Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Waitlist-Controlled Trial Of Cognitive Behavior Therapy For Hoarding Disorder, Gail Steketee, Randy O. Frost, David F. Tolin, Jessica Rasmussen, Timothy A. Brown

Psychology: Faculty Publications

Objective: This study investigated a multicomponent cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) for hoarding based on a model proposed by Frost and colleagues and manualized in Steketee and Frost (2007).

Method: Participants with clinically significant hoarding were recruited from the community and a university-based anxiety clinic. Of the 46 patients randomly assigned to CBT or waitlist (WL), 40 completed the 12-week assessment and 36 completed 26 sessions. Treatment included education and case formulation, motivational interviewing, skills training for organizing and problem solving, direct exposure to nonacquiring and discarding, and cognitive therapy. Measures included the Saving Inventory-Revised (self-report), Hoarding Rating Scale-Interview, and measures …

Perfusion In Rat Brain At 7 T With Arterial Spin Labeling Using Fair-Truefisp And Quipss, Emilio Esparza-Coss, Jarek Wosik, Ponnada A Narayana

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Measurement of perfusion in longitudinal studies allows for the assessment of tissue integrity and the detection of subtle pathologies. In this work, the feasibility of measuring brain perfusion in rats with high spatial resolution using arterial spin labeling is reported. A flow-sensitive alternating recovery sequence, coupled with a balanced gradient fast imaging with steady-state precession readout section was used to minimize ghosting and geometric distortions, while achieving high signal-to-noise ratio. The quantitative imaging of perfusion using a single subtraction method was implemented to address the effects of variable transit delays between the labeling of spins and their arrival at the …

Rational Use Of Radiology Services, Saba Sohail

Department of Radiology

No abstract provided.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: A Case Series In Patients With Eclampsia, Rohana Naqi, Humera Ahsan, Muhammad Azeemuddin

Department of Radiology

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) refers to a clinicoradiologic entity with characteristic features on neuro-imaging and non-specific symptoms comprising headache, confusion, visual disturbances and seizures. The lesions in PRES are thought to be due to vasogenic oedema, predominantly in the posterior cerebral hemispheres, and are reversible with appropriate management. We report 3 cases of acute PRES who had eclampsia and presented with recurrent episodes of seizures and hypertension. Their MRI scan showed diffuse abnormal signal intensities involving predominantly deep white matter of the occipital lobes. Based on the findings the most probable diagnosis of PRES was suggested. They were started …

Perimenopausal Obesity, Colleen Keller, Linda Larkey, Johanna K. Distefano, Edna Boehm-Smith, Kathie Records, Alyssa G. Robillard, Sharry Veres, Manal Al-Zadjali, Anne-Marie O'Brian

Faculty Publications

Obesity is recognized as one of the most important underlying risk factors for a wide variety of diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Women are particularly prone to obesity, and approaches that address life transitions across the life span suggest that a number of factors may converge at passage points, such as menopause, that contribute to weight accumulation in the aging woman. The menopausal phase of a woman's life brings a number of changes that may trigger and maintain weight gain. Although the prevalence of overweight and obesity is attributable to each of these factors, it is most likely the …

The Generation And Immunogenicity Of Pp7 Virus-Like Particles Displaying Target Antigens, Alex Medford

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

The immunogenicity of an antigen can be increased by displaying it in a highly dense, multivalent context, such as on the surface of a virus or virus-like particle (VLP). However, for many viruses, the ability to display diverse antigens on viral surfaces through the construction of recombinant virus particles is limited because peptide insertions are not compatible with virus or VLP assembly. In this thesis, I examined the ability of VLPs of bacteriophage PP7 to have target peptides inserted into a single-chain dimer of its coat protein and form VLP that display the epitope of interest on the particle surface …

Genetic Contributions To Brain Fiber Architecture And Neuroanatomical Alterations In Alcohol Dependent Individuals: A Correlation Study, Vibhati V. Kulkarny

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Alcohol dependence (AD) is a complex addictive disorder, affecting 5.4% of the general population during a lifetime (Kessler, 2005) and has a complex heterogenous phenotype, with behavioral, morphological, and genetic components. Alcohol use can cause gray matter and white matter tissue damage. The extent of alcoholisms effect on brain matter structure in young adults is less known. Assessement of low and high alcohol dependent individuals was derived from DSM-IV. FSL based Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and quantitative fiber tracking derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) assessed morphological alterations of 6 gray matter structures involved in addiction and 10 white matter …

Hematological Neoplasms: Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, Andrea Bakalakis

Senior Honors Projects

Hematological neoplasms, more commonly known as blood cancers, pose great concern within the United States healthcare system. These cancers originate within the bone marrow or lymphatic tissue and progress into the circulatory system. Hematological neoplasms are a result of genetic mutations in which the normal cell growth cycle is ex-changed for the uncontrollable growth of malignant cells. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, blood cancers accounted for 9.5 percent of all cancer related deaths in 2009. Every four minutes, a new patient is diagnosed with blood cancer and every ten minutes, someone dies from this malignancy. Research and development …

Addressing The Lack Of Palliative Care Resources For Icu Patients And Families, Jeffrey Chiv

Senior Honors Projects

An alarming trend in hospitals across the United States is the increased prevalence of end-of-life care issues the healthcare team must face. This increase can be attributed to the advent of new medical technology; the average life expectancy of the population is increased due to new treatment options for acute diseases. The dire tradeoff of this benefit is that the main cause of death has shifted from acute disease to chronic diseases such as cancer. These debilitating diseases often result in situations where patients are no longer able to exercise autonomy or communicate, relying on family and healthcare providers to …

Are Violence-Tolerant Individuals More Susceptible To Involvement In Violent/Risky Behaviors?, Justine Egan

Senior Honors Projects

The Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island’s mission is to promote nonviolence at the national/international level through the use of education and training. This occurs through the involvement of projects which provide understanding to people on nonviolence theory and practice. Embracing this mission, my study examined individual views on violent behaviors and whether this correlated to their involvement in violent/risky behaviors.

Participants were 348 students, 120 males and 254 females from a general psychology course at the University of Rhode Island. The sample was similar in characteristics to the smaller sample of Collyer and …

Everything's Better In Moderation: Young Women's Gender Role Attitudes And Risky Sexual Behavior, Tamara Leech

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Purpose This study examines the association between gender role attitudes and risky sexual behavior among young women. Previous studies have posed seemingly contradictory arguments: that either traditional attitudes or egalitarian attitudes are associated with riskier behavior. Methods Data are based on the children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, representing 520 sexually active 18–19-year-old women. Propensity radius matching was used to assess differences in rates of multiple sexual partners and sex outside of a committed relationship. Results Relative to moderate gender role attitudes, both egalitarian gender role attitudes and traditional gender role attitudes are associated with higher rates of …

The Differences Of Personality Traits And Competitive Tendencies Between Female Collegiate Athletes And Females Majoring In Professional Competitive Fields, Terra Upham

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the differences between collegiate female athletes to females majoring in professional competitive fields to (1) specific personality factors, (2) levels of competitiveness, and (3) differences in competitive levels with regard to classification year. Methods included discriminating the Big Five personality traits and competitive tendencies to ascertain if personality and competitiveness measures differed between, 23 female collegiate athletes and 27 female majors in traditionally competitive professions. Participants ranged from ages 18 through 43. Participants self-reported their individual demographics, personality traits, and levels of competitiveness through survey tests. The personality traits of extraversion, agreeableness, …

Digest Of The Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine (Summer 2010), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Digest

The Summer 2010 issue of the Digest of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine includes the following articles:

Opening Remarks

• PCOM Updates
• Development News
• Overweight Nation
• Learning from Disaster
• 2010 Mason W. Pressly Memorial Medal (GA–PCOM)
• 2010 Simmy Ginsburg Humanitarian Award
• Class Notes
• In Memoriam
• My Turn Essay
• Services for Alumni

Voices From The Floor (May 2010), Pcom

Voices from the Floor

No abstract provided.

Acknowledgements, Pcom

Voices from the Floor

No abstract provided.

The Intern - Taking The First Steps - Jamie Zwanch, Do, Justin Guthier

Voices from the Floor

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents, Justin Guthier

Voices from the Floor

No abstract provided.

Conducting A Journal Assessment Project Using Microsoft Access To Obtain Faculty Input And Promote The Creation Of A Cost-Effective Journal Collection, Yvonne Lee, Laura E. Abate, Steven W. Brown, Kathe Obrig, George P. Paul, Lionel Williams, Semhar Yohannes

Himmelfarb Library Faculty Posters and Presentations

Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library created a database using Microsoft Access to execute a value assessment project of its online and print journal collection. This poster presentation summarizes the process of creating a cost-effective journal collection.

Connecting To Our Community: Extending Librarians' Roles Through Collaboration, Alexandra Gomes, Elizabeth Palena Hall, Laura E. Abate, Elaine Sullo, Cynthia Kahn

Himmelfarb Library Faculty Posters and Presentations

Reaching out to various groups of their patron base, the librarians of Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library developed new initiatives to expand their roles and responsibilities. The new outreach initiatives included a film series, an instructional technology series, an art exhibit, and a medical education project. This poster presentation summarizes each initiative and the resulting impact in the user community.

Himmelfarb Web 2.0 Tools And Other Technologies: Connecting With Patrons, Elizabeth Palena Hall, Alexandra Gomes, Elaine Sullo, Paul Levett, Laura E. Abate, Kathe Obrig, Jolinda Thompson, Cynthia Kahn

Himmelfarb Library Faculty Posters and Presentations

Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library adopted many Web 2.0 tools to accommodate the growing expectations of dynamic web and mobile services in academic libraries. This poster presentation highlights the features and tools in each Web 2.0 service. These library services include blogs, really simple syndication (RSS feeds), Camtasia tutorials, LibGuides, a multi-database search tool, and Facebook.

How A Mandated Space Change By The Library's Parent Organization Resulted In Unexpected Benefits To Multiple Intra-Library Systems, Kathe Obrig, Lionel Williams, Leah Pellegrino, Jennifer Mcdaniel, George P. Paul

Himmelfarb Library Faculty Posters and Presentations

In 2008, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library was mandated to relocate its 70,000-volume bound journal collection. This poster narrates the planning and execution of this project which resulted in unexpected benefits to the library.

Robotic Simulation Of Disc Arthroplasty Surgery: Influence Of Surgical Placement On Motion Segment Dynamics, Braham K. Dhillon

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

A variety of total disc replacement (TDR) designs exist for the treatment of disc pathologies. A key design parameter for a constrained ball and socket device is the location of the fixed center of rotation (COR). A previous study demonstrated that intact motion segment unit (MSU) mechanics and range of motion (ROM) were sensitive to the location of a prescribed sagittal plane rotational axis. Mal-alignment between the implant COR and the COR of the MSU may lead to an overloaded or over constrained condition.

Two paradigms exist for the placement of a fixed COR TDR device relative to MSU anatomy: …

Modulation Of Rankl And Osteoprotegerin In Adolescents Using Orthodontic Forces, Nathan Reed Hamman

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Orthodontic tooth movement is mediated by interactions between PDL cells and those of the alveolus. One protein--the receptor activator nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)--is critical for osteoclastogenesis, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a decoy ligand that competitively inhibits RANKL. A higher RANKL/OPG ratio is associated with areas of bone resorption, while a lower ratio occurs in areas of bone deposition and homeostasis. There has been almost no clinical study of RANKL and OPG expression in patients undergoing orthodontic tooth movement.

The purpose of this study was to quantify changes in the levels of RANKL and of OPG in response to …

Statins Regulate Il-1Β - Induced Rankl And Opg Production By Human Gingival Fibroblasts, Ivelina Jurkowski

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Three-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase competitive inhibitors, also known as statins, are widely used agents for lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk for a heart attack. Recent data suggest that statins influence bone metabolic activity by stimulating new bone formation both in vivo and in vitro. Bone resorption in periodontitis, an inflammatory disease, is orchestrated by the interaction of various cytokines in the inflamed tissue, produced by immune cells and also by resident cells such as human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and periodontal ligament (PDL) cells. Three molecules, members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand and receptor superfamilies, regulate the process of …

Peripheral Taste System In Inbred Mouse Strains, William Wes Shelton

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Taster and non-taster mice strains have been used extensively in animal taste research. Inbred mouse strains C57 and FVB have been proposed to be tasters, where as strains 129 and Balb/C are classified as non-tasters. Therefore, evaluating the peripheral taste system in these mice is of great importance to determine if there are morphological differences that might explain the physiological classification. The purpose of the present study was to determine if inbred mice that have been shown to be tasters have a larger number of fungiform papillae, have larger fungiform papillae and have larger taste buds. My work in this …

Characterizing Purkinje Cell Responses And Cerebellar Influence On Fluid Licking In The Mouse, Jeri Lonece Bryant

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Rodents consume water by performing stereotypical, rhythmic licking movements which are believed to be driven by central pattern generating circuits located in the brainstem. Temporal aspects of rhythmic licking behavior have been shown to be represented in the olivo-cerebellar system in the form of population complex spike activity. These findings suggest that the olivo-cerebellar system is involved in the generating circuitry responsible for licking rhythm in rodents. However, the representation of licking in the simple spike activity of Purkinje cells and the consequences of loss of cerebellar function on licking behavior has not been quantified. I investigated the influence of …

Assessing The Sensitivity Of The Canadian Adverse Event Following Immunization Surveillance System ( Caefiss), Mina Tadrous

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Background: Vaccines are important to public health, but because of the way they are manufactured, their mechanism of action, and their indicated population, careful monitoring of their adverse events is necessary. Canada has a national surveillance system that collects reports on adverse events that may be associated with vaccine administration. Sensitivity is one of the tools used with surveillance systems to study the extent and characteristics of reporting of a surveillance system. To date, the sensitivity of the Canadian system has not been assessed.

Purpose: To assess the sensitivity of the Canadian Adverse Event Following Immunization Surveillance System …

The Provision Of Mental Health Services By Rural Health Clinics, John A. Gale Ms, Stephanie L. Loux Ms, Barbara Shaw Jd, David Hartley Phd, Mha

Rural Health Clinics

The number of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) providing specialty mental health services remains limited. This study examined changes in the delivery of mental health services by RHCs, their operational characteristics, barriers to the development of services, and policy options to encourage more RHCs to deliver mental health services. Key Findings: Approximately 6% of independent and 2% of provider-based RHCs offer mental health services by doctoral-level psychologists and/or clinical social workers. Models used to provide mental health services include contracted and/or employed clinicians housed in the same facility as primary care providers. A key element in the development of mental health …

Acute Mesenteric, Portal And Inferior Vena Cava, Venous Thrombosis, Anticoagulation, Abdul Rehman Alvi, Shahida Bibi, Zia Ur Rehman, Sameullah Khan Niazi

Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery

The prevalence and clinical spectrum of acute mesenteric venous thrombosis (AMVT) in Pakistan is largely unknown. The authors report two patients with acute mesenteric, portal and inferior vena cava venous thrombosis confirmed on CT imaging. The diagnoses were established within 24 hours of presentation and both patients were successfully treated with therapeutic heparin during hospital admission and continued on oral warfarin because of hypercoagulable state. The protocol that we currently use is evidence based and is leading to optimal outcome.

Rna-Dependent Selenocysteine Biosynthesis In Eukaryotes And Archaea, Sotiria Palioura

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Selenocysteine (Sec), the 21st genetically encoded amino acid, is the major metabolite of the micronutrient selenium. Sec is inserted into nascent proteins in response to a UGA codon. The substrate for ribosomal protein synthesis is selenocysteinyl-tRNASec. While the formation of Sec-tRNASec from seryl-tRNASec by a single bacterial enzyme selenocysteine synthase (SelA) has been well described, the mechanism of Sec-tRNASec formation in archaea and eukaryotes remained poorly understood. Herein, biochemical and genetic data provide evidence that, in contrast to bacteria, eukaryotes and archaea utilize a different route to Sec-tRNASec that requires the tRNASec-dependent conversion of O-phosphoserine (Sep) to Sec. In this …