Digestive System Diseases Commons^™

Adventitial Macrophage Accumulation Impairs Perivascular Nerve Function In Mesenteric Arteries With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Elizabeth A. Grunz, Benjamin W. Jones, Olubodun Michael Lateef, Sidharth Sen, Katie Wilkinson, Trupti Joshi, Erika M. Boerman

Biomedical Sciences

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease involves aberrant immune responses and is associated with both cardiovascular disease risk and altered intestinal blood flow. However, little is known about how inflammatory bowel disease affects regulation of perivascular nerves that mediate blood flow. Previous work found perivascular nerve function is impaired in mesenteric arteries with Inflammatory bowel disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of impaired perivascular nerve function.

Methods: RNA sequencing was performed on mesenteric arteries from IL10−/− mice treated with H. hepaticus to induce disease (inflammatory bowel disease) or left non-gavaged (Control). For all other studies, Control and …

Alpha-Gal Allergy: A New Threat To Appalachia, Adam M. Franks Md, Makala Murphy Bs, Madison Griffis Md, Rebekah Franks Ba, Cwr, Colin M. Franks, Gary Petty Md

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Abstract

Alpha-gal allergy, or mammalian meat allergy, is described as the development of IgE antibodies to the oligosaccharide galactose-a-1,3-galactose following a bite from the tick species Amblyomma americanum (Lone Star tick) or Dermacentor variabillis (Wood tick). Dermatologic or gastrointestinal symptoms are usually delayed by four to six hours after exposure, making the diagnosis difficult. Due to the use of mammalian proteins in many common medications, surgical equipment and prosthesis, unexpected reactions can occur. In the United States, this pathology is predominately seen in the southeast, but has been associated with other tick species on every continent except Antarctica. As the …

Chronic Abdominal Pain In A Geriatric Patient: A Rare Case Of A Spigelian Hernia, Thomas D. Wright, Olumayowa Dayo, Lynne J. Goebel

Marshall Journal of Medicine

We present a case of Spigelian hernia in a 77-year-old patient to highlight the difficulty in making this diagnosis and to raise awareness of this rare condition among physicians who care for geriatric patients with chronic bouts of abdominal pain. The patient presented to the emergency department with a two-day complaint of abdominal pain after three years of similar recurrent attacks. Results of the physical examination and computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen were consistent with a left-sided Spigelian hernia. Operative repair was performed using robotic-assisted reduction and the patient recovered without any complications.

Acute Diagnosis Of Wilson’S Disease In A Teenage Patient, Sarah Irvin, Ryan Mccarthy

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Wilson’s Disease, a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease, is caused by a mutation in the ATP7B enzyme gene. Without this enzyme, copper builds up in the brain, liver, and cornea causing a multitude of symptoms. It is important to consider Wilson’s disease because the prognosis is dependent on timely diagnosis. This is an interesting case of a 19-year-old male who presented with suicidal thoughts and rapid weight loss. After many months and an extensive work-up, Wilson’s Disease was diagnosed. Due to his rapid decline, he was transferred to a larger university healthcare center where he is currently enrolled in clinical …

It Is Time To Talk About It: Designing A Health Communication Program For Eating Disorder Recovery In An Appalachian University, Erica Lynn Clites

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the treatments used in current eating disorder programs and to develop a more effective model using two relevant communication theories: the Transtheoretical Model of Change and Social Networking Theory. Further, the thesis explored the need for greater mental health literacy on Appalachian college and university campuses as it relates to the three major eating disorders defined by the DSMIV-TR: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorders. The analysis of current treatment revealed an overemphasis on physical health and quantitative medical progress. Applying both the Transtheoretical Model of Change and Social Networking …

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

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

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

Physician And Patient Barriers To Adherence With Cholesterol Guidelines, Lynne J. Goebel, Asim J. Khattak, Fadl Ballony, Todd W. Gress

Internal Medicine

Several national studies have shown poor compliance with National Cholesterol Education Program II (NCEP) goals. A study we conducted of patients in the General Internal Medicine Clinic at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington showed that 46% of them were not at NCEP goals. We hypothesized that both patient and physician barriers were responsible for these findings so we administered two surveys about barriers to cholesterol management to 261 random patients identified with hypercholesterolemia and to all 50 residents and faculty at the clinic. We identified insufficient knowledge of low cholesterol foods as a patient …