Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Chemosensitization Of Cancer Cells By Sirna Using Targeted Nanogel Delivery, Erin B. Dickerson, William H. Blackburn, Michael H. Smith, Laura B. Kapa, L. Andrew Lyon, John F. Mcdonald

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Chemoresistance is a major obstacle in cancer treatment. Targeted therapies that enhance cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents have the potential to increase drug efficacy while reducing toxic effects on untargeted cells. Targeted cancer therapy by RNA interference (RNAi) is a relatively new approach that can be used to reversibly silence genes in vivo by selectively targeting genes such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which has been shown to increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to taxane chemotherapy. However, delivery represents the main hurdle for the broad development of RNAi therapeutics.

Methods: We report here …

Price And Pretense In The Baby Market, Kimberly D. Krawiec

Faculty Scholarship

Throughout the world, baby selling is formally prohibited. And throughout the world babies are bought and sold each day. As demonstrated in this Essay, the legal baby trade is a global market in which prospective parents pay, scores of intermediaries profit, and the demand for children is clearly differentiated by age, race, special needs, and other consumer preferences, with prices ranging from zero to over one hundred thousand dollars. Yet legal regimes and policymakers around the world pretend that the baby market does not exist, most notably through prohibitions against “baby selling” – typically defined as a prohibition against the …

Breastfeeding Practices Among Arab Women Living In The United States, Afnan H. Saaty

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Arab women‟s breastfeeding practices, including exclusive breastfeeding, are shaped by cultural and religious values and beliefs. Many studies have investigated breastfeeding practices among Arab mothers in their Arabic countries, but no published studies were identified that looked at these practices in Arab women living in the United States.

The purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore breastfeeding practices including exclusive breastfeeding among Arab women living in the United States.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of 90 Arab mothers was used. Participants were recruited from the Muslim Community Association of Ann Arbor, MI; Islamic …

Mir-107 Is Reduced In Alzheimer's Disease Brain Neocortex: Validation Study, Peter T. Nelson, Wang-Xia Wang

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Faculty Publications

MiR-107 is a microRNA (miRNA) that we reported previously to have decreased expression in the temporal cortical gray matter early in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we study a new group of well-characterized human temporal cortex samples (N=19). MiR-107 expression was assessed, normalized to miR-124 and let-7a. Correlation was observed between decreased miR-107 expression and increased neuritic plaque counts (P< 0.05) and neurofibrillary tangle counts (P< 0.02) in adjacent brain tissue. Adjusted miR-107 and BACE1 mRNA levels tended to correlate negatively (trend with regression P< 0.07). In sum, miR-107 expression tends to be lower relative to other miRNAs as AD progresses.

Psychosocial Responses To Spinal Cord Injury As Predictors Of Pressure Sores, Hanoch Livneh, Samuel T. Gontkovsky, Dobrivoje S. Stokic, Erin Martz

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Pressure sores are a preventable, but common, secondary complication of a spinal cord injury (SCI). Research is limited concerning the influence of psychological factors in the development of pressure sores. The purpose of our ex post facto study was to examine the role that emotional responses and coping strategies play in moderating the relationships between demographic and SCI-related medical variables and the frequency and severity of pressure sores. Ninety-five individuals, who sustained a sudden-onset SCI, completed a self-report questionnaire sent to the population of patients that received post-injury rehabilitation services at a rehabilitation center in the southern U.S. Multiple regression …

Revisioning The Library - Adapting Organizational Structure To A Changing Information Landscape, Robert Engeszer, Judy Hansen, Kristi L. Holmes, Will Olmstadt, Cathy C. Sarli, Paul Schoening, Lili Wang

Becker Library Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Parenting Adolescents, Sandra D'Angelo, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The period of adolescence is often thought to be one of intense stress and turmoil. Yet many parents and teens negotiate this developmental stage without extreme family conflict and without sacrificing close relationships. This review summarizes a portion of the literature on parent-adolescent relationships, focusing on monitoring and control of adolescent behavior and parenting style. Basic principles to emphasize when working with adolescents and parents are also included.

A Policy And Intervention For Overweight Children And Adolescents, Kimberly K. Mcclanahan, Marlene B. Huff, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The global epidemic of childhood and adolescent overweight has become a major public health concern. Not only are these youth more likely to become obese adults, and thus more prone to obesity-related diseases than their non overweight peers, they are also likely to suffer emotional and social effects associated with overweight. Overweight in youth has been linked to depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, negative body image, and stigma. It appears to be bi-directional in nature, with overweight sometimes predicting certain psychological effects and psychosocial issues sometimes predicting overweight. Effective assessment and treatment of psychological and mental health issues in overweight …

Collection And Preparation Of Milk Samples For Microbiological Culturing, Jeffrey M. Bewley, Robert J. Harmon, Stephan Locke

Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications

In developing individual farm mastitis control and treatment strategies, it is often necessary to characterize the types of bacteria that are present on your farm. To answer this question, a microbiological analysis, or milk culture, must be performed on milk samples collected from cows showing clinical or subclinical signs of mastitis. Results of the milk cultures will help identify which bacteria are causing the mastitis. In turn, this information can be used to alter mastitis control, prevention, and treatment options to fit your herd’s conditions.

During an investigation of a herd dealing with high somatic cell counts or a high …

On Why The Dental Therapists' "Movement" In The United States Should Focus On Children--Not Adults, David A. Nash

Oral Health Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Life Fuel, Alanna Chait

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

Sitting Down With Dr. John Weg: Pulmonary Medicine Pioneer, Jenny Lam, Edward Hurley

Quill & Scope

Recently, the Quill & Scope’s Jenny Lam and Edward Hurley spoke with pulmonary medicine pioneer Dr. John Weg, Class of 1959, about his career, medicine in general and his time at New York Medical College.

Njinga, Stuart Mackenzie

Quill & Scope

This piece is based upon my experiences over the course of 18 months in Lusaka, Zambia with the Cen- ter for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ). I worked with patients in HIV/AIDS clinics across the country, coordinating community health initiatives and assisting in small business develop- ment for HIV support groups. In this setting, the limits and discrepancies in access to health care, nutri- tion, employment and education were stark and sobering, but it wasn’t necessary to venture into the heart of a compound to witness the risk factors faced by most Zambians. A simple commute to work was …

A Lesson From Iran: Improving Rural Primary Health Care In The United States, Navid Shams

Quill & Scope

In 1979, about a third of Iran’s population was living in rural areas that were mostly out of contact with health services. In the times of change that followed the revolution, primitive infrastructure and lack of resources challenged the development of a rural primary health care program. Successful implementa- tion of novel techniques, such as the use of front line health workers, led to political commitment, the program’s expansion, and much improved health status indicators. The program is now considered the foremost example among rural primary care systems. Consequently, Iranian experts have recently begun aiding in the development of a …

Resident, Navid Shams

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

Telemedicine Management Of Diabetics In An Underserved Community, J. Paul Nielsen, Pranav Mehta

Quill & Scope

Information technology via telemedicine offers the potential for cost-effective and active management of type 2 diabetes mellitus for people in high-risk underserved communities such as Harlem, NY and the Bronx, NY. Telemedicine is the use of telecommunications technology for medical diagnostic, monitor- ing, and therapeutic purposes to communicate information instantaneously from one location to another, such as from a patients’ home to a hospital. We compared the baseline Hemoglobin A1C levels to the levels recorded after the patient was enrolled in the Housecalls telemedicine program for at least 3 months. The initial results indicate that the Housecalls program is effective …

The Shell, Jordan Roth

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

Another Look: Medical Cooperation And The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Danielle Masor

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

Our Valhalla: Thirty-Eight Years Of The ’New’ Nymc, Gavin Stern

Quill & Scope

“Our Valhalla” describes the history of the New York Medical College Valhalla campus, now nearly 40 years old. The article details how the campus evolved into its present form, including events leading to the closing of Flower & Fifth Avenue Hospital. Research for this article included consultation with fac- ulty, articles from the New York Times, and archived yearbooks. Photographs were collected from the Health Sciences Library and are interspersed throughout the issue.

Pediatric Nurses' Journeys To Relieve Children's Post-Operative Pain, Renee C.B. Manworren

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

This study sought to bridge the gap of nurses' knowledge of pain management and translation into clinical practice by describing pediatric nurses' negotiation of the bureaucracy of caring. The purpose of this study was to describe factors that influenced pediatric nurses' actions to relieve children's acute post-operative pain on a pediatric post-surgical care unit. The bureaucracy of caring provided the theoretical framework. A qualitative descriptive study of human factors engineering and ethnography was used to quantify the impact of influential variables on time from assessment to intervention. Few knowledge deficits were identified; but nurses' general knowledge and attitudes regarding pain …

Factors Affecting The Relocation And Transition Of Internationally Educated Nurses Migrating To The United States Of America, Kristina Sylvia Ibitayo

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

A paucity of research studies and systematic reviews have been conducted on IEN nurse migration experiences in the US. The number of IENs in the US RN workforce is projected to continue growing. Therefore, studies on nurse migration and IEN relocation and transition experiences are essential. This exploratory descriptive study on the transition conditions and professional satisfaction of nurses migrating to the US provides information on the complex pull and push factors affecting nurse migration. This study described the push factors, pull factors, personal characteristics, motivation to migrate, transition conditions, family/social environment, work environment, and professional satisfaction of IENs in …

The Combined Effect Of Tiotropium And Formoterol On The Functional Status Of Patients With Moderate-To-Severe Copd, Catherine Dean Stengele Jones

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

This double blinded placebo controlled pilot study examined the use of combined inhaled medication for patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. The inhalation of formoterol versus placebo was studied when combined with the routine use of tiotropium. Maximizing bronchodilitation through the use of combination inhaler therapy is felt to be superior to the use of a single inhaled medication, yet few studies are found in the literature. Currently the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommends the use of combination inhaled therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. This study of 18 patients with moderate-to-severe COPD measured the effects on the functional …

Exploration Of The Cultural Beliefs In Mexican American Young Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors And Their Decisions To Engage In Cancer Screening Behaviors, Lisa Bashore

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

Gaps in the literature exist exploring the cultural beliefs and the cancer screening practices in Mexican American (MA) young adult childhood cancer survivors (YACCS). Lack of representation of MA in past survivor research is one reason for the gaps in knowledge about the beliefs in MA survivors, and the current study is the beginning of the examination of the cultural beliefs in MA YACCS and how these beliefs influence their decisions about cancer screening. Kleinman's (1978) cultural explanatory model (CEM) approach served as the conceptual framework in which this study was conducted. Survivors were recruited from the investigators institution where …

Share On Role Of An Expanded Inositol Transporter Repertoire In Cryptococcus Neoformans Sexual Reproduction And Virulence, Chaoyang Xue, Tongbao Liu, Lydia Chen, Wenjun Li, Iris Liu, James W. Kronstad, Andreas Seyfang, Joseph Heitman

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are globally distributed human fungal pathogens and the leading causes of fungal meningitis. Recent studies reveal that myo-inositol is an important factor for fungal sexual reproduction. That C. neoformans can utilize myo-inositol as a sole carbon source and the existence of abundant inositol in the human central nervous system suggest that inositol is important for Cryptococcus development and virulence. In accord with this central importance of inositol, an expanded myo-inositol transporter (ITR) gene family has been identified in Cryptococcus. This gene family contains two phylogenetically distinct groups, with a …

Archaic Chaos: Intrinsically Disordered Proteins In Archaea, Bin Xue, Robert W. Williams, Christopher J. Oldfield, A. Keith Dunker, Vladimir N. Uversky

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Many proteins or their regions known as intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) lack unique 3D structure in their native states under physiological conditions yet fulfill key biological functions. Earlier bioinformatics studies showed that IDPs and IDRs are highly abundant in different proteomes and carry out mostly regulatory functions related to molecular recognition and signal transduction. Archaea belong to an intriguing domain of life whose members, being microbes, are characterized by a unique mosaic-like combination of bacterial and eukaryotic properties and include inhabitants of some of the most extreme environments on the planet. With the expansion …

Fluorescence Quantum Yield Of Thioflavin T In Rigid Isotropic Solution And Incorporated Into The Amyloid Fibrils, Anna I. Sulatskaya, Alexander A. Maskevich, Irina M. Kuznetsova, Vladimir N. Uversky, Konstantin K. Turoverov

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

In this work, the fluorescence of thioflavin T (ThT) was studied in a wide range of viscosity and temperature. It was shown that ThT fluorescence quantum yield varies from 0.0001 in water at room temperature to 0.28 in rigid isotropic solution (T/η→0). The deviation of the fluorescence quantum yield from unity in rigid isotropic solution suggests that fluorescence quantum yield depends not only on the ultra-fast oscillation of ThT fragments relative to each other in an excited state as was suggested earlier, but also depends on the molecular configuration in the ground state. This means that the fluorescence …

Retro-Morfs: Identifying Protein Binding Sites By Normal And Reverse Alignment And Intrinsic Disorder Prediction, Bin Xue, A. Keith Dunker, Vladimir N. Uversky

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

Many cell functions in all living organisms rely on protein-based molecular recognition involving disorder-to-order transitions upon binding by molecular recognition features (MoRFs). A well accepted computational tool for identifying likely protein-protein interactions is sequence alignment. In this paper, we propose the combination of sequence alignment and disorder prediction as a tool to improve the confidence of identifying MoRF-based protein-protein interactions. The method of reverse sequence alignment is also rationalized here as a novel approach for finding additional interaction regions, leading to the concept of a retro-MoRF, which has the reversed sequence of an identified MoRF. The set of retro-MoRF binding …

Calbindin-D28k Acts As A Calcium-Dependent Chaperone Suppressing Α-Synuclein Fibrillation In Vitro, Wenbo Zhou, Chunmei Long, Anthony L. Fink, Vladimir N. Uversky

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

α-Synuclein, a natively unfolded protein aggregation which is implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and several other neurodegenerative diseases, is known to interact with a great number of unrelated proteins. Some of these proteins, such as ß-synuclein and DJ-1, were shown to inhibit α-synuclein aggregation in vitro and in vivo therefore acting as chaperones. Since calbindin-D28K is co-localized with Ca2+ neuronal membrane pumps, and since α-synuclein is also found in the membrane proximity, these two proteins can potentially interact in vivo. Here we show that calbindin-D28K interacts with α-synuclein and inhibits its fibrillation in a calcium-dependent manner, therefore potentially …

N-Terminal Domains Of Della Proteins Are Intrinsically Unstructured In The Absence Of Interaction With Gid1/Gibberellic Acid Receptors, Xiaolin Sun, William T. Jones, Dawn Harvey, Patrick J. B. Edwards, Steven M. Pascale, Christopher Kirk, Thérèse Considine, David J. Sheerin, Jasna Rakonjac, Christopher J. Oldfield, Bin Xue, A. Keith Dunker, Vladimir N. Uversky

Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications

The plant growth-repressing DELLA proteins (DELLAs) are known to represent a convergence point in integration of multiple developmental and environmental signals in planta, one of which is hormone gibberellic acid (GA). Binding of the liganded GA receptor (GID1/GA) to the N-terminal domain of DELLAs is required for GA-induced degradation of DELLAs via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, thus derepressing plant growth. However, the conformational changes of DELLAs upon binding to GID1/GA, which are the key to understanding the precise mechanism of GID1/GA-mediated degradation of DELLAs, remain unclear. Using biophysical, biochemical, and bioinformatics approaches, we demonstrated for the first time that the …

An Examination Of Three Model Healthcare Delivery Systems, Gavin Stern

Quill & Scope

The United States is just now beginning its journey into a universal healthcare delivery system. On March 30, 2010, President Obama signed into law the “Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010” (H.R. 4872), which completed the work of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (H.R. 3590) signed on March 23, 2010. The effects of this legislation are phased in over the course of this new decade, but the final product is far from certain. Implementation could be legislated away with one election cycle. This article examines three model healthcare delivery systems that the United States could look …