Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Health Informatics Research & Evaluation Design Students Overwhelmingly Prefer Hypertutorial Web-Based Instruction In Randomized Comparison, Craig W. Johnson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Genetic Enhancement Technologies And The New Society, George P. Smith Ii

Scholarly Articles

So long as procreation continues to remain a central driving force in a marital relationship, and the family the very core of progressive society, efforts will be undertaken to expand the period of fecundity and combat infertility. Genetic planning and eugenic programming are more rational and humane alternatives to population regulation than death by famine and war.

Genetic enhancement technologies and the scientific research undertaken to advance them should be viewed as not only aiding (or, sometimes resolving) the tragedy of infertility in family planning, but as a tool for enhancing the health of a Nation's citizens by engineering man's …

Euphemistic Codes And Tell-Tale Hearts: Human Assistance In End-Of-Life Cases, George P. Smith Ii

Scholarly Articles

A euphemism is defined as the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive word or expression for one that is harsh, indelicate, or otherwise unpleasant taboo; allusion to an offensive thing by an inoffensive expression. This article deals with medical euphemisms used commonly through medical codes in hospitals for end-of-life patient care. It examines the extent to which fear shapes decision making in critical care units - fear of medical failure, and fear of litigation if not "everything" is done to prolong life, no matter how agonizing. Furthermore, being trained to save lives, health care providers often lack the courage to …

Controlled Comparison Of Emergency Department Charting Software With A Case Simulation Comparator Model, Kirt Walker, Sridhar Rajappan, Todd R. Johnson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Abbreviated Injury Scale (Ais) And International Classification Of Diseases In Severe Trama Patients, Noriaki Aoki, Molly C. Shek, Todd R. Johnson, Martin A. Shreiber, John B. Holcomb, Matthew J. Wall, Richard W. Cone, Robert Beck

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Moderate Intensity Exercise Training Improves Cardiorespiratory Fitness In Women, J. David Branch, Russell R. Pate, Sharon P. Bourque

Faculty Publications

Among women, there is an increased prevalence of sedentary lifestyle and less participation in physical activity at levels recommended by the Surgeon General. As a result, women have been identified as a target group in public health initiatives to increase physical activity. The health-related benefits of habitual, moderate intensity physical activity are well documented in the epidemiological literature, but less is known about the effect of such physical activity on cardiorespiratory fitness. Our hypothesis was that moderate and vigorous exercise training regimens of similar estimated energy expenditure would result in similar changes in cardiorespiratory fitness. Eighteen sedentary premenopausal women with …

Novel Approaches For Designing 5'-O-Ester Prodrugs Of 3'-Azido-2'3'-Dideoxythymidine (Azt), Keykavous Parang, Leonard I. Wiebe, Edward E. Knaus

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

3'-Azido-2'3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT, 1, zidovudine, RetrovirTM) is used to treat patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. AZT, after conversion to AZT-5'-triphosphate (AZT-TP) by cellular enzymes, inhibits HIV-reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT). The major clinical limitations of AZT are due to clinical toxicities that include bone marrow suppression, hepatic abnormalities and myopathy, absolute dependence on host cell kinase-mediated activation which leads to low activity, limited brain uptake, a sort half-life of about one hour in plasma that dictates frequent administration to maintain therapeutic drug levels, low potential for metabolic activation and/or high susceptibility to catabolism, and the rapid development of resistance by HIV-1. …

Modulation Of The Pharmacokinetics And Pharmacodynamics Of Proteins By Polyethylene Glycol Conjugation, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

With the rapid advances in the field of biotechnology during the last decade, many peptides and proteins have been produced and evaluated for therapy of various diseases, including cancer. However, rapid clearance and the possibility of immunogenicity after the in vivo administration of these biotechnology-driven products have impeded their marketing. To circumvent these problems, synthetic and natural polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextrans, respectively, have been covalently attached to proteins, and some of these protein-polymer conjugates have shown promising therapeutic results. The conjugation of proteins with polymers usually causes a reduction in the recognition of the protein by …

Effect Of Actinomycin D And Cycloheximide On Ischemic Preconditioning-Induced Delayed Cardioprotective Effect In Rats, Devinder Singh, Ajay Sharma, Manjeet Singh

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of actinomycin D, a transcription inhibitor, and cycloheximide, a translation inhibitor, on the delayed cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning. Left thoracotomy was performed in anaesthetized rats at 4th/5th intercostal space and polypropylene suture (5-0) was employed to occlude left common coronary artery. Ischemic preconditioning was produced by four episodes of 5 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 5 min of reperfusion and thoracic cavity was sutured. Left thoracotomy was performed again after 24 hr of ischemic preconditioning and left coronary artery was occluded for 30 min followed by reperfusion for …

The Common Cold: What Pharmacists Need To Know, Peggy Han, Peggy Mcmillan, Jeffery A. Goad

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

A primer on the common cold for pharmacists, including its causes and pathophysiology and how to assess and treat patients.

White Paper: Certification, Credentials, And Credentialing In Pharmacy, Donald Kishi, Jeffery A. Goad, Nancy Korman, Teresa Miller, Mary Ferrill, Holly Strom

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The rapid evolution of the health care system has provided the pharmacy profession with opportunities to expand existing and develop new direct patient care roles. Two critical challenges that the pharmacy profession must contend with to ensure the continued expansion and acceptance of pharmacists in advanced practice roles (e.g. direct patient care roles) are: (1) To develop and implement a credible, systematic, standards-based, and profession-wide plan that includes a system for identifying the types of pharmacists' practices requiring credentials, a validated certification process, and a computerized credentialing process that is current, comprehensive, and easily accessible; (2) To establish the credibility …

The Effect Of Stress And Genetic Factors On Alcohol Consumption Among Males In Olancho District, Honduras, Gloria Amanda Madrid

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Alcoholism is a major public health problem globally. More than twenty studies have examined the association between the neurotransmitter dopamine DRD2 TaqI polymorphism and the onset of alcoholism, with half supporting an association. This study was based on the assumption that there is a relationship between the presence of the DRD2, one’s exposure to stress, and alcohol consumption. We examined the gene-stress interactional model in a sample of 309 males of Mayan descendents in the Olancho district of Honduras (age range 18-87). Participants were interviewed by a health care professional and blood samples were obtained for genetic identification. The Michigan …

Factors Associated With Healthy Eating: Attitudes, Cultural Adherence, And Snacking Behavior Among Korean-American Adolescents, Kyoung Eun Oh

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Adolescents have increased nutrition needs and report frequent meal skipping and snacking, but there are few studies that examine the determinants of unhealthy eating, especially among ethnic minority groups. This study investigated dietary intake and snacking behavior among Korean-American adolescents in the Los Angeles area. We determined the relationship between dietary fat intake and overall quality of the diet as assessed by two healthy eating indices: the Healthy Eating Index (HEl) and Mean Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (MNAR). HEl assessed degree of compliance to Food Guide Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines for Americans while MNAR assessed nutrient consumption compared to Recommended Dietary …

Predicting Milk And Soft Drink Consumption Among Female Adolescents Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Nada Osman Kassem

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

A total of 756 female adolescents, aged 13 to 18 years, from five public high schools in Antelope Valley Union High School District located in North Los Angeles County participated in this study between February 1999 and March 1999. The ethnic composition was 53.3% White/Anglo Americans, 19.3% Hispanics or Latinos and 10.2% Black/African Americans. The constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control and their underlying beliefs) were assessed to determine the predictors of low-fat milk and regular soda consumption. A cross-sectional design with group-administered questionnaires was utilized.

Most participants (89.6%, n = 636) …

Perceived Social Support Of Family Members Of Aged Care Facility Residents And Its Relationship With Family Members Well-Being And Their Support Of Relatives In Residential Care, Christine Toye

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

When elderly people are cared for In Aged Care Facilities (ACFs) it is known that their family members frequently suffer negative effects. These effects may be alleviated by social support and, because they feel better, family members may then offer more support to residents. In this study, the researcher tested a model with a sample of 213 family members of ACF residents. Predictive relationships were hypothesised among incentives for family members to support residents, stress related factors, the perceived formal and Informal support of family members, their psychological wellbeing, and the support they offered to residents. The researcher also developed …

An Identification Of The Core Variables That Assist People Diagnosed With Mental Illness In A Time Of Transition, Robyn M. Martin

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study has sought to identify the core variables or factors that are utilised by people with a diagnosis of mental illness in a time of transition. The specific transition involved study participants exiting a non government community mental health agency. The variables of interest are those that assist individuals to cope during this time of change and transition. The specific transition involves participants leaving or exiting from a non government mental health agency that provides community based, psychosocial support. The study topic is located in the context of a formalised mental health system in the process of changing from …

The Relationship Between Functional And Histological Changes In Muscle Following Eccentric Exercise In Mice, Michael John Newton

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) is known to be produced by novel or unaccustomed exercise, especially high force eccentric contractions. Histological myofibre disruption, force loss and muscle soreness are associated with EIMD and have implications for sporting performance. Traditional practices of assessing the extent of disruption to the myofibres is by performing needle biopsies and subsequently analysing the histology of the fibres. Recently there has been interest in investigating whether changes in force production and contractile properties of muscle following damaging exercise correlate strongly with the magnitude of disruption to the myofibres. The main aim of this study was to investigate …

Early Attachment And Eating Disorders: A Comparative Study Between Anorexia Nervosa And Bulimia Nervosa, Francoise Ringer

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this research was to study the association between adult mental representations of curly attachment relationships and eating disorders, and to compare attachment classifications between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The sample consisted of 62 women with eating disorders, divided between anorexia nervosa [restricting type (n=20) and binge-eating/purging type (n=l6)], and bulimia nervosa (n=26). The measures were (a) a structured interview based on the ''Diagnostic Survey for Eating Disorders" (Johnson and Connors, 1987) and the DSM IV criteria for the classification of eating disorders, and (b) the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) (George, Kaplan and Main, 1985). The AAI …

Self-Esteem: The Influence Of Parenting Styles, Jean Wolff

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study examines parent/child relationships and their possible influence on self-esteem. The parenting styles: authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and unmatched, are assessed (by child report) and compared to levels of global and specific domains of self-esteem to determine whether parenting style influences self-esteem in children. Eighty-four children aged 11-12 years of age; male and female were asked to complete three questionnaires. The questionnaires were: Child Report of Parental Behaviour Inventory (Schluderman & Schluderman, 1970) to ascertain their parent's parenting style; Harter's (1985), Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC), to measure the child's self-esteem and a demographic questionnaire. ANOVA and ANCOVA were used …

The Use Of The Cognitive Status Examination In Detecting Cognitive Impairment In Elderly People, Geoff Mccann

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Dementia is a growing social problem in Australia because as the population ages, the incidence of dementia increases. While the prevalence rates are only about I% at age 65, they double every five years until by 85 years of age the rate is over 24%. It is expected that by the year 2030, the number of elderly people with dementia will increase by 200%. Dementia is easily recognized in its advanced stages but can be overlooked in the early phase. Family members, care-givers and even the treating medical practitioner may mistakenly attribute the early decline in mental function to the …

The Relationship Between Symptoms Of Perceived Trauma And Verbal Learning And Memory Deficits, Santina Tonizzo

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Recent empirical studies on individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) report an association between PTSD and deficits in short-term verbal memory. While the previous studies utilised a global score of PTSD, the present study assessed the association of individual symptoms as a result of perceived traumatic events with verbal learning and memory deficits. In addition, the severity of the traumatic events was examined as well as gender, age, IQ, education and previous alcohol abuse and drug use. A sample of 148 adults reported to have experienced a traumatic event such as sexual or physical abuse ns children. war veterans, or …

The Effects Of Suicide Intent And History Of Self-Harm On Emotional Reactions And Willingness To Help, Paul A. Buttigieg

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The present study was a preliminary investigation of factors that affect potential helpers' emotional responses, perceptions and willingness to help when confronted with information about a hypothetical friend who overdoses. One hundred and forty-two undergraduate students attending Edith Cowan University (Joondalup Campus) were randomly assigned to one of six conditions and read two vignettes. In the first vignette, information was provided of a hypothetical female friend's overdose. The second vignette included information about the overdose that either supported or contradicted information in the first vignette regarding the woman's history of self-harm. Participants then completed a questionnaire designed to measure their …