Diseases Commons^™

What Is Dysentery?, Rory Malek, Zach Hutchens

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Dysentery is a disease that affects the digestive system and has many grotesque symptoms, such as diarrhea and vomiting. Dysentery is considered more of a set of symptoms instead of an actual organism, but it is almost always caused by a bacterium.

Yellow Fever, Harrison Gibbs, Emma Ward

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Yellow Fever is a disease that is most common in Africa and South America that causes severe discomfort and has a high mortality rate, of the estimated over 200,000 cases of Yellow Fever, 30,000 cases end in death. Since it is so dangerous, it is important to know how to prevent and treat it if someone ever wanted to travel to either of those places. The disease is relatively easy to avoid, all someone really need to do is avoid mosquitoes either by wearing protective clothing or by avoiding high density mosquito areas. If one were get Yellow Fever, they …

H1n1 Influenza Virus, Kail Consford, Drew Patel

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

On April 17, 2009, two patients in the United States were found with Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) virus. This virus was spread to Mexico, Canada, and many other countries. From April 15 through May 5, a total of 642 confirmed cases of H1N1 infection were identified in 41 states. The ages of the patients were from 3 months to 81 years, and 60% of the patients were 18 or younger. Most of these patients recently came from either Mexico or even from school outbreaks. The most common symptoms were fever, cough, and a sore throat. The H1N1 was determined to …

Lyme Disease, Marin Olson Beal

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

When asked to think of headlining diseases, many would choose bubonic plague, smallpox, Ebola, or leprosy. However, Lyme disease makes up for more confirmed diagnostic cases in the United States than all the aforementioned diseases combined. In 2014 alone, in the United States, 119 diagnostic cases were confirmed of bubonic plague, smallpox, Ebola, and leprosy altogether, while there were over 25,000 confirmed cases of Lyme disease (CDC, 2015). More information is needed to understand Lyme disease and how to treat it, before any more lives are lost.

Smallpox Infectious Disease, Miranda Allbee, Brandon Smith

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Smallpox is a disease similar to chicken pox, but not exactly the same. Smallpox is caused by a virus called Variola and is a member of the genus orthopoxvirus. The virus is a large brick shaped DNA virus. Smallpox spreads by direct, face to face contact with an infected person or by contact with infected body fluids or contaminated objects such as clothing. Smallpox is rarely spread through airborne transmission and is not known to be transmitted by animals or insects. The incubation period lasts from 7 to 17 days, during which infected individuals often show no symptoms and are …

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Reuben Ninan

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

The Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne infectious viral disease in the family Bunyaviridae. The disease was first characterized in the Crimea in 1944 and given the name Crimean hemorrhagic fever. CCHF was then later recognized in 1969 as the cause of illness in the Congo, thus resulting in the current name of the disease. CCHF causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks (CDC, 2014).

The Bubonic Plague, Matthew Morin, Ashton Westbrook

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

The bubonic plague is a very serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The plague is a zoonotic disease, which means it is usually transmitted to humans by animals. It is commonly transmitted through the bites of infected fleas or coming in direct contact with infected animal tissue (Schoenstadt, 2006). The bacterium can be found in fleas or small rodents such as chipmunks, squirrels, rats, or prairie dogs. The symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, and hemorrhages under the skin causing discoloration, are very harsh and unpleasant. This disease is infectious and extremely severe, and it is deadly if …

Typhoid Fever, Christian Nicholas

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Typhoid fever is a waterborne disease. There are a reported 16 million illnesses and 600,000 deaths annually (Crump, 2010). Most cases occur in developing countries; however, citizens of developed countries who visit developing ones are at risk of catching this disease (CDC, 2013). The disease is caused by Salmonella typhi, which infects the lymph nodes, necessary for immune response. Basic symptoms include a prolonged fever, interruptions in proper bowel function (constipation and diarrhea), severe cough, and in some cases, rose-colored spots on the patient. Salmonella typhi is a gram-negative bacteria that can only be carried by humans. There is also …

African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness), Pedro Garcia, Austin Burton

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

No abstract provided.

Dengue Fever, Ashley Hernandez, Chris Harkness

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

In recent years, the transmission of dengue fever has increased surprisingly fast and has become a major international public health concern. As of today this disease has mainly affected large countries and has become a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children in the certain areas. The amount of people that have got this infection has dramatically increase in recent decades. Over 40% of the world’s population are currently at risk of getting Dengue Fever. There is now an estimate of 50-100 million people that catch this disease every year (World Health Organization, 2002).

A Look Into Tuberculosis, Adrian Vega, Brennan Heath

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Tuberculosis is a Mycobacterium which is a genus classified in the phylum Actinobacteria. This genus is known to cause diseases in mammals. Tuberculosis' scientific name is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Robert Koch discovered pathogenic bacterial species discovered in 1882 by. M. tuberculosis has a waxy coating on the cell's surface which makes it unable to be Gram stained.(Brennan, 2003). Gram staining is a method to differentiate bacterial species into two groups. This bacterium is Gram-negative because the waxy coating will not absorb the stain. When M. tuberculosis is in the lungs it is engulfed by macrophages trying to eradicate the disease, but …

Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (Ebolavirus), Katie Mckee, Maria Hernandez

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Without treatment, the Ebola Virus (also known as hemorrhagic fever) has up to a 90% fatality rate. Understanding this disease could help save a person’s life, especially if that person has recently traveled to Africa.

Cholera Research Poster, James Sowards, Mac Duffield

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Cholera kills 142,000 on average a year, each of these lives being equally important. In Haiti a huge outbreak of cholera occurred. So many people died it made the population unable to recover from such an epidemic. Cholera might not be as important to people that do not live near the area affected but it has changed the lives of many people around the world (WebMD LLC, 1994-2015).

Is 2015 The Primetime Year For Prehypertension? Prehypertension: A Cardiovascular Risk Factor Or Simply A Risk Marker?, Gabriel B. Habib, Salim S. Virani, Hani Jneid

Office of the Provost

No abstract provided.

Anti-Tumoral Effects Of Mir-3189-3p In Glioblastoma, Duane Jeansonne, Mariacristina Deluca, Luis Marrero, Adam Lassak, Marco Pacifici, Dorota Wyczechowska, Anna Wilk, Krzysztof Reiss, Francesca Peruzzi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive brain tumors. We have previously found up-regulation of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) in glioblastoma cells treated with the anticancer agent fenofibrate. Sequence analysis of GDF15 revealed the presence of a microRNA, miR-3189, in the single intron. We then asked whether miR-3189 was expressed in clinical samples and whether it was functional in glioblastoma cells. We found that expression of miR-3189-3p was down-regulated in astrocytoma and glioblastoma clinical samples compared with control brain tissue. In vitro, the functionality of miR-3189-3p was tested by RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation, and miR-3189-3p coimmunoprecipitated with Argonaute 2 together …

Protein Composition And Movements Of Membrane Swellings Associated With Primary Cilia, Ashraf M. Mohieldin, Hanan S. Haymour, Shao T. Lo, Wissam A. Aboualaiwi, Kimberly F. Atkinson, Christopher J. Ward, Min Gao, Oliver Wessely, Surya M. Nauli

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Dysfunction of many ciliary proteins has been linked to a list of diseases, from cystic kidney to obesity and from hypertension to mental retardation. We previously proposed that primary cilia are unique communication organelles that function as microsensory compartments that house mechanosensory molecules. Here we report that primary cilia exhibit membrane swellings, which based on their unique ultrastructure and motility, could be mechanically regulated by fluid-shear stress. Together with the ultrastructure analysis of the bulb, which contains monosialodihexosylganglioside (GM3), our results show that ciliary membrane swelling has a distinctive set of functional proteins, including GM3 synthase (GM3S), bicaudal-c1 (Bicc1) and …

Huntington’S Disease Patients ‘Feel Better’ After Takin Auspex Compound To Control Chorea In Clinical Trial, Kenneth P. Serbin

At Risk for Huntington's Disease

No abstract provided.

Novel Approach To Identify Optimal Metabotypes Of Elongase And Desaturase Activities In Prevention Of Acute Coronary Syndrome, Nathan L. Tintle, John W. Newman, Gregory C. Shearer

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Both metabolomic and genomic approaches are valuable for risk analysis, however typical approaches evaluating differences in means do not model the changes well. Gene polymorphisms that alter function would appear as distinct populations, or metabotypes, from the predominant one, in which case risk is revealed as changed mixing proportions between control and case samples. Here we validate a model accounting for mixed populations using biomarkers of fatty acid metabolism derived from a case/control study of acute coronary syndrome subjects in which both metabolomic and genomic approaches have been used previously. We first used simulated data to show improved power and …

Preconception And Early Pregnancy Air Pollution Exposures And Risk Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Candace Robledo, Pauline Mendola, Edwina H. Yeung, Tuija Männistö, Rajeshwari Sundaram, Danping Liu, Qi Ying, Seth Sherman, Katherine Grantz

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Air pollution has been linked to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) but no studies have evaluated impact of preconception and early pregnancy air pollution exposures on GDM risk.

Methods: Electronic medical records provided data on 219,952 singleton deliveries to mothers with (n=11,334) and without GDM (n=208,618). Average maternal exposures to particulate matter (PM) ≤ 2.5μm (PM2.5) and PM2.5 constituents, PM ≤ 10μm (PM10), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) were estimated for the 3-month preconception window, first trimester, and gestational weeks 1-24 based on modified Community Multiscale Air Quality models for delivery hospital referral regions. …

Knowledge Base Of Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease, Mark Gelatt, Julie Martin, Jennifer A. Marshall, Jennifer Panuco, Jenea Schmidt, Pamela Finn

Posters

Introduction:

Most congenital heart disease [CHD] is diagnosed and treated in early childhood with parents responsible for decision-making. The adolescent assumes this role in preparation for transition to an adult congenital heart program. We studied the knowledge base of our adolescent CHD patients and their parents.

Methods:

Established CHD patients, >11 y.o. and their parents, were independently surveyed in the outpatient clinic. Participation was voluntary. Cardiomyopathy, electrophysiology and transplant patients were excluded. Scores were assessed as full, partial or incomplete.

Results:

Most (98% parents; 83% adolescents) reported that their cardiologist had provided education. Adolescents provided a full (49%) and partial …

Early Detection Of A Cavopulmonary Tumor Embolus With The Use Of Transesophageal Echocardiography, Magdy M El-Sayed Ahmed, Raed M Al-Najjar, Muhammad Aftab, James M Anton, John S Colen, Ross M Reul

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Pulmonary tumor embolization from renal cell carcinoma is associated with severe cardiopulmonary morbidity and high perioperative mortality rates. We report the case of a 71-year-old woman who presented with right-sided abdominal pain. Magnetic resonance images revealed a mass originating from the upper pole of the right kidney and extending into the infrahepatic portion of the inferior vena cava. Transesophageal echocardiography was continuously used to monitor the mass during intended radical nephrectomy and tumor resection. When the right kidney was mobilized, intracaval thrombus detached and migrated to the patient's right atrium, causing severe hemodynamic instability. After emergent sternotomy and during the …

Improved Systemic Saturation After Ventricular Assist Device Implantation In A Patient With Decompensated Dextro-Transposition Of The Great Arteries After The Fontan Procedure, Ali Abdul Jabbar, Wayne J Franklin, Leo Simpson, Andrew B Civitello, Reynolds M Delgado, O H Frazier

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

We report the successful implantation of a HeartMate II left ventricular assist device after a failed Fontan procedure in a patient with dextro-transposition of the great arteries. The patient had developed significant intrapulmonary arteriovenous shunting. Despite the theoretical risk of worsening intrapulmonary shunting due to the decrease in systemic vascular resistance after device implantation, our patient did well. He was discharged from the hospital in stable condition and had better oxygen saturation than before the device was implanted. To our knowledge, ours is the 2nd report of the use of a ventricular assist device after the failure of a Fontan …

Taking The Risk: The Other Side Of The Story, Herbert L Fred

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

No abstract provided.

Echocardiographic Versus Histologic Findings In Marfan Syndrome, Xiaoyan Gu, Yihua He, Zhian Li, Jiancheng Han, Jian Chen, J V Ian Nixon

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

This retrospective study attempted to establish the prevalence of multiple-valve involvement in Marfan syndrome and to compare echocardiographic with histopathologic findings in Marfan patients undergoing valvular or aortic surgery.

We reviewed echocardiograms of 73 Marfan patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery from January 2004 through October 2009. Tissue histology was available for comparison in 29 patients.

Among the 73 patients, 66 underwent aortic valve replacement or the Bentall procedure. Histologic findings were available in 29 patients, all of whom had myxomatous degeneration. Of 63 patients with moderate or severe aortic regurgitation as determined by echocardiography, 4 had thickened aortic valves. The …

Impact And Predictors Of Noncircular Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Shapes On Estimating Aortic Stenosis Severity By Means Of Continuity Equations, Nirmanmoh Bhatia, Buddhadeb Dawn, Tariq S Siddiqui, Marcus F Stoddard

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Determining aortic stenosis (AS) severity is clinically important. Calculating aortic valve (AV) area by means of the continuity equation assumes a circular left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). The full impact of this assumption in calculating AV area is unknown. Predictors of noncircular LVOT shape in patients with AS are undefined.

In 109 adult patients with AS who underwent multiplanar transesophageal echocardiography, we calculated AV area by means of the standard continuity method and by a modified method involving planimetric LVOT area.

We found 54 circular, 37 horizontal-oval, 8 vertical-oval, and 10 irregular LVOTs. Area derived by direct planimetry correlated better …

Lead Burden As A Factor For Higher Complication Rate In Patients With Implantable Cardiac Devices, Christopher Kolibash, Naoyo Mori, Jasbir Sra, Masood Akhtar, M. Eyman Mortada

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose

Lead revisions have increased over the last decade. Patients who do not undergo lead extraction face an increased lead burden. Consequences of increased lead burden have not been fully defined. We sought to characterize the complication rate and outcomes in patients with sterile redundant leads.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 242 consecutive patients [mean age 74 ± 12 years; 66.9% male] who underwent lead revision that resulted in an abandoned lead from January 2005 to June 2010. Patients were placed in a cohort based on number of leads after last recorded procedure (Group A: ≤2 [n=58]; Group B: 3-4 [n=168]; …

Breast Cancer Screening: Early Detection Is Not Enough, Judy A. Tjoe

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

N/A

The Clinical Breast Examination: A Useful Screening Tool?, Jennifer Lo

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The standardization of the clinical breast examination as a screening tool for breast cancer has been a topic of controversy. Current recommendations vary significantly from organization to organization without consensus. There currently does not seem to be sufficient evidence regarding overall survival benefit of the clinical breast exam. However, as adjunct screening with mammography, it may help find earlier breast cancers and the up to 5–10% of cancers missed by mammography. The most appropriate standardized protocol may be that the clinical breast exam can be performed at the discretion of the provider and patient, with more inclination toward use in …

What Are The Recommended Timing And Screening Modalities For Women At Higher Risk Of Developing Breast Cancer? A Clin-Iq, Summer Jatala, Shawn Fitzgerald, Pamela Tietze, Kalyanakrishnan Ramakrisnan, Laine H. Mccarthy, Elizabeth Wickersham

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Early detection of breast cancer is desirable to prevent progression to advanced disease. This subject has been one of significant study and debate for women at normal risk, and recommendations continue to evolve. However, with regard to women at high risk, the recommendations from various health care professional organizations, including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, are different and also inconsistent concerning when to begin screening and which modalities should be used. We review several randomized controlled trials and consensus opinions regarding when to begin screening for breast cancer and how to best screen women at high risk. Specifically, we …

Clinical Guidelines: Where Environment Meets Medicine, Dennis J. Baumgardner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

N/A