Diseases Commons^™

Evaluating Human Cell Survival And Dna Damage After Exposure To Various Amounts Of Chlorine Dioxide And Exploring Its Use As A Potential Cancer Chemotherapy Agent, Niuska Mariana Alvarez Fuenmayor

SURF - Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Projects

Chlorine Dioxide (ClO₂) is a synthetic, green-yellowish gas with a chlorine-like, irritating odor that is used for the treatment of drinking water and food preservation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of the chlorine dioxide in mammalian cells and to determine what dose of ClO₂ is tolerable by normal cells and cells with aberrant DNA repair genes. Human and mouse embryonic cells were treated with various ClO₂ dilutions ranging from 2.5 mM to 25 mM. The cell viability and metabolic activity was determined via MTT, a colorimetric assay. Human HEK293 cells …

Most Efficient Methods To Treat Breast Cancer, Esther Ehrman

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Breast cancer is rampant in today’s world. Because there are many different cases and so many different ways to classify breast cancer, a multidisciplinary approach must be taken. Many patients undergo breast conserving surgery which creates a need for the eradication of any remaining tumor residue through radiation. Fifty Gy of radiation should be applied to the breast with an additional 16 Gy as a boost. If a mastectomy is performed to remove a large tumor and 4 or more positive lymph nodes were present, radiation should be applied as well. If the tumor expresses HER2 protein, Trastuzumab should be …

A Pilot Study For Plant The Seed: A Nutrition Education Program Using Local Food Environment To Put Theory Into Action, Yeon Bai, Shahla M. Wunderlich, Karen A. Lee

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

The purpose of this study is to implement Plant the Seed, a garden-based nutrition education program designed to reconnect children with locally grown food, food environments of the past and present, and the benefits of eating seasonal foods. The pilot study investigates the environmental context and theory variables known to influence healthy food choice behavior. Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) provided a framework for the program’s curriculum and evaluation. The target audience is middle school students. Plant the Seed is a two-part program. In Part 1 (classroom), students participate in practical, interactive activities based on specific educational objectives that target …

Hexokinase Ii Localization Is Independent Of Ampk Activation In Hela Cells, Alyssa Brown

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

In order for a cancer cell to thrive, it must alter its metabolism to produce the energy needed for rapid growth. Cells accomplish this by the Warburg Effect, or switching metabolism to aerobic glycolysis, where a cell can rapidly break down sugar into ATP, lactic acid and additional byproducts. Hexokinase 2, the enzyme that catalyzes the first committed step of glycolysis, may also be upregulated in cancer cells to increase glucose breakdown. Similar proteins for metabolism are found in both S. cerevisiae and mammalian cells. S. cerevisiae regulates metabolism through glucose repression, by Snf1 (mammalian homolog: AMPK) activation, which aids …

Non-Hdl-C Or Apolipoprotein-B Versus Ldl-C Screening For Evaluation And Treatment Of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Grant Coauette

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration in the population has been a goal of researchers and clinicians to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

• Controversy surrounds using [LDL-C] as the primary lipid biomarker to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular events. An article search dating back to 2005 of PubMed and The Cochran Library was conducted.

• The purpose of this investigation was to determine if LDL-C should be the primary lipid biomarker used to determine ASCVD treatment and prevention. This investigation researched other lipid biomarkers and targets to determine clinical relevance and if the level of those markers more …

Screening For Cardiovascular Disease In Children, Jesse Fladmark

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world with significant burden on the health care system.

Review of Literature: The focus of this paper is to look at previous studies, mostly systematic reviews and metaanalysis, in search of various clinical screening methods in the pediatric population for determining cardiovascular disease risk. Waist to height ratio can be used to screen children for cardiovascular disease with a specificity of 96% when using 0.55 as the cut-off point. An increase in waist circumference along with increased BMI places a child at a much higher risk of …

A Multimodal Approach To Preventing And Treating Alzheimer’S Disease, Jason B. Smith

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

As of 2015 over 47 million people worldwide are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The incidence of AD increases with age, and affects males and females equally. Current pharmacologic treatment includes two classes of drugs. The purpose of this study was to determine if a multimodal approach (i.e. diet, exercise, cognitive stimulation) towards the prevention and treatment of AD would be more beneficial than pharmacologic therapy alone. Research methods included reviewing peer reviewed journal articles published within the past five years obtained from PubMed, Dynamed, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Clinical Key. Ehret and Chamberlin (2015) found donepezil (Aricept) increased MMSE scores …

Análisis De Las Políticas Públicas De Prevención Del Cáncer De Cuello Uterino Vinculadas Al Control Del Virus Del Papiloma Humano (Vph) En Argentina / An Analysis Of Argentina’S Public Health Prevention Strategies Of Cervical Cancer Related To The Control Of The Human Papiloma Virus (Hpv), Caroline Seman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

El objetivo general de este estudio es analizar las políticas públicas de prevención del cáncer de cuello uterino (CCU) basadas en la incorporación de nuevas tecnologías como el test de VPH (Virus del Papiloma Humano) y la vacuna contra el VPH en Argentina. Los objetivos específicos son 1) describir la implementación del test de VPH y la campaña de vacunación obligatoria contra el VPH como estrategias de prevención primaria del CCU a nivel nacional: 2) identificar los factores que las facilitan y las obstaculizan. El CCU es el segundo cáncer más diagnosticado en las mujeres de Argentina. Desde el año …

Vertebral Metastasis As The Initial Manifestation Of Colon Cancer, Tushina Jain, Renee Williams, Benjamin Liechty, Lea Ann Chen

Medicine Faculty Publications

Oncology guidelines currently recommend against performing colonoscopies in the workup of adenocarcinoma of unknown primary unless colonic malignancy is otherwise suggested by clinical signs or symptoms. We present 2 cases of metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma that presented only with neurologic symptoms from vertebral metastasis. Although bony metastases are a rare presentation of colon cancer and colonoscopy is not warranted in the initial workup of adenocarcinoma of unknown primary, we describe these cases as a reminder that bony metastases do not rule out a colon cancer diagnosis.

Utility And Origin Of Blood-Based Autoantibodies For Early Detection And Diagnosis Of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Cassandra Demarshall

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Autoantibodies are self-reactive antibodies that have been widely implicated as causal agents of autoimmune diseases. They are found in the blood of all human sera, regardless of age, gender, or the presence or absence of disease. While the underlying reason for their ubiquity remains unknown, it has been hypothesized that they participate in the clearance of blood-borne cell and tissue debris generated in both healthy and diseased individuals on a daily basis. Although much evidence supports this debris clearance role, recent studies also suggest a causal role for autoantibodies in disease. My thesis work has focused on this "cause and/or …

Treatment Options For Skin And Soft Tissue Infections Caused By Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Renee Weinberg

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen responsible for common skin infections, such as impetigo, cellulitis, folliculitis, and abscess and it is the most common cause for skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). Humans are carriers of this microorganism and are responsible for facilitating its spread around the world. Over time it has developed resistance to multiple antibiotics, such as penicillin and methicillin, which has made S. aureus a persistent problem in the healthcare world today. Its methicillin resistance has given it the more commonly known name methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). MRSA was initially discovered solely in the healthcare environment and thus …

Stem Cell Therapy And Macular Degeneration, Brenda Stern

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans sixty years and older. Currently, it is an incurable disease. Stem cell therapy is the idea of transplanting stem cells to replace damaged cells in the body. As the demand for transplantable organs far outweighs the supply, stem cells are an encouraging alternative to replace damaged cells. Can stem cell therapy be the first cure for macular degeneration? Many experiments have been done on transplanting stem cells into the eyes of rats with macular degeneration yielding promising results. The first transplantation of retinal pigmented epithelial stem cells into humans …

Uric Acid-Induced Adipocyte Dysfunction Is Attenuated By Ho-1 Upregulation: Potential Role Of Antioxidant Therapy To Target Obesity, Komal Sodhi, Jordan Hilgefort, George Banks, Chelsea Gilliam, Sarah Stevens, Hayden A. Ansinelli, Morghan Getty, Nader G. Abraham, Joseph I. Shapiro, Zeid J. Khitan

Internal Medicine

Increased uric acid levels have been implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. To examine the mechanisms by which this occurs, we hypothesized that an increase in heme oxygenase 1, a potent antioxidant gene, will decrease uric acid levels and adipocyte dysfunction via suppression of ROS and xanthine oxidase (XO) levels.We examined the effect of uric acid on adipogenesis in human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the presence and absence of cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), an HO-1 inducer, and tin mesoporphyrin (SnMP), an HO activity inhibitor. Uric acid increased adipogenesis by increasing NADPH oxidase expression and elevation in the adipogenesis markers …

Serum Biomarkers Compared To Neural Imaging In The Differentiation Of Stroke Etiologies, Kevin Conboy

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• Stroke is a leading cause of disability and morbidity and the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, and the second leading cause of death worldwide.

• Early restoration of blood flow is the most effective treatment of ischemic stroke by intravenous thrombolytic therapy within 3-4.5hrs of symptom onset.

• Patient outcomes have been shown to improve with earlier thrombolytics, each 15 minute increment increases survival by 3.0-4.0%.

• Non-contrast CT is the current standard for differentiation of stroke. It is beneficial due to speed of acquisition and its high sensitivity in ruling out hemorrhagic stroke.

• …

Patient Self-Management: Impact Of Racism-Related Vigilance In The Management Of Hypertension In African-Americans, Rackelle N. Wilkinson-Alston

Writing Across the Curriculum

It is important to understand the role that discrimination plays in health disparities. This paper will discuss racism-related vigilance, and its role in health outcomes in hypertensive African-Americans (AAs). This paper will also attempt to provide insight on how the absence of a culturally competent health care system may predispose AAs to developing stress-induced hypertension due to racism-related vigilance. This paper will explore how community partnership programs may be beneficial interventions for building resilience and promoting positive health behaviors among hypertensive AAs in the face of discrimination-related vigilance.

Identification Of The Effects Of Diabetes Mellitus On The Brain, Tryphina A. Mikhail

Honors Undergraduate Theses

As more studies accumulate on the impact of diabetes mellitus on the central nervous system, they resound with the same conclusion - diabetes has a detrimental effect on cognition regardless of the presence of comorbidities. Less consistent however, are the specific mental processes wherein these declines are noticeable, and the structural changes that accompany these reductions in mental capacity. From global atrophy to changes in the volume of gray and white matter, to conflicting results regarding the effects of hypo- and hyperglycemic states on the development of the hippocampus, the studies display a variety of results. The goal of this …

Sepsis-Review Of Screening For Sepsis By Nursing, Nurse Driven Sepsis Protocols And Development Of Sepsis Hospital Policy/Protocols, Matthew Mccaffery, Omobola Onikoyi, Dilisha Rodrigopulle, Ali Syed, Suzanne Jones, Laura Mansfield, Murali G. Krishna

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (Middletown) Publications and Research

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. In order to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with sepsis in patients, early detection is vital, and so screening protocols have been developed. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign has developed an evidence based screening guideline that has been adapted by various institutions. Having specific criteria in detecting a septic patient is the defining factor in screening for sepsis by nursing staff. In order for the sepsis protocol to be effective, it is necessary that nursing and other front line staff be educated. Institutional barriers regarding implementation of …

Differential Rna Expression Profile Of Skeletal Muscle Induced By Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis In Rats, Henry J. Kaminski, Keiichi Himuro, Jumana Alshaikh, Bendi Gong, Georgiama Cheng, Linda L. Kusner

Neurology Faculty Publications

The differential susceptibility of skeletal muscle by myasthenia gravis (MG) is not well understood. We utilized RNA expression profiling of extraocular muscle (EOM), diaphragm (DIA), and extensor digitorum (EDL) of rats with experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG) to evaluate the hypothesis that muscles respond differentially to injury produced by EAMG. EAMG was induced in female Lewis rats by immunization with acetylcholine receptor purified from the electric organ of the Torpedo. Six weeks later after rats had developed weakness and serum antibodies directed against the AChR, animals underwent euthanasia and RNA profiling performed on DIA, EDL, and EOM. Profiling results were validated …

Interpreting Patient-Reported Outcomes From Clinical Trials In Copd: A Discussion, Paul W. Jones, Stephen I. Rennard, Maggie Tabberer, John H. Riley, Mitra Vahdati-Bolouri, Neil C. Barnes

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

One of the challenges faced by the practising physician is the interpretation of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in clinical trials and the relevance of such data to their patients. This is especially true when caring for patients with progressive diseases such as COPD. In an attempt to incorporate the patient perspective, many clinical trials now include assessments of PROs. These are formalized methods of capturing patient-centered information. Given the importance of PROs in evaluating the potential utility of an intervention for a patient with COPD, it is important that physicians are able to critically interpret (and critique) the results derived from …

Upregulation Of Rgs2: A New Mechanism For Pirfenidone Amelioration Of Pulmonary Fibrosis, Yan Xie, Haihong Jiang, Qian Zhang, Suneet Mehrotra, Peter W. Abel, Myron L. Toews, Dennis W. Wolff, Stephen I. Rennard, Reynold A. Panettieri, Thomas B. Casale, Yaping Tu

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Pirfenidone was recently approved for treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, the therapeutic dose of pirfenidone is very high, causing side effects that limit its doses and therapeutic effectiveness. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of action of pirfenidone could improve its safety and efficacy. Because activated fibroblasts are critical effector cells associated with the progression of fibrosis, this study investigated the genes that change expression rapidly in response to pirfenidone treatment of pulmonary fibroblasts and explored their contributions to the anti-fibrotic effects of pirfenidone.

METHODS: We used the GeneChip microarray to screen for genes that were rapidly up-regulated upon exposure …

Effects Of Roflumilast In Copd Patients Receiving Inhaled Corticosteroid/Long-Acting Β2-Agonist Fixed-Dose Combination: Re(2)Spond Rationale And Study Design, Stephen I. Rennard, Fernando J. Martinez, Klaus F. Rabe, Sanjay Sethi, Emilio Pizzichini, Andrew Mcivor, Shahid Siddiqui, Antonio Anzueto, Haiyuan Zhu

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Roflumilast, a once-daily, selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, reduces the risk of COPD exacerbations in patients with severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis and a history of exacerbations. The RE(2)SPOND study is examining whether roflumilast, when added to an inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β2-agonist (ICS/LABA) fixed-dose combination (FDC), further reduces exacerbations. The methodology is described herein.

METHODS: In this Phase IV, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial, participants were randomized 1:1 (stratified by long-acting muscarinic antagonist use) to receive roflumilast or placebo, plus ICS/LABA FDC, for 52 weeks. Eligible participants had severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis, had two or more moderate-severe exacerbations within …

Effect Of Tiotropium On Night-Time Awakening And Daily Rescue Medication Use In Patients With Copd, Peter M.A. Calverley, Stephen I. Rennard, Emmanuelle Clerisme-Beaty, Norbert Metzdorf, Valentina Bayer Zubek, Richard Zuwallack

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Several small studies found night-time awakenings due to COPD symptoms were associated with decreased health status. In this study, night-time awakenings in patients with COPD were examined and effects of tiotropium therapy evaluated.

METHODS: This study was a post hoc, exploratory, pooled analysis of twin, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trials. Patients with stable moderate-to-severe COPD were randomized to tiotropium HandiHaler® (n = 550) or placebo (n = 371) and followed for 13 weeks. During a 2-week, pre-treatment baseline period and for 13 weeks on treatment, self-reported night-time awakenings due to COPD symptoms, rescue medication (albuterol) use, and morning …

Is Deep Brain Stimulation A Viable Treatment For Parkinson’S Disease?, Brocha Gold

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Treatment options for those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease are as diverse as its symptoms. With the advent of modern technology there are new and innovative treatments that are becoming available, such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). Prior to exploring treatment options one must understand the various causes of the disease. Treatment of the various motor and non-motor symptoms can include a combination of medication and surgical therapies. Among surgical interventions DBS is the treatment of choice. It has the fewest side effects and provides the greatest symptomatic relief.

Is There A Link Between Zika Virus And Microcephaly In Neonates?, Yuliya Salanovich

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

With Zika virus spreading worldwide, a lot of attention is drawn to researching its pathogenesis and etiology. It has also been noticed by various research groups and such health agencies such as CDC and WHO that there might be a connection between ZIKV and microcephaly, due to the spiking number of cases of microcephaly reported in areas with affected patients. Temporal and geographical data from the affected ZIKV areas, including Brazil and French Polynesia, suggests a connection between microcephaly and the virus. Tests of amniotic fluids of pregnant women with reported Zika virus infection and microcephalic fetuses revealed the presence …

Social Return On Investment: A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of The Hiv Integrated Care And Prevention Programs In Cambodia, Sovannary Tuot, Liza Tong, Sopheab Heng, Minh-Anh Luong, Khuondyla Pal, Pheak Chhoun, Siyan Yi

Background: KHANA’s HIV Integrated Care and Prevention (ICP) project provided comprehensive care and support to HIV-affected communities through home and community-based care teams from 2007 to 2011. The aim of this study was to use Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology to evaluate the social, health, and economic impacts of the ICP project, enabling the calculation of a ratio cost-to-benefit for the community in terms of HIV care, support, and treatment. Methods: The SROI methodology is a social cost-benefit analysis framework that measures and accounts for the values created by a program or series of initiatives. Values were mapped to …

Spatial And Temporal Homogeneity Of Driver Mutations In Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma., Hamid Nikbakht, Eshini Panditharatna, Leonie G Mikael, Rui Li, Tenzin Gayden, Alan Siu, Javad Nazarian, + 17 More

Neurological Surgery Faculty Publications

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas (DIPGs) are deadly paediatric brain tumours where needle biopsies help guide diagnosis and targeted therapies. To address spatial heterogeneity, here we analyse 134 specimens from various neuroanatomical structures of whole autopsy brains from nine DIPG patients. Evolutionary reconstruction indicates histone 3 (H3) K27M-including H3.2K27M-mutations potentially arise first and are invariably associated with specific, high-fidelity obligate partners throughout the tumour and its spread, from diagnosis to end-stage disease, suggesting mutual need for tumorigenesis. These H3K27M ubiquitously-associated mutations involve alterations in TP53 cell-cycle (TP53/PPM1D) or specific growth factor pathways (ACVR1/PIK3R1). Later oncogenic alterations arise in sub-clones and often …

An Individual With Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Dementia, And Central Nervous System Amyloid Deposition, Raymond Scott Turner, Melanie Chadwick, Wesley A Horton, Gary L. Simon, Xiong Jiang, Giuseppe Esposito

Medicine Faculty Publications

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is found in 30%-50% of individuals with HIV infection. To date, no HIV+ individual has been reported to have a positive amyloid PET scan. We report a 71-year-old HIV+ individual with HAND. Clinical and neuropsychologic evaluations confirmed a progressive mild dementia. A routine brain MRI was normal for age. [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose-PET revealed mild hypermetabolism in bilateral basal ganglia and hypometabolism of bilateral parietal cortex including the posterior cingulate/precuneus. Resting state functional MRI revealed altered connectivity as found with individuals with mild AD. CSF examination revealed a low Aβ42/tau index but a low phospho-tau. An …

Trimethylamine N-Oxide: The Good, The Bad And The Unknown, Manuel T. Velasquez, Ali Ramezani, Alotaibi Manal, Dominic S. Raj

Medicine Faculty Publications

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a small colorless amine oxide generated from choline, betaine, and carnitine by gut microbial metabolism. It accumulates in the tissue of marine animals in high concentrations and protects against the protein-destabilizing effects of urea. Plasma level of TMAO is determined by a number of factors including diet, gut microbial flora and liver flavin monooxygenase activity. In humans, a positive correlation between elevated plasma levels of TMAO and an increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events and death is reported. The atherogenic effect of TMAO is attributed to alterations in cholesterol and bile acid metabolism, activation …

Quality Of Life And Athletic Participation Assessment In Children And Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease, Kayla Stuckey

Honors Program Theses

Just under 1% of infants are born with a heart defect [congenital heart disease (CHD)], and as a result of treatment and early diagnosis, 85% of these children survive into adulthood. Few studies have investigated the quality of life, global happiness, and athletic participation in pediatric populations, especially with respect to those who have CHD. In 2010, the number of people aged 0-18 years who had CHD was estimated to be between 1,905,000 and 2,102,000, and there are varying qualities of life that these children experience based on disease severity. In addition to patients who are born with CHD, children …

Coronary Flow Reserve In Adults With Systemic Right Or Single Ventricles, Laura J. Olivieri, Li-Yueh Hsu, Anitha S. John, Karen S. Kuehl, Andrew Arai

Pediatrics Posters and Presentations

No abstract provided.