Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Diagnosis: Recurrent Ascites And Lower Extremity Edema In A 67-Year Old Female, Lea Alfi

Quill & Scope

In this clinical vignette, a third year medical student explores what may be ailing a 67-year old woman with ascites and lower extremity edema.

Social Networking Tools In The Modern Era Of Human Rights Protection, Odessa Balumbu, Richard Fazio, Mera Geis, Michael Karsy

Quill & Scope

Human rights are fundamental liberties that should be guaranteed to all human beings. These include things such as access to education and health care, food security, freedom from persecution and access to shelter, safety and security. Human rights promotion and international development have become popular philanthropic efforts and new technology is helping younger generations participate more easily. Whether through activism, fundraising or volunteering, there are many ways to make a difference. Pro- moting the awareness of and access to human rights is a job everyone can and should be a part of.

Sitting Down With Dr. John Weg: Pulmonary Medicine Pioneer, Jenny Lam, Edward Hurley

Quill & Scope

Recently, the Quill & Scope’s Jenny Lam and Edward Hurley spoke with pulmonary medicine pioneer Dr. John Weg, Class of 1959, about his career, medicine in general and his time at New York Medical College.

Another Look: Medical Cooperation And The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Danielle Masor

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

The Shell, Jordan Roth

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

Antidepressants Misrepresented, Steve Rockoff

Quill & Scope

In a January 2010 study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, investigators determined that for patients who had less than “very severe depression”, antidepressants have no measurable effect on de- pressive symptoms when compared to placebo. This resounding statement was widely circulated by every major national media outlet. If true, it has powerful implications for the millions of Americans who are currently prescribed antidepressants. The commentary at hand highlights several glaring flaws in the design and conclusions of these researchers’ meta-analysis, in an attempt to portray their findings in a less alarming and more realistic light.

Resident, Navid Shams

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Three Model Healthcare Delivery Systems, Gavin Stern

Quill & Scope

The United States is just now beginning its journey into a universal healthcare delivery system. On March 30, 2010, President Obama signed into law the “Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010” (H.R. 4872), which completed the work of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (H.R. 3590) signed on March 23, 2010. The effects of this legislation are phased in over the course of this new decade, but the final product is far from certain. Implementation could be legislated away with one election cycle. This article examines three model healthcare delivery systems that the United States could look …

Homeopathy, Charles Volk

Quill & Scope

For the first 50 years of NYMC's history, the school taught a form of medicine called 'homeopathy'. What is this form of medicine and what would it be like to go to a homeopathic medical school? The author shares his experiences in the world of alternative medicine and the time he spent in a homeo- pathic academy learning about energy medicine, impossibly diluted compounds, how the germ theory is wrong, how science is incorrect, and how miasms are at the core of all human suffering.

Our Valhalla: Thirty-Eight Years Of The ’New’ Nymc, Gavin Stern

Quill & Scope

“Our Valhalla” describes the history of the New York Medical College Valhalla campus, now nearly 40 years old. The article details how the campus evolved into its present form, including events leading to the closing of Flower & Fifth Avenue Hospital. Research for this article included consultation with fac- ulty, articles from the New York Times, and archived yearbooks. Photographs were collected from the Health Sciences Library and are interspersed throughout the issue.

Telemedicine Management Of Diabetics In An Underserved Community, J. Paul Nielsen, Pranav Mehta

Quill & Scope

Information technology via telemedicine offers the potential for cost-effective and active management of type 2 diabetes mellitus for people in high-risk underserved communities such as Harlem, NY and the Bronx, NY. Telemedicine is the use of telecommunications technology for medical diagnostic, monitor- ing, and therapeutic purposes to communicate information instantaneously from one location to another, such as from a patients’ home to a hospital. We compared the baseline Hemoglobin A1C levels to the levels recorded after the patient was enrolled in the Housecalls telemedicine program for at least 3 months. The initial results indicate that the Housecalls program is effective …

Can Cycles Of Neddylation And Deneddylation Provide Points For Possible Therapeutic Intervention?, Nadia Nocera

Quill & Scope

Neddylation plays a critical role in proteosomal degradation and the progression of the cell cycle. Inter- fering with the process of neddylation and deneddylation could provide points of therapy by promoting cell death or cell cycle arrest in cells that are undergoing rapid proliferation, such as in tumors. The cy- cle of neddylation and deneddylation is essential for cellular processes, and if it is inhibited or amplified in some way, this may disturb the proliferation of tumor and with further research, it may be used as a target for cancer therapy.

A Lesson From Iran: Improving Rural Primary Health Care In The United States, Navid Shams

Quill & Scope

In 1979, about a third of Iran’s population was living in rural areas that were mostly out of contact with health services. In the times of change that followed the revolution, primitive infrastructure and lack of resources challenged the development of a rural primary health care program. Successful implementa- tion of novel techniques, such as the use of front line health workers, led to political commitment, the program’s expansion, and much improved health status indicators. The program is now considered the foremost example among rural primary care systems. Consequently, Iranian experts have recently begun aiding in the development of a …

For Only A Moment, Daniel Weintraub

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

Life Fuel, Alanna Chait

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

It's Gonna Be All Right, Linda Demello

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

Women In Medicine, Marissa Friedman

Quill & Scope

The 150th Anniversary of New York Medical College inspires a reflective look into the journey of women in medicine. In a time when women did not receive the same rights as men, a few courageous women pushed to open the field of medicine for all to study. One of these women, Dr. Clemence Sophia Lozier, founded the first women’s medical school in New York City, New York Medical College for Women. In 1918 this school became incorporated into the original New York Medical College, to be- come the co-ed school known today. Despite small growth in the numbers of women …

Planck Versus Poe: Scientific And Poetic Approaches, Anita Kelkar

Quill & Scope

P A M Dirac wrote that "In science one tries to tell people, in such a way as to be understood by every- one, something that no one ever knew before. But in poetry, it’s the exact opposite." Dirac's quote con- fronts us with the question: Do both the scientific and poetic approaches ultimately enjoy equal success in expanding human knowledge?

Medamorphosis, Andrei Kreutzberg

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

Njinga, Stuart Mackenzie

Quill & Scope

This piece is based upon my experiences over the course of 18 months in Lusaka, Zambia with the Cen- ter for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ). I worked with patients in HIV/AIDS clinics across the country, coordinating community health initiatives and assisting in small business develop- ment for HIV support groups. In this setting, the limits and discrepancies in access to health care, nutri- tion, employment and education were stark and sobering, but it wasn’t necessary to venture into the heart of a compound to witness the risk factors faced by most Zambians. A simple commute to work was …

Cardiac Regeneration, Sara Leah Abraham

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The following is an excerpt from the introduction to this article: Cardiovascular disease is a generic term that refers to any illness or disorder that involves the heart and its vessels or the blood vessels of the body. Cardiovascular disease has been accepted as the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control’s National Vital Statistics Reports, twenty six percent of deaths in 2006, 631,636 in total, were caused by diseases of the heart (Heron et al. 2009).

One of the most common of all cardiovascular diseases is Ischaemic Heart Disease. This coronary artery disease often …

Benefits Of Breastfeeding, Renee Chill

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

When a child is born, a mother can choose to breastfeed her infant or to use an alternative source of nutrition such as formula. To choose properly, the mother must be informed about the pros and cons of each method of feeding. This paper will elaborate on the process of breastfeeding and present some of the benefits that are conferred to both infant and mother through the act of breastfeeding, benefits that formula does not provide. Breastfeeding positively affects infants in both the short- and long-term by providing protection from infectious diseases, fostering the psychological bond with their mothers, and …

Cardiac Tissue Regeneration - The Use Of Stem Cells, Chavy Friedlander

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The following is the introduction to the article: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of illness and fatality. Diseases such as coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and subsequent congestive heart failure pose a serious problem to much of the population in the Unites States and all over the world. The heart’s compromised function that results from the above conditions is so influential as the heart has little capacity to repair its lost tissue; once the cardiac myocytes are destroyed its effects are amplified by a drastic decrease in cardiac function. Until recently with the advent of stem cell technology, researchers …

Vitamin D3, Aryeh Grossman

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The following is the introduction of this article: Vitamin D is the only vitamin that is free. It can be easily obtained from exposure to sunlight and yet more than 60% of Americans are Vitamin D deficient (Ginde et al., 2009; Bones, Vitamin D, and Calcium, n.d). The significance of Vitamin D can’t be emphasized enough and is often overlooked. Some its profound effects are apparent in the prevention of various diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and cardiovascular disease et cetera. Many lives can be spared each year just by taking Vitamin D. From cancer alone, 23,000 deaths can …

Role Of Genetics In Prediction Of Coronary Artery Disease, Andrey Yuabov

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The following is the introduction of this article: Coronary arteries disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death in United States and rest of the world. It mostly involves atherogenic formation within the walls of the coronary arteries, which in turn restricts the adequate perfusion to the heart muscle. This leads to myocardial infarction and sudden death. In the past few decades the theories of coronary arteries disease pathogenesis have changed. The facts reveal that the onset of the disease can develop as early as childhood. The degree of the disease gradually progresses in stages and it is regarded as …

The Peanut Allergy Epidemic, Rivky Sachs

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Peanut allergy is one of the most predominant food allergies. It accounts for majority of the highly severe and fatal allergic reactions to food. Peanut allergy is generally detected early in life and is commonly associated with other atopic disorders such as asthma, eczema, and rhinitis. The prevalence and pervasiveness of peanut allergies is increasing worldwide, and most peanut allergic patients have lifelong sensitivities to peanuts (de Leon et al, 2008). Patients with severe allergies must stringently avoid any contact with peanuts and depend on intramuscular epinephrine (EpiPen) to counteract the reaction caused by intake of peanuts. Much research is …

Pompe’S Disease And The Effects Of Alpha-Glucosidase Deficiency, Aaron Richler

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The following is an excerpt from the introduction of this article: The energy that the body needs in order to function is obtained from carbohydrates that we get through our diet. These carbohydrates are monosacharides, disaccharides and polysacharides. The polysaccharides and disaccharides are hydrolyzed to monosaccharide’s such glucose (which comprises roughly 80%) fructose and galactose. Most cells convert the fructose and galactose to glucose. The body can use the glucose or store it. If energy is needed, glucose can be oxidized through the many reactions of glycolysis which gives a net production of 2 ATP and 2 NADH from one …

Pregnancy Associated Breast Cancer: An Analysis Of Fetal Treatment Risk, Melissa Barnett

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

There are several viable treatment options for patients with PABC considered un-harmful to fetal development. Trastusumab, or Herceptin, targets HER2 protein and successfully combats aggressive breast cancer. In standard doses, it appears to be safe to the fetus even when administered during the first trimester. A likely side effect of Herceptin is anhydramnios, which can be monitored for throughout the stages of a pregnancy (Shrim et al. 2008). Anthracyclines, commonly used in chemotherapy, appear to be non-toxic, and have been used to successfully cure PABC patients in their second and third trimester. However, first trimester spontaneous abortions are documented to …

Aspartame: A Sweet Toxin?, Atara Rena Degani

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanyl-methyl ester, commonly known as aspartame, is one of the most widely used and controversial sweeteners. Many have questioned the safety of this chemical, concerned that it may be neurotoxic and carcinogenic. Numerous studies have been conducted on the three basic constituents of aspartame: aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol; scientists have tried to determine whether the ingestion of aspartame will cause a significant increase in blood plasma levels of these chemicals, and whether such an increase is dangerous. This review analyzes various studies conducted on the health effects of these metabolitic byproducts of aspartame.

Clostridium Difficile Associated Disease (Cdad), Rivka H. Borger

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Clostridium difficile bacteria (C. difficile) are a spore-forming species of bacteria that lies dormant in the colon, in the presence of normal intestinal flora. Due to overuse of certain antibiotics, normal intestinal bacteria may be depleted, and combined with other possible risk factors, allow C. difficile bacterial spores to develop into active, infectious, and extremely resistant toxin-producing bacteria. The toxins cause severe damage and inflammation to the intestinal wall that can result in gastrointestinal discomfort and severe pseudomembranous enterocolitis that must be treated with a low-risk C. difficile targeting defense.