Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Differentiating Midbrain Structures In Parkinson’S Disease Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Erind Alushaj

Western Research Forum

Background: This study aims to differentiate two midbrain structures: substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) in patients with early-stage Parkinson’s Disease (PD) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The SNc degenerates earlier in PD causing motor symptoms; whereas, VTA degeneration occurs later leading to non-motor symptoms. Conventionally, the SNc and VTA project to the dorsal and ventral striatum respectively. Evidence suggests this model may be overly simplistic since the dorsal striatum has uneven dopamine loss in PD. So, the dorsal striatum was segmented into six functional subregions and only the caudal motor subregion showed early changes …

Improving Canadian Indigenous Health: Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease, Sukhmeet S. Sachal

Western Research Forum

Background:

This abstract explores improving health outcomes for Canada’s Indigenous peoples. The increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes in this population makes this a public health problem because diabetes has long-term complications that affect the cardiovascular system and can result in disability and premature death.

Methods:

A literature review using specific search terms was performed to find 36 relevant articles. Search databases for the primary and secondary information were CINAHL and PubMED, respectively.

Results:

The results were classified into five groups: (1) Previous Genetic Protection; (2) Current Day Risk; (3) Diet; (4) Barriers in Developing and Maintaining …

Clarifying Dopaminergic Projections Of The Ventral Tegmental Area And Substantia Nigra In Humans Using Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Nicholas Handfield-Jones

Western Research Forum

Background

Dopaminergic (DA) pathways from the human midbrain to the striatum mediate movement, decision making, learning, and reward processing. Classically, the scientific consensus has been that there are two main DA pathways: the nigrostriatal and the mesolimbic pathways. In the nigrostriatal pathway, the substantia nigra par compacta (SNc) sends DA to the dorsal striatum (DS), and in the mesolimbic pathway, the ventral tegmental area (VTA) sends DA to the ventral striatum (VS) as well as prefrontal and limbic cortices. Recent findings, however, cast doubt on the accuracy of this model. It seems likely these DA projections are more overlapping and …

Navigating Through The Challenges Of Healthcare Simulated Education, Ryan Chan, Adam Morse

Western Research Forum

Background: The use of simulation as an adjunct tool for student learning and development in addition to traditional didactic teaching modalities has been traditionally favored by health care education. However, evidence suggest that there are limitations to the current use of simulation and thoughtful considerations must be made to leverage the current use of simulation to promote further learning strategies including the use of haptic technology. The aim of this research is to examine the strengths and limitations of haptic technology and to identify opportunities for future research relating to the use and adaptation of haptic technology as part of …

Optimization Of Liposomal Encapsulation Efficiency, Christine Sharrett Joyce, Deidra Mountain Phd

Longitudinal Scholar's Project

Introduction:

My project was a continuation of the Vascular Research Lab’s (VRL) ongoing research at the University of Tennessee Medical Center Knoxville (UTMCK) aimed at optimizing liposomal encapsulation efficiency of small interfering RNA (siRNA) which can be used to silence genes to prevent a variety of disease pathologies.

Methods:

• Assay siRNA loading capacity of liposomes based on lipid concentration
• Development of a method for liposome purification: HPLC & HiTRAP Column

Results & Conclusion:

• siRNA loading capacity
• Higher lipid:siRNA resulted in increased encapsulation efficiency
• HPLC – did not work as expected
• HiTRAP Column – currently being optimized to be used as …

Caring For The Bereaved Mother, Ivonne Rocio Guzman

Seton Hall University DNP Final Projects

Purpose: Caring for the bereaved mother can be a challenging undertaking for healthcare professionals who unless have suffered a similar loss, can find it difficult to relate with bereaved parents. The purpose of this DNP project is to research grief and bereavement to better understand the parental bereavement experience and to develop an education lesson for MBU nurses caring for bereaved patients. It is essential to provide nurses with insight into the bereavement experience of parents who have suffered the loss of a child, so they can provide support that validates the parents’ grief and helps facilitate spiritual, emotional, or …

Nudt19 Is A Renal Coa Diphosphohydrolase With Biochemical And Regulatory Properties That Are Distinct From The Hepatic Nudt7 Isoform, Stephanie A. Shumar, Evan W. Kerr, Werner J. Geldenhuys, Grace E. Montgomery, Paolo Fagone, Puchong Thirawatananond, Harry Saavedra, Sandra B. Gabelli, Roberta Leonardi

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

CoA is the major acyl carrier in mammals and a key cofactor in energy metabolism. Dynamic regulation of CoA in different tissues and organs supports metabolic flexibility. Two mammalian Nudix hydrolases, Nudt19 and Nudt7, degrade CoA in vitro. Nudt19 and Nudt7 possess conserved Nudix and CoA signature sequences and specifically hydrolyze the diphosphate bond of free CoA and acyl-CoAs to form 3′,5′-ADP and 4′-(acyl)phosphopantetheine. Limited information is available on these enzymes, but the relatively high abundance of Nudt19 and Nudt7 mRNA in the kidney and liver, respectively, suggests that they play specific roles in the regulation of CoA levels in …

Food Insecurity And Behavioral Characteristics For Academic Success In Young Adults Attending An Appalachian University, Rebecca L. Hagedorn, Melissa D. Olfert

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

In order to investigate the impact of food insecurity on college students in a highly health disparate region we (1) assessed the prevalence of food insecurity among young adults at a large, rural university in Appalachia, and (2) investigated the relationship between food insecurity and behavioral characteristics including academic performance, coping strategies, and money expenditure. A cross-sectional design was used to capture a representative sample of young adults attending a large, central Appalachian university in Fall 2016. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Adult Food Security Survey was used to measure food insecurity. Independent variables include money expenditure (MES), …

In Vivo Epr Assessment Of Ph, Po2, Redox Status, And Concentrations Of Phosphate And Glutathione In The Tumor Microenvironment, Andrey A. Bobko, Timothy D. Eubank, Benoit Driesschaert, Valery V. Khramtsov

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

This protocol demonstrates the capability of low-field electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-based techniques in combination with functional paramagnetic probes to provide quantitative information on the chemical tumor microenvironment (TME), including pO2, pH, redox status, concentrations of interstitial inorganic phosphate (Pi), and intracellular glutathione (GSH). In particular, an application of a recently developed soluble multifunctional trityl probe provides unsurpassed opportunity for in vivo concurrent measurements of pH, pO2 and Pi in Extracellular space (HOPE probe). The measurements of three parameters using a single probe allow for their correlation analyses independent of probe distribution and time of the measurements.

Preparation, Modification, Characterization, And Biosensing Application Of Nanoporous Gold Using Electrochemical Techniques, Jay Bhattarai, Dharmendra Neupane, Bishal Nepal, Vasilii Mikhaylov, Alexei Demchenko, Keith Stine

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Works

Nanoporous gold (np-Au), because of its high surface area-to-volume ratio, excellent conductivity, chemical inertness, physical stability, biocompatibility, easily tunable pores, and plasmonic properties, has attracted much interested in the field of nanotechnology. It has promising applications in the fields of catalysis, bio/chemical sensing, drug delivery, biomolecules separation and purification, fuel cell development, surface-chemistry-driven actuation, and supercapacitor design. Many chemical and electrochemical procedures are known for the preparation of np-Au. Recently, researchers are focusing on easier and controlled ways to tune the pores and ligaments size of np-Au for its use in different applications. Electrochemical methods have good control over fine-tuning …

Defining Care Patterns And Outcomes Among Persons Living With Hiv In Washington, Dc: Linkage Of Clinical Cohort And Surveillance Data., Amanda D Castel, Arpi Terzian, Jenevieve Opoku, Lindsey Powers Happ, Naji Younes, Michael Kharfen, Alan Greenberg, Dc Cohort Executive Committee

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Triangulation of data from multiple sources such as clinical cohort and surveillance data can help improve our ability to describe care patterns, service utilization, comorbidities, and ultimately measure and monitor clinical outcomes among persons living with HIV infection.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine whether linkage of clinical cohort data and routinely collected HIV surveillance data would enhance the completeness and accuracy of each database and improve the understanding of care patterns and clinical outcomes.

METHODS: We linked data from the District of Columbia (DC) Cohort, a large HIV observational clinical cohort, with Washington, DC, Department …

Mitochondrial Transplantation Strategies As Potential Therapeutics For Central Nervous System Trauma, Jenna L. Gollihue, Samir P. Patel, Alexander G. Rabchevsky

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

Mitochondria are essential cellular organelles critical for generating adenosine triphosphate for cellular homeostasis, as well as various mechanisms that can lead to both necrosis and apoptosis. The field of “mitochondrial medicine” is emerging in which injury/disease states are targeted therapeutically at the level of the mitochondrion, including specific antioxidants, bioenergetic substrate additions, and membrane uncoupling agents. Consequently, novel mitochondrial transplantation strategies represent a potentially multifactorial therapy leading to increased adenosine triphosphate production, decreased oxidative stress, mitochondrial DNA replacement, improved bioenergetics and tissue sparing. Herein, we describe briefly the history of mitochondrial transplantation and the various techniques used for both in …

P16-Ki67-Hmb45 Immunohistochemical Profiling May Help Discriminate Between Spitzoid Melanoma And Atypical Spitz Nevi, Robert E. Garola, Vivekanand Singh

Posters

Background

When Spitz nevi have increased vertical thickness (>1.5 MM), show ulceration and deep seated mitosis, the differential diagnostic considerations of atypical Spitz nevus (ASN) or a Spitzoid melanoma (SM) enter into consideration. While expert consultation from a dermatopathologist is most often sought to resolve the differential diagnosis, it could be expensive and time consuming. Recently, the use of molecular genetic testing has also been advocated in the work group up of atypical melanocytic proliferations. On the contrary, immunohistochemistry is a more routinely used technique in most pathology centers may be more simple to apply. A single immunohistochemical marker …

Jam – Winter 2018, Edwin Van Teijlingen, Rafat Jan

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

The Rna Binding Protein Sorbs2 Suppresses Metastatic Colonization Of Ovarian Cancer By Stabilizing Tumor-Suppressive Immunomodulatory Transcripts., Linjie Zhao, Wei Wang, Shuang Huang, Zhengnan Yang, Lian Xu, Qilian Yang, Xiu Zhou, Jinjin Wang, Qiuhong Shen, Chenlu Wang, Xiaobing Le, Min Feng, Nianxin Zhou, Wayne Bond Lau, Bonnie Lau, Shaohua Yao, Tao Yi, Xin Wang, Xia Zhao, Yuquan Wei, Shengtao Zhou

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer constitutes one of the most lethal gynecologic malignancies for females. Currently, early detection strategies and therapeutic options for ovarian cancer are far from satisfactory, leading to high diagnosis rates at late stages and disease relapses. New avenues of therapy are needed that target key processes in ovarian cancer progression. While a variety of non-coding RNAs have been proven to regulate ovarian cancer metastatic progression, the functional roles of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in this process are less well defined.

RESULTS: In this study, we identify that the RBP sorbin and SH3 domain containing 2 (SORBS2) is a potent …

Women's Experiences Of Mistreatment During Childbirth: A Comparative View Of Home- And Facility-Based Births In Pakistan, Waqas Hameed, Bilal Iqbal Avan

Community Health Sciences

Introduction: Respectful and dignified healthcare is a fundamental right for every woman. However, many women seeking childbirth services, especially those in low-income countries such as Pakistan, are mistreated by their birth attendants. The aim of this epidemiological study was to estimate the prevalence of mistreatment and types of mistreatment among women giving birth in facility- and home-based settings in Pakistan in order to address the lack of empirical evidence on this topic. The study also examined the association between demographics (socio-demographic, reproductive history and empowerment status) and mistreatment, both in general and according to birth setting (whether home- or facility-based). …

Sex-Dependent Effects Of Developmental Lead Exposure On The Brain, Garima Singh, Vikrant Singh, Marissa Sobolewski, Deborah A. Cory-Slechta, Jay S. Schneider

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

The role of sex as an effect modifier of developmental lead (Pb) exposure has until recently received little attention. Lead exposure in early life can affect brain development with persisting influences on cognitive and behavioral functioning, as well as, elevated risks for developing a variety of diseases and disorders in later life. Although both sexes are affected by Pb exposure, the incidence, manifestation, and severity of outcomes appears to differ in males and females. Results from epidemiologic and animal studies indicate significant effect modification by sex, however, the results are not consistent across studies. Unfortunately, only a limited number of …

Effect Of High Night Temperature On Storage Lipids And Transcriptome Changes In Developing Seeds Of Oilseed Rape, Longhua Zhou, Tao Yan, Xin Chen, Zhilan Li, Dezhi Wu, Shuijin Hua, Lixi Jiang

Publications

Global warming causes a faster increase of night temperature than of day temperature in tropical and subtropical zones. Little is known about the effect of high night temperature on storage lipids and transcriptome changes in oilseed rape. This study compared the total fatty acids and fatty acid compositions in seeds of two oilseed rape cultivars between high and low night temperatures. Their transcriptome profiles were also analyzed. High night temperature significantly affected the total fatty acids and fatty acid compositions in seeds of both low and high oil content cultivars, namely Jiuer-13 and Zheyou-50, thereby resulting in 18.9% and 13.7% …

Variation Between Point-Of-Care And Laboratory Hba1ctesting In Clinical Practice, Shawn E. Fellows, Gabriela Cipriano

Pharmacy Faculty/Staff Publications

Aims: The aim of this study was to identify potential disparities between Point-Of-Care Testing (POCT) and laboratory hemoglobinH bA1c reporting at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
Methods: The electronic medical record was reviewed to identify POCT HbA1c done at a FQHC and centralized laboratory HbA1c performed on the same day. Manual data extraction was used to identify potential variables that could account for disparities between POCT and laboratory testing.
Results: A total of 42 samples in 40 patients were identified. The median HbA1c difference was 1.5mmol/mol (0.15%) and ranged from -26-52 mmol/mol (-2.4 to 4.8%). Of the patients in …

Biomarker And Clinical Trial Design Support For Disease-Modifying Therapies: Report Of A Survey Of The Eu/Us: Alzheimer's Disease Task Force, Jeffrey Cummings, Nick Fox, Bruno Vellas, Paul Aisen, Guogen Shan

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

BACKGROUND: Disease-modifying therapies are urgently needed for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The European Union/United States (EU/US) Task Force represents a broad range of stakeholders including biopharma industry personnel, academicians, and regulatory authorities. OBJECTIVES: The EU/US Task Force represents a community of knowledgeable individuals who can inform views of evidence supporting disease modification and the development of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). We queried their attitudes toward clinical trial design and biomarkers in support of DMTs. DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIANTS: A survey of members of the EU/US Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force was conducted. Ninety-three members (87%) responded. The details were analyzed to understand what …

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For Young Children: Clinical Considerations, Elisabeth Pollio, Esther Deblinger

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) has been utilized with children of a wide age range and with diverse trauma experiences. This article will focus on the application of TF-CBT to young children. After presenting an overview of the model, challenges and developmentally-sensitive and creative strategies for engaging young children and their caregivers in TF-CBT PRACTICE components will be highlighted. A brief review of the strong empirical support for TF-CBT will then be provided.

Adoption Process For The Model Aquatic Health Code: An Example, William D. Ramos, Allison L. Fletcher, Mike Mettler, Marcus A. Yoder

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

In 2014 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the first edition of the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC). This document represented the inaugural introduction of a federal policy guideline with a direct focus in the area of aquatic venue operation and maintenance with the sole purpose of improving the nature of public health in the field. The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) began the review and adoption process soon after the policy’s release. The ISDH process is proposed as one method for others to consider. The background and history of the MAHC are presented in …

Circulatory Insufficiency And Hypotension Related To The Ductus Arteriosus In Neonates, Danielle R Rios, Soume Bhattacharya, Philip T Levy, Patrick J Mcnamara

Paediatrics Publications

The biological role of the ductus arteriosus (DA) in neonates varies from an innocent bystander role during normal postnatal transition, to a supportive role when there is compromise to either systemic or pulmonary blood flow, to a pathological state in the presence of hemodynamically significant systemic to pulmonary shunts, as occurs in low birth weight infants. Among a wide array of clinical manifestations arising due to the ductal entity, systemic circulatory insufficiency and hypotension are of significant concern as they are particularly challenging to manage. An understanding of the physiologic interplay between the DA and the circulatory system is the …

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post Master Certificate, Joanna Burkhardt

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

Combining Community Engagement And Scientific Approaches In Next-Generation Monitor Siting: The Case Of The Imperial County Community Air Network., Michelle Wong, Esther Bejarano, Graeme Carvlin, Katie Fellows, Galatea King, Humberto Lugo, Michael Jerrett, Dan Meltzer, Amanda Northcross, Luis Olmedo, Edmund Seto, Alexa Wilkie, Paul English

Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Air pollution continues to be a global public health threat, and the expanding availability of small, low-cost air sensors has led to increased interest in both personal and crowd-sourced air monitoring. However, to date, few low-cost air monitoring networks have been developed with the scientific rigor or continuity needed to conduct public health surveillance and inform policy. In Imperial County, California, near the U.S./Mexico border, we used a collaborative, community-engaged process to develop a community air monitoring network that attains the scientific rigor required for research, while also achieving community priorities. By engaging community residents in the project design, monitor …

Chronic Ankle Instability And Hip Muscle Function: A Systematic Review, Lindsay Carroll

Graduate Student Research Symposium

Purpose/background

The connection between hip strength and knee function is widely accepted in rehabilitation. The beginnings of evidence supporting a connection between the hip and ankle in people with chronic ankle instability (CAI) causes clinicians to question how the hip and the ankle may interact in this population. The purpose of this review is to provide a cohesive summary of the current available evidence examining hip muscle function in people with chronic ankle instability so that clinicians are better able to treat these patients.

Methods

An electronic search of PubMed was performed to locate studies published in peer-reviewed journals that …

Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Promoter Alterations Across Cancer Types As Detected By Next-Generation Sequencing: A Clinical And Molecular Analysis Of 423 Patients., Maria Schwaederle, Nithya Krishnamurthy, Gregory A Daniels, David E Piccioni, Santosh Kesari, Paul T Fanta, Richard B Schwab, Sandip P Patel, Barbara A Parker, Razelle Kurzrock

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

BACKGROUND: Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations that may affect telomerase activity have recently been described in human malignancies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical correlates of TERT promoter abnormalities in a large cohort of patients with diverse cancers.

METHODS: This study analyzed TERT promoter alterations and clinical characteristics of 423 consecutive patients for whom molecular testing by next-generation sequencing was performed between August 2014 and July 2015.

RESULTS: Of the 423 patients, 61 (14.4%) had TERT promoter mutations, and this placed TERT promoter alterations among the most prevalent aberrations after tumor protein 53 (TP53; 39%) …

Features And Outcomes Of Methamphetamine-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension., Roham T Zamanian, Haley Hedlin, Paul Greuenwald, David M Wilson, Joshua I Segal, Michelle Jorden, Kristina Kudelko, Juliana Liu, Andrew Hsi, Allyson Rupp, Andrew J Sweatt, Rubin Tuder, Gerald J Berry, Marlene Rabinovitch, Ramona L Doyle, Vinicio De Jesus Perez, Steven M Kawut

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

RATIONALE: Although amphetamines are recognized as "likely" agents to cause drug- and toxin-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), (meth)amphetamine-associated PAH (Meth-APAH) has not been well described.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively characterize the clinical presentation, histopathology, and outcomes of Meth-APAH compared with those of idiopathic PAH (iPAH).

METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study of patients with Meth-APAH and iPAH presenting to the Stanford University Pulmonary Hypertension Program between 2003 and 2015. Clinical, pulmonary angiography, histopathology, and outcomes data were compared. We used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project to estimate the epidemiology of PAH in (meth)amphetamine users hospitalized in California. …

Variant Intestinal-Cell Kinase In Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy, J. N. Bailey, L. De Nijs, D. Bai, T. Suzuki, H. Miyamoto, M. Tanaka, C. Patterson, Y.-C. Lin, M. T. Medina, M. E. Alonso, J. M. Serratosa, R. M. Durón, Viet-Hong Nguyen, J. E. Wight, I. E. Martínez‑Juárez, A. Ochoa, A. Jara-Prado, L. Guilhoto, Y. Molina, E. M. Yacubian, M. López‑Ruiz, Y. Inoue, S. Kaneko, S. Hirose, M. Osawa, H. Oguni, S. Fujimoto, T. M. Grisar, J. M. Stern, K. Yamakawa, B. Lakaye, A. V. Delgado-Escueta

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

BACKGROUND

In juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, data are limited on the genetic basis of networks promoting convulsions with diffuse polyspikes on electroencephalography (EEG) and the subtle microscopic brain dysplasia called microdysgenesis.

METHODS

Using Sanger sequencing, we sequenced the exomes of six members of a large family affected with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and confirmed cosegregation in all 37 family members. We screened an additional 310 patients with this disorder for variants on DNA melting-curve analysis and targeted real-time DNA sequencing of the gene encoding intestinal-cell kinase (ICK). We calculated Bayesian logarithm of the odds (LOD) scores for cosegregating variants, odds …

Resistance Training-Induced Gains In Muscle Strength, Body Composition, And Functional Capacity Are Attenuated In Elderly Women With Sarcopenic Obesity, Alessandro De Oliveira Silva, Maurílio Tiradentes Dutra, Wilson Max Almeida Monteiro De Moraes, Silvana Schwerz Funghetto, Darlan Lopes De Farias, Paulo Henrique Fernandes Dos Santos, Denis Cesar Leite Vieira, Dahan Da Cunha Nascimento, Vânia Silva Macedo Orsano, Brad J. Schoenfeld, Jonato Prestes

Publications and Research

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of resistance training (RT) on body composition, muscle strength, and functional capacity in elderly women with and without sarcopenic obesity (SO).

Methods: A total of 49 women (aged $60 years) were divided in two groups: without SO (non-SO, n=41) and with SO (n=8). Both groups performed a periodized RT program consisting of two weekly sessions for 16 weeks. All measures were assessed at baseline and postintervention, including anthropometry and body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), muscle strength (one repetition maximum) for chest press and 45° leg press, and functional capacity …