Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Nursing Care At The End Of Life: What Every Clinician Should Know, Susan E. Lowey

Milne Open Textbooks

Nursing Care at the End of Life: What Every Clinician Should Know should be an essential component of basic educational preparation for the professional registered nurse student. Recent studies show that only one in four nurses feel confident in caring for dying patients and their families and less than 2% of overall content in nursing textbooks is related to end-of-life care, despite the tremendous growth in palliative and end-of-life care programs across the country. The purpose of this textbook is to provide an indepth look at death and dying in this country, including the vital role of the nurse in …

Reliability Of Breathing Rate Assessment And Chest Expansion Measurement: A Pilot Study In Typically Developing Children, Mary-Grace De La Pena, Maryanne Grace Jordan, Edward James Gorgon

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Despite the apparent acceptance of breathing rate assessment and chest expansion measurement (CEM) among physical therapists, little is known about the measurement properties of these tests and measures especially when administered to children. Reference data from typically developing children have been reported in the literature without investigating the reliability of measurements. This pilot study aimed to systematically explore the feasibility and inter-rater and test-retest reliability of these chest examination methods in children. Method: Nineteen children, 10 males and 9 females, with mean (SD) age of 11.11 (±1.29) years, were selected through convenience sampling. Assessors measured the breathing rate and …

The Road Was Paved With Good Intentions, Kristina Dreifuerst, Suzie Kardong-Edgren

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Tumor Growth Increases Neuroinflammation, Fatigue And Depressive-Like Behavior Prior To Alterations In Muscle Function, Diana M. Norden, Sabahattin Bicer, Yvonne Clark, Runfeng Jing, Christopher J. Henry, Loren E. Wold, Peter J. Reiser, Jonathan P. Godbout, Donna O. Mccarthy

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Cancer patients frequently suffer from fatigue, a complex syndrome associated with loss of muscle mass, weakness, and depressed mood. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) can be present at the time of diagnosis, during treatment, and persists for years after treatment. CRF negatively influences quality of life, limits functional independence, and is associated with decreased survival in patients with incurable disease. Currently there are no effective treatments to reduce CRF. The aim of this study was to use a mouse model of tumor growth and discriminate between two main components of fatigue: loss of muscle mass/function and altered mood/motivation. Here we show that …

Differences In Inflammatory Markers Between Nulliparous Women Admitted To Hospitals In Preactive Vs Active Labor, Jeremy L. Neal, Jane M. Lamp, Nancy Lowe, Shannon L. Gillespie, Loraine T. Sinnott, Donna O. Mccarthy

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To determine whether labor-associated inflammatory markers differ between low-risk, nulliparous women in preactive vs active labor at hospital admission and over time.

Study Design

Prospective comparative study of low-risk, nulliparous women with spontaneous labor onset at term (n = 118) sampled from 2 large Midwestern hospitals. Circulating concentrations of inflammatory markers were measured at admission and again 2 and 4 hours later: namely, neutrophil, and monocyte counts; and serum inflammatory cytokines (interleukin -1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10) and chemokines (interleukin-8). Biomarker concentrations and their patterns of change over time were compared between preactive (n = 63) and active …

Factors Influencing Self-Care Behaviors Of African Americans With Heart Failure: A Photovoice Project, Aimee Woda, Ruth Ann Belknap, Kristin Haglund, Margaret Sebern, Ashley Lawrence

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to understand the influences of heart failure (HF) self-care among low income, African Americans.

Background

Compared to all other racial groups, African Americans have the highest risk of developing HF, coupled with high mortality and morbidity rates.

Methods

Using the photovoice method, participants related important lifestyle factors through photography. The participants and researcher met for reflection and discussion 2 h per week for six weeks.

Results

Four themes emerged: family support gives me the push I need, social interaction lifts me up, improving my mind to lift depression can improve my heart, and …

Storage Conditions And Passages Alter Il-6 Secretion In C26 Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines, Diana M. Norden, Raymond Devine, Donna O. Mccarthy, Loren E. Wold

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The C26 adenocarcinoma tumor line is frequently used to establish peripheral tumors in mice for the study of cancer cachexia and cancer-related fatigue. Recently, we have noticed a progressive decline in the effects of tumor growth on our biological and behavioral measures in the tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, we compared effects of three aliquots of the C26 tumor cell line that differed in storage condition and number of passages on cytokine secretion, tumor growth, weight loss and fatigue behavior. Three aliquots of the C26 tumor line were selected as alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ). Aliquot α was an original …

'Makin' It Out': The Cost Of Dropping Out Of High School On The Health Status Of Afro-American Women In Urban Slums, Sesa E. Bakenra-Tikande

CMC Senior Theses

“We carry our histories in our bodies, how could we not?” – Nancy Krieger

In the United States and abroad, socioeconomic status (income, education, and occupation) greatly impacts health outcomes for a given population. There is a strong and consistent socioeconomic gradient within health outcomes which has been documented as far back as in Ancient Egypt and China (Krieger, Willains, & Moss, 1997; Liberatos, Link, & Kelsey, 1988) The general trend shows that individuals with higher socioeconomic status generally enjoy lower rates of morbidity (disease) and disability, which can ultimately lead to higher mortality rates (House et al. (1992) and …

Let's Talk About Sex: The Failure Of Abstinence-Only Policies In America's Public Schools, Sloan Caldwell

CMC Senior Theses

Sexual education has been a much-debated topic in the United States since it was instated in light of the HIV/AID pandemic of the 1980s. The debate has always centered on the role of sexual education: should it act to objectively relay the facts about sexual health? Or should it be utilized as a moral purveyor of teen’s sexual behavior? During the second Bush Administration it seemed as if the conservative right had won and sexual education adopted a role policing teen’s morality with $1.5 billion in federal funding for abstinence-only education. This study aims to provide evidence against abstinence-only education …

Urological Pathology, Andrew Renshaw

All Publications

No abstract provided.

La Paradoja Hispana Epidemiológica: Investigando Las Preconcepciones Y Generalizaciones, Maya H. Sandalow

CMC Senior Theses

En los Estados Unidos, los latinos suelen tener menos acceso a la educación, el trabajo, y el seguro médico en comparación con los blancos no-latinos, pero aun así el grupo parece superar ciertos obstáculos de la salud. Las estadísticas de la población latina muestran mayor longevidad y otras tasas favorables en comparación con los blancos no-latinos. Los expertos han titulado esta contradicción “La Paradoja Hispana Epidemiológica”.

Desafortunadamente, la investigación de la paradoja está llena de generalizaciones y presuposiciones erróneas sobre la población latina diversa. Esta tesis investiga los participantes que producen generalizaciones sobre la supuesta paradoja para mostrar que estas …

Dogs, Physical Activity, And Walking (Dogs Paw): Acceptability And Feasibility Of A Pilot Physical Activity Intervention, Elizabeth Richards

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background. The aims of this study were to describe the development of and investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a pilot randomized controlled physical activity intervention based on social cognitive theory which used a dog walking strategy.

Methods. Participants (n=49) were randomized into an intervention or control group. Overall, participants were middle-aged (mean=45.7±13.4 years), Caucasian, and on average considered obese with an average BMI of 30.0±5.5. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics and analyze the feasibility and acceptability data. Regression models were used to: 1) examine significant differences between intervention and control groups across time (baseline to post-intervention) …

Saving Our Sisters: Effects Of A Computer-Based Version Of Sista On The Hiv-Related Behaviors Of African American Women, Krystal Frieson

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are infectious diseases wreaking irreparable havoc on the lives of millions all around the world. Of those infected and affected by HIV in the United States, African Americans disproportionately bear the burden of this disease, which has resulted in a major crisis within the African American community. In 2010, African Americans accounted for approximately 44% of all new HIV infections among adolescents, 13 years of age and older, and adults [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2012). These statistics become even more dismal when both race and gender enter the …

Effectiveness Of Psychotherapy For Youth In Poverty: A Benchmarking Study Of A Public Behavioral Health Agency Using A Client Feedback System, Jonathan Kodet

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a public behavioral health (PBH) agency that had implemented continuous outcome feedback as a quality improvement strategy.

Method: I investigated the pre-post treatment outcomes of 4,389 ethnically diverse youths (6 to 17 years old) at or under the poverty line participating in treatment (from January 2008 to March 2014) for a broad range of primary diagnoses including depression and anxiety disorders (23%); adjustment disorders (27%); Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (13%), various V-codes (18%); bipolar disorders (3%); and substance use disorders (2%). I also investigated the treatment outcomes …

An Analysis Of Cognitive Factors In School-Aged Children With Emotional Disturbance And Adhd Using The Wisc-Iv, Maria Fragnito Maddalo

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Children with Emotional Disturbance and ADHD demonstrate social, emotional, and behavioral symptoms that present many challenges for School Psychologists because of differences between each student’s individual needs. A high level of comorbidity exists for these children with internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Little is known about neurocognitive factors as they relate to ED versus ADHD. The current study examined the cognitive profiles of a total of 58 children with ED versus ADHD, using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV). Index scores that were examined included Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed. The groups were compared …

Naturalistic Clinical Decision Making By Emergency Department Staff And The Assignment Of Categorical Suicide Risk Ratings Within An Urban Veteran Population, Gerd R. Naydock

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The ability to comprehensively and effectively identify those individuals who are at greatest risk to engage in self-directed violence (SDV) forms the cornerstone for all professional suicide prevention activities. To that end, mental health professionals have come to rely on the use of risk stratification to identify at-risk individuals as a way to inform and guide risk management and treatment, without having the benefit of empirical evidence to support such practices. The current program evaluation examined archival data comprised of suicide risk assessments conducted by mental health professionals on suicidal veterans (N = 1,560) in the emergency department of a …

The Effects Of Speech Impairment On Quality Of Life Over Time In Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Jacqueline Kelley Blessinger

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Limited research exists on how speech impairments affect quality of life (QOL) factors over time in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A review of the literature, including the history, disease course, and prevalence of ALS, is presented. Physical and psychosocial functioning, especially the decline of bulbar functioning’s potential impact on QOL factors and communication style, are outlined. This study is a follow-up study on a study by Duff, who found a significant difference in QOL relative to level of bulbar functioning in a cross-sectional design. The current study used a longitudinal design to look at bulbar functioning, specifically levels …

Adhd Versus Ptsd In Preschool-Aged Children: Implications For Misdiagnosis, Klaudette D. Stewart

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been one of the most diagnosed disorders in children since it was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders−III (DSM−III) in 1980. The number of children who have been diagnosed since that time has grown significantly, raising concerns about the overwhelming number of young children being diagnosed and prescribed medication. According to the literature, young children are diagnosed at a higher rate by pediatric primary care physicians (PCPs) than clinical child psychologists (CCPs) because they are taken to a PCP’s office by a parent, rather than referred from a school environment, …

Tramadol, Pharmacology, Side Effects, And Serotonin Syndrome: A Review, Burton D. Beakley, Adam M. Kaye, Alan David Kaye

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Background: Serotonin syndrome is a mild to potentially life-threatening syndrome associated with excessive serotonergic activity within the central nervous system. Serotonin syndrome is associated with medication use, drug interactions, and overdose. While serotonin syndrome is often associated with the use of selective serotonin inhibitors (SSRI), an increasing number of reports are being presented involving the use of tramadol. Methods: This review article contains an overview of serotonin syndrome while specifically looking at tramadol's pharmacology and risk factors for serotonin syndrome. With tramadol's increasing popularity, the goal of this article is to make physicians more alert and aware of this potential …

A Survey On Practices Of Koraga Tribes During Diarrhoea In Children, Shrisha, Binu E. Margaret Mrs, Sheela Shetty Mrs

Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences

Introduction: Every society follows different practices to treat various childhood illnesses. Tribal populations are isolated from the general population by their own lifestyle and practices. The objective of the study was to assess the treatment practices of the Koraga tribes during diarrhoea in children. Materials and Methods: A descriptive survey using face-to-face interview technique was undertaken among 200 caretakers of Koraga tribe using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS v16.0. Results: 110 (55%) respondents were using arrowroot mixture; curd and salt were used by 34 (17%) to treat diarrhoea. Other practices include use of wheat sooji porridge …

Breast And Prostate Cancer Survivor Responses To Group Exercise And Supportive Group Psychotherapy, Eric Martin, Caroline Bulsara, Claudio Battaglini, Beth Hands, Fiona L. Naumann

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

This study qualitatively examined an 8 week group exercise and counseling intervention for breast and prostate cancer survivors. Groups exercised 3 days per week, 50 minutes per session, performing moderate intensity aerobic and resistance training. Groups also underwent 90 minute supportive group psychotherapy sessions once per week. Survivors discussed their experiences in focus groups post intervention. Transcripts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Survivors described how exercise facilitated counseling by creating mutual aid and trust, and counseling helped participants with self-identity, sexuality, and returning to normalcy. When possible, counselors and fitness professionals should create partnerships to optimally support cancer survivors.

Does Motor Competence Affect Self-Perceptions Differently For Adolescent Males And Females?, Elizabeth Rose, Dawne Larkin, Helen Parker, Beth Hands

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Little is understood about the impact of level of motor competence on self-perceptions in adolescence, in particular how this may differentially affect girls and boys. A sample of 1,568 14-year-old participants (766 girls and 802 boys) were grouped into four motor competence levels (very low to high) based on the McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development (MAND). Self-perceptions were assessed using the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents. Boys had higher self-perceptions of global self-worth, athletic competence, and physical appearance, whereas girls had higher scores for close friendships and behavioral conduct. Main effects in the predicted direction were found for motor competence for …

"We Are All One Together": Peer Educators' Views About Falls Prevention Education For Community-Dwelling Older Adults - A Qualitative Study, Linda Khong, Fiona Farringdon, Keith D. Hill, Anne-Marie Hill

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Falls are common in older people. Despite strong evidence for effective falls prevention strategies, there appears to be limited translation of these strategies from research to clinical practice. Use of peers in delivering falls prevention education messages has been proposed to improve uptake of falls prevention strategies and facilitate translation to practice. Volunteer peer educators often deliver educational presentations on falls prevention to community-dwelling older adults. However, research evaluating the effectiveness of peer-led education approaches in falls prevention has been limited and no known study has evaluated such a program from the perspective of peer educators involved in delivering …

The Role Of Alternative Splicing In The Control Of Immune Homeostasis And Cellular Differentiation, Mehmet Yabas, Hannah Elliott, Gerard F. Hoyne

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Alternative splicing of pre-mRNA helps to enhance the genetic diversity within mammalian cells by increasing the number of protein isoforms that can be generated from one gene product. This provides a great deal of flexibility to the host cell to alter protein function, but when dysregulation in splicing occurs this can have important impact on health and disease. Alternative splicing is widely used in the mammalian immune system to control the development and function of antigen specific lymphocytes. In this review we will examine the splicing of pre-mRNAs yielding key proteins in the immune system that regulate apoptosis, lymphocyte differentiation, …

The Ct20 Peptide As An Agent For Cancer Treatment, Rania Bassiouni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to cancer recurrence and the development of drug resistance, metastatic breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women. In the search for a new therapeutic to treat metastatic disease, we discovered CT20p, an amphipathic peptide based on the C-terminus of Bax. Due to inherent properties of its sequence and similarity to antimicrobial peptides, CT20p is a promising cytotoxic agent whose activity is distinct from the parent protein (e.g. does not cause apoptosis). CT20p is not membrane permeable but can be introduced to cells using polymeric nanoparticles, a method that promotes efficient delivery of the peptide into the …

Nation-State Personality Theory: A Qualitative Comparative Historical Analysis Of Russian Behavior, During Social/Political Transition, Mark George Bound

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The study theorizes that a nation-state can manifest a condition similar to that of personality commonly associated with humans. Through the identification of consistent behaviors, a personality like condition is recognizable, and the underlining motivations dictate national policy independent of any current social/political influence. The research examines Russia during two historical periods examining the conflict events and social/political transitions of the period, to identify common behavioral characteristics, which indicate the existence of any independent personality like trait.

The study focuses on two historical periods: the Monarch Period of Peter I (The Great), and the Post-Soviet Union period of Vladimir Putin, …

Pre And Post Implementation Evaluation Of An Emergency Department Severe Sepsis Alert And Practice Protocol, Darleen Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Severe sepsis kills an estimated 1,400 people worldwide every day. This often fatal infectious process accounts for an estimated 215,000 deaths in the United States (US) annually. The main goal of this project was to evaluate the impact of the Emergency Department Severe Sepsis Alert and Practice Protocol (EDSSAPP) post implementation, on time to first antibiotic administration, length of stay, and mortality in patients admitted via the ORMC ED with severe sepsis. This study evaluated the time to first antibiotic administration, total ED and hospital length of stay (LOS) and mortality of severe sepsis patients either with a severe sepsis …

Expression Patterns Of Bdnf With Central Anorexigenic Signaling Pathways Involving Pacap In The Hypothalamic Ventromedial Nuclei, Brian Maunze, Matthew M. Hurley, Jon M. Resch, M. J. Reilley, E. M. Wassmann, Sujean Choi

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a 38-amino acid polypeptide belonging to the secretin super family of peptides. PACAP binds to its type 1 receptor (PAC1R) with greater affinity than for the receptors for vasoactive intestinal polypeptides (VIP), VPAC1 and VPAC2. Although mRNA for PACAP and its receptor PAC1R are found throughout the central nervous system, they are abundantly expressed in the hypothalamic ventromedial nuclei (VMN). In male Sprague Dawley rats, infusions of PACAP into the VMN produce a robust decrease in food intake with concomitant increased energy expenditure, decreased body weight, and significantly elevated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA …

Performance Of Dental Hygiene Students In Mass Fatality Training And Radiographic Imaging Of Dental Remains, Tara L. Newcomb, Ann M. Bruhn, Loreta H. Ulmer, Norou Diawara

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: Mass fatality incidents can overwhelm local, state and national resources quickly. Dental hygienists are widely distributed and have the potential to increase response teams' capacity. However, appropriate training is required. The literature is void of addressing this type of training for dental hygienists and scant in dentistry. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess one facet of such training: Whether the use of multimedia is likely to enhance educational outcomes related to mass fatality training.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, pre- and post-test design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of comparable educational modules for 2 groups: a …

Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation And Its Effect On Fatigue In A Maximal Bout Of Exercise, Tony John Ramos

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine or assess if sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation is a plausible method of delaying fatigue in a maximal effort bout of exercise. Fourteen, college aged, cardiovascular trained males participated in the study (Age- 21.38 +- 1.50y, Height- 180.46 +- 10.12cm, Weight- 79.15 +- 9.28kg). Sodium bicarbonate was compared with sodium chloride and a baseline. Following the initial meeting and tolerance test, participants completed 3 exercise trials which consisted of Day 1: Initial meeting & tolerance testing and Days 2, 3, and 4: Exercise Test Sessions 1-3. Data being collected was run time, RPE, …