Diseases Commons^™

The Role Of Cd4 T Cells In The Pathogenesis Of Murine Aids, Wen Li, William R. Green

Dartmouth Scholarship

LP-BM5, a retroviral isolate, induces a disease featuring retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency, designated murine AIDS (MAIDS). Many of the features of the LP-BM5-induced syndrome are shared with human immunodeficiency virus-induced disease. For example, CD4 T cells are critical to the development of MAIDS. In vivo depletion of CD4 T cells before LP-BM5 infection rendered genetically susceptible B6 mice MAIDS resistant. Similarly, MAIDS did not develop in B6.nude mice. However, if reconstituted with CD4 T cells, B6.nude mice develop full-blown MAIDS. Our laboratory has shown that the interaction of B and CD4 T cells that is central to MAIDS pathogenesis requires ligation of …

Hepatitis B And C: Prevalence And Risk Factors Associated With Seropositivity Among Children In Karachi, Pakistan, Wasim Jafri, Nadim Jafri, Javed Yakoob, Muhammad Islam, Syed Farhan Ali Tirmizi, Tazeen Jafar, Saeed Akhtar, Saeed Hamid, Hasnain Ali Shah, Sheikh Qamaruddin Nizami

Section of Gastroenterology

Background

Infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can lead to chronic liver disease and hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC). This cross-sectional study estimated the prevalence and identified risk factors associated with Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HCV antibody (anti-HCV) sero-positivity among children 1 to 15 years of age.

Methods

The study targeted the low to middle socioeconomic population that comprises 80% to 85% of the population. Consent was obtained from parents of the eligible children before administering questionnaire and collected a blood sample for anti-HCV and HBsAg serology.

Results

3533 children were screened for HBsAg and …

Hierarchical Models For Combining Ecological And Case-Control Data, Sebastien Haneuse, Jon Wakefield

UW Biostatistics Working Paper Series

The ecological study design suffers from a broad range of biases that result from the loss of information regarding the joint distribution of individual-level outcomes, exposures and confounders. The consequent non-identifiability of individual-level models cannot be overcome without additional information; we combine ecological data with a sample of individual-level case-control data. The focus of this paper is hierarchical models to account for between-group heterogeneity. Estimation and inference pose serious compu- tational challenges. We present a Bayesian implementation, based on a data augmentation scheme where the unobserved data are treated as auxiliary variables. The methods are illustrated with a dataset of …

Disease Mapping And Spatial Regression With Count Data, Jon Wakefield

UW Biostatistics Working Paper Series

In this paper we provide critical reviews of methods suggested for the analysis of aggregate count data in the context of disease mapping and spatial regression. We introduce a new method for picking prior distributions, and propose a number of refinements of previously-used models. We also consider ecological bias, mutual standardization, and choice of both spatial model and prior specification. We analyze male lip cancer incidence data collected in Scotland over the period 1975–1980, and outline a number of problems with previous analyses of these data. A number of recommendations are provided. In disease mapping studies, hierarchical models can provide …

Physician And Patient Barriers To Adherence With Cholesterol Guidelines, Lynne J. Goebel, Asim J. Khattak, Fadl Ballony, Todd W. Gress

Internal Medicine

Several national studies have shown poor compliance with National Cholesterol Education Program II (NCEP) goals. A study we conducted of patients in the General Internal Medicine Clinic at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington showed that 46% of them were not at NCEP goals. We hypothesized that both patient and physician barriers were responsible for these findings so we administered two surveys about barriers to cholesterol management to 261 random patients identified with hypercholesterolemia and to all 50 residents and faculty at the clinic. We identified insufficient knowledge of low cholesterol foods as a patient …

Knowledge, Attitude And Misconceptions Regarding Tuberculosis In Pakistani Patients, Javaid Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Irfan, Amna Zaki, Madiha Beg, Syed Fayyaz Hussain, Nadeem Rizvi

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

Objective:

To assess knowledge of patients with tuberculosis; about their disease and misconceptions regarding TB.

Methods:

A cross sectional study was conducted at Out-patient clinics of two teaching hospitals (private and public) in Karachi, Pakistan. A questionnaire was filled for the purpose.

Results:

A total of 170 patients were interviewed, 112 from private and 58 from a public sector hospital. Cough, fever, bloody sputum and chest pain were recognized as the common symptoms of TB. Eleven (7%) patients thought TB was not an infectious disease and 18 (10.6%) did not consider it a preventable disease. Contaminated food was considered the …

Abdominal Pain With Rigidity Secondary To The Anti-Emetic Drug Metoclopramide, Nadeem Ullah Khan, Junaid A. Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

We report a case of abdominal pain with rigidity, mimicking an acute abdomen, caused by metoclopramide, a common anti-emetic drug. Extrapyramidal symptoms are commonly reported side-effects of this medication. They generally include involuntary movements of limbs, torticollis, oculogyric crisis, rhythmic protrusion of tongue, trismus, or dystonic reactions resembling tetanus, etc. Abdominal rigidity due to this medication, resembling an acute abdomen, has not been reported previously. This case report illustrates the importance of considering medication side-effects when evaluating a patient with abdominal pain and rigidity.

Dental Maturation In Children Treated For Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Michael Grey Weathersby

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a life-threatening disease primarily affecting children. Treatment currently consists of chemotherapy sometimes in combination with head irradiation. The literature documents the damage of treatment to the teeth (e.g., congenital absence, microdontia, abnormal crown- root ratios). The present study assessed the effects of treatment for ALL on the tempos of dental maturation (i.e., dental age) in a mixed longitudinal sample of 72 children treated for ALL at St Jude's Children's' Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. Panoramic radiographs had been taken as indicated to assess and maintain dental health in this retrospective study. Dental age was quantified both …

Frequency Of Nsaid Induced Peptic Ulcer Disease, Saeed Hamid, Javed Yakoob, Wasim Jafri, Shanul Islam, Shahab Abid, Muhammad Islam

Section of Gastroenterology

Objective:

To determine the frequency of peptic ulcer disease in patients on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

Methods:

Record of eight hundred and twenty consecutive patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy; from January 1998 to December 2000 were reviewed. The endoscopic diagnosis varied from gastritis, peptic ulcer to duodenitis. The use of NSAID was documented by reviewing medical records of patients with peptic ulcer.

Results:

Peptic ulcers were found in 43% (353/820) patients. NSAID associated peptic ulcers were identified in 14.7% (52/353) patients. Diclofenac and aspirin were most common NSAIDs associated with peptic ulcers in 32.7% (17/52) and 30.7% (16/52) patients, …

Influence Of Human Papillomavirus 16 E6 On Trail-Mediated Apoptosis, Theodore O. Garnett

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Viruses have developed sophisticated strategies to evade host defenses and facilitate the production and spread of progeny. HPV 16, whose immune evasion activities can contribute to cervical cancer, is a prime example of such a virus. In this study, we examined the influence of HPV 16 E6 on TRAIL-induced FADD-dependent and -independent pathways in two cellular models: HCT116 colon carcinoma cells and U2OS osteosarcoma cells. We show that transfection of the HPV 16 E6 oncogene into HCT116 cells provides protection from TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Additionally, we demonstrate that the protection provided by E6 is dose-dependent because higher levels of E6 provide …

Hand-Wrist Bone Age In Children Treated For Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Mary Elizabeth Martin

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy of childhood, constituting 31 percent of all childhood malignancies. Treatment strategies to target ALL include chemotherapeutic agents, irradiation of the neck and/or spine, and bone marrow transplantation. The aggressive nature of antineoplastic therapies often produces numerous craniofacial and dental sequelae as well as additional harmful effects to the entire body. Cranial irradiation may adversely affect the hypothalamic-pituitary axis decreasing growth hormone production. Consequently, children with ALL may experience a transient or permanent reduction in growth iatrogenically. Hand-wrist radiographs are valuable for evaluating maturational status in children with ALL. These radiographs allow …

The Vaccinia-Related Kinases Phosphorylate The N' Terminus Of Baf, Regulating Its Interaction With Dna And Its Retention In The Nucleus, R. Jeremy Nichols, Matthew S. Wiebe, Paula Traktman

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The vaccinia-related kinases (VRKs) comprise a branch of the casein kinase family whose members are characterized by homology to the vaccinia virus B1 kinase. The VRK orthologues encoded by Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster play an essential role in cell division; however, substrates that mediate this role have yet to be elucidated. VRK1 can complement the temperature sensitivity of a vaccinia B1 mutant, implying that VRK1 and B1 have overlapping substrate specificity. Herein, we demonstrate that B1, VRK1, and VRK2 efficiently phosphorylate the extreme N' terminus of the BAF protein (Barrier to Autointegration Factor). BAF binds to both DNA and …

Incidence And Outcome Of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation In Patients With Shunted Single Ventricle: Advantage Of Right Ventricle To Pulmonary Artery Shunt., Eric M. Graham, Geoffrey A. Forbus, Scott M. Bradley, Girish S. Shirali, Andrew M. Atz

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Lack Of Il-15 Results In The Suboptimal Priming Of Cd4+ T Cell Response Against An Intracellular Parasite, Crescent L. Combe, Magali M. Moretto, Joseph D. Schwartzman, Jason P. Gigley, David J. Bzik, Imtiaz A. Khan

Dartmouth Scholarship

IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ T cells, although important for protection against acute Toxoplasma gondii infection, can cause gut pathology, which may prove to be detrimental for host survival. Here we show that mice lacking IL-15 gene develop a down-regulated IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ T cell response against the parasite, which leads to a reduction in gut necrosis and increased level of survival against infection. Moreover, transfer of immune CD4+ T cells from WT to IL-15-/- mice reversed inhibition of gut pathology and caused mortality equivalent to levels of parental WT mice. Down-regulated CD4+ T cell response in the absence of IL-15, manifested as reduced …

A Role For Cetp Taqib Polymorphism In Determining Susceptibility To Atrial Fibrillation: A Nested Case Control Study, Folkert W. Asselbergs, Jason H. Moore, Maarten P. Van Den Berg, Eric B. Rimm

Dartmouth Scholarship

Studies investigating the genetic and environmental characteristics of atrial fibrillation (AF) may provide new insights in the complex development of AF. We aimed to investigate the association between several environmental factors and loci of candidate genes, which might be related to the presence of AF. A nested case-control study within the PREVEND cohort was conducted. Standard 12 lead electrocardiograms were recorded and AF was defined according to Minnesota codes. For every case, an age and gender matched control was selected from the same population (n = 194). In addition to logistic regression analyses, the multifactor-dimensionality reduction (MDR) method and interaction …

Heme Deficiency In Alzheimer's Disease: A Possible Connection To Porphyria, Barney E. Dwyer, Meghan L. Stone, Xiongwei Zhu, George Perry, Mark A. Smith

Dartmouth Scholarship

Mechanisms that cause Alzheimer's disease (AD), an invariably fatal neurodegenerative disease, are unknown. Important recent data indicate that neuronal heme deficiency may contribute to AD pathogenesis. If true, factors that contribute to the intracellular heme deficiency could potentially alter the course of AD. The porphyrias are metabolic disorders characterized by enzyme deficiencies in the heme biosynthetic pathway. We hypothesize that AD may differ significantly in individuals possessing the genetic trait for an acute hepatic porphyria. We elaborate on this hypothesis and briefly review the characteristics of the acute hepatic porphyrias that may be relevant to AD. We note the proximity …

Immunization Update, Karl M. Hess, Jeffery A. Goad

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

"Immunization represents a very effective primary prevention strategy to curb the rate of vaccine preventable diseases...Pharmacists can play a leading role in vaccination by serving as an advocate, facilitator, and active immunizer. As an advocate, pharmacists provide vaccine education while motivating people to get immunized. As a facilitator, pharmacy’s can host other groups, such as the visiting nurses association, to come into the pharmacy and vaccinate. As an active immunizer, however, pharmacists serve their greatest role by giving immunizations to adolescents and adults."

Socio-Demographic Correlates Of Betel, Areca And Smokeless Tobacco Use As A High Risk Behavior For Head And Neck Cancers In A Squatter Settlement Of Karachi, Pakistan, Samia Mazahir, Rabia Malik, Maria Maqsood, Kanwal Aliraza Merchant, Farida Malik, Atif Majeed, Zafar Fatmi, Muhammad Rizwanulhaq Khawaja, Shehzad Ghaffar

Community Health Sciences

Background

Head and neck cancers are a major cancer burden in Pakistan. They share a common risk factor profile including regular consumption of products of betel, areca and tobacco. Use of paan, chaalia, gutka, niswar and tumbaku is acceptable in Pakistan and is considered a normal cultural practice. This cross-sectional study was carried out to understand the relation of socio-demographic factors for the consumption of paan, chaalia, gutka, niswar and tumbaku in Pakistani population. Through systematic sampling, 425 subjects from a squatter settlement in Karachi were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. High risk behavior was defined as Daily use of …

Bivariate Binomial Spatial Modelling Loa Loa Prevalence In Tropical Africa, Ciprian M. Crainiceanu, Peter J. Diggle, Barry Rowlingson

Johns Hopkins University, Dept. of Biostatistics Working Papers

We present a state-of-the-art application of smoothing for dependent bivariate binomial spatial data to Loa loa prevalence mapping in West Africa. This application is special because it starts with the non-spatial calibration of survey instruments, continues with the spatial model building and assessment and ends with robust, tested software that will be used by the field scientists of the World Health Organization for online prevalence map updating. From a statistical perspective several important methodological issues were addressed: (a) building spatial models that are complex enough to capture the structure of the data but remain computationally usable; (b)reducing the computational burden …

Racial Disparity And Socioeconomic Status In Association With Survival In Older Men With Local/Regional Stage Prostate Cancer: Findings From A Large Community-Based Cohort, Xianglin L. Du, Shenying Fang, Ann L. Coker, Corinne Aragaki, Janice N. Cormier, Yan Xing, Beverly J. Gor, Wenyaw Chan

CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles

BACKGROUND

Few studies have examined the outcomes for Hispanic men with prostate carcinoma and incorporated socioeconomic factors in association with race/ethnicity in affecting survival, adjusting for factors on cancer stage, grade, comorbidity, and treatment.

METHODS

We studied a population-based cohort of 61,228 men diagnosed with local or regional stage prostate carcinoma at age 65 years or older between 1992 and 1999 in the 11 SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) areas, identified from the SEER-Medicare linked data with up to 11 years of followup.

RESULTS

Low socioeconomic status was significantly associated with decreasing survival in all men with prostate carcinoma. …

Follicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma Of Lymph Node - A Rare Entity, Safoorah Khalid, Nausheen Yaqoob, Shahid Pervez

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are non-lymphoid, non-phagocytic accessory cells in the immune system that are essential for antigen presentation and germinal center reaction regulation1. These cells are CD21+, CD35+, CD1a- and S100 protein + and they show desmosomes ultrastructurally.

The most commonly involved sites by FDC tumors are lymph nodes but may arise at a variety of extranodal sites including oral cavity, tonsil, gastrointestinal tract and liver. Most studies represent single case reports or case series.

Our patient presented with tumor in the lymph nodes. Histology revealed tumor cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, hyperchromatic and pleomorphic nuclei, and prominent nucleoli. …

Different Public Health Interventions Have Varying Effects, Paula Diehr, Anne B. Newman, Liming Cai, Ann Derleth

UW Biostatistics Working Paper Series

Objective: To compare performance of one-time health interventions to those that change the probability of transitioning from one health state to another. Study Design and Setting: We used multi-state life table methods to estimate the impact of eight types of interventions on several outcomes. Results: In a cohort beginning at age 65, curing all the sick persons at baseline would increase life expectancy by 0.23 years and increase years of healthy life by .54 years. An equal amount of improvement could be obtained with a 12% decrease in the probability of getting sick, a 16% increase in the probability of …

Regression Analysis For The Partial Area Under The Roc Curve, Tianxi Cai, Lori E. Dodd

Harvard University Biostatistics Working Paper Series

No abstract provided.

Saying Good-Bye To Mom, Kenneth P. Serbin

At Risk for Huntington's Disease

No abstract provided.

Maternal And Fetal Complications Of Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Case Report With Long-Term Follow-Up, Tahira Naru, Mohammad Khurshid, Zafar Nazir

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

We report a case of a 26- year old woman having antiphospholipid syndrome in pregnancy with long-term follow up. She presented with recurrent miscarriages, venous thrombosis, avascular necrosis of femoral head, mid-cerebral artery infarction and skin ulcers. Antiphospholipid syndrome is a recognized disorder of pregnancy. Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion when evaluating women with recurrent pregnancy losses and vascular thrombosis. A low dose aspirin combined with heparin can reduce morbidity and improves the pregnancy outcome.

Uterine Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumour Presenting As A Cervical Mass, Najamul Sahar Azad, Shahid Pervez, Naila Kayani, Aliya Begum Aziz

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumour (PEComa) also known as myelomelanocytic tumours are uncommon, recently described mesenchymal tumours that include angiomyolipoma, clear cell "sugar" tumour of the lung, lymphangioleiomyoma and tumours composed predominantly of epithelioid cell morphology. A predilection for uterus has been described. However up till now only 14 cases of uterine PEComas have been described. All of these were seen in adult females in the peri and post menopausal age group (from 40-75years), and almost all were located in the region of body of uterus. A single case in the upper cervical region has been reported with uterine PEComatoses. We …

Treponema Denticola In Disseminating Endodontic Infections, F. Foschi, Jacques Izard, H. Sasaki, V. Sambri, C. Prati, R. Müller, P. Stashenko

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Treponema denticola is a consensus periodontal pathogen that has recently been associated with endodontic pathology. In this study, the effect of mono-infection of the dental pulp with T. denticola and with polymicrobial “red-complex” organisms (RC) (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and T. denticola) in inducing disseminating infections in wild-type (WT) and severe-combined-immunodeficiency (SCID) mice was analyzed. After 21 days, a high incidence (5/10) of orofacial abscesses was observed in SCID mice mono-infected with T. denticola, whereas abscesses were rare in SCID mice infected with the red-complex organisms or in wild-type mice. Splenomegaly was …

Performance Of A Prototype Baited-Trap In Attracting And Infecting The Tick Amblyomma Variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae) In Field Experiments, R. O. Maranga, A. Hassanali, G. P. Kaaya, J. M. Mueke

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Investigations were commenced to study the potential use of the fungi, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, and the attraction-aggregation- attachment pheromone (AAAP) for the control of Ambloyomma variegatum as an environmentally friendly technology. The objective of the study was to develop and test a device, which could be used for pheromone and carbon dioxide delivery and infection of ticks with the fungi in an attempt to control the tick populations in the vegetation. Using a pheromone-baited device treated with the fungi mixture, 79% of the ticks released were attracted and exposed to the fungi and of these, 78% died during incubation …

Should Mom Get A Feeding Tube?, Kenneth P. Serbin

At Risk for Huntington's Disease

No abstract provided.

Community Participation In Tribal Diabetes Programs, Carolyn Smith-Morris

Anthropology Research

No abstract provided.