Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Risk Factors For Surgical Site Infection Following Total Joint Arthroplasty., Mohammad R Rasouli, Camilo Restrepo, Mitchell Maltenfort, Phd, James J Purtill, Javad Parvizi

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Currently, most hospitals in the United States are obliged to report infections that occur following total joint arthroplasty to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the National Healthcare Safety Network surveillance. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors of surgical site infections that were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from a single institution.

METHODS: For this study, 6111 primary and revision total joint arthroplasties performed from April 2010 to June 2012 were identified. Surgical site infection cases captured by infection surveillance staff on the basis of the Centers for …

Emerging Multidrug Resistance Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus In Hand Infections., Rick Tosti, Brian T Samuelsen, Samantha Bender, John R Fowler, John Gaughan, Alyssa A Schaffer, Asif M Ilyas

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been the most commonly identified pathogen in hand infections at urban centers, but the evolving antibiotic sensitivity profiles of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are not known. The purposes of this study are to determine if multidrug resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is emerging and to provide current recommendations for empiric antibiotic selection for hand infections in endemic regions.

METHODS: An eight-year longitudinal, retrospective chart review was performed on all culture-positive hand infections encountered by an urban hospital from 2005 to 2012. The proportions of all major organisms were calculated for each year. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections …

Activation Of C-Myc And Cyclin D1 By Jcv T-Antigen And Β-Catenin In Colon Cancer, Michael J. Ripple, Amanda Parker Struckhoff, Jimena Trillo-Tinoco, Li Li, David A. Margolin, Robin Mcgoey, Luis Del Valle

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

During the last decade, mounting evidence has implicated the human neurotropic virus JC virus in the pathology of colon cancer. However, the mechanisms of JC virus-mediated oncogenesis are still not fully determined. One candidate to mediate these effects is the viral early transcriptional product T-Antigen, which has the ability to inactivate cell cycle regulatory proteins such as p53. In medulloblastomas, T-Antigen has been shown to bind the Wnt signaling pathway protein β-catenin; however, the effects of this interaction on downstream cell cycle regulatory proteins remain unknown. In light of these observations, we investigated the association of T-Antigen and nuclear β-catenin …

Medication Adherence Behaviors Of Medicare Beneficiaries, Sian M. Carr-Lopez, Allen Shek, Janine Lastimosa, Rajul A. Patel, Joseph A. Woelfel, Suzanne M. Galal, Berit Gundersen

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Background: Medication adherence is crucial for positive outcomes in the management of chronic conditions. Comprehensive medication consultation can improve medication adherence by addressing intentional and unintentional nonadherence. The Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit has eliminated some cost barriers. We sought to examine variables that impact self-reported medication adherence behaviors in an ambulatory Medicare-beneficiary population and to identify the factors that influence what information is provided during a pharmacist consultation.Methods: Medicare beneficiaries who attended health fairs in northern California were offered medication therapy management (MTM) services during which demographic, social, and health information, and responses to survey questions regarding adherence …

The Ebola Epidemic: A Public Health Emergency Of International Concern, Lawrence O. Gostin, Daniel Lucey, Alexandra Phelan

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

On August 8, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan declared the West Africa Ebola crises a “public health emergency of international concern,” triggering powers under the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR).

The most affected West African states have attempted classic public health measures with varied success, including quarantine and isolation, social distancing, risk communication, and travel restrictions. These have involved a trade off between population health and human rights; sometimes to the disadvantage of both. At the same time, the countries’ health systems and human resources are fragile, impeding an effective response.

Beyond the public health and …

Treating Cocaine Dependency With Psychopharmacotherapy And Behavioral Therapy, Robyn Liebman

e-Research: A Journal of Undergraduate Work

Cocaine is an addictive drug that affects more than 14 million people globally, according to the United Nations. This paper is a conceptual meta-analysis of numerous studies that tested the effects of psychopharmacological therapy along with behavioral therapy in the treatment of cocaine addiction. It is hypothesized that cocaine dependent individuals treated with a combination of psychopharmacological and behavioral therapies will be less likely to use cocaine. Measurements of cocaine use throughout the experiments were generally assessed by urine screenings. Results indicate that there is more evidence that a combination of psychopharmacological and behavioral therapies will reduce cocaine use. There …

The Effect Of Pomegranate Juice Extract On The Hedgehog Signaling Pathway In Pancreatic Cancer, Veronica Gomez, Talia Shackelford, Autumn Tocchi, Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith

e-Research: A Journal of Undergraduate Work

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. There have been several reports indicating that phytochemicals in fruits can reduce the risk of cancer due to the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the polyphenols. Our lab has shown that pomegranate juice extract (PJE) has anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in human pancreatic cancer cells. In the past, we have shown that cells adhere more strongly to the plate when treated with PJE. This observation prompted an investigation of how PJE regulates cell adhesion proteins. Previously, our lab investigated E-cadherin, a cell adhesion protein. Upon activation …

Two Million Downloads For The Jefferson Digital Commons, Daniel G. Kipnis, Msi

Jefferson Digital Commons News

Strike up the band, turn up the tunes, and break out your dancing shoes! On September 14, 2014 the Jefferson Digital Commons surpassed 2 million downloads. As of Monday September 15, 2014 the JDC has 2,000,842 total downloads.

Exploring Parallels In The Bible, The Analects, And The Epic Of Gilgamesh, Cassidy Mcfarling

University Honors Program

The primary aim of this thesis is to explore parallels in The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Analects, and the Bible. By tracking and describing seven different areas of resemblance, the research illustrates philosophical and narrative overlap. More importantly, an examination of the psychological and social forces behind such literature suggests that correspondence in wisdom literature reveals universal concerns and desires that transcend cultural boundary.

2014 September 16 - Medical Student Education Committee Minutes, Medical Student Education Committee, East Tennessee State University

Medical Student Education Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Mistranslation Of The Genetic Code, Adil Moghal, Kyle Mohler, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

During mRNA decoding at the ribosome, deviations from stringent codon identity, or “mistranslation,” are generally deleterious and infrequent. Observations of organisms that decode some codons ambiguously, and the discovery of a compensatory increase in mistranslation frequency to combat environmental stress have changed the way we view “errors” in decoding. Modern tools for the study of the frequency and phenotypic effects of mistranslation can provide quantitative and sensitive measurements of decoding errors that were previously inaccessible. Mistranslation with non‐protein amino acids, in particular, is an enticing prospect for new drug therapies and the study of molecular evolution.

High-Activity Mutants Of Butyrylcholinesterase For Cocaine Hydrolysis And Method Of Generating The Same, Chang-Guo Zhan, Hoon Cho, Hsin-Hsiung Tai

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Patents

A novel computational method and generation of mutant butyrylcholinesterase for cocaine hydrolysis is provided. The method includes molecular modeling a possible BChE mutant and conducting molecular dynamics simulations and hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical calculations thereby providing a screening method of possible BChE mutants by predicting which mutant will lead to a more stable transition state for a rate determining step. Site-directed mutagenesis, protein expression, and protein activity is conducted for mutants determined computationally as being good candidates for possible BChE mutants, i.e., ones predicted to have higher catalytic efficiency as compared with wild-type BChE. In addition, mutants A199S/A328W/Y332G, A199S/F227A/A328W/Y332G, A199S/S287G/A328W/Y332G, …

Outrage Over Video Of Police’S Rough Handling Of Man With Huntington's Disease Spurs Calls For Justice, Awareness, Kenneth P. Serbin

At Risk for Huntington's Disease

No abstract provided.

Expositions Professionnelles À Des Contaminants Chimiques Et Physiques : Analyse Différenciée Selon Le Sexe, France Labrèche, Aude Lacourt, Jérôme Lavoué

Rapports de recherche scientifique

La survenue des lésions professionnelles varie selon le sexe. Une des principales explications évoquées est l’existence de nettes différences d’exposition en milieu de travail, découlant notamment des professions occupées par les hommes et par les femmes et de la nature des tâches effectuées. Cependant, il n’existe pas de données solides pour appuyer cette assertion et les analyses traditionnelles en milieu de travail se sont le plus souvent limitées à rapporter le risque en fonction du sexe, sans identifier les raisons pouvant expliquer les différences de risque observées.

Tant le gouvernement du Québec que l’Organisation mondiale de la santé ou les …

Ms-Squared Focus Group Survey Instrument, Philip J. Kroth

MS-Squared

No abstract provided.

Two Classes Of Nucleic Acid Translocation Motors: Rotation And Revolution Without Rotation, Peixuan Guo, Ian Grainge, Zhengyi Zhao, Mario Vieweger

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Biomotors are extensively involved in biological processes including cell mitosis, bacterial binary fission, DNA replication, DNA repair, homologous recombination, Holliday junction resolution, RNA transcription, and viral genome packaging. Traditionally, they were classified into two categories including linear and rotation motors. In 2013, a third class of motor by revolution mechanism without rotation was discovered. In this issue of "Structure and mechanisms of nanomotors in the cells", four comprehensive reviews are published to address the latest advancements of the structure and motion mechanism of a variety of biomotors in archaea, animal viruses, bacteria, and bacteriophages.

Circulating Tumor Cells As Early Predictors Of Metastatic Spread In Breast Cancer Patients With Limited Metastatic Dissemination., Mario Giuliano, Antonio Giordano, Summer Jackson, Ugo De Giorgi, Michal Mego, Evan N Cohen, Hui Gao, Simone Anfossi, Beverly C Handy, Naoto T Ueno, Ricardo H Alvarez, Sabino De Placido, Vicente Valero, Gabriel N Hortobagyi, James M Reuben, Massimo Cristofanilli

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

IntroductionTraditional factors currently used for prognostic stratification do not always predict adequately treatment response and disease evolution in advanced breast cancer patients. Therefore, the use of blood-based markers, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), represents a promising complementary strategy for disease monitoring. In this retrospective study, we explored the role of CTC counts as predictors of disease evolution in breast cancer patients with limited metastatic dissemination.Methods492 advanced breast cancer patients who had a CTC count assessed by CellSearch prior to starting a new line of systemic therapy were eligible for this analysis. Using the threshold of 5 cells/7.5 mL of …

Ada News - 09/15/2014, 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.

Pge(2) Ep(3) Receptor Downregulates Cox-2 Expression In The Medullary Thick Ascending Limb Induced By Hypertonic Nacl, Shoujin Hao, Alejandra Hernandez, Mariana Quiroz-Munoz, Carlos Cespedes, Carlos P. Vio, Nicholas R. Ferreri

NYMC Faculty Publications

We tested the hypothesis that inhibition of EP3 receptors enhances cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in the thick ascending limb (TAL) induced by hypertonic stimuli. COX-2 protein expression in the outer medulla increased approximately twofold in mice given free access to 1% NaCl in the drinking water for 3 days. The increase was associated with an approximate threefold elevation in COX-2 mRNA accumulation and an increase in PGE2 production by isolated medullary (m)TAL tubules from 77.3 ± 8.4 to 165.7 ± 10.8 pg/mg protein. Moreover, administration of NS-398 abolished the increase in PGE2 production induced by 1% NaCl. EP3 receptor mRNA levels …

What's Happening: September 15, 2014, Maine Medical Center

What's Happening

No abstract provided.

Acetylation-Defective Mutant Of Pparγ Is Associated With Decreased Lipid Synthesis In Breast Cancer Cells., Lifeng Tian, Chenguang Wang, Fred K Hagen, Michael Gormley, Sankar Addya, Raymond Soccio, Mathew C Casimiro, Jie Zhou, Michael J Powell, Ping Xu, Haiteng Deng, Anthony A Sauve, Richard Pestell

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

In our prior publications we characterized a conserved acetylation motif (K(R)xxKK) of evolutionarily related nuclear receptors. Recent reports showed that peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) deacetylation by SIRT1 is involved in delaying cellular senescence and maintaining the brown remodeling of white adipose tissue. However, it still remains unknown whether lysyl residues 154 and 155 (K154/155) of the conserved acetylation motif (RIHKK) in Pparγ1 are acetylated. Herein, we demonstrate that Pparγ1 is acetylated and regulated by both endogenous TSA-sensitive and NAD-dependent deacetylases. Acetylation of lysine 154 was identified by mass spectrometry (MS) while deacetylation of lysine 155 by SIRT1 was …

Toxoplasmosis Complications And Novel Therapeutic Synergism Combination Of Diclazuril Plus Atovaquone, Helieh S. Oz

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Toxoplasmosis is a major cause of foodborne disease, congenital complication, and morbidity. There is an urgent need for safe and effective therapies to encounter congenital and persisting toxoplasmosis. The hypothesis was: combination diclazuril plus atovaquone to exert a novel therapeutic synergy to prevent toxoplasmosis syndromes.

Methods: Pregnant dams were treated with diclazuril and atovaquone monotherapy or combination therapy and infected i.p with Toxoplasma tachyzoites.

RESULTS: Infected dams developed severe toxoplasmosis associated syndrome with increases in the abdominal adiposity surrounding uteri, gansterointestinal and other internal organs and excessive weight gain. Numerous organisms along with infiltration of inflammatory cells were detected …

The Historic Role Of Boards Of Health In Local Innovation: New York City’S Soda Portion Case, Lawrence O. Gostin, Belinda H. Reeve, Marice Ashe

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Childhood and adult obesity pose major risks for cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, with the poor and racial minorities suffering from disproportionately high burdens of obesity and chronic disease. With current policies failing, cities and states have moved forward with creative prevention measures–-with boards of health driving policy innovation in many local jurisdictions. The New York City Board of Board of Health’s (NYCBH) soda portion limit pushed the boundaries of innovation, but was struck down on June 26, 2014 by New York State’s highest court, which held that the Board trespassed on the City Council’s authority.

The Court’s decision ignored …

Expression Of Peroxiredoxin 1 And 4 Promotes Human Lung Cancer Malignancy, Hong Jiang, Lisha Wu, Murli Mishra, Hedy A. Chawsheen, Qiou Wei

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

Members of the Peroxiredoxin (Prx) family are major cellular antioxidants that scavenge hydrogen peroxide and play essential roles in oxidative stress and cell signaling. 2-Cys Prxs, including Prx1, 2, 3 and 4, have been indicated in multiple oncogenic signaling pathways and thus may contribute to various processes of cancer development. The significance of 2-Cys Prxs in lung cancer development and their biological function in signal transduction have not been fully investigated. In this study we analyzed the expression of 2-Cys Prxs in lung cancer, and examined their levels of expression in a variety of cell lines established from human lung …

Nuclear Factor Of Activated T-Cells 5 Increases Intestinal Goblet Cell Differentiation Through An Mtor/Notch Signaling Pathway, Yuning Zhou, Qingding Wang, Heidi L. Weiss, B. Mark Evers

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The intestinal mucosa undergoes a continual process of proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis that is regulated by multiple signaling pathways. Previously, we have shown that the nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5) is involved in the regulation of intestinal enterocyte differentiation. Here we show that treatment with sodium chloride (NaCl), which activates NFAT5 signaling, increased mTORC1 repressor regulated in development and DNA damage response 1 (REDD1) protein expression and inhibited mTOR signaling; these alterations were attenuated by knockdown of NFAT5. Knockdown of NFAT5 activated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling and significantly inhibited REDD1 mRNA expression and protein expression. Consistently, …

Role Of Adaptor Trfa And Clppc In Controlling Levels Of Ssra-Tagged Proteins And Antitoxins In Staphylococcus Aureus, Niles P. Donegan, Jonathan S. Marvin, Ambrose L. Cheung

Dartmouth Scholarship

Staphylococcus aureus responds to changing extracellular environments in part by adjusting its proteome through alterations of transcriptional priorities and selective degradation of the preexisting pool of proteins. In Bacillus subtilis, the proteolytic adaptor protein MecA has been shown to play a role in assisting with the proteolytic degradation of proteins involved in competence and the oxidative stress response. However, the targets of TrfA, the MecA homolog in S. aureus, have not been well characterized. In this work, we investigated how TrfA assists chaperones and proteases to regulate the proteolysis of several classes of proteins in S. aureus. …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - September 14, 2014, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the September 14, 2014 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter - Watercooler.

Contents Include:

• USA Health System Participates in Heart Walk
• USA Welcomes Dr. Derek Samuels
• Stephanie Macon Recognized for Customer Service
• USA Welcomes Dr. Ram Bhat
• ALREC Celebrates National Health IT Week

Use Of Protoporphyrin Fluorescence To Determine Clinical Target Volume For Non-Melanotic Skin Cancers Treated With Primary Radiotherapy, Stephanie Casey, Lara Best, Olga Vujovic, Kevin Jordan, Barbara Fisher, Deborah Carey, Deborah Bourdeau, Edward Yu

Data and Test Instruments

Purpose: This study prospectively investigated Protoporphyrin (PpIX) fluorescence as a means of determining the clinical target volume (CTV) necessary to encompass subclinical disease for non-melanotic skin cancers.Methods and Materials: PpIX photo-delineation was performed on 30 patients by applying δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) or Metvix™ (MAL) cream to the lesions to be treated, in order to delineate a CTV prior to treatment with radiotherapy. This CTV was then compared to conventional margins for subclinical disease (10 mm for poorly demarcated tumors).Conclusions: PpIX photo-delineation suggests that conventional 10 mm margins may be inadequately covering areas of subclinical disease in poorly demarcated skin tumors. …

How To Be A Super Model: Using Role Modeling To Become An Exemplary Educator, Priti Bhansali, Geeta Singhal, Helen Fromme, Melissa Held

E-Learning Modules

Over the past several years, published studies have described the qualities and skills of exemplary medical educators. Despite its inclusion in these lists, role modeling is a skill that is not often developed as a skill for use as an educational method. The purpose of this workshop is to assist participants in better understanding the characteristics of effective role modeling and create a paradigm for how to consciously incorporate role modeling into the daily education of students, residents, and colleagues in varied domains, including teaching, professionalism, communication, and patient care.

In this workshop, participants are introduced to the concept of …

Safe Methods For Storage And Disposal Of Medicines, Timothy Cheum, Kejal Patel, Rodney Richmond

Faculty Research ​and Publications

No abstract provided.