Digestive System Diseases Commons^™

Pathogenic Role Of Acrolein In Alcoholic Liver Disease., Wei-Yang (Jeremy) Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol is the most socially accepted addictive drug, and it can cause alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide. Animal and human studies demonstrate that chronic alcohol consumption causes a pro-oxidant environment in the liver and increases hepatic lipid peroxidation and the accumulation of by-products such as acrolein and 4-hydroxynonenal. Acrolein is the most reactive and toxic aldehyde generated through lipid peroxidation. Also, acrolein is a major component of cigarette smoke, and there is increasing evidence that smoking negatively impacts the incidence, severity, and clinical course of chronic …

Does Your Child Have Reflux Or Could There Be More To It Than That, Cody Elam

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is differentiated from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) by endoscopic and histopathologic examination. The hallmark of EE is eosinophilic infiltration of the esophagus. EE has been defined as “a clinicopathologic entity, combining clinical data on (1) relevant symptoms (distinct in the pediatric or adult populations with mostly food impaction and dysphagia in adults and feeding intolerance, failure to thrive, and GERD symptoms in children); (2) esophageal biopsies with adequate histologic findings in the esophageal biopsies (>15 eosinophils/high power field [HPF]); and (3) exclusion of other diseases with overlapping features, especially GERD” (Genevay, Rubbia-Brandt, & Rougemont, 2010, p.816). …

Licorice Consumption Causing Hypokalemia And Lethal Dysrhythmias, Gina Grosscup

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

This report describes a case in which approximately a two-month exposure of licorice root tea consumption containing glycyrrhizic acid (GA) produced generalized weakness, secondary hypertension, hyporeflexia and hypokalemia, leading to a reentry dysrhythmia of ventricular fibrillation. Although licorice root has been used for medicinal purposes dating back centuries the potential toxic side effects can be life threatening without early recognition. Most licorice candies in the western world contain artificial flavoring but the use of actual licorice root containing GA is common in many Middle-Eastern, Far Eastern and European countries. The purpose of this report is two-fold, first to describe the …

Agreement Between Serology And Histology For Detection Of Helicobacter Pylori Infection, Javed Yakoob, Zaigham Abbas

Section of Gastroenterology

No abstract provided.

Oncolytic Tanapoxvirus Expressing Flic Causes Regression Of Human Colorectal Cancer Xenografts In Nude Mice, Steven J. Conrad

Dissertations

Cancers of the colon and rectum are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and existing therapies often perform poorly for individuals afflicted with advanced stage disease. Oncolytic virotherapy is an emerging therapeutic modality which shows great promise for addressing this serious medical need. Herein we describe the in vivo testing of recombinant variants of the tanapoxvirus (TPV), a virus endemic to equatorial Africa which causes a mild and self-limiting disease in humans. Recombinant tanapoxviruses were made deleted for the 66R gene, the 2L gene, or both. Some of the recombinants were armed with mouse chemotactic protein 1 (m …

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 …

The Role Of Amp-Activated Protein Kinase (Ampk) In Regulating The Early Stages Of Acute Pancreatitis, Mohamed Shitia

Honors Scholar Theses

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease that is initiated by the activation and retention of digestive zymogens inside pancreatic acinar cells (acini). It is proposed that adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates early responses of acute pancreatitis in acini. A recent study shows that induction of experimental pancreatitis in isolated rat acini with supraphysiologic cerulein (orthologue of cholecystokinin) increases intracellular zymogen activation, but decreases AMPK levels. Furthermore, in vitro pharmacologic stimulation of AMPK reduces zymogen activation, having a protective effect. In this study, the effectiveness of two AMPK activators was examined in two separate in vivo pancreatitis models. In the …

Endoscopic Pancreatic Pseudo-Cyst Drainage, Judith Dorsam Rn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Lrh1 As A Driving Factor For Cancer Development, Alissa M. Margraf

Senior Honors Projects

LRH1 as a driving factor for cancer development

Alissa Margraf, Qi Tang, Qiushi Lin, Xiaoqun Dong

Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, The University of Rhode Island, Pharmacy Building, 7 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881 USA

Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide. Colon cancer ranks as the third most common causes of cancer mortality in the United States, with an estimated 96,830 new cases and 50,310 deaths in 2014. Colon cancer develops in the digestive tract where benign growths called polyps transform into malignant tumors. Colon cancer cells invade and destroy nearby tissue and can …

Eculizumab In The Successful Treatment Of Postpartum Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome - A Case Report, Craig A. Mackaness Do, Frederick S. Fleszler Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Microbiota, Oral Microbiome, And Pancreatic Cancer, Dominique S. Michaud, Jacques Izard

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Only 30% of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survive one year post-diagnosis. Progress in understanding the causes of pancreatic cancer has been made, including solidifying the associations with obesity and diabetes, and a proportion of cases should be preventable through lifestyle modifications. Unfortunately, identifying reliable biomarkers of early pancreatic cancer has been extremely challenging, and no effective screening modality is currently available for this devastating form of cancer. Recent data suggest the microbiota may play a role in the disease process, but many questions remain. Future studies focusing on the human microbiome, both etiologically and as a marker of disease …

Celiac Disease As A Model For The Evolution Of Multifactorial Disease In Humans, Aaron Sams, John Hawks

Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

Celiac disease (CD) is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory condition that results in injury of the mucosal lining of the small intestine upon ingestion of wheat gluten and related proteins from barley and rye. Although the exact mechanisms leading to CD are not fully understood, the genetic basis of CD has been relatively well characterized. In this review we briefly review the history of discovery, clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and current understanding of the genetics underlying CD risk. Then, we discuss what is known about the current distribution and evolutionary history of genes underlying CD risk in light of other evolutionary models …

Rota Virus Diarrhea In Hospitalized Children, Muhammad Irfan Habib, Sayyeda Ghazala Kazi, Khalid Mehmood Ahmed Khan, Nukhba Zia

Department of Emergency Medicine

Objective: To determine the frequency and clinical features of Rota virus diarrhea in children presenting in a tertiary care hospital.

Study Design: A cross-sectional, observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, from January to June 2007.

Methodology: A total of three hundred children of either gender aged 1 month to 5 years, who presented with diarrhea of < 7 days as a primary illness were enrolled. Children with bloody diarrhea or nosocomial gastroenteritis acquired duringhospitalization for other disease were not included. Detection of Rota virus in stool was done by enzyme linked immunoassay.

Results: Out of 300 children, 188 (63%) tested positive and 112 (37%) tested negative for Rota virus. Positive Rota virus cases in 7 – 12 months of age was (n = 34, 18.08%). Overall, 151 (80.3%) children …

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases In Travelers, Edith Mirzaian, Jeffery A. Goad, Ani Amloian, Fady Makar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Travel to the developing world is increasing among those from developed countries, placing them at risk for vaccine preventable and non-vaccine preventable diseases. From 2007-2011, the GeoSentinel Network reported 737 returned travelers with a vaccine preventable disease. While it is essential that clinicians use vaccines when available for a disease of risk, they should also be aware that the vast majority of diseases acquired by travelers are non-vaccine preventable. The vaccine preventable diseases can be divided into routine travel vaccines, special travel vaccines and routine vaccines used for travel. The routine travel vaccines include Hepatitis A and B, typhoid; special …

Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Adina Mezrahi

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

This objective of this review is to present the known data in regards to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in infants. Articles with relevant definitions, diagnosis and treatment options were evaluated. It is evident that much controversy exists in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, and there is the question as whether this disease can be called GERD. Current ability to attribute the symptoms infants present with the disease is still difficult to clarify, despite the fact that as many as 60% of infants show symptoms of this disease. The current testing options have proven to be insufficient in concretely …

Are Linoleic Acid Supplements Beneficial In Increasing Growth In Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Patients?, Sarah M. Saporito

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine “Are linoleic acid supplements beneficial in increasing growth in pediatric cystic fibrosis patients?”

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English primary studies published between 1995 and 2000.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized control trial and one controlled clinical trial were used. Studies were found using PubMed and Cochrane Databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Primary outcomes measured include the taste, smell, and appearance of the supplement and the growth of the cystic fibrosis patients.

RESULTS: In Steinkamp G, Demmelmair et al., the treatment group grew in its weight-for-height; whereas, …

Is Polydextrose A Beneficial Supplement For Gastrointestinal Health And Maintenance Of A Healthy Body Weight?, Katharine Reilly

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine if polydextrose is a beneficial supplement for gastrointestinal health and maintenance of a healthy body weight

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled studies published from 2000-2011.

DATA SOURCES: All studies were double blind randomized control trials and found using one search+ and EBSCO host through the PCOM library webpage.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured in each study were based on subjective evaluations of ease of defecation, ease of stool passage, and feelings of fullness.

RESULTS: Only one of the three …

Is Aztreonam Lysine For Inhalation Effective In The Treatment Of Patients With Cystic Fibrosis And Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Airway Infection?, Christine Shevchenko

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not aztreonam lysine for inhalation is effective in the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa airway infection.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English language primary randomized controlled trials published in 2008, 2009, and 2011.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies using Cochrane and Pubmed databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Patient oriented outcomes measured included change in respiratory symptoms measured by the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised and need for additional anti-pseudomonal antibiotics indicative of pulmonary exacerbation.

RESULTS: In both cystic fibrosis (CF) …

Does The Injection Of Botulinum Toxin Improve Symptoms In Patients With Gastroparesis?, Jillian Solomon

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selected EBM review is to determine whether or not the injection of botulinum toxin improves symptoms in patients with gastroparesis.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two published, double blind randomized controlled trials and one published, open label pilot study were used for this review, which were found on PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcome was the change in gastroparesis-associated symptoms, which was measured using the Gastroparesis Cardinal Scale Index (GCSI) and Gastroparesis Questionnaire. In the two double blind, randomized controlled trials by Arts et al. and Friendenberg et al., symptoms were quantified using the …

A Prospective Study Of Periodontal Disease And Risk Of Gastric And Duodenal Ulcer In Male Health Professionals, Matthew R. Boylan, Hamed Khalili, Edward S. Huang, Dominique S. Michaud, Jacques Izard, Kaumudi J. Joshipura, Andrew T. Chan

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Periodontal disease is characterized by microbial shifts within the oral cavity and chronic inflammation of the gingival tissue, and can lead to tooth loss. Several studies support an association between periodontal disease and risk of chronic systemic conditions, including vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, and cancer, including gastric adenocarcinoma. These associations may be mediated by systemic inflammation, the immune response to periodontal infection, or direct invasion by pathogens. Previous studies of periodontal disease and risk of peptic ulcer have been limited by cross-sectional design, diagnoses that were not confirmed by medical record review, and a lack of …