Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluating Oral Health Trends In Kentucky, 2006-2012, Briana Michelle Forsythe

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

According to the former US Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, “You’re not healthy without good oral health.” Poor oral health, comprising of the presence of caries and/or periodontal disease, can lead to edentulism, which in turn can yield poor physical health, inability to communicate properly, poor mental health, and a lesser quality of life. In Kentucky, over one quarter of the adult population has lost six or more teeth due to decay or gum disease, a figure 10% higher than the national average. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine: a) Kentucky’s Statewide Oral Health Strategic Plan, implemented …

Factors Influencing Differential Oral Health Care Use Between Hispanics And Non-Hispanic Whites In The U.S., Nathalie Astudillo

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Oral health is often considered merely the absence of disease. However, oral health involves much more. Good oral health facilitates very basic functions like eating and speaking; a healthy smile is also associated with good self-esteem and productivity.1 Most oral health diseases are largely preventable. Despite this, a large portion of the population in the United States still suffer from untreated dental decay.2 Poor oral health has a direct effect on systemic health, quality of nutrition, digestion, phonetics, selfimage and self-esteem.5 Whether considered individually or combined, each of these factors has a direct impact on the quality of life of …

Immunotherapy As A Treatment Option For Patients With Pancreatic Cancer, Yehuda Lehrfield

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst forms of cancer that can develop in an individual. Traditionally, chemotherapy is administered but it has very limited success. Using the immune system to treat the cancer is very enticing and many studies have been conducted to attempt to harness the body’s own mechanisms to defeat the cancer. It seems that in order to properly treat the tumor a two pronged approach must be used. First, the immune system must be stimulated to react to the tumor and attack it. A possible cytokine that can be utilized is interferon alpha, which could result …

The Efficacy And Safety Of The Human Papillomavirus Vaccine, Gail Tessler

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The HPV virus is said to be the cause of many infections, warts, and cancers. In addition to the fact that the treatment for HPV is not always successful, not every individual knows that s/he is infected and is very likely to infect his or her partner, too. This is one factor that explains why 14 million people each year in America alone contract HPV and makes cervical cancer so threatening to many people worldwide. In light of this and the known dangers of cervical, anal, vaginal and penile cancers, the HPV vaccine was created to prevent an infection of …

Bioengineered Hearts, Rivky Loeb

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Heart disease is one of the highest causes for fatality in the world. Although many such diseases can be treated by a heart transplant, this in itself can cause countless problems. Aside from the high demand for donor hearts, there is the risk of the patient’s immune system rejecting the transplanted heart. A bioengineered heart would reduce the need for donor hearts, and thus save countless lives. Finding a suitable scaffold, obtaining appropriate cells, and ensuring that the tissue will function properly are the main focuses in creating an artificial heart. While most of the studies done have been concentrated …

Theories On Varicella Zoster Virus Reactivation Based On Shingles Patterns, Ralph Nussbaum

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Herpes zoster, a disease also known as shingles or as zoster, infects the sensory nerve ganglion and the peripheral nerve and its branches, resulting in pain to the affected dermatomes. Infection results from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus which causes varicella, or chickenpox. The varicella-zoster virus usually causes chickenpox to its host at an early age and then withdraws to the dorsal root ganglia where it enters a latency stage. The virus may reemerge at any time and infect its host with shingles. As shingles is most common in ages 50 and above, it is assumed that …

Eating Disorders: The Hidden Hormonal Effect On Fertility, Esther Tessler-Karfunkel

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Women who have a history of eating disorders, specifically anorexia nervosa, are more prone to suffer from infertility. There are several hormones which are the driving force in this system and are therefore responsible for this. Fortunately, there are treatments which can help women with a history of eating disorders to reproduce. Using information found on Pubmed and Touro College’s database, this paper will discuss why the body cannot reproduce when it is lacking proper nutrition, as well as the various dynamics in the human reproductive system which are compromised when the body is not properly nourished.

Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Adina Mezrahi

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

This objective of this review is to present the known data in regards to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in infants. Articles with relevant definitions, diagnosis and treatment options were evaluated. It is evident that much controversy exists in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, and there is the question as whether this disease can be called GERD. Current ability to attribute the symptoms infants present with the disease is still difficult to clarify, despite the fact that as many as 60% of infants show symptoms of this disease. The current testing options have proven to be insufficient in concretely …

Sovereignty, Citizenship, And Public Health In The United States, Polly J. Price

Faculty Articles

Sovereign boundaries, state borders, and distinctions between citizens and non-citizens undermine public health in the United States in a number of ways. For historical reasons, we are prone to view immigration and public health as separate interests, but they are in fact convergent. Historically, federal authority over immigration alleviated costs otherwise borne by state and local governments. Today, however, states are primarily responsible for the prevention and control of communicable disease acquired outside U.S. borders. The federal and state governments confront a stark division of authority with respect to non-citizens: The federal government decides which non-citizens to admit into the …

Uncovering The Silent Victims Of The American Medical Liability System, Joanna Shepherd

Faculty Articles

A frequently overlooked problem with the current medical liability system is the vast number of medical errors that go uncompensated. Although studies indicate that 1% of hospital patients are victims of medical negligence, fewer than 2% of these injured patients file claims. In this Article, I explain that many victims of medical malpractice do not file claims because they are unable to find attorneys willing to take their cases.

I conducted the first national survey of attorneys to explore medical malpractice victims' access to the civil justice system. The results from the survey indicate that the economic reality of litigation …

Selective Contracting In Prescription Drugs: The Benefits Of Pharmacy Networks, Joanna Shepherd

Faculty Articles

Selective contracting in health care involves contractual arrangements among insurers and health care providers that give covered individuals a financial incentive to obtain health care from a limited panel of providers. Although selective contracting has been an important strategy of health insurance plans for decades, it has only recently expanded to prescription drug coverage. Drug plans now create pharmacy networks that channel customers to in-network pharmacies. Pharmacies compete to be part of the networks by offering discounts on the drugs they sell to covered customers and drug plans. Although networks can lower prescription drug costs for drug plans and consumers, …

Neural Plasticity Following Ischemia, Shira Brickman

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Neural plasticity refers to the ability of one’s brain to change its structure and/or function in response to changes in behavior, environment, and neural processes. When a person suffers an ischemic brain injury, it often leads to hemisyndrome with motor and sensory deficits in the arm, leg, and face of one side. This article discusses the various ways that the existing network can be restructured and neuronal connections can be remodeled after the injury to enable partial or complete recovery of motor function. Spontaneous functional recovery after stroke develops through the overlapping sequence of events including a phase of axonal …

The Grapefruit Juice Effect, Rebecca Leitner

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

A drug interaction is the effect that a substance can have when taken together with a drug. Grapefruit juice has proven to be a source of interaction with many drugs, causing increased bioavailability, leading to possible toxicity and increased instances of side effects. This paper discusses the mechanisms of the interaction and the components of grapefruit juice responsible for the interaction, as well as two classes of drugs that are affected, calcium channel antagonists and HMGCoA reductase inhibitors, and possible ways to avoid the interaction. The mechanisms are inhibition of the enzyme cytochrome P-450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and the transport molecule …

Environmental Factors And Progressive Myopia: A Global Health Problem, Jeffrey Weissman

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a refractive error whose prevalence has increased over the past three decades, leading to a growing concern and interest among both the public and scientific communities. For years, the only explanation and basis for myopia has been genetic factors. However, the genetic model does not explain the dramatic increase in prevalence. Current research suggests that the increase is also due to environmental factors, such as fewer hours of outdoor activities, early educational pressures requiring intense close work, as well as a lack of exposure to sunlight. One study compared the prevalence and risk factors for myopia …

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome: Pathophysiology And Possible Treatments, Pearl Hersh

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Named after the two scientists who independently described the condition, Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) occurs due to a mutation in the LMNA gene that codes for Lamin A, a filament protein that acts to form the nuclear lamina in the cell nucleus. This mutation is a single C-to-T substitution at nucleotide 1824 of the LMNA gene. As a result of this mutation, an abnormal protein named 'progerin' is synthesized instead of Lamin A, causing the nuclear membrane to be malformed. Since protein farnesylation is needed to target progerin to the nuclear rim, farnesyltransferase inhibitor has been proposed as a form …

Apoptotic Neurodegeneration In The Developing Human Brain: Possible Role Of General Anesthetics In Its Genesis, And Of L-Carnitine In Its Reversal, Yisroel Yitzchok Rosenfeld

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Recent studies suggest that general anesthetic (GA) agents administered to developing rats, through its mechanism as an NMDA antagonist or a GABAa mimetic, may damage developing neural cells by inducing a higher rate of programmed cell death (apoptosis). Similar heightened degeneration was also apparent in higher primates such as the monkey. This warrants strong concern, as every year thousands of pregnant women and children below 1 year of age undergo a surgical procedure in which GAs are used. A spike in neuroapoptosis may lead to long term cognitive deficiencies lingering into adulthood. Are humans vulnerable to these affects? Different pathways …

Stem Cells As A Cure For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Chaya K. Hirsch

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disease which affects approximately 30,000 Americans at any given time (alsa.org, 2010). The etiology of this terminal disease unfortunately remains an unsolved mystery and has therefore severely limited the ability to find a cure. The use of stem cells to regenerate neurons has been vastly studied and have produced very promising results. However, its practicality as a cure or treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, is greatly compromised. Three different therapies involving stem cells were examined, Embryonic Stem Cells (ESC), induced pluripotent stem cells, (iPSC) and direct reprogramming of adult …

The Viability Of Organ Printing, Estie Schick

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Organ printing is an emerging technology that can potentially replace the need for human organ transplants altogether. Organ printing uses bioprinting methods to create three-dimensional biological constructs. Although it has not yet been implemented successfully, with nearly two decades of research devoted to this area, much progress has been made. This article outlines the various aspects of the organ printing process, describes both the accomplishments and challenges of bioprinting, and discusses the feasibility of bioprinting as a viable method for organ replacement.

Biomarkers In Nsclc Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations, Suzanne Freidman

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Lung Cancer is the most common global cause of cancer related deaths in men and women (Markus, Alain, 2013). As standard radiation and chemotherapy have proved ineffective, novel target therapies are in the midst of development. This review will analyze the success of the inhibitor drugs targeting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutation, commonly found amongst Lung Cancer patients. Numerous studies and reviews are utilized to determine the cause of the 10% success rate currently exhibited for these drugs. The L858R and E746-A750 point mutations and deletions respectively, were found prevalent in responsive patients as well as clinical-pathological features …

Prosopagnosia, Leah Fleischman

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Prosopagnosia is a cognitive disorder that affects one’s ability to recognize faces. Prosopagnosia can be caused by a congenital defect, or it can be acquired as a result of brain damage. Much research has been devoted to discovering the specific causes and effects of Prosopagnosia. Many case studies have been performed in order to determine the specific effects that each case of Prosopagnosia causes for various individuals suffering from the disease. This article discusses the various aspects of Prosopagnosia; specifically focusing on the behavioral, anatomical, and neurological implications

The Hormones Of The Placenta, Shaya Oratz

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The human pregnancy begins with fertilization and implantation. As the embryo evolves and develops within the uterus of the mother, the placenta is formed. The placenta is a transient organ that develops to meet and accommodate specific needs during pregnancy. Its two major functions are the exchange of nutrients and gases between the mother and fetus and its role as an endocrine unit. Through the production and release of many hormones the placenta works to regulate the many necessary physiological changes in the mother in order to maintain the pregnancy, meet the needs of the developing fetus and prepare the …

Effect Of Curcumin On Tnf-Α-Induced Cyclooxygenase-2 Gene Expression And Prostaglandin E2 Synthesis In Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Line, Varittha Thongtan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin on TNF-α-induced expression of COX-2 and PGE2 synthesis in mouse ST2 bone marrow-derived stromal cells. ST2 cells were treated with TNF-α to determine the optimum concentration and treatment duration for inducing COX-2 expression. Then, ST2 cells were treated with TNF-α in the absence or presence of various concentration of curcumin. COX-2 expression was determined using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and PGE2 level in culture medium was measured using ELISA. TNF-α at concentrations of 1-50 ng/mL significantly increased COX-2 expression, with the maximum induction at 20 ng/mL. The …

ความแข็งแรงยึดติดแบบเฉือนระดับจุลภาคของสารยึดติดระบบยูนิเวอร์แซลต่อเนื้อฟันน้ำนม, เบญจพร ธนรติกุล

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

วัตถุประสงค์ เพื่อประเมินค่าความแข็งแรงยึดติดแบบเฉือนระดับจุลภาคของสารเรซินคอมโพสิตต่อเนื้อฟันน้ำนมเมื่อนำสารยูนิเวอร์แซลแอดฮีซีฟมาใช้ในวิธีการของเอทช์แอนด์รินซ์และเซลฟ์เอทช์ วัสดุและวิธีการ ฟันหน้าตัดน้ำนมของมนุษย์จำนวน 40 ซี่ นำมาขัดผิวด้านริมฝีปากเพื่อให้เกิดพื้นที่เรียบของผิวเนื้อฟัน แบ่งกลุ่มอย่างสุ่มออกเป็น 4 กลุ่ม กลุ่มละ 10 ซี่ ตามชนิดและวิธีการใช้งานของสารยึดติด คือ สารแอดเพอร์ซิงเกิลบอนด์ทู (เอทช์แอนด์รินซ์แบบสองขั้นตอน) สารเคลียร์ฟิลเอสอีบอนด์ (เซลฟ์เอทช์แบบสองขั้นตอน) และสารซิงเกิลบอนด์ยูนิเวอร์แซล (เอทช์แอนด์รินซ์แบบสองขั้นตอนและเซลฟ์เอทช์แบบหนึ่งขั้นตอน) โดยฟันแต่ละซี่จะทำการยึดติดและอุดด้วยวัสดุเรซินคอมโพสิตตามคำแนะนำการใช้งานของบริษัทผู้ผลิต นำชิ้นงานที่ได้ไปแช่ในน้ำกลั่นที่อุณหภูมิ 37 องศาเซลเซียส เป็นเวลา 24 ชั่วโมง แล้วจึงนำมาทดสอบความแข็งแรงแบบเฉือนระดับจุลภาคที่ความเร็วหัวกด 1 มิลลิเมตรต่อนาทีจนเกิดการแตกหัก แล้วทำการตรวจสอบลักษณะความล้มเหลวในการยึดติดด้วยกล้องจุลทรรศน์อิเล็กตรอนแบบส่องกราด ผลการทดลอง สารแอดเพอร์ซิงเกิลบอนด์ทูมีค่าความแข็งแรงยึดติดเฉลี่ย (19.1 ± 3.4 เมกะพาสคาล) น้อยกว่าสารซิงเกิลบอนด์ยูนิเวอร์แซลที่นำมาใช้ในวิธีการของเอทช์แอนด์รินซ์ (24.3 ± 2.7 เมกะพาสคาล) อย่างมีนัยสำคัญ แต่เมื่อเปรียบเทียบการใช้งานในระบบเซลฟ์เอทช์ พบว่าสารเคลียร์ฟิลเอสอีบอนด์และสารซิงเกิลบอนด์ยูนิเวอร์แซลให้ค่าความแข็งแรงยึดติดแบบเฉือนระดับจุลภาคไม่แตกต่างกัน (25.3 ± 2.7 และ 25.1 ± 2.3 เมกะพาสคาล ตามลำดับ) ซึ่งลักษณะความล้มเหลวส่วนใหญ่ที่พบ เกิดบริเวณรอยต่อของเนื้อฟันกับสารยึดติดในทุกกลุ่มการทดลอง สรุป วิธีการใช้งานทั้งแบบเอทช์แอนด์รินซ์และเซลฟ์เอทช์ของสารซิงเกิลบอนด์ยูนิเวอร์แซลให้ค่าความแข็งแรงยึดติดที่ดีไม่ต่างกันบนผิวเนื้อฟันน้ำนม ส่วนบริเวณรอยต่อที่มีการยึดติดในแต่ละกลุ่มจะมีความแตกต่างกันไปตามค่าความเป็นกรดด่างและวิธีการการยึดติดที่ใช้

Surface Roughness Of Feldspathic Porcelain Polished With Alumina-Zirconia Paste, ศุภรักษ์ ยมกกุล

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The purpose of this study was to develop a new polishing paste composed of zirconia that was leftover from the zirconia crown/bridge fabrication process that is as effective as diamond paste when used to polish feldspathic porcelain. This study was divided into two parts. First part was to study the surface roughness of feldspathic porcelain after polishing with diamond, alumina, zirconia and alumina-zirconia paste. The result showed that porcelain polished with zirconia paste had the highest mean Ra value, porcelains polished with alumina and alumina-zirconia paste had lower Ra values than zirconia paste while porcelain polished weight diamond paste demonstrated …

Effects Of Acemannan Deacetylation On Biological Activity Of Gingival Fibroblast, Jaroenporn Chokboribal

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Acemannan extracted from Aloe vera gel is unique in the presence of acetylated mannose residues and was reported to accelerate mice buccal wound healing. In order to assert structural and biological roles of mannose acetyl groups, high-molecular-mass DeAcAM of various DDAs were prepared by alkaline hydrolysis at 80°C for 5 min using varied concentrations of NaOH. All of the DeAcAMs are not cytotoxic to HGFs and their effects on cell proliferation and VEFG and type I collagen expressions were further investigated. In general, bioactivities of the DeAcAMs were lost to some extents upon the removal of the mannose acetyl groups …

Antibiotic Usage In Relation To Resistant Bacterial Infections And Liver And Kidney Cancer Outcomes In South Carolina, Prea Thathiah

Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotics are one of the most beneficial discoveries in medicine and public health. However, the use, overuse, and misuse of these drugs have led to increases in antibiotic resistant bacterial infections (ARI). Furthermore, previous epidemiological studies have linked antibiotic use to breast cancer, but these studies have not included effects on metabolic organs, such as the liver and kidneys. This dissertation investigates the role of antibiotic use in infections and liver and kidney cancers in the state of South Carolina. Using ecological study methods and Poisson regression to determine relative risk ratios, it was found that antibiotic use is a …

Play In Children With Motor Disabilities, Suzanne Martin

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

The purpose of this research was to explore and describe the relationship among the child, family, home environment, and pretend play of children with motor disabilities. The environment is a powerful force in early child development. This research is based on Bronfennbrenner’s ecological theory of development and the ubiquitous role of play in all domains of development. Children with motor disabilities may lack exploration of the environment and as a consequence demonstrate deficits in play. Play was measured in 32 children with motor disabilities aged 24.8 to 61.3 months with a mean age of 33.7 (SD 9.3) months. Children demonstrated …

The Development Of A Public Optometry System In Mozambique: A Cost Benefit Analysis, James Loughman, Stephen Thompson, Geoff Harris, Luigi Bilotto, Jorge Ferrao, Kovin Naidoo

Articles

Background: The economic burden of uncorrected refractive error (URE) is thought to be high in Mozambique, largely as a consequence of the lack of resources and systems to tackle this largely avoidable problem. The Mozambique Eyecare Project (MEP) has established the first optometry training and human resource deployment initiative to address the burden of URE in Lusophone Africa. The nature of the MEP programme provides the opportunity to determine, using Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), whether investing in the establishment and delivery of a comprehensive system for optometry human resource development and public sector deployment is economically justifiable for Lusophone Africa. …

Interventions Used By Occupational Therapists And Allied Health Providers In Regards To Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain, Kara L. Maatz, Jared Q. Zimmerman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem: Chronic musculoskeletal pain is the most widely known disability in the American health care system (National Institute of Health [NIH], 2010). Chronic pain affects how individuals are able to engage in meaningful activities of daily life. Unrelieved pain can potentially result in longer hospital visits, emotional distress, and increased re-admission rates to hospitals (The American Academy of Pain Medicine, 2012). A review of research in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) database revealed that few clinically useful references were available for practitioners regarding interventions used with chronic musculoskeletal pain (AOTA, 2014). As a result, it was determined that effective …

Fostering Self-Identity In Adolescents Who Experience Spinal Cord Injuries, Lauren Schneibel, Terese Boeder

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project is to identify a need and to guide occupational therapists during the treatment of adolescents who have acquired a spinal cord injury. During the adolescence stage, an individual begins to develop a sense of self and sense of direction, as well as formulate values which all contribute to personal identity formation (Erickson, 1968). The manual will guide the occupational therapist to address identity formation through use of the chosen assessments and interventions. It is believed that focusing on aspects of identity formation as experienced in the midst of a traumatic spinal cord injury will …