Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Analysis Of Human Skin Tissue By Raman Microspectroscopy: Dealing With The Background, Franck Bonnier, Syed Mehmood Ali, Peter Knief, Helen Lambkin, Kathleen Flynn, Vincent Mcdonagh, Claragh Healy, Thomas Lee, Fiona Lyng, Hugh Byrne

Articles

Raman microspectroscopy is widely used for molecular characterisation of tissue samples. Nevertheless, when working in vitro on tissue sections, the presence of a broad background to the spectra remains problematic and its removal requires advanced methods for pre-processing of the data. To date, research efforts have been primarily devoted to development of techniques of statistical analysis to extract the relevant information contained in the spectra. However, few attempts have been made to understand the origin of the background and to improve the protocols used for the collection of Raman spectra that could lead to the reduction or elimination of the …

Target Population Involvement In Urban Ciclovias: A Preliminary Evaluation Of St. Louis Open Streets, J. Aaron Hipp, Amy A. Eyler, Jill Kuhlberg

Brown School Faculty Publications

Ciclovias are active street events when roads are open to walkers, cyclists, and families and closed to automobiles. Over 70 cities in the USA have implemented ciclovias to promote physical activity. The authors evaluated four events during 2010 to determine what activities participants perform and who is attending. For two ciclovia events in St. Louis, Missouri, observation reports of activities, gender, and age of 1,452 participants were collected, and 82 adults were interviewed via direct approach. The survey covered six domains: physical activity, travel to event, sense of community, marketing, economic impact, and demographics. Each event occurred within the city, …

Using The Scrambled Sentences Test To Examine Relationships Between Cognitive Bias, Thought Suppression And Borderline Personality Features, Paul Jefferson Geiger

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Cognitive bias and thought suppression are two maladaptive patterns of thinking that have been associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Negative cognitive biases related to BPD include thoughts that they are bad, powerless, or vulnerable and that the world is dangerous. Thought suppression is a maladaptive emotion regulation strategy where unwanted thoughts are intentionally pushed out of one’s consciousness. However, previous research has connected thought suppression and cognitive biases to BPD only via self-report measures. The present study examined whether a laboratory task meant to measure cognitive bias and thought suppression (Scrambled Sentences Test) would predict BPD features over and …

Caring Relationships And Reintegration: Lessons From A Participatory Action Research Study In Liberia, Sierra Leone, And Northern Uganda, Miranda E. Worthen, S Mckay, A Veale, M Wessells

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Prevalence, Patterns, And Correlates Of Co-Occurring Substance Use And Mental Disorders In The U.S.: Variations By Race/Ethnicity, A. Mericle, Van M. Ta Park, P. Holck, A. Arria

Faculty Publications

This study examines racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence, patterns, and correlates of co-occurring substance use and mental disorders (COD) among Whites, Blacks, Latinos, and Asians using data from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Studies.

Acute-To-Home Care Nursing Handoffs: Distributed Cognition Across Patterns Of Knowledge, Rosemary Kennedy

Dissertations

Timely, explicit, and effective communication of patient information during care transitions is fundamental to safe care. Studies show that handoffs or transfers of patient care from one provider to another are susceptible to communication failures (Riesenberg et al., 2009a). Most studies on communication failures focus on communication between providers within the same setting of care. Few studies, if any, focus on communication between care settings in different locations. However, research has identified gaps in care during critical transitions and identified poor communication and incomplete transfer of information as the root cause (Naylor et al., 2004). This qualitative dissertation consists of …

Shades Of Grey: An Exploration Of The Student Learning Experience In Diagnostic Radiology Education, Kathleen Linda Linaker

Dissertations

Diagnostic radiology education is a specialty within healthcare education and encompasses education at both the undergraduate and resident level. There is little research regarding what constitutes effective radiology education. The broad purpose of this study was to investigate through the student perspective how chiropractic students learned diagnostic radiology within their curriculum and what contributed to this learning. This interview-based, qualitative research explored the learning experiences of 12 fourth-year chiropractic students at two colleges. Specifically this study investigated a) the learning strategies students believe both worked and didn't work in learning radiology, b) student perceptions of the effectiveness of instructional methods …

Risk Perception, Psychological Well-Being, And Health-Promoting Behaviors In Persons Informed Of A Coronary Artery Calcium Score, Jennie Elizabeth Johnson

Dissertations

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of adult deaths because individuals continue to engage in behaviors that exacerbate CVD. New technologies such as coronary artery calcium (CAC) screening detect atherosclerosis before clinical disease is manifested. Awareness of an abnormal finding should enhance motivation for change.

Objective: To examine how awareness of a CAC score affects risk perception and health-promoting behaviors in persons at high risk for CVD.

Methods: This study used a descriptive prospective design with 174 high risk adults (3 or more major risk factors) recruited at a radiology center offering CAC scans in a Chicago suburb. …

The Development Of Trust In The Nurse-Patient Relationship With Hospitalized Mexican American Patients, Sharon M. Jones

Dissertations

The Hispanic population in the United States is growing and this population experiences health care disparities compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Mexican Americans are the largest sub-group of Hispanics and providing nursing care that is patient-centered and culturally competent is important when caring for this population. Trust is an important component of patient-centered care and culturally competent care as well as a major element , (confianza) in the Hispanic culture. Although nursing researchers have identified the need for trust in culturally competent care with Mexican American patients, none have explored how trust develops between the nurse and the Mexican American patient. …

Role Of Myosin Light Chain Kinase In Binge Ethanol And Burn Injury-Induced Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction, Anita Zahs

Dissertations

Ethanol is a common factor in traumatic injury, including burn injury. Previous studies from our laboratory indicate that ethanol increases both pulmonary and gastrointestinal inflammation as well as susceptibility to infection in burn-injured mice; however, the mechanisms of these responses are not entirely known. Moreover, after burn injury, bacteria and their products leak out of the intestinal lumen and into the bloodstream. These bacteria can disperse throughout the body leading to pulmonary damage, acute lung injury, sepsis, and death. Ethanol in combination with burn injury has been shown to decrease intestinal barrier function greater than either insult alone. Long (210 …

Stress Reactions Of Division-I Track Athletes, Laura Elizabeth Skarda

Dissertations and Theses

Problem: Track and field athletes, along with cross-country athletes have multiple and back to back seasons, creating overuse injuries. Stress fractures or stress reactions to the bone are the overuse injuries focused on in this study and literature review. There is a lack of information in the literature regarding stress reactions. Purpose: The goal of the study is to understand more information about stress reactions to bone and possibly increase the knowledge of health care professionals. Methods: Three case studies were examined through pre-existing medical chart notes and athletic trainer's notes regarding the stress reactions. A literature review was also …

Attendant Care And Spinal Cord Injury: Usage Patterns And Perspectives For Those With Life Care Plans, Tanya Rutherford-Owen, Irmo Marini

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

The provision of attendant care services is one of the costliest services needed by many individuals following a spinal cord injury (SCI). The current study examined consumption patterns of 55 adults with SCI who had a life care plan developed. Respondents were asked about various aspects of attendant care including number of hours utilized, satisfaction, level and type of care, (i.e. unpaid care versus private hire), received prior to and following life care plan development and settlement. Respondents provided open responses to explain reasons for satisfaction and dissatisfaction with attendant care. Results indicated more respondents received attendant care services following …

Life Care Plan Implementation Among Adults With Spinal Cord Injuries, Tanya Rutherford-Owen, Irmo Marini

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

A nationwide survey was conducted to assess life care plan implementation in a sample of 55 adults with spinal cord injuries (SCI) for those with or without a favorable settlement or verdict. Areas of inquiry included disability-related goods and services received following life care plan (LCP) development, differences in the purchasing of LCP items and services between those with and without adequate funding, and implementation differences based on demographic factors. Frequency data and chi-square analyses revealed differences in plan implementation for those who received funding to purchase some items in the life care plan when compared to those who did …

Introduction To Positive Psychology: Overview And Controversies, Jeong Han Kim, Phillip Keck, Deborah Miller, Rene Gonzalez

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

Since his first formal address in 1998 by Martin Seligman, the significant growth and accomplishments of the positive psychology have been universally noted. Notable breakthroughs include the inception of the International Positive Psychology Association in 2007 and the First World Congress of Positive Psychology in 2009. However, much concern has also arisen in conjunction with the development of positive psychology. For example, Gable and Haidt (2005) argued that the assumption of positive psychology implies the rest of the field must be negative psychology. These controversies are not only limited to the foundation of positive psychological principles and understanding the controversies …

Cisplatin-Induced Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome And Successful Re-Treatment In A Patient With Non-Seminomatous Germ Cell Tumor: A Case Report, Muhammad Nauman Zahir, Nehal Masood, Munira Shabbir-Moosajee

Department of Radiation Oncology

UNLABELLED: Introduction: Cisplatin is a platinum compound that has revolutionized the treatment of various solid organ tumors. Cisplatin is associated with a variety of side effects and has recently been indicted in the development of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a potentially reversible condition, with the mainstay of therapy being correction of the underlying cause and withdrawal of the offending drug. However, there are no clear guidelines regarding the possibility of subsequent re-treatment with the causative agent.CASE PRESENTATION: A 23-year-old Asian man presented to our Emergency Department with a four-month history of concomitant abdominal pain and …

Outcome Of Febrile Neutropenic Patients On Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor In A Tertiary Care Hospital, Asif Husain Osmani, Tayyaba Zehra Ansari, Nehal Masood, Bilal Ahmed

Department of Radiation Oncology

Introduction: Febrile neutropenia is a relatively frequent event in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and improvement in absolute neutrophil count (ANC) has been linked directly to improved outcome. Evaluation of granulocyte colony stimulating factors (GCSFs) for treatment has shown reduced incidences of episodes of prolonged neutropenia and protracted hospitalization. To determine absolute neutrophil counts with GCSF in febrile neutropenic cancer patients admitted to a tertiary care centre and to co-relate the improvement in ANC with mortality and hospital discharge.Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was carried at an oncology ward at Aga Khan University hospital from January 2010 to June …

A Systematic Review Of Interventions In Primary Care To Improve Health Literacy For Chronic Disease Behavioral Risk Factors, J Taggart, A Williams, S Dennis, A Newall, T Shortus, N Zwar, E Denny-Wilson, M Harris

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions used in primary care to improve health literacy for change in smoking, nutrition, alcohol, physical activity and weight (SNAPW).

Methods: A systematic review of intervention studies that included outcomes for health literacy and SNAPW behavioral risk behaviors implemented in primary care settings.

We searched the Cochrane Library, Johanna Briggs Institute, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Psychinfo, Web of Science, Scopus, APAIS, Australasian Medical Index, Google Scholar, Community of Science and four targeted journals (Patient Education and Counseling, Health Education and Behaviour, American Journal of Preventive Medicine and Preventive Medicine).

Study inclusion criteria: Adults over 18 …

Is There Scope For Community Health Nurses To Address Lifestyle Risk Factors? The Community Nursing Snap Trial, B Chan, R Laws, A Williams, G Davies, M Fanaian, M Harris, Cn Snap Project Team

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

Background: This paper examines the opportunity and need for lifestyle interventions for patients attending generalist community nursing services in Australia. This will help determine the scope for risk factor management within community health care by generalist community nurses (GCNs).

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study conducted in four generalist community nursing services in NSW, Australia. Prior to service contacts, clients were offered a computer-assisted telephone interview to collect baseline data on socio-demographics, health conditions, smoking status, physical activity levels, alcohol consumption, height and weight, fruit and vegetable intake and 'readiness-to-change' for lifestyle risk factors.

Results: 804 clients participated (a response …

Dentoalveolar Heights In Skeletal Class I Normodivergent Facial Patterns, Zafar-Ul-Islam, Attiya Shaikh, Mubassar Fida

Section of Dental-Oral Maxillofacial Surgery

OBJECTIVE: To determine the dentoalveolar heights (mm) in skeletal class I normodivergent facial pattern and compare the same heights in male and female subjects.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Orthodontics Clinic, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from July to October 2009.

METHODOLOGY: Eighty one subjects were selected from the orthodontic record at the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. The inclusion criteria were an age range of 12 to 30 years and skeletal class I normodivergent facial pattern with exclusion criteria of prior orthodontic treatment, restored teeth and craniofacial anomalies/syndromes. The pre-treatment cephalographs of the …

Clinical Spectrum And Severity Of Hemolytic Anemia In Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase-Deficient Children Receiving Dapsone, Allan Pamba, Naomi D. Richardson, Nick Carter, Stephan Duparc, Zul Premji, Alfred B. Tiono, Lucio Luzzatto

Pathology, East Africa

Drug-induced acute hemolytic anemia led to the discovery of G6PD deficiency. However, most clinical data are from isolated case reports. In 2 clinical trials of antimalarial preparations containing dapsone (4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone; 2.5 mg/kg once daily for 3 days), 95 G6PD-deficient hemizygous boys, 24 G6PD-deficient homozygous girls, and 200 girls heterozygous for G6PD deficiency received this agent. In the first 2 groups, there was a maximum decrease in hemoglobin averaging -2.64 g/dL (range -6.70 to +0.30 g/dL), which was significantly greater than for the comparator group receiving artemether-lumefantrine (adjusted difference -1.46 g/dL; 95% confidence interval -1.76, -1.15). Hemoglobin concentrations were decreased by …

Adherence To Artemether/Lumefantrine Treatment In Children Under Real-Life Situations In Rural Tanzania, D.O. Simba, D. Kakoko, G. Tomson, Zul Premji, M. Petzold, M. Mahindi, L.L. Gustafsson

Pathology, East Africa

A follow-up study was conducted to determine the magnitude of and factors related to adherence to artemether/lumefantrine (ALu) treatment in rural settings in Tanzania. Children in five villages of Kilosa District treated at health facilities were followed-up at their homes on Day 7 after the first dose of ALu. For those found to be positive using a rapid diagnostic test for malaria and treated with ALu, their caretakers were interviewed on drug administration habits. In addition, capillary blood samples were collected on Day 7 to determine lumefantrine concentrations. The majority of children (392/444; 88.3%) were reported to have received all …

Resveratrol + Ethanol Preconditioning And Neuroprotection, Nastaran Khodaie

Master's Theses

Our lab established that moderate ethanol preconditioning (MEP) for 6 days blocked the Aâ25-35 toxicity in cerebellar mixed cell cultures and It has been shown that MEP cause the up regulation of the pre-survival enzymes such as proxiredoxin2 (PRX2), which suggests MEP can activate the cell survival pathways against upcoming toxins.

This study was performed to verify the possible combinatory effect of ethanol and resveratrol against Aâ25-35 toxicity. Both ethanol and resveratrol sub-protective concentrations were detected against Aâ25-35 in cerebellar mixed cell cultures. The combination of sub-protective levels of ethanol and resveratrol showed the significantly reduction in number of Aâ25-35 …

The Impact Of Algal Community Succession, Taxonomic Composition And Biomass Accrual, On Denitrification Potential Of Stream Periphyton, Allison Daley

Master's Theses

We investigated the relationship between algal taxonomy, community succession and biomass accrual and denitrification potential (DNP) within stream periphyton. Field research was conducted in 6 DuPage County, II forest preserve streams with diverse physical and chemical characteristics and in an experiment in the artificial stream facility at Loyola University Chicago in which 2 sets of streams were amended with nutrients and compared to an unamended set of streams. Algal communities in the field study streams were sampled over 12 weeks late spring/summer and NMDS ordination plots identified 4 distinct communities. Correlations with algal community NMDS axis scores and the relative …

Brain-Computer Interfaces In Medicine, Jerry J. Shih, Dean J. Krusienski, Johnathan R. Wolpaw

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) acquire brain signals, analyze them, and translate them into commands that are relayed to output devices that carry out desired actions. BCIs do not use normal neuromuscular output pathways. The main goal of BCI is to replace or restore useful function to people disabled by neuromuscular disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, or spinal cord injury. From initial demonstrations of electroenceph-alography-based spelling and single-neuron-based device control, researchers have gone on to use electroenceph-alographic, intracortical, electrocorticographic, and other brain signals for increasingly complex control of cursors, robotic arms, prostheses, wheelchairs, and other devices. Brain-computer interfaces …

Signals From Intraventricular Depth Electrodes Can Control A Brain-Computer Interface, Jerry J. Shih, Dean J. Krusienski

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a device that enables severely disabled people to communicate and interact with their environments using their brain waves. Most research investigating BCI in humans have used scalp-recorded electroencephalography (EEG). We have recently demonstrated that signals from intracranial electrocorticography (ECoG) and stereotactic depth electrodes (SDE) in the hippocampus can be used to control a BCI P300 Speller paradigm. We report a case in which stereotactic depth electrodes positioned in the ventricle were able to obtain viable signals for a BCI. Our results demonstrate that event-related potentials from intraventricular electrodes can be used to reliably control the …

Altering A Secondary Tier Intervention To Examine The Effects Of Negative Reinforcement Contingencies On Elementary School Students, Stevie-Marie Swift

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Problem behaviors in the school setting have become more frequent as well as challenging for teachers and faculty to decrease while attempting to help their students attain their academic goals. Within the last decade, school-wide positive behavior support (SWPBS) has become more widespread as an evidence-based practice within the school system. SWPBS uses a multi-tiered support structure in order to affect behavior change across an entire school population. Several common secondary interventions have been utilized with high success rates. However, the research conducted thus far using the Check-In/Check-Out (CICO) program, a secondary intervention, has shown a lesser degree of success …

Using A Goal-Setting And Feedback Procedure To Increase Running Distance, Stephanie Wack

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Goal-setting procedures have been employed in many different sports, and have been shown to be a beneficial component for enhancing sports performance. For this study, a changing-criterion within multiple-baseline design was used to evaluate a multi-component intervention for increasing running distance for five healthy adults. The intervention consisted of goal setting with performance feedback. Participants set a short-term goal each week and a long-term goal to achieve upon completion of the study. The study incorporated the use of the Nike^TM + SportKit for automated recording of the distance of each run. Results of the current study demonstrated for all …

Physical Activity: The Forgotten Tool For Type 2 Diabetes Management, Sheri R. Colberg

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Individuals who are currently sedentary, unfit, or overweight can benefit metabolically from simply taking breaks from sitting. Since avoidance of sedentary behavior appears to have a large impact on glycemic management, all individuals with type 2 diabetes should be encouraged to minimally engage in greater daily movement to better manage their diabetes and body weight. In addition, engaging in physical activity of any intensity (including low-intensity ones) likely positively impacts insulin action and blood glucose control acutely. Moreover, as long as total caloric expenditure during exercise is matched (i.e., total exercise dose), daily exercise may be done every other day …

Heart Rate And Accelerometry During Singles Footbag Net Play, Christopher Michael Siebert

Dissertations and Theses

This investigation examined the heart rate responses and movement characteristics of experienced footbag net players during singles play. Footbag net is a net/court sport similar to volleyball, but it is played with a footbag (e.g., Hacky-Sack^TM) using only the feet. In singles footbag net, players are allowed either one or two kicks to propel the footbag over the net. Subjects were 15 males and 1 female, ranging in age from 18- 60 years, with a mean age of 33.6 years. Subjects played two games of singles footbag net using two different scoring systems: "sideout" scoring and "rally" scoring. …

Electropalatographic Measures Of Stop Consonants In Speakers With And Without Apraxia Of Speech On Repeated Sampling Occasions, Christopher Dromey, Shannon C. Mauszycki, Julie L. Wambaugh

Faculty Publications

Apraxia of speech (AOS) is an acquired motor speech disorder characterized by difficulty producing speech sounds caused by deficits in motor planning. Various tools exist to examine the physiologic aspects of articulation. Unfortunately, very few physiologic studies of AOS have been conducted. Electropalatography (EPG) is one method for examining the tongue's role in articulation by measuring tongue-to-palate contact. However, there is limited research examining the articulatory changes that are attributable to repeated exposure with wearing the pseudopalate as well as desensitization to the pseudopalate. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the impact of repeated measurement using EPG with …