Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Structural Basis Of Mitochondrial Transcription., Hauke S. Hillen, Dmitry Temiakov, Patrick Cramer

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

The mitochondrial genome is transcribed by a single-subunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (mtRNAP) and its auxiliary factors. Structural studies have elucidated how mtRNAP cooperates with its dedicated transcription factors to direct RNA synthesis: initiation factors TFAM and TFB2M assist in promoter-DNA binding and opening by mtRNAP while the elongation factor TEFM increases polymerase processivity to the levels required for synthesis of long polycistronic mtRNA transcripts. Here, we review the emerging body of structural and functional studies of human mitochondrial transcription, provide a molecular movie that can be used for teaching purposes and discuss the open questions to guide future directions of …

Neurology Advocacy In Pakistan, Abdul Malik

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Advocacy is an activity by an individual or group which aims to influence decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions. Advocacy can include many activities that a person or organization undertakes including media campaigns, public speaking, commissioning and publishing research or conducting exit poll or the filing of an amicus brief. Lobbying (often by lobby groups) is a form of advocacy where a direct approach is made to legislators on an issue which plays a significant role in modern politics

Bilateral Psoas Abscess After Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy: Reminder Of A Rare Complication, Sidra Zafar, Syed Usman Bin Mahmood, Arsal Tharwani, Noreen Nasir

Section of Nephrology

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is among the most widely used modalities for treatment of urolithiasis since its introduction in the 1980s. The non-invasive technique reduces the risk of post-procedure complications and produces excellent stone free rates. However, complications may still follow and albeit rare, there are reports in literature of abscess formation post ESWL. Herein, we report the case of a young, immunocompetent gentleman who developed bilateral psoas abscess after undergoing this procedure. He was successfully managed at our institute with intravenous antibiotics, percutaneous abscess drainage and was discharged on day 5 post-intervention in a stable condition. There have …

Nursing News & Views - September 2018, Christine Klucznik Rn

Nursing Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Nursing News & Views - September 2018, Christine Klucznik Rn

Nursing Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Retrospective Evaluation Of Clinical Experience With Intravenous Ascorbic Acid In Patients With Cancer., Anthony J. Bazzan, George Zabrecky, Nancy Wintering, Andrew B. Newberg, Daniel A. Monti

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Intravenous ascorbic acid (IV AA) has been used extensively in cancer patients throughout the United States. Currently, there are limited data on the safety and clinical effects of IV AA. The purpose of this study was to expand the current literature using a retrospective analysis of adverse events and symptomatic changes of IV AA in a large sample of cancer patients.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients receiving IV AA for cancer at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital over a 7-year period. We assessed all reports of adverse events, laboratory findings, and hospital or emergency …

A Neurotheological Approach To Spiritual Awakening, Andrew B. Newberg, Mark R. Waldman

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Faculty Papers

A neurotheological approach suggests an analysis of spiritual awakening experiences by combining phenomenological data with neuroscience. This paper presents a synthesis combining information on the thoughts, feelings, and experiences associated with spiritual awakening experiences and neurophysiological data, primarily from neuroimaging studies, to help assess which brain structures might be associated with these experiences. Brain structures involved with emotions correlate with emotional responses while areas of the brain associated with the sense of self appear to correlate with the key feature of these experiences in which an individual loses the sense of self and feels intimately connected with God, universal consciousness, …

Mir-196b Target Screen Reveals Mechanisms Maintaining Leukemia Stemness With Therapeutic Potential., Sara E. Meyer, David E. Muench, Andrew M. Rogers, Tess J. Newkold, Emily Orr, Eric O'Brien, John P. Perentesis, John G. Doench, Ashish Lal, Patrick J. Morris, Craig J. Thomas, Judy Lieberman, Edwina Mcglinn, Bruce J. Aronow, Nathan Salomonis, H. Leighton Grimes

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

We have shown that antagomiR inhibition of miRNA miR-21 and miR-196b activity is sufficient to ablate MLL-AF9 leukemia stem cells (LSC) in vivo. Here, we used an shRNA screening approach to mimic miRNA activity on experimentally verified miR-196b targets to identify functionally important and therapeutically relevant pathways downstream of oncogenic miRNA in MLL-r AML. We found Cdkn1b (p27^Kip1) is a direct miR-196b target whose repression enhanced an embryonic stem cell–like signature associated with decreased leukemia latency and increased numbers of leukemia stem cells in vivo. Conversely, elevation of p27^Kip1 significantly reduced MLL-r leukemia self-renewal, promoted monocytic differentiation …

Palatable Food Dampens The Long-Term Behavioral And Endocrine Effects Of Juvenile Stressor Exposure But May Also Provoke Metabolic Syndrome In Rats, Eliza Fatima Ali, Jennifer Christine Mackay, Samantha Graitson, Jonathan Stewart James, Christian Cayer, Marie-Claude Audet, Pamela Kent, Alfonso Abizaid, Zul Premji

Brain and Mind Institute

The juvenile period is marked by a reorganization and growth of important brain regions including structures associating with reward seeking behaviors such as the nucleus accumbens (NA) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). These changes are impacted by stressors during the juvenile period and may lead to a predisposition to stress induced psychopathology and abnormal development of brain reward systems. Like in humans, adult rodents engage certain coping mechanisms such as increases in the consumption of calorie-rich palatable foods to reduce stress, but this behavior can lead to obesity and metabolic disorders. In this study, we examined whether stressors during the juvenile …

Parametric And Nonparametric Tests In Spine Research: Why Do They Matter?, Sarah Hopkins, Joseph R Dettori, Jens R Chapman

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Alumni Journal - Volume 89, Number 3, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Features
16 | The Unwritten Curriculum
18 | Engaging the Next Generation in the Pursuit of Medicine
21 | Department Reports: Surgery and Radiation Medicine
26 | Graduation 2018
40 | Last Chance Ranch
41 | The Struggle Is a Victory
42 | The Rhythm in the Words

Departments
2 | From the Editor
5 | From the President
6 | From the Dean
8 | This and That
10 | School of Medicine News
14 | The Student Fund
44 | Book Review
45 | AIMS Report
46 | Alumni News
47 | Classified/Placement Ads
48 | In Memoriam …

Applying The Phenotype Approach For Rosacea To Practice And Research, J Tan, M Berg, R L Gallo, James Q. Del Rosso

College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUN) Publications and Research

BACKGROUND: Rosacea diagnosis and classification have evolved since the 2002 National Rosacea Society expert panel subtype approach. Several working groups are now aligned to a more patient-centric phenotype approach, based on an individual's presenting signs and symptoms. However, subtyping is still commonplace across the field and an integrated strategy is required to ensure widespread progression to the phenotype approach.

OBJECTIVES: To provide practical recommendations that facilitate adoption of a phenotype approach across the rosacea field.

METHODS: A review of the literature and consolidation of rosacea expert experience.

RESULTS: We identify challenges to implementing a phenotype approach in rosacea and offer …

Distinctive Structural And Molecular Features Of Myelinated Inhibitory Axons In Human Neocortex., Kristina D Micheva, Edward F Chang, Alissa L Nana, William W Seeley, Jonathan T Ting, Charles Cobbs, Ed Lein, Stephen J Smith, Richard J Weinberg, Daniel V Madison

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Numerous types of inhibitory neurons sculpt the performance of human neocortical circuits, with each type exhibiting a constellation of subcellular phenotypic features in support of its specialized functions. Axonal myelination has been absent among the characteristics used to distinguish inhibitory neuron types; in fact, very little is known about myelinated inhibitory axons in human neocortex. Here, using array tomography to analyze samples of neurosurgically excised human neocortex, we show that inhibitory myelinated axons originate predominantly from parvalbumin-containing interneurons. Compared to myelinated excitatory axons, they have higher neurofilament and lower microtubule content, shorter nodes of Ranvier, and more myelin basic protein …

Propofol Inhibits The Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Nachbac At Multiple Sites., Yali Wang, Elaine Yang, Marta M. Wells, Vasyl Bondarenko, Kellie Woll, Vincenzo Carnevale, Daniele Granata, Michael L. Klein, Roderic G. Eckenhoff, William P. Dailey, Manuel Covarrubias, Pei Tang, Yan Xu

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Voltage-gated sodium (Na_V) channels are important targets of general anesthetics, including the intravenous anesthetic propofol. Electrophysiology studies on the prokaryotic Na_V channel NaChBac have demonstrated that propofol promotes channel activation and accelerates activation-coupled inactivation, but the molecular mechanisms of these effects are unclear. Here, guided by computational docking and molecular dynamics simulations, we predict several propofol-binding sites in NaChBac. We then strategically place small fluorinated probes at these putative binding sites and experimentally quantify the interaction strengths with a fluorinated propofol analogue, 4-fluoropropofol. In vitro and in vivo measurements show that 4-fluoropropofol and propofol have similar effects …

Management Of Enophthalmos From Silent Sinus Syndrome With A Customized Orbital Implant, Jason E. Cohn, Mofiyinfolu Sokoya, Mohammad Hararah, Sameep Kadakia, Yadranko Ducic

Otolaryngology (ENT) Resident Research

Background We describe the surgical treatment of silent sinus syndrome, a disease characterized by progressive enophthalmos and hypoglobus due to orbital floor collapse with opacification of the maxillary sinus, in the presence of chronic maxillary sinusitis.

Methods Case study of a 55-year-old male with persistent diplopia secondary to left-sided esotropia and enophthalmos from chronic maxillary sinusitis.

Results Two stage procedure to treat the sinonasal and orbital symptoms, which include endoscopic sinus surgery to treat the underlying the ostial obstruction along with decompression of maxillary sinus. Then, reconstruction of the orbital floor with a customized implant.

Conclusions Though the treatment of …

Accuracy Of Height Estimation Among Bystanders, Sara Carey, Michaeleena Carr, Komaira Ferdous, Gina Marie Moffa, Jennifer Axelband, Shaila Quazi

Jefferson Health - Northeast Papers (formerly Aria Health Papers)

Introduction: High-risk mechanisms in trauma usually dictate certain treatment and evaluation in protocolized care. A 10-15 feet (ft) fall is traditionally cited as an example of a high-risk mechanism, triggering trauma team activations and costly work-ups. The height and other details of mechanism are usually reported by lay bystanders or prehospital personnel. This small observational study was designed to evaluate how accurate or inaccurate height estimation may be among typical bystanders. Methods: This was a blinded, prospective study conducted on the grounds of a community hospital. Four panels with lines corresponding to varying heights from 1-25 ft were hung within …

Negative Voice-Content As A Full Mediator Of A Relation Between Childhood Adversity And Distress Ensuing From Hearing Voices, Cherise Rosen, Simon Mccarthy-Jones, Nev Jones, Kayla A. Chase, Rajiv P. Sharma

Mental Health Law & Policy Faculty Publications

A key predictor of whether or not an individual who hears voices (auditory verbal hallucinations; AVH) meets criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis is the level of negative content of the voices (e.g., threats, criticism, abuse). Yet the factors that contribute to negative voice-content are still not well understood. This study aimed to test the hypotheses that levels of childhood adversity would predict levels of negative voice-content, and that negative voice-content would partially mediate a relation between childhood adversity and voice-related distress. These hypotheses were tested in a clinical sample of 61 patients with formally diagnosed psychotic disorders (48 schizophrenia …

Mechanisms Adopted By Dengue-2 Viruses To Induce Autophagy In Mammalian Cells, Sounak Ghosh Roy

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Dengue, the most rapidly spreading flavivirus, threatens to affect almost half of the human global population. We previously showed that dengue-2 protects canine kidney cells (MDCK) from cytotoxic chemicals. We showed, independently, that cell protection, as well as viral replication and maturation, are positively regulated by PI3K-dependent autophagy. However, we had not identified the specific pathway that induces autophagy in infected cells. The current study explores the role of a specific branch of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 pathway in the induction of autophagy by …

Incidence, Patterns And Associated Factors For Occupational Injuries Among Agricultural Workers In A Developing Country, Unaib Rabbani, Zafar Fatmi

Community Health Sciences

Background: Injuries are common among agricultural workers, and a large section of the population is employed in agriculture worldwide. We aimed to determine the incidence, patterns and associated risk factors of occupational injuries among the agricultural workers in a developing country.
Methods: A cross-sectional study in Hyderabad, Pakistan was conducted from December 2012 to February 2013. Information was collected about incidence, pattern and associated risk factors of occupational injuries from 472 agricultural workers. Injury incidence and patterns for place, severity, type, agent, parts of body affected and work activity were calculated. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 19.0. Multivariate logistic …

Effect Of Exercise Volume On Hdl-Cholesterol: A 7-Year Case Study, David P. Swain

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Introduction: While exercise is known to increase HDL-cholesterol, it is not known if larger exercise volumes produce larger increases in HDL. However, the range of exercise volumes used in most training studies is limited. This report presents a case study of a middle-aged male who engaged in large variations of exercise volume over 7 years while frequently measuring HDL. The purpose was to determine if large increases in exercise volume were associated with larger increases in HDL than previously reported.

Methods: The subject maintained detailed logs of his main form of exercise, bicycling. These logs were analyzed to determine the …

Moderate Heat Application Enhances The Efficacy Of Nanosecond Pulse Stimulation For The Treatment Of Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Chelsea M. Edelblute, Sigi Guo, Embo Yang, Chunqi Jiang, Karl Schoenbach, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Nanosecond pulse stimulation as a tumor ablation therapy has been studied for the treatment of various carcinomas in animal models and has shown a significant survival benefit. In the current study, we found that moderate heating at 43°C for 2 minutes significantly enhanced in vitro nanosecond pulse stimulation-induced cell death of KLN205 murine squamous cell carcinoma cells by 2.43-fold at 600 V and by 2.32-fold at 900 V, as evidenced by propidium iodide uptake. Furthermore, the ablation zone in KLN205 cells placed in a 3-dimensional cell-culture model and pulsed at a voltage of 900 V at 43°C was 3 times …

Building Quality Research Evidence In Homoeopathy, Raj Manchanda

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

No abstract provided.

Physicochemical Study Of The Homoeopathic Drug, Blatta Orientalis, Bibaswan Biswas, Shyaga Jhansi, Ramchander Potu, Satish Patel, M Nagaraju, Renu Arya, E Sundaram, A Khurana, Raj Manchanda

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Introduction: Blatta orientalis or oriental cockroach, also known as water bug or black beetle, belongs to class insecta and family Blattidae. In Homoeopathy, medicine prepared from it is used in a number of ailments, especially in the treatment of asthma. Materials and Methods: The physicochemical study includes evaluation of different parameters, namely foreign matter, moisture content, total ash, water-soluble and acid-insoluble ash values, water and ethanol extracts of the raw drug. Physicochemical studies, namely organoleptic specifications, sediment, specific gravity determination, total solids, pH measurement, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), ultraviolet-visible spectra and alcohol content have also standardised and presented for both in-house …

A Clinical Study On Effect Of Plantago In Gingivitis By Assessing Bleeding And Plaque Index, E Reddy, Parveen Sharma, P Raj

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Gingival inflammation and plaque formation are a major health problem in worldwide. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the variation of parameters of bleeding and plaque index (PI) in Gingivitis before, during and after intervention with Plantago. Materials and Methods: Thirty gingivitis patients were divided into two groups: control and test groups. Subjects were instructed to use toothpaste twice daily using the bass method up to 6 months. Clinical data were assessed at baseline, 3 months and 6 months which include an analysis of PI, Gingival Index (GI) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Results: Over a …

Homoeopathic Approach For The Treatment Of Cancer, Saeed Ahmad, Tayyeba Rehman, Waheed Abbasi

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Homoeopathy is among the commonly used alternative approaches in Cancer. It is being widely used as palliative and curative in patients suffering from cancer. Though studies on the use of Homoeopathy in cancer after surgery, radio therapy and chemotherapy have been reported, clinical trials on effects of Homoeopathy in cancer are rare. Some studies on the effect of dosage of Homoeopathic medicines and their mechanism of action in cancer have also been published. A few case reports published here and there also find a mention in different databases. This review aims to describe literature available on the approach of Homoeopathy …

Integrative Management Of Diabetic Foot Ulcer With Homoeopathy And Standard Care, Persis Gadde, Dch Narasimhulu, Kiranmayee Rompicherla

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a serious complication of diabetes associated with severe morbidity leading to poor quality of life and high cost of treatment. Many physicians are of the opinion that effective, multidisciplinary management of foot ulcer is necessary to avoid adverse consequences such as amputation and permanent disability. Homoeopathy offers an effective and safe management of these cases through its unique holistic approach. Here is one such case of chronic DFU, which has been refractory to the conventional management, treated satisfactorily with Homoeopathy. It has been observed that, with homoeopathic treatment, apart from healing of the ulcer, the …

The Scoop, Vol. 5 Issue 6, September 2018, Health Sciences Library

Volume 5

Latest news and events from the Health Sciences Library in our monthly newsletter for September 2018.

Editorial., Jeffrey C Wang, Jens R Chapman, Karsten Wiechert

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Large Pseudoencapsulated Subcutaneous Angiomyxoma: Surgical Management., Christine M Shaver, Steven E Kolker, Richard G Bennett

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Behavioral Challenges In Childhood Epilepsy, Tipu Sultan

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Behavioral problems among children with epilepsy is one of the most common problem. Severity of the problem ranges from 16% to 77% as compared to 9% in the general pediatric population. Such a huge variation in the results reflects probable difference in the methodology. Structured interviews that include parents, children and clinician’s reports have identified a higher rate of behavioral problems when compared to self-report instruments. Higher rates are reported in clinical samples recruited from tertiary care medical centers, where they have a lot of referrals from the peripheral small units. Most researchers agree that children with epilepsy have three …