Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Is Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection Effective For Reducing Pain & Symptom Severity In Adults With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?, Emily Latimer

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine “Is platelet-rich plasma injection effective for reducing pain & symptom severity in adults with carpal tunnel syndrome?”

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of two randomized controlled trials and one nonrandomized controlled trial to analyze the overall effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections as a management for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). All three articles were published in peer-reviewed journals after the year 2016.

DATA SOURCES: These two RCTs and one non-RCT were found using Pubmed and were selected based on their year of publication, population of individuals with mild to moderate …

Is The Ketogenic Diet Effective For Treatment In Controlling Seizures In Children With Epilepsy?, Chloe A. Lavell

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the ketogenic diet is an effective treatment in controlling seizures in children with epilepsy.

Study Design: Review of three randomized control trials (RCTs) published in the year 2016.

Data Sources: Three RCTs were selected using Medline, PubMed, and Academic Search Premier. Studies were selected that reviewed the ketogenic diet (KD) in controlling seizures in children with epilepsy. All articles were chosen according to date of publication, relevance of topic, effect on quality of life, and patient-oriented evidence that matters (POEM).

Outcomes Measured: Seizure diaries and various …

Is Mirror Therapy An Effective Treatment For Reducing Pain Associated With Phantom Limb Syndrome In Unilateral Amputees?, Alex E. Pinto

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine if “Mirror therapy is an effective treatment for reducing pain associated with phantom limb syndrome in unilateral amputees.”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three randomized controlled trials published between 2017 and 2018, with selection based on patient-oriented outcomes and contributing to development of an answer to the clinical question.

DATA SOURCES: All three randomized controlled trials were found using searches within PubMed, published in English in peer-reviewed journals.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Each randomized controlled trial assessed changes in severity of pain using a survey known as the visual analog scale, where …

Is Ketamine Effective In Reducing Depressive Symptoms In Adults With Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder?, Andrew J. Suplicki

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not ketamine is effective in reducing depressive symptoms in adults with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.

Study Design: A systematic review of 3 randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trials performed in or after the year 2016.

Data Sources: All 3 studies published in peer-reviewed journals found on PubMed and Cochrane Collection.

Outcome Measures: The studies utilized quantitative scales, either the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale (MADRS) or Hamilton Depression Rating Scales (HAMD) for the POEM, depressive symptoms.

Results: George et al. (Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2017;25(11):1199-1209. doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2017.06.007) did show significant …

Is Low-Level Laser Therapy Effective For Pain Reduction In Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain?, Eric D. Dipasquale

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not lowlevel laser therapy is effective for pain reduction in patients with chronic low back pain.

STUDY DESIGN: Two randomized controlled trials published in 2010 and 2017 and one nonrandomized placebo-controlled clinical trial published in 2018.

DATA SOURCES: Sources were written in English and published in peer-reviewed journal articles comparing low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to groups consisting of a combined laser therapy regimen or placebo in patients with chronic low back pain, found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Low back pain was assessed using the visual analog scale …

Is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Effective In Decreasing Symptoms Of Anxiety For Individuals With Anxiety Disorder?, Ezinne Ifi

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is mindfulness-based stress reduction effective in decreasing symptoms of anxiety for individuals with anxiety disorder?”

STUDY DESIGN: A selective review of three peer-reviewed, randomized control trials published after 2008.

DATA SOURCES: All three randomized control trials were published in the English language and were selected from peer-reviewed journals via the PubMed Database based on their relevance to the clinical question posed above and if they included patient-oriented outcomes (POEM).

OUTCOMES MEASURED: All articles analyzed the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in decreasing symptoms of anxiety …

Is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy An Effective Treatment For Improving Pain In Adults With Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome?, Allegra Ondrejka

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not extracorporeal shock wave therapy is an effective treatment for improving pain in adults with medial tibial stress syndrome.

Study Design: Systematic review of two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and a cohort study published in peer-reviewed journals from 2010-2017, all in the English language.

Data Sources: Two randomized controlled trials found through PubMed and a cohort study found through Google Scholar.

Outcomes Measured: Pain was measured using a numerical rating scale (0-10) and visual analog scale (VAS).

Results: Study by Newman et al. (J Sci Med Sport. …

Is An Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (Ets) At The T2 Level Effective In Resolving Palmar Hyperhidrosis And Resulting In Patient Satisfaction?, Sonora Hams

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective evidence-based medicine (EBM) review is to determine whether or not “Is an endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) at the T2 level effective in resolving palmar hyperhidrosis and resulting in patient satisfaction?”

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized control trials published in 2009, 2016, and 2017, all in the English language. Studies were analyzed and reviewed based on population, intervention, and outcomes measured.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials where all published in peer-reviewed journals and researched using the PubMed and CINAHL databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: All three studies measured the presence or absence of palmar …

Is Acupuncture Therapy Effective In The Improvement Of Symptoms Of Insomnia In Adults?, Mariana Tolosa Tourem

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not acupuncture therapy is effective in the improvement of symptoms of insomnia in adults.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials published in 2017 and 2018.

DATA SOURCES: Articles published in peer-reviewed journals using PubMed Database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome measured was the patients’ decrease in insomnia symptoms through the use of self-administered questionnaires such as the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and through a sleep diary.

RESULTS: The studies by Yin, Gou, Xu, et al. (Sleep Med. 2017;37:193-200. …

Is Curcuma Effective For The Management Of Osteoarthritis Knee Pain?, Katherine Grinberg

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is Curcuma effective for the management of osteoarthritis knee pain?”

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three randomized controlled trials (RCT) published in 2009, 2014, and 2016.

DATA SOURCES: Three RCTs studies were found using PubMed. All articles were published in reviewed journals and selected based on correlation to topic choice, date of publication, and evaluation of POEMs.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) is a questionnaire that evaluates hip and knee osteoarthritis. The questions are divided into 3 subscales: pain, stiffness, …

Is Ct-P13 As Effective As Infliximab In Controlling Pain In Adult Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis?, Emily Nazareno

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not CTP13 is as good as infliximab in controlling pain in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

STUDY DESIGN: A review of three double-blind randomized controlled trials that were published in English after 2008 were used.

DATA SOURCES: Data sources include peer reviewed articles that were published on PubMed database. They were selected based on their relevance to the research question as well as patient measured outcomes.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured include efficacy of the drug measured through Visual Analog Scale (VAS), pain on DAS28 scale and …

Is Bright Light Therapy Effective In Treating Depression In Adults With Seasonal Affective Disorder?, Kelsey K. Graham

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is bright light therapy effective in treating depression in adults with seasonal affective disorder?”

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic EBM review of two randomized controlled trials and one randomized crossover trial published between the years 2011 and 2015, all in English language.

DATA SOURCES: All three studies were published in peer-reviewed journals found using PubMed and selected based on relevance to the clinical question and evaluating POEMS.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured were reduction in depressive symptoms and severity using the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton …

Does The Zip-Type Closure Device Yield Greater Scar Cosmesis Than Traditional Closure Techniques For Surgical Incisions?, Lindsay R. Kio

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic evidence-based medicine review is to determine whether or not the zip skin closure device yields greater scar cosmesis outcomes than traditional closure techniques.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of two randomized controlled trials published in 2016 and one non-randomized control trial published in 2017.

DATA SOURCES: All articles were published between 2016-2017 in the English language including human based surgical scars and excluding laparoscopic scars and animal studies. All articles were obtained through PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Outcomes were measured based on scar photographs and in-person scar evaluation. A blinded panel of board-certified plastic surgeons were …

Does Mdma-Assisted Psychotherapy Result In Symptom Improvement In Adults With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd)?, Nicole Ulrick

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not MDMAassisted psychotherapy (MAP) results in symptom improvement in adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Study Design: Systematic review of three randomized control trials (RCTs) published between 2017 and 2018.

Data Sources: All three RCTs were written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals found via PubMed. Each analyzed the effect of MAP on PTSD symptom severity.

Outcomes Measured: The primary outcome in all three studies was PTSD symptom changes. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-IV) and NEO PI-R Personality Inventory (NEO) were used to assess symptoms before …

Is The Gans Maneuver Effective In Reducing Symptoms Of Vertigo In Patients Diagnosed With Pc-Bppv?, Bryan Carter

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Is the Gans Maneuver effective in reducing symptoms of vertigo in patients diagnosed with PC-BPPV?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three peer-review journal published, single-blinded randomized controlled trials all in the English language with human subjects on patients with PC-BPPV.

DATA SOURCES: The three randomized controlled trials that were utilized for this review were found using PubMed, Cochrane Collaboration & Google Scholar. Articles were selected based on relevance to the proposed clinical question and the inclusion of outcomes with evidence that matters to these patients.

OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: …

Does The Use Of Probiotics Reduce The Incidence Of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (Urtis) In Adult Athletes?, Abigail M. Zora

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not probiotics reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in adult athletes.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of three placebo-controlled randomized trials. The articles were published in peer reviewed journals between 2008 and 2018 in the English language.

DATA SOURCES: Three placebo-controlled, single- or double-blinded, randomized trials comparing the efficacy of placebo vs. probiotics in reducing URTI episodes in athletes over the age of 18 years old. The articles were found using PubMed and Cochrane via key words.

OUTCOME MEASURED: The outcome measured compared placebo …

Does The Use Of Ultrasound Guidance For Proper Iud Placement Reduce Pain In Women?, Christy M. Herrera

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not the use of ultrasound guidance for proper intrauterine device (IUD) placement reduces pain in women.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of two randomized control trials and one cohort study published between the years 2016 and 2017.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized control studies and one cohort study evaluating if ultrasound guidance for IUD placement will reduce pain in women. Using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Database, studies were selected based on relevance to the clinical topic and whether they included patient-oriented outcomes.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome measured in …

The Role Of Igf-1 In Geriatric Skin, Amber Castellanos

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Keratinocytes are cells that largely occupy the epidermis layer of our skin and function to protect against DNA damage induced by ultraviolet radiation. Keratinocytes rely on the activation of the IGF-1 receptor in order to carry out an appropriate response to UV-B radiation. Keratinocytes themselves do not express the IGF-1 ligand; IGF-1 is produced by fibroblasts found in the dermis layer of the skin. With age, fibroblasts become senescent and this interferes with their ability to produce IGF-1 for the epidermal IGF-1R. This occurrence may aid in understanding why geriatric individuals are at greatest risk for developing nonmelanoma skin cancers, …

The Effect Of Biomechanical Variables On Injury Rates: A Literature Review, Nicholas Stricklen

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Long distance running has become a highly-participated activity throughout the world, allowing individuals to reap the health benefits and become physically fit. The issue with endurance running, or long distance running, is that an overuse in the lower extremities often results in injuries in the leg, foot, ankle, or hip. Often, these lower extremity injuries are not caused by overuse, but rather, an issue with biomechanics. The purpose of this literature review is to study three biomechanical variables and how they relate to injuries. Cadence, foot strike pattern, and vertical oscillation are biomechanical variables that contribute to injury rates. Most …

Desired Nutrition Education Topics For The Field Of Oncology, Kasey J. Stefan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of the proposed honors research project is as follows, compare differing perspectives on desired nutrition education topics in relation to oncology; perspectives representing either oncology patients or their family or support systems. A benefit of the research includes the overall results being analyzed and used as a reference for future creation of nutrition programs. Specifically, working with Stewart’s Caring Place, a free-service oncology resource center, in implementing programs with detailed, nutrition curriculum that could be taught and available to their members. Upon an initial meeting with the program director at the center, it was clear, nutrition education was …

Perspectives On Student Hunger And Poverty, Ruchi Patel

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Poverty is a factor that affects many aspects of one’s life. For a student looking to get a bachelor’s degree at a university or college, money is one of the top priorities to look at. The high cost of universities and colleges create financial strain affecting the ability of students to obtain better opportunities. Furthermore, many college students struggling financially come from economically challenged backgrounds. Economic struggles related to college cost, housing and food insecurity can lead to malnourished students as well as high stress levels. Approximately 36% of Univeristy students and 42% of community college students were food insecure …

Custom 3d Printed Orthotic, Dakota Kirtley, Andrew Wiles

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of this senior design projet is to develop a cutsom 3D printed orthotic shoe insert. Pressure mapping, laser scanning, and 3D modeling will be used to create a truly custom orthotic for each foot. Pressure mapping will give the weight distribution on an individual's food and the laser scanner will give the x-y coordinates of the foot. these two together will be used to generate a a 3D model which will then be 3D printed to create a custom orthotic. Research and material testing will also be done to determine the best material type to be used in …

Melanopsin-Expressing Retinal Ganglion Cells In Control Vs. Glaucomatous Retinas, Edward Hamad

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Glaucoma is a common cause of vision loss worldwide and has a large scope of symptoms, ranging from pupillary reflex defects to sleep disorders. These issues can be explained partially by a recently found subtype of retinal ganglion cells that express melanopsin, denoted melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells or mRGCs for short. These cells function primarily as photoreceptors in the non-image forming pathway, but can receive input from rods and cones. Since mRGCs play a role in the pupillary reflex and regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, I investigated if glaucoma leads to the degeneration of these cells in a mouse model …

Leptin Effects On Bone Metabolism, Elizabeth Bark

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Scales from adult zebrafish, Danio rerio, are an established model for studying osteoblast and osteoclast activity. In this study, scales in a cell culture were used to determine if the hormone leptin has an effect on activity of these bone remodeling scales. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activities of zebrafish scales were measured and compared with and without leptin treatment. There was no statistically significant difference between leptin treatments in terms of ALP and TRAP activity. Differences between TRAP values between days 1 and 2 did look promising although they were not statistically significant. This study …

Nursing Student Stress, Ruthanne Emily Hawks, Hannah Rae Wilson, Carly Marie Gillota, Taylor Anne Hall, Edward William Mccain

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Nursing students deal with a variety of stressors, including difficult curriculum and new endeavors such as clinical and lab experiences. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between stress levels and coping mechanisms and readiness to change unhealthy coping mechanisms in baccalaureate nursing students. The Transtheoretical Model of Change guides this non-experimental, correlational study and measured readiness for change. The Student Nurse Stress Index was used to measure stress. The abbreviated COPE Inventory was used to measure coping. Online recruitment, consent forms, and surveys were distributed to nursing students via the Student Success Center in the College …

Effects Of Nonpharmacological Interventions On Outcomes In Neonates With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Systematic Review, Alexandrea Gray, Rachel Smith, Trina Miller, Nina Vaccaro, Ashlyn Milhoan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a growing issue in today’s society, especially in women of the childbearing age who use substances during pregnancy. As use of substances, such as opiates, increases in the United States, the healthcare industry has noticed a significant rise in the number of neonates born with symptoms of NAS withdrawal. Through the analysis and synthesis of research, the purpose of this paper is to appraise the evidence regarding the effects of supplemental nonpharmacological interventions, specifically rooming-in and breastfeeding, compared to standard pharmacological treatment, on NAS withdrawal symptoms. Twenty peer-reviewed research studies conducted between 2010 and 2018 …

Spectrographic Analysis Of The Lombard Effect, Julia Saxon

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In my honors project I will study the feasibility of using spectrographic analysis to measure the Lombard effect. The Lombard effect is a well-known phenomenon in which talkers reflexively increase the intensity of their voices in the presence of background noise. We hypothesize that other measurable features of speech will also change with vocal intensity consistent with what is shown in literature. However, the current authors will discuss findings in terms of its potential value as a test of pseudohypoacusis, also known as nonorganic or functional hearing loss. The author and a licensed audiologist will examine the /i/ and /u/ …

Exercise And Physical Activity In Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes, Shelby Fisher

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper will investigate, describe, and discuss the challenges that youth and adult athletes with Type 1 Diabetes face in order to successfully perform in sports while maintaining their health treatment goals. This paper will also describe how these challenges are overcome and this paper will share individual experiences from both adults and youth who have Type 1 Diabetes. This paper will describe meal management with sport, blood glucose monitoring with sport, medication management with sport, and interaction with the healthcare team and the athlete. This paper will also investigate the school personnel’s involvement in regard to assisting the athlete …

Non-Pharmacological Interventions For Alcohol, Marijuana, And Opioid Use During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review, Hannah Safranek, Madeline Frausto, Amy King, Stoneking Madison

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this review is to analyze evidence on prevalence of opioid, alcohol and marijuana use during pregnancy and answer the PICOT question: In pregnant women addicted to or using marijuana, opioids, and alcohol, how do non-pharmacological interventions, compared to standard care of pharmacological interventions alone, affect health outcomes in mothers and neonates between birth to hospital discharge? Diagnosis of substance use disorder is increasing and with it comes increased risk of complications to mother and neonate including neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and other negative neonatal and maternal outcomes. Evidence was identified on the online …

Effects Of Interventions On Violence Against Nurses, Shelby Secreto, Morgan Suponcic, Taylor Gatts, Erin Ross

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Violence against nurses is a problem in the healthcare system that is becoming more prevalent. The purpose of this systematic review is to critically appraise the evidence about the effectiveness of interventions to outcomes indicating that nurses are better prepared to handle violent situations and possibly prevent them all together in acute care settings. The following PICOT question, a question that addresses patient problem, intervention, comparison, outcome, and time, will be answered: What effect does preventative and educational interventions have on violence against nurses in the hospital setting and influence nurses’ perceptions regarding their ability to handle episodes of violence? …