Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Analysis Of The Water Fluoridation Controversy, Megan Presutti

Honors Theses

Analysis of the water fluoridation controversy.

Neuroanatomic Predictors To Prodromal Psychosis In Velocardiofacial Syndrome (22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome): A Longitudinal Study, Wendy R. Kates, Kevin M. Antshel, Stephen V. Faraone, Wanda Fremont, Anne Marie Higgins, Robert J. Shprintzen, Jo-Anna Botti, Lauren Kelchner, Christopher Mccarthy

Communication Disorders Faculty Publications

Background: Up to 30% of young adults with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS; 22q11.2 deletion syndrome) develop schizophrenia or psychosis. Identifying the neuroanatomic trajectories that increase risk for psychosis in youth with this genetic disorder is of great interest. Methods: We acquired high-resolution anatomic MR images and measures of psychiatric function on 72 youth with VCFS, 26 unaffected siblings and 24 age-matched community controls at two timepoints, between late childhood (mean age, 11.9 years) and mid-adolescence (mean age, 15.1 years). Results: With the exception of cranial gray matter and orbitofrontal prefrontal cortex, neuroanatomic trajectories in youth with VCFS were comparable to unaffected …

What Do You Expect? : An Investigation Of How Caffeine Expectancies Affect College Students' Cognitive Performances, Katie Alyse Berg

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Caffeine use is common, but few studies have examined how the expectancies that people hold about caffeine relate to the effects they experience after consuming it. My study examined how typical caffeine consumption and students' expectancies about how caffeine generally affects them influence their decisions about caffeine use as well as their performance on memory and attention tests. I hypothesized that expectations about how caffeine affects students would interact with their beliefs about how much caffeine they had consumed to impact performance on tests of attention and memory. Undergraduate students were divided into four groups: high consumption and high expectancy, …

Cultural Definitions Of Health Care: A Case Study Of Burmese Refugees, Marielena Rose White

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

As a result of ongoing civil war and civil unrest in the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar, every year the United States accepts increasing numbers of refugees from Burma of which there is a population of significance within the greater Indianapolis area. When considering options for health care, Burmese refugees may opt for self care as opposed to care from a health care professional as a result of clashing cultural factors or fears of the unknown.

This study aims to uncover how members of the Chin ethnic group have been challenged or confronted by the social, cultural, and political institutions …

Pharmacist Perception Of Opioid Overuse For Analgesia In The Retail Setting, Kenneth Jacob Craig, Josh Winebough

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Opioid analgesics are a class of medications with affinity for receptors in the brain which are naturally targeted by endogenous opioid peptides to exert neuromodulatory action.' Long before this target pathway was ever elucidated, ancient cultures had documented use of a naturally occurring plant derivative, opium, which provided the same effects as opioid drugs today. The active alkaloid constituent of opium is morphine. The human body's equivalents of these substrates interact with multiple types of opioid receptors which produce the effects responsible for pain relief. In addition, there are also unwanted side effects including constipation, nemesis, and respiratory depression. Contributing …

Positive Affect During Goal Adoption : Why Happiness Breeds Success, Katherine Wainwright

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Prior research has shown that positive affect helps individuals to achieve their goals. typically by energizing individuals' performance during goal pursuit. However, questions remain as to whether other mechanisms might exist by which positive affect could facilitate success. Specifically, researchers have yet to address the role that positive affect might play during the process of goal adoption. In the current study, I examined whether positive affect experienced at the time of goal adoption facilitates goal achievement. Participants were induced into either a positive or neutral affective state by watching a video clip. They were also asked to adopt the goal …

Multiple Courses Of Stereotactic Re-Irradiation In Recurrent Oligodendroglioma: A Case Report., Shannon Fogh, Charles Glass, David W Andrews, Maria Werner-Wasik

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: High grade gliomas are an insidious disease associated with an extremely poor prognosis. The role of re-irradiation for recurrent gliomas is unclear but several retrospective studies have indicated mild toxicity and modest outcomes with this regimen. With subsequent progression, it is unclear what options remain and more radiotherapy is rarely offered for fear of surpassing normal central nervous system tissue tolerance and causing significant side effects without significant benefit.

CASE PRESENTATION: In this report, we describe a 37-year-old Caucasian male initially diagnosed with a grade IV oligodendroglioma, who received multiple courses of re-irradiation and experienced a survival of 10 …

Finding The Rhythm In Dance/Movement Therapy: The Use Of Tap Dance In Residential Treatment, Alexandria D’Aurio

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

This thesis project was inspired by this researcher’s passion and interest in rhythm and more specifically tap dance. There is currently no literature on the use of tap dance in dance/movement therapy. The project was guided by the research question: How can tap dance be used as a dance/movement therapy (DMT) technique? By combining tap dance and dance/movement therapy the purpose of this thesis is to provide the DMT community (clients and dance therapists) with more knowledge and tools to use for facilitation and to further deepen the process in DMT sessions. The research will be presented in a clinical …

The Proliferation Of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Depends On Thioredoxin 1 Protein In A Model Of Pulmonary Hypertension, Viktoria Nelin

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disease which manifests itself in the lungs of both adults and children. Vascular proliferation and remodeling are the hallmarks of PH and are found mainly in the pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC). The cause of PASMC proliferation and vascular remodeling in PH is poorly understood. Hypoxia, or low oxygen content, underlies many forms of PH. Hypoxia results in alterations in the redox balance of the PASMC. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the role of the thioredoxin system, an antioxidant system in the cell, in hypoxia-induced proliferation in PASMC. Protein was …

Impact Of Medicare Part D Coverage Gap On Beneficiaries' Adherence To Prescription Medications, Urvi Desai

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage to seniors through a benefit plan with a major deductible inserted in the middle. It is important to study the extent to which this structure affects seniors’ adherence to prescription medications. Therefore, this study had the following objectives: (1) To identify characteristics of beneficiaries reaching and not reaching the coverage gap, (2) To study the entry and exit times from the coverage gap, (3) To study the impact of a complete gap in coverage on beneficiaries’ adherence to prescription medications, (4) To study the impact of a partial gap in coverage on …

Evaluation Of A Medical And Mental Health Unit Compared With Standard Care For Older People Whose Emergency Admission To An Acute General Hospital Is Complicated By Concurrent ‘Confusion’: A Controlled Clinical Trial. Acronym: Team: Trial Of An Elderly Acute Care Medical And Mental Health Unit, Rowan H. Harwood, Sarah E. Goldberg, Kathy H. Whittamore, Catherine Russell, John Rf Gladman, Rob G. Jones, Davina Porock, Sarah A. Lewis, Lucy E. Bradshaw, Rachel A. Elliot

Publications and Research

Background: Patients with delirium and dementia admitted to general hospitals have poor outcomes, and their carers report poor experiences. We developed an acute geriatric medical ward into a specialist Medical and Mental Health Unit over an eighteen month period. Additional specialist mental health staff were employed, other staff were trained in the ‘person-centred’ dementia care approach, a programme of meaningful activity was devised, the environment adapted to the needs of people with cognitive impairment, and attention given to communication with family carers. We hypothesise that patients managed on this ward will have better outcomes than those receiving standard care, and …

The Effects Of A Brief Mindfulness Intervention On Impulsivity In College Students, Myles Elgin Trapp

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This study investigated the impact of a brief, introductory mindfulness intervention on attention, executive control, and impulsivity. I randomly assigned forty-seven undergraduate students to a treatment group (TG) receiving mindfulness training and a waiting list control group (WLG). Participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires and standardized neuropsychological tests before and after the intervention. Participants high in trait mindfulness suffered less interference on a Stroop task, were less impulsive on the Balloon Analogue Risk Task, but also evidenced less cognitive flexibility on a dual fluency test at baseline. The TG demonstrated greater improvement than the WLG from baseline to re-test …

Give Peace A Dance: An Ethnographic Research Project About A Dancing Community In Chicago And The Implications For Dance/Movement Therapy, Isabel Martinez Mulcahy

Creative Arts Therapies Theses

An ethnographic research study on the monthly gathering of a Chicagoan dancing community called Give Peace a Dance (GPD). The main goal of this study was to understand the potential therapeutic aspects of dance and creative self expression in a community setting. The ethnographic data was analyzed through the lens of Community Psychology, Chacian dance/movement therapy theory and Carl Rogers’ theory of creativity. The main research question that guided the study was: How do the participants of GPD experience this event emotionally, socially and/or spiritually? At the end, community, creativity and safety were the most important factors that emerged as …

Assessment Of Prenatal Care And Perinatal Outcomes In Kasigau, Kenya, Allison Smith

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The World Health Organization (WHO) implemented the Millennium Declaration in 2000 to establish global health goals to be achieved by 2015. Two of these Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) are directly related to maternal, neonatal and child health. Healthcare during the prenatal period can help achieve the WHO MDG’s for maternal health and child mortality. Evidence has shown that women in Kenya have limited access to prenatal care. This study focused on the prenatal care and postnatal outcome trends of the women in Kasigau, Kenya. Participants were surveyed in three villages (Rukanga, Makwasinyi, and Bhuguta) to determine if prenatal care was …

Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors That Control Motor Neuron Vulnerability In Als, Pembe Hande Ozdinler

IMSA Great Minds Program ®

Even though there are millions of neurons in our brain, in neurodegenerative diseases only a select set of neurons show vulnerability and progressively degenerate. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), motor neurons in the cortex and spinal cord show selective vulnerability. Their progressive degeneration results in lack of control over voluntary movement, without affecting memory and cognitive function. We are developing novel approaches to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for motor neuron degeneration. Our findings will allow cell-based therapeutic interventions in the near future.

Download The Full Pdf Of Jefferson Surgical Solutions Spring 2011, Volume 6, Number 1

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

No abstract provided.

News In Brief

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

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Those Who Give: Making A Difference Now And Down The Road: The Howell Professorship In Pancreatic Cancer Research

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

No abstract provided.

On The Job: Dr. Goldberg Spends Research Year Targeting Breast Cancer

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

No abstract provided.

Beekley’S Combat Experience Informs Research And Protocols At Home And Abroad

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

No abstract provided.

Resident Update: Lieutenant Commander Daniel R. Grabo

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

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Creating Second Chances For All Ages: The Live Donor Liver Transplant Program

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

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Overview

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

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About The Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Program

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

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From The Or To The Principal’S Office: Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Offers Faster Recovery

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

No abstract provided.

Nrt1 And Tna1-Independent Export Of Nad+ Precursor Vitamins Promotes Nad+ Homeostasis And Allows Engineering Of Vitamin Production, Peter Belenky, Rebecca Stebbins, Katrina L. Bogan, Charles R. Evans, Charles Brenner

Dartmouth Scholarship

NAD⁺ is both a co-enzyme for hydride transfer enzymes and a substrate of sirtuins and other NAD⁺ consuming enzymes. NAD⁺ biosynthesis is required for two different regimens that extend lifespan in yeast. NAD⁺ is synthesized from tryptophan and the three vitamin precursors of NAD⁺: nicotinic acid, nicotinamide and nicotinamide riboside. Supplementation of yeast cells with NAD⁺ precursors increases intracellular NAD⁺ levels and extends replicative lifespan. Here we show that both nicotinamide riboside and nicotinic acid are not only vitamins but are also exported metabolites. We found that the deletion of the nicotinamide …

Interventions For Trichomoniasis In Pregnancy, A. Metin Guelmezoglu, Maimoona Azhar

Woman and Child Health

Background: Vaginitis due to Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most common of sexually transmitted diseases. Trichomoniasis affects women during pregnancy as well but it is not clearly established whether it causes preterm birth and other pregnancy complications.
Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of various treatments for trichomoniasis during pregnancy.
Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register ( 14 January 2011).
Selection criteria: Randomized trials comparing anti-trichomonas agents during pregnancy. Trials including symptomatic or asymptomatic women with trichomoniasis were eligible.
Data collection and analysis: Two review authors assessed …

The Huntington’S Community Rising And Converging, Kenneth P. Serbin

At Risk for Huntington's Disease

No abstract provided.

Influenza And Bacterial Coinfections In The 20th Century, Xuan-Yi Wang, Paul E. Kilgore, Kyung Ah Lim, Song-Mei Wang, Jeongseok Lee, Wei Deng, Mei-Qi Mo, Batmunkh Nyambat, Jing-Chen Ma, Michael O. Favorov, John D. Clemens

Department of Pharmacy Practice

To help understand the potential impact of bacterial coinfection during pandemic influenza periods, we undertook a far-reaching review of the existing literature to gain insights into the interaction of influenza and bacterial pathogens. Reports published between 1950 and 2006 were identified from scientific citation databases using standardized search terms. Study outcomes related to coinfection were subjected to a pooled analysis. Coinfection with influenza and bacterial pathogens occurred more frequently in pandemic compared with seasonal influenza periods. The most common bacterial coinfections with influenza virus were due to S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. …

Complete Genome Sequence Of Mycoplasma Suis And Insights Into Its Biology And Adaption To An Erythrocyte Niche, Ana Ms Guimaraes, Andrea P. Santos, Phillip Sanmiguel, Thomas Walter, Jorge Timenetsky, Joanne Messick

Department of Comparative Pathobiology Faculty Publications

Mycoplasma suis, the causative agent of porcine infectious anemia, has never been cultured in vitro and mechanisms by which it causes disease are poorly understood. Thus, the objective herein was to use whole genome sequencing and analysis of M. suis to define pathogenicity mechanisms and biochemical pathways. M. suis was harvested from the blood of an experimentally infected pig. Following DNA extraction and construction of a paired end library, whole-genome sequencing was performed using GS-FLX (454) and Titanium chemistry. Reads on paired-end constructs were assembled using GS De Novo Assembler and gaps closed by primer walking; assembly was validated by …