Diseases Commons^™

Ambulatory Hypertension Subtypes And 24-Hour Systolic And Diastolic Blood Pressure As Distinct Outcome Predictors In 8341 Untreated People Recruited From 12 Populations, Yan Li, Fang-Fei Wei, Lutgarde Thijs, José Boggia, Kei Asayama, Tine W. Hansen, Masahiro Kikuya, Kristina Björklund-Bodegård, Takayoshi Ohkubo, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

Background—Data on risk associated with 24-hour ambulatory diastolic (DBP24) versus systolic (SBP24) blood pressure are scarce.

Methods and Results—We recorded 24-hour blood pressure and health outcomes in 8341 untreated people (mean age, 50.8 years; 46.6% women) randomly recruited from 12 populations. We computed hazard ratios (HRs) using multivariable-adjusted Cox regression. Over 11.2 years (median), 927 (11.1%) participants died, 356 (4.3%) from cardiovascular causes, and 744 (8.9%) experienced a fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular event. Isolated diastolic hypertension (DBP24≥80 mm Hg) did not increase the risk of total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, or stroke (HRs≤1.54; P≥0.18), but was associated with a …

Vegetarian Dietary Patterns: Mortality, Colorectal Cancer, And Food Consumption, Michael John Orlich

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Objective Vegetarian dietary patterns represent longstanding, real-world diets consumed by a minority of persons. Studies of important health outcomes of such diets, particularly for all-cause mortality and colorectal cancer risk, have yielded inconsistent results. We sought to examine these outcomes (mortality and colorectal cancer incidence) in a large North-American cohort. We also sought to further characterize potentially important differences in the food consumption patterns of these diets. Design Baseline diet was measured by a quantitative food frequency questionnaire among more than 96,000 Seventh-day Adventists in the US and Canada, enrolled from 2002-2007. Dietary patterns were defined, based on the reported …

Characterization Of Corynebacterium Pseudotuberculosis Biovar Equi Isolates Obtained From Cal Poly Horses And Review Of Application Of Transposons To Better Prevent Pigeon Fever In Horses, Irene Hasen

Animal Science

No abstract provided.

Endothelial And Smooth Muscle-Dependent Vascular Reactivity In Immature Arterialized Collateral Capillaries, Caitlin Koeroghlian

Biomedical Engineering

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) occurs due to the build up of atherosclerotic plaque and reduces blood flow to cause chronic ischemia. Patients with PAOD may experience intermittent claudication, or the pain in limb skeletal muscles due to a decease in blood flow. Collateral arteries can act as a natural bypass and improve blood flow to hypoxic tissue by creating an alternate route for blood to flow, but not all patients with PAOD have pre-existing collateral networks. Animal studies indicate that tissues without pre-existing collateral networks can form de novo collaterals from capillaries following occlusion of a feed artery. Unfortunately, …

Functional Health Status In Children And Adolescents After Fontan: Comparison Of Generic And Disease-Specific Assessments., Brian W. Mccrindle, Victor Zak, Victoria L. Pemberton, Linda M. Lambert, Victoria L. Vetter, Wyman W. Lai, Karen Uzark, Renee Margossian, Andrew M. Atz, Amanda Cook, Jane W. Newburger, Pediatric Heart Network Investigators, Girish S. Shirali

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare associations between generic versus disease-specific functional health status assessments and patient and clinical characteristics for patients with severe congenital heart disease.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study involving 325 single ventricle patients, aged 10-18 years, after Fontan procedure. Enrolled patients underwent a medical history review, laboratory testing, and assessment of the functional health status by completion of the generic Child Report Child Health Questionnaire and the disease-specific Congenital Heart Adolescent and Teenage questionnaire. Correlated conceptually equivalent domains from both questionnaires were identified and their associations with patient and clinical variables …

Cystic Echinococcoses In Mongolia: Molecular Identification, Serology And Risk Factors, Akira Ito, Temuulen Dorjsuren, Anu Davaasuren, Tetsuya Yanagida, Yasuhito Sako, Kazuhiro Nakaya, Minoru Nakao, Oyun-Erdene Bat-Ochir, Tsendjav Ayushkhuu, Narantuya Bazarragchaa, Nyamkhuu Gonchigsengee, Tiaoying Li, Gurbadam Agvaandaram, Abmed Davaajav, Chinchuluun Boldbaatar, Gantigmaa Chuluunbaatar

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Abstract

Background

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a globally distributed cestode zoonosis that causes hepatic cysts. Although Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) is the major causative agent of CE worldwide, recent molecular epidemiological studies have revealed that E. canadensis is common in countries where camels are present. One such country is Mongolia.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Forty-three human hepatic CE cases that were confirmed histopathologically at the National Center of Pathology (NCP) in Ulaanbaatar (UB) were identified by analysis of mitochondrial cox1 gene as being caused by either E. canadensis (n = 31, 72.1%) or E. granulosus s.s. ( …

Sex-Specific Biatrial Volumetric Measurements Obtained With Use Of Multidetector Computed Tomography In Subjects With And Without Coronary Artery Disease, Matthew J Budoff, Sandeep R Pagali, Yasmin S Hamirani, Andy Chen, Gordon Cheu, Yanlin Gao, Dong Li, Songshou Mao

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Atrial volumetric measurement has proven clinical implications. Advances in cardiac imaging, notably the precision enabled by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), herald the need for new criteria of what constitutes normal volumetric measurements. With use of 64-slice MDCT, we compared the atrial volumes in healthy individuals with those in individuals with coronary artery disease.

By means of manual segmentation, we measured biatrial volume in 686 participants who underwent retrospective electrocardiographic-gated MDCT angiographic evaluation. The study population included a control group of 203 persons with no cardiac abnormalities, and a study group of 483 patients with obstructive coronary artery disease. All variables …

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (Scad): New Insights Into This Not-So-Rare Condition, Sharonne N Hayes

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

No abstract provided.

Natural Progression Of Low-Gradient Severe Aortic Stenosis With Preserved Ejection Fraction, Antony Leslie Innasimuthu, Sanjay Kumar, Jason Lazar, William E Katz

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Because the natural progression of low-gradient aortic stenosis (LGAS) has not been well defined, we performed a retrospective study of 116 consecutive patients with aortic stenosis who had undergone follow-up echocardiography at a median interval of 698 days (range, 371–1,020 d). All patients had preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (>0.50) during and after follow-up.

At baseline, patients were classified by aortic valve area (AVA) as having mild stenosis (≥1.5 cm2), moderate stenosis (≥1 to <1.5 cm2), or severe stenosis (<1 cm2). Severe aortic stenosis was further classified by mean gradient (LGAS, mean <40 mmHg; high-gradient aortic stenosis [HGAS], mean ≥40 mmHg). We compared baseline and follow-up values among 4 groups: patients with mild stenosis, moderate stenosis, LGAS, and HGAS.

At baseline, 30 patients had mild stenosis, 54 had moderate stenosis, 24 had LGAS, and 8 had HGAS. Compared with the moderate group, the LGAS …

Outpatient Management Of Heart Failure In The United States, 2006-2008, Kailash Mosalpuria, Sunil K Agarwal, Sirin Yaemsiri, Bredy Pierre-Louis, Samir Saba, Rene Alvarez, Stuart D Russell

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Better outpatient management of heart failure might improve outcomes and reduce the number of rehospitalizations. This study describes recent outpatient heart-failure management in the United States.

We analyzed data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey of 2006–2008, a multistage random sampling of non-Federal physician offices and hospital outpatient departments.

Annually, 1.7% of all outpatient visits were for heart failure (51% females and 77% non-Hispanic whites; mean age, 73 ± 0.5 yr). Typical comorbidities were hypertension (62%), hyperlipidemia (36%), diabetes mellitus (35%), and ischemic heart disease (29%). Body weight and blood pressure were recorded in about 80% of visits, and …

Exertional Dyspnea As A Symptom Of Infrarenal Aortic Occlusive Disease, Stacey L Schott, Fernanda Porto Carreiro, James R Harkness, Mahmoud B Malas, Stephen M Sozio, Sammy Zakaria

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Advanced atherosclerosis of the aorta can cause severe ischemia in the kidneys, refractory hypertension, and claudication. However, no previous reports have clearly associated infrarenal aortic stenosis with shortness of breath. A 77-year-old woman with hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented with exertional dyspnea. Despite extensive testing and observation, no apparent cause for this patient's dyspnea was found. Images revealed severe infrarenal aortic stenosis. After the patient underwent stenting of the aortic occlusion, she had immediate symptomatic improvement and complete resolution of her dyspnea within one month. Twelve months after vascular intervention, the patient remained asymptomatic. In view of the distinct and lasting …

Cytokine Changes In Colonic Mucosa Associated With Blastocystis Spp. Subtypes 1 And 3 In Diarrhoea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Javed Yakoob, Zaigham Abbas, Muhammad Waqas Usman, Aisha Sultana, Muhammad Islam, Safia Awan, Zubair Ahmad, Saeed Hamid, Wasim Jafri

Section of Gastroenterology

We determined cytokines (e.g. interleukin-8, 10, 12 and TNF-α) expression by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in rectal mucosa in diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) with Blastocystis spp. Eighty patients with D-IBS and Blastocystis spp. infection were classified as 'cases' and 80 with D-IBS without Blastocystis spp. infection were classified as 'control'. Cases were subdivided into D-IBS and Blastocystis sp. defined type 1 (subtype-specific primer SB83) and type 3 (SB227). Stool microscopy and culture were performed. Rectal biopsies were obtained for histology and cytokines by real-time PCR for mRNA expression of cytokines. PBMCs IL-8 was similar in different groups …

Hiv And Sti Risk For Young Blacks In High Prevalence Areas: Implications For Health Equity In Communities Hosting Historically Black Colleges And Universities (Hbcus), Tanya Telfair Leblanc, Madeline Y. Sutton, Peter Thomas, Wayne A. Duffus

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background

Every year, thousands of young, black, high school graduates who are seeking higher education, attend one of the 105 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) located primarily in the south and east. The objective of the research was to examine the geographic proximity of HBCUs to areas of high HIV and STI disease burden among college age people to assess infectivity of potential sex partners in the areas surrounding HBCUs.

Methods

We examined the 14 states reporting the greatest HIV diagnoses burden among persons age 20-24 years old and STI burden among persons age 15 to 24 years old …

Social Determinants Of Late Presentation To Hiv Care, Connie Leeper, Michael Mugavero, James Willig, Eric Chamot, Shatomi Kerbawy, Anne Zinski

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: In recent years, increased attention has shifted toward evaluating social determinants of health, and understanding how community, environment, and system factors affect health outcomes. HIV policies and guidelines emphasize the importance of earlier HIV diagnosis and presentation for care. This study evaluated the role of individual and community-level factors in late presentation to HIV care.

Methods: HIV-infected patients newly initiating outpatient HIV medical care at an academic medical center between 2005-2010 were included. Patients' self-reported addresses at their first clinic visit were geocoded using geographic information systems software to the appropriate United States census block group. Using …

Anonymous Donors, Confidentiality, And How We All Must Work To Defeat Huntington's Disease, Kenneth P. Serbin

At Risk for Huntington's Disease

No abstract provided.

Safety Of Infusing Rituximab At A More Rapid Rate In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From The Rate-Ra Study, Charles H. Pritchard, Maria W. Greenwald, Joel M. Kremer, Norman B. Gaylis, William Rigby

Dartmouth Scholarship

As recommended in the current prescribing information, rituximab infusions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) take 4.25hours for the first infusion and 3.25hours for subsequent infusions, which is a burden on patients and the health care system. We therefore evaluated the safety of infusing rituximab at a faster rate for an infusion period of 2hours in patients with RA.

Bedbugs Biting Back? A Multifactorial Consideration Of Bedbug Resurgence, Vanessa L. Abejuela-Matt

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Bedbugs, previously thought to be eradicated during the mid-20th century, have reemerged in the new millennium with unforeseen furor. Affected patients and families frequently present in primary care settings, not only with complaints of pruritus or rash, but with anxiety and shame regarding the condition. Changes in eradication techniques and resistance, as well as lack of reporting – from both patients and lodging institutions – have hindered control. The increased mobility of goods and the human population has provided further avenues for bedbug spread. While current literature thoroughly describes the clinical presentation of bedbugs and the increasingly problematic effects on …

Urinary Estrogen Metabolites And Self-Reported Infertility In Women Infected With Schistosoma Haematobium, Julio Santos, Maria Joao Gouveia, Nuno Vale, Maria De Lurdes Delgado, Ana Goncalves, Gabriel Rinaldi, Paul J. Brindley, +10 Additional Authors

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease, endemic in 76 countries, that afflicts more than 240 million people. The impact of schistosomiasis on infertility may be underestimated according to recent literature. Extracts of Schistosoma haematobium include estrogen-like metabolites termed catechol-estrogens that down regulate estrogen receptors alpha and beta in estrogen responsive cells. In addition, schistosome derived catechol-estrogens induce genotoxicity that result in estrogen-DNA adducts. These catechol estrogens and the catechol-estrogen-DNA adducts can be isolated from sera of people infected with S. haematobium. The aim of this study was to study infertility in females infected with S. haematobium and its …

Support From Unaffected Relatives Makes Big Difference In Fight Against Huntington's Disease, Kenneth P. Serbin

At Risk for Huntington's Disease

No abstract provided.

Design, Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of Novel Compounds With Cns-Activity Targeting Cannabinoid And Biogenic Amine Receptors, Alexander M. Sherwood

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This work seeks to contribute to the discipline of neuropharmacology by way of structure activity relationship from the standpoint of an organic chemist. More specifically, we sought to develop robust synthetic methodology able to efficiently produce an array of compounds for the purpose of systematic evaluation of their interaction with specific sights within the central nervous system (CNS) in order to better understand the mind and to develop drugs that may have beneficial effects on neurological function.

The focus of these studies has been toward the development of novel molecules, using a structure-activity relationship approach, that exhibit binding affinity at …

Rare Case Of Klinefelters Syndrome With 48xxyy, Vasudev G. Magaji Md, Ms, Deborah Feden Crnp, Gretchen Perilli Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Ponatinib-Induced Adverse Effects: Thrombocytopenia, Pancreatitis And Hepatoxicity-- A Case Report, Saba Hasan, Crystal Fedorkiv, Naba Rahman, Jennifer Andres

Research Day

Abstract: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disease that generates from malignant transformation of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. First line treatment for CML is the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), imatinib. For patients resistant or intolerant to imatinib, other TKIs, dasatinib, nilotinib, and ponatinib, are approved treatments. Patients who are resistant or intolerant to other agents are started on ponatinib as a last line option. Common adverse events of ponatinib are hypertension, dry skin, rash, abdominal pain, constipation, and nausea. More serious adverse effects include cardiovascular effects, fluid retention, pancreatitis, severe myelosuppression, and hepatotoxicity. Treatment for these adverse effects can …

Insulin Pump Class: Back To The Basics Of Pump Therapy, Sara Wilson Reece, Cheryl Williams

Research Day

Insulin pump therapy is a common mechanism for insulin delivery in Type 1 diabetes mellitus as well as in some patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. At the Longstreet Clinic, approximately 3% of patients on insulin therapy utilize insulin pumps. After several patients on insulin pump therapy experienced severe hypoglycemic episodes while driving, the need for review of insulin pump survival skills were identified. The insulin pump class which was conducted in a small group setting reviewed all of the necessary survival skills for effective insulin pump therapy. Pre- and post-class hemoglobin A1c values and emergency room visits as well …

Mitoquinone (Mitoq) Exerts Antioxidant Effects Independent Of Mitochondrial Targeted Effects In Phorbol-12-Myristate-13-Acetate (Pma) Or N-Formyl-L-Methiony-L-Leucyl-L-Phenylalanine (Fmlp) Stimulated Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte (Pmn) Superoxide (So) Release, Matthew Lepera, D. Pesikan, J. Voeun, Kerry-Anne Perkins, Qian Chen, Robert J. Barsotti, Lindon H. Young

Research Day

MitoQ is a mitochondrial-targeted coenzyme Q antioxidant analog that dose-dependently restored cardiac function and reduced infarct size in isolated perfused rat hearts subjected to ischemia reperfusion (I/R). Moreover, mitoQ also dose-dependently attenuated PMA stimulated PMN superoxide (SO) release at the same concentration (10uM) as the cardioprotective dose. NADPH oxidase is the principle source of PMN SO release. We speculate that mitoQ may exert antioxidant effects independent of the mitochondria. Therefore, we hypothesized that inhibition of mitoQ on PMN-SO release will be similar as other coenzyme Q analogs: coenzyme Q1 and decylubiquinone without affecting cell viability. SO release was measured spectrophotometrically …

Gp91ds-Tat, A Selective Nadph Oxidase Peptide Inhibitor, Increases Blood Nitric Oxide (No) Bioavailability In Bind Limb Ischemia And Reperfusion (I/R), Sydney Walker, Tyler Galbreath, Qian Chen, Robert J. Barsotti, H. Patel, William Chau, Lindon H. Young

Research Day

I/R injury induces cell death and organ dysfunction in part due to a burst of reactive oxygen species that occurs upon the reintroduction of oxygen into the ischemic area, leading to endothelial dysfunction: decreased blood NO and increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 ) levels. We’ve previously shown in isolated rat hearts subjected to I/R injury, gp91ds-tat attenuated cardiac contractile dysfunction and reduced infarct size compared to controls presumably by the inhibition of NADPH oxidase induced superoxide release. Superoxide can quench NO via the formation of peroxynitrite and also be converted to H2O2 in blood. We attempted to confirm this hypothesis using …

Anterior Cervical Foraminotomy: Short Term Outcomes In Patients With Isolated Cervical Radiculopathy, Howard Eisenbrock, Mark Rivkin, Amir R. Dehdashti

Research Day

Intro: Anterior cervical foraminotomy (ACF) is a novel approach involving direct decompression of nerve from an offending agent without fusion. Historically, several anterior and posterior approaches were utilized to treat cervical radiculopathy. Anterior cervical discectomy necessitates fusion and is subject to adjacent segment disease as well as loss of ROM. Posterior laminoforaminotomy seldom allows for removal of disc fragment and is associated with higher postoperative pain.

Methods: Between May 2010 and March 2013, 16 patients with one or two level cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy without myelopathy who failed conservative therapies such as anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy or injections underwent anterior …

Kyphotic Progression After Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures Treated Conservatively, With Mis, Or Via Open Approach, Mark Rivkin, Howard Eisenbrock

Research Day

Management of thoracolumbar burst fractures (AO A3) without neurological deficit is subject to debate in the literature. While TLICS provides guidance for injuries necessitating intervention, it makes little mention of best surgical approaches. Furthermore, intact patients with suspected posterior ligamentous complex injury (TLICS 4) compose an additional level of management uncertainty. Present study examined outcomes for TL burst fractures in neurologically intact patients with suspected disruption of the PLC treated with bracing, MIS, or open fixation and fusion.

Using Radiation Therapy For Mesothelioma, Samira Rezaei

Student Research Symposium

This poster details research that shows that patients who suffer from mesothelioma cancer and choose Immune Therapy treatment have a longer survival rate in comparison with other methods of treatment.

Adrenergic Signaling Regulates Mitochondrial Ca(2+) Uptake Through Pyk2-Dependent Tyrosine Phosphorylation Of The Mitochondrial Ca(2+) Uniporter., Jin O-Uchi, Bong Sook Jhun, Shangcheng Xu, Stephen Hurst, Anna Raffaello, Xiaoyun Liu, Bing Yi, Huiliang Zhang, Polina Gross, Jyotsna Mishra, Alina Ainbinder, Sarah Kettlewell, Godfrey L Smith, Robert T Dirksen, Wang Wang, Rosario Rizzuto, Shey-Shing Sheu

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

Abstract Aims: Mitochondrial Ca(2+) homeostasis is crucial for balancing cell survival and death. The recent discovery of the molecular identity of the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter pore (MCU) opens new possibilities for applying genetic approaches to study mitochondrial Ca(2+) regulation in various cell types, including cardiac myocytes. Basal tyrosine phosphorylation of MCU was reported from mass spectroscopy of human and mouse tissues, but the signaling pathways that regulate mitochondrial Ca(2+) entry through posttranslational modifications of MCU are completely unknown. Therefore, we investigated α1-adrenergic-mediated signal transduction of MCU posttranslational modification and function in cardiac cells. Results: α1-adrenoceptor (α1-AR) signaling translocated activated proline-rich …

Does Cariogenic Streptococcus Mutans Play A Role In Cardiovascular Disease?, Brittany Burks

The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research

The link that exists between oral health and the entire well-being of the body is continuously becoming more emphasized. As illnesses such as cardiovascular disease become more prevalent, dentists and researchers have suggested that a link between the transfer of bacteria in the mouth into the blood stream plays a direct cause in onset of the disease in some patients. The American Dental Association has begun stressing the importance of preventive care techniques and also the importance of understanding the role the mouth plays in a multitude of processes that occur in the body. Streptococcus mutans, which is the …