Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

Reliability And Concurrent Validity Of Select C3 Logix Test Components, Madeline Simon, Arthur C. Maerlender, Katelyn Metzger, Laura Decoster, Amy Hollingworth, Tamara Valovich Mcleod

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

We sought to investigate the one-week and within-session reliability of the instrumented balance error scoring system test and the concurrent validity/one-week reliability of two neurocognitive assessments available through C3 Logix. (n = 37) Participants completed two balance error scoring system tests separated by the Trails A, Trails B, and Symbol Digit Modality test available through C3 Logix, and with paper and pencil. We found that the instrumented balance error scoring system test demonstrated strong one-week reliability and that neuropsychological tests available through C3 Logix show acceptable concurrent validity with standard (comparable) paper and pencil measures.

Examining The Relationship Between Home Literacy Environment And Neural Correlates Of Phonological Processing In Beginning Readers With And Without A Familial Risk For Dyslexia: An Fmri Study, Sara J. Powers, Yingying Wang, Sara D. Beach, Georgios D. Sideridis, Nadine Gaab

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Developmental dyslexia is a language-based learning disability characterized by persistent difficulty in learning to read. While an understanding of genetic contributions is emerging, the ways the environment affects brain functioning in children with developmental dyslexia are poorly understood. A relationship between the home literacy environment (HLE) and neural correlates of reading has been identified in typically developing children, yet it remains unclear whether similar effects are observable in children with a genetic predisposition for dyslexia. Understanding environmental contributions is important given that we do not understand why some genetically at-risk children do not develop dyslexia. Here we investigate for the …

Brain Encoding Of Saltatory Velocity Through A Pulsed Pneumotactile Array In The Lower Face, Rebecca Custead, Hyuntaek Oh, Yingying Wang, Steven M. Barlow

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Processing dynamic tactile inputs is a primary function of the somatosensory system. Spatial velocity encoding mechanisms by the nervous system are important for skilled movement production and may play a role in recovery of sensorimotor function following neurological insult. Little is known about tactile velocity encoding in mechanosensory trigeminal networks required for speech, suck, mastication, and facial gesture.

High resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate the neural substrates of velocity encoding in the human orofacial somatosensory system during unilateral saltatory pneumotactile stimulation of perioral and buccal hairy skin in 20 neurotypical adults. A custom multichannel, scalable …

Rehabilitation Of An Injured Golden Eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos): A Case Study, Fida Muhammad Khan, Fakhar-I- Abbas, Abu Ul Hassan Faiz

Journal of Bioresource Management

Habitat destruction and anthropogenic activities cause wild birds to migrate towards urban areas in search of food and sometimes nesting in high-roof buildings, where they are caught by local people using different techniques and are further used for hunting or recreational purposes. An injured Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) was found entangled in bushes near the vicinity of Balkasar Research Complex, Chakwal, Pakistan. After complete physical examination, a wound on the right wing and closed leg fracture was diagnosed. The successful treatment was done by anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial drugs with careful monitoring. Splint was adjusted after aligning the fractured …

Influence Of Differential Calcification In The Descending Thoracic Aorta On Aortic Pulse Pressure, Mirza Mujadil Ahmad, Syed Haris Ahmed Pir, Mustafa Noor Muhammad, Sharmeen Hussaini, Immad Arif Kiani, Mirza Nubair Ahmad, Imaad Razzaque, Muhammad Nabeel Syed, Rafath Ullah, Suhail Allaqaband, Anjan Gupta, Steven C. Port, Khawaja Afzal Ammar

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Multiple studies have shown pulse pressure (PP) to be a strong predictor of aortic calcification. However, no studies are available that correlate PP with aortic calcification at the segmental level.

Methods: We identified 37 patients with aortic PP measured during cardiac catheterization. Their noncontrast chest computed tomography scans were evaluated for the presence of calcium in different segments (ascending aorta, arch of aorta [arch], descending aorta) and quantified. Patients with calcification (Calcified Group A) were compared against patients without calcification (Noncalcified Group B) in terms of PP, calcification and compliance.

Results: The mean of the total calcium score was …

Temporal Resolution Of Cell Death Signaling Events Induced By Cold Atmospheric Plasma And Electroporation In Human Cancer Cells, Danielle M. Krug, Prasoon K. Diwakar, Ahmed Hassanein

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Cancer treatment resistance and their invasive and expensive nature is propelling research towards developing alternate approaches to eradicate cancer in patients. Non-thermal, i.e., cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and electroporation (EP) applied to the surface of cancerous tissue are new methods that are minimally invasive, safe, and selective. These approaches, both independently and synergistically, have been shown to deplete cancer cell populations, but the signaling mechanisms of death and their timelines of action are still widely unknown. To better understand the timeframe of signaling events occurring upon treatment, human cancer cell lines were treated with CAP, EP, and combined CAP with …

Lessons To Be Learned: How A Comprehensive Neurobiological Framework Of Atypical Reading Development Can Inform Educational Practice, Ola Ozernov-Palchik, Xi Yu, Yingying Wang, Nadine Gaab

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Dyslexia is a heritable reading disorder with an estimated prevalence of 5–17%. A multiple deficit model has been proposed that illustrates dyslexia as an outcome of multiple risks and protective factors interacting at the genetic, neural, cognitive, and environmental levels. Here we review the evidence on each of these levels and discuss possible underlying mechanisms and their reciprocal interactions along a developmental timeline. Current and potential implications of neuroscientific findings for contemporary challenges in the field of dyslexia, as well as for reading development and education in general, are then discussed.

Quantitative Dwi As An Early Imaging Biomarker Of The Response To Chemoradiation In Esophageal Cancer, Benjamin C. Musall

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

For patients diagnosed with stages IIa-IIb esophageal cancer, the current standard of care treatment is tri-modality therapy (TMT), where neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) is followed by surgical resection. Histopathology of resected tumors reveals that pathological complete response (pCR) is achieved in 20-30% of patients through nCRT alone. Because of the high mortality and morbidity associated with esophagectomy, it may be advantageous for patients exhibiting pCR from nCRT alone to be placed under observation rather than completing their TMT. Therefore, a method for predicting response at an early time-point during nCRT is highly desirable. Conventional methods such as endoscopic ultrasound, re-biopsy, and …

Alzheimer’S Disease: Dawn Of A New Era?, Farideh Amirrad, Emira Bousoik, Kiumars Shamloo, Hassan Al-Shiyab, Viet-Hong Nguyen, Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive decline in cognition and memory, leading to significant impairment in daily activities and ultimately death. It is the most common cause of dementia, the prevalence of which increases with age; however, age is not the only predisposing factor. The pathology of this cognitive impairing disease is still not completely understood, which has limited the development of valid therapeutic options. Recent years have witnessed a wide range of novel approaches to combat this disease, so that they greatly increased our understanding of the disease and of the unique drug …

Alternative Interventions For Children Coping With Chronic Conditions: A Critical Review Of The Literature, Nina M. Pelsi, Kim S. Amer

DePaul Discoveries

Reduction of stressors and anxiety levels in adolescents with chronic illnesses is a critical concept in pediatric health care in America today. The many stressors associated with chronic illness include displaying physical and mental differences, social stigma, financial difficulty, and family stress. These stressors may affect the adolescent’s ability to learn and cope in everyday life. The current research was a critical review of the literature examining studies done with adolescents coping with chronic diseases and illnesses. The aim was to analyze the most efficacious non-pharmacological methods for reducing stressors in adolescents with chronic illness. A critical review of the …

Meeting Joint Commission Compliance By Improving The Chart Audit Process, Nicole Hiroi

Master's Projects and Capstones

A hospice and home health care agency with an estimated 300 current patients looking to gain Joint Commission accreditation tasked its quality improvement department with identifying and improving deficiencies in the nursing documentation of patients’ charts. In order to do so, a redesign of their current chart auditing system needed to occur to take the process from pen and paper to an electronic database where the data gathered from the audit could be disseminated. The quality improvement team focused on ensuring that the new electronic process was user-friendly, encompassed all the quality areas needed, and allowed charts to be reviewed …

A Novel Distractive And Mobility-Enabling Lumbar Spinal Orthosis For Treating Mechanical Low Back Pain, Daniel Clay Hillyard

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Introduction: Lumbar spinal orthoses (LSOs) are often used as non-surgical treatment and serve to support the spine and alleviate low back pain. More recently, dynamic orthoses claiming to decompress the spine have been introduced. Currently, there is an unserved population of people that suffer from mechanical low back pain (LBP) conditions, such as degenerative disc disease or lumbar foraminal stenosis, that would benefit from spinal decompression and mobility. A previously-developed prototype of dynamic mobility orthosis (DMO1) was designed that provided a distractive load across the lumbar spine but required higher sagittal bending moments and was unable to maintain spinal off-loading …

Quantifying Joint Coordination Variability In Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Reconstructed Individuals During Walking, Kylie Davis

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The knee is the second most common joint to sustain injury. An estimated 200,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures occur each year in the United States alone, and about 100,000 ACL reconstruction (ACLR) surgeries are performed annually. There is a significant risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee after incurring an ACL injury, and the incidence of ipsilateral or contralateral injury is six times greater in individuals who have a surgically repaired ACL. Past studies have analyzed kinetic and kinematic characteristics of individual lower extremity joints to reveal differences between subjects with and without ACLR. Despite reports of altered kinematic …

Emergency Department Approach To Electrical Toothbrush Associated Hand Injury, A Unique Case Of Non-Oropharyngeal Injury., Hannah Robinson, Neal Sikka, Chimere Little, Ali Pourmand

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Puncture wounds are common injuries treated in the emergency department (ED). Prior studies have shown that toothbrushes are common reservoirs for oral flora, especially in regions near the head of the toothbrush near the bristles. ED providers must be aware of the danger associated with bacterial contamination of the associated wound and should be familiar with different pathogens and options for treatment. We present a unique case of a 30-year-old male with non-intraoral injury who presented to the ED after puncturing his left palm with the metal post of an electric toothbrush.

Rationale And Study Protocol For The Patient-Centered Outcome Aid (Pcoa) Randomized Controlled Trial: A Personalized Decision Tool For Newly Diagnosed Ovarian Cancer Patients, Lari Wenzel, Dana Mukamel, Kathryn Osann, Laura Havrilesky, Lisa Sparks, Joseph Lipscomb, Alexi A. Wright, Joan Walker, Ronald Alvarez, Linda Van Le, Katina Robison, Robert Bristow, Robert Morgan, Bobbie Rimel, Heather Ladd, Susie Hsieh, Aditi Wahi, David Cohn

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

"The purpose of this study was to develop and test the effectiveness of a Patient-Centered Outcome Aid (PCOA) compared to a control condition of usual care, as patients chose between IV or IP therapy for advanced ovarian cancer. We developed an internet-based decision aid to improve patient-centered outcomes and tested it within a randomized clinical trial. The purpose of this paper is to describe the clinical trial development and protocol."

Abuela, Anne Walsh

Physician Assistant Studies Faculty Articles and Research

"How could I, the student admitting this patient on behalf of the attending physician, ever identify and address her medical issues if we couldn't effectively communicate? How could I help her understand the medications, consultations, tests, and procedures she'd receive, not to mention the grueling regimen of daily physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and swallowing therapy, counseling psychology, and social work sessions?"

Engineering Fret Biosensors For Microrna Presence/Absence Analysis, Nicholas E. Larkey, Sean M. Burrows

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

No abstract provided.

Difference Image Ultra-Short Echo Time T2* Mapping Using A 3d Cones Trajectory, Amin Nazaran, Grayson Tarbox, Randy Hartley, Neal Bangerter

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

This study introduces a methodology for detecting subtle variations in tissues with very rapid T2* decay through a difference image ultra-short T2* mapping technique using a 3D cones k-space trajectory. The new method is demonstrated in both a normal and surgically repaired Achilles tendon. The resulting UTE images are differenced and T2* values were calculated using a mono-exponential least squares fit on a voxel by voxel basis. The ultrashort T2* maps yield very consistent short T2* values in healthy tendon of 0.3-0.5 ms, while notable variations and elevations of T2* values are observed in surgically repaired tendon.

The Neuropsychology Of Sport And Performance, Arthur C. Maerlender

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Neuropsychological theory has been a mainstay for understanding pathology within the brain-behavior context. However, our theories for predicting superior behavior are not as well developed. Sport neuropsychology was developed on the presumption that athletes represent a population in a relatively well-controlled environment for studying brain pathology due to injury. This study of pathology within a high-performance environment has been responsible for identifying the effects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) on individual functioning. Far less attention has been paid to the other end of the performance continuum, and yet, viable brain-behavior hypotheses should hold true across the spectrum of function …

Validity And Reliability Of Baseline Testing In A Standardized Environment, Kathryn L. Higgins, Todd Caze, Arthur C. Maerlender

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Objective — The Immediate Postconcussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) is a computerized neuropsychological test battery commonly used to determine cognitive recovery from concussion based on comparing post-injury scores to baseline scores. This model is based on the premise that ImPACT baseline test scores are a valid and reliable measure of optimal cognitive function at baseline. Growing evidence suggests that this premise may not be accurate and a large contributor to invalid and unreliable baseline test scores may be the protocol and environment in which baseline tests are administered. This study examined the effects of a standardized environment and administration …

Measurement Of Cortisol In Saliva: A Comparison Of Measurement Error Within And Between International Academic‑Research Laboratories, Jessica L. Calvi, Frances R. Chen, Victoria Brann Benson, Eleanor Brindle, Matt Bristow, Alpana De, Sonja Entringer, Helen Findlay, Christine Heim, Eric A. Hodges, Heiko Klawitter, Sonia Lupien, Holly M. Rus, Jitske Tiemensma, Silvanna Verlezza, Claire-Dominique Walker, Douglas A. Granger

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Objective: Hundreds of scientific publications are produced annually that involve the measurement of cortisol in saliva. Intra- and inter-laboratory variation in salivary cortisol results has the potential to contribute to crossstudy inconsistencies in findings, and the perception that salivary cortisol results are unreliable. This study rigorously estimates sources of measurement variability in the assay of salivary cortisol within and between established international academic-based laboratories that specialize in saliva analyses. One hundred young adults (Mean age: 23.10 years; 62 females) donated 2 mL of whole saliva by passive drool. Each sample was split into multiple- 100 μL aliquots and …

Patterns Of Referral In High School Concussion Management Programs: A Pilot Study Of Consultants From Different Disciplines, Jonathan Lichtenstein, Kate S. Linnea, Arthur C. Maerlender

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

School-based concussion management programs cover thousands of young athletes, yet there is little in the way of research to assess program processes or outcomes. This study examined the referral patterns of consultants working with ten high school concussion management programs. In addition to the number of referrals made to specialists, other potential outcome variables were explored. The sample included over 5,000 athlete-seasons and 298 concussions managed directly by certified athletic trainers. All programs used computerized neuropsychological testing (both baseline and post injury). Two groups were compared: five programs used a clinical neuropsychologist (NP) as the testing consultant and five used …

Attention Is Associated With Postural Control In Those With Chronic Ankle Instability, Adam B. Rosen, Nicholas T. Than, William Z. Smith, Jennifer M. Yentes, Melanie L. Mcgrath, Mukul Mukherjee, Sarah A. Myers, Arthur C. Maerlender

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is often debilitating and may be affected by a number of intrinsic and environmental factors. Alterations in neurocognitive function and attention may contribute to repetitive injury in those with CAI and influence postural control strategies. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in attentional functioning and static postural control among groups of Comparison, Coper and CAI participants and assess the relationship between them within each of the groups. Recruited participants performed single-limb balance trials and completed the CNS Vital Signs (CNSVS) computer-based assessment to assess their attentional function. Center …

Sandbagging On The Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment And Cognitive Testing (Impact) In A High School Athlete Population, Kathryn L. Higgins, Robert L. Denny, Arthur C. Maerlender

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

The Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) is a computerized neuropsychological test battery commonly used to assess cognitive functioning after a concussion. It is recommended that application of ImPACT utilizes a baseline administration so athletes have an individualized baseline with which to compare post-injury results should they sustain a concussion. It has been suggested that athletes may provide suboptimal effort, called “sandbagging,” in order to return to their baseline cognitive scores, and thus to play, more quickly. This research examines ImPACT baseline scores when high school athletes were asked to attempt to “sandbag,” and compares those scores with scores …

Psychological And Neural Contributions To Appetite Self-Regulation, Luke E. Stoeckel, Leann L. Birch, Todd Heatherton, Traci Mann, Christine Hunter, Susan Czajkowski, Lisa Onken, Paige K. Berger, Cary R. Savage

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Objective: This paper reviews the state of the science on psychological and neural contributions to appetite self-regulation in the context of obesity. Methods: Three content areas (neural systems and cognitive functions; parenting and early childhood development; and goal setting and goal striving) served to illustrate different perspectives on the psychological and neural factors that contribute to appetite dysregulation in the context of obesity. Talks were initially delivered at an NIH workshop consisting of experts in these three content areas, and then content areas were further developed through a review of the literature. Results: Self-regulation of appetite involves a complex interaction …

Pilot Study Of Endurance Runners And Brain Responses Associated With Delay Discounting, Laura E. Martin, Jason-Flor V. Sisante, David R. Wilson, Angela A. Moody, Cary R. Savage, Sandra A. Billinger

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

High levels of endurance training have been associated with potentially negative health outcomes and addictive-like symptoms such as exercise in the presence of injury and higher levels of impulsivity. This pilot study examined the relationships among self-report measures of addictive symptoms related to exercise and behavioral and neural measures of impulsivity in endurance runners. We hypothesized endurance runners would have increased preference for immediate rewards and greater activation of cognitive control regions when making decisions involving delayed rewards. Twenty endurance runners (at least 20 miles/week) were recruited to undergo measures of self-report exercise addiction symptoms, impulsive decision-making (delay discounting) and …

Lateral Hypothalamic Activity Indicates Hunger And Satiety States In Humans, Omid Talakoub, Raquel R. Paiva, Matija Milosevic, Marcelo Q. Hoexter, Ruth Franco, Eduardo Alho, Jessie Navarro, Jose F. Pereira Jr., Milos R. Popovic, Cary Savage, Antonio C. Lopes, Pedro Alvarenga, Durval Damiani, Manoel J. Teixeira, Euripides C. Miguel, Erich T. Fonoff, Marcelo C. Batistuzzo, Clement Hamani

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded in a Prader–Willi patient undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for obesity. During hunger, exposure to food-related cues induced an increase in beta/ low-gamma activity. In contrast, recordings during satiety were marked by prominent alpha rhythms. Based on these findings, we have delivered alphafrequency DBS prior to and during food intake. Despite reporting an early sensation of fullness, the patient continued to crave food. This suggests that the pattern of activity in LHA may indicate hunger/satiety states in humans but attest to the complexity of conducting neuromodulation studies in obesity.

Associations Between Modifiable Health-Risk Behaviors And Personality Types, Jon C. Schommer, Paul D. Tieger, Anthony W. Olson, Lawrence M. Brown

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Objectives: The first objective for this study was to explore if characteristics of personality type (using the Preferred Communication Style Questionnaire) are associated with the following modifiable health-risk behaviors: smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption, nutrition, sleep, depression-related stress, anxiety-related stress, healthcare professional usage, and self-discipline. The second objective for this study was to explore if characteristics of personality type are associated with (1) the quality of patient-physician relationships, (2) patient-physician communication, and (3) preferred method for receiving information.

Methods: Data were collected from 10,500 adult individuals residing in the United States via an on-line, self-administered survey coordinated by Qualtrics …

An Expanded Role For Nurses In Laboratory Utilization, Marilyn S. Hamilton, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Michele Fix, Lynn E. Shriver

Posters

Introduction: The majority of laboratory testing errors occur in the pre-analytical stage, including specimen collection. Children provide special challenges including small blood volumes, small veins, and an inability to cooperate. We describe collaboration between laboratorians and nursing staff to improve specimen collection and the reliability of test results.

Methods: We identified three areas for improvement: 1) Volume of blood for culture, 2) Urine collection, and 3) Appropriate blood collection through a line. Base line data was established. Guidelines for specimen collection were updated. Nurse members of the Laboratory Utilization Committee developed educational tools.

Results: Nursing education was effective at improving …

Thyroid Hormone As A Method Of Reducing Damage To Donor Hearts After Circulatory Arrest, William P. Adams

Theses and Dissertations

There is a chronic lack of donor hearts to meet the need for heart transplant both in the US and worldwide. Further, the use of available hearts is limited by the short period between collection and implantation during which the heart can be safely preserved ex vivo. Using mid-thermic Langendorff machine perfusion, we have been able to preserve the metabolic function of a healthy heart for up to 8 hours, twice the limit for current static cold storage. We have also been able to preserve the metabolic function of a damaged DCD Heart collected 30 minutes after cardiac arrest …