Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Do Submental Deoxycholic Acid Injections Reduce Submental Fat In Adult Patients Enough To Create A Significant Increase In Patient Satisfaction?, Alec W. Curry

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Submental deoxycholic acid injections reduce submental fat in adult patients enough to create a significant increase in patient satisfaction”

Study Design: Review of 3 double blind, randomized control trials that were selected based on their relevance to the clinical question.

Data Sources: All three peer-reviewed articles were found using PubMed and Cochrane Database. The keywords “ATX-101”, “submental fat”, and “deoxycholic acid” were used.

Outcomes Measured: Satisfaction with appearance in association with face and chin evaluated by a patient reported subject self-rating scale …

Is Botox A Safe And Effective Treatment To Reduce Symptoms Of Depression?, Bradin T. Carter

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Botox is a safe and effective treatment to reduce symptoms of depression?

Study Design: The review is based on three Randomized Control Trials that were double-blind and placebo controlled clinical trials.

Data Source: All articles were researched and found using PubMed and Medline. The articles were selected based on the relevance to my clinical question and if the articles included patient oriented outcomes (POEMS).

Outcomes Measured: The outcomes were measured by the improvement of depressive symptoms (sleep disturbances, suicide ideations, change in …

Is The Use Of Kinesio Tape (Kt) Effective In Improving Gross Motor Functionality Throughout The Sit-To-Stand Transfer Activity In Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cp)?, Rachel L. Dodies

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Kinesio tape (KT) is effective in improving gross motor functionality throughout the sit-to-stand transfer activity in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Study Design: Review of three English language primary studies published between 2011 and 2015.

Data Sources: One not-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT), one single-blind RCT, and one cross-sectional study were found using the PubMed database.

Outcomes Measured: The outcomes that were measured were improvement in gross motor function, sitting posture, functional independence, balance, ambulation, and agility from sitting to standing. This …

Is L-Theanine An Effective Treatment For Reducing Anxiety In Patients Ages 18-25?, Nicole Bubes

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not L-theanine, an amino acid analogue found in green tea leaves, is an effective treatment for reducing anxiety in patients ages 18-25.

Study design: Review of two double-blind, randomized controlled studies and one single-blind, randomized controlled study published in 2007, 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Data sources: PubMed

Outcome(s) measured: Each study measured L-theanine’s ability to reduce acute anxiety with a series of self-report measures assessing acute anxiety and stress, including the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the visual analogue scales (VAS), State-Trait Anxiety …

Is Oral Vitamin D Supplementation Safe And Effective For Adults As Therapy To Improve Symptoms Associated With Seasonal Affective Disorder (Sad) During Wintertime?, James Berking

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not oral vitamin D supplementation is safe and effective for adults as therapy to improve symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during wintertime.

Study Design: This review is based on three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which were published in 2006, 2012, 2014. Two of the studies were double blind and placebo controlled. The studies evaluated the efficacy of oral vitamin D supplementation for improvement of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) symptoms. One of the studies also evaluated safety.

Data Sources: All articles used were …

Is The Use Of Triamcinolone (Tac) In Combination With 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) More Effective Than Tac Alone In The Treatment Of Keloid Scars?, Jenna A. Barreto

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of the selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is the use of triamcinolone (TAC) in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is more effective than TAC alone in the treatment of keloid scars?”

Study Design: Review of two (2) published, randomized control trials (RCT) and one (1) published, observational case control study (OCCS) in 2009 and 2014. All are in English.

Data Sources: The two (2) RCTs and the OCCS. Both were found using PubMed.

Outcomes Measured: Reduction in scar height and evolution of symptoms, specifically pain and pruritus. Other outcomes measured …

Does Adalimumab Effectively Treat Moderate To Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis In Adults?, Anthony J. Audia

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does adalimumab effectively treat moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis in adults?”

STUDY DESIGN: This review is based on two randomized controlled trials and one retrospective study. The studies compared the efficacy of adalimumab in reducing the body surface area affected by plaque psoriasis.

DATA SOURCES: All articles used in this review are peer reviewed journals, published in English, and found using PubMed and Ebscohost.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: For all studies, the effectiveness of adalimumab on moderate to severe plaque psoriasis was evaluated using …

Is Ginkgo Biloba Effective In Managing The Symptoms Of Adhd And Does It Exhibit Lower Adverse Side Effects As Compared To The Current Standard Of Treatment?, Joshua Meir Alge

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective evidence based medicine review is to determine whether or not ginkgo biloba is effective in managing the symptoms of ADHD and if it exhibits lower adverse side effects as compared to the current standard of treatment.

Study Design: Systematic review of three English language studies, two of which were randomized, double blind, controlled trials (one positive controlled, one placebo controlled), and one open prospective cohort study, published between 2009-2015.

Data Source: Two randomized, double blind, controlled trials (one positive controlled, one placebo controlled), and one open prospective cohort study. In one …

Is Combination Nivolumab And Ipilimumab Safe And Effective In Patients With Melanoma?, Jacob L. Toscano

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not combination nivolumab and ipilimumab is safe and effective in patients with melanoma.

Study design: Review of two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in 2015, and one cohort study published in 2013.

Data Sources: All of the articles were published in English language, peer reviewed journals and were found using PubMed and Cochrane databases.

Outcomes Measured: The safety of combination nivolumab and ipilimumab was measured by treatment-related grade 3 or 4 adverse effects. The effectiveness was measured by progression-free survival, which is based …

Is Oral Isotretinoin More Effective Than Antibiotics In The Treatment Of Severe Acne In Adults?, Eric Thomas

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the use of oral isotretinoin is more effective than oral antibiotics in the treatment of severe acne.

Study Design: Review of all English language primary studies published after year 2000.

Data Sources: Three randomized control trials all found using PubMed. Outcomes Measured: Total number and percentage change in total acne lesions from baseline at various intervals.

Results: A randomized control trial (RCT) by Gollnick et al. (2001) found that oral isotretinoin was more effective than combination therapy involving minocycline in treating severe …

Is Pharmacologic Therapy For Blood Pressure Control Effective At Reducing Symptoms And Improving Quality Of Life In Patients With Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (Pots)?, Christopher S. Sokalski

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not pharmacologic therapy for blood pressure control effective at reducing symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Study Design Systematic review of two single blind crossover randomized control trials published in 2009 and 2012 and one retrospective case control study published in 2009.

Data Sources Three studies were obtained using PubMed. Outcomes Measured Self reported symptoms of POTS and the Vanderbilt POTS symptom scoring system as well as quality of life in patients.

Results Raj et al. (2009), Coffin et …

Do Minimalist Running Shoes Cause Harm To Runners?, Alex R. Tabone

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Is Radiofrequency Energy A Safe And Effective Treatment For Reducing Symptoms Of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease In Patients 18 Years Or Older?, Kristen L. Schaffer

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective evidence based medicine review is to determine whether or not “Is radiofrequency energy a safe and effective treatment for reducing symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients 18 years or older?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two double-blind, randomized control trials and one double-blind, randomized cross-over study published between 2003 and 2012. All studies were published in the English language in peer reviewed journals.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized control trials and one randomized cross-over study were found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured include changes in GERD symptom scores for …

Is Platelet Rich Plasma Injection An Effective Treatment For Hair Loss In Androgenic Alopecia And Alopecia Areata?, Maciej Stanczak

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Platelet Rich Plasma is efficacious in regrowth of hair in both androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata.

Study Design: Review of two blinded randomized controlled trials and one prospective cohort study. Populations studied were Adults over 18 with hair loss. All articles published in peer-reviewed journals in English.

Data Source: 3 articles found via PubMed and NCBI

Outcomes Measured: One prospective cohort study, and two randomized control trials evaluating hair regrowth after PRP scalp injections. Outcomes were reported by patient satisfaction, mean hair …

Is Cariprazine Effective And Safe In Treating Acute Mania In Bipolar I Disorder?, Evan A. Reaume

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is cariprazine effective and safe in treating acute mania in bipolar I disorder?”

Study Design: This review is based on three double-blind, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English, in 2015. These studies compared both the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of cariprazine in the treatment of acute mania in bipolar I disorder.

Data sources: Three double-blind, placebo-controlled, RCTs published in English, in peer-reviewed journals, and found using Medline, Pubmed, and Cochrane Review databases.

Outcomes Measured: The primary efficacy scale used in all …

Are Cams Safe And Effective In Improving Symptoms Of Adult Patients Over The Age Of 18 With Active Crohn Disease?, Amy Pellerito

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not complimentary and alternative medicines are safe and effective in improving symptoms of adult patients over the age of 18 with active Crohn disease.

Study design: A review of three published, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), one published in 2010, and the second and third in 2014. All English language.

Data source: All 3 RCT’s were found using PubMed.

Outcomes measured: All three studies measured improvement of Crohn disease symptoms through the Crohn Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Hamilton’s Depression Scale (HAMD), the Inflammatory Bowel …

Is The Use Of The Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ningdong Granule, A Safe And Effective Alternative To Haloperidol For The Treatment Of Tic Symptoms In Pediatric Patients With Tourette Syndrome (Ts)?, Vincent Russell

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether the Chinese herbal supplement, Ningdong granule, is a safe and effective alternative to haloperidol for the treatment of tic symptoms in pediatric patients with Tourette Syndrome.

STUDY DESIGN Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials published in 2009, 2010, and 2012.

DATA SOURCES Three randomized controlled trials were obtained using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED Efficacy of Ningdong granule (NDG) as compared to control groups based on decrease in tic severity and frequency as reported by Yale Global Tic Severity Scale as well as safety, as evidenced by prevalence of …

Is Povidone-Iodine Safe And Effective In The Treatment Of Children And Adults With Viral Conjunctivitis?, Danielle M. Mazzuca

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not, “Is povidone-iodine safe and effective in the treatment of children and adults with viral conjunctivitis?” STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies, published between 2002 and 2015. DATA SOURCES: Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one non-randomized, prospective, interventional pilot study were found using PubMed and the Cochrane database. OUTCOMES MEASURED: Each study evaluated the efficacy of povidone-iodine for the treatment of viral conjunctivitis measured by days until cured as determined by patient rating of symptom strength and ophthalmological grading of ocular signs. …

Is Intravenous Peramivir 300mg Effective And Safe In Treating Seasonal Influenza?, Michael P. Phytides

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

A. Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not intravenous Peramivir 300mg is effective and safe in treating seasonal influenza.

B. Study Design: Review of two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one randomized open-label study, all published in 2010, 2011, and 2014, respectively.

C. Data sources: Two randomized controlled trials and one randomized open- label study were all researched through the use of PubMed and belonged to peer reviewed journals.

D. Outcome(s) Measured: Primary efficacy endpoint analyzed was time to alleviation of symptoms measured by influenza symptom severity scale (ISS), …

Is Droxidopa Safe And Effective In Reducing Symptoms Of Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension?, Nicholas W. Longo

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not droxidopa is safe and effective in reducing the symptoms of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension.

Study Design: Systemic review of three English-language primary studies, conducted in 2014 or later.

Data Sources: Three double-blind, randomized trials comparing the safety and efficacy of droxidopa to placebo in patients with diagnosed neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, found via PubMed in peer-reviewed journals.

Outcomes Measured: Improvement of symptoms was measured utilizing patient responses to the Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ), which consists of a six item Orthostatic Hypotension Symptom Assessment (OSHA) …

Does Increasing Speech Production And Language Acquisition Through Therapies Aimed At Emphasizing Speech Therapy Improve The Verbal Communication Capabilities In Autistic Children?, Jessica Olejnik

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this EBM review was to determine if increasing speech production & language acquisition through therapies which emphasized speech therapy, would improve verbal communication skills in autistic individuals.

Study Design: Three RCTs selected due to relevance to the proposed question and fulfillment of the requirement of measuring POEMs.

Data Sources: All articles were published in peer-reviewed journals via PubMed.

Outcome Measures: The Preschool Language Scale 4 and Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language was measured pre-intervention and 12 months later. The verbal production evaluation scale which measured phonology, pragmatics, prosody, and sematic features. The …

Does Lactobacillus Reuteri Dsm 17938 Reduce Daily Crying Times In Infants With Colic?, Taylor Kolle

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 reduce daily crying times in infants with colic?”

Study Design: Review of all English language primary studies published in 2010, 2013, 2015.

Data Sources: Three randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trials found using PubMed.

Outcomes Measured: Daily average crying times were measured by parents who documented these in a journal.

Results: In all three randomized control studies by Chaeu et al. (2015), Savino et al, (2010), and Szajewska et al. (2013), they found that infants …

Is Phototherapy An Effective Treatment For Herpes Simplex Labialis?, Sarah Landis

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this evidence based medicine review is to determine if laser phototherapy is an effective treatment for herpes simplex labialis.

Study Design: Review of one case study published in 2009, and two randomized controlled trials published in 2010 and 2013. All studies were published in English.

Data Source: One case study and two randomized controlled trials were retrieved from PubMed database to write this EBM review

Outcomes measured: Decreases in healing time or size based on patient reporting, scoring systems, or photo documentation.

Results: The study conducted by Marotti et al determined …

Molar Distalization By Temporary Anchorage Devices (Tad S) – A Review Article, Jun Ming Tan, Yi-Min Liu, Hung-Cheng Chiu, Yi-Jane Chen

Taiwanese Journal of Orthodontics

Clinically, there are many ways to achieve molar distalization, such as skeletal anchorage, extraoral anchorage, sliding jig, lip bumper, and pendulum, etc. Although several methods have been described to distalize molars or total dentition, there is no strong scientific evidence of the effectiveness of various methods. To date, temporary anchorage devices (TADs) are increasingly used as orthodontic anchorage sources because of its strong anchorage, including endoosseous implants, miniplates, miniscrews and microscrews. Application of bony anchorage makes teeth move more efficiently, without depending on patient compliance in wearing appliance. However, only case reports and small case series have been published on …

Segmental Maxillomandibular Rotational Advancement To Correct Obstructive Sleep Apnea In A Patient Skeletal Class Ii Malocclusion - A Case Report, Yea-Ling Yang, Sam Sheng-Pin Hsu, Clement Cheng-Hui Lin

Taiwanese Journal of Orthodontics

The first priority to solve the sleep-disordered breathing could be soft-tissue surgery or non-surgical therapy such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). However, in patients with incomplete remission or relapse, the sleep quality and day time symptoms may persist. The case report presented a young man with main problems of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Skeletal Class II maxillary protrusion. We proposed a segmental maxillomandibular rotational advancement (SMMRA) with surgery-first procedure at the end of his puberty. The surgical orthodontic treatment achieved good outcome of function and esthetics at the same time. The polysomnogrphic data and airway dimension were dramatically …

Surgical-Orthodontic Treatment Of A Patient With Severe Skeletal Class Iii Anterior Open Bite And High Mandibular Plane By Preserving The Posterior Facial Height, Tz-Ya Hung, Wei-Cheng Lee, Benjamin Lo, Philip Kuo-Ting Chen, Lih-Juh Chou, Chung-Hsing Li

Taiwanese Journal of Orthodontics

Class III malocclusions with a hyperdivergent vertical facial pattern are often difficult to treat without combining the surgical-orthodontic approach. The aim of this article is to present a collaborative management of a case with severe skeletal class III and anterior open bite. The 19-year-old man was characterized with midface deficiency, mandibular prognathism, high mandibular plane angle, long lower facial height, and excessive anterior open bite. The achievement of a stable surgical setup in interdigitation prior to orthognathic surgery (OGS) is critical for a successful treatment via dental decompensation. Two-jaw surgery with clockwise rotation of the maxilla and bilateral sagittal split …

Radiographic Predictors Affecting On The Duration Of Treatment For Maxillary Impacted Canine, Jen-Bang Lo, Chen-Jung Chang, Hsiu-Ming Hsu, Jia-Kuang Liu

Taiwanese Journal of Orthodontics

The purpose of this study was to investigate radiographic predictors of impacted maxillary canine related to the duration of treatment time. A total of twenty-four maxillary impacted canines with surgical exposure and orthodontic treatment were collected. The average age of the patients was 13.7 years at the beginning of treatment and the study included 9 males and 14 females. There were sixteen impacted teeth on the buccal side and eight on the palatal side. Four panoramic radiographic predictors including canine angulation, mesiodistal position, vertical position and root formation related to the duration of orthodontic treatment were assessed. The duration of …

Non-Surgical Treatment Of An Adult Class Iii Malocclusion Patient With Facial Asymmetry By Unilateral Mandibular Arch Distalization, Chi-Yu Tsai, Shiu-Shiung Lin, Yi-Hao Lee, Li-Tyng Sun, Yu-Jen Chang, Te-Ju Wu

Taiwanese Journal of Orthodontics

This article reports the treatment of a 22-year-old male with Class III malocclusion and facial asymmetry by non-surgical camouflage orthodontic approach. This patient presented with anterior crossbite and deviated midline, mild protrusive mandible and chin deviation. The Class III malocclusion was marked with anterior functional shift resulted from the premature contact of the incisors. Unilateral mandibular buccal shelf miniscrew was applied for the correction of the skewed mandibular arch. After treatment, the deviated dental midline and Class III molar relation were both corrected. This patient exhibited harmonious profile and occlusion.

A Systematic Review - The Effect Of Hospice And Palliative Care, Justin M. Brown, David J. Havener, Jeffrey T. Byrne

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Many older adults nearing death experience unnecessarily invasive and costly healthcare treatments, often causing more harm than good. Hospice and palliative care interventions offer a possible solution to this problem by prioritizing high-quality and cost-effective care with a strong focus on comfort and satisfaction. The authors of this paper seek to answer the following question: Do hospice and palliative care interventions directed toward older adults at the end of life improve quality of life, cost of care, and satisfaction? This paper thoroughly reviews and critically appraises existing research related to the effect of hospice and palliative care directed toward older …

Comparison Of Perceived Exertion While Exercising At The Same Intensity On Land And Aquatic Treadmills, Amanda D. Montemayor, Iris A. Javersak

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if at the same intensity, two separate modalities of exercise could be perceived to have different difficulties. The modalities chosen for this study were underwater treadmill versus land treadmill. It was hypothesized that at the same sub maximal protocol, the underwater treadmill would be perceived as easier than the land treadmill. Both an objective measure, heart rate, and a subjective measure, a 10-point Borg rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale (Borg, 1982), were used. Ten healthy University of Akron students from the ages 19-23 were used for this study. The students did …