Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 77, No. 3, 2000)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 77, No. 2, 2000)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 77, No. 4, 2000)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Kinetics And Mechanisms Of Macromolecular Disposition In The Rat Lung, Masahiro Sakagami

Theses and Dissertations

The kinetics and mechanisms of macromclecular absorption from the airways of the rat lung were studied in vivo and in vitro, following identical solute administration methods. The isolated perfused rat lung (IPRL) was used as an in vitro model, and the disposition of 7.4 and 4.3 kDa fluorophore-labeled polyhydroxyethylaspartamide (F-PHEA) and other small and macromolecular reference solutes was investigated across doses and in the presence of a variety of biochemical inhibitors.

Absorption profiles of F-PHEA, and the solute's lung distribution at different times after administration, were statistically identical in vivo and in vitro, showing that the IPRL possessed a viable …

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 77, No. 1, 2000)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Origins And Development Of The Massey Cancer Center, Walter Lawrence Jr.

VCU University History Books

A history of the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University written by Director Emeritus, Walter Lawrence, Jr., M.D. The volume includes photographs and a timeline. Lawrence's signature appears on the title page.

Study Of P53 Gain Of Function Mutations In P53-Null Astrocytes, Sang H. Choi

Theses and Dissertations

A number of recent studies suggest that expression of mutant p53 with mutations in certain codons show a gain of function and some of the characteristics of an oncoprotein. In order to study gain of function mutation and eliminate the potential of a dominant negative interaction with endogenous wild type p53 protein, p53 knockout mouse astrocytes were used. A retrovirus system was used to introduce mutant p53 genes into these p53-null astrocytes. Immunohistochemical staining and western blot experiments showed the expression of mutant p53 protein in these cells after infection with the mutant p53 retroviruses. Cell growth experiment did not …

Excisional Wound Healing And The Role Of Homeobox Genes, David Allen Lanning

Theses and Dissertations

The biochemical and physiologic mechanisms responsible for excisional wound contraction have been extensively studied but are not completely understood. Furthermore, the genes that regulate these processes are unknown. As a result, there are limited treatment options available for patients with diseases or conditions characterized by abnormal tissue contraction. In an attempt to improve our understanding of these mechanisms and identify some of the putative regulatory genes, we studied excisional wound healing in the mid-gestational fetal rabbit. These wounds normally do not contract nor are they associated with inflammation, fibrosis, or scar formation. However, we have been able to induce contraction, …

The Determinants Of Post-Discharge Healthcare Utilization And Outcomes For Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Social Ecological Perspective, Shyuemeng Luu

Theses and Dissertations

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has a persistent nature: PTSD troubles patients

even decades after the occurrence of traumatic events. The “health behavioral model” is

adopted to examine the effects of external environmental, predisposing, enabling, and

need for care factors on the use of VA post-discharge ambulatory care and readmissions.

Data were obtained from the Patient Treatment File (PTF) and the Outpatient Care File

(OPT), the Area Resource File (ARF), American Hospital Association data sets (AHA), and the Uniform Crime Report (UCR).

The use of VA post-discharge ambulatory care is analyzed by using structural equation modeling (SEM). The readmission to VAMCs …

Outcomes Of Pregnancy In Women With Cystic Fibrosis, Bethany Jean Geldmaker

Theses and Dissertations

Medical advances in disease management has improved quality of life for women with cystic fibrosis (CF) and now enables them to consider pregnancy. The purpose of the study was to examine women's perceptions of how the demands of having CF influenced their ability to care for their children and continue to meet their own health needs. The study design was grounded theory methodology with a complementarity research technique to incorporate qualitative and quantitative data collection. Participants were 12 women recruited over the Internet and through an adult CF newsletter who completed questionnaires for demands of illness (DOlI) and self care …

Modulation Of The Bursting Properties Of Single Mouse Pancreatic Β-Cells By Artificial Conductances, T.A. Kinard, G. De Vries, A. Sherman, L. S. Satin

Pharmacology and Toxicology Publications

Abstract

Glucose triggers bursting activity in pancreatic islets, which mediates the Ca²⁺ uptake that triggers insulin secretion. Aside from the channel mechanism responsible for bursting, which remains unsettled, it is not clear whether bursting is an endogenous property of individual β-cells or requires an electrically coupled islet. While many workers report stochastic firing or quasibursting in single cells, a few reports describe single-cell bursts much longer (minutes) than those of islets (15–60 s). We studied the behavior of single cells systematically to help resolve this issue. Perforated patch recordings were made from single mouseβ-cells or hamster …

Low Vision In Older Adults, Jeffrey C. Michaels, Mary D. Bullock

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. Understand the epidemiology of visual impairments of older adults.

2. Understand the symptoms of functional loss secondary to visual impairments.

3. Understand the rehabilitative options available for those with vision loss.

4. Understand the multi-disciplinary approach in low vision rehabilitation.

5. Understand the impact of low vision rehabilitation services.

Ethical Concerns In The Care Of Individuals With Alzheimer’S Disease, Jeanne Sorrell

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. Identify important ethical concerns in the care of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease.

2. Describe the use of the Fairhill Guidelines as a frame-work for study of ethical issues related to the care of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease.

3. Discuss interventions to assist individuals with dementia and their family members in exploring ethical concerns.

Merging A Divided System: The Need To Integrate Care For Individuals Participating In Both The Medicare And Medicaid Programs, Regina L. Anderson-Cloud

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. Identify the underlying premises of the need to integrate care between the Medicare and Medicaid programs for individuals eligible for both insurances.

2. Discuss innovations aimed at assisting older adults with an improved Medicare/Medicaid system.

3. Describe relevant health care concerns related to the current fragmentation of the health care system for older adults who possess both Medicare and Medicaid.

Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training, Rita Jablonski, David A. Cifu, Peter A. Boling, Patricia Slattum, A. Leigh Peyton, F. Ellen Netting, Iris A. Parham, Joan B. Wood

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. To demonstrate the importance of training health care professionals in inter-disciplinary teamwork and geriatric health issues.

2. To increase one’s knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of the various disciplines involved in interdisciplinary teamwork.

Ovulatory And Metabolic Effects Of D-Chiro-Inositol In The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, John E. Nestler, Daniela J. Jakubowicz , M.D., Paula Reamer , M.A., Ronald D. Gunn , M.S., Geoffrey Allan , Ph. D.

Obstetrics and Gynecology Publications

BACKGROUND

Women with the polycystic ovary syndrome have insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, possibly because of a deficiency of a d-chiro-inositol–containing phosphoglycan that mediates the action of insulin. We hypothesized that the administration of d-chiro-inositol would replenish stores of the mediator and improve insulin sensitivity.

METHODS

We measured steroids in serum and performed oral glucose-tolerance tests before and after the oral administration of 1200 mg of d-chiro-inositol or placebo once daily for six to eight weeks in 44 obese women with the polycystic ovary syndrome. The serum progesterone concentration was measured weekly to monitor for …

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 76, No. 4, 1999)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 76, No. 2, 1999)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 76, No. 3, 1999)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Virginia Dental Journal (Vol. 76, No. 1, 1999)

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Psychoneuroimmunology And Healing Touch In Hiv Disease, Jo Lynne Wheeler Robins

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of Healing Touch (HT) on well-being and neuroendocrine function in individuals living with HIV disease. A total of 27 males completed the 4-week HT intervention. Each weekly HT session lasted 30 minutes and consisted of only the chakra connection, Because of the small sample size and the impact of gender on neuroendocrine and immune function, women were not included in this study Dependent variables included well-being as measured by three well-being and two psychological distress instruments, serum serotonin, salivary DHEA and cortisol, and a variety of enumerative and functional measures …

Rt-Pcr Localization Of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (Pepck) Mrna In Rat Proximal Tubule Segments During Ammonium Chloride Acidosis, Matthew Rankin Craig

Theses and Dissertations

In metabolic acidosis, the early increase in PEPCK mRNA and enzyme protein content contributes to the accelerated rates of ammonium and glucose formation. In situ hybridization demonstrated that expression of PEPCK was confined to medullary rays of rat kidney cortex in controls and spread throughout the cortex 10 hours following NH4Cl feeding (Am.J. Physiol., 267: F400, 1994). To identify the specific nephron segments expressing PEPCK in control and acidotic conditions, the mRNA for PEPCK along the nephron of the rat kidney was localized using the technique of reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in individual microdissected S1, S2 and …

A Golden Foundation For Building The Future

VCU University History Books

Founded in 1949, the Department of Health Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University has been recognized as one of the first programs of its kind and as one of America’s first distance-learning programs. This book explores how the department evolved with healthcare during its first 50 years and describes the department's growth, including PhD research, the Grant House, and international studies.

Effects Of Metformin On Spontaneous And Clomiphene-Induced Ovulation In The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, John E. Nestler , M.D., Daniela J. Jakubowicz , M.D., William S. Evans , M.D., Renato Pasquali , M.D.

Obstetrics and Gynecology Publications

ABSTRACT

Background Obese women with the polycystic ovary syndrome are relatively unresponsive to the induction of ovulation by clomiphene. We hypothesized that reducing insulin secretion by administering metformin would increase the ovulatory response to clomiphene.

Methods We performed oral glucose-tolerance tests before and after the administration of 500 mg of metformin or placebo three times daily for 35 days in 61 obese women with the polycystic ovary syndrome. Women who did not ovulate spontaneously were then given 50 mg of clomiphene daily for five days while continuing to take metformin or placebo. Serum progesterone was measured on days 14, 28, …

Atovaquone Compared With Dapsone For The Prevention Of Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia In Patients With Hiv Infection Who Cannot Tolerate Trimethoprim, Sulfonamides, Or Both, Wafaa M. El-Sadr , M.D., M.P.H., Robert L. Murphy , M.D., Teresa Mccabe Yurik , M.S., Roberta Luskin-Hawk , M.D., Tony W. Cheung , M.D., Henry H. Balfour , Jr., M.D., Robert Eng , M.D., Thomas M. Hooton , M.D., Thomas M. Kerkering , M.D., Malte Schutz , M.D., Charles Van Der Horst , M.D., Richard Hafner , M.D.

Internal Medicine Publications

BACKGROUND

Although trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole is the drug of choice for the prevention of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, many patients cannot tolerate it and must switch to an alternative agent.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter, open-label, randomized trial comparing daily atovaquone (1500-mg suspension) with daily dapsone (100 mg) for the prevention of P. carinii pneumonia among patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus who could not tolerate trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole. The median follow-up period was 27 months.

RESULTS

Of 1057 patients enrolled, 298 had a history of P. carinii pneumonia.P. cariniipneumonia developed in 122 of 536 patients assigned to atovaquone (15.7 cases per …

Interferon Alfa-2b Alone Or In Combination With Ribavirin As Initial Treatment For Chronic Hepatitis C, John G. Mchutchison , M.D., Stuart C. Gordon , M.D., Eugene R. Schiff , M.D., Mitchell L. Shiffman , M.D., William M. Lee , M.D., Vinod K. Rustgi , M.D., Zachary D. Goodman , M.D., Ph.D., Mei-Hsui Ling , Ph.D., Susannah Cort , M.D., Janice K. Albrecht , Ph.D.

Internal Medicine Publications

BACKGROUND

Only 15 to 20 percent of patients with chronic hepatitis C have a sustained virologic response to interferon therapy. We compared the efficacy and safety of recombinant interferon alfa-2b alone with those of a combination of interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin for the initial treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

METHODS

We randomly assigned 912 patients with chronic hepatitis C to receive standard-dose interferon alfa-2b alone or in combination with ribavirin (1000 or 1200 mg orally per day, depending on body weight) for 24 or 48 weeks. Efficacy was assessed by measurements of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA …

Quality Of Life And Clinical Outcomes In Elderly Patients Treated With Ventricular Pacing As Compared With Dual-Chamber Pacing, Gervasio A. Lamas , M.D., E. John Orav , Ph.D., Bruce S. Stambler , M.D., Kenneth A. Ellenbogen , M.D., Elena B. Sgarbossa , M.D., Shoei K. Stephen Huang , M.D., Roger A. Marinchak , M.D., N.A. Mark Estes , M.D., Gary F. Mitchell , M.D., Eric H. Lieberman , M.D., Carol M. Mangione , M.D., Lee Goldman , M.D., John J. Griffin, James D. Maloney, Carlos Rizo-Patrón, Ferdinand J. Venditti, Bruce L. Wilkoff

Internal Medicine Publications

ABSTRACT

Background Standard clinical practice permits the use of either single-chamber ventricular pacemakers or dual-chamber pacemakers for most patients who require cardiac pacing. Ventricular pacemakers are less expensive, but dual-chamber pacemakers are believed to be more physiologic. However, it is not known whether either type of pacemaker results in superior clinical outcomes.

Methods The Pacemaker Selection in the Elderly study was a 30-month, single-blind, randomized, controlled comparison of ventricular pacing and dualchamber pacing in 407 patients 65 years of age or older in 29 centers. Patients received a dual-chamber pacemaker that had been randomly programmed to either ventricular pacing or …

Interferon Alfa-2b Alone Or In Combination With Ribavirin For The Treatment Of Relapse Of Chronic Hepatitis C, Gary L. Davis , M.D., Rafael Esteban-Mur , M.D., Vinod Rustgi , M.D., John Hoefs , M.D., Stuart C. Gordon , M.D., Christian Trepo , M.D., Mitchell L. Shiffman , M.D., Stefan Zeuzem , M.D., Antonio Craxi , M.D., Mei-Hsui Ling , Ph.D., Janice Albrecht , Ph.D.

Internal Medicine Publications

BACKGROUND

Interferon alfa is the only effective treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C. Forty percent of patients have an initial response to this therapy, but most subsequently relapse. We compared the effect of interferon alone with that of interferon plus oral ribavirin for relapses of chronic hepatitis C.

METHODS

We studied 345 patients with chronic hepatitis C who relapsed after interferon treatment. A total of 173 patients were randomly assigned to receive standard-dose recombinant interferon alfa-2b concurrently with ribavirin (1000 to 1200 mg orally per day, depending on body weight) for six months, and 172 patients were assigned to …

A Comparison Of Four Treatments For Generalized Convulsive Status Epilepticus, David M. Treiman , M.D., Patti D. Meyers , M.P.A., Nancy Y. Walton , Ph.D., Joseph F. Collins , Sc.D., Cindy Colling , R.Ph., M.S., A. James Rowan , M.D., Adrian Handforth , M.D., Edward Faught , M.D., Vincent P. Calabrese , M.D., Basim M. Uthman , M.D., R. Eugene Ramsay , M.D., Meenal B. Mamdani , M.D., Pratap Yagnik , M.D., John C. Jones , M.D., Elizabeth Barry , M.D., Jane G. Boggs , M.D., Andres M. Kanner , M.D.

VCU Health Publications

ABSTRACT

Background and Methods Although generalized convulsive status epilepticus is a life-threatening emergency, the best initial drug treatment is uncertain. We conducted a five-year randomized, doubleblind, multicenter trial of four intravenous regimens: diazepam (0.15 mg per kilogram of body weight) followed by phenytoin (18 mg per kilogram), lorazepam (0.1 mg per kilogram), phenobarbital (15 mg per kilogram), and phenytoin (18 mg per kilogram). Patients were classified as having either overt generalized status epilepticus (defined as easily visible generalized convulsions) or subtle status epilepticus (indicated by coma and ictal discharges on the electroencephalogram, with or without subtle convulsive movements such as …

Preventing The Unnecessary Losses Of Alzheimer's Disease, Lin E. Noyes

Case Studies from Age in Action

Educational Objectives

1. To state the importance of early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

2. To describe common concerns of people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

3. To describe interventions to help people who have recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.