Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

An Overview Of The Near-Death Experience Phenomenon, David San Filippo Ph.D.

David San Filippo Ph.D.

Near-death experiences appear to be universal phenomena that have been reported for centuries. A near-death encounter is defined as an event in which the individual could very easily die or be killed, or may have already been considered clinically dead, but nonetheless survives, and continue his or her physical life. Reports of near-death experiences date back to the Ice Age. There are cave paintings, in France and Spain that depict possible after life scenes that are similar to reported scenes related to near-death experiences. Plato's Republic presents the story of a near-death experience of a Greek soldier named Er. In …

Wavelet-Based Functional Mixed Models To Characterize Population Heterogeneity In Accelerometer Profiles: A Case Study. , Jeffrey S. Morris, Cassandra Arroyo, Brent A. Coull, Louise M. Ryan, Steven L. Gortmaker

Jeffrey S. Morris

We present a case study illustrating the challenges of analyzing accelerometer data taken from a sample of children participating in an intervention study designed to increase physical activity. An accelerometer is a small device worn on the hip that records the minute-by-minute activity levels of the child throughout the day for each day it is worn. The resulting data are irregular functions characterized by many peaks representing short bursts of intense activity. We model these data using the wavelet-based functional mixed model. This approach incorporates multiple fixed effects and random effect functions of arbitrary form, the estimates of which are …

Alternative Probeset Definitions For Combining Microarray Data Across Studies Using Different Versions Of Affymetrix Oligonucleotide Arrays, Jeffrey S. Morris, Chunlei Wu, Kevin R. Coombes, Keith A. Baggerly, Jing Wang, Li Zhang

Jeffrey S. Morris

Many published microarray studies have small to moderate sample sizes, and thus have low statistical power to detect significant relationships between gene expression levels and outcomes of interest. By pooling data across multiple studies, however, we can gain power, enabling us to detect new relationships. This type of pooling is complicated by the fact that gene expression measurements from different microarray platforms are not directly comparable. In this chapter, we discuss two methods for combining information across different versions of Affymetrix oligonucleotide arrays. Each involves a new approach for combining probes on the array into probesets. The first approach involves …

Cross-Cultural Reliability Of The Health Control & Competence Index And The Health Perception Index, Dr. Vincent L. Salyers

Dr. Vincent L Salyers

It is well documented that men of Latino origin are subject to health disparities with an increased morbidity and mortality from preventable diseases. Despite their proclivity for health problems, these men also have the lowest participation in health promotion services. This may be due to health disparity factors, health access factors, cultural factors, gender role factors, and constraints to receiving culturally competent health care. Addressing such factors as health knowledge, health perceptions, access to care, and culturally/linguistically competent care is essential to increasing participation in health care, health promotion and screening activities by men of Latino origin. This mixed-measures exploratory …

Managing Complications Of Radiation Therapy In Head And Neck Cancer Patients: Part Ii. Management Of Radiation-Induced Caries, W. L. Chai, W.C. Ngeow, R. Ramli, R. A. Rahman

Wei Cheong Ngeow

Head and neck cancer is becoming a more recognizable pathology to the general population and dentists. The modes of treatment include surgery and/or radiation therapy. Where possible, pretreatment dental assessment shall be provided for these patients before they undergo radiation therapy. There are occasions, however, whereby head and neck cancer patients are not prepared optimally for radiation therapy. Because of this, they succumb to complicated oral complications after radiation therapy. The management of xerostomia has been reviewed in Part I of this series. In this article, the management of dental caries, a sequalae of xerostomia following radiation therapy is reviewed. …

Managing Complications Of Radiation Therapy In Head And Neck Cancer Patients: Part I. Management Of Xerostomia, W.C. Ngeow, W. L. Chai, R. A. Rahman, R. Ramli

Wei Cheong Ngeow

Head and neck cancer is becoming a more recognizable pathology to the general population and dentists. The modes of treatment include surgery and/or radiation therapy. Where possible, pretreatment dental assessment shall be provided for these patients before they receive radiation therapy. There are occasions, however, whereby head and neck cancer patients are not prepared optimally for radiation therapy. Because of this, they succumb to complicated oral adverse effects after radiation therapy. Part I of this series reviews the management of xerostomia. The management of the effect of xerostomia to the dentition/oral cavity is discussed in Part II. © 2006 Elsevier. …

Managing Complications Of Radiation Therapy In Head And Neck Cancer Patients: Part V. Management Of Mucositis, W.C. Ngeow, W. L. Chai, R. A. Rahman, R. Ramli

Wei Cheong Ngeow

Head and neck cancer is becoming a more recognizable pathology to the general population and dentists. The modes of treatment include surgery and/or radiation therapy. Where possible, pretreatment dental assessment shall be provided for these patients before they undergo radiation therapy. There are occasions, however, whereby head and neck cancer patients are not prepared optimally for radiation therapy. Because of this, they succumb to complicated oral adverse effects after radiation therapy. The second last part of this series reviews and discusses the management of complication that commonly occur to the oral mucosa, i.e. mucositis. © 2006 Elsevier. All rights reserved.

Managing Complications Of Radiation Therapy In Head And Neck Cancer Patients: Part Vi. Management Of Opportunistic Infections, W.C. Ngeow, W. L. Chai, R. Ramli, R. A. Rahman

Wei Cheong Ngeow

Head and neck cancer is becoming a more recognizable pathology to the general population and dentists. The modes of treatment include surgery and/or radiation therapy. Where possible, pretreatment dental assessment shall be provided for these patients before they undergo radiation therapy. There are occasions, however, whereby head and neck cancer patients are not prepared optimally for radiation therapy. Because of this, they succumb to complicated oral adverse effects after radiation therapy. The last part of this series reviews the opportunistic infections that can occur to the perioral structure. Their management is briefly discussed. © 2006 Elsevier. All rights reserved.

Managing Complications Of Radiation Therapy In Head And Neck Cancer Patients: Part Iv. Management Of Osteoradionecrosis, R. Ramli, W.C. Ngeow, R. A. Rahman, W. L. Chai

Wei Cheong Ngeow

Head and neck cancer is becoming a more recognizable pathology to the general population and dentists. The modes of treatment include surgery and/or radiation therapy. Pretreatment dental assessment should be provided for these patients before they undergo radiation therapy. There are occasions, however, whereby head and neck cancer patients are not prepared optimally and, as a result, they succumb to complicated oral adverse effects after radiation therapy. Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a severe debilitating condition that impairs healing due to reduction in vascularity and osteocyte population in the affected bone. This article reviews methods of treatment used to treat ORN such …

Transient Loss Of Power Of Accommodation In 1 Eye Following Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block: Report Of 2 Cases, W.C. Ngeow, C. K. Shim, W. L. Chai

Wei Cheong Ngeow

Unintended intravascular injection from inferior alveolar nerve blocks can result in frustrating distant complications affecting such structures as the middle ear and eyes. Possible complications affecting the eyes include blurring of vision, diplopia, mydriasis, palpebral ptosis and amaurosis ( temporary or permanent). In this article, we present a complication that has been reported only rarely. Two patients developed transient loss of power of accommodation of the eye resulting in blurred vision after routine inferior alveolar nerve blocks on the ipsilateral side. Clear vision returned within 10 - 15 minutes after completion of the blocks. The possible explanation for this phenomenon …

Managing Complications Of Radiation Therapy In Head And Neck Cancer Patients: Part Iii. Provision Of Dentures, R. A. Rahman, W.C. Ngeow, W. L. Chai, R. Ramli

Wei Cheong Ngeow

Head and neck cancer is becoming a more recognizable pathology to the general population and dentists. The modes of treatment include surgery and/or radiation therapy. Pretreatment dental assessment should be provided for these patients before they undergo radiation therapy. There are occasions, however, whereby head and neck cancer patients are not prepared optimally and, as a result, they succumb to complicated oral adverse effects after radiation therapy. The management of radiation-induced caries, a sequelae of xerostomia has been reviewed in Part II of this series. In this article, the management of difficulty with dentures, another sequelae of xerostomia following radiation …

Identifying Important Explanatory Variables For Time-Varying Outcomes., Oliver Bembom, Maya L. Petersen, Mark J. Van Der Laan

Maya Petersen

This chapter describes a systematic and targeted approach for estimating the impact of each of a large number of baseline covariates on an outcome that is measured repeatedly over time. These variable importance estimates can be adjusted for a user-specified set of confounders and lend themselves in a straightforward way to obtaining confidence intervals and p-values. Hence, they can in particular be used to identify a subset of baseline covariates that are the most important explanatory variables for the time-varying outcome of interest. We illustrate the methodology in a data analysis aimed at finding mutations of the human immunodeficiency virus …

Risks And Protective Factors Associated With Symptoms Of Depression In Low-Income African American And Caucasian Women During Pregnancy, Darlene Elizabeth Jesse

D. Elizabeth Jesse

No abstract provided.

Child Laundering: How The Intercountry Adoption System Legitimizes And Incentivizes The Practices Of Buying, Trafficking, Kidnapping, And Stealing Children, David M. Smolin

David M. Smolin

This article documents and analyzes a substantial incidence of "child laundering" within the intercountry adoption system. Child laundering occurs when children are taken illegally from birth families through child buying or kidnapping, and then "laundered" through the adoption system as "orphans" and then "adoptees." The article then proposes reforms to the intercountry adoption system that could substantially reduce the incidence of child laundering.

Identifying Important Explanatory Variables For Time-Varying Outcomes., Oliver Bembom, Maya L. Petersen, Mark J. Van Der Laan

Oliver Bembom

This chapter describes a systematic and targeted approach for estimating the impact of each of a large number of baseline covariates on an outcome that is measured repeatedly over time. These variable importance estimates can be adjusted for a user-specified set of confounders and lend themselves in a straightforward way to obtaining confidence intervals and p-values. Hence, they can in particular be used to identify a subset of baseline covariates that are the most important explanatory variables for the time-varying outcome of interest. We illustrate the methodology in a data analysis aimed at finding mutations of the human immunodeficiency virus …

Prepms: Tof Ms Data Graphical Preprocessing Tool, Yuliya V. Karpievitch, Elizabeth G. Hill, Adam J. Smolka, Jeffrey S. Morris, Kevin R. Coombes, Keith A. Baggerly, Jonas S. Almeida

Jeffrey S. Morris

We introduce a simple-to-use graphical tool that enables researchers to easily prepare time-of-flight mass spectrometry data for analysis. For ease of use, the graphical executable provides default parameter settings experimentally determined to work well in most situations. These values can be changed by the user if desired. PrepMS is a stand-alone application made freely available (open source), and is under the General Public License (GPL). Its graphical user interface, default parameter settings, and display plots allow PrepMS to be used effectively for data preprocessing, peak detection, and visual data quality assessment.

Public Health Preparedness Of Health Providers: Meeting The Needs Of Diverse, Rural Communities, Chiehwen Ed Hsu, Francisco Soto Mas, Holly Jacobson

Francisco Soto Mas

No abstract provided.

Probiotics: Therapeutic Potential For People With Spinal Cord Injury (Sci), Kingsley C. Anukam

Kingsley C Anukam

The recent increased interest in probiotics “Live microorganism which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”, has not yet translated into specific products for hospitalized or spinal cord injured (SCI) patients in Canada. Europeans have more access to clinically proven products, such as Proviva, a Lactobacillus plantarum 299V containing milk drink which when given with oat fibres, has been shown to reduce infections in seriously ill surgical patients. For applications to SCI patients, several options could either be tested now or applied in the future. There are good data on the anti-inflammatory effects of probiotic …

Is It Useful To Measure Sedimentation Rate (Esr) As A Broad Screening Test In The Emergency Department?, Paris B. Lovett

Paris B Lovett

Is It Useful to Measure Sedimentation Rate (ESR) as a Broad Screening Test in the Emergency Department? Breen LM, Lovett PB, Greenwald RA NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY; Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY Background: Multiple studies have reported that markedly elevated sedimentation rates (ESR_100) are associated with several groups of diagnoses: infection, systemic inflammatory disorders, malignancy, and renal disease. These associations are largely drawn from case series. ESR is sometimes used as a screening test in the emergency department (ED), yet the clinical value of such screening is uncertain. Study Objectives: Our …

Applicants Report That Their Rankings Of Em Programs Are Most Driven By Wellness, Morale, Happiness And Rapport, Paris B. Lovett

Paris B Lovett

Applicants Report That Their Rankings of EM Programs Are Most Driven by Wellness, Morale, Happiness and Rapport

Lovett PB, Sayan OR, Glassman GD, Petrik R

New York Presbyterian Hospital/ Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY

Study Objectives: Our objectives were to (1) determine which factors are considered most important to residency applicants as they choose between residency programs in emergency medicine (EM) and (2) compare the response rates on this electronic/Web survey against response rates in prior comparable paper/mail surveys.

Methods: We surveyed all 118 applicants who interviewed at an urban, academic PGY1-4 EM program in 2005-6. A Web …

Physician Assistants And Bioterrorism Preparedness, Francisco Soto Mas, Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Despite the resources dedicated since 2001 to training health providers in emergency and bioterrorism preparedness and response, the literature on the participation of physician assistants (PAs) is very limited. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the training level and experiences of PAs in the diagnosis and treatment of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive agents that could be used in a bioterrorism attack. The study population consisted of licensed PAs in 37 northern Texas counties. Data were collected through a mailed survey. Response rate was 36%. More than half of the respondents (58.6%) had not participated in …

Alkylating Drugs Applied In Non-Cytotoxic Doses As A Novel Compounds Targeting Inflammatory Signal Pathway., A. Pukhalsky, G Shmarina, V Alioshkin, A Sabelnikov

Alexander G Sabelnikov

No abstract provided.

Histopathologic Findings And Assessment Of Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis In Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of Malaysian Patients, Ismail S. B., Rosnah Binti Zain, Kipli N. P., Abraham T., Ismail M. S., Rahman Z. A. A., Prepageran N., Jalaludin M. A. B.

Prof. Dr. Rosnah Binti Zain

Purpose: To evaluate some histopathologic parameters and relate with the occurrence of cervical lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in Malaysian patients. Methods: A total of 44 cases of OSCC resected were included. The resected specimens were examined for the OSCC type, degree of differentiation, pattern of invasion (at the tumour invasive front), greatest dimension and the depth of stromal invasion. Where there is no neck resection, the clinical nodal status was obtained from the Oral Cancer database maintained at the University of Malaya Oral Cancer Research and Coordinating Centre (UM-OCRCC) while the histopathologic data were obtained …

Immunoexpression Of Prb And Egfr Using Tissue Microarray (Tma) Technique - A Preliminary Study, Kipli N. P., Cheong C. S., Rosnah Binti Zain, Hamid S., Lim K. P., Abraham T., Ismail M. S., Hussaini H. M.

Prof. Dr. Rosnah Binti Zain

Purpose: To assess the expression of pRb and EGFR in oral epithelial lesions using TMA technique. Methods: Paraffin embedded specimens were selected from the archives of the Diagnostic Laboratories at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Selected epithelial areas were cored and developed into tissue microarray blocks. A total of 32 samples for pRb and 50 samples for EGFR were analysed using immunohistochemical techniques. Results: Abnormal pRb staining (1+ or less) was seen in 80% (8/10) OSCC, 38.5% (5/13) dysplastic and 22.2% (2/9) normal/hyperplastic epithelium. Positive EGFR staining was observed in 25/35 (71.4%) OSCC cases …

Expression Of Human B-Defensin-3 In Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Tissue Microarray - A Preliminary Study, Hussaini H. M., Lim P. K., Rahman R. A., Abraham T., Cheong C. S., Rosnah Binti Zain, Ismail M. S., Nam A. N.

Prof. Dr. Rosnah Binti Zain

Purpose: Human b-Defensin (hBDs) is an epithelial origin, cationic antimicrobial peptides. Their expression is reported in oral mucosa, gingiva and salivary glands. However, their protective role is not well understood. It has been suggested that bacterial and viral infection are an important factors in the process of carcinogenesis. This study investigated the expression of hBD-3 in oral squamous cells carcinoma (OSCC). Methods: 29 OSCC and 23 samples of normal and dysplastic tissues were obtained from Oral Pathology diagnostic laboratory, faculty of Dentistry, UKM and UM. The tissues were arrayed and the expression of hBD-3 was analysed using immunohistochemistry technique. Results: …

A Transforming Met Mutation Discovered In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using Microarray-Based Resequencing, Torstein Tengs

Dr. Torstein Tengs

We have designed resequencing microarrays to test the performance of this platform when interrogating a large number of exons (164 total) from genes associated with cancer. To evaluate false positive and negative rates, dideoxy sequencing was done for 335,420 bases interrogated by the arrays. From the array data, calls could be made forw97.5% of the bases, and false positive rates were very low with only a single mutation reported from the array dataset for which the corresponding dideoxy trace had a clean wildtype sequence. For the nucleotide positions where array calls were made, false negative rates were 1.41% for heterozygous …

Sensitive Mutation Detection In Heterogeneous Cancer Specimens By Massively Parallel Picoliter Reactor Sequencing, Torstein Tengs

Dr. Torstein Tengs

The sensitivity of conventional DNA sequencing in tumor biopsies is limited by stromal contamination and by genetic heterogeneity within the cancer. Here, we show that microreactor-based pyrosequencing can detect rare cancer-associated sequence variations by independent and parallel sampling of multiple representatives of a given DNA fragment. This technology can thereby facilitate accurate molecular diagnosis of heterogeneous cancer specimens and enable patient selection for targeted cancer therapies.

A View Through A Different Lens: Photovoice As A Tool For Student Advocacy, Fern Walter Goodhart, Joanne Hsu, Ji H. Baek, Adrienne L. Coleman, Francesca M. Maresca, Marilyn B. Miller

Adrienne Coleman

To complement National College Health Assessment data and to further assess student lives and health needs, staff at the Rutgers University Health Services' Department of Health Education used a participatory research method called photovoice. Using this methodology, health care professionals provided a discrete and tangible way for students to feel empowered, as the students conducted the project themselves, collecting data using photography, analyzing the results qualitatively, and meeting with policy makers to discuss their photos and offer recommendations for change. Policy recommendations addressed issues of safety, nutrition, sexual health information, alcohol and drugs, and campus parking. In this article, the …

Some Statistical Issues In Microarray Gene Expression Data, Matthew S. Mayo, Byron J. Gajewski, Jeffrey S. Morris

Jeffrey S. Morris

In this paper we discuss some of the statistical issues that should be considered when conducting experiments involving microarray gene expression data. We discuss statistical issues related to preprocessing the data as well as the analysis of the data. Analysis of the data is discussed in three contexts: class comparison, class prediction and class discovery. We also review the methods used in two studies that are using microarray gene expression to assess the effect of exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields on gene expression. Our intent is to provide a guide for radiation researchers when conducting studies involving microarray gene expression …

Diverse Mechanisms Of Antiepileptic Drugs In The Development Pipeline, Michael A. Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

There is a remarkable array of new chemical entities in the current antiepileptic drug (AED) development pipeline. In some cases, the compounds were synthesized in an attempt improve upon the activity of marketed AEDs. In other cases, the discovery of antiepileptic potential was largely serendipitous. Entry into the pipeline begins with the demonstration of activity in one or more animal screening models. Results from testing in a panel of such models provide a basis to differentiate agents and may offer clues as to the mechanism. Target activity may then be defined through cell-based studies, often years after the initial identification …