Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Measurement Of Blood Flow In Reflected Muco-Gingival Tissue Flaps In Cats : Using The Radiolabeled Microsphere Method, Gary T. Wuchenrich

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Blood flow to the maxilla and mandible may vary due to differences in vascular supply and in physiologic, metabolic and pathologic conditions. In general it is accepted that oral tissues have an abundant blood supply; however, there is little information quantifying blood flow to these regions. In this study, the maxillary tissues were chosen to measure the blood flow in attached and reflected gingival tissue in adult cats using the radiolabeled microsphere method.

Sixteen cats with permanent dentition, clean mouths, and without inflamed gingiva upon visual inspection were used and divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of six cats …

An In Vitro Quantitative Evaluation And Comparison Of A Custom And A Popular Stock Orthodontic Appliance, Richard Scott Anderw Schalo

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

An in vitro performance evaluation and comparison of a patient individualized appliance (Elan, Ormco Corporation, Glendora, California) and a Roth prescription appliance ("A"- Company, San Diego, California) was made using the Ideal Tooth Relationship Index (ITRI).

The sample consisted of 19 duplicated sets of models for a total sample of 38. For each pair of models one set was bonded with an Elan appliance and a duplicated set was bonded with a Roth appliance. Bracket placement followed the manufacturers recommendations. The bracketed teeth from these models were sectioned out individually and the appliances allowed to fully express themselves on full …

Load Deformation Test Of Mini Twin Metal Brackets : A Comparative Study, Karl D. Peach

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The trend toward more esthetic brackets has led to smaller brackets being used by orthodontists. The purpose of this study was to determine the force required to deform these smaller brackets and calculate the stress in the metal by using a torsional wire bending force. Ten types of brackets were tested and the results analyzed to determine how bracket geometry, manufacturing method, or material selection affected the strength of brackets. Results showed a significant difference between manufacturing methods, material used, and bracket geometry. Brackets made of 17-4 PH SS and 303 SS withstood higher stress than 316 SS, and all …

Prevalence Of Fatty Liver In Japanese Children Ages 4 To 12 Years Old : Relationship To Obesity : An Epidemiological Ultrasonographic Survey, Kunihiko Tominaga

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The prevalence of fatty liver disease in children is not well established and its relationship to childhood obesity is poorly defined. The present study of 810 northern Japanese school-aged children (4-12 years old), determined the prevalence of fatty liver and its relationship to gender and degree of obesity. Diagnosis of fatty liver was assessed by real-time ultrasonography.

RESULTS: 1. The overall prevalence of fatty liver is 2.6 %. 2. Fatty liver prevalence is higher for boys (3.4 %) than for girls (1.8 %), although not statistically significant (P = 0.15). 3. Fatty liver occurs in children as young as 6 …

Periodontal Repair In Dogs : Part I : Evaluation Of The Natural Disease Model ; Part Ii : Eptfe Barrier Membranes Support Wound Stabilization And Enhance Bone Regeneration, James Marc Haney

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Animal models are frequently consulted for histometric analysis of reconstructive periodontal therapy. Statistical analysis of induced lesion defects and surgically created defects from our laboratory suggest defect size homogeneity is critical for the model to discriminate treatment effects. This study characterizes natural disease defects in beagle dogs. Buccal-lingual histologic sections from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th mandibular premolar teeth (P2, P3, P4) from 6 aged beagle dogs with natural disease defects were evaluated for variation in defect height between pair matched tooth types, and jaw quadrants, as well as estimated confidence intervals for treatment differences between left and right pair …

An Assessment Of Three Different Forms Of Sterlization And Clinical Usage On Various Orthodontic Pin And Ligature Cutters : A Pilot Study, Warren L. Creed

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

With an awareness of cross infection in dentistry and of AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), sterilization in the dental office has been brought to the public's attention by the news media. Much work has been done on which sterilization methods are acceptable but little has been written about the effects of sterilization procedures on the instruments themselves. In this study, 36 pin and ligature cutters were sterilized 250 cycles using three different methods of sterilization following the guidelines given by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The cutters were examined for changes in lateral hinge movement, visual appearance and ordinal …

Identification Of Risk Factors Associated With Pulpal Disease, Shelley R. Aronson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A few studies have identified etiologic factors in pulpal disease, but little is known about the odds ratios of factors associated with pulpal disease. Odds ratios are well established measures of the effects of exposure to a particular outcome, and are comparisons of exposure to non-exposure in cases versus controls. The purpose of this study was to compare exposure of individual teeth to hypothesized risk factors in endodontic cases and in controls. This case-control study consisted of a chart review of 301 endodontic cases and 301 controls. Caries, types of restorations, and periodontal disease were the most significant factors. With …

The Influence Of Prepregnancy Weight And Maternal Weight Gain : On Birth Weight Among Black Wic Participants In San Bernardino County, Marta Lukas Sovyanhadi

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Birth records show that San Bernardino County has the highest black infant mortality rate of the 16 counties in California with the largest proportion of African-Americans births. Although total infant deaths in San Bernardino County had fallen to 8.6 per 1,000 live births by 1992, the infant mortality rate among the black population of the county was close to two times higher at 16.8 per 1,000. This is the first study to address the high infant mortality rate among blacks in San Bernardino County. Factors which may affect the black infant mortality rate were examined.

Subjects were drawn from a …

Signal Transduction In Bacterial Chemotaxis, Edward Heath Rowsell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study investigated the site of ATP utilization in the signal transduction pathway of bacterial chemotaxis and localized the point of convergence of a methylation-independent system of chemotaxis with the methylation-dependent system. The identity of the signal originating from the phosphotransferase system was investigated by substituting the fructose-inducible HPr-like protein FPr for HPr in transport and chemotaxis. In addition, a novel chemoattractant, glycerol, was identified for Salmonella typhimurium. Histidine-auxotrophic S. typhimurium strains ST23 (hisF) and ST171 (hisF cheB) were depleted for ATP. The times required for the bacteria to adapt to a step increase in serine, …

Investigating The Influence Of Pre-Theoretical Assumptions On Clinical Reasoning, Barbara R. Hooper

Masters Theses

This study explored what internal beliefs a therapist holds about the nature of reality and how those beliefs influence how he/she delivers occupational therapy. A single-case study design was utilized. Data were collected from three in-depth interviews and observation of multiple treatment sessions.

The results suggest that this therapist's view of the world could be categorized into four areas: (1) What she believed about ultimate reality; (2) What she believed about life, death and eternity; (3) What she believed about human nature; and (4) What she believed about the nature of knowing. The study also suggests that this core world-view …

Kinematic Analysis Of Sprinting With And Without The Speed Chute, Douglas Roy West

Masters Theses

The problem under investigation was to determine if kinematic differences existed when sprinting with and without the speed chute. Eight Western Michigan University Track and Field Athletes were filmed at 100 frames per second as they sprinted two trials with and without the speed chute.

Three ANOVAs and descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the effects of sprinting with and without the speed chute. Descriptive statistics provided information for numerous dependent variables. Although statistically significant differences (R < .05) existed between sprinting with and without the speed chute, those differences may not be practical for the coach to use in terms of evaluation of sprinting technique, because the differences would be difficult for the human eye to see. Therefore, the speed chute may be a viable training tool as kinematics were only minimally affected.

Patient Perceptions Of Quality: The Influence Of Value And Beneficence, Rebecca H. Waldon

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The influence of patient values and patient perception of benefits on patient perceptions of quality have not been extensively investigated, even though patient and provider perceptions of quality have been widely studied. Refocusing quality assessment and improvement to include factors that influence patient perceptions of quality is necessary for humanitarian and economic reasons. The health care patient has certain expectations of health care. These expectations are based on the value the patient places on the services. Value is a predictor of patient-perception of quality. The relative worth of patient goals may also be related to patient perceptions of quality. If …

The Lived Experiences Of Nurses' Interactions With Ethnically Diverse Clients: A Phenomenological Perspective, Colette R. York Dnsc, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

This study explored the phenomenon of nurses' lived experiences while interacting with clients who were ethnically dissimilar to themselves in a variety of nursing care settings including acute care, ambulatory care and public health. This study is timely, especially in the county in which the study was conducted because of the ongoing influx of legal and illegal immigrants from diverse foreign geographic locales. Van Kaam's method for conducting phenomenological studies was employed for data gathering, categorizing and analyzing. Categories were stated in terms of perceptions and feelings. The most frequently stated perceptual moments included perceiving client ethnicities based on physical …

A Clinical Trials Evaluation Of A Double-Blinded Protocol To Assess The Therapeutic Effectiveness Of Stimulant Medication Prescribed For Children Diagnosed Adhd, Ann V. Thompson

Dissertations

This clinical trials investigation developed and evaluated a protocol for determining the therapeutic effectiveness of medication prescribed for children diagnosed ADHD. The protocol included two separate baseline periods of two week durations, each of which were followed by four randomly assigned probes of one week duration, consisting either of Methylphenidate or placebo capsules. Baseline probes were unblinded, but medication and placebo probe trials were double-blinded. Therapeutic effect, expectancies, and integrity of the double-blind control were assessed through a battery of rating scales and forms completed by the parent, teacher and child at the end of each protocol week, including baseline …

Prevention Of Occupational Exposure Of Tuberculosis To Health Care Workers, Thomas C. Carle

Theses

The resurgence of tuberculosis in the United States within the past decade has prompted the health care community to develop tuberculosis elimination policies. However, recent outbreaks of tuberculosis have proved to be resistant to multiple antibiotics. Tuberculosis infections among health care workers is also rising. This increase in occupational exposures has prompted the examination of current exposure control measures.

The occupational exposure to tuberculosis is prevented by the use of administrative policies, engineering controls and personal protective equipment. Each control measure has inherent strengths and weaknesses and when implemented through an exposure control plan the risk of occupational exposure can …

Managing Occupational Hazards Confronting Healthcare Workers, Kiran A. Mody

Theses

The primary goal of this thesis is to identify, evaluate, and control occupational hazards that may exist in health care facilities.

Due to the complex nature of health care facilities, healthcare workers are always challenged by an imposing group of occupational hazards. The magnitude and diversity of these hazards, and the constantly changing nature of government regulations make it difficult to guarantee absolute protection and accuracy of the material contained herein. However, awareness of the risks, compliance with basic preventive measures, and adequate interventions are all essential components to consider in protecting healthcare workers.

Therefore, potential health effects of various …

Illness And The Treatment Response: The Patient's View, Nina Patricia Van Es

Dissertations and Theses

In American society, where the biomedical profession is institutionalized and its therapies dominate health care, a decision to deviate from prevailing norms can be considered remarkable. Yet research done by Eisenberg et al. (1993) found that unconventional or alternative medicine had an "enormous presence" in U.S. health care and that one in three persons had utilized an unconventional therapy in 1990. The objective of this thesis was to explore this phenomenon.

Individuals who had used alternative and biomedical intervention to treat a disorder were recruited through practitioners of alternative therapies. Through semi-structured interviews, case histories focusing on the illness trajectory …

The Effects Of Two Models Of Positive Feedback Of Children's Motivation, Judith Margaret Lynch

Graduate Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the type of written or verbal positive comment regarding a child's accomplishment influences subsequent interest in a task. A preliminary investigation of literature revealed that often rewards and praise negatively alter children's behavior. The writer tested the hypothesis derived from this investigation that non- evaluative descriptive comments, commonly called encouragement, positively affect children more than evaluative praise comments. 32 kindergarten and 36 third grade children received evaluative praise comments and 31 kindergarten and 42 third grade children received non- evaluative descriptive comments on drawings for three days. The fourth day, children …

An Assessment Of Four-Hour Sample Durations Used To Determine Full-Shift Noise Exposures In A Foundry, Vince Marlo Fleming

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Full-shift sampling, usually eight hours, is traditionally performed to assess daily occupational noise exposure. This sampling approach is inefficient, and costly for repeated, long-term exposure evaluations. This study assessed the use of four-hour sample durations and subsequent data analysis to determine daily occupational noise exposures in a foundry. The four-hour sample durations were extracted from full-shift samples and analyzed on their ability to provide valid data for estimating mean daily noise exposure levels without significantly affecting sampling precision or accuracy. Results of this study indicate four-hour sample durations can be used successfully to estimate full-shift noise exposures provided certain criteria …

The Identification And Magnitude Estimation Of Occupational Stressors In The Industrial Hygiene Profession, Judith Hinch

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The industrial hygiene professional is responsible for the evaluation and control of hazards in the workplace. Job stress has been identified as a factor affecting the health, safety and productivity of workers and can be considered a workplace hazard.

This study involved the development of an instrument to identify and quantify sources of stress within a give profession. The industrial hygiene profession was chosen, though the method can be, and has been, used to evaluate stress in other groups of individuals. The method involved the identification of the most significant sources of stress by surveying a small number of the …

Hippocratic Pharmacology: Investigations Into The Theoretical Assumptions And Function Of Drug Therapy In The Corpus Hippocraticum, Edward G. Soltesz '94

Fenwick Scholar Program

The topic of this thesis is Hippocratic Pharmacology. While I intended to examine drugs and their efficacy in therapeutics, I soon realized the gravity of this undertaking: John Riddle and John Scarborough have been working on this for decades; my year's work would accomplish little. Instead, I found that work needed to be done in investigating the theoretical assumptions which the Corpus authors held about drug use: how did they believe these medicines worked? What were their underlying concepts? The methodological difficulty in answering these questions is evident at once. I decided to pursue this topic in two ways: first, …

Denervation Supersensitivity Of The Rat Vas Deferens: A Role For Protein Kinase C, Sonny T. Abraham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A role for protein kinase C (PKC) in the denervation-induced supersensitivity of the rat vas deferens was investigated. Chronic, surgical denervation of the rat vas deferens (up to 8 days) resulted in tissues that produced enhanced contractile responses to norepinephrine (NE) in isolated organ baths. Single challenges of NE (10 $\mu$M) produced 0.6 $\pm$ 0.1 g of maximal tension in the control vas whereas in the paired, denervated tissue 2.2 $\pm$ 0.3 g of tension was recorded (n = 6). Cumulative concentration-effect curves to NE produced in the denervated vas deferens were shifted 18-fold to the left of the control …

The Acoustic Transparency Of Ad*Hear Wax Guards When Measuring Dpoaes, Tiffany Lloyd Shelton

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Approximately one to six of every 1,000 children is born deaf or with some degree of permanent hearing loss (Parving, 1993; Watkins, Baldwin, & McEnery, 1991; White, & Behrens, 1993). Reduced hearing acuity during infancy and early childhood may interfere with the development of the child's speech and verbal language skills (NIH, 1993). Reduced auditory input can also have harmful effects on the child's social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development (NIH, 1993). Because hearing is crucial for the development of speech and verbal language skills, the developmental future of a child born with a significant hearing loss depends greatly on …

Identification And Conceptualization Of Sexual Abuse Resiliency Factors: A Review Of The Literature, Heidi J. Moss

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Resiliency, while historically grounded and defined, lacks important conceptual clarity when considering the area of sexual abuse resiliency. Considerable theoretical effort has been dedicated to this phenomena in certain specific areas of human development (e.g., children) with empirical endeavors to validate it's relevance. To date there seems to be consensus with the notion that three specific variables are correlated with resiliency outcomes, namely, biological, psychological and social influences. It is posited that these three primary variables and their substantive variables independently, as well as interactively, buffer the effects of abuse one may experience during the course of a life time. …

New Directions In Medical School Admissions, Stephen D. Neeleman

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In 1910, American medicine underwent a thorough review of its practices, policies, and most importantly, its education. The review was conducted by Abraham Flexner, under commission of the Carnegie Foundation. Flexner's task was to determine the uniformity of medical learning throughout the United States, and to develop a systematic approach whereby the nation could improve its overall health training. The subsequent Flexner report changed the face of medical education for decades. Its tenets provoked revolutionary changes in the medical school process that are still in use today. However, some have begun to question facets of the report, and even introduce …

Differential Role Of The Endothelium In Regulating Microvascular Blood Flow, Tao Tang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The vascular endothelial cell (EC) plays an important role in regulating vascular tone and local blood flow by sensing chemical and mechanical stimuli on the vascular wall and releasing a host of vasoactive substances upon activations of endogenous or exogenous vasoactive substances. The central hypothesis is that local control of blood now and autoregulatory behavior in the microcirculation is distinctive at different levels of the vasculature and is dependent on the cellular activities of the EC and its interaction with the local environment. The in vivo as well as the ex vivo, flow-controlled preparations of the hamster cheek pouch were …

Characterization Of The Vasoactivity Of Tachykinins In Isolated Rat Kidney: Functional Studies And In Vitro Receptor Autoradiography, Yuejin Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although tachykinins have potent vascular actions, their effect on renal resistance blood vessels is currently unknown. The vasoactive properties of tachykinins and related analogs were assessed in isolated perfused rat kidney. At a basal perfusion pressure (PP) of 75 $\pm$ 6 mm Hg (n = 5), bolus injections of substance P (SP) had no significant vasoactive effect. Following a sustained increase in baseline PP (134 $\pm$ 10 mm Hg) produced by phenylephrine (1 $\mu$M), SP evoked a dose-dependent increase in PP. The largest dose of SP increased PP by 60 $\pm$ 5 mm Hg. The vasoconstrictor response to SP was …

Effects Of Family Stress, Family Social Support, And Family Balance On Maternal Adaptation In Post Birth Families, Constance H. Blake Hansen Dnsc, Mn, Rn

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the effects of perinatal family stress, family social support, and family balance on post birth maternal adaptation. The birth of a new infant is a transitional event that causes stress to the individuals within the family and the family as a unit. The childbearing woman has been identified as the core of the expanding family. Her adaptive level is critical to the integration of the new infant into the family unit. Stress and support are important variables in maternal adaptation, yet the specific relationship of these variables as they relate to the …

Parent Perceived Homework Problems Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Donna U. Burke

Theses & Honors Papers

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Organizational Culture On Quality Of Life For Older Veterans, Michelle Diane Stone

Dissertations

The organizational culture in a Veteran's Administration Medical Center (VAMC) was described using triangulated methods which included both secondary quantitative survey data, and internal documentary data sources. The initial survey data collected, from staff and elder veterans revealed an overall positive perception from both samples regarding the quality of life for elder veterans living on extended care wards. The study investigated the extent to which the VAMC's organizational culture affected these perceptions of quality of life.

Documentary data were collected from a variety of VAMC sources regarding behaviors, ideologies, leadership trends, mechanisms of control, and the formal organizational structure. A …