Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Synovial Fluid Hydrostatic Pressure In The Tmj After Mandibular Advancement In Sus Scrofa, Samuel A. Demirdji

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Mandibular advancement is performed in patients routinely by traditional bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) or less commonly by distraction osteogenesis (DO). The influence of mandibular advancement on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is well recognized but not fully explored. This study involved the direct measurement of synovial fluid hydrostatic pressure (SFHP) in the TMJ after mandibular advancement by either BSSO or DO in two male mature minipigs, Sus scrofa. Titanium pressure transducers were inserted into the right superior temporomandibular joint spaces of the minipigs and the measurements were displayed on an AC/DC amplifier. The first minipig underwent BSSO, which involved immediate …

Multiple Psychosocial Factors As Predictors In The Progression Of Hiv-1 To Aids, Robert Louis Dutile

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Nearly 3.1 million individuals have died of AIDS as of December 2002 and more than 38.6 million individuals were identified as being infected with HIV (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AEDS (UNAIDS) and World Health Organization (WHO) 2002). Psychoneuroimmunology is a discipline that increases our understanding of the relationships between psychosocial factors, the central nervous system, the immune system, and disease. From this perspective, this study reviews the biopsychosocial medical model and components of the stress-immunity-health (SET) model. The constructs of stress and social support are discussed and defined referencing current theory and research. In addition, physiological mechanisms of stress …

The Psychological Characteristics Of Obese Children, Thomas Taylor Mitchell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Several studies along with the surgeon general of the United States have identified obesity as a national health issue. Research indicates that adult obesity treatment has relatively poor long-term effects. Consequently increased attention has been given to addressing obesity in children. This focus is particularly vital due to the fact that children are one of the populations showing the most rapid increase in overweight and obesity. The purpose of this study was to identify the some of the unique psychological characteristics of obese children by analyzing the intake data of children and adolescents attending the Loma Linda University Growing Fit …

The Effectiveness Of A Congestive Heart Failure Teaching Program To Community-Based Elders, Debbie Meggs

MSN Research Projects

Heart failure affects more than 4.6 million people in the United States (Dahl & Penque, 2000). While mortality from myocardial infarction is on the decline, congestive heart failure numbers continue to rise. Statistics indicate that 550,000 cases occur each year, at an estimated cost of $21.4 billion a year (National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 2002). Elders with congestive heart failure (CHF) do not always understand their disease nor do they recognize its symptoms. Recognition of CHF symptoms can lead to improved management and self-care. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to provide basic, low-literacy …

Returning Home And Leaving Again: A Phenomenological Investigation Of A Sojourner’S Experience, Victoria Christofi

Doctoral Dissertations

Two studies were conducted for this project. The goal of the first study was to describe the structure of the experience of individuals who have returned home after their stay abroad. The goal of the second study was to describe the structure of the experience of individuals who have returned to the country in which they studied, after having returned home. To accomplish these goals, phenomenological interviews were conducted with seventeen participants. In the first study, nine participants were interviewed in their own country after they had been abroad for their studies. In the second study, eight participants were interviewed; …

“Effects Of N-3 And N-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids On Human Promyelocytic Hl- 60 Cells, Robert Clements Gillis

Doctoral Dissertations

Enteral nutrition with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5 n-3) and γ-linolenic acid (GLA; 18:3 n-6) decreased pulmonary inflammation by reducing neutrophil counts and chemotactic factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid during acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We hypothesize that the antiinflammatory effects of EPA and GLA may be due, in part, to induction of neutrophil apoptosis. Neutrophil apoptosis is an important physiological process in the resolution of pulmonary inflammation. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory eicosanoids formed from arachidonic acid (AA) by lipoxygenase (LO) and cyclooxygenase (COX) pathways have been shown to inhibit apoptosis in certain cell types. The purpose of this dissertation is to determine …

Identification Of Common Variables Among A Select Group Of Children With Autism, Angela Yarbrough

MSN Research Projects

Autism has become the topic of much recent debate. Autism is a serious, lifelong developmental disability characterized by significant impairments in reciprocal social interactions and communication skills, as well as a restricted and repetitive pattern of interests and or behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Minimal information is available about the prevalence or causes of the disorder in the United States. The purpose of this descriptive study was to find and identify common variables among a select group of children diagnosed with autism. Roger's Science of Unitary Human Beings served as the theoretical framework for this study. Rogers (1980) states that …

The Relationship Among Lifestyle, Self-Esteem, And Body Mass Index In Children, Wanda Stroupe

MSN Research Projects

Current research demonstrated that childhood obesity has dramatically increased, especially in the rural South. Current research suggests that 25% of children are currently obese while there has been a 75% increase in relative obesity in children over the past three decades. A correlational, descriptive design was utilized to examine the following hypothesis : There will be a significant correlation among the variables of selfesteem, lifestyle, and body mass index in children. The purpose of this study was to determine if a significant correlation exists among body mass index, lifestyles, and self-esteem in children. Erickson, Tomlin, and Swain's Modeling-Role Modeling Theory …

Facilitators And Barriers To Compliance Of Middle-Aged Hypertensive African-American Adults, Monica Jones

MSN Research Projects

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, such as atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke. Surveys indicate that one out of four Americans has high blood pressure. It occurs more often in men than women and is most common in African-American males. Despite the fact that there are constantly improving treatments available, many hypertensive patients are noncompliant with prescribed treatment plans. The focus of this descriptive study was to identify facilitators and barriers to compliance in hypertensive middle-aged African American adults. Pender's Health Promotion Model served as the theoretical framework. The research question guiding this study was as follows: …

Primary Care Providers' Prescribing Practices Of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Ginger Dowell

MSN Research Projects

The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is rapidly growing among the general population. Researchers have identified only minimal empirical data regarding the SSRI-prescribing practices among primary care providers. The focus of this descriptive study was to explore SSRI-prescribing practices of primary care providers. Benner's (1984) Novice to Expert Model was the theoretical framework used to conduct this study. The research questions used to guide the research were as follows: What factors influence the prescribing practices of primary care providers regarding SSRIs? And what are the perceived competency levels of primary care providers in prescribing SSRIs? The research design …

Effects Of Mentholatum On Onychomycosis Of The Toenail, Susan Cappleman

MSN Research Projects

As many as 25% of the population age 60 years and older may be affected by onychomycosis, a chronic infection that is difficult to cure. Onychomycosis can cause pain and soft tissue injury that can lead to infection affecting gait from discomfort. Current oral medications available for the treatment of onychomycosis are costly and can pose the risk of serious side effects. The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of Mentholatum was an effective and cost-efficient means to treat onychomycosis of the toenail in elders. The Neuman Systems Model was used as the theoretical framework: specifically, …

Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioners’ Practices O F Assessment For The State O F Thriving Among Community-Based Elders, Judy Labonte

MSN Research Projects

The increasing life span of people within the developed world may produce major health problems for the elder. These health problems lead to premature declines in function and cognition. Many healthcare professionals do not recognize these declines until the need for institutionalized care is urgent. Research has demonstrated that healthcare professionals either fail to recognize or address these declines, contributing to poor outcomes for the elder and the exponential rise in healthcare expenses o f the Medicare and Medicaid funds. This exploratory, descriptive study was designed to examine the level of assessment by primary care family nurse practitioners (FNPs) for …

Knowledge Of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors And Perception Of Risk In Women, Kimberly Kuykendall-Marlar

MSN Research Projects

More women than men are dying of cardiovascular disease. The misconception persists that heart disease is a "man's disease" and not an urgent health care issue for women. In the United States, heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined. In 1997, 228,679 women died due to cardiovascular disease, and 41,443 women died from breast cancer. Yet, women are still not assessed effectively for their risk factors for cardiovascular disease; therefore, women are under-diagnosed and under-treated for this disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate women's knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors, assess their perception of risk, …

United States Air Force Security Forces Merger And Career Satisfaction Relating To Retention, Clint A. Cantrell

Masters Theses

The relationship between the Air Force merger of Law Enforcement personnel, Security Police personnel, and Combat Arms Training and Maintenance personnel into the Air Force Security Forces Career Field; and job retention was investigated among 209 Air Force Security Forces Enlisted Personnel at five different Air Force bases (Columbus Air Force Base (AFB), MS, Keesler AFB, MS, Eglin AFB, FL, Hurlburt Field Air Base, FL, and Moody AFB, GA). Participants completed a 91-item survey designed to measure merger satisfaction, career and job satisfaction, life satisfaction, job involvement, job stress, turnover intentions and demographic data. The results showed only four items …

Identifying Compliance Issues In The Community Health Care Clinic Environment, Faye K. Beery

Graduate Theses

This study explored the high number of failed appointments and follow-up appointments at a community health care children’s clinic. A thirty-seven item questionnaire was randomly given to 112 participants seeking health care at the clinic on a random basis. Based on literature reviews, five hypothesis were generated to examine reasons for failing to keep appointments for children: 1. Communication difficulties between healthcare personnel and parents regarding patient comprehension of instructions and bottle directions were anticipated. 2. Patient/physician/clinic relationships were expected to influence patient compliance. The need for more reminder calls for appointments was anticipated to be a factor in patient …

Prediction Of 1976 Diabetes Incidence From 1960 Animal Product Consumption Among California Seventh-Day Adventists, Arnold Vang

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes in the US has been estimated at more than 16 million individuals (King, 1998). This has led to research into lifestyle practices (Astrup, 2001; Touomilehto, 2001), which has identified several of primary prevention. High fat diet and type 2 diabetes has been attributed to the wellareas known mechanisms of hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance (Ferrannini, 1999; Reaven, 1988).

We examined the association between all animal product consumption, specific animal product consumption and diabetes incidence among California Seventh-day Adventists who were cohort members of the Adventist Mortality Study (Kahn, 1984) and the Adventist Health …

Breast Cancer - Preventive Care And Screening Patterns Among Hispanic Women In The Rio Grande Valley, Sreelatha Gobburu

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Although breast cancer rates are lower among Hispanic women than among white women, Hispanics are more likely to die from this disease. This may be related to the fact that Hispanic women are less likely to practice preventive care methods such as Breast Self Exam (BSE) and Mammography. Cultural beliefs and attitudes about diseases play a significant role in Hispanic health behavior. Access to and availability of medical services, affective reactions towards cancer screening and treatment methods, and socioeconomic and demographic factors are stronger determinants of health care practices of Hispanic women. This study examines screening patterns of Hispanic women …

Sibling Death In Childhood: An Evaluation Of The Literature Regarding Inclusion Of Minority Cultures, 1990–2002, Joyce Kay L. Cherry

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

This evaluation seeks to determine the extent to which the professional literature concerning bereaved children in the United States includes African American, Hispanic American, and Asian American children whose siblings have died in childhood.

A literature search identifies 58 articles, published between 1990 and 2002, concerning children under age 19 living in the United States whose siblings have died. Articles are sorted by time frame and classified by type. There are 31 descriptive articles consisting of five literature reviews, five commentaries, five case studies, and 16 narratives; there are 27 research articles. Analysis determines the extent to which race, culture, …

Effects Of Ultrasonic Scaling And Hand-Activated Scaling On Tactile Sensitivity In Dental Hygiene Students, Danielle Leigh Ryan

Dental Hygiene Theses & Dissertations

This study was conducted in order to determine if tactile sensitivity varies in dental hygiene students who use the ultrasonic scaler as compared to those who scale with handactivated instruments. A convenience sample of 40 consenting, first year dental hygiene students were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The 40 students had not yet used the ultrasonic scaler nor had any history of injuries or disabilities to the dominant arm, wrist or hand. After establishing a baseline tactile sensitivity score with the Vibratory Sensory Analyzer (VSA), experimental group subjects used the ultrasonic scaler to remove 4cc's of artificial calculus …

Cultural And Psychological Influences On Diabetic Adherence, Keikilani Mcmillin-Williams

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Diabetes mellitus is a serious disease that poses a particular healthcare challenge because progression is considered controllable (Cox, et al, 1985; Vinicor, et al, 1996) yet treatment adherence, and thus outcome, is very poor (Gonder-Frederick, Cox, & Ritterband, 2002; Goodall, 1991). Culture is a lethal risk factor for diabetic contraction and treatment maintenance. Latinos within the United States are two-to-three times more likely to develop complications and die than non-Latinos (Haffner et al, 1996; Rubin, Peyrot, & Saudek, 1991) and are less likely to adhere to treatment (Lipton, Losey, Giachello, Mendez, & Girotti, 1998). Efforts to eliminate health disparities have …

Effects Of Mtad On Some Physical Properties Of Enamel And Dentin, Tanya Kristina Machnick

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Recently, a Mixture of Tetracycline, an Acid, and a Detergent (MTAD) has been advocated to remove smear layer and disinfect canals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of MTAD the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity of dentin as well as its effect on the bond strength to enamel and dentin. In Part I, dentin bars were randomly assigned to eight groups treated either with various concentrations of NaOCl (5.25%, 2.65%, 1.31%, 0.66%), 17% EDTA, MTAD, saline, or according to a clinical protocol with 1.3% NaOCl and then 5 min of MTAD. …

Investigation Of Parental/Caregiver Concerns Of Children With Spasticity, Lynda Johnson-Cross

Masters Theses

Although there is capacious documentation on the concerns associated with parenting/care giving the disabled child, the concerns of parents/caregiver of children with the specific condition of spasticity is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to begin to determine the concerns of parents/caregivers of children with spasticity as they specifically relate to care giving. An extensive qualitative based survey interview was utilized to gather information from three informants. Analysis revealed clusters of concerns in the Nature of Caregiving, Spasticity Encounters, and Parental/Caregiver Comments.

Effects Of Moral Sensitivity And Moral Climate On Moral Reasoning, Marita Louise Mahoney

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

As healthcare professionals, psychology students and psychologists are expected to behave ethically and morally. It is assumed that moral and ethical reasoning in psychology students develops through exposure to ethical dilemmas within ethics classes and during clinical training experiences. Rest's Four Component Model of Moral Behavior, a neo-Kohlbergian approach to understanding moral development, posits an interaction of Moral Sensitivity, Moral Motivation, Moral Reasoning and Moral Character. Moral sensitivity, or awareness of a moral dilemma, is posited to cue the moral reasoning process, though little is known about how the training environment can facilitate or hamper such developments. Fifty".'two psychology-graduate students …

Are Antinuclear Antibodies And Rheumatiod Factor Positivity More Prevalent In Apparently Healthy Smokers Compared To Ex-Smokers And Never Smokers?, Susan Nyanzi

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Context: There is now consistent evidence from population and epidemiological studies that cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), via Rheumatoid Factor (RF) production (Deighton, 1997; Saag, 1997; Silman, 1996; Uhlig, 1999; Wolfe, 2000). Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) are another collection of autoantibodies that are being associated with smoking and RA initiation. To our knowledge, no studies have examined the effects of smoking on both ANA and RF simultaneously in healthy subjects.

Objectives: To determine whether cigarette smoking has an effect on ANA and RF positivity in healthy blood donors.

Design, Setting, Participants: This was a cross-sectional, …

The Role Of Health Promotion In Physical Therapy, Brenda L. Rea

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate physical therapy practice patterns in four focus areas of Healthy People 2010 (focus area #6, disability and secondary conditions by looking at psychological well-being; focus area #19, nutrition and overweight; focus area #22, physical fitness and activity; focus area #27, tobacco use) and identify self-efficacy and outcome expectations related to those practice patterns across California, New York and Tennessee using Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory as a framework. It was hypothesized that physical therapists’ self-efficacy and outcome expectations in the four focus areas of Healthy People 2010 would be significantly associated with …

Predicting Sacroiliac Syndrome: The Association Between Noninvasive Sacroiliac Joint Tests And Sacroiliac Joint Injections, Lorraine D. Webb

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Study Design. A prospective single sample observational design was performed. Sacroiliac tests that predicted ≥ 75% pain relief after sacroiliac joint (SIJ) injection were considered valid diagnostic tests for SIJ syndrome.

Objectives. To identify valid noninvasive sacroiliac tests that can be used to diagnose SIJ syndrome.

Summary of Background Data. The criterion standard for diagnosing SIJ syndrome is with SIJ intraarticular injections under fluoroscopy. This procedure is costly, invasive, and impractical for routine use. Clinicians need practical ways to diagnose SIJ syndrome; however, few studies have been performed to validate existing sacroiliac tests against SIJ Injections.

Methods. Nineteen subjects …

Potential Mechanisms Explaining The Antitumor Effect Of Total-Body Irradiation, Glen Michael Miller

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

While numerous reports have documented that radiation exposure increases the risk for malignancy and suppresses immune mechanisms, increasing evidence has suggested that low-dose total-body irradiation (TBI) may alter leukocyte composition and function leading to heightened immune responsiveness and long-term remission of certain cancers. Having observed that moderate-dose TBI produces an antitumor effect in the Lewis lung carcinoma (EEC) model, the major goal of this study was to determine whether changes in tumor growth could be correlated with radiation-induced alterations of immune system parameters. The governing hypothesis was that selective immune augmentation, i.e. upregulation of specific leukocyte subsets, is primarily responsible …

Distraction Osteogenesis In Edentulous Alveolar Bone With Rhbmp-2 Enhancement, Liviu F. Eftimie

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Distraction osteogenesis, a unique system of affecting rapid bone healing in fractures, realigning malformed bones, and lengthening congenitally short and traumatically shortened bones has become an increasingly utilized technique for the maxillofacial region. The use of distraction osteogenesis has been described for increasing the height of edentulous mandibular alveolar ridges while concurrently forming new bone within the ridge to allow for adequate reconstruction. A standard protocol for performing distraction osteogenesis in the maxillofacial region has been well documented in the literature. Standard distraction osteogenesis requires an initial surgery to place the distraction osteogenesis device and mobilize the segment to be …

Exploring The Physician’S Processes: Diagnosing Autism, Gwennyth Li Sze Palafox

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Physicians are customarily the first point of contact for parents who are concerned about a child’s development. Thus, it is important for physicians to be current and educated about childhood disorders and subsequent treatment for those disorders. Recently, empirical evidence has led to the proposal of early indicators of autism supporting that autism may be diagnosed accurately in children less than three years old. Furthermore, formal screening and assessment parameters developed by medical organizations have been proposed in order to identify autism as early as possible (American Academy of Neurology, 2000). While the proposed parameters and empirical evidence support early …

Ultrasonic Removal Of Bacteria From Plated Cells, Cecilia Chi-Pei Kao

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Children often present with dental trauma to pediatric emergency departments and pediatric dental offices. There is a wide spectrum of types of dental trauma. Although research has been done concerning the treatment of avulsed teeth, the current recommendations in the published guidelines might still be improved for better long term prognoses. One may speculate that ultrasonification of an avulsed tooth prior to replantation may dislodge existing surface bacteria and improve the prognosis for the tooth. This was as an in vitro study to test this concept. Epithelial cells were grown in 6-well tissue culture plates. Standardized amounts of Staphylococcus aureus …