Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Crystal Structure Of A Virus-Encoded Putative Glycosyltransferase, Yi Xiang, Ulrich Baxa, Ying Zhang, Alasdair C. Steven, Gentry L. Lewis, James L. Van Etten, Michael G. Rossmann

James Van Etten Publications

The chloroviruses (family Phycodnaviridae), unlike most viruses, encode some, if not most, of the enzymes involved in the glycosylation of their structural proteins. Annotation of the gene product B736L from chlorovirus NY-2A suggests that it is a glycosyltransferase. The structure of the recombinantly expressed B736L protein was determined by X-ray crystallography to 2.3-Å resolution, and the protein was shown to have two nucleotide-binding folds like other glycosyltransferase type B enzymes. This is the second structure of a chlorovirus-encoded glycosyltransferase and the first structure of a chlorovirus type B enzyme to be determined. B736L is a retaining enzyme and belongs …

Metabolic Oscillations In Pancreatic Islets Depend On The Intracellular Ca2+ Level But Not Ca2+ Oscillations, Matthew J. Merrins, Bernard Fendler, Min Zhang, Arthur Sherman, Richard Bertram, Leslie S. Satin

Pharmacology and Toxicology Publications

Abstract

Plasma insulin is pulsatile and reflects oscillatory insulin secretion from pancreatic islets. Although both islet Ca²⁺ and metabolism oscillate, there is disagreement over their interrelationship, and whether they can be dissociated. In some models of islet oscillations, Ca²⁺ must oscillate for metabolic oscillations to occur, whereas in others metabolic oscillations can occur without Ca²⁺ oscillations. We used NAD(P)H fluorescence to assay oscillatory metabolism in mouse islets stimulated by 11.1 mM glucose. After abolishing Ca²⁺ oscillations with 200 μM diazoxide, we observed that oscillations in NAD(P)H persisted in 34% of islets (n = 101). …

The Adaptation Challenges And Strategies Of Adolescent Aboriginal Athletes Competing Off Reserve, Robert J. Schinke, Amy T. Blodgett, Hope E. Yungblut, Mark Eys, Randy C. Battochio, Mary Jo Wabano, Duke Peltier, Stephen Ritchie, Patricia Pickard, Danielle Recollet-Saikkonen

Kinesiology and Physical Education Faculty Publications

Within the motivation literature, it has been indicated that athletes respond more effectively to sport’s contextual challenges through effective adaptation skills. Fiske identified five core motives as facilitators of the adaptation process across cultures: belonging, understanding, controlling, self-enhancement, and trusting. Through a cultural sport psychology approach, the adaptation challenges and strategies of Canadian Aboriginal adolescent athletes from one community (Wikwemikong) are described as they traveled off reserve to compete in mainstream sporting events. Concurrently, Fiske’s core motives are considered in relation to youth sport participants from the aforementioned Aboriginal community. Culture sensitive research methods among the Wikwemikong, including community meetings, …

What Is The Experience Of Emergency Department Nurses With Lateral Verbal Aggression?, Wendi Harper-Lonabaugh

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

This descriptive study investigated the incidence of lateral verbal aggression among emergency department nurses. A sample of registered emergency department nurses currently working in western North Carolina with more than one year of full time work experience was surveyed (N=68). Roy's adaptation model was used as a theoretical framework for this qualitative study. A survey was utilized to collect the frequency, source, and incidences of reporting the lateral verbal aggression that occurred. Nurses also reported personal and professional ramifications to the lateral verbal aggression. Aggregate data was examined; no specific individual data was analyzed. The most common perpetrators of lateral …

Reorientation Of The Experienced General Medical/Surgical Nurse To A Progressive Care Medical/Surgical Nurse Utilizing Benner's Novice To Expert Theory, Barbara Radford

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The decisive factor for this project was the Health Care Organization's decision to combine the medical/surgical units from two campuses into one department. This process required the Registered Nurses to reapply for their positions, merge into one unit, and transition to a different physical location. The next major process to occur will be the changing of patient acuity-levels from general medical/surgical to medical/surgical progressive care.

This project will provide a cost effective educational plan based on Benner's novice to expert theory which will ensure efficient transition for the expert medical/surgical nurse to an expert progressive care nurse. A structured orientation …

A Comprehensive Approach To Obesity, Hypertension, And Mental Health Evaluation, Stefan G. Kiessling, Kimberly K. Mcclanahan, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The global epidemic of childhood and adolescent obesity in developing and developed countries has become a major public health concern. Given the relationship between obesity and hypertension as documented in several landmark studies, it is no surprise that, as the prevalence of obesity has increased in the pediatric population, rates of hypertension have also increased substantially. Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and stroke; therefore, evaluation and initiation of appropriate treatment are extremely important in the pediatric population. Evaluation for secondary causes of hypertension, including renovascular, renoparenchymal, and endocrine disease, is the approach most …

Substance Abuse Among Adolescents, Abdel Salous, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

This chapter aims to provide a global perspective on substance abuse among adolescents across different cultures, and to review appropriate strategies in communicating with the adolescent population about substance abuse. Drug abuse continues to be a major public health issue in the United States, especially among adolescents. The attitude toward and involvement in drug abuse among adolescents is a complex problem shaped by multiple psychosocial parameters. Psychosocial variables such as ethnicity, and religion, and group dynamics, while deeply intertwined in shaping the cultural identity of adolescents, also deliver their impact to substance abuse in this patient population. In a society …

Eosinophilic Cholangitis And Cholangiopathy: A Sheep In Wolves Clothing, Catherine Nashed, Sujit Vijay Sakpal, Victoria Shusharina, Ronald Scott Chamberlain

Department of Surgery

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic cholangitis (EC) is a rare benign disorder of the biliary tract which can cause biliary obstruction. Similar to other disease processes involving the bile ducts, this disorder can pose a difficult diagnostic challenge as it can mimic cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS: A systematic search of the scientific literature was carried out using PubMed to access all publications related to EC. Search keywords that were utilized included "eosinophilic cholangitis," "etiology," "treatment," and "obstructive jaundice." Results. Twenty-three cases of EC have been reported. Nineteen patients (82.6%) who presented with EC remain disease-free; 15 of these 19 patients (78.9%) with followup time remain …

Integrative Health Studies Newsletter, Ciis

Integrative Health Studies Newsletter

This is the Winter 2010 issue of the Integrative Health Studies Newsletter at CIIS.

Autoimmune Dysfunction And Subsequent Renal Insufficiency In A Collegiate Female Athlete: A Case Report, James E. Leone, Amie Kern, Joshua D. Williamson, Robert M. Colandreo

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

Objective: To present the case of a female collegiate basketball player who was diagnosed with Wegener granulomatosis of the eyes and immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy.

Background: A 19-year-old female collegiate basketball player presented to a rheumatologist, urologist, and nephrologist with severe eye pain and was diagnosed with Wegener granulomatosis and IgA nephropathy. At age 20, during routine follow-up testing, urine protein levels were found to be 3 times normal values (0-8 mg/dL), prompting the need for a kidney biopsy, which showed IgA nephropathy, another autoimmune disorder.

Differential Diagnosis: Sinus infection, scleritis, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, lupus erythematosus, general granulomatosis.

Treatment: …

Severe Multidirectional Instability Of The Gleno-Humeral Joint, L. J. Ziaks, T. Freeman, K. A. Wise, Suanne Maurer-Starks

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

The article presents a case study of a 22 year-old female college athlete with multidirectional instability (MDI) of the glen-humeral (GH) joint. The athlete participated in overhead sports activities such as softball, basketball and swimming, and her presenting symptoms included decreased function, crepitus and spontaneous subluxation. Clinical management and range of motion (ROM) measurement are also discussed.

Who Helps The Helper? Lessons On Grieving, Suanne Maurer-Starks, Kimberly A. Wise, James E. Leone, Jayne Kitsos

Movement Arts, Health Promotion and Leisure Studies Faculty Publications

Context: Grief is something that will touch all of us. We expect loss to occur in our personal lives and seem to be somewhat prepared for how to cope with it when it happens. In the profession of athletic training, we may not expect loss to occur as readily–especially if we are working with a young, seemingly healthy population. As such, when an athlete, student, or colleague suffers a catastrophic injury, illness, or death, we may not be able to process the loss and be left with unresolved grief.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to review theories on …

Optimal Use Of Blood In Trauma Patients, Philip C. Spinella

Articles - Patient Care

Injury is rapidly becoming the leading cause of death worldwide, and uncontrolled hemorrhage is the leading cause of potentially preventable death. In addition to crystalloid and/or colloid based resuscitation, severely injured trauma patients are routinely transfused RBCs, plasma, platelets, and in some centers either cryoprecipitate or fibrinogen concentrates or whole blood. Optimal timing and quantity of these products in the treatment of hypothermic, coagulopathic and acidotic trauma patients is unclear. The immediate availability of these components is important, as most hemorrhagic deaths occur within the first 3–6 h of patient arrival. While there are strongly held opinions and longstanding traditions …

The Sympathetic Arterial Innervation And Body Stress, James O'Rourke, Zhifang Hao, Xi Jiang

SoM Articles

No abstract provided.

Kitchen Pharmacy: Garlic For Ayurvedic Recipe, Amala Guha

SoM Articles

No abstract provided.

Uconn School Of Medicine Dean's Newsletter, Winter 2010, Cato T. Laurencin

Annual Reports - Education

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Orthodontic Tooth Movement On Osteoblast Differentiation Markers Within The Periodontal Ligament, Christopher E. Olson

SoDM Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Perceived Prognosis Of Endodontic Treatment And Implant Therapy Among Dental Practitioners, Rachel Margaret Stockhausen

SoDM Masters Theses

Little data concerning the perceived success of implant therapy in comparison with endodontic treatment exists. While the criteria used to measure the outcome of each modality are not the same, it is not clear if this is appreciated by practicing dentists. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the perceived outcome of implant therapy in comparison to endodontic treatment. A 23 question Web-based survey was distributed to 648 dentists who matriculated from the University of Connecticut School Of Dental Medicine over the past 30 years. The response rate was 47%. Sixty-seven percent of respondents were general dentists. Forty-nine percent …

Periodontal Infections, Inflammatory Markers In Chronic Kidney Disease, Eric Sanjay Choudhury

SoDM Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Externally Applied, Cyclical, Low Magnitude Forces On Orthodontic Tooth Movement In Rats, Elizabeth Clair Blake

SoDM Masters Theses

Orthodontic tooth movement requires external orthodontic forces to be converted to cellular signals that result in the coordinated removal of bone on one side of the tooth (compression side) by osteoclasts, and the formation of new bone by osteoblasts on the other side (tension side). The length of orthodontic treatment can take several years, leading to problems of caries, periodontal disease, root resorption, and patient dissatisfaction. It appears that the velocity of tooth movement is largely dependent on the rate of alveolar bone remodeling. Pharmacological approaches to increase the rate of tooth movement are limited due to patient discomfort, severe …

Cytotoxicity Evaluation Of Endosequence Bioceramic And Guttaflow Sealers In Vitro, Keivan Zoufan

SoDM Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Epidemiological Assessment Of The Association Between Chronic Periodontitis And Psychological Distress/Major Depressive Disorder In General And Renal Populations, Dongha Oh

SoDM Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Fracture Behavior Among Different One-Stage Implants Under Cyclic Loading, Junghoon Yoo

SoDM Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Age Related Changes In Craniofacial Morphology In Gdf-8 (Myostatin) Deficient Mice, Jeffrey Miller

SoDM Articles

It is well recognized that masticatory muscle function helps determine morphology, although the extent of function on final form is still debated. GDF-8 (myostatin), a transcription factor is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. A recent study has shown that mice homozygous for the myostatin mutation had increased muscle mass and craniofacial dysmorphology in adulthood. However, it is unclear whether such dysmorphology is present at birth. This study examines the onset and relationship between hypermuscularity and craniofacial morphology in neonatal and adult mice with GDF-8 deficiency.

Fifteen (8 wild-type and 7 GDF-8 −/−), 1 day old and 16 (9 …

Attribution Of The Causes Of Death In People Infected With Hiv And/Or Hepatitis C In Connecticut, 2003-2007, Kristin Elizabeth Gerard

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

Introduction: This study examined the causes of death in Connecticut residents who were infected with hepatitis C and/or HIV/AIDS and died between 2003 and 2007. Disease surveillance and mortality data can provide important public health information that may be used to develop important public health programs, policies, or legislation. Underreporting of diseases in mortality data may lead to reduced public health funding. Background: Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS are two potentially fatal infectious diseases that have been reportable in Connecticut since 1994 and 1981, respectively. Mortality data in Connecticut contain information about the causes of death in a deceased individual, which …

The Effects Of Cognitive Reserve On The Rate Of Cognitive Decline In Persons With Mild Cognitive Impairment, Nicholas Adams

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

No abstract provided.

Feasibility Of Screening For Violence In The Pediatric Emergency Department Setting, Courtney M. Thomas

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

No abstract provided.

Healthy Food Availability In Hartford's Corner Stores: Wic Authorization Matters, Erin Katherine Havens

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

Diet is an important modifiable risk factor for obesity and related chronic diseases which are disproportionately high among low-income and racial/ethnic minority populations. A growing field of research has documented inequalities by race and income in neighborhood access to foods recommended for a healthy diet. In October 2009, the revised food package for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) took effect, requiring certified stores to stock fresh produce, whole grain products and other foods consistent with national dietary recommendations. This project examined 1) differences in healthy food availability (HFA) between WIC-certified and non-certified corner stores and …

Sexual Risk And High Risk Behavior Among Substance Abusing Adolescents In Hartford, Connecticut : Implications For Effective Treatment Delivery, Rosalie Simichak

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

Substance use and high risk sexual behavior have significant health consequences for adolescents who engage in these behaviors, including HIV, STD transmission, teen pregnancy, and an array of other associated health problems. The Hartford Youth Project (HYP) established by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, offers a system of substance abuse treatment which has proven to be effective in reducing adolescent engagement in such high risk behavior. In this study, the data generated by the HYP are examined in conjunction with data derived from a qualitative review of existing services in order to identify a sexual risk profile for …

An In-Depth Study Of Staphylooccus Aureus Infections And Cases Of Colonization In The Inpatient Population At A University Teaching Hospital, Nancy Russell Dupont

UCHC Graduate School Masters Theses 2003 - 2010

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a pathogen that has historically been identified in hospital-acquired infections since the mid 1900's. Epidemiologically significant trends have occurred which have identified the increasing prevalence of MRSA in the community setting. Methods: An investigation of all isolates positive for Staphylococcus aureus of the inpatient population was conducted over a nine year time period in a university teaching hospital. Additionally, a unit specific case/control study was conducted during an outbreak of MRSA in a neonatal intensive care unit. Results: From January of 1997 through December of 2005, the number of isolates identified as positive for …