Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Intelligibility Of Electrolarynx Speech Using A Novel Hands-Free Actuator, Brian Madden, Mark Nolan, Ted Burke, James Condron, Eugene Coyle

Conference Papers

During voiced speech, the larynx provides quasi-periodic acoustic excitation of the vocal tract. In most electrolarynxes, mechanical vibrations are produced by a linear electromechanical actuator, the armature of which percusses against a metal or plastic plate at a frequency within the range of glottal excitation. In this paper, the intelligibility of speech produced using a novel hands-free actuator is compared to speech produced using a conventional electrolarynx. Two able-bodied speakers (one male, one female) performed a closed response test containing 28 monosyllabic words, once using a conventional electrolarynx and a second time using the novel design. The resulting audio recordings …

Today - January 26, 2011, Loma Linda University

TODAY

Inside this issue:

-- University and medical center mourns passing of executive director of university relations
-- Fundraiser yields more than $113,000 for mental health in the Inland Empire
-- Antioxidants in pecans may contribute to heart health and disease prevention
-- Dedication service for medical students
-- University and medical center remember longtime photographer
-- Series presents risks of metabolic syndrome and prevention advice
-- SIMS phonathon and mailing campaign raises $78,042 for international missions
-- Religion professor pens book on making evangelism work
-- SPN meeting highlights excellence in nursing care for children
-- The Great Loma Linda …

The Minimally Invasive Management Of Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction In Horseshoe Kidneys, Costas D. Lallas, M.D., Facs, Raymond W. Pak, M.D., Christopher Pagnani, M.D., Scott G. Hubosky, M.D., Brent V. Yanke, M.D., Frank X. Keeley, M.D, Demetrius H. Bagley, M.D., Facs

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

Purpose: Data regarding the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in horseshoe kidneys are limited. We performed a retrospective analysis of our experience with minimally invasive treatment of UPJO in patients with this anomaly. Methods: Between March of 1996 and March 2008, 9 patients with horseshoe kidneys were treated for UPJO at our institution. Of these patients, 6 were managed with retrograde endopyelotomy, 2 with laparoscopic pyeloplasty, and one by robotic pyeloplasty. Outcomes of these procedures were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of nine patients were available for analysis. Four of six patients who underwent endopyelotomy had available follow-up, with …

Cx3cl1 Reduces Neurotoxicity And Microglial Activation In A Rat Model Of Parkinson's Disease, Mibel M. Pabon, Adam D. Bachstetter, Charles E. Hudson, Carmelina Gemma, Paula C. Bickford

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease is characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The cause of the neurodegeneration is unknown. Neuroinflammation has been clearly shown in Parkinson's disease and may be involved in the progressive nature of the disease. Microglia are capable of producing neuronal damage through the production of bioactive molecules such as cytokines, as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide (NO). The inflammatory response in the brain is tightly regulated at multiple levels. One form of immune regulation occurs via neurons. Fractalkine (CX3CL1), produced by neurons, suppresses the activation of microglia. CX3CL1 …

Participating In A Community Of Learners Enhances Resident Perceptions Of Learning In An E-Mentoring Program: Proof Of Concept, Timona Obura, William. E. Brant, Fiona Miller, I. J. Parboosingh

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background

Community learning and e-mentoring, learning methods used in higher education, are not used to any extent in residency education. Yet both have the potential to enhance resident learning and, in the case of community learning, introduce residents to basic lifelong learning skills. We set out to determine whether residents participating in an Internet based e-mentoring program would, with appropriate facilitation, form a community of learners (CoL) and hold regular community meetings. We also determined resident and faculty perceptions of CoL and Internet sessions as effective learning experiences.

Methods

A six-month e-mentoring pilot was offered to 10 Radiology residents in …

Mpges-1 Null Mice Are Resistant To Bleomycin-Induced Skin Fibrosis, Matthew R. Mccann, Roxana Monemdjou, Parisa Ghassemi-Kakroodi, Hassan Fahmi, Gemma Perez, Shangxi Liu, Xu Shi-Wen, Sunil K. Parapuram, Fumiaki Kojima, Christopher P. Denton, David J. Abraham, Johanne Martel-Pelletier, Leslie J. Crofford, Andrew Leask, Mohit Kapoor

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is an inducible enzyme that acts downstream of cyclooxygenase (COX) to specifically catalyze the conversion of prostaglandin (PG) H2 to PGE2. mPGES-1 plays a key role in inflammation, pain and arthritis; however, the role of mPGES-1 in fibrogenesis is largely unknown. Herein, we examine the role of mPGES-1 in a mouse model of skin scleroderma using mice deficient in mPGES-1.

METHODS: Wild type (WT) and mPGES-1 null mice were subjected to the bleomycin model of cutaneous skin scleroderma. mPGES-1 expressions in scleroderma fibroblasts and in fibroblasts derived from bleomycin-exposed mice were assessed by Western …

Incidence And Impact Of Baseline Electrolyte Abnormalities In Patients Admitted With Chemotherapy Induced Febrile Neutropenia., Asim Jamal Shaikh, Samira Ahmed Bawany, Nehal Masood, Ausaf Ahmed Khan, Ahmed Nadeem Abbasi, Syed Najeeb Niamutullah, Adnan Zaidi, Salman Adil, Shiyam Kumar

Section of Haematology/Oncology

Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) and myelosupression remain a challenging oncologic medical emergency and dose limiting toxicity associated with chemotherapy for cancers. Various factors are known to affect the outcomes for Patients diagnosed with FN. Electrolyte abnormalities have commonly been observed, but the real incidence and their impact has been only scarcely studied in literature. Methods: This was a prospective, observational study. A total of two hundred and fifteen (215) Patients admitted between January 2007 and August 2008 were included. Analysis of data was made using SPSS version16.0. Toxicity profile was graded according to CTC version 3.0. Results: Almost equal number …

The Differential Effect Of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection On The Stability Of Bcl2-Family Members Involves Multiple Activities, John Cherrington Carmen, Anthony Peter Sinai

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

The regulation of mitochondrial permeability, a key event in the initiation of apoptosis is governed by the opposing actions of the pro- and anti-apoptotic members of the BCL2-family of proteins. The BCL2-family can be classified further based on the number of BCL-homology (BH) domains they encode. Pathogen mediated modulation of BCL2-family members play a significant role in their ability to affect the apoptotic pathways in the infected host cell. The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii establishes a profound blockade of apoptosis noted by a requirement for host NFκB activity and correlating with the selective degradation of pro-apoptotic BCL2-family members. In this …

Muscle Atrophy Induced By Sod1(G93a) Expression Does Not Involve The Activation Of Caspase In The Absence Of Denervation, Gabriella Dobrowolny, Michela Aucello, Antonio Musarò

Research outputs 2011

Background: The most remarkable feature of skeletal muscle is the capacity to adapt its morphological, biochemical and molecular properties in response to several factors. Nonetheless, under pathological conditions, skeletal muscle loses its adaptability, leading to atrophy or wasting. Several signals might function as physiopathological triggers of muscle atrophy. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the atrophic phenotype under different pathological conditions remain to be fully elucidated. In this paper, we address the involvement of caspases in the induction of muscle atrophy in experimental models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) expressing the mutant SOD1^G93A transgene either locally or ubiquitously.

Results:We …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - January 23, 2011, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the January 23, 2011 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter - Watercooler.

Contents Include

• "For Me, It's Been My Career"

• COM Alum & Radiology Resident Graduate Joins USA Faculty

• Patient Grateful for Specialty Care at USA

• Next Week's DSS - Dr. Kathy Griendling

Beyond Early Intervention, Amresh Srivastava

Psychiatry Presentations

No abstract provided.

Specific Thiazolidinediones Inhibit Ovarian Cancer Cell Line Proliferation And Cause Cell Cycle Arrest In A Pparγ Independent Manner, Linah Al-Alem, R. Chase Southard, Michael W. Kilgore, Thomas E. Curry

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists, such as the thiazolinediones (TZDs), have been studied for their potential use as cancer therapeutic agents. We investigated the effect of four TZDs--Rosiglitazone (Rosi), Ciglitazone (CGZ), Troglitazone (TGZ), and Pioglitazone (Pio)--on ovarian cancer cell proliferation, PPARγ expression and PPAR luciferase reporter activity. We explored whether TZDs act in a PPARγ dependent or independent manner by utilizing molecular approaches to inhibit or overexpress PPARγ activity.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Treatment with CGZ or TGZ for 24 hours decreased proliferation in three ovarian cancer cell lines, Ovcar3, CaOv3, and Skov3, whereas Rosi and Pio had no …

Public Health Services And Systems Research: A Common Meeting Ground, F. Douglas Scutchfield Md

Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Presentations

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of The Proteome Of Human Airway Epithelial Secretions., Mehboob Ali, Erik P Lillehoj, Yongsung Park, Yoshiyuki Kyo, K Chul Kim

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Airway surface liquid, often referred to as mucus, is a thin layer of fluid covering the luminal surface that plays an important defensive role against foreign particles and chemicals entering the lungs. Airway mucus contains various macromolecules, the most abundant being mucin glycoproteins, which contribute to its defensive function. Airway epithelial cells cultured in vitro secrete mucins and nonmucin proteins from their apical surface that mimics mucus production in vivo. The current study was undertaken to identify the polypeptide constituents of human airway epithelial cell secretions to gain a better understanding of the protein composition of respiratory mucus.

RESULTS: …

Evidence-Based Genomic Diagnosis Characterized Chromosomal And Cryptic Imbalances In 30 Elderly Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome And Acute Myeloid Leukemia., Renu Bajaj, Fang Xu, Bixia Xiang, Katherine Wilcox, Autumn J Diadamo, Rachana Kumar, Alexandra Pietraszkiewicz, Stephanie Halene, Peining Li

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical validity of genome-wide oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) for detecting somatic abnormalities, we have applied this genomic analysis to 30 cases (13 MDS and 17 AML) with clonal chromosomal abnormalities detected in more than 50% of analyzed metaphase cells.

RESULTS: The aCGH detected all numerical chromosomal gains and losses from the mainline clones and 113 copy number alterations (CNAs) ranging from 0.257 to 102.519 megabases (Mb). Clinically significant recurrent deletions of 5q (involving the RPS14 gene), 12p12.3 (ETV6 gene), 17p13 (TP53 gene), 17q11.2 (NF1 gene) and 20q, double minutes containing the MYC gene and …

Unifying The Mathematical Modeling Of In Vivo And In Vitro Microdialysis, Peter M. Bungay, Rachita K. Sumbria, Ulrich Bickel

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

A unifying approach is presented for developing mathematical models of microdialysis that are applicable to both in vitro and in vivo situations. Previous models for cylindrical probes have been limited by accommodating analyte diffusion through the surrounding medium in the radial direction only, i.e., perpendicular to the probe axis, or by incomplete incorporation of diffusion in the axial direction. Both radial and axial diffusion are included in the present work by employing two-dimensional finite element analysis. As in previous models, the nondimensional clearance modulus (Θ) represents the degree to which analyte clearance from the external medium influences diffusion through the …

Changes In Cvd Risk Factors In The Activity Counseling Trial, Meghan Baruth, Sarah Wilcox, James F. Sallis, Abby C. King, Bess H. Marcus, Steven N. Blair

Faculty Publications

Primary care facilities may be a natural setting for delivering interventions that focus on behaviors that improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the 24-month effects of the Activity Counseling Trial (ACT) on CVD risk factors, to examine whether changes in CVD risk factors differed according to baseline risk factor status, and to examine whether changes in fitness were associated with changes in CVD risk factors. ACT was a 24-month multicenter randomized controlled trial to increase physical activity. Participants were 874 inactive men and women aged 35-74 years. Participants were randomly assigned to …

Système D’Ancrage De Garde-Corps Sur Des Toits Plats Pour Les Couvreurs : Annexe, André Lan, Renaud Daigle

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Le travail de couvreur a été classé comme l'un des travaux les plus dangereux, avec un taux de mortalité de 29 par 100 000 travailleurs (Toscano, 1997). Les couvreurs sont exposés à environ six fois plus de risques d'accidents graves et mortels que le travailleur moyen, les chutes étant les évènements mortels dans 75 % des cas (Ruser, 1995). Les lésions causées par ces chutes sont habituellement graves, exigeant de longues périodes de traitement et de convalescence occasionnant des frais médicaux importants. Les réglementations internationales sont claires; l'Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stipule qu'il faut protéger les travailleurs exposés …

Système D’Ancrage De Garde-Corps Sur Des Toits Plats Pour Les Couvreurs, André Lan, Renaud Daigle

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Le travail de couvreur a été classé comme l'un des travaux les plus dangereux, avec un taux de mortalité de 29 par 100 000 travailleurs (Toscano, 1997). Les couvreurs sont exposés à environ six fois plus de risques d'accidents graves et mortels que le travailleur moyen, les chutes étant les évènements mortels dans 75 % des cas (Ruser, 1995). Les lésions causées par ces chutes sont habituellement graves, exigeant de longues périodes de traitement et de convalescence occasionnant des frais médicaux importants. Les réglementations internationales sont claires; l'Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stipule qu'il faut protéger les travailleurs exposés …

Cilostazol Versus Aspirin For Secondary Prevention Of Vascular Events After Stroke Of Arterial Origin, Ayeesha Kamran Kamal, Imama Naqvi, Muhammad R Husain, Bhojo A Khealani

Section of Neurology

Background:Aspirin is widely used for secondary prevention after stroke. Cilostazol has shown promise as an alternative to aspirin in Asian people with stroke. ObjectiveS: To determine the relative effectiveness and safety of cilostazol compared directly with aspirin in the prevention of stroke and other serious vascular events in Patients at high vascular risk for subsequent stroke, those with previous transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or ischaemic stroke of arterial origin. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (last searched September 2010), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2009, Issue 4), MEDLINE (1950 …

Correcting Mortality For Loss To Follow-Up: A Nomogram Applied To Antiretroviral Treatment Programmes In Sub-Saharan Africa, Matthias Egger, Ben D. Spycher, John Sidle, Ralf Weigel, Elvin H. Geng, Matthew P. Fox, Patrick Macphail, Gilles Van Custem, Eugene Messou, Robin Wood, Denis Nash, Margaret Pascoe, Diana Dickinson

Publications and Research

Background

The World Health Organization estimates that in sub-Saharan Africa about 4 million HIV-infected patients had started antiretroviral therapy (ART) by the end of 2008. Loss of patients to follow-up and care is an important problem for treatment programmes in this region. As mortality is high in these patients compared to patients remaining in care, ART programmes with high rates of loss to follow-up may substantially underestimate mortality of all patients starting ART.

Methods and Findings

We developed a nomogram to correct mortality estimates for loss to follow-up, based on the fact that mortality of all patients starting ART in …

Ada News - 01/17/2011, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - January 16, 2011, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the January 16, 2011 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter - Watercooler

Contents Include:

• 2011 Gumbo Chili Showdown - Register Today

• Med School Café - Expert Advice for the Community

• Dr. Jack Di Palma Elected Treasurer of WGO Foundation Board

• Bayou La Batre Health Fair a Success

A Test Of The Role Of The Medial Temporal Lobe In Single-Word Decoding., Karol Osipowicz, Tyler Rickards, Atif Shah, Ashwini Sharan, Michael Sperling, Waseem Kahn, Joseph Tracy

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

The degree to which the MTL system contributes to effective language skills is not well delineated. We sought to determine if the MTL plays a role in single-word decoding in healthy, normal skilled readers. The experiment follows from the implications of the dual-process model of single-word decoding, which provides distinct predictions about the nature of MTL involvement. The paradigm utilized word (regular and irregularly spelled words) and pseudoword (phonetically regular) stimuli that differed in their demand for non-lexical as opposed lexical decoding. The data clearly showed that the MTL system was not involved in single word decoding in skilled, native …

Steroids Up-Regulate P66shc Longevity Protein In Growth Regulation By Inhibiting Its Ubiquitination., Santosh Kumar, Satyendra Kumar, Mythilypriya Rajendran, Syed Mahfuzul Alam, Fen-Fen Lin, Pi-Wan Cheng, Ming-Fong Lin

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

BACKGROUND: p66Shc, an isoform of Shc adaptor proteins, mediates diverse signals, including cellular stress and mouse longevity. p66Shc protein level is elevated in several carcinomas and steroid-treated human cancer cells. Several lines of evidence indicate that p66Shc plays a critical role in steroid-related carcinogenesis, and steroids play a role in its elevated levels in those cells without known mechanism.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which steroid hormones up-regulate p66Shc protein level. In steroid-treated human prostate and ovarian cancer cells, p66Shc protein levels were elevated, correlating with increased cell proliferation. These steroid effects on …

Child Work And Labour Among Orphaned And Abandoned Children In Five Low And Middle Income Countries, Rachel Whetten, Lynne Messer, Jan Ostermann, Kathryn Whetten, Brian Wells Pence, Megan Buckner, Nathan Thielman, Karen O’Donnell, The Positive Outcomes For Orphans (Pofo) Research Team

Faculty Publications

Background

The care and protection of the estimated 143,000,000 orphaned and abandoned children (OAC) worldwide is of great importance to global policy makers and child service providers in low and middle income countries (LMICs), yet little is known about rates of child labour among OAC, what child and caregiver characteristics predict child engagement in work and labour, or when such work infers with schooling. This study examines rates and correlates of child labour among OAC and associations of child labour with schooling in a cohort of OAC in 5 LMICs.

Methods

The Positive Outcomes for Orphans (POFO) study employed a …

Effect Of Yoga On Soreness And Torque Loss Following A Doms-Inducing Exercise, Taffy Zghana Hawkins

Student Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that yoga training and a single bout of yoga decreases delayed onset muscle soreness in the lower extremity. The effect of a single bout of yoga in non-yoga trained individuals following a DOMS-inducing stepping exercise on muscle soreness and torque loss was assessed in this study. Sixteen college-aged females volunteered for this study and were divided into a yoga treatment group and a control group. On the first day of testing the participants completed a VAS, Visual Analog Scale, assessment of pre-exercise pain, and a sit and reach test to measure flexibility. The participants also completed a …

Increased Mitochondrial Calcium Sensitivity And Abnormal Expression Of Innate Immunity Genes Precede Dopaminergic Defects In Pink1-Deficient Mice, Ravi S. Akundi, Zhenyu Huang, Joshua Eason, Jignesh D. Pandya, Lianteng Zhi, Wayne A. Cass, Patrick G. Sullivan, Hansruedi Büeler

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) is linked to recessive Parkinsonism (EOPD). Pink1 deletion results in impaired dopamine (DA) release and decreased mitochondrial respiration in the striatum of mice. To reveal additional mechanisms of Pink1-related dopaminergic dysfunction, we studied Ca²⁺ vulnerability of purified brain mitochondria, DA levels and metabolism and whether signaling pathways implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD) display altered activity in the nigrostriatal system of Pink1⁻/⁻ mice.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: Purified brain mitochondria of ^Pink1⁻/⁻ mice showed impaired Ca²⁺ storage capacity, resulting in increased Ca²⁺ induced mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) that was rescued by cyclosporine A. …

Complementary Feeding: A Global Network Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial, Nancy F. Krebs, K. Michael Hambidge, Manolo Mazariegos, Jamie Westcott, Norman Goco, Linda L. Wright, Marion Koso-Thomas, Antoinette Tshefu, Carl Bose, Omrana Pasha, Robert Goldenberg, Elwyn Chomba, Waldemar Carlo, Mark Kindem, Abhik Das, Ty Hartwell, Elizabeth Mcclure

Community Health Sciences

Background: Inadequate and inappropriate complementary feeding are major factors contributing to excess morbidity and mortality in young children in low resource settings. Animal source foods in particular are cited as essential to achieve micronutrient requirements. The efficacy of the recommendation for regular meat consumption, however, has not been systematically evaluated. Methods/Design: A cluster randomized efficacy trial was designed to test the hypothesis that 12 months of daily intake of beef added as a complementary food would result in greater linear growth velocity than a micronutrient fortified equi-caloric rice-soy cereal supplement. The study is being conducted in 4 sites of the …

Neuroinflammation Leads To Region-Dependent Alterations In Astrocyte Gap Junction Communication And Hemichannel Activity., Nikolay Karpuk, Maria Burkovetskaya, Teresa Fritz, Amanda Angle, Tammy Kielian

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

Inflammation attenuates gap junction (GJ) communication in cultured astrocytes. Here we used a well-characterized model of experimental brain abscess as a tool to query effects of the CNS inflammatory milieu on astrocyte GJ communication and electrophysiological properties. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed on green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive astrocytes in acute brain slices from glial fibrillary acidic protein-GFP mice at 3 or 7 d after Staphylococcus aureus infection in the striatum. Astrocyte GJ communication was significantly attenuated in regions immediately surrounding the abscess margins and progressively increased to levels typical of uninfected brain with increasing distance from the abscess proper. Conversely, …