Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Us And Mr Imaging Features Of Benign Cystic Mesothelioma Of The Liver: A Diagnostic Dilemma, Sachit K. Verma, Donald G. Mitchell, Oksana H. Baltarowich, Diane Bergin, Raphael Rubin

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Cystic mesotheliomas are benign neoplasms, often seen in the parietal and visceral peritoneum, omentum and pelvic organs, and are exceedingly rare in the liver. It is however important to be familiar with the radiological findings of this tumour because the signal-intensity and enhancement pattern of this tumor are unusual and not typical for any of the more frequently seen mass lesions. In our patient, characteristic imaging findings on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and histopathological confirmation with appropriate immunohistochemical markers facilitated a correct diagnosis. We herein describe the clinical, imaging and histopathological features, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis and treatment of benign cystic mesothelioma …

Use Of Triple-Site Ventricular Pacing In A Patient With Severe Congestive Heart Failure And Atrial Fibrillation., Faizel Osman, Jeilan Mohamed, G. Andre' Ng

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has become an accepted treatment for selected patients with drug-resistant heart failure. Data for patients in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains limited but suggests benefit in these patients too. We report the case of an 82-year-old patient with heart failure, VVIR permanent pacemaker, and permanent AF who had an upgrade to triple-site CRT implantation with good clinical response. Triple-site ventricular pacing may enhance the chance of response and LV reverse remodeling and should be considered in AF patients undergoing CRT implantation.

Student Perceptions Of Their Learning Experience In The Clinical Setting: A Pilot Study, Peggy Gnehm

Master's Projects

Clinical experience during nursing education is a valuable learning opportunity, supporting the integration of theory and practice. Positive or negative perceptions of the learning environment potentially affect student retention and recruitment as well as motivation and by extension, possibly learning. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore possible strategies of assessing student perceptions of their overall clinical learning experiences and provide insight into student feelings about specific portions of their experience with goals of nurturing the positive as well as identifying potential areas for improvement within the program. Though students were satisfied overall with their clinical experiences, they …

Class Size And Nursing Students' Perception Of Empowerment, Cynthia T. Keane

Master's Projects

Due to increases in enrollment and budget cuts in many states, college class sizes are reaching unprecedented sizes (Carpenter, 2006). Nursing schools are facing the same challenges. Only limited research has been conducted on the effects of class size on nursing students' perception of empowerment Conger (1989) defines empowerment as the act of reinforcing one's belief in his or her perception of competence. Empowerment is important for nursing students' education (Chally, 1992). To achieve the optimal learning experience in face of increasing class size, it is important to explore how nursing students experience learning in both small and large class …

Healthcare Disparities Between Older And Younger Adults, Megan Coral

Senior Honors Projects

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that within the next few decades, adults aged 65 and older will represent 20% of the US population. As a result, health professionals will see an increase in the number of older patients they treat and as such, must be knowledgeable about the aging process and age-associated issues in order to provide appropriate treatment. Often, older patients do not receive care that is of comparable quality to that provided to younger adults. This original research project was designed to identify perceived barriers to providing appropriate and high quality treatment to older adults and …

Peer Grief Support At The University Of Rhode Island, Ariana Darcy

Senior Honors Projects

According to statistics, 22-30% of all college students are within their first twelve months of grieving the death of a family member or friend (Balk, 2008). There are even more students dealing with the illness of a family member or friend. This demonstrates the immense need on college campuses for support for students experiencing loss. One of the most beneficial types of support are peer support groups.

Peer support groups provide an essential environment for grief that cannot be obtained from individual counseling. People experiencing grief are apt to feel alone. Members of peer support groups tend to be relieved …

A Mounted Strengthening And Stretching Program To Prevent Musculoskeletal Injury In Equestrians, Abigail Guy

Senior Honors Projects

Equestrian sports use muscles uncommon to most normal daily activities. In beginning or returning riders this can lead to muscle strain and pain, and if not addressed, even to serious injury. This program is designed to stretch and strengthen the main muscle groups used in horseback riding: quadriceps, hamstrings, abdominals and obliques, and the lower back. The program is designed to be carried out during fifteen minutes of an hour-long riding lesson to prevent undue discomfort or injury. The counsel of a professional horseback riding instructor and a physical therapist was integrated with exercises from physical therapy resources. Proven stretching …

Does Admission Hyperglycemia Predict Intracranial And Extracranial Vasculopathy?, Ather Mohammed Taqui, Ayeesha Kamran Kamal, Saqib Ali Gowani, Bhojo A Khealani, Shafquat Rozi

Community Health Sciences

Objective: To study the association between admission hyperglycaemia and the presence and pattern of intracranial and extracranial vascular disease.
Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a major tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Patients who had presented with acute stroke and had undergone a carotid ultrasound doppler of the carotids and/or Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) of the brain were included in the study. A multiple logistic regression analysis of variables was done for an abnormal finding on each investigation.
Results: Out of the total of 216 patients, the age of majority of the patients (83.3%) was >50 years …

Relationship Between Parental Role-Modeling Of Physical Activity And Child's Physical Activity, Katherine Culver

Theses and Dissertations

Trends in childhood obesity have lead to a generation that has a shortened lifespan, where excessive weight may decrease life expectancy by as much as five years. Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for childhood obesity as well as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. Addressing inactivity in children could help keep the obesity epidemic from continuing to grow as well as help address other health concerns. The specific aims of this study are 1) To examine the effect of parental role-modeling of exercise on children’s activity level by specifically looking at the role of the mother and the father, …

Novel Analogs Of M-Chlorophenylguanidine As 5-Ht3 Receptor Ligands, Katie Alix

Theses and Dissertations

Serotonin receptors play a variety of functional roles in the body. Some indications and treatment claims for one of the classes of serotonin receptors, the 5-HT3 receptor family, include: anxiety, depression, chemotherapy- and radiation-induced emesis, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, pain, drug addiction, and satiety control. A 5-HT3 receptor partial agonist, MD-354, served as a lead compound in the development of new 5-HT3 receptor ligands. Using halogenated analogs the study investigated their effect on binding to the 5-HT3 receptor. Conformationally-constrained analogs (quinazolines) were shown to be a novel class of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. The log P values were determined for several …

History Of Pregnancy Termination As A Risk Factor For Preterm Birth, Virginia 2000-20007, Jennifer Macdonald

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine if an association exists between prior induced and prior spontaneous pregnancy termination (PIPT and PSPT) and preterm birth (PTB) of first live births in Virginia. Methods: Data was collected by linking maternal data from Virginia’s live birth and fetal death registries. All first live, singleton births occurring in Virginia from 2000-2007 were analyzed. Logistic regression models that controlled for various demographic, medical and obstetric history factors were used to determine associations among prior pregnancy termination types. Results: Compared with women who had no history of previous pregnancy terminations, women who …

Delayed And Forgone Care For Children With Special Health Care Needs In Virginia: A Cross-Sectional Study Using 2005-2006 Ns-Cshcn, Nevena Skoro

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives The objectives of our study were to: 1) summarize illness characteristics and functional ability difficulties among Children With Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) in Virginia, 2) examine the distribution of socio-demographic, health insurance, and health-related factors among Virginia’s CSHCN, 3) quantify the influence of these socio-demographic, health insurance, and health-related factors on delayed and forgone care of CSHNC in Virginia, and 4) analyze reasons for delayed and forgone care among Virginia’s CSHCN. Methods Data from the 2005-2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN) were used for this study. Three categories of predictor variables were studied: …

Perception Of Power Dynamics And Risky Sexual Behavior In Indian Men, Amber Haley

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Women account for about a third of all new cases of HIV in India. Based on research examining trends of HIV infection in women, male perception and behaviors have emerged as strong potential risk factors. However, there has been limited research examining the relationship between male’s attitudes toward women and their sexual risk-taking behaviors. This study examined the degree to which men’s beliefs about power dynamics in heterosexual relationships are related to risky sexual behaviors in Indian men. Methods: Data on Indian men from the 2005-2006 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) was analyzed (N= 44,727). The outcome variable, risky …

A Culturally-Relevant, Emergent Approach To Exploring The Needs, Strengths, And Priorities Of Tribal Communities In Virginia, Amy Prorock-Ernest

Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about the health of the indigenous peoples in Virginia. When compared to the total U.S. population, indigenous peoples nationwide disproportionately experience disparities in health status across multiple health indicators. Research shows that these disparities are largely due to the inequitable distribution of social and economic determinants present within indigenous communities. Because the indigenous peoples of Virginia are affected by inequitable social and economic conditions, there is reason to believe that health indicators may mirror that of the indigenous population at-large. Outlined in this paper is a framework for exploring the needs, strengths, and priorities of indigenous communities …

To Evaluate The Role Of Sonography As An Adjunct To Mammography In Women With Dense Breasts, Imrana Masroor, Mohammad Nadeem Ahmed, Sajida Pasha

Department of Radiology

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of sonography as an adjunct to mammography in women with dense breast tissue by determining yield and validity of sonography using histopathology/follow-up mammography as gold standard.

METHODS: It was a descriptive analytical study conducted at the Radiology Department of Aga Khan University Hospital, from September 2005 to April 2007. A total of 76, mammographically dense breasts were evaluated with ultrasound. Of these 32 had palpable lumps on mammography, and were excluded from the study. A total of 44 patients had either symptoms of vague nodularity, nipple discharge, mastalgia or had no symptoms and the mammograms …

Cognitive Inference And Resulting Behaviors In Response To Ambiguous Threat In The Coyote, Canis Latrans, Sarah Shawnee Dawson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

While antipredator strategies have been a focus of behavioral research for decades, scientists generally study the responses of prey toward overt, explicit threat. However, risk can also be significant when a threat is covert, such as when an ambush predator may be nearby or a secondary threat remains after a predator's departure. Little is known about the mechanism that prey use to assess risk in a predator's absence. Tests were conducted to determine the manner in which coyotes respond to these ambiguous threats. Specifically, I tested whether coyotes respond to prior anthropogenic activity that has occurred near their only food …

Does Admission Hyperglycemia Predict Intracranial And Extracranial Vasculopathy?, Ather Mohammed Taqui, Ayeesha Kamran Kamal, Saqib Ali Gowani, Bhojo A. Khealani, Shafquat Rozi

Department of Medicine

Objective: To study the association between admission hyperglycaemia and the presence and pattern of intracranial and extracranial vascular disease.
Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a major tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Patients who had presented with acute stroke and had undergone a carotid ultrasound doppler of the carotids and/or Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) of the brain were included in the study. A multiple logistic regression analysis of variables was done for an abnormal finding on each investigation.
Results: Out of the total of 216 patients, the age of majority of the patients (83.3%) was >50 years …

Using Art Therapy To Increase Self-Efficacy Beliefs Of Homeless Mothers Living In A Shelter, Mandi Elizabeth Wines

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Literature reveals that homelessness is inherently a situation where desired outcomes are less likely than unfavorable outcomes, and, as such, the concepts of learned hopelessness, disempowerment, and low self-efficacy are especially relevant. Self-efficacy has been found to affect one’s motivation, performance, coping, self-esteem, emotional arousal, and behavior. Homeless women who possess a stronger sense of self-efficacy are more likely to actively engage in employment and housing searches and spend less time in temporary shelters than those with low self-efficacy.

Although aspects of this problem have been studied no specific intervention models have proven effective in increasing homeless women’s self-efficacy. Literature …

An Art Therapy Approach To Addressing Burnout Prevention Among Pediatric Healthcare Providers, Hoilam Tang

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to develop an art therapy based burnout prevention program for pediatric healthcare providers who work directly with chronically and/or terminally ill children. This program will run for a period of four months. Eight sessions were designed to implement self-care skills, promote a supportive working environment and professional boundaries, address grief and loss, and process work-related stress and distress in order to reduce burnout and compassion fatigue among pediatric healthcare providers. This program was designed for 5 to 7 healthcare providers who have similar experiences and work duties. This program will run as a peer …

The Correlation Of Dental Arch Width And Ethnicity, Thomas W. Radmer, L Thomas Johnson

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

This study sought to demonstrate a correlation between arch width, ethnic background, individual height, weight, and whether orthodontic treatment had been rendered. Conclusions revealed that arch widths were significantly larger (p= 0.002 for the mandible and p= 0.008 for the maxilla) in non-Whites than in Whites. In addition, arch widths of the mandible were significantly larger in individuals who had had orthodontic treatment compared to those who had not (p=0.005). This did not carry through to those arch widths in the maxilla of orthodontic versus nonorthodontic care (p=0.258).

The Chakra Energy System And Art Therapy: A Heuristic Study, Linda Scalise

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The chakra system, an Eastern philosophy relating to an individual’s health, energy, and consciousness, has been integrated into the healing practices of psychology, meditation, yoga, and alternative medicine. Dale (2005), Judith (1996), and Myss (1996) described the chakra energy system as focal points embedded within the human energy system that regulate all components of the self. Researchers in complementary therapies and energy medicine have long been interested in how the integration of this system affects the progression of disease, human behavior, and emotional disturbances. However, although rich in symbolism and metaphor, no literature has been found demonstrating the use of …

Life Drawing With Gross Anatomy Medical Students And Implications For Art Therapy, Elliott Addesso

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

It is important to incorporate humanities training into medical education in order to enhance the potential for humane and ethical interactions among physicians. In this study, a life drawing studio course was led by an art therapy graduate student to explore the effects of a life drawing course on medical students concurrently enrolled in Gross Anatomy. Based on students’ perceptions of their experience in the life drawing class, theoretical implications for the practice of art therapy in studio applications were discussed.

Five medical students participated in the course on a voluntary, non-credit basis. The course consisted of seven meetings and …

Exploring American Indian Adolescents’ Needs Through A Community-Driven Study, Emily Gordon Basto

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The current higher rates of substance use and abuse for Native American adolescents compared to non-Natives is an issue that requires attention. There are a variety of risk factors that lead to this current situation, including discrimination and acculturation pressures. Past treatment options have been limited with American Indians and have not incorporated community involvement. Art therapy has been utilized in substance abuse programs and with American Indian populations; however, art therapy has been limited in taking a community-driven approach. As art therapy and community involvement are seen as culturally relevant, together they may serve as a model for assessing …

The Application Of Art Therapy Techniques To The Resolution Of Conflict, Maggie Hart

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Conflict is present in innumerable forms in current society. As a result, a variety of methods of conflict resolution exist, both constructive and destructive. The prevalence of conflict in our everyday lives warrants further study about improved means of resolution. Art therapy theory and techniques have much to offer the process of conflict resolution. Currently, a body of research about using art to explore past or future conflicts does exist. However, this literature lacks a thorough examination of using art in order to process and resolve current conflicts, involving all parties involved in the conflict.

The current study explores the …

Attachment Styles And Children In Foster Care: A Study Involving Art Therapy Evaluation, Abigail Johnson

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This case study explored the attachment style and perceptions of family, from the perspective of children in the foster care system, through the use of art therapy evaluative methods. The participants for this study included two half-sisters in the second and fourth grades. The Art Therapy-Projective Imagery Assessment (AT-PIA) was adapted and used to construct a well-rounded understanding of each client. Within the adapted AT-PIA, the Human Figure Drawing and the Bird’s Nest Drawing were evaluated using rating schemes. A dyad session was held with the two participants, where a Safe Place Sculpture was created. Review of the artwork revealed …

The Acrocallosal Syndrome: A Case Report And Literature Survey, Brian D. Hodgson, Lindsey Davies, Cesar Gonzales

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Acrocallosal syndrome (ACS) is a rare, genetically transmitted disorder characterized by facial deformities. These include a large forehead, large anterior fontanelle, broad nasal bridge with increased intercanthal distance, partial or complete agenesis of the corpus callosum, polysyndactyly, polydactyly, and mental retardation. Limited information concerning the dental development and treatment has been published. In addition to the classic facial deformities aforementioned, the other most commonly reported oral findings are: short philtrum/upper lip (30%); high-arched palate (30%); cleft lip/palate (20%); micro/retrognathia (13%); open mouth (15%); thin lips (11%); and 1 report of over-retained primary teeth. Seizure disorders are also a common finding …

Asthma Severity In School-Children And The Quality Of Life Of Their Parents, Noelle S. Cerdan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background . The everyday management of a child with asthma can affect the parent's quality of life. Past studies which examined the effects of asthma characteristics of the child on parental quality of life have not reached a consensus over findings. Few studies examine parent characteristics such as mental health and sociodemographics on the quality of life of parents of asthmatic children.

Purpose . To examine the effect of asthma severity of school-children and sociodemographic characteristics onthe caregiver's quality of life. It also investigates whether agreement exists between the caregiver's perception of asthma severity and physician-diagnosed asthma severity.

Methodology . …

Investigation Of Magnetic Resonance Imaging And Spectroscopy For The Detection Of Breast Cancer, Robert Thomas Etnire

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast offers an alternative to screening mammography which may benefit those women at high risk for breast cancer, women under the age of 40, and those with dense breast tissue. One concern with MRI is the number of high false positives. Coupling MRI with magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS) may lower the number of false positives, and thus improve the diagnostic capabilities of MRI for the clinician. MRS for breast imaging focuses on the total choline containing compounds in the spectra in the suspected breast lesion to analyze areas of concern. The results of the study …

Molecular Epidemiology Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa), Ilene Bautista

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of a myriad of infections in hospitals, healthcare facilities and community settings. It is often related to skin and soft tissue infection, but it can also cause other diseases varying from food poisoning to endocarditis and toxic shock syndrome. According to a study by Kuehnert et al. (2006) there has been a strong association between Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) carriage and risk factors for subsequent infections. Subsequent infection from S. aureus , including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infection, can be projected by looking at the presence of S. aureus nasal colonization. The purpose of …

Photochemical Delivery Of Bleomycin In Malignant Glioma Cells, Joseph William Blickenstaff Iii

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Despite continued efforts, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains an incurable form of primary brain cancer. Surgical resection followed by radiation treatment and chemotherapy have been the most effective modalities in prolonging median survival time to 14 months. This research aims to study the response of two different cell culture models to a novel drug delivery method termed photochemical internalization (PCI). PCI is a technique to improve the utilization of macromolecules (e.g. the chemotherapeutic drug bleomycin) in site-specific cancer therapy. This concept is based on the use of specially designed photosensitizers (e.g. aluminum phthalocyanine disulfonate; AlPcS _2a ) which preferentially localize in …