Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

Update - December 1999, Loma Linda University Center For Christian Bioethics

Update

In this issue:

-- John and Alice Wong establish bioethics endowment
-- Richard Rice receives Templeton Award
-- "Humans" and "Persons" in Christian Bioethics (Commentary)
-- Mechanically Restraining the Ill and Elderly: Ethical Problems and Proposals
-- Clinical Ethics Consultation
-- Learn to minister in the clinical setting

Diagnostic Issues With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Conditional Probabilities And A Measure Of Symptom Ratings, Margo Adams Larsen

Dissertations

Current assessment taxonomy, including the DSM -IV and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) (World Health Organization, 1990) editions, have provided semistructured criteria sets to aid professionals in making a diagnosis of ADHD or ADD. The diagnostic taxonomy criteria, however, have resulted in a very heterogeneous population of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disordered (ADHD) individuals. Several studies have attempted to assess the behavioral syndromes— Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)/Conduct Disorder (CD)/ Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)—in terms of test or symptom sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive power, and negative predictive power (Landau, Milich, & Widiger, 1991; Milich, Widiger, & Landau, 1987; Waldman & …

The Validity Of The Adhd Section Of The Diagnostic Interview Schedule For Children, Ann M. Mcgrath

Dissertations

The purpose o f this study was to learn more about the validity o f the ADHD portion of the NIMH-DISCIV. In order to accomplish this goal, 58 youth participants were divided into three groups: (1) subjects who met criteria for ADHD based upon both the youth and the caretaker versions of the DISC; (2) subjects who met criteria for ADHD based upon the caretaker DISC, but not according to the youth DISC; and (3) subjects who did not meet criteria for ADHD according to either the youth or the caretaker DISC. Subjects in these groups were compared across parent …

Method And Apparatus For Controlling Acoustic Signal Bandwidth In An Ultrasonic Diagnostic Imaging System, Jeffrey R. Resnick, Gregory R. Bashford

Biomedical Imaging and Biosignal Analysis Laboratory

An ultrasonic imaging system includes a receive beam former that generates analog receive signals and a scan converter. A receive signal processing path interconnects the receive beamformer and the scan converter, and this processing path includes both an A/D converter characterized by a selectable sampling rate and at least one filter characterized by at least one filter parameter. The filter parameter is selected as a function of the sampling rate to provide enhanced image quality.

Portal Imaging Using A Csi (Tl) Scintillator Coupled To A Cooled Ccd Camera, Amit Sawant

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The purpose of this research was to design a high performance digital portal imaging
system, using a transparent x-ray scintillator coupled to a cooled CCD camera. Theoretical
analysis using Monte Carlo simulation was performed to calculate the QDE, SNR and DQE of
the system. A prototype electronic portal imaging device (EPID) was built, using a 12.7 mm
thick, 20.32 cm diameter, CsI (Tl) scintillator, coupled to an Astromed ® liquid nitrogen cooled
CCD TV camera. The system geometry of the prototype EPID was optimized to achieve high
spatial resolution. Experimental evaluation of the prototype EPID was performed, by
determining its …

Kinematic Analysis Of Obstacle Clearance During Locomotion, Gary P. Austin, Gladys E. Garrett, Richard W. Bohannon

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

This study investigated the effect of obstacles of different heights on the locomotion of 15 healthy subjects. The following parameters were studied: (1) the distance of the toe and heel markers from the obstacle during toe-off and heel contact, respectively, (2) the minimum clearance distance of the toe and heel markers, and (3) the angular displacements and velocities of the hip, knee, and ankle. Results show significant differences in joint angular kinematics and clearance distances as obstacle height increased. The kinematic and distance differences exhibited both strong linear and non-linear trends. Toe-off distance and heel contact distance did not change …

Clinical Debonding Simulation Study Of One Metal And Two Ceramic Brackets, Hyunsup Shim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study is to compare two mechanical debonding methods on ceramic brackets (TP MXi and 3M Clarity) and a metal bracket (GAC OmniArch) with four different bonding materials (light-cured, one-step chemical-cured, two-step chemical-cured, and Fuji GIC) in clinical simulation, where the diametral force was applied on the handle of the pliers. The effectiveness of mechanical debonding technique was determined by evaluating the following variables: the amount of force required to debond the bracket, the amount of residual adhesive remaining on the enamel surface, the frequency of unexpected bracket failure, and the prevalence of visible enamel damage. The …

Race, Gender, And Partnership In The Patient-Physician Relationship, Lisa Cooper-Patrick, Joseph J. Gallo, Junius Gonzales, Hong Thi Vu, Neil R. Powe, Christine Nelson, Daniel E. Ford

Publications from Provost Junius J. Gonzales

Context Many studies have documented race and gender differences in health care received by patients. However, few studies have related differences in the quality of interpersonal care to patient and physician race and gender.

Objective To describe how the race/ethnicity and gender of patients and physicians are associated with physicians' participatory decision-making (PDM) styles.

Design, Setting, and Participants Telephone survey conducted between November 1996 and June 1998 of 1816 adults aged 18 to 65 years (mean age, 41 years) who had recently attended 1 of 32 primary care practices associated with a large mixed-model managed care organization in an urban …

Late Effects Of Ionizing Radiation On Normal Microvascular Networks, Vinh Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Therapeutic doses of ionizing radiation result in changes in the structure and function of microvascular networks in normal tissue. Previously, we reported on the early effects of ionizing radiation on microvascular networks at 3, 7, and 30 days post-irradiation [1-3]. Data from the early time points suggested that ionizing radiation significantly alters the structure and function of microvascular networks and interferes with the normal processes of vessel maturation. Here, we
present our findings on the late effects of ionizing radiation on normal tissue microvasculature at 60, 120, and 180 days post-irradiation. The cremaster muscle of Golden Syrian hamster was locally …

The Accuracy Of Nitrous Oxide Passive Dosimeters As Compared With An Infra-Red Spectrographic Reference Method, Susan Allen

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

Nitrous oxide is a gas often used in dental, surgical and veterinary operations as an anesthetic agent. Employees stationed in proximity of fugitive gas emissions may potentially suffer adverse health effects from chronic exposure to this agent. Passive dosimeters can be worn in the breathing zone of potentially affected personnel during exposure periods, then later analyzed to quantify nitrous oxide exposure. This study sought to establish the accuracy of several commercially available passive monitoring devices for nitrous oxide by comparison against an infra-red spectrophotometric reference method.

An Investigation Into The Noninvasive Assessment Of Bone Density Using Multiplexed Compton Scattered Tomography, Marc J. Sands

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to investigate the application of a Compton scatter imaging technique to measure bone density. A demonstration Multiplexed Compton Scatter Tomograph (MCST) was assembled to demonstrate the feasibility of detecting osteoporosis by modifying a system originally designed to detect hidden corrosion in aluminum aircraft wings. Measurements were performed on an aluminum phantom representing a wrist bone containing varying densities in the center and varying thickness of the cortical shell. The densities in the center are comparable to normal trabecular bone, sixty-percent of normal trabecular bone and a void. The MCST images of the phantom were …

The Effects Of Free Fatty Acids On Gluconeogenesis And Glycogenolysis In Normal Subjects, X Chen, N Iqbal, G Boden

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Faculty Scholarship

We have quantitatively determined gluconeogenesis (GNG) from all precursors, using a novel method employing 2H20 to address the question of whether changes in plasma free fatty acids (FFA) affect GNG in healthy, nonobese subjects. In the first study (n = 6), plasma FFA were lowered at 16 to 20 hours with nicotinic acid (NA) and were then allowed to rise at 20 to 24 hours (FFA rebound after administration of NA). FFA decreased from 387 microM at 16 hours to 43 microM at 20 hours, and then rebounded to 1,823 microM at 24 hours. GNG decreased from 58.1% at 16 …

Affinity Chromatography: A Review Of Clinical Applications, David S. Hage

David Hage Publications

Affinity chromatography is a type of liquid chromatography that makes use of biological-like interactions for the separation and specific analysis of sample components. This review describes the basic principles of affinity chromatography and examines its use in the testing of clinical samples, with an emphasis on HPLCbased methods. Some traditional applications of this approach include the use of boronate, lectin, protein A or protein G, and immunoaffinity supports for the direct quantification of solutes. Newer techniques that use antibody-based columns for on- or off-line sample extraction are examined in detail, as are methods that use affinity chromatography in combination with …

The Atomic Force Microscope In The Elucidation Of Leukocyte Abnormality, Derbrenn O'Connor

Theses

The aim of this project was to investigate the novel use of the atomic force microscope (AFM) as a technique in the elucidation of leukocyte abnormality. To this end, comparative AFM imaging and elasticity studies were performed on normal and myeloid leukaemic leukocytes.

Initially, an evaluation of techniques for the isolation of specific leukocyte (e.g. lymphocytes, granulocytes, etc.) populations from whole blood or leukocyte concentrates, was carried out. It was found that a silanised glass surface failed to select and immobilise a leukocyte population. However, centrifugation of whole blood in an Isopaque-ficoll gradient solution yielded a viable mixed leukocyte population …

Conjugated Bilirubin Measurement Re-Examined: A New 'Approach'., Aidan Kelleher

Theses

Conjugated bilirubin is an important but difficult metabolite to measure accurately, elevated levels of conjugated bilirubin in the serum are indicative of obstructive jaundice and therefore can be used to discriminate this disorder from other forms of unconjugated hyper bilirubinaemia.

Cystic Fibrosis: Biological And Ethical Considerations, Sarah Elizabeth Milam

Honors Theses

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive, multisystem disease whose etiology is a genetic mutation in the CF gene product, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The disorder affects all exocrine glands, with common symptoms involving the lungs and pancreas. Although the CF gene and its protein product have been identified, two aspects of the disease make CF particularly difficult to diagnose and manage: (a) variability in both degree and pattern of the mutation in different individuals and (b) lack of information regarding the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible. Let us begin by examining the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of the …