Diseases Commons^™

Quantitative Analysis Of Some Important Metals And Metalloids In Tobacco Products By Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (Icp-Ms), Syed Ghulam Musharraf, Muhammad Shoaib, Amna Jabbar Siddiqui, Muhammad Najam-Ul-Haq, Aftab Ahmed

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Large scale usage of tobacco causes a lot of health troubles in human. Various formulations of tobacco are extensively used by the people particularly in developing world. Besides several toxic tobacco constituents some metals and metalloids are also believed to pose health risks. This paper describes inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) quantification of some important metals and metalloids in various brands of smoked, sniffed, dipped and chewed tobacco products.

Results: A microwave-assisted digestion method was used for sample preparation. The method was validated by analyzing a certified reference material. Percentage relative standard deviation (% R.S.D.) between recovered …

Positive Action For Hiv In Schools In Kenya, Francis Obare, Harriet Birungi, Monica Wanjiru, Sheila Bayley, John Kiunjuri, Mary Omondi, Rob Burnet, Bridget Deacon

Reproductive Health

The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of using comic books, role models, and edutainment to communicate HIV and AIDS messages to in-school young people in Kenya, with a view to improving their knowledge about the epidemic, enhancing communication about it, and promoting positive attitudes and behavior among them. The study was implemented by the Population Council in eight secondary schools in Nairobi, as part of the APHIA II Operations Research Project in collaboration with the AIDS Control Unit in the Ministry of Education, Well Told Story, and the National AIDS/STI Control Programme. The study found that …

Infectious Intracranial Aneurysms: Collaboration For Treatment Success, Erin M. Conahan Rn, Bsn, Cnrn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

The Cumulative Impact Of Unemployment On Risks Of Acute Myocardial Infarction, Guangya Liu, Matthew E. Dupree, Linda K. George, Eric D. Peterson

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Employment instability is a major source of strain affecting an increasing number of adults in the United States. Little is known about the cumulative effect of multiple job losses and unemployment on the risks for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: We investigated the associations between different dimensions of unemployment and the risks for AMI in US adults in a prospective cohort study of adults (N=13 451) aged 51 to 75 years in the Health and Retirement Study with biennial follow-up interviews from 1992 to 2010. Unadjusted rates of age-specific AMI were used to demonstrate observed differences by employment status, …

Retrospective Epidemiologic Analysis Of Influenza Pandemics In Arkansas, A, A. J. Gray, D. Nguyen, B. M. Rowley

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

This study compares influenza mortality in Arkansas during the pandemics of: 1918 (aka Spanish flu), 1957, 1968, and 2009 (H1N1, aka Swine flu). Death certificate and U.S. census data were gathered and analyzed for statistical differences in mortalities based on sex, age, and geographic regions of Arkansas for each pandemic. The geographic regions were defined by the five Public Health Units classified by the Arkansas Department of Health. Regional mortalities were also analyzed across all pandemics to investigate how the different pandemics affected each individual region. Chi-square analyses for each pandemic showed only the 1918 pandemic had statistical differences between …

Overt Cleft Palate Phenotype And Tbx1 Genotype Correlations In Velo-Cardio-Facial/Digeorge/22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Patients, Sean Herman, Tingwei Guo, Donna M. Mcdonald Mcginn, Anna Blonska, Alan L. Shanske, Anne S. Bassett, Eva Chow, Mark Bowser, Molly Sheridan, Frits Beemer, Koen Devriendt, Ann Swillen, Jeroen Breckpot, Maria Christina Digilio, Bruno Marino, Bruno Dallapiccola, Courtney Carpenter, Xin Zheng, Jacob Johnson, Jonathan Chung, Anne Marie Higgins, Nicole Philip, Tony J. Simon, Karlene Coleman, Damian Heine Suñer, Jordi Rosell, Wendy R. Kates, Marcella Devoto, Elaine Zackai, Tao Wang, Robert J. Shprintzen, Beverly Emanuel, Bernice Morrow, International Chromosome 22q11.2 Consortium

Communication Disorders Faculty Publications

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome/DiGeorge syndrome, also known as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is the most common microdeletion syndrome, with an estimated incidence of 1/2,000 – 1/4,000 live births. Approximately 9–11% of patients with this disorder have an overt cleft palate (CP), but the genetic factors responsible for CP in the 22q11DS subset are unknown. The TBX1 gene, a member of the T-box transcription factor gene family, lies within the 22q11.2 region that is hemizygous in patients with 22q11DS. Inactivation of one allele of Tbx1 in the mouse does not result in CP, but inactivation of both alleles does. Based on these data, …

Biochemical Markers As Evidence Of The Effects Of Environmental Enrichment On Physiological Processes In Huntington’S Disease Patients, Zarghona Ahmadzai Khan

Theses : Honours

Abstract not available.

Adolescence And Contraception, Donald E. Greydanus, Carolyn M. Lentzsch-Parcells, Hatim A. Omar, Colleen B. Dodich

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The age of adolescence is the time when most adolescents in the world become sexually active with resultant millions of pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. This paper considers methods of contraception for these adolescents, including oral contraceptions, transdermal contraception, mini-pills, intravaginal ring, injectable contraception, intrauterine devices, barrier contraceptives, implants, and others. It is important for clinicians caring for sexually active youth to provide information regarding contraception and appropriate contraceptive prescriptions.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases In Adolescence, Donald E. Greydanus, Jane Seyler, Hatim A. Omar, Colleen B. Dodich

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

High rates of unprotected sexual behavior in adolescents result in millions of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the world. This paper reviews factors inducing high STD rates, specific STDs, and their management based on 2010 US Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) STD guidelines. Clinicians should screen all their sexually active adolescent patients for STDs and provide preventive education as well as treatment measures.

Analyzing The Effects Of Policy Options To Mitigate The Effect Of Sea Level Rise On The Public Health And Medically Fragile Population: A System Dynamics Approach, Rafael Diaz, Joshua Behr, Anna Jeng, Hua Liu, Franceso Longo

VMASC Publications

A critical question related to climate change concerns to how rising sea level will affect underserved populations and medically fragile population in coastal zones and floodplains. As sea levels rise, coastal waters will regain near-tidal areas and co-mingle with human-made pollutants, resulting from decades of industrial and commercial activity. This poses potential threat and risks to public health and the environment. It is critical that decision makers will initiate a process of parsing resources to the mitigation and management of these issues. The purpose of this research is to model the inherent dynamics of this process and understand how near-term …

Decorin Expression, Straw-Like Structure, And Differentiation Of Human Costal Cartilage, Michael W. Stacey, Janna Grubb, Anthony Asmar, Julie Pryor, Hani Elsayed-Ali, Ali Beskok, Diganta Dutta, Annie Fecteau, Alice Werner, Dennis A. Darby, Robert Kelly

Bioelectrics Publications

Costal cartilage is much understudied compared with the load-bearing cartilages. Abnormally grown costal cartilages are associated with the inherited chest wall deformities pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum resulting in sunken and pigeon chests, respectively. A lack of understanding of the ultrastructural and molecular biology of costal cartilage is a major confounder in predicting causes and outcomes of these disorders. This study analyzed the structure of marginal human costal cartilage (ribs 6-10) through scanning electron and atomic force microscopes and identified the presence of straw-like structures running longitudinally. We also demonstrated that chondrocytes tend to occur singly or as doublets and …

Does Tadalafil Improve Exercise Capacitance In Patients Over 12 Years Old With Pulmonary Hypertension?, Erin Chesnavich

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not the oral Phosphodiesterase inhibitor Tadalafil improves exercise capacitance in those over 12 years with pulmonary hypertension.

Study Design: Review of three primary research materials published in English language in 2009. Data Sources: Randomized, controlled, double blind clinical trials found using PubMed, OVID and COCHRANE databases.

Outcome measured: Trials measured 6-minute walking distance and health related quality of life measurements which included: SF-36 (a measure of self reported health status), and the EQ-5D (a patient reported health related quality of life measure), WHO functional class, clinical worsening, and …

Does Whole Body Vibration (Wbv) Therapy Positively Affect The Motor Skills Of Patients Who Have Been Diagnosed With Parkinson’S Disease?, Courtney Forsyth

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether Whole Body Vibration (WBV) therapy positively affects the motor skills of patients who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of 3 English language primary studies. All three were randomized control trials; one was rater blinded and one double blinded with a placebo.

DATA SOURCES: All of the articles were Randomized Control Trials found using the PubMed database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Each of the three studies looked at the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease patients before and after Whole Body Vibration Therapy. Each study used the Unified Parkinson’s Disease …

Is Intravenous Ramosetron 0.3 Mg Effective In The Prevention Of Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting In Women Undergoing Gynecologic Surgery?, Keith S. Elsner

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not intravenous ramosetron 0.3 mg is effective in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in women undergoing gynecologic surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary research articles published later than 1995.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trials comparing intravenous ramosetron to placebo or other control groups were identified using Ovid MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Measured outcomes include a complete response to the intervention within the first 24-48 hours, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, need for rescue antiemetic, …

Does Pre-Hospital Therapeutic Hypothermia Improve The Functional And Survival Status Of Patients Post Cardiac Arrest?, Stephanie Corsi

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not prehospital therapeutic hypothermia improves the functional and survival status of post cardiac arrest patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies, two of which were published in 2007 and one in 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized, controlled, clinical trials and one cohort study comparing pre-hospital therapeutic hypothermia to induction of therapeutic hypothermia upon hospital admission, and to standard normothermic post cardiac arrest care. All were found using Medline, OVID, and Cochrane Systematic databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: An outcome measured was functional status at hospital discharge, …

Is Afrin (Oxymetazoline) A Safe And Effective Drug In Normal, Healthy Adults With Reference To Nasal Congestion And The Nasal Response?, Allie Rubinstein

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not, “Is Afrin (Oxymetazoline) a safe and effective drug in normal, healthy adults with reference to nasal congestion and the nasal response?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies published in 1997, 1999, 2003.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized, controlled studies (double-blind, placebo-controlled) testing the efficacy and safeness of Afrin in comparison to a placebo group, were found using the PubMed database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Nasal patency, congestion, degree of nasal blockage, and symptoms (quantity, consistency, color of nasal secretions, turbinate size/color) were measured through patient diary card …

Is Acupuncture Effective In Reducing Itch Intensity And Wheal Size In Patients With Dermatologic Conditions?, Melanie Schwer

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether acupuncture is effective in reducing itch intensity and wheal size in patients with dermatologic conditions.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of all English language primary randomized controlled trials published after 1984

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials were found using Pubmed database.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The three trials measured various outcomes: Visual Analog Scale (VAS); Eppendorf Itch Questionnaire; Cumulative Itch Index; Perimeter of wheal and flare size before, during, & after acupuncture; Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)

RESULTS: Belgrade et al. found statistically significant improvement in itch intensity and flare …

Is Fixed-Combination Prostaglandin Analog/Β-Blocker Therapy Safe And More Effective Than Β-Blocker Monotherapy In The Prevention Of Disease Progression In Adults With Open-Angle Glaucoma?, My-Hang Pham

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether fixed-combination prostaglandin analog/β-blocker therapy is safe and more effective than β-blocker monotherapy in the prevention of disease progression in adults with open-angle glaucoma.

Study Design: Review of three English language randomized controlled trials published in 2008 and 2010.

Data sources: 3 randomized, controlled, double-blind trials comparing fixed-combination prostaglandin analog/β-blocker therapy to β-blocker monotherapy were found using Pubmed, Medline, and Cochrane databases.

Outcome Measured: Disease progression/regression was assessed by post-baseline measurement of IOP during three follow-up visits throughout the trials. The safety profile of each therapy was …

Is 1.25 Mg Oral Fingolimod Effective In Reducing Relapses In Adults With Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis?, Caitlin M. Cook

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not is 1.25 mg oral fingolimod effective in reducing relapses in adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies published between 2006 and 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trials comparing daily 1.25 mg oral fingolimod to either identical placebo capsules or weekly intramuscular interferon beta-1a therapy were found using Pubmed and Cochrane Databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Annualized relapse rate was assessed in all studies. Relapses were confirmed by neurologists and assessed using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) to evaluate worsening …

Is Ceftobiprole A Safe And Effective Treatment For Skin And Skin Structure Infections?, Laura Thompson

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not ceftobiprole is a safe and effective treatment for complicated skin and skin structure infections

STUDY DESIGN: Review of all English language primary randomized controlled trials from 1996-2010

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials were found using Pubmed and Cochrane databases

OUTCOMES MEASURES: Skin or skin-structure infection cure with ceftobiprole intervention and adverse effects of this new pharmaceutical. Cure or failure to cure skin infection was determined based on both clinical and microbiological assessment. Adverse events were measured based on patient reports, clinician reports, labs, and vital sign …

Is Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy An Effective Treatment For Chronic Plantar Fasciitis In Adults?, Lauren H. Rucker

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is an effective treatment in adults with chronic plantar fasciitis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary studies published between 2008 and 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized control trials and one cohort study analyzing the effects of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy on chronic plantar fasciitis were found using the OVID, Medline and Cochrane Databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Each of the three studies measured improvement in pain from baseline after patients were treated with ESWT. Pain levels were quantified using …

Is Tesamorelin A Safe And Effective Drug To Treat Lipodystrophy In Hiv Patients?, Jazmine A. Cole

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Tesamorelin is a safe and effective drug to treat lipodystrophy in HIV patients.

Study Design: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled trials published between 2005-2010.

Data Sources: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials comparing Tesamorelin to a visually matched placebo were found using PubMed.

Outcome(s) Measured: Each of the three clinical trials assessed the improvement of lipodystrophy (accumulation of visceral adipose tissue) in HIV patients. In addition, they noted how the improvement in lipodystrophy would impact patient's self body image and quality of life. Prior …

Isolation Of L4 Ribo-Protein Mutants That Affect The Expression Of Tna Operon Of Escherichia Coli, Soniykha Dhevi Murukan

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

The Cellular Nucleic Acid Binding Protein Regulates The Alzheimer’S Disease Β-Secretase Protein Bace1, Christopher J. Holler

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease affecting the elderly population and is believed to be caused by the overproduction and accumulation of the toxic amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide in the brain. Aβ is produced by two separate enzymatic cleavage events of the larger membrane bound amyloid precursor protein, APP. The first, and rate-limiting, cleavage event is made by beta-secretase, or BACE1, and is thus an attractive therapeutic target. Our lab, as well as many others, has shown that BACE1 protein and activity are increased in late-stage sporadic AD. We have extended these findings to show that BACE1 …

Human Risk Of Infection With Borrelia Burgdorferi, The Lyme Disease Agent, In Eastern United States, Maria A. Diuk-Wasser, Anne Gatewood Hoen, Paul Cislo, Robert Brinkerhoff, Sarah A. Hamer, Michelle Rowland, Roberto Cortinas, Gwenaël Vourc’H, Forrest S. Melton, Graham J. Hickling, Jean I. Tsao, Jonas Bunikis, Alan G. Barbour, Uriel Kitron, Joseph Piesman, Durland Fish

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The geographic pattern of human risk for infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the tick-borne pathogen that causes Lyme disease, was mapped for the eastern United States. The map is based on standardized field sampling in 304 sites of the density of Ixodes scapularis host-seeking nymphs infected with B. burgdorferi, which is closely associated with human infection risk. Risk factors for the presence and density of infected nymphs were used to model a continuous 8 km × 8 km resolution predictive surface of human risk, including confidence intervals for each pixel. Discontinuous Lyme disease risk foci were identified in …

Zoonotic And Human Parasites Of Inhabitants Of Cueva De Los Muertos Chiquitos, Rio Zape Valley, Durango, Mexico, F. Agustín Jiménez-Ruiz, Scott Lyell Gardner, Adauto Araújo, Martín Horacio Fugassa, Richard H. Brooks, Elizabeth Racz, Karl J. Reinhard

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

We present the first reconstruction of the parasitoses among the people of the Loma San Gabriel culture, as represented by 36 coprolites excavated from the Cueva de los Muertos Chiquitos in Durango, Mexico. The coprolites date to approximately 1,400-yr ago. Species identified based on eggs recovered include the trematode Echinostoma sp., the tapeworms Hymenolepis sp. and Dipylidium caninum, and the nematodes Ancylostoma duodenale, Enterobius vermicularis, and Trichuris trichiura. After rehydration and screening, 2 methods were used to recover eggs from these samples including spontaneous sedimentation and flotation. Samples were analyzed by 3 different laboratories for independent …

Ectopic And Atretic Ostium Of Left Main Coronary Artery: From Interleaflet Triangle Between Left And Noncoronary Cusps, Ta-Chung Shen, Hsin-Hua Chou, Kuei-Ton Tsai

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Left main coronary artery atresia is an extremely rare coronary anomaly in which there is no left coronary ostium and the left main trunk ends blindly. Ectopic origin of the left coronary artery from the left ventricle is an even rarer condition. Herein, we describe the case of a 37-year-old woman whose left main coronary artery atresia was not corrected during previous surgical correction of patent ductus arteriosus and aortic insufficiency. Five years after that first operation, the patient developed severe angina and heart failure. She underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with greater saphenous vein directly to the left main …

Bioabsorbable Atrial Septal Occluder For Percutaneous Closure Of Atrial Septal Defect In Children, Osman Baspinar, Mehmet Kervancioglu, Metin Kilinc, Ahmet Irdem

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

The BioSTAR bioabsorbable septal repair implant is a new transcatheter secundum atrial septal defect occlusion device that is absorbed and replaced by healthy native tissue. This retrospective analysis was designed to determine the most significant factors for its successful use in children. From October 2009 through December 2010, 33 children underwent catheterization to close secundum atrial septal defects by means of the BioSTAR. The mean age of the patients was 6.8 ± 3.4 years (range, 2.5-13 yr), and the mean body weight was 22.6 ± 11 kg (range, 11-55 kg). The device was successfully implanted in 91% of patients (30/33). …

After Avandia: The Use Of Antidiabetic Drugs In Patients With Heart Failure, Khaled I Khalaf, Heinrich Taegtmeyer

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Managing diabetes mellitus is an ongoing concern, especially in the presence of heart failure. Recent reports have drawn attention to adverse cardiovascular events associated with the use of thiazolidinediones, including rosiglitazone (Avandia). In 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration implemented a stringent “restricted access program” for the prescription of Avandia. Other studies, which have revealed increased mortality rates in association with tight glycemic control, raise serious concerns about managing diabetes in heart-failure patients.

Herein, we provide a perspective on the management of noninsulin-dependent diabetes in patients with heart failure. We point out that thiazolidinediones exert their major effects through …

False Scents, False Sense, And False Cents: Why Physicians Should Read Sherlock Holmes, Ira Martin Grais

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

No abstract provided.