Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Impression Management And Psychological Reactions Of Living Kidney Donors, Lee Hildebrand

Dissertations (1934 -)

This report describes the findings of a mixed-methods study that examined the psychological reactions and use of impression management by individuals who had donated a kidney. It focused on the use of impression management and concealing information during the pre-donation psychological evaluation that is conducted to help determine the donor’s appropriateness for a donation, and the psychological reactions of living kidney donors post donation. A search of the literature found no study that has empirically investigated the prevalence of impression management and concealing information by living kidney donors during their pre-donation psychosocial evaluations. The mixed methods design utilized both a …

B-Vitamin Deficiency In Patients Treated With Antiepileptic Drugs., Scott Mintzer, Christopher T Skidmore, Michael R Sperling

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) produce many alterations in metabolism, including vitamin levels. Whether they produce clinically relevant deficiency of B vitamins has rarely been assessed. We obtained B-vitamin levels in patients who were being converted from an inducing AED (phenytoin or carbamazepine) to a non-inducing AED (levetiracetam, lamotrigine, or topiramate), with measurements both before and ≥ 6 weeks after the switch. A group of normal subjects underwent the same studies. Neither folate nor B12 deficiency was seen in any patient. Vitamin B6 deficiency was found in 16/33 patients (48%) taking inducers, compared to 1/11 controls (9%; p=0.031). After switch to …

Diffusion Weighted Mr Imaging Of The Brain: Review Of Clinical Applications, Muhammad Azeemuddin, Rohana Naqi, Mohammad Wasay

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

No abstract provided.

Attitude Of Medical Students For Graphical Recording Technique As A Critical Thinking And Creativity Expression Tool In Medical Teaching, T. Woratanarat

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background : Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, has been approached by WHO SEARO to lead a mission of health mind teaching in verifying an innovative ways to train people to be promptly responsive to a situation of rapid socio-cultural changes. "Graphical recording technique" is a tool used in brainstorming session in business sector that might be of value to new generations of students. Objective : To demonstrate the application of graphical recording technique in the curriculum of preventive medicine for 2nd year medical students. Study design : Action research. Setting Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University Materials and Methods : We …

Evaluation Of Dna Extraction By Boiling Method For Pcr-Based Detection Of Pneumocystis Jirovecii In Sputum Samples From Immunocompromised Patients, T Tia, U Pattanawong, N Kongpolprom, C. Putaporntip

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Problem/background : Pneumocystis jirovecii can be detected by staining methods but the sensitivity is low. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique is more sensitive and accurate but it requires high quality of DNA template. Although DNA prepared by boiling method may not generate high quality of DNA, it has been used for extraction of DNA from several organisms such as malaria, several bacteria and fungi for PCR detection with favorable results. Because boiling method is not time-consuming and inexpensive, we evaluated whether or not DNA of P. jirovecii could be prepared from sputum samples and amplifiable by diagnostic PCR. Results were …

Unintentional, Paediatric Domestic Injury In A Semi Rural Area Of Karachi., Emaduddin Siddiqui, Kiran Ejaz, Uzma Siddiqui

Department of Emergency Medicine

OBJECTIVE:

To identify the characteristics of unintentional domestic injury in children living in a semi-rural area of Karachi.

METHODS:

This retrospective descriptive study was carried out at a private hospital located at the northern outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, from January 2005 to January 2007. We enrolled 271 out-patient children of either gender with a positive injury history. A questionnaire inquiring socio-demographic characteristics, timing of injury, monthly variation, injury pattern and factors was filled out. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square test were applied to find out the statistically significant differences.

RESULTS:

Among the 271 patients, the male-to-female ratio was 1.2:1. Fall from …

Exploring The Use Of Synthetic Delivery Platforms And Small Molecule Adjuvants To Improve The Efficacy Of Spinal Interleukin-10 Gene Therapy For Chronic Neuropathic Pain, Ellen C. Dengler

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

The focus of the work in this dissertation is to improve the efficiency of a gene therapy for the treatment of chronic pain. The introduction, Chapter 1, is intended to orient the reader to the underlying physiological principles and anatomical structures involved in general sensory and pain transmission in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Pain modulatory systems are described in detail. Also included is a discussion of how peripheral nerve injury can provoke immune changes at the spinal level, including the activation of spinal macrophages and glial cells (microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) with the release of immune modulators, such …

The Effects Of Upper Body Vs Lower Body Training On Rate-Pressure Product, Zanae Baird

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Lower body activities such as walking, running, and cycling have traditionally been used as the activity mode during physiological exercise testing. Interest in specific responses to upper extremity exercise has increased since upper body cycle ergometry became an important alternative exercise mode in the 1970s. Previous research on upper extremity exercise utilized upper body cycle ergometry or a standard push-pull rowing movement. Few upper extremity studies measured rate-pressure product. The purpose of this study was to compare rate-pressure product between lower extremity exercise utilizing upright cycling and primarily upper extremity exercise on a double arm swing Ski Erg ergometer. Hemodynamic …

A Mixed Methods Approach To Food Safety Knowledge, Beliefs And Practices In Hispanic Families With Young Children In Nebraska, Kristen M. Stenger

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This mixed methods study addresses food safety for Hispanic families with young children in Nebraska. A convergent mixed methods design was used, where qualitative and quantitative data were collected in parallel, analyzed separately and then merged in analysis and interpretation. A quantitative food safety knowledge survey (n=90, 52 from focus groups, 38 from piloting the survey), was used to assess the FightBac!™ concepts: Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill, and two additional concepts: foods that increase risk, and groups at increased risk. Qualitative focus groups explored food safety handling beliefs and practices through the lens of the Health Belief Model. Focus groups …

Lean Implementation In Quality Improvement Of Laboratory, Y Pichitchok, P Ganokroj, W. Phatthanathiranan

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Lean concepts can be applied to any organization that has defined steps of process that follows to produce an end product. Lean has been expended and adapted to meet the needs of the healthcare industry. Lean thinking is composed of the following five principles, namely: 1) specifying value from the end customer; 2) identifying all steps in the value stream and eliminate every step that does not create value (waste); 3) making the value-added steps in continuous flow; 4) letting the customer to pull up the value; 5) continuous improvement for perfection. The Department of Laboratory Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial …

Correlation Between Health-Related Quality Of Life Using St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire And Pulmonary Function Testing In Thai Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, K Kawkitinarong, T Yingchutrakul, C Sittipunt, S. Wongtim

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background : Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive worsening of airway obstruction. The patients usually present with cough, breathlessness on and limited activities, which adversely affects their quality of life. Severity of COPD is traditionally classified by using spirometry. However, the relationship between quality of life and lung function parameters is unclear. Objective : To study the effects of COPD on the health-related quality of life of patients in the Outpatient Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH) using Thai version of the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and to evaluate correlation of FEV1% predicted value and the …

Effects Of Aquatic Exercise On Trunk Flexibility, Back Muscle Strength, And Pain Scale In Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain Patients, T Janyacharoen, J Chaichanawongsa, S Namsiri, Y Thongduang, P Arayawichanond, J. Kanpittaya

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background : Aquatic exercise is an important exercise for people who want to be strong. The warmth and pressure of the water may further assist pain relief and ease the physical movement of chronic low back pain patients. Objective : This study is aimed to compare the change of trunk flexibility, back muscle strength and pain scale before (week 0) and immediately after aquatic exercise (week 6) in patients with chronic low back pain. Setting : Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. Design : Experimental research. Methodology : The study was done on 48 subjects …

Asian's Conservative Attitudes Toward Sex And Its Impacts On Women's Sexual Practices And Reproductive Health, C Roomruangwong, Cn. Epperson

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Asians, in general, are more conservative about sexual and reproduction-related issues than individuals from Western countries. These conservative attitudes often lead to reticence to communicate about sexual and reproductive issues, hindering attempts to promote sex education or contraceptive knowledge, which can heighten the risk for sexually transmitted disease, unintended pregnancy, induced abortion, and emotional problems. It is critical for health care providers working with Asian women to understand them within this cultural context in order to provide gynecologic and reproductive care with sensitivity and compassion. Although this issue has been mentioned in some studies conducted in Asia or with Asian …

Quality Of Life Among Ruamkatanyu Rescue Workers In Bangkok Metropolis, P Worakul, C. Roomruangwong

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background : Ruamkatanyu rescue workers are working in pressure of emergency situation with severely injured patients or corpses. The quality of life in this group of subject has not been studied. Objective : To study quality of life and associated factors among Ruamkatanyu rescue workers. Design : A cross – sectional descriptive study. Setting : Ruamkatanyu rescue foundation in Bangkok Metropolis. Materials and Methods : All of current Ruamkatanyu rescue workers (during September- December 2009, without sampling) in Bangkok Metropolis (N = 236) were approached for informed consent. The questionnaire assessed for demographic data, quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF-THAI), stress …

Working Condition And Stress Among Staff Members Of The Department Of Dietetics And Diet Therapy, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, P Muangcharoen, A. Sughondhabirom

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background : Occupational stress was unavoidable in work life. The staff members can work more effectively. In addition to development of knowledge and abilities, the staff should have good physical and mental health. If the staff members have stress, and yet they and cannot cope with the situation, this condition may affect them and the organization. Objective : To study the relationship between the working condition and stress among staffs members of the Department of Dietetics and Diet Therapy, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Design : A cross – sectional descriptive study. Setting : The Department of Dietetics and Diet Therapy, …

A Century And A Half Of Research On The Stable Fly, Stomoxys Calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), 1862-2011: An Annotated Bibliography, K. M. Kneeland, Steven R. Skoda, Jerome A. Hogsette, A. Y. Li, Jaime Molina-Ochoa, Kimberly Hutchinson Lohmeyer, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, is a cosmopolitan pest of livestock, wild animals, pets, and humans. It is a primary pest of cattle in the United States, estimated to cause more than $1 billion in economic losses annually. It also causes dissension at the rural-urban interface and is a problem in recreation areas such as Florida beaches and the Great Lakes. Due to its pestiferous nature and painful bite, methods to control stable flies have been investigated for over a century. A large amount of research has been reported on stable fly biology, ecology, genetics, physiology, and vector competence. …

The Nutritional Status Of Patients With Clostridium Difficile Associeated Disease And Dietetic Practices Concerning The Management Of These Patients, Yvonne Hickey

Masters

Background: Clostridium difficile is a leading cause of noscomial infection and is responsible for increased morbidity and mortality (Hookman & Barkin, 2009). There are limited data available on the nutritional status and dietetic management of these patients. Aims: 1. To carry out an observational study to assess the prevalence of the risk of malnutrition in patients with Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) and compare it to a group of patients in the same hospital. 2. To investigate dietitians’ beliefs and recommendations of probiotics in CDAD and determine the probiotic products and strains being used in this patient group. To assess …

Traumatic Brain Injury And Executive Functioning In An Incarcerated Sample, Abigail A. Bernett

Dissertations (1934 -)

Incarcerated adults in the United States represent a significant segment of the population, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in incarcerated populations has been identified as an area of public health concern. However, not much is known about it because research investigating TBI in incarcerated populations has focused primarily on its relationship to violent behavior. The existing research suggests that a history of TBI may be related to later violent behavior, criminal activity, mental health problems, and poorer institutional and community adjustment. Further, some of the cognitive deficits found in the general population following TBI, including executive dysfunction, have also been …

Terror Management Theory: Interplay Between Mortality Salience, Death-Thoughts, And Overall Worldview Defense, Sharon R. Shatil

Dissertations (1934 -)

This study examines both the generalizability of Terror Management Theory (TMT) and the mechanisms by which individual difference variables work in the TMT model. A plethora of research exists to support TMT, a theory that explains much of human behavior as attempts to buffer the potential for anxiety provoked by being aware of one's own inevitable mortality (Pyszczynski et al., 2003). This dissertation investigated the generalizability of Terror Management Theory (TMT) and the mechanisms by which individual difference variables work in the TMT process. In order to do so, an operationalization of the variable "overall worldview" was provided. Participants consisted …

Taking A Cultural Perspective On Intimate Partner Violence, Claire Oxtoby

Dissertations (1934 -)

Intimate partner violence continues to be a growing social concern associated with extensive physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Previous models of intimate partner violence have failed to recognize the role cultural components may play in the etiology of violence, specifically cultural values, the bi-dimensional process of acculturation, and sociodemographic variables. Prior research has shown these factors all contribute to women‟s perceptions of violence and such perceptions may impact the relationship between exposure and emotional outcomes. The present study examined how women‟s cultural background influences their perceptions of violence and subsequent adjustment. Eighty-six Latina women completed measures assessing cultural values, acculturation …

The Mental Health Implications Of Experiencing Racial/Ethnic Microaggressions Among Latina/Os: Cognitive, Affective, And Behavioral Components, Kelly M. Moore

Dissertations (1934 -)

The present study sought to elucidate the cognitive, affective, and behavioral components associated with the experience of racial/ethnic microaggressions among Latina/os, and the mental health outcomes of this form of discrimination. The study examined data from 175 Mexican and Mexican-American Latina/o adults recruited from a large Latina/o ethnic festival in a moderately-sized Midwestern city. Methodology of the present study incorporated innovative materials, including a quantitative measure of racial/ethnic microaggressions and a vignette to elicit an experience of a racial/ethnic microaggression. Results showed that past six-month experiences with racial/ethnic microaggressions are predictive of psychological distress. Overall, one's greater affective stress response …

Post-Traumatic Apexogenesis Of Immature Non-Vital Permanent Incisors, Robia Ghafoor

Section of Dental-Oral Maxillofacial Surgery

Injury to an immature permanent tooth may result in cessation of dentin deposition and root maturation leaving an open root apex and thin dentinal walls that are prone to fracture. Endodontic treatment is often complicated and protracted with an uncertain prognosis frequently resulting in pre-mature tooth loss. There are several advantages of promoting apexogenesis in immature teeth with open apices. It encourages a longer and thicker root to develop thus decreasing the propensity of long term root fracture. This case report highlights the role of Hertwig root sheath and dental papilla in continued root formation of immature permanent tooth, even …

Interventions For Improving Research Productivity In Clinical Radiology, Waseem Akhtar, Mubashir Aslam Arain, Arif Ali, Zafar Sajjad

Section of Dental-Oral Maxillofacial Surgery

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of research promotion activities on overall quality and quantity of research output in a clinical department of a teaching tertiary care hospital. Simple research enhancing strategies including regular journal club, research hour, basic research skills training, hiring of research faculty, research awards, and annual research retreat and research board to increase research production were implemented in the Department of Radiology of a teaching hospital in Pakistan. A total of 77 papers were produced by the Department of Radiology before the intervention, which increased to 92 after the introduction of research …

Duplex Pcr For Simultaneous And Unambiguous Detection Of Streptococcus Iniae And Streptococcus Agalactiae Associated With Streptococcosis Of Cultured Tilapia In Thailand, Channarong Rodkhum, Pattanapon Kayansamruaj, Nopadon Pirarat, Janenuj Wongtawatchai

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Warm-water streptococcosis outbreaks in Thai cultured tilapia are caused by Streptococcus iniae and S.agalactiae. However, distinguishing between these two species of streptococcus are very difficult due to their similarmicrobiological appearance and clinical signs of infected fish. In this study, we proposed a new duplex-PCR basedmethod for simultaneous detection of these pathogens. The duplex-PCR amplified partial lctO and 16s rRNA gene ofS. iniae and S. agalactiae at 870 bp and 220 bp, respectively. This technique gave 100% specificity while sensitivity ofreaction was 100 fg of each bacterial genomic DNA. Detection limit of duplex-PCR applicable to clinical specimens isalso evaluated as 106 …

Microbial Co-Occurrence Relationships In The Human Microbiome, Karoline Faust, J. Fah Sathirapongsasuti, Jacques Izard, Dirk Gevers, Jeroen Raes, Curtis Huttenhower

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

The healthy microbiota show remarkable variability within and among individuals. In addition to external exposures, ecological relationships (both oppositional and symbiotic) between microbial inhabitants are important contributors to this variation. It is thus of interest to assess what relationships might exist among microbes and determine their underlying reasons. The initial Human Microbiome Project (HMP) cohort, comprising 239 individuals and 18 different microbial habitats, provides an unprecedented resource to detect, catalog, and analyze such relationships. Here, we applied an ensemble method based on multiple similarity measures in combination with generalized boosted linear models (GBLMs) to taxonomic marker (16S rRNA gene) profiles …

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Appears To Attenuate Particulate Air Pollution-Induced Cardiac Effects And Lipid Changes In Healthy Middle-Aged Adults, Haiyan Tong, Ana G. Rappold, David Diaz-Sanchez, Susan E. Steck, Jon Berntsen, Wayne E. Cascio, Robert B. Devlin, James M. Samet

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Air pollution exposure has been associated with adverse cardiovascular health effects. Findings of a recent epidemiological study suggest that omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil) supplementation blunted cardiac responses to air pollution exposure.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a randomized, controlled exposure study to evaluate the efficacy of fish oil supplements in attenuating adverse cardiac effects of exposure to concentrated ambient fine and ultrafine particulate matter (CAP).

METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy middle-aged participants (mean 58 ± 1 years of age) were supplemented in a randomized, double-blinded manner with 3 g/day of either fish oil or olive oil for 4 weeks before sequential chamber …

Cancer In Louisiana: 2004-2008, Volume 26, Louisiana Tumor Registry, Xiao-Cheng Wu, Patricia A. Andrews, Mei-Chin Hsieh, Lisa Pareti, Brent Mumphrey, Mary Namiak, Beth A. Schmidt, Vivien W. Chen

Policy & Position Papers

Mission:

To collect and report complete, high-quality, and timely population-based cancer data in Louisiana to support cancer research, control, and prevention.

Vision:

To reduce suffering and death from cancer using information collected by the Louisiana Tumor Registry.

History:

Cancer registration in Louisiana began in 1947 at the Charity Hospital Tumor Registry in New Orleans. In 1974, as part of its Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program, the National Cancer Institute provided funds for a population-based cancer incidence and survival registry covering Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard parishes. Five years later, the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) was transferred to the …

Comprehensive Calculation-Based Imrt Qa Using R&V Data, Treatment Records, And A Second Treatment Planning System, Jared D. Ohrt, Peter Balter, Michael Gillin, Court Laurence, Issac Rosen, Valen Johnson

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Purpose: Traditional patient-specific IMRT QA measurements are labor intensive and consume machine time. Calculation-based IMRT QA methods typically are not comprehensive. We have developed a comprehensive calculation-based IMRT QA method to detect uncertainties introduced by the initial dose calculation, the data transfer through the Record-and-Verify (R&V) system, and various aspects of the physical delivery.

Methods: We recomputed the treatment plans in the patient geometry for 48 cases using data from the R&V, and from the delivery unit to calculate the “as-transferred” and “as-delivered” doses respectively. These data were sent to the original TPS to verify transfer and delivery or to …

Investigating And Improving Medical Education And Library Resources At The Tamale Teaching Hospital In Northern Ghana : A Case Report Part 2., John Chenault

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

In part one of this case report, published in the Spring Issue of Kentucky Libraries (Volume 76, Number 2), I described my journey to Tamale, Ghana to provide a series of training workshops at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Nursing Training School (NTS), and the University of Development Studies (UDS), and to conduct a needs assessment to gather information to develop a series of grant proposals to assist the local health sciences libraries with improving their collections. Part two of this report briefly describes the consultations that took place and the planning and project outcomes to-date.

Clustered Subsampling For Clinically Informed Diagnostic Brain Mapping, Malin Björnsdotter, Diego Sona, Sonny Rosenthal, Justin Dauwels

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Brain based diagnostic systems have recently received attention as a tool in the characterization and diagnosis of a variety of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Nonetheless, a majority of disorders are still diagnosed entirely based on symptom assessments and behavioral correlates. We therefore propose a method for fusing brain responses with clinical measures for improved diagnosis. To this end, we utilized the flexibility of clustered random subspace brain mapping to detect regions where brain responses in conjunction with a clinical measure could reliably differentiate patients from control subjects. We demonstrate the approach on realistically simulated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain …