Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

The Effects Of Home-Based Pilates In Healthy College-Age Females, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, Mary Fisher, C. Brahler

C. Jayne Brahler

Objectives: To quantify and determine the effects of Pilates on core endurance, hamstring flexibility, balance, body composition/mass and perceived stress level in healthy college age females.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial design.

Background: Emerging research on the Pilates technique is inconclusive regarding benefits to core endurance, flexibility, balance, body mass, and perceived stress.

Methods and Measures: Female college students (n=57; 18-35 years old) were randomly assigned to a Pilates group, who exercised at home with a DVD, or a control group who did not engage in Pilates practice. Core endurance, hamstring flexibility, balance, body composition and stress measurements were taken …

A Comparison Of Two Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Programs In Females With Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Pilot Study, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, Wendy Chorny, C. Brahler, Ashley Ingley, Jennifer Kennedy, Valerie Osterfeld

C. Jayne Brahler

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a condition affecting millions of Americans. Few studies have assessed the benefits of different exercises involved in pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). Purposte: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a traditional PFMT program to an assisted pelvic floor muscle training (APFMT) program that included contraction of hip musculature.

Test Items In The Complete And Short Forms Of The Bot-2 That Contribute Substantially To Motor Performance Assessments In Typically Developing Children 6-10 Years Of Age, Kadi Carmosino, Ashley Grzeszczak, Kaylie Mcmurray, Ali Olivo, Bo Slutz, Brittany Zoll, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, C. Brahler

C. Jayne Brahler

Objectives: Determine the magnitude of association between individual subtest items of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition (BOT-2), and the respective total subtest scores and to review items on the BOT-2 Short Form. Background: The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition (BOT-2), is a test used to measure gross motor proficiency in both typically developing children and children with developmental disabilities between the ages of four and twenty-one. The BOT-2 Short Form consists of fourteen test items proportionally selected from the subtests of the Complete Form. It can be used as a screening tool and takes less …

Acute Effects Of Whole-Body Vibration On Lower Extremity Muscle Performance In Persons With Multiple Sclerosis, Kurt Jackson, Harold Merriman, Paul Vanderburgh, C. Brahler

C. Jayne Brahler

Background and Purpose: Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a relatively new form of exercise training that may influence muscle performance. This study investigated the acute effects of high (26 Hz) and low (2 Hz) frequency WBV on isometric muscle torque of the quadriceps and hamstrings in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Participants and Method: Fifteen individuals (mean age = 54.6 years, SD = 9.6) with MS and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores ranging from 0-6.5 (mean = 4.2, SD = 2.3) participated in this randomized cross-over study. Following baseline measures of isometric quadricep and hamstring torque, subjects were exposed to …

Gender Differences In Motivation To Resolve Eating And Body Image Concerns In College Students, Harold Merriman, C. Brahler, Laura Dinan, Lauren Finzer

C. Jayne Brahler

The objective of this study was to identify similarities and differences between college women and men with respect to their eating and body image concerns, weight fluctuation and level of motivation to resolve these concerns. 101 University of Dayton students participated in this study. Students completed an eating and body concern survey online.

Body image concerns were significantly greater for females compared to males (p=0.007) and significantly greater as motivation level to resolve the concerns increased (p=0.019). Eating concerns followed the same trends but did not reach statistical significance. Weight fluctuation in both genders increased significantly as motivation level increased …

The Mind-Body Connection: The Association Between Adolescent Locus Of Control And Indicators Of Physical Health, C. Brahler, James Cropper

C. Jayne Brahler

Locus of control (LOC) describes an individual’s generalized beliefs or expectancies that their reinforcements are under internal versus external control (1). An individual exhibits either an internal or external LOC. This study examines the link between LOC and selected health risk factors in adolescents. A convenience sample of 167 high school physical education students completed a 13-item LOC questionnaire based on Rotter’s 1966 instrument. Various anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and body fat were recorded on all subjects. A subsample of 61 female students received blood chemistry analysis that included a lipid profile, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Apo …

High Dietary Fat Intake Is Not Associated With High Levels Of Circulating Lipoproteins Or Total Cholesterol, C. Brahler, C. Wilson, Janine Baer

C. Jayne Brahler

The objective of this study was to determine the association between dietary intake of fats, waist to hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), and blood lipoproteins and total cholesterol (TC) using food frequency data in one group of apparently healthy, urban African American women and their daughters (n = 110). Subjects were fasted when blood was drawn, waist and hip circumferences and body weight and height were measured, and WHR and BMI were calculated. Average daily total fat intakes were 91.46 g and 77.83 g for mothers and daughters, respectively, but average LDL levels of 104.4 g/L and 103.1 …

The Association Between Critical Thinking And Scholastic Aptitude On First-Time Pass Rate Of The National Physical Therapy Examination, Daniel Suckow, C. Brahler, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, Mary Fisher, Philip Anloague

C. Jayne Brahler

Objectives: 1) To investigate the relationships among critical thinking (CT) abilities, overall academic performance in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) program as measured by cumulative grade point average (GPA), and National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) licensure scores, and 2) To determine if NPTE scores were significantly different between groups of students who were classified as having low, moderate or high CT abilities. Background: It is well-established that physical therapy practice requires good clinical reasoning skills. Passage of the NPTE is required for licensure. Research to date has been mixed as to whether CT abilities or GPA can predict success …

Field Testing Adolescent Females For Cardiovascular Disease Risk, C. Brahler, Wesley Stephens, Betsy Donahoe Fillmore

C. Jayne Brahler

Over-fatness and poor cardiovascular (CV) fitness are well-documented risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults, but less is known about their association with disease risk in adolescents. This study aimed to determine the relationship between anthropometrics, fitness, and CVD risk.

Six anthropometric indicators of body fatness, seven measures of fitness, and seven metabolic and hemodynamic CVD risk factors were measured in a convenience sample of 28 female high school students (15-18 years of age). A tally was made of the number of factors for which each subject was outside the normal reference range (CVD risk).

Correlation analyses were completed …

Systematically Controlling For The Influence Of Age, Sex, Hertz And Time Post-Whole-Body Vibration Exposure On Four Measures Of Physical Performance In Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Cross-Over Study, Harold Merriman, C. Brahler, Kurt Jackson

C. Jayne Brahler

Though popular, there is little agreement on what whole-body vibration (WBV) parameters will optimize performance. This study aimed to clarify the effects of age, sex, hertz, and time on four physical function indicators in community-dwelling older adults (N = 32). Participants were exposed to 2 minutes WBV per session at either 2 Hz or 26 Hz, and outcome measures were recorded at 2-, 20-, and 40-minute post-WBV. Timed get-up-and-go and chair sit-and-reach performances improved post-WBV for both sexes, were significantly different between 2 Hz and 26 Hz treatments (P ≤ 0.05), and showed statistically significant interactions between age and gender …

Detection Of Diabetic Foot Ulcers Using Svm Based Classification, Lei Wang, Peder Pedersen, Diane Strong, Bengisu Tulu, Emmanuel Agu, Qian He, Ronald Ignotz, Raymond Dunn, David Harlan, Sherry Pagoto

Emmanuel O. Agu

Diabetic foot ulcers represent a significant health issue, for both patients’ quality of life and healthcare system costs. Currently, wound care is mainly based on visual assessment of wound size, which suffers from lack of accuracy and consistency. Hence, a more quantitative and computer-based method is needed. Supervised machine learning based object recognition is an attractive option, using training sample images with boundaries labeled by experienced clinicians. We use forty sample images collected from the UMASS Wound Clinic by tracking 8 subjects over 6 months with a smartphone camera. To maintain a consistent imaging environment and facilitate the capture process …

The Effect Of Yoga Postures On Balance, Flexibility, And Strength In Healthy High School Females, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, C. Brahler, Mary Fisher, Kelly Beasley

C. Jayne Brahler

Objective: The purpose of this study was to document the effects of yoga interventions on balance, flexibility, and strength in adolescent girls 14 to 18 years. Study Design: Quasi-experimental, nonrandomized. Background: Research on the effects of yoga on balance, flexibility, and strength has focused on adults, although yoga is being marketed to all ages. Methods and Measures: A convenience sample of 33 female adolescents participated in yoga training 2 times per week and a walking program 3 times per week, for 7 weeks. The instructor-led group received instruction from a registered yoga therapist in person, while the video-led group watched …

Numerous Test Items In The Complete And Short Forms Of The Bot-2 Do Not Contribute Substantially To Motor Performance Assessments In Typically Developing Children Six To Ten Years Old, C. Brahler, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, Sara Mrowzinski, Susan Aebker, Megan Kreill

C. Jayne Brahler

The purposes of the current study were (1) to determine the magnitude of association between individual subtest items and the respective total subtest scores on the four subtests in the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition (BOT-2) and (2) to review items on the BOT-2 Short Form. The correlation coefficients (r) between ranged from .865 to .071. Several items suffered from a ceiling effect, and four of the eight items on the Short Form for these four subtests had very low associations with their subtest total score. These results raise several issues with the BOT-2 that warrant further investigation.

Reliability Of Bod Pod Measurements Remain High Following A Short Duration Low-Carbohydrate Diet, Beau Greer, Kathleen Edsall (Alumna), Anna Greer

Anna E. Greer

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether expected changes in body weight via a three day low-carbohydrate (CHO) diet will disrupt the reliability of air displacement plethysmography measurements via BOD POD. Twenty-four subjects recorded their typical diets for three days prior to BOD POD and seven-site skinfold analyses. Subjects were matched for lean body mass and divided into low-CHO (LC) and control (CON) groups. The LC group was given instruction intended to prevent over 50 grams/day of carbohydrate consumption for three consecutive days, while the CON group replicated their previously recorded diet. Body composition measurements were repeated …

Scramble Or Script: Responding To New Medicare Billing For Medications In Hospice, Jennifer Tjia, Shaida Talebreza, Maija Reblin, Anna Beck, Lee Ellington

Jennifer Tjia

No abstract provided.

Use Of Medications Of Questionable Benefit In Advanced Dementia, Jennifer Tjia, Becky Briesacher, Daniel Peterson, Qin Liu, Susan Andrade, Susan Mitchell

Jennifer Tjia

IMPORTANCE: Advanced dementia is characterized by severe cognitive impairment and complete functional dependence. Patients' goals of care should guide the prescribing of medication during such terminal illness. Medications that do not promote the primary goal of care should be minimized. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of medications with questionable benefit used by nursing home residents with advanced dementia, identify resident- and facility-level characteristics associated with such use, and estimate associated medication expenditures. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional study of medication use by nursing home residents with advanced dementia using a nationwide long-term care pharmacy database linked to the Minimum Data …

A New Computationally Efficient Cad System For Nodule Detection In Ct Imagery, Temesguen Messay, Russell Hardie, Steven Rogers

Russell C. Hardie

Early detection of lung nodules is extremely important for the diagnosis and clinical management of lung cancer. In this paper, a novel computer aided detection (CAD) system for the detection of pulmonary nodules in thoracic computed tomography (CT) imagery is presented. The paper describes the architecture of the CAD system and assesses its performance on a publicly available database to serve as a benchmark for future research efforts. Training and tuning of all modules in our CAD system is done using a separate and independent dataset provided courtesy of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). The publicly available testing …

Atrial Fibrillation--Advances In Drug Therapy, Sudip Nanda, Sultan Siddique, Matthew Martinez, Shree Sharma, Nainesh Patel, Santo Longo

Nainesh C Patel MD

No abstract provided.

Therapeutic Medical Hypothermia--A Multispecialty Approach, Sudip Nanda, Nainesh Patel, Surya Bhatt, Claranne Mathiesen, John Castaldo, Shree Sharma, Santo Longo

Nainesh C Patel MD

No abstract provided.

Validation Of Lc-Tof/Ms Screening For Drugs, Metabolites, And Collateral Compounds In Forensic Toxicology Specimens, Fessessework Guale, Shahriar Shahreza, Jeffrey Walterscheid, Hsin-Hung Chen, Crystal Arndt, Anna Kelly, Ashraf Mozayani

Ashraf Mozayani, Ph.D., PharmD

Liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) analysis provides an expansive technique for identifying many known and unknown analytes. This study developed a screening method that utilizes automated solid-phase extraction to purify a wide array of analytes involving stimulants, benzodiazepines, opiates, muscle relaxants, hypnotics, antihistamines, antidepressants and newer synthetic "Spice/K2" cannabinoids and cathinone "bath salt" designer drugs. The extract was applied to LC-TOF-MS analysis, implementing a 13 min chromatography gradient with mobile phases of ammonium formate and methanol using positive mode electrospray. Several common drugs and metabolites can share the same mass and chemical formula among unrelated compounds, but they are …

Body Mass Bias In Exercise Physiology, Paul Vanderburgh

Paul M. Vanderburgh

In certain physically demanding occupations, especially the military, body mass bias has substantive implications. Work physiologists have determined that despite body mass bias in the common military physical fitness tests, the larger service members were often better performers of the physically demanding occupational tasks (Bilzon et al., 2002; Lyons et al., 2005; Rayson et al., 2000). That is, they could carry more, more easily evacuate casualties, and better engage in heavy materiel handling. Yet, the smaller personnel were achieving better scores on the physical fitness tests, the results of which have significant promotion and advancement implications (Vanderburgh & Mahar , …

The Effect Of Yoga Postures On Balance, Flexibility, And Strength In Healthy High School Females, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, C. Brahler, Mary Fisher, Kelly Beasley

Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore

Objective: The purpose of this study was to document the effects of yoga interventions on balance, flexibility, and strength in adolescent girls 14 to 18 years. Study Design: Quasi-experimental, nonrandomized. Background: Research on the effects of yoga on balance, flexibility, and strength has focused on adults, although yoga is being marketed to all ages. Methods and Measures: A convenience sample of 33 female adolescents participated in yoga training 2 times per week and a walking program 3 times per week, for 7 weeks. The instructor-led group received instruction from a registered yoga therapist in person, while the video-led group watched …

Effects Of Yoga On Arm Volume Among Women With Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema: A Pilot Study, Mary Fisher, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, Laura Leach, Colleen O'Malley, Cheryl Paeplow, Tess Prescott, Harold Merriman

Harold L. Merriman

Lymphedema affects 3–58% of survivors of breast cancer and can result in upper extremity impairments. Exercise can be beneficial in managing lymphedema. Yoga practice has been minimally studied for its effects on breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL). The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of yoga on arm volume, quality of life (QOL), self-reported arm function, and hand grip strength in women with BCRL. Six women with BCRL participated in modified Hatha yoga 3×/week for 8 weeks. Compression sleeves were worn during yoga sessions. Arm volume, QOL, self-reported arm function, and hand grip strength were measured at …

Development Of A Novel Screening Strategy Designed To Discover A New Class Of Hiv Drugs, Nancy Cheng, Sook-Kyung Lee, P. Donover, Mel Reichman, Celia Schiffer, Emily Hull-Ryde, Ronald Swanstrom, William Janzen

Celia A. Schiffer

Current antiretroviral treatments target multiple pathways important for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) multiplication, including viral entry, synthesis and integration of the DNA provirus, and the processing of viral polyprotein precursors. However, HIV is becoming increasingly resistant to these "combination therapies." Recent findings show that inhibition of HIV Gag protein cleavage into its two structural proteins, matrix (MA) and capsid (CA), has a devastating effect on viral production, revealing a potential new target class for HIV treatment. Unlike the widely used HIV protease inhibitors, this new class of inhibitor would target the substrate, not the protease enzyme itself. This approach offers …

Interview With Celia Schiffer, Celia Schiffer

Celia A. Schiffer

Celia Schiffer, a Professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology; a former Director of UMass Center for AIDS Research; and a Founder and Co-Director for the Institute for Drug Resistance (University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA, USA). Schiffer has an undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Chicago, with a PhD in biophysics from University of California, San Francisco (CA, USA). She was a postdoctoral associate first at the ETH in Zurich and then at Genentech in San Francisco. Schiffer has published more than 100 peer reviewed journal articles. Her laboratory primarily uses structural biology, biophysical and chemistry techniques to …

Prototypical Recombinant Multi-Protease Inhibitor Resistant Infectious Molecular Clones Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Vici Varghese, Yumi Mitsuya, W. Jeffrey Fessel, Tommy F. Liu, George Melikian, David Katzenstein, Celia Schiffer, Susan Holmes, Robert Shafer

Celia A. Schiffer

The many genetic manifestations of HIV-1 protease inhibitor (PI) resistance present challenges to research into the mechanisms of PI-resistance and the assessment of new PIs. To address these challenges, we created a panel of recombinant multi-PI resistant infectious molecular clones designed to represent the spectrum of clinically relevant multi-PI resistant viruses. To assess the representativeness of this panel, we examined the sequences of the panel's viruses in the context of a correlation network of PI-resistance amino acid substitutions in sequences from more than 10,000 patients. The panel of recombinant infectious molecular clones comprised 29 of 41 study-defined PI-resistance amino acid …

Isoniazid Completion Rates For Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among College Students Managed By A Community Pharmacist, Karl Hess, Jeffery Goad, Joanne Wu, Kathleen Johnson

Jeff Goad

Objective: The authors' objective was to document 9-month and previously recommended 6-month treatment completion rates for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in a pharmacist-managed LTBI clinic in a community pharmacy oil a college Campus. and to describe patient characteristics. Participants: Participants were university Students diagnosed with LTBI. Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective review, of pharmacy records from 2000 to 2006. Main outcome measures included 6-month and 9-month LTBI treatment completion rates, total isoniazid (INH) tablets taken. characteristics of completers versus noncompleters. average time to treatment completion, and reported adverse drug events. Results: The 9-month completion rate was 59%, and the …

Accuracy Of Electrocardiogram Reading By Family Practice Residents, Denise Sur, Lily Kaye, Michael Mikus, Jeffery Goad, Anthony Morena

Jeff Goad

Objectives: This study evaluated the electrocardiogram (EKG) reading skills of family practice residents. Methods: A multicenter study was carried out to evaluate the accuracy of EKG reading in the family practice setting. Based on the frequency and potential for clinical significance, we chose 18 common findings on 10 EKGs for evaluation. The EKGs were then distributed to residents at six family practice residencies. Residents were given one point for the identification of each correct EKG finding and scored based on the number correct over a total of 18. Results: Sixty-one residents (20 first year 23 second year; and 18 third …

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases In Travelers, Edith Mirzaian, Jeffery Goad, Ani Amloian, Fady Makar

Jeff Goad

Travel to the developing world is increasing among those from developed countries, placing them at risk for vaccine preventable and non-vaccine preventable diseases. From 2007-2011, the GeoSentinel Network reported 737 returned travelers with a vaccine preventable disease. While it is essential that clinicians use vaccines when available for a disease of risk, they should also be aware that the vast majority of diseases acquired by travelers are non-vaccine preventable. The vaccine preventable diseases can be divided into routine travel vaccines, special travel vaccines and routine vaccines used for travel. The routine travel vaccines include Hepatitis A and B, typhoid; special …

Evidence Of Progressive Delay Of Motor Development In Children With Sensorineural Hearing Loss And Concurrent Vestibular Dysfunction, Rose Rine, Gabrielle Cornwall, Karen Gan, Christian Locascio, Todd O'Hare, Emily Robinson, Michele Rice

Rose Marie Rine P.T., Ph.D.

Gross motor development, and the effect of age, sex and vestibular function on it, was examined in 39 24- to 83-mo.-old children with sensorineural hearing impairment. Repeated testing was completed on 18 children. Delayed gross motor development was evident regardless of age, but only children less than 5 years of age had developmental balance deficits on initial testing. Both gross motor and balance development scores were lower on repeated testing. Furthermore, vestibular function scores facilitated identification of those children with a deficit in balance development as well as those with a progressive delay in motor or balance development. Implications for …