Diseases Commons^™

The Curse Of A Generation: Evaluating The Effects Of Gender Roles And Marriage On Hiv/Aids In Sub-Saharan Africa And Developing An Efficient Prevention Plan, Mark B. Krom

Senior Honors Theses

HIV/AIDS research in sub-Saharan Africa shows an important relationship between gender roles, marriage, and HIV prevalence. Research is collected and analyzed, and cultural issues are addressed in order to develop a prevention plan. The African church seems to be an efficient venue through which to reach sub-Saharan Africa, and the most efficient prevention plan to curb HIV/AIDS is abstinence.

Immediate Effect Of Heel-Pain Orthosis And An Augmented Low-Dye Taping On Plantar Pressures And Pain In Subjects With Plantar Fasciitis, Tracy Andus

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Research has been done investigating plantar pressures and pain in subjects with pathologies after the application of orthoses and arch taping. To date, however, no study has been conducted investigating plantar pressures and pain in subjects with plantar fasciitis after the application of the augmented low-dye taping (ALD) in comparison to a heel-pain orthosis (HPO). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the ALD in comparison to a HPO on pain, peak plantar pressure (PPP), and mean plantar pressure (MPP) under multiple areas of the foot in subjects with plantar fasciitis while walking and jogging. …

Associated Symptoms In The Ten Days Before Diagnosis Of Kawasaki Disease., Annette L. Baker, Minmin Lu, L Luann Minich, Andrew M. Atz, Gloria L. Klein, Rosalind Korsin, Linda Lambert, Jennifer S. Li, Wilbert Mason, Elizabeth Radojewski, Victoria L. Vetter, Jane W. Newburger, Pediatric Heart Network Investigators, Girish S. Shirali

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: To describe common associated symptoms within the 10 days before diagnosis in subjects enrolled in the Pediatric Heart Network's trial of steroid therapy in Kawasaki disease (KD).

STUDY DESIGN: Patients with acute KD were enrolled between days 4 and 10 of illness at 8 centers between 2002 and 2004. We defined common associated symptoms as those occurring in >or=10% of patients. Principal clinical criteria for KD were not included in this analysis.

RESULTS: Among 198 patients, irritability was reported in 98 (50%), vomiting in 88 (44%), decreased food/fluid intake in 73 (37%), cough in 55 (28%), diarrhea in 52 …

Prevention Of Mother-To-Child Transmission (Pmtct) Of Hiv In The Sub-Saharan Africa Region With A Focus On Uganda, Emily K. Franks

Senior Honors Theses

With the rise of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the past thirty years, people of all ages, infants to elderly alike, all over the world, suffer from its adverse effects. Even an unborn baby in-utero can contract this virulent infection by means of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) (Sweeney, 2005). Infants and children diseased in this way comprise 90% of the estimated 800,000 new cases of HIV in children seen each year, but the region hit hardest, however, is Sub-Saharan Africa, with the country of Uganda historically having the highest incident rate for a time (Stringer, E.M., et al. 2008). Therefore, the purpose …

Universal Screening For Extracardiac Abnormalities In Neonates With Congenital Heart Disease., Javier H. Gonzalez, Girish S. Shirali, Andrew M. Atz, Sarah N. Taylor, Geoffrey A. Forbus, Sinai C. Zyblewski, Anthony M. Hlavacek

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Extracardiac or genetic abnormalities (EGA) represent a factor in the morbidity of patients with congenital heart disease. We evaluated the way neonates with CHD are screened at our institution and determined the yield for the screening tests. We reviewed the charts of 223 neonates with structural CHD. Subjects were categorized into 6 groups: univentricular, left-sided obstructive lesions, right-sided obstructive lesions, septal defects, conotruncal defects (CTD), and other. We reviewed which patients underwent cranial ultrasonogram (CUS), abdominal ultrasonogram (AUS), and/or genetic studies (GS) as well as their results. There was a high prevalence of EGA in each group by CUS (32% …

Functional Characterization And Protein-Protein Interactions Of Trypanosome Splicing Factors U2af35, U2af65 And Sf1, Martin P. Vazquez, David Mualem, Natalia Bercovich, Michael Zeev Stern, Benson Nyambega, Omer Barda, Dan Masiga, Sachin Kumar Gupta, Shulamit Michaeli, Mariano J. Levin

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Early in the assembly of the spliceosome of eukaryotes the branch-point binding protein (BBP, also called SF1) recognizes the branch point sequence, whereas the heterodimer U2AF consisting of a 65 and a 35 kDa subunit, contacts the polypyrimidine tract and the AG splice site, respectively. Herein, we identified, cloned and expressed the Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei U2AF35, U2AF65 and SF1. Trypanosomatid U2AF65 strongly diverged from yeast and human homologues. On the contrary, trypanosomatid SF1 was conserved but lacked the C-terminal sequence present in the mammalian protein. Yeast two hybrid approaches were used to assess their interactions. The interaction between …

When Old-Order Amish Meet New Order Science: Genetic Maladies And The Amish Dilemma, Kelley Downey

Undergraduate Research Conference

The Old World Amish, an Anabaptist Christian domination in the United States and Canada are know for their plain dress, avoidance of modern technology, and separation from the mainstream society.

A traditional agricultural religious group, the Old World Amish maintains isolation from the rest of the community. Financially well-off, they are homogeneous on education, occupation by gender, age at marriage, religion/ethnicity, and health care.

Although the Amish strongly discourage marriage between close cousins, the Lancaster Amish genealogy is described as mutational - inbreeding from multiple, remote connections rather than close consanguinity (first-cousin marriages).

Amish settlements have been identified with certain …

In Vitro Ovarian Tumor Growth And Treatment Response Dynamics Visualized With Time-Lapse Oct Imaging, Conor L. Evans, Imran Rizvi, Tayyaba Hasan, Johannes F. De Boer

Dartmouth Scholarship

In vitro three-dimensional models for metastatic ovarian cancer have been useful for recapitulating the human disease. These spheroidal tumor cultures, however, can grow in excess of 1 mm in diameter, which are difficult to visualize without suitable imaging technology.Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an ideal live imaging method for non-perturbatively visualizing these complex systems. OCT enabled detailed observations of the model at both nodular and cellular levels, revealing growth dynamics not previously observed. The development of a time-lapse OCT system, capable of automated, multidimensional acquisition, further provided insights into the growth and chemotherapeutic response of ovarian cancer.

The Use Of A Semiochemical Bait To Enhance Exposure Of Amblyomma Variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae) To Metarhizium Anisopliae (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), F. Nchu, N. K. Maniania, A. Touré, A. Hassanali, J. N. Eloff

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Experiments were conducted to explore the use of a semiochemical bait to enhance exposure of Amblyomma variegatum Fabricius (Acari: Ixodidae) to different formulations of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. (Ascomycota: Hypocreales). Initially, the relative efficacies of attraction-aggregation-attachment pheromone (AAAP), made up of o-nitrophenol, methyl salicylate and nonanoic acid in the ratio 2:1:8, 1-octen-3-ol and butyric acid, were evaluated in an olfactometer. Only AAAP and 1-octen-3-ol were found to elicit attractive responses to the tick. Simultaneous release of 1-octen-3-ol and AAAP together with CO2 from a trap in semifield plots attracted up to 94.0 ± 6% of adult ticks …

Analysis Of Randomized Comparative Clinical Trial Data For Personalized Treatment Selections, Tianxi Cai, Lu Tian, Peggy H. Wong, L. J. Wei

Harvard University Biostatistics Working Paper Series

No abstract provided.

Paracrine Sonic Hedgehog Signalling By Prostate Cancer Cells Induces Osteoblast Differentiation, Samantha M Zunich, Taneka Douglas, Maria Valdovinos, Tiffany Chang

Dartmouth Scholarship

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and components of its signalling pathway have been identified in human prostate carcinoma and increased levels of their expression appear to correlate with disease progression and metastasis. The mechanism through which Shh signalling could promote metastasis in bone, the most common site for prostate carcinoma metastasis, has not yet been investigated. The present study determined the effect of Shh signalling between prostate cancer cells and pre-osteoblasts on osteoblast differentiation, a requisite process for new bone formation that characterizes prostate carcinoma metastasis.

Assessment Of Asthma Control Using The Asthma Control Test At A Tertiary Care Centre In Karachi, Pakistan, Sana Shoukat, Saqib Ali Gowani, Ameer Ali Khowaja, Javaid Khan

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

The aim of our study was to assess asthma control among asthmatics at a tertiary care setting in Karachi using ACT questionnaire. The ACT questionnaire was filled by known asthmatics in January 2007. A total of 150 questionnaires were filled of which, 61 (40%) were males and 89 (60%) females. Mean ACT score was 17.71 +/- 4.41. Association between sex and asthma control was not statistically significant. Significant association was seen with asthma control and Ipratropium bromide inhaler. Asthma control among patients at a tertiary care centre is moderate. ACT can be used to follow patients in the hospital.

Preliminary Characterization Of Mitochondrial Atp-Sensitive Potassium Channel (Mitokatp) Activity In Mouse Heart Mitochondria, Venkat Raghav Aachi

Dissertations and Theses

Myocardial ischemia, infarction, heart failure and arrhythmias are the manifestations of coronary artery disease. Reduction of ischemic damage is a major concern of cardiovascular biology research. As per recent studies, the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel (mitoK_ATP) opening is believed to play key role in the physiology of cardioprotection, protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury or apoptosis. However, the structural information of mitoK_ATP is not precisely known. Elucidating the structural integrity and functioning of the mitoK_ATP is therefore a major goal of cardiovascular biology research. The known structure and function of the cell ATP-sensitive potassium channel (cellK_ATP) …

Dengue Fever With Hepatitis E And Hepatitis A Infection, Javed Yakoob, Wasim Jafri, Shaheer Siddiqui, Mehmood Riaz

Section of Gastroenterology

Infection with dengue viruses produces a spectrum of clinical illness ranging from a nonspecific viral syndrome to severe and fatal haemorrhagic disease. Important risk factors include the strain and serotype of the infecting virus, as well as the age, immune status, and genetic predisposition of the patient. The teaching point in this case study was Dengue fever which occurred concomitantly with Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E virus infection.

Accumulation Of Rhodopsin In Late Endosomes Triggers Photoreceptor Cell Degeneration, Yashodhan Chinchore, Amitavo Mitra, Patrick J. Dolph, Norbert Perrimon

Dartmouth Scholarship

Progressive retinal degeneration is the underlying feature of many human retinal dystrophies. Previous work using Drosophila as a model system and analysis of specific mutations in human rhodopsin have uncovered a connection between rhodopsin endocytosis and retinal degeneration. In these mutants, rhodopsin and its regulatory protein arrestin form stable complexes, and endocytosis of these complexes causes photoreceptor cell death. In this study we show that the internalized rhodopsin is not degraded in the lysosome but instead accumulates in the late endosomes. Using mutants that are defective in late endosome to lysosome trafficking, we were able to show that rhodopsin accumulates …

Alcohol And Cardio-Respiratory Deaths In Chinese: A Population-Based Case-Control Study Of 32,462 Older Hong Kong, Mary Schooling, Tai Hing Lam, Sai Yin Ho, Yao He, Kwok Hang Mak, Gabriel M. Leung

Publications and Research

Background
In observational studies moderate alcohol use reduces cardio-respiratory mortality. However observational studies may be biased by many factors including residual confounding by unmeasured differences between moderate alcohol users and other groups or by changes in alcohol use with ill-health and aging. We used two different analytic strategies in an under-studied population, i.e. southern Chinese, to provide an assessment of the specific impact of moderate alcohol use on mortality from ischemic heart disease (IHD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD).

Methods
In a population-based case-control study of all adult deaths in Hong Kong Chinese in 1998, we used adjusted logistic …

Accumulation Of Artemisinin Trioxane Derivatives Within Neutral Lipids Of Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria Parasites Is Endoperoxide-Dependent, Carmony L. Hartwig, Andrew S. Rosenthal, John D'Angelo, Carol E. Griffin, Gary H. Posner, Roland A. Cooper

Collected Faculty Scholarship

The antimalarial trioxanes, exemplified by the naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone artemisinin and its semi-synthetic derivatives, contain an endoperoxide pharmacophore that lends tremendous potency against Plasmodium parasites. Despite decades of research, their mechanism of action remains unresolved. A leading model of anti-plasmodial activity hypothesizes that iron-mediated cleavage of the endoperoxide bridge generates cytotoxic drug metabolites capable of damaging cellular macromolecules. To probe the malarial targets of the endoperoxide drugs, we studied the distribution of fluorescent dansyl trioxane derivatives in living, intraerythrocytic-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites using microscopic imaging. The fluorescent trioxanes rapidly accumulated in parasitized erythrocytes, localizing within digestive vacuole-associated neutral lipid …

Corr4a And Vrt325 Do Not Reduce The Inflammatory Response To P. Aeruginosa In Human Cystic Fibrosis Airway Epithelial Cells, Laleh Talebian, Bonita Coutermarsh, Jacqueline Y. Channon, Bruce A. Stanton

Dartmouth Scholarship

P. aeruginosa chronically colonizes the lung in CF patients and elicits a proinflammatory response. Excessive secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 by CF airway cells in response to P. aeruginosa infection in the CF airway is though to contribute to lung injury. Accordingly, the goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that Corr4a and VRT325, investigational compounds that increase ΔF508-CFTR mediated Cl⁻ secretion in human CF airway cells, reduce the pro-inflammatory response to P. aeruginosa.

A Watershed Analysis Of Salmon Lake And Mcgrath Pond: Implications For Water Quality And Land Use Management, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Salmon Lake and McGrath Pond (2009, 1993)

In the summer and fall of 2009, the Colby Environmental Assessment Team (CEAT) studied the water quality of Salmon Lake and McGrath Pond, located in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine. The physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water quality were measured and analyzed to evaluate the current health of these lakes. Water quality data collected during the summer and fall of 2009 were compared with data from previous years to study the historic water quality trends. Land use patterns in the Salmon/McGrath watershed were also examined to investigate their impact on the lake water quality. The water quality trends …

Loss Of Ski Expression In Testicular Cancer Leads To An Enhanced Invasive Phenotype Through Both Bmp-Dependent And Bmp-Independent Pathways, Amy N. Nash

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The proto-oncogene SKI is a transcription factor and a co-repressor of the TGFβ superfamily, including TGF

β and BMP. However, additional data suggests that SKI may function as a tumor suppressor in some cell types. The TGFβ superfamily has been implicated in cancer progression and germ cell migration. Testicular cancer afflicts men during their peak reproductive years and is the most common cancer among men of this age group. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard treatment for testicular cancer. This treatment can lead to undesirable side effects, including infertility. We have shown that SKI expression is decreased in testicular germ cell …

Prevalence Of Intestinal Parasite Infection In Symptomatic And Asymptomatic Dogs In Southwestern West Virginia: The Potential Impact On Human Health, Tashina Marie Savilla

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Most dog owners are unaware of asymptomatic infection and of the possibility of contracting zoonotic parasites from their dogs. We hypothesized that parasite infection is: associated with one or more symptoms; independent of gender and age; and independent of anthelmintic usage. Stool samples were collected from 231 dogs in Kanawha County, West Virginia, and were examined by simple fecal flotation. Parasitic prevalence was found to be 23% for Ancylostoma caninum, 8% for Trichuris vulpis, 7% for Toxocara canis, 4% for Isospora species, and 32.5% overall. There was no significant relationship between infection and gender, nor between infection and symptom for …

Critical Evaluation Of Bacteriophage To Prevent And Treat Colibacillosis In Poultry, G. R. Huff, W. E. Huff, N. C. Rath, A. M. Donoghue

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

There is a continuing need to find alternatives to antibiotics in animal and human medicine. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and kill bacteria, with no known activity to plant and animal cells. We have conducted research to critically evaluate the efficacy of bacteriophage to both prevent and treat colibacillosis in poultry. Bacteriophages lytic to an Escherichia coli pathogenic to poultry were isolated from municipal waste water treatment plants and poultry processing plants. Two bacteriophage isolates were selected to use in studies designed to determine the efficacy of these bacteriophage to prevent and treat severe colibacillosis in poultry. Colibacillosis was induced …

Ua94/6/1 Student / Alumni Personal Papers Western Kentucky University Small Collections, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Small collections of personal papers and oral histories relating to the Western Kentucky University.

Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis Masquerading As Interstitial Pneumonia In A 66-Year-Old Man: A Case Report And Review Of Literature, Ashima Makol, Kalyan Kosuri, Deimante Tamkus, Wanderley De M Calaca, Howard T. Chang

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LG) is a rare, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated systemic angiodestructive lymphoproliferative disorder that may progress to a diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Pulmonary involvement may mimic other more common lung pathologies including pneumonias. Therapeutic standards have not been established for LG, but rituximab, interferon-α2b (INF-α2b), and chemotherapy have shown to improve symptoms and long term prognosis.

We report a case of rapid respiratory deterioration in a 66-year-old man with clinical presentation, chest radiography, pulmonary function testing and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings consistent with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, but very poor response to antibiotics and low dose steroids. …

Evaluation Of Hiv Counseling And Testing In Anc Settings And Adherence To Short Course Antiretroviral Prophylaxis For Pmtct In Francistown, Botswana, Carolyn Baek, Tracy Creek, Lee Ann Jones, Louis Apicella, Jennifer Redner, Naomi Rutenberg

HIV and AIDS

The vast majority of children infected with HIV are the result of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of the virus during pregnancy, labor, or breastfeeding. Botswana is one of the first countries in the developing world with a national prevention program (PMTCT) to reduce vertical transmission. The Horizons Program of the Population Council, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Premiere Personnel in Botswana, conducted an evaluation to describe the adherence of pregnant women to the current PMTCT regimen. The report recommends standardizing post-test counseling content through the use of job aids and adapting existing WHO materials, …

Commercial Sex Workers In Five Ethiopian Cities: A Baseline Survey For Usaid Targeted Hiv Prevention Program For Most-At-Risk Populations, Woldemariam Girma, Annabel Erulkar

HIV and AIDS

This report presents findings from a baseline survey of commercial sex workers (CSWs) that was undertaken in five Ethiopian cities. 2,050 CSWs were interviewed for the survey. CSW were disproportionally young and came from extremely disadvantaged backgrounds. Most respondents also cited negative working standards from another profession, or family responsibilities as reasons leading to sex work. Condom use was very high but use may be inconsistent or over-reported and should be studied further. Findings also propose additional advocacy for positive peer support groups, more HIV testing for at-risk populations, and addressing violence among CSWs and other Ethiopian women.

Hpv Vaccine Acceptance Among Latina Mothers By Hpv Status, Maureen Sanderson, Ann L. Coker, Katherine S. Eggleston, Maria E. Fernandez, Concepcion D. Arrastia, Mary Kay Fadden

CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles

Objective: We investigated whether Latina mothers who were and were not human papillomavirus (HPV) positive differed in their knowledge and acceptance of the HPV vaccine for their children.

Methods: We conducted a cross–sectional survey among women aged 18–64 years between April 2007 and April 2008. Data collectors conducted in-person interviews in community clinics with 215 HPV-negative women and 190 HPV-positive women (with respective response rates of 64% and 84%). Most (83%) HPV-positive women were recruited at dysplasia clinics. Although no HPV-negative women were recruited at dysplasia clinics, they were recruited at other low-income public and private clinics.

Results: After adjustment …

Leisure Participation For School-Aged Children With Down Syndrome, Alinta Oates

Theses : Honours

Background. A review of existing literature is necessary to determine the future directions required in research exploring friendships and leisure for school-aged children with Down syndrome. Purpose. This review examines research published in peer-reviewed journals describing participation in friendships and leisure for school-aged children with Down syndrome. The review is guided by the theoretical framework of the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF ). Methods. Electronic searches of PubMed, PsychInfo, CINAHL, SportsDiscus and ERIC were conducted using the key terms Down syndrome, leisure and friendships. Keywords identified while using the ICF framework to explore factors …

Human Cytomegalovirus Us28: A Functionally Selective Chemokine Binding Receptor, Jennifer Totonchy, Jay A. Nelson, Daniel N. Streblow

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-encoded chemokine receptor US28 is the most well-characterized of the four chemokine receptor-like molecules found in the HCMV genome. US28 been studied as an important virulence factor for HCMV-mediated vascular disease and, more recently, in models of HCMV-associated malignancy. US28 is a rare multi-chemokine family binding receptor with the ability to bind ligands from two distinct chemokine classes. Ligand binding to US28 activates cell-type and ligand-specific signaling pathways leading to cellular migration, an example receptor functional selectivity. Additionally, US28 has been demonstrated to constitutively activate PLC and NFkB. Understanding the structure/function relationships between US28, its ligands and …

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

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

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 …