acute Liver Failure And Acute Liver Injury, Jody Balko Mar 2012

Use Of Procalcitonin As A Biomarker Of Bacterial Infection In Acute Liver Failure And Acute Liver Injury, Jody Balko

Theses and Dissertations

Infections in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) and acute liver injury (ALI) are a frequent occurrence. Because ALF and ALI patients share many of the same clinical features as patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, identifying an infection based upon clinical manifestations is extremely difficult. Bacterial culture and sensitivity reports require 24 to 72 hours to be finalized after the need for a culture is suspected and obtained. During this time period, ALF and ALI patients are either not receiving required antibiotic therapy, receiving antibiotic therapy that is not required or not appropriate for the infecting bacterial pathogen, …

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Elevating Endogenous Cannabinoids Reduces Opioid Withdrawal In Mice, Divya Ramesh Feb 2012

Elevating Endogenous Cannabinoids Reduces Opioid Withdrawal In Mice, Divya Ramesh

Theses and Dissertations

Delta9-tetrahydrocannbinol (THC), the primary active constituent of Cannabis sativa, has long been known to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. Although THC produces most of its pharmacological actions through the activation of CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, the role these receptors play in reducing opioid withdrawal symptoms remains unknown. The endogenous cannabinoids, N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide; AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG), activate both cannabinoid receptors, but are rapidly metabolized by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), respectively. The objective of this dissertation was to test whether increasing AEA or 2-AG, via inhibition of their respective hydrolytic enzymes, reduces morphine withdrawal symptoms in …

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