Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Secular Trends In Life Expectancy By Diet Status Among Never Smoking Seventh-Day Adventists, Noha Salim Daher

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

To evaluate how life expectancy changed by age and secular time from 1960 through 1988, two cohort studies, the Adventist Mortality Study (AMS, 1960-1985, n = 27,530) and the Adventist Health Study (AHS, 1976-1988, n = 34,192) were combined. The life expectancy of omnivores was compared to vegetarians separately in never-smoking males and females for all-cause mortality, and where the cause of death was cardiovascular disease or all site-cancer. Life expectancies were calculated for subjects who had survived to ages 30, 50, 70, and 80 during six calendar periods: 1960- 1964, 1965-1969, 1970-1974, 1975-1979, 1980-1984, and 1985-1988. Ten-year calendar periods …

Thought Suppression Change In Cancer Patients And Survivors After Writing, Erin O'Carroll Bantum

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Breast cancer is a debilitating and many times fatal disease that will affect approximately 215,990 women in the United States alone this year. Treatment for breast cancer can involve many physically and psychologically straining features. The illness perception theory states that individuals form illness representations to make sense of health threats and illness. These representations contain a number of individual, specific attributes about the illness identity, and cause, time-line, consequences of, and cure/control of the illness. Many women who have experienced breast cancer have also been found to be keeping their thoughts inside. Thought suppression has been linked to many …

The Application Of The Transtheoretical Model Of Change To Self-Care Behaviors In Type 2 Diabetics, Heather N. Mercer

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. The Transtheoretical Model of Change (TTM) has been investigated as a model of health behavior change; however, it has only begun to gain recognition in the diabetic population, and has not yet been investigated as it relates to the full-spectrum of diabetes self-care behaviors.

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to compare the pattern of stages of change across four self-care behaviors between intervention and control groups, and examine psychosocial and health outcome variables.

Method. In a cross-sectional design, a sample of 132 adult subjects with type 2 diabetes completed surveys. The survey assessed stages of change among …

Resonance Frequency Analysis As A Determinant Of Implant Initial Stability, Negar Tabandeh

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction: The clinicians' decision regarding immediate loading is largely determined by the assessment of initial stability of the dental implant. Computed tomographic assessment of recipient site bone quality, insertion resistance torque and post-insertion resonance frequency are currently the only objective methods of measurement establishing initial stability.

Purpose: A study was designed to measure resonance frequency of root form dental implants placed in cadaver jaws. The resonance frequency values were compared to previous subjective and objective data reported in prior studies in the series.

Materials and Methods: Resonance frequency measurements were secured using the Osstell ™ mentor unit on 4.0 X …

Histological Comparison Of White And Gray Mta In Repair Of Furcation Perforations, Miguel Elias Mego

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) has been shown to promote regeneration of the periodontal apparatus when used as a repair material in furcation perforations. Two variations of MTA (Gray and White) have been introduced to the dental market. The purpose of this study was to histologically compare the in vivo response to immediate furcation perforation repair using gray or white MTA in beagle dogs.

Under general anesthesia, non-surgical root canal therapy and furcal perforations were performed on sixteen mandibular premolars of eight 2-year old beagle dogs. The perforations were immediately repaired with either white (n=8) or gray (n=8) MTA. The animals …

Social Welfare Systems And Their Effects On Adolescent Violence, Injecting Drug Use, And Negative Health Behaviors, Elvin A. Hernandez

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Youth and young adults who are injection drug users (IDU’s) often live and survive in physical and emotional environments that are associated with negative behaviors and outcomes. Past environmental and social factors, such as participation in social welfare systems or institutionalization in foster care or juvenile hall, have been found to be associated with IDU-involved young adults’ health behaviors when they become older. Social networks, which include drug, sex, or hangout networks, may influence their health outcomes and behaviors. The goals of this dissertation include an investigation of how reported past social welfare participation and institutionalization is associated with IDU-involved …

The Effect Of Electrical Stimulation On Blood Flow In Chronic Wounds In Patients With And Without Diabetes, Daryl J. Lawson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background and Purpose. Only 3% of the U S population is afflicted by diabetes, yet one of the most common chronic wounds is the diabetic ulcer. Decrease in blood flow may be one reason why only 31% of neuropathic diabetic ulcers heal in 20-weeks. The purpose of this investigation was to compare healing rates and blood flow of chronic stage III and IV wounds in people with diabetes and those without diabetes over four weeks of treatment. Blood flow was measured before, during, and after stimulation using one of two different electrical stimulation waveforms in a 32°C room.

Subjects …

A Comparative Study Of Conventional-Ligating And Self-Ligating Bracket Systems, Gabriela Garcia

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this research was to determine the frictional resistance of four self-ligating brackets and two conventional bracket systems using two different types of orthodontic arch wires in both wet and dry fields. Six different brands of upper right central incisor brackets with 0.018-in slots were evaluated. Group A : self-ligating bracket: Opal (Ultradent), Damon 2 (Ormco), Time (American Orthodontics), In-Ovation (GAC). Group B: conventional-ligating: Virage (American Orthodontics), and Mini-Twin (Unitek) served as the control brackets. Two different orthodontic wires of varying alloys and sections were tested: 0.016-in round stainless steel (Ormco) and 0.016x0.022 inch rectangular nickel-titanium (American Orthodontics). …

Difference In Transverse Plane Scapular Position Of Professional Baseball Players Relative To Baseball Field Position, James M. Syms

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The objective of this study was to identify the variation of the scaption angle of professional baseball players among field position played. Subjects consisted of 109 minor league professional baseball players reporting for the 2002 spring training season, who were under contract with the Anaheim Angels professional baseball organization. Subjects reported to a sports medicine/physical therapy clinic for their 2002 spring training pre-participation physical examination. The scaption measurements were taken as a component of the examination.

Goniometric measurements were taken with the players in a relaxed standing position. Players were instructed to remain looking forward, roll their shoulders forward three …

Reasons For Complementary And Alternative Medicine Usage In Japanese Americans, Theodora Stratis

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has received much research attention in the last several years due to marked increase in usage in the U.S. To date, findings indicate that 34% of adults in the U.S. report using at least one form of CAM for the maintenance of general health and acute symptoms and such use continue to increase (Astin, 1998; Eisenberg et al., 1993). CAM therapies are also used by those who suffer from chronic physical and psychological symptoms not successfully treated by conventional medicine (Testerman et al., 2004). Though researchers have examined who is using CAM and why they …

The Effects Of Long Term Walnut Consumption On Levels Of Plasma Tocopherols And Inflammatory Mediators, Suwimol Sapwarobol

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of long term walnut consumption on plasma levels of tocopherols and the inflammatory mediators interleukin-1β (IL-1β ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and Creactive protein (CRP) in healthy participants. Ninety participants were recruited into a 12-month randomized crossover intervention study, which consisted of two phases, the walnut supplemented diet and the habitual diet. Participants were randomly assigned to either of these two phases for six months and then switched to the other phase for the second six months. During the walnut supplemented diet phase, participants incorporated walnuts (28-56 g/d) …

Comparison Of Different Methods Of Assessing Ridge Width Prior To Implant Placement, Lung-Cheng Chen

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The aim of this study was to compare the following 3 methods of assessing alveolar ridge dimensions prior to placement of dental implants: 1) ridge mapping measurement before surgical flap reflection using a caliper; 2) direct caliper measurement following surgical exposure of the bone, and 3) measurement using images from cone beam computerized tomography.

Sixteen subjects having 25 sites for planned implant placement or ridge augmentation were recruited. An acrylic stent was fabricated for each patient. The stent provided 3 buccal/lingual pairs of consistent measurement points for each implant site, located 4, 7 and 10 mm from the summit of …

Developing A Valid Screening Tool For Assessing Nutritional Adequacy And Osteoporosis Risk Among Vegans In The United States, Patricia Adelle Dyett

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The vegetarian lifestyle in the United States has increased significantly over recent decades. With this growth trend, it has become necessary to assess the pros and cons of vegetarian diet patterns, particularly with respect to nutrition adequacy and chronic disease concerns.

The vegan diet engenders more concern than other common vegetarian lifestyles because it seeks to replace all nutrient-rich animal food products with only plant foods. Consequently, there are concerns of compromised protein, calcium. vitamin D, vitamin B₁₂, n-3 fatty acid, zinc, and iron status. Moreover, because of typical vegan diet phenomena such as low BMI, low protein …

Correlates Of In-Home Smoking Behavior Of Parents With Newborns, James Kyung Jo

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Secondhand smoke has been shown to have adverse health effects on young children. It is associated with various health effects such as respiratory infections, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and asthma. Because of the dangers secondhand smoke poses to young children, there is a need for educating parents about the dangers of secondhand smoke as well as determining factors associated with secondhand smoke exposure among children. Understanding these factors may be first step toward developing strategies to reduce ETS exposure.

The study examined correlates of in-home smoking behavior of parents with newborns by analyzing 657 respondents who filled out the …

Motivated Breast Cancer Screening Behavior And Its Cultural Antecedents, Patricia M. Flynn

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Discrepancies in breast cancer screening behavior exist among various ethnic groups in the United States (Jacobs & Lauderdale, 2001), with Latino American women reporting particularly low screening rates in comparison to Anglo American women (ACS, 2002). Research indicates that behavior is in part influenced by aspects of culture and relevant psychological processes (Betancourt & Lopez, 1993; Betancourt & Fuentes, 2001). This study was designed to investigate the relations among cultural values, attributions regarding the causes for not screening, related emotions, expectancy that screening leads to early detection and value incentive of early detection as determinants of breast cancer screening intention …

Attributional Styles Of Women Who Quit Or Reduce Smoking In The Antepartum, Patricia T. Alpert

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Researchers in the field of smoking have sought to identify variables that predict whether or not pregnant smokers stop or continue to smoke. Most variables examined are demographic in nature and little is known about psychological variables associated with those who quit or reduce smoking while pregnant.

Purpose: To analyze attributional style and locus of control to determine which factors alone, or in combination, are associated with quitting versus reduced smoking among pregnant smokers.

Methodology: Pregnant smokers who quit (n = 66) or reduced their smoking (n = 43) were identified by the nursing staff at a women’s county …

Ethnic Identity And Body Ideal In Adolescent Girls, Erin E. Ramirez

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Adolescence is a period characterized by physical growth and maturation (Cobb, 1995). This normal biological process moves most American girls away from the thin ideal body shape that is dominant within the United States. Ethnic differences in ideal body size have in fact been found in several studies; but they have been shown based on ethnic group membership, not ethnic identification. The specific relationship of ethnic identity and body ideal for Mexican American, African American, and Anglo American adolescent females has not been clearly defined; Lopez, Blix, and Blix (1995) have hinted at the role of ethnic identification (through the …

The Effect Of Rapid Maxillary Expansion On Nasal Cavity Volume And Nasal Airway Resistance, Todd Ehrler

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study examined the effects of Rapid Maxillary Expansion (RME). Using Cone Beam CT scanning technology and Rhinomanometry, the volume and nasal airway resistance (NAR) of the nasal cavity was measured immediately before and after RME.

27 subjects (16 female, and 11 male), ages 9-18 were enrolled in the study. After RME all subjects had a statistically significant increase in nasal cavity volume. The pre expansion group experienced a statistically significant reduction in NAR when compared to the post expansion group. Individuals with a high pre expansion NAR experienced the greatest reduction in NAR. The correlation between change in volume …

Enterotoxin B Subunit Lectins As Adjuvants For Improvement Of Mucosal Vaccine, Nak-Won Choi

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

In comparison with whole organism vaccines, subunit vaccines may be safer for immunization but may lack sufficient immunogenicity to provide complete immunity to the pathogen. To resolve this problem, bacterial and plant enterotoxin B subunit adjuvants containing a variety of receptor-binding properties were used to enhance the immunogenicity of rotavirus subunit vaccines. Enterotoxin B subunit adjuvants were employed to enhance protection against virus infection. Pentameric cholera toxin B subunit (CTB), shiga toxin-1 B subunit (STB) and monomeric ricin toxin B subunit (RTB) molecules were genetically linked to a 90 amino acid peptide from the simian rotavirus (SA11) nonstructural protein NSP4 …

The Potential Role Of Ledgf/P75 In Prostate Cancer, Tracy Ruth Daniels

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The serum autoantibody repertoire from cancer patients is currently being exploited for the identification of tumor associated antigens (TAA) and the design of TAA arrays. Such arrays would facilitate autoantibody profiling and potentially aid in the serological diagnosis and prognosis of tumors. The goal of this study was to identify and characterize prostate-specific TAA. We observed that while the general frequency and titers of autoantibodies in PCa patients were relatively similar to those in matched controls, significant differences could be detected between the two groups in the autoantibody response to the lens epithelial-derived growth factor p75 (LEDGF/p75). LEDGF/p75 is a …

P14arf : A P53-Independent Tumor Suppressor, Monte W. Miller

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Many genetic alterations at the CDKN2A locus on human chromosome 9 have been shown to be at least partially responsible for transformation of cells to a cancerous phenotype. This locus encodes two proteins, p16 and p14, that play a pivotal role in tumor surveillance.

Breakdowns in the p14 pathway have been estimated to be present in approximately 40% of human cancers and only recently have its binding partners and effects begun to be defined. Its interaction with the p53 pathway, which is estimated to be inactivated or mutated in 50% of all cancers, makes it difficult to determine its own …

The Effect Of Topical Fluorides On The Microleakage Of Sealants, N. Jared Nation

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible microleakage found in two groups of sealants; a group bonded with a dentin bonding agent (DBA), and a group bonded without a DBA after exposure to a variety of topical fluorides.

Materials and Methods: Extracted, human molars were placed into 8 groups. Half of the groups contained sealants that were bonded with a DBA and the other remaining groups of sealants were bonded without a DBA. There were two control groups, one that had sealants bonded with a DBA and the other had sealants bonded without a DBA, but …

The Effect Of Naocl, Ca(Oh)2, Mta And Mtad On Root Dentin Fracture Resistance, Sunil Ilapogu

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Various materials are used for the treatment of immature teeth that have been subjected to trauma or decay. It is not well established what effect these materials may have on the immature root dentin. A concern would be the resistance to fracture of the remaining root dentin. The purpose of this study was to compare the resistance of fracture of bovine teeth treated with sodium hypochlorite, calcium hydroxide, gray MTA and gray MTA in conjunction with MTAD after certain periods of time. One hundred and ninety five freshly extracted, intact bovine incisors were prepared using a modified Haapasalo and Orstavik …

Cbct Panoramic Images Vs. Traditional Panoramic Radiographs, Sunny Young Hutchinson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this research was to compare the accuracy of angular measurements of the panoramic image of the Newtom 9000™ Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) with the Sirona™ Orthophos panoramic unit. The study was separated into three parts: phantom study, patient study, and archform study. The phantom study used fabricated phantom typodonts to compare angular measurements between the Newtom 9000™ panoramic image and the Sirona™ panoramic radiograph. Accuracies of the measurements were then determined by comparing the values to the actual phantom typodont. No marked differences in angular measurements were recorded for the phantom typodont using either of the …

A Study Of Pediatric Heart Transplant Patients In Relationship To Post Transplant Coronary Artery Disease, Mark Randall

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Post transplant coronary artery disease influences short and long-term survival of pediatric heart transplant recipients. Associated cardiovascular disease risk factors among non-heart transplant adult and pediatric heart populations for development of coronary artery disease have been documented. Little is known about these typical cardiovascular disease risk factors as well as other possible risk factors in the development of post transplant coronary artery disease. Objective: The purpose of this research was to examine children/adolescents (n=194), 5-18 years old, at least one-year post heart transplant. This study also investigated if there were physiological and psychological/behavioral differences between recipients with (n = 28) …

Assessment Of A Body Composition-Focused Approach To Obesity Treatment, Beverly D. Hall

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Obesity is a significant United States’ public health concern. However, high relapse rates continue to be a problem for obesity treatment programs while the focus remains on weight loss, not body composition change. This study examined whether a clinic-based obesity treatment program, focused on body composition change through resistance training, lead to improved body composition, exercise behaviors, and attitude change from focus on weight loss to body composition change. Improvements in self efficacy, outcome expectations and stages of change were also examined. Forty-eight physician-referred overweight or obese adult women (mean body fat 41%, SD = 6.65%), completed assessments and questionnaires …

Cultural Value Orientations, Attributions, And Breast Cancer Screening Behaviors, Patricia M. Flynn

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Discrepancies in breast cancer screening behavior exist among various ethnic groups in the United States (Jacobs & Lauderdale, 2001), with Latino American women reporting particularly low screening rates in comparison to Anglo American women (ACS, 2002). Research indicates that behavior is in part influenced by aspects of culture and relevant psychological processes (Betancourt & Lopez, 1993; Betancourt & Fuentes, 2001). This study was designed to investigate the relations among cultural values, attributional processes, and breast cancer screening behavior among Anglo and Latino women. This study also investigated the influence of acculturation among Latino women in relation to the other study …

Language Sampling Analyses: Bridging The Gap Between Assessment And Therapy, Maria C. Wood

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Six language sampling analyses: (a) MLU, (b) Grammatical Morpheme Analysis, (c) Sentence Development Analysis, (d) TTR, (e) Semantic Roles/Categories, and (f) LSAT were performed on language samples elicited from five subjects age range 5:8 – 7:0 years. Efficacy of these analyses were determined by: (a) how well intervention targets could be determined to address identified deficits, (b) effects of length of sample size on assessment findings, (c) precision of the analyses’ results, and (d) the validity of the “time-consumption” often associated with language sampling analyses. Results indicated that language sample analyses bridged the gap between assessment and intervention by making …

Pediatric Obesity: Intervention Outcomes, Kristy Anne Kuehfuss

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Childhood obesity is a national epidemic with serious medical and psychological implications. Almost one-fourth of children in the United States are overweight. Children do not typically grow out of obesity and without intervention the majority of overweight children become overweight adults. Further, childhood obesity results in numerous chronic medical conditions. Thus, the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity are paramount to the avoidance of resultant physical and psychological risk factors. Loma Linda University’s Growing Fit Program seeks to serve the critical and urgent needs of the ever-increasing population of obese children with a multi-disciplinary approach to pediatric weight management. Evaluating …

Coping Patterns Among Perpetrators Of Child Sexual Abuse, Henry Adolphus Beck

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study examined the coping and religious coping strategies used by child sexual abuse (CSA) perpetrators. It was hypothesized that (1) Perpetrators of incestuous CSA would show greater use of Emotion-Oriented coping than perpetrators of non-incestuous CSA, (2) perpetrators of non-incestuous CSA would show greater use of Task-Oriented coping than perpetrators of incestuous CSA (3) Perpetrators of incestuous CSA would show greater use of Avoidance-Oriented coping than perpetrators of non-incestuous CSA, and (4) there would be a difference in the use of positive and negative religious coping between groups of incestuous and non-incestuous CSA perpetrators. Participants completed the Coping Inventory …