Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Forecasting Mental Health Care Cost For Oif And Oef Veterans, Phil Andrew L. Bernal

Theses and Dissertations

The war in Iraq has been the longest sustained ground combat that the US military has engaged since the Vietnam War. With the ongoing battle against the global war on terrorism, many military personnel will be deployed to hostile areas in support of these operations. The effects of multiple deployment and combat engagement on the mental health of military personnel have been extensively studied. The impacts of mental illnesses, such as PTSD, are tied to longer period in the combat zone. Meeting the psychiatric needs of these veterans will be costly: rehabilitation, retraining, post combat counseling, long-term medical treatment, and …

A Comparison Of Cadiax Axiography & Newtom 3g Tomography Condylar Measurements, David Phillip Brock

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study compared the curves for the mandibular movement obtained from computerized axiography (Cadiax) and NewTom 3G cone beam volumetric tomography.

Fifteen subjects (n=15) from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry obtained a Cadiax mandibular jaw tracing and a NewTom 3G scan of their condyles and surrounding structures while in centric relation (CR). In addition, three condylar measurements obtained from the Cadiax and the NewTom 3G were compared: sagittal eminential angle (SEA), progressive mandibular lateral translation (PMLT), and early mandibular lateral translation (EMLT).

No differences were noted between the Cadiax and the NewTom 3G mandibular tracings when the gender …

The Relationship Between High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, Metabolic Syndrome And Exercise, Micheline A. Vargas

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: It is well known that regular physical activity is associated with lower risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Physical activity is also considered an important determinant of metabolic syndrome. All levels of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are thought to involve inflammation. Physical activity may reduce risk, at least in part, by modifying the inflammatory process. Recent studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between inflammatory markers, such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and physical activity. Elevated hs-CRP appears to be an independent predictor of both CVD and diabetes. Recent evidence also suggests that …

Using The Outcome Questionnaire 45.2 In Obesity Treatment, Adam L. Arechiga

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if the Outcome Questionnaire 45.2 (OQ-45) can be used in the treatment of obesity to predict participant dropout and initial treatment success, in terms of weight loss (Lambert et. al, 2002a). The OQ-45 has been used with success to predict dropout from psychotherapy in clinical populations. It was hypothesized that higher pretreatment OQ-45 scores would be associated with less program completion and less weight loss by the end of treatment.

Method: The study employed a non-experimental time series design. Seventy-eight participants were recruited from the three local obesity treatment programs, which …

The Healing Ministry Of Jesus As Recorded In The Synoptic Gospels, Alvin Lloyd Maragh

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study explores the narratives in the healing ministry of Jesus as recorded in the synoptic gospels. The majority of the healing narratives address issues that transcend physical aspects and point to Jesus' attempt to restore the whole person. This is reflected in the fact that more than half of the healing narratives deal with the marginalized of society during Jesus' time. He healed demon possessed persons, beggars, lepers, women suffering from incurable diseases, and those who were racially discriminated against by the Jews. Other healing narratives deal with the understanding of faith, the message of forgiveness, and the meaning …

Low Birth Weight, Very Low Birth Weight And Infant Mortality In San Bernardino County : A Secondary Analysis Of Maternal Factors, Rebecca D. Nanyonjo

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose: National and state infant mortality rates have slowly declined over the last several years. Despite this reduction, San Bernardino County still has one of the highest infant mortality rates in California and racial disparities between Black and White infants not only persist but continue to widen. These disparities remain at the forefront of concern. Healthy People 2010 target objectives have yet to be reached, while national and state proposed plans have supported the statement that a community's largest health problem is initiated by its infant mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate maternal factors through use of …

Comparing The Use Of A Manual And A Power Toothbrush By 3-To-4 Year-Old Children, Lorena Delgado Salcedo

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

PURPOSE: To compare the ability of three-to four-year-old children in performing toothbrushing with manual versus battery-powered toothbrushes with and without oral hygiene instructions.

METHODS: This study was a randomized, controlled, examiner-blind, 4-period crossover design performed on 50 healthy children, ages 3 to 4 years old. Children were assigned either a manual or power toothbrush at visit one and alternated between the two types of toothbrushes each week, for four weeks. Plaque was scored before and after brushing using the Greene and Vermillion -Simplified Oral Hygiene Index. ^18,19 At their last two visits of the study, the children received brushing instructions …

Effects Of Diabetes Mellitus On The Healing Of The Dental Pulp, Stuart Evan Garber

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has been implicated as a factor affecting healing. The purpose of this study was to use the healing of experimentally exposed pulps subsequent to pulp capping as a model to determine the effect of DM on healing.

Twenty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups of eleven animals each. In one group, DM was induced by injection of 70 mg/KG of streptozotocin. In the other group, the animals were injected with sterile saline. Under anesthesia with Ketamine and Xylazine, the pulps of the maxillary first molars of all rats were exposed using a 1/16 round bur under …

Factors That Influence The Blood Flow Response Of Skin To Electrical Stimulation, Abdul-Majeed Raja Al-Malty

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Female reproductive hormones, aging, global heating and local heating are factors affecting skin blood flow (SBF), but their effect on electrical stimulation (ES) has never been examined until the present investigation. To investigate female reproductive hormones, nine women (age= 25.6±3.5 years) with a normal menstrual cycle (MC) underwent ES in thermoneutral (25°±0.5°C) and warm environments (35°±0.5°C). To investigate aging, ES was applied on active young (n=15, age=32.1±8.3 years) and old (n=8, 64.5±6.2 years) groups in thermoneutral and warm environments. To investigate the effect of global and local heating, groups of 15 and 18 subjects (age= 18-40 years) experienced ES under …

Comparing Chemical Dependency And Mental Health Programs For The Dually Diagnosed, Kelly L. Hacker

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

In order to better understand the needs of an increasing dually diagnosed population, this study compares the efficacy of integrated vs. nonintegrated treatment programs for a dually diagnosed population, residing at a Long Term Care facility in San Bernardino, California. Patients in this setting are diagnosed with chronic and acute mental illness and chemical dependency. This study tested the hypotheses that the nonintegrated treatment program would result in a higher frequency of assaults, PRNs, Q15s, and Code Reds; increase the duration of Q15s; and, increase the Addiction Severity Index’s (ASI) Family/Social and Psychiatric subscales’ scores, which would indicate lower levels …

Shear Strengths Of Three "One-Step" Self-Etching Dental Bonding Agents, Jeff G. Alcaide

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Objective: To compare the dentin shear bond strength of three self-etching bonding agents with that of a conventional total-etch bonding system.

Materials & Method: Extracted third molars (120) were fixed in 10% formalin and randomly divided into eight groups of 15 specimens each. The specimens were mounted in acrylic resin and the surface ground to expose superficial dentin. A standardized smear layer was created by polishing the surfaces with wet 600-grit silicon carbide paper. Each adhesive system was placed on the specimen surface according to the manufacturers' instructions. The specimen then was mounted onto a standardized jig and light cured. …

Effects Of Advancing Age On Er Calcium Regulation In Rat Superior Cervical Ganglia, Conwin Kodel Vanterpool

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]i) release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores plays an important role in cell signaling. These stores are rapidly refilled via voltage-gated calcium channels or spontaneously via store-operated calcium channels and subsequent pumping by ER Ca²⁺-ATPases. Calcium release is triggered by the activation of the ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels and their function is in part dependent on their expression. We analyzed the [Ca²⁺]i transients in fura 2-loaded superior cervical ganglion (SCG) cells from 6, 12, 20, and 24-month-old Fischer 344 rats for their ability to rapidly and spontaneously refill. For rapid refilling, the …

Bone Morphogenic Protein Induced Repair Of The Premaxillary Cleft, Rick J. Rawson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the bony augmentation of premaxillary clefts in humans using recombinant bone morphogenic protein (rhBMP-2) in a collagen sponge carrier. 12 patients with unilateral cleft alveolar ridges were evaluated pre- and 4 months postoperatively. 10 patients were repaired with rhBMP-2 while two others were grafted with anterior iliac crest particulate marrow cancellous bone (PMCB). Computed tomographic studies were used to evaluate preoperative alveolar cleft volumes, postoperative bone bridge volumes, and pre/post operative volume ratios.

A pre/post operative volume ratio for patients repaired with rhBMP-2 ranged from 24.1% to 90.6% with a mean of …

The Effect Of Calcium Hydroxide Pastes On Root Dentin Fracture Resistance, Kurt W. Sturz

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Calcium hydroxide is a common intracanal medicament used in the treatment of immature teeth that have been subjected to trauma or decay prior to root canal therapy. The effect of calcium hydroxide on immature root dentin is important. One area of concern is the effect that calcium hydroxide has on the fracture resistance of an immature tooth. It is the aim of this study to compare the effect of four different commercially available calcium hydroxide pastes on the fracture resistance of bovine teeth. Seventy-five freshly extracted, intact bovine incisors were prepared according to a modified Haapasalo and Orstavik technique. Each …

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Art Making, Kelly Andrews

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Over the course of history war has brought death and destruction to the men and women who have had to partake in combat. Through advances in technology more soldiers are able to return home alive, however they are not always physically or mentally intact. There are a large number of men and women returning home from the current conflict in the Middle East with increased Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms. Those who return home as amputees will most likely have amplified PTSD symptoms as they are not only returning home with mental scars, but physical wounds.

The psychological impact of war …

An Added Dimension To The Faculty Role: The Accelerated Student, Lisa Rauch, Deborah Nelson

Master's Projects

Nursing faculty work hard at helping students achieve academic success by utilizing a variety of support services. The question guiding this study is: Do accelerated and traditional BSN students have different characteristics or different valued support services? The characteristics of accelerated and traditional BSN students were obtained from a larger longitudinal study (N=93). The Support Services Questionnaire collected data from a convenient sample of two groups of BSN students: accelerated (n=26), traditional (n=49). The results presented accelerated students as primarily female, financially supported, and holding a variety of college degrees. Traditional students were represented as female, younger, working and not …

The Relationship Between Perceived And Ideal Body Size And Body Mass Index Among 9th Grade Students In An Urban High School, Irma Orozco

Master's Projects

This study examined the perceptions of actual and ideal body size and how it related to body mass index in 82 ethnically and socioeconomically diverse 9th-graders from an urban high school. The height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated for each of the 82 participants. Using the Childress Silhouette Scale (CSS), each student self-reported Perceived Actual Self Image (P ASI) and Perceived Ideal Self Image (PISI). The CSS was modified to offer 7 figure drawings that illustrated various examples of underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese. Results showed that 54% ofthe students had a healthy weight, 21% were …

Building Bridges To An Environment Of Transformational Nursing Leadership: Developing A Program To Enhance Professional Nursing Leadership Skills, Pauline J. Utsesch

Theses and Graduate Projects

The intent of this field project was to develop an educational model to enhance nursing leadership skills and promote professionalism of nurses at the bedside. The project consisted of analysis of the literature to support the need for further leadership development of nurses. The proposed model was based on concepts and application of transformational leadership in nursing, and Ernest Boyer's (1990) framework of scholarship as it relates to professionalism. This model also utilized Benner's (1984) From Novice to Expert model as a framework for the educational design where by skills are acquired through experiential learning with actual practice situations.

An …

Reasons For Living And Suicidal Ideation Among College Students With Varying Levels Of Risk For Alcohol Related Problems., Dorian A. Lamis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Every year in the United States approximately 30,000 people commit suicide including approximately 1,100 college students. Furthermore, heavy alcohol consumption is prevalent on many college campuses and has been linked to suicidal behavior. The present study was conducted to examine suicidal ideation and reasons for living in college students with varying levels of risk for alcohol related problems. Undergraduate students (n = 161) were administered a survey to assess demographics, suicide ideation status, reasons for living, and the participant's level of risk for alcohol related problems. Results indicated that suicide ideators are significantly more likely than non-ideators to be at …

The Relationship Between Tobacco, Alcohol, And Marijuana Use Among Teenagers., John Donald Rose

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among teenagers. This study examined three research questions: (1) Is there a relationship between demographic characteristics (i.e., sex and race), the attitudinal variable (attachment to family), and the admitted use of marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco among teenagers? (2) Is there a relationship between the use of marijuana by teenagers and the use of tobacco by teenagers? (3) Is there a relationship between the use of marijuana by teenagers and the use of alcohol by teenagers?

The data used for this paper were from the …

Samuel Taylor Coleridge And Opium., Donald John Marotta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Coleridge's usual use of opium was through laudanum, a mixture of opium and alcohol. This thesis presents the history of and criticism regarding the poet's use of laudanum and the physical and emotional consequences the drug held for him and his writing career.

Understanding Interruptions In Healthcare: Developing A Model, Juliana J. Brixey

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Developing a Model Interruption is a known human factor that contributes to errors and catastrophic events in healthcare as well as other high-risk industries. The landmark Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, To Err is Human, brought attention to the significance of preventable errors in medicine and suggested that interruptions could be a contributing factor. Previous studies of interruptions in healthcare did not offer a conceptual model by which to study interruptions. As a result of the serious consequences of interruptions investigated in other high-risk industries, there is a need to develop a model to describe, understand, explain, and predict interruptions …

Hearing Health In Utah Special Olympics Athletes Compared To Special Olympics Athletes Worldwide: A Prevalence Study In Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Lisa Moses Mullins

Theses and Dissertations

The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes initiative promotes wellness of the athletes with intellectual disabilities and education for medical professionals. Healthy Athletes has created a hearing screening program, Healthy Hearing, to help athletes with intellectual disabilities get the otological and audiological care they need. This program promotes a healthy hearing lifestyle and educates medical professionals regarding the need of health care for the intellectually disabled population. The physiologic, otologic, and audiologic abnormalities often occurring in the intellectually disabled population bring special attention for the need to determine the prevalence rate of hearing loss among the athletes participating in Special Olympics events. …

Diabetes Prevention Education For Mexican American Women With Gestational Diabetes: Pilot Testing A Videotape, Carol Anne Easton

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a culturally sensitive educational videotape on the knowledge of prevention of Type 2 diabetes after pregnancy, in pregnant gestational diabetic (GDM) women over 18 years old, who attended the Diabetes in Pregnancy Program at a university health center in a large southwestern city. Mexican American GDM women have a high risk for Type 2 diabetes, 80% in 5 years if their diabetes status is reclassified pre-diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance during their early postpartum exam (Kjos. 1995). But the return-to-clinic rate for the women who attend this clinic is …

Molecular Classification And Prediction Of Metastatic Potential In Early Malignant Melanoma: Improvement Of Prognostic Accuracy By Quantitative In Situ Proteomic Analysis, Aaron J. Berger

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma continues to increase every year, and remains the leading cause of skin cancer death in industrialized countries. In spite of the aggressive nature of advanced melanoma, there are no standard biological assays in clinical usage that can predict metastasis. This may be due, in part, to the inadequacy of reproducible assessment of protein expression using traditional immunohistochemistry. This dissertation will discuss the use of tissue microarrays combined with quantitative in situ molecular analysis of protein expression to allow prediction of melanoma metastasis. Through the identification and validation of novel prognostic biomarkers, we seek to …

Pathogenocide : Infectious Disease And The Intent To Destroy, Kristy M. Layton

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

No abstract provided.

B Cells At The Interface Of Innate And Adaptive Immunity In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Requirements For The Activation Of Autoreactive B Cells In Autoimmune Disease, Sean Ryan Christensen

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Systemic autoimmune disease is characterized by loss of immunologic tolerance to a restricted set of self-nuclear antigens. These macromolecular complexes can be grouped into two categories: DNA-containing autoantigens such as chromatin, and RNA containing autoantigens such as Smith antigen (Sm) and related ribonucleoprotein complexes. Elucidating the mechanism for selective targeting of these molecules in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may provide clues to the etiology of disease. We hypothesized that Toll-like receptors (TLRs), germline-encoded pattern-recognition receptors of the innate immune system, could dictate target antigen specificity in SLE. Using genetic ablation of various TLRs in murine models of SLE, we have …

Evidenced Based Practice Considerations Regarding Rural Health And Access To Care, Amy S. Benjamin

MSN Research Projects

While the United States (U.S.) healthcare system has been extremely successful, concerns remain about access to care for a large segment of the population (Rivers, 2003). Availability o f health care to rural areas is limited, leaving a large portion of the American population with limited access to care. According to the data of the U.S. Census Bureau collected in 2001 27% of the United States population was considered rural. Rural, as defined by the Census Bureau, is a town of less than 2,500 residents’ (Schmidt, 2005). Nurse Practitioners (NPs) can offer increased accessibility to local care by addressing primary …

Dental Maturation In Children Treated For Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Michael Grey Weathersby

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a life-threatening disease primarily affecting children. Treatment currently consists of chemotherapy sometimes in combination with head irradiation. The literature documents the damage of treatment to the teeth (e.g., congenital absence, microdontia, abnormal crown- root ratios). The present study assessed the effects of treatment for ALL on the tempos of dental maturation (i.e., dental age) in a mixed longitudinal sample of 72 children treated for ALL at St Jude's Children's' Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. Panoramic radiographs had been taken as indicated to assess and maintain dental health in this retrospective study. Dental age was quantified both …

Gene Modification With Triplex-Forming Oligonucleotides, Jennifer Melissa Kalish

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

No abstract provided.