Diseases Commons^™

Looking To The Future Of Stroke Treatment: Combining Recanalization And Neuroprotection In Acute Ischemic Stroke, Michael E. Maniskas

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Stroke is the 5^th leading cause of death in the U.S. with 130,000 deaths and around 800,000 affected annually. Currently, there is a significant disconnect between basic stroke research and clinical stroke therapeutic needs. Few animal models of stroke target the large vessels that produce cortical deficits seen in the clinical setting. Also, current routes of drug administration, intraperitoneal and intravenous, do not mimic the clinical route of intra-arterial drug administration. To bridge this divide, we have retro-engineered a mouse model of stroke from the current standard of care for emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) stroke, endovascular thrombectomy, to …

Vena Cava Filter Utilization And Retrieval: A Quality Of Care Issue, Joshua Brown

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Vena cava filters (VCFs) are mechanical devices implanted in the inferior vena cava to trap thrombi from travelling to the pulmonary circulation, resulting in pulmonary embolism. VCFs are available as permanent or non-permanent, retrievable devices and are generally indicated for use in patients unable to receive systemic anticoagulation or at exceedingly high risk for pulmonary embolism (PE). Retrievable devices allow for removal of the VCF once the contraindication to anticoagulation or high risk of PE has abated. Since the introduction of retrievable VCFs in the early 2000’s, use of VCFs has increased three-fold, with >85% of all VCFs placed being …

Development And Application Of Gadolinium Free Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Fibrosis Imaging For Multiscale Study Of Heart Failure In Patients With End Stage Renal Disease, Tori A. Stromp

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a powerful tool to noninvasively image ventricular fibrosis. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) CMR identifies focal and, with T1 mapping, diffuse fibrosis. Despite prevalent cardiac fibrosis and heart failure, patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) are excluded from LGE. Absence of a suitable diagnostic has limited the understanding of heart failure and obstructed development of therapies in the setting of ESRD. A quantitative, gadolinium free fibrosis detection method could overcome this critical barrier, propelling the advancement of diagnostic, monitoring, and therapy options. This project describes the development of a gadolinium free CMR technique and application …

Evaluation Of A Diabetes Self-Management Program For Hispanics In Lexington Kentucky: A Pilot Study, Miguel A. Gamboa Oropeza

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Hispanics are more affected by diabetes than non-Hispanic whites and they tend to experience more severe complications. Research shows that although self-management is poor among ethnic minorities, it is even more so among Hispanics. The “Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes” (TOYD) program has been shown to be successful in helping individuals manage their diabetes. However, no work has been conducted with Hispanic audiences in Kentucky. TOYD program allows individuals to modify lifestyle risks and solve problems related to diabetes management. The program was translated from English to Spanish. Hispanics males and females between ages 19 to 75 years …

Effects Of Nox-1 Inhibition On Real-Time Blood Nitric Oxide And Hydrogen Peroxide In Acute Hyperglycemia, Ashley Mawhinney

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Hyperglycemia has been associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction in part by a reduction in nitric oxide (NO) production and increased oxidative stress (e.g., increased superoxide (SO) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Endothelial-derived NO can be significantly reduced by increased SO/H₂O₂ in part by the activation of NADPH oxidase during hyperglycemia. Of the 7 NADPH oxidase isoforms, NADPH oxidase isoform 1 (NOX1) is mainly expressed in the vasculature and may play a major role in hyperglycemia induced oxidative stress and vascular endothelial dysfunction. This hypothesis was tested by measuring blood NO and H2O2 levels in …

Intrahepatic Cholestasis Of Pregnancy With Severe Elevation Of Bile Acids In The Setting Of Acute Hepatitis C Infection, Megan L. Lawlor, Agatha S. Critchfield

Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Publications

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a complication of pregnancy resulting in elevation of serum bile acid levels. ICP is often associated with underlying liver disease, including hepatitis C. Bile acids in relationship to the acute infection of hepatitis C virus have not yet been delineated in the literature. A 26-year-old gravida 4 para 2103 with dichorionic, diamniotic twin gestation and history of intravenous drug abuse developed ICP in the setting of acute hepatitis C infection. In addition to clinical symptoms of pruritus and right upper quadrant pain, she developed severe elevation in bile acids, 239 micromol/L, and transaminitis aspartate …

Editorial: Biology Of Cognitive Aging: Model Systems, Technologies, And Beyond, Shin Murakami

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Osteopathic Medicine

The author provides an introduction to a research issue of Frontiers in Genetics on models and techniques related to age-related memory impairment.

Success Of Bubble Cpap In Treatment Of Respiratory Distress Syndrome In Preterm Infants, Tufail Soomro, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani

Community Health Sciences

Background: To observe the survival of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome treated with bubble CPAP in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the NICU of Civil hospital Sukkur from 1st July 2013 to 18th August 2015. All consecutively born preterm neonates with gestational age between 27 weeks to 36 weeks of gestation, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with respiratory distress are included in the study.These neonates were managed by Bubble continuous positive airway pressure (bCPAP) in combination with surfactant (bovine derivative) via intubation, Surfactant replacement, extubation (INSURE) protocol Success was considered …

Sglt2 Inhibitor Therapy Improves Blood Glucose But Does Not Prevent Diabetic Bone Disease In Diabetic Dba/2j Male Mice, Kathryn M. Thrailkill, R. Clay Bunn, Jeffry S. Nyman, Mallikarjuna R. Rettiganti, Gael E. Cockrell, Elizabeth C. Wahl, Sasidhar Uppuganti, Charles K. Lumpkin, John L. Fowlkes

Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center Faculty Publications

Persons with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have increased fracture risk, attributed to deficits in the microarchitecture and strength of diabetic bone, thought to be mediated, in part, by the consequences of chronic hyperglycemia. Therefore, to examine the effects of a glucose-lowering SGLT2 inhibitor on blood glucose (BG) and bone homeostasis in a model of diabetic bone disease, male DBA/2J mice with or without streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia were fed chow containing the SGLT2 inhibitor, canagliflozin (CANA), or chow without drug, for 10 weeks of therapy. Thereafter, serum bone biomarkers were measured, fracture resistance of cortical bone was assessed by …

Perceptions And Attitudes Of A Sample Of Primary Care Patients Receiving Psychological Care From Their Pcp, Nadine Henzes Gowarty

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

With millions of Americans suffering from a mental health disorder and slightly more than half receiving treatment, the demand for psychological services far outweighs the number of practitioners available to provide direct care. Therefore, the majority of all primary-care visits are based on psychosocial factors; one third of a PCP’s caseloads consist of patients with mental-health problems. Given the fact that PCPs provide comprehensive psychosocial care, it is important to determine the beliefs and perceptions of their patients. Results from this study identified numerous factors that influence the relationship between patients receiving mental health care from their PCP. Specifically, if …

Overcoming Treatment Resistance In Heterogeneous Tumors, Nikhil Hebbar

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Most primary tumors are heterogeneous and are often composed of therapy-sensitive and emerging therapy-resistant cancer cells. Rather unexpectedly, treatment of therapy-sensitive tumor cells in heterogeneous tumor microenvironments resulted in apoptosis of the therapy-resistant cancer cells. We identified a novel Par-4 amino-terminal fragment (PAF, which includes amino acids 1-131 of Par-4) that is produced and released by therapy-sensitive cancer cells following therapy-induced caspase-dependent cleavage of the tumor suppressor Par-4. PAF caused paracrine apoptosis in therapy-resistant cancer cells. Unlike Par-4-inducible apoptosis, which is dependent on the cell surface GRP78 receptor, PAF produced cancer-selective apoptosis independent of cell surface GRP78 function. Par-4 contains …

Vague Neuroglycopenic Complaints Camouflage Diagnosis Of Adolescent Insulinoma: A Case Report., Kelsee Halpin, Ryan Mcdonough, Patria Alba, Jared Halpin, Vivekanand Singh, Yun Yan

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Insulinoma is a rare diagnosis in the general population with estimates of 1 in 250,000 people per year. Reports of these pancreatic islet cell tumors are even more unusual in children and adolescents. Chronic hypoglycemia due to an insulinoma often presents with neuroglycopenic symptoms that can easily be overlooked, especially in adolescents where nonspecific complaints are common. This may result in delayed diagnosis with prolonged periods of untreated hypoglycemia and associated complications. The rarity of pediatric insulinoma, vagueness of presenting symptoms, and challenge of tumor localization make insulinoma a true diagnostic quandary for clinicians.

CASE PRESENTATION: In this report, …

Randomized Trial Of Late Surfactant Treatment In Ventilated Preterm Infants Receiving Inhaled Nitric Oxide., Roberta A. Ballard, Roberta L. Keller, Dennis M. Black, Philip L. Ballard, Jeffrey D. Merrill, Eric C. Eichenwald, William E Truog, Mark C. Mammel, Robin H. Steinhorn, Elizabeth E. Rogers, Rita M. Ryan, David J. Durand, Jeanette M. Asselin, Catherine M. Bendel, Ellen M. Bendel-Stenzel, Sherry E. Courtney, Ramasubbareddy Dhanireddy, Mark L. Hudak, Frances R. Koch, Dennis E. Mayock, Victor J. Mckay, T Michael O'Shea, Nicolas F. Porta, Rajan Wadhawan, Lisa Palermo, Tolsurf Study Group

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether late surfactant treatment in extremely low gestational age (GA) newborn infants requiring ventilation at 7-14 days, who often have surfactant deficiency and dysfunction, safely improves survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

STUDY DESIGN: Extremely low GA newborn infants (GA ≤28 0/7 weeks) who required mechanical ventilation at 7-14 days were enrolled in a randomized, masked controlled trial at 25 US centers. All infants received inhaled nitric oxide and either surfactant (calfactant/Infasurf) or sham instillation every 1-3 days to a maximum of 5 doses while intubated. The primary outcome was survival at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) without …

Allergic Diseases And Internalizing Behaviors In Early Childhood., Maya K. Nanda, Grace K. Lemasters, Linda Levin, Marc E. Rothenberg, Amal H. Assa'ad, Nicholas Newman, David Bernstein, Gurjit Khurana-Hershey, James E. Lockey, Patrick H. Ryan

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The relationship between allergic diseases and internalizing disorders has not been well characterized with regard to multiple allergic diseases or longitudinal study. The objective of this study was to examine the association between multiple allergic diseases in early childhood with validated measures of internalizing disorders in the school-age years.

METHODS: Children enrolled in the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study underwent skin testing and examinations at ages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 years. At age 7, parents completed the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2), a validated measure of childhood behavior and emotion. …

Modulation Of Body Weight By Intestinal Flora In Orphan Nuclear Receptor Shp-/- Mice, Ryan Mifflin

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The whole-body deletion of small heterodimer partner (SHP) in mice is associated with protection from diet-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis upon feeding of a western diet. This protection was reported to be mediated through decreases in hepatic gene expression for lipogenesis, as well as increases in gene expression for fatty acid oxidation. SHP has been known to regulate the expression of the CYP7A1 gene, encoding the rate-limiting enzyme for bile acid synthesis, thereby altering the bile acid pool. The effects of this altered bile acid profile on the gut microbiome are unknown, as some bacteria in the gut are responsible …

"I Always Worry About What Might Happen Ahead" : Implementing Safer Conception Services In The Current Environment Of Reproductive Counseling For Hiv-Affected Men And Women In Uganda, Lynn T. Matthews, Francis Bajunirwe, Jasmine Kastner, Naomi Sanyu, Cecilia Akatukwasa, Courtney Ng, Rachel Rifkin, Cecilia Milford, Lizzie Moore, Ira B. Wilson, David Bangsberg, Jennifer A. Smit, Angela Kaida

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background. We explored healthcare provider perspectives and practices regarding safer conception counseling for HIV-affected clients. Methods.We conducted semistructured interviews with 38 providers (medical and clinical officers, nurses, peer counselors, and village health workers) delivering care to HIV-infected clients across 5 healthcare centres in Mbarara District, Uganda. Interview transcripts were analyzed using content analysis. Results. Of 38 providers, 76% were women with median age 34 years (range 24–57). First, we discuss providers’ reproductive counseling practices. Emergent themes include that providers (1) assess reproductive goals of HIV-infected female clients frequently, but infrequently for male clients; (2) offer counseling focused on “family planning” …

An Evaluation Of The Screening And Management Of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Laura A. Cahoe

DNP Projects

Purpose: This purpose of this project was to evaluate preventive screening practices and adherence to guidelines for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) as recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in the primary care setting. The specific aims were to: 1) determine the percentage of patients who received recommended screenings from the ADA, 2) determine the percentage of patients who received recommended screenings from the USPSTF, and 3) determine if the proportion of patients to receive the recommended screenings met established benchmarks set by Healthy People 2020 (HP2020).

Methods: A retrospective …

Ketogenic Diet Decreases Emergency Room Visits And Hospitalizations Related To Epilepsy., Husam R. Kayyali, Anastasia Luniova, Ahmed Abdelmoity

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background. Approximately, one-third of patients with epilepsy are refractory to pharmacological treatment which mandates extensive medical care and imposes significant economic burden on patients and their societies. This study intends to assess the impact of the treatment with ketogenic diet (KD) on reducing seizure-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations in children with refractory epilepsy. Methods. This is a retrospective review of children treated with the KD in one tertiary center. We compared a 12 months' period prior to KD with 12 months after the diet was started in regard to the number of emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, …

Contraceptive Provision To Adolescent Females Prescribed Teratogenic Medications., Stephani L. Stancil, Melissa K. Miller, Holley Briggs, Daryl Lynch, Kathy Goggin, Gregory Kearns

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rates of adult women receiving contraceptive provision when simultaneously prescribed a known teratogen are alarmingly low. The prevalence of this behavior among pediatric providers and their adolescent patients is unknown. The objective of this study was to describe pediatric provider behaviors for prescribing teratogens concurrently with counseling, referral, and/or prescribing of contraception (collectively called contraceptive provision) in the adolescent population.

METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted examining visits in 2008-2012 by adolescents aged 14 to 25 years in which a known teratogen (US Food and Drug Administration pregnancy risk category D or X) was prescribed. The electronic …

Whole-Genome Sequencing And Disability In The Nicu: Exploring Practical And Ethical Challenges., Michael J. Deem

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Clinical whole-genome sequencing (WGS) promises to deliver faster diagnoses and lead to better management of care in the NICU. However,several disability rights advocates have expressed concern that clinical use of genetic technologies may reinforce and perpetuate stigmatization of and discrimination against disabled persons in medical and social contexts. There is growing need, then, for clinicians and bioethicists to consider how the clinical use of WGS in the newborn period might exacerbate such harms to persons with disabilities. This article explores ways to extend these concerns to clinical WGS in neonatal care. By considering these perspectives during the early phases of …

Epidural Hematoma Treated Conservatively: When To Expect The Worst, Julie Lamoureux

All Publications

Background: The Brain Trauma Foundation’s 2006 surgical guidelines have objectively defined the epidural hematoma (EDH) patients who can be treated conservatively. Since then, the literature has not provided adequate clues to identify patients who are at higher risk for EDH progression (EDHP) and conversion to surgical therapy. The goal of our study was to identify those patients.

Methods: We carried a retrospective review over a 5-year period of all EDH who were initially triaged for conservative management. Demographic data, injury severity and history, neurological status, use of anticoagulants or anti-platelets, radiological parameters, conversion to surgery and its timing, and Glasgow …

Medical Interns', Residents' And Attending Physicians' Attitudes Towards Integrative Medicine And Recommended Treatments For Patients With Psoriasis, Jennifer L. Pacyon

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Background: Psoriasis is a multifactorial disease that effect approximately 7.5 million Americans. There are a variety of traditional treatments for psoriasis (e.g. topical medications, biologics) that for many, are effective in combating the disease. However, traditional treatments often have aversive side effects and may not be appropriate for every patient (e.g. pregnant women). Additionally, the efficacy of these medications are variable leaving some looking for adjunctive treatment options. There is increasing evidence to support the use of adjunctive treatments for psoriatic patients (e.g. psychotherapy, mindfulness). However, research is variable in regards to medical professionals’ attitudes towards integrative medicine (IM) as …

Putting Prep Into Practice: Lessons Learned From Early-Adopting U.S. Providers’ Firsthand Experiences Providing Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis And Associated Care, Sarah K. Calabrese, Manya Magnus, Kenneth H. Mayer, Douglas S. Krakower, Adam I. Eldahan, Lauren A. Gaston Hawkins, Nathan B. Hansen, Trace S. Kershaw, Kristen Underhill, Joseph R. Betancourt, John F. Dovidio

Faculty Scholarship

Optimizing access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an evidence-based HIV prevention resource, requires expanding healthcare providers’ adoption of PrEP into clinical practice. This qualitative study explored PrEP providers’ firsthand experiences relative to six commonly-cited barriers to prescription – financial coverage, implementation logistics, eligibility determination, adherence concerns, side effects, and anticipated behavior change (risk compensation) – as well as their recommendations for training PrEP-inexperienced providers. U.S.-based PrEP providers were recruited via direct outreach and referral from colleagues and other participants (2014-2015). One-on-one interviews were conducted in person or by phone, transcribed, and analyzed. The sample (n = 18) primarily practiced …

Renal And Cardiovascular Morbidities Associated With Apol1 Status Among African-American And Non-African-American Children With Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis., Robert P. Woroniecki, Derek K. Ng, Sophie Limou, Cheryl A. Winkler, Kimberly J. Reidy, Mark Mitsnefes, Matthew G. Sampson, Craig S. Wong, Bradley A. Warady, Susan L. Furth, Jeffrey B. Kopp, Frederick J. Kaskel

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: African-American (AA) children with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) have later onset disease that progresses more rapidly than in non-AA children. It is unclear how APOL1 genotypes contribute to kidney disease risk, progression, and cardiovascular morbidity in children.

DESIGN SETTING PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS: We examined the prevalence of APOL1 genotypes and associated cardiovascular phenotypes among children with FSGS in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) study; an ongoing multicenter prospective cohort study of children aged 1-16 years with mild to moderate kidney disease.

RESULTS: A total of 140 AA children in the CKiD study were genotyped. High …

Typical Hus: Evidence Of Acute Phase Complement Activation From A Daycare Outbreak, T M. Brady, C Pruette, L F. Loeffler, Darcy Weidemann, J J. Strouse, E Gavriilaki, R A. Brodsky

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The clinical manifestations of typical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) encompass a wide spectrum. Despite the potentially severe sequelae from this syndrome, treatment approaches remain supportive. We present the clinical course of a child who contracted Shiga toxin-positive E. coli (STEC) from a daycare center during an outbreak. Utilizing the modified Ham test which is a rapid, serum-based functional assay used to detect activation of the alternative pathway of complement as observed in atypical HUS, patient sera revealed evidence of increased complement activation in the acute phase of the syndrome but not after resolution. Further, this complement activation was attenuated by …

Hematologic Outcomes After Total Splenectomy And Partial Splenectomy For Congenital Hemolytic Anemia., Brian R Englum, Jennifer Rothman, Sarah Leonard, Audra Reiter, Courtney Thornburg, Mary Brindle, Nicola Wright, Matthew M Heeney, C Jason Smithers, Rebeccah L Brown, Theodosia Kalfa, Jacob C Langer, Michaela Cada, Keith T Oldham, J Paul Scott, Mukta Sharma, Andrew M Davidoff, Kerri Nottage, Kathryn Bernabe, David B Wilson, Sanjeev Dutta, Bertil Glader, Shelley E Crary, Melvin S Dassinger, Levette Dunbar, Saleem Islam, Manjusha Kumar, Fred Rescorla, Steve Bruch, Andrew Campbell, Mary Austin, Robert Sidonio, Martin L Blakely, Henry E Rice, Splenectomy In Congenital Hemolytic Anemia Consortium, Shawn D. St Peter

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to define the hematologic response to total splenectomy (TS) or partial splenectomy (PS) in children with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) or sickle cell disease (SCD).

Methods: The Splenectomy in Congenital Hemolytic Anemia (SICHA) consortium registry collected hematologic outcomes of children with CHA undergoing TS or PS to 1 year after surgery. Using random effects mixed modeling, we evaluated the association of operative type with change in hemoglobin, reticulocyte counts, and bilirubin. We also compared laparoscopic to open splenectomy.

Results: The analysis included 130 children, with 62.3% (n=81) undergoing TS. For children with HS, all …

The Challenge Of Analyzing The Results Of Next-Generation Sequencing In Children., Isabelle Thiffault, John Lantos

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

In recent years, next-generation sequencing technologies have revolutionized approaches to genetic studies. Whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing allows diagnoses in many patients who have complex phenotypes and unusual clinical presentations. As genomic and exomic testing expands in both the research and clinical settings, pediatricians will need to understand the technology of next-generation sequencing and the complexity of interpreting genomic variants relevant to patient phenotypic features. This article briefly explains the technology by which genomes are sequenced and discusses some of the complexity related to interpreting genomic variants. We conclude with some thoughts on the clinical applications of such testing.

Slug Bug: Quality Improvement With Orchestrated Testing Leads To Nicu Clabsi Reduction., Anthony J. Piazza, Beverly Brozanski, Lloyd Provost, Theresa R. Grover, John Chuo, Joan R. Smith, Teresa Mingrone, Susan Moran, Lorna Morelli, Isabella Zaniletti, Eugenia K. Pallotto

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: Reduce central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates 15% over 12 months in children's hospital NICUs. Use orchestrated testing as an approach to identify important CLABSI prevention practices.

METHODS: Literature review, expert opinion, and benchmarking were used to develop clinical practice recommendations for central line care. Four existing CLABSI prevention strategies (tubing change technique, hub care monitoring, central venous catheter access limitation, and central venous catheter removal monitoring) were identified for study. We compared the change in CLABSI rates from baseline throughout the study period in 17 participating centers. Using orchestrated testing, centers were then placed into 1 of 8 …

Genetic Variation In The Histamine Production, Response, And Degradation Pathway Is Associated With Histamine Pharmacodynamic Response In Children With Asthma., Bridgette Jones, Catherine M T Sherwin, Xiaoxi Liu, Hongying Dai, Carrie A. Vyhlidal

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Introduction: There is growing knowledge of the wide ranging effects of histamine throughout the body therefore it is important to better understand the effects of this amine in patients with asthma. We aimed to explore the association between histamine pharmacodynamic (PD) response and genetic variation in the histamine pathway in children with asthma. Methods: Histamine Iontophoresis with Laser Doppler Monitoring (HILD) was performed in children with asthma and estimates for area under the effect curve (AUEC), maximal response over baseline (Emax), and time of Emax (Tmax) were calculated using non-compartmental analysis and non-linear mixed-effects model with a linked effect PK/PD …

Genetic And Epigenetic Mechanisms Of Complex Reproductive Disorders, Bhavi P. Modi

Theses and Dissertations

Common, complex disorders are polygenic and multifactorial traits representing interactions between environmental, genetic and epigenetic risk factors. More often than not, contributions of these risk factors have been studied individually and this is especially true for complex reproductive traits where application of genomic technologies has been challenging and slow to progress. This thesis explores the potential of genetic and epigenetic components contributing to a better understanding of the biological pathways underlying disease risk in two specific female complex reproductive traits - polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). The PCOS projects focus on characterization of a …