Therapeutics Commons^™

Kinematic And Kinetic Effects Of Alterations In Lumbar Lordosis In People With Tight Hamstrings, Dema Assaf

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The etiology of nonspecific low back pain is sparsely understood. To better understand the contributing factors to nonspecific low back pain, there are often common concurrent pathologies that are investigated to determine their functional relationship to low back pain. One such pathology, investigated further in this thesis, is tight hamstrings. Specifically, the effect of hamstring length on pelvic position during gait and activities of daily living under normal and altered spinal position were investigated as part of this study in a motion analysis lab.

First, a marker validation study was conducted to ensure the accuracy of sagittal spinal measures of …

Adverse Effects Of Asparaginase In Pediatric Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Chengcheng Liu

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of childhood cancer. Asparaginase is a critical treatment component for ALL. However, its use is complicated by adverse effects, such as hypersensitivity, osteonecrosis and pancreatitis.

Hypersensitivity to asparaginase typically requires discontinuation of current formulation and substitution with other formulations, but the differential diagnosis can be challenging, and the diagnostic utility of antibody tests is unclear. We comprehensively analyzed anti-Elspar (native E.coli asparaginase) IgG antibodies in 410 pediatric patients treated on an asparaginaseintensive front-line clinical trial. Of 169 patients (41.2%) who exhibited clinical allergy, 147 (87.0%) were positive for anti-Elspar antibody. Of …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Prevention Of Infant Torticollis & Plagiocephaly, Anne H. Zachry

Faculty Presentations

AOTA includes health promotion as an Intervention approach in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process. As health care professionals, occupational therapy practitioners are responsible for promoting public health and wellness. Occupational therapists need to educate parents and caregivers about the importance of varying infant positions, providing tummy time, and limiting infant time spent in baby gear.

Total Knee Arthroplasty Wear Is Caused By Malrotation And Excessive Laxity, Erik Woodard

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Total knee arthroplasty is a proven technique which combines specially designed components and surgical processes to treat cartilage degeneration and alleviate pain in arthritic knees. However, this technique is limited by component design and surgical precision. Due to these limitations, knee arthroplasty components will eventually wear out, causing rejection and necessitating the need for a replacement. For this reason, it would be beneficial to experts if the primary causes of this wear could be identified in order to minimize the number of replacements.

This study aims to determine if a correlation exists between instability of a knee joint and the …

A Multidisciplinary Approach To The Prevention Of Infant Torticollis And Plagiocephaly, Anne H. Zachry, S. K. Slaughter

Faculty Presentations

Research suggests that parents are more likely to carry out positioning recommendations from a health care professional than any other source. Occupational therapy practitioners can play an important role in educating parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers about the importance of providing tummy time and limiting infant time spent in baby gear.

In Vitro Manual Therapy And Biorobotic Simulation Of Glenohumeral Joint Mobilization Techniques, Hunter Johnson Smith

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Physical therapists (PT) employ mobilization techniques for restoring range of motion to joints. Few studies have attempted to quantify the biomechanics of manual therapy on the glenohumeral (GH) joint. The objectives of this study were to develop an in vitro protocol to determine the biomechanical effects of joint mobilization on the GH joint, and to then simulate these mobilizations in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) Joint Implant Biomechanics Laboratory’s Robotic Testing Platform (RTP).

The GH joint is an incredibly shallow socket joint. This gives the joint an unusually large range of motion (ROM) compared to other ball …

Effect Of Fixation Using Locked Compression Plate Versus Lag Screws On Biomechanics Of Talonavicular Joint: A Human Cadaveric Foot Model, Rahul Sudheer Ghotge

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Introduction: Talonavicular fusion is a surgery used for treating many hind foot pathologies. A problem associated with the procedure is non-union which may be due to inadequate stabilization. The objective of our study was to compare the effect of two surgical fixation techniques on the motion and biomechanics of the talonavicular joint in a human cadaveric foot model.

Materials and Methods: Thirteen human cadaveric foot specimens were prepared, mounted in a multi-axis programmable robot, and loaded using four loading scenarios. Each of the four loading scenarios consisted of a constant Achilles tendon load of 350N followed by either internal or …

The Use Of Preclinical Models To Improve The Treatment Of Retinoblastoma, Katie Marie Nemeth

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Rodent models play an essential role in the development of new chemotherapeutics and dosing regimes. It is often difficult to carryout a clinical study for pediatric cancers due to the small patient population. Retinoblastoma, a pediatric cancer of the eye, is one example of a pediatric cancer that can benefit from preclinical studies. Over the years various retinoblastoma rodent models have been developed used to test various combination of broad-spectrum systemic chemotherapy. It was found form these studies that the combination of topotecan and carboplatin was effective. However both drugs cause myelosuppression and therefore administrating both of these drugs systemically …

Preosteoblast Behavior On A Synthetic Calcium Phosphate Scaffold Coated With Cell Derived Matrix, Daniel A. Young

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Bone grafts are commonly used for the treatment of large bone defects. Biodegradable, synthetic bone grafts combined with cells and growth factors as a tissue engineered construct can provide benefits over the common autografts and allografts currently used. Calcium phosphate (CaP) materials offer high biocompatibility and chemical similarity to natural bone tissue. Biodegradable beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds with an interconnected porous network have been created to promote tissue ingrowth and regeneration in vitro and in vivo. Extracellular matrix (ECM) coated on titanium and polymer scaffolds has been shown to improve cell response to those material surfaces. Here, we attempted …

Chitosan/Ellagic Acid Composite Materials For Local Cancer Therapy, Sung Woo Kim

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Current advances in the drug delivery have improved the therapeutic efficacy of the drug and minimized risks of side effects associated with toxicity of the drug. Implantable polymeric delivery system has gained increasing attentions for controlled drug release and localized treatments. In comparison to conventional chemotherapy, polymeric delivery systems are implantable at a local targeted site and biodegradable after a sufficient therapeutic span. The objectives of this project were to fabricate and characterize an implantable polymeric vehicle for a local chemotherapy and investigate its biological properties against cancer cells including human WM115 melanoma, human U87 glioblastoma, and rat C6 glioma …

Biomechanical Comparison Of Lumbar Disc Replacements, Peter Wong

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Surgical options for lumbar spinal disorders are rapidly expanding. One seemingly promising area is the lumbar disc replacement. Design specifications vary among the manufacturers based upon differing perceptions of ideal motion. Comparison studies are important in quantifying different features for future improvements but are currently lacking. The objective of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of three currently available treatments: disc replacement with ProDisc-L, disc replacement with Maverick, and a pedicle screw fixation. It was hypothesized that structural designs differences of ProDisc-L and Maverick could be distinguished in both motion and loading patterns. It was also hypothesized that …

The Role Of Inflammation In The Early Radiation Response, Christy Marie Wilson

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Radiation is one of the principal treatments for adults and children with brain tumors, and is one of the oldest established treatments for tumors of all types. Currently, the limiting factor for the use of radiation is the effect on normal tissue adjacent to the tumor. Toxicity, including early and late effects from radiation, limits the dose administered to the tumor and reduces the probability of cure. This work has three aims in its attempt to understand and limit early radiation damage: characterize the role of the inflammatory molecules tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in …

The Combined Effect Of In-Situ Tumor And Irradiation On Peritumoral Brain Vasculature, Janice Ann Zawaski

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

In the USA, 200,000 brain tumors are diagnosed each year with glioma representing 8.4% of the 200,000. The standard treatment for glioma consists of surgical resection, when possible, followed by radiation therapy (RT) and/or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is one of the most effective treatments of brain tumors; however, the therapeutic ratio of RT is limited by damage to the normal tissue. We hypothesize that tumor growth has an adverse effect on the peritumoral tissue through the angiogenic/inflammatory environment it creates rendering it susceptible to further damage by RT which may be prevented by using anti-angiogenic/anti-inflammatory agents. We have developed a …

Kinematic Demands Of Nucleus Arthroplasty Technology, Elizabeth J. Sander

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Recent advancements in biomaterial technologies have fostered growth in alternative surgical procedures to fusion surgery for treatment of early stages of degenerative disc disease. One application of immediate interest is that of nucleus arthroplasty (NA). Novel materials are being developed to better match the nonlinear biomechanical properties of the native tissue. The effects of changing the motion segment unit (MSU) properties via surgery (nucleotomy) or placement of a nucleus arthroplasty material, changes the effort or work required to move the altered spine condition through a prescribed kinematic path relative to the intact spine condition. The closer the loading mechanics of …

Functional Significance Of The Upregulation Of Adhesion Molecules On Irradiated Endothelial Cells, Balabhaskar Prabhakarpandian

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Ionizing radiation is a major therapy for cancer. Damage to the endothelium and upregulation of inflammatory responses are major side effects of radiotherapy, but the mechanisms behind these processes are not clear. A key component of the inflammatory response is leukocytes adhesion to the endothelium in a multi-step process involving leukocyte tethering to the endothelium, followed by rolling, firm adhesion/spreading and extravasation. Adhesion molecules mediate this process, particularly, E-selectin and ICAM-1, which are inducible adhesion molecules. E-selectin is involved in the initial tethering and rolling steps of the adhesion cascade while ICAM-1 appears to be involved in the latter steps. …

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 …

Job Accommodation In The Automobile Industry : Addressing The Problem Of Lateral Epicondylitis, Thanigaivel Ashwin Raj

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Cumulative trauma disorders are musculoskeletal problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tendinitis, and epicondylitis which can affect assembly line workers. The injuries are thought to result from repetitive motions performed under excessive loads in anomalous postures. The project aimed to design, build, install, and evaluate worksite accommodation at the Saturn plant for a worker with right lateral epicondylitis. The goal was to make her fully functional in her original team which required addressing the injurious aspects of the task that caused or aggravated her injury.

A process of observation, interview, and analysis identified “the door mount” operation on …

J.T.: A Case Of Mitral Valve Prolapse, F. Matthew Mihelic

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Root Surface Area Related To Anchorage In The Begg Technique, Donald Copeland Freeman

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Almost two hundred years ago Hunter recognized the necessity of extracting teeth to ’’procure room for the others which are to be brought into the arch.” He further noted that, ”To extract an irregular tooth would answer but little purpose if no alteration could be made in the situation of the rest.”¹

Extraction of selected teeth to gain room for the proper placement of the rest, and the subsequent procedures to utilize this space to the utmost advantage, have been integral parts of orthodontic treatment for many years.

Strang and Thompson² stated that the ability to manipulate any …