Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Detection And Molecular Epidemiological Analysis Of Acute Gastroenteritis Viruses In The South Of Ireland, Grainne Lennon

Theses

Rotavirus infections are considered to be the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in children under the age of 5 years, and are responsible for up to 611,000 deaths annually, mainly in developing countries. From 1997 to 1999, 16 hospital laboratories in the Republic of Ireland reported to detection of 4,643 cases of rotaviral disease, while in 2004 and 2005 and increase of 1,600 and 2,251 rotavirus cases were reported. These rotavirus cases have a significant impact on the healthcare system with the minimum cost per case being €728.40. A large percentage of the infections were reported in neonates, suggesting …

An Investigation Into The I-Stat Chem8+ System For The Measurement Of Sodium, Potassium, Urea & Creatinine., Gene Ferris

Theses

In the hospital environment Point of Care Testing (POCT) can be an invaluable tool in Emergency departments, Theatres, Intensive Care Units and Paediatric wards by providing rapid test results without the need for transport and laboratory processing. The study design included the collection and duplicate analysis of patient samples firstly using the i-STAT and then on the Architect c8000, a routine laboratory analyser. Statistical analysis was performed in order to determine if there is a statistically significant difference in results between the i-STAT POCT system and current laboratory instrumentation. The parameters analysed were the vital biochemical parameters Sodium (Na), Potassium …

Urine Protein Electrophoresis: Comparison Of Agarose Gel And Capillary Zone Electrophoretic Techniques., Anne-Marie Curtin

Theses

Proteinuria is the excess excretion of protein in the urine and is found in a variety of conditions including renal diseases and neoplastic conditions such as multiple myeloma (MM). The investigation of proteinuria type through the use of electrophoresis is a useful and widely used non-invasive diagnostic tool. The aim of this study was to compare various agarose gel and capillary zone electrophoresis techniques in order to establish a method choice for the separation of protein in routine laboratories. Comparisons were made based on urine monoclonal peak quantification and protein fractions detected. An examination of a capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) …

Challenge Course Effectiveness: The Impact On Leadership Efficacy And Work Efficacy Among College Students, Theresa Odello, Eddie Hill, Edwin Gomez

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Challenge courses have become increasingly popular in recent years. Many groups are turning to half-day challenge courses due to time and financial constraints. Yet, few studies have quantified the benefits of a half-day course. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of participation in a four-hour challenge course on leadership efficacy and work efficacy of college students. Pretest, posttest, and follow-up questionnaires were utilized. T-test analyses found that participating in a challenge course has a significant positive effect on increasing one’s leadership and work efficacy from pretest to posttest, after participation in a four-hour challenge course. This …

Evaluation Of A Simple Intervention To Increase Self- Efficacy For Independent Exercise In Cardiac Rehabilitation Participants, Sherry A. Barkley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: While benefits of exercise after a cardiac event are well documented, participation in and adherence to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs is often low. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a self- efficacy coaching intervention (SCI): a simple theory-based behavioral intervention to increase self-efficacy for independent exercise as well as independent exercise behavior in CR patients. It was hypothesized that persons receiving the SCI treatment (T) would have higher levels of self-efficacy for exercise and greater participation in independent exercise than participants in an attention control (C) group.
Methods: People referred to a hospitalbased CR …

Neuroimaging Research Into Disorders Of Consciousness: Moral Imperative Or Ethical And Legal Failure, Stacey A. Tovino

Faculty Articles

In this article I explore the ethical and legal implications of enrolling individuals with disorders of consciousness (DOC) in neuroimaging research studies. Many scientists have strongly emphasized the need for additional neuroimaging research into DOC, characterizing the conduct of such studies as morally imperative. On the other hand, institutional review boards (IRBs) charged with approving research protocols, scientific journals deciding whether to publish study results, and federal agencies that disburse grant money have limited the conduct, publication, and funding of consciousness investigations based on ethical and legal concerns. Following a detailed examination of the risks and benefits of neuroimaging research …

Etiology Of Frontal Network Syndromes In Isolated Subtentorial Stroke, Michael Hoffmann, Lourdes Benes Cases

Neurology Faculty Publications

Background: The neurobiology of the frontal network syndrome (FNS) that may occur with isolated subtentorial stroke is unknown.Aim: Evaluate for frontal network syndromes in young people post subtentorial stroke who have recovered neurologically and compare to a stroke lesion group least likely to manifest frontal network syndromes.Methods: Young people (18–49 years) with isolated cerebellar or brainstem subtentorial stroke (ST) that had recovered to independency (Rankin score ࣘ 2) with minimal or no residual neurological deficit (NIHSS ࣘ 4) with neurological recovery enabling resumption of former employment. Comparison was made to age and education matched young people with posterior …

Foreign Accent Syndrome Mimicked By Garcin Syndrome With Spontaneous Resolution, Michael Hoffmann

Neurology Faculty Publications

An English speaking women developed a French accent, without any aphasic syndromes, in conjunction with multiple left sided cranial nerve deficits, temporally related to cranial trauma. Extensive testing with multimodality magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid and laboratory analysis was unremarkable. She was followed over a 3 year period during which her French accent resolved as did the majority of her multiple unilateral cranial neuropathies. The neurological diagnoses included a foreign accent syndrome attributed to a reversible Garcin syndrome.

Resistance Training And Bone Mineral Density During Growth, M. Z. Smith, B. M. Goettsch, R. D. Van Ramshorst, J. A. O'Brien, S. V. Jaque, Ken D. Sumida

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

This study examined the efficacy of two different resistance training programs in enhancing bone modeling and bone mineral density (BMD) in maturating rats. One exercise mode involved lifting a lighter weight with more repetitions (LI), while the other regimen involved lifting a heavier weight with fewer repetitions (HI) where the total volume of work between exercise programs was equivalent by design. Twenty-three male rats were randomly divided into control (Con, n = 8), LI (n = 7), and HI (n = 8) groups. The LI and HI groups were conditioned to climb a vertical ladder with weights appended to their …

Parent Perceptions Of School-Based Support For Students With Traumatic Brain Injuries, Susan C. Davies, Shari L. Wade, Michelle Wu

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

Primary objective: To determine whether parents believe schools provided necessary support to their children who sustained traumatic brain injuries.

Research design: Interview, to determine parent perceptions

Methods and procedure: Sixty-six primary caregivers of school-age children who experienced a TBI within the previous 2 years were interviewed regarding what types of special support were needed by and provided for their children during the 3 months immediately following school reentry. They then rated how difficult it was to obtain support or services from the school and how satisfied they were with the support or services.

Main outcomes and results …

Rabies Prevalence Among And New Distribution Records Of Arkansas Bats, D. Blake Sasse, David A. Saugey

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

The Increasing Number Of Clinical Items Addressed During The Time Of Adult Primary Care Visits, Elmer D. Abbo, Qi Zhang, Martin Zelder, Elbert S. Huang

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Primary care physicians report that there is insufficient time to meet patients' needs during clinical visits, but visit time has increased over the past decade.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the number of clinical items addressed during the primary care visit has increased, and if so, whether this has been associated with changes in visit length and the pace of clinical work.

DESIGN: Analysis of non-hospital-based adult primary care visits from 1997 to 2005, as reported in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 46,431 adult primary care visits.

MEASUREMENTS: We assessed changes over time for …

Endovascular Stenting For Carotid Artery Stenosis: Results Of Local Experience At Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Muhammad Azeem Uddin, Tanveer Ul Haq, Ishtiaque Ahmed Chishty, Zafar Sajjad, Basit Salam

Department of Radiology

Objective: To evaluate the results, complications and initial follow-up of patients after percutaneous stent placement for carotid artery disease.Methods: A retrospective study was carried out on patients treated with carotid artery stenting at the Radiology Department of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from September 2002 to December 2005. The patients were selected according to the institutional guidelines for Carotid Angioplasty and stenting. Preliminary angiogram was performed in all patients followed by stent deployment. Distal protection device was used in 12 patients. All patients underwent pre and post procedure independent neurological examinations. Follow-up consisted of serial duplex ultrasonography and clinical assessment.Results: …

Suicides Among Farmers In Three Southeastern States, 1990-1998, Steven R. Browning, Susan C. Westneat, Robert H. Mcknight

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Several studies have documented higher rates of suicide among farmers in comparison to other occupational groups, both in the U.S. and internationally. The purpose of this study is to describe the epidemiology of farmer suicides in three southeastern states (Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina) during the nine-year period 1990-1998. Electronic death certificate data were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics. Over the nine-year period, there were 590 deaths related to suicide (E-codes: 950-959) among farmers (occupation codes: 473, 474, 475, 477, and 479) in the states of Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The results of this …

Gliotoxin Production In Aspergillus Fumigatus, Susan Musyimi

Theses and Dissertations

Aspergillus fumigalus is a ubiquitous fungus that causes an infection called aspergillosis in immune-compromised surgery patients (Latge, 2001, 384; Bok et al. 2006). Aspergillosis cases have increased in the past decade due to the increasing number of patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy and receiving organ transplants (Bok et al. 2006). Although there is still disagreement as to the causative agent of the symptoms accompanying aspergillosis, many scientists suspect that the compound, gliotoxin, plays a major role, hi this study, we compared the amounts of gliotoxin produced from clinical and environmental isolates of A. fumigatus. We hypothesized that the amount of gliotoxin …

General Health And Fitness Knowledge And Exercise Behaviors Of College Students At Eastern Illinois University, Cara Mcqueen

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess general health and physical fitness knowledge and the exercise behaviors of college students at Eastern Illinois University. Specifically, objective a) was health and fitness knowledge related to the minutes of aerobic exercise in a structured physical activity, objective b) was taking the Fitness for Life class related to the minutes of aerobic exercise, and objective c) was do students who have taken the Fitness for Life class demonstrate greater general physical fitness knowledge compared with students who have not taken the Fitness for Life class? Participants included males (n=123) and females (n=141), …

Comparison Of Diabetes Education Across Age Group, Gender, And Diabetes Type, Katey Korhonen

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of various types of patient education in motivating diabetic patients to make lifestyle changes and helping patients identify causes of sub-optimal control of blood glucose. Patient educational tools compared included: verbal information from a physician, consultations with a dietician, sessions with a diabetes educator, written materials such as pamphlets or brochures, Internet sources of information, use of finger stick glucose monitoring, and use of the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System.

One hundred individuals with diabetes ( 63 females and 3 7 males) responded to an online survey that was hosted at …

The Physical Activity Levels Of College Age Sorority Members Compared To Non-Sorority Members, Michael J. Foster

Masters Theses

The current study compared the physical activity levels of college undergraduates who were members of a sorority with non-sorority members. Behavioral practices that may influence physical activity were also examined.

Progress Checks As A Motivational Tool For Adult Fitness Participants, Stephanie James

Masters Theses

This study will examine the effect of an exercise screening on the motivation to adhere to an exercise program. The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) to determine how a 12 week progress report effects motivation in Adult Fitness participants at Eastern lliinois University, 2) to determine the effectiveness of an exercise readiness screen in modifying exercise behavior, and 3) to examine the participants reaction to the feedback given. Throughout this study, motivation was compared to the feedback that the participants were given after twelve weeks of the Adult Fitness Program. The participants in this study were current Adult …

The Effect Of Joint Book Reading And The Language Experience Approach On Vocabulary Acquisition, Whitney Sturm

Masters Theses

Research indicates that reading books is beneficial for development of vocabulary and syntax (Robbins & Ehri, 1994). Joint book reading is defined as the interaction between an adult, child, and a book while reading. The language experience approach (LEA) is a reading method that "promotes reading and writing through the use of personal experiences and oral language"(Taylor, 1992). The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of joint book reading and the language experience approach on vocabulary acquisition in preschool and kindergarten children with hearing impairments, as well as, preschool and kindergarten children with normal hearing.

Within …

Analytical Approaches To Detect Maternal/Fetal Genotype Incompatibilities That Increase Risk Of Pre-Eclampsia, Neeta Parimi, Gerard Tromp, Helena Kuivaniemi, Jyh Nien, Ricardo Gomez, Roberto Romero, Katrina Ab Goddard

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

In utero interactions between incompatible maternal and fetal genotypes are a potential mechanism for the onset or progression of pregnancy related diseases such as pre-eclampsia (PE). However, the optimal analytical approach and study design for evaluating incompatible maternal/offspring genotype combinations is unclear.

Methods

Using simulation, we estimated the type I error and power of incompatible maternal/offspring genotype models for two analytical approaches: logistic regression used with case-control mother/offspring pairs and the log-linear regression used with case-parent triads. We evaluated a real dataset consisting of maternal/offspring pairs with and without PE for incompatibility effects using the optimal analysis based …

Adenylyl Cyclase Type 6 Overexpression Selectively Enhances Ss-Adrenergic And Prostacyclin Receptor Mediated Inhibition Of Rat Cardiac Fibroblast Function Due To Co-Localization In Lipid Rafts, Xiaoqiu Liu, Muthusamy Thangavel, Shu Qiang Sun, Joseph Kaminsky, Penden Mahautmr, Jeremiah Stitham, John Hwa, Rennolds S. Ostrom

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Cardiac fibroblasts produce and degrade extracellular matrix and are critical in regulating cardiac remodeling and hypertrophy. Fibroblasts are activated by factors such as transforming growth factor β and inhibited by agents that elevate 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels. cAMP signal generation and response is known to be compartmentalized in many cell types in part through the colocalization of receptors and specific adenylyl cyclase isoforms in lipid rafts and caveolae. The present study sought to define the localization of key G protein-coupled receptors with adenylyl cyclase type 6 (AC6) in lipid rafts of rat cardiac fibroblasts and to determine if this …

Molecular Genetic Approaches To Disease Of Neural Development, Mohamad Bydon

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

This study utilized novel genetic techniques in order to find causative gene mutations that underlie diseases of neural development. Our laboratory has collected 175 cases of malformations of cortical development (MCD) from the United States and Europe. Four of these cases are the focus of this manuscript: two familial cases of infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy (INAD), a familial case of hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP), and a sporadic case of Greig cephalopolysyndactyly (GCPS) and cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs). The techniques utilized to study the affected patients include microarray-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping and copy number variation (CNV) analysis, both of which …

The Role Of Matrix Metalloproteinases In Axon Guidance And Neurite Outgrowth, Lu Anne Velayo Dinglasan

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Axons navigating the complex environment of the developing CNS use extracellular guidance cues to help find their correct synaptic target. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of zinc-dependent proteolytic enzymes, have been shown to regulate axon guidance by degrading extracellular matrix (ECM) or by cleaving guidance cues and their receptors. The olfactory system is an excellent model for studying the role of MMPs in axon guidance due to its capacity for continuous nerve regeneration and topographic maintenance during synaptic targeting. I hypothesized that MMPs may play a role in guiding olfactory sensory neurons to their correct glomerular target by sculpting the …

The Effect Of Teleradiology On Interpretation Times For Ct Pulmonary Angiography Studies, Scott Thomas Olcott Kennedy

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a teleradiology service on the timely interpretation of computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography studies. A survey of clinical and imaging physicians was performed to develop achievable goals for interpretation of CT pulmonary angiography studies. Percentages of studies given preliminary written reports within these thresholds were compared for 1,102 pulmonary angiography CT studies from three months before teleradiology was implemented to three months after. Identical control data were matched over the same periods for 1,638 CT brain studies. Data are reported as averages and percentages. Statistical significance was evaluated with …

Serum S-100b As A Potential Biomarker For Meningitis In Febrile Infants: An Interim Analysis, Kelvin C. Lau

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

The purpose of this study is to identify the utility of serum S-100B levels as a marker for meningitis in febrile infants younger than 3 months of age. All infants younger than 3 months of age who presented to the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) of Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital and required both a lumbar puncture and venipuncture due to either a confirmed rectal temperature ≥38.0°C or an overall presentation that concerned the responsible physician for possible meningitis and required a lumbar puncture as part of their PED evaluation, were prospectively enrolled. A total of 111 patients participated after a 1.5-year …

Pediatric Consultations To Child Protective Services: The Role Of Expert Opinions, Lindsay Kellogg Mcguire

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

The purpose of this study was to provide a description of the types of child abuse consultations done by experts at Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital (YNHCH) to Child Protective Services (CPS) in Connecticut, and compare the opinions of the likelihood of child maltreatment of the initial treating physician, CPS, and the child abuse expert. Eligible cases were referred by CPS for expert child abuse consultations at YNHCH between March, 1998 and June, 2005. Abstracted information included demographics, information about the type of injury, and the assessments of the case by the initial treating physician, CPS, and the child abuse expert. …

Clinical And Radiographic Assessment Of Lumbar Spine Total Disc Replacement In Athletes With Two Year Follow Up, Mark H. Mcrae

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the consequences of athletic activity on the clinical and radiographic outcomes of lumbar spine total disc replacement (TDR) patients. The data for this study is drawn secondarily from a prospective randomized study evaluating the Prodisc prosthesis at Yale New Haven Hospital. Athletic activities prior to the onset of spinal injury, after the onset of spinal injury, and post lumbar spine total disc replacement (TDR) surgery were assessed. Athletic activity was classified into three groups. These were contact/vigorous, moderate, and light, based on effect on the involved spinal segments. Outcomes were assessed both …

Role Of Mkl1 In Megakaryocytopoiesis And In T(1;22)-Associated Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia, James Troy

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

The t(1;22)(p13;q13) translocation creates a fusion of the genes RBM15 and MKL1 and is exclusively associated with the infantile form of Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia, or AML variant M7. Although MKL1 is a known coactivator of the Serum Response Factor (SRF) pathway, it is not known whether MKL1 plays an important role in megakaryocytic commitment or differentiation. This project investigated the role of MKL1 in normal megakaryocytopoiesis by using a human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) model. Human CD34+ HSCs were transduced with lentiviral vectors expressing either MKL1 or dominant negative MKL1 (DN-MKL1) and were cultured in conditions promoting megakaryocytopoiesis. After …

Older Adults' Understanding Of Cardiovascular Risk And Preventive Medication Benefit, Elizabeth R. Wahl

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Medication decision making in older adults with multiple chronic conditions is complicated; communication between patients and physicians to establish concordant treatment goals can enhance this process. While patients' ability to make informed decisions about treatment priorities depends on their ability to understand the risks and benefits of medications and the likelihood of disease outcomes, patients' knowledge of medication-related benefits is unexplored. We examined older adults' estimation of their 10-year risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, and the degree to which they thought common medications were able to prevent these outcomes. 150 male veterans age 65 or older and taking …