Medical Specialties Commons^™

Breast Cancer Antiestrogen Resistance 3 (Bcar3) Promotes Cell Motility By Regulating Actin Cytoskeletal And Adhesion Remodeling In Invasive Breast Cancer Cells., Ashley L Wilson, Randy S Schrecengost, Michael S Guerrero, Keena S Thomas, Amy H Bouton

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Metastatic breast cancer is incurable. In order to improve patient survival, it is critical to develop a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate metastasis and the underlying process of cell motility. Here, we focus on the role of the adaptor molecule Breast Cancer Antiestrogen Resistance 3 (BCAR3) in cellular processes that contribute to cell motility, including protrusion, adhesion remodeling, and contractility. Previous work from our group showed that elevated BCAR3 protein levels enhance cell migration, while depletion of BCAR3 reduces the migratory and invasive capacities of breast cancer cells. In the current study, we show that BCAR3 is …

Intracranial Injection Of Gammagard, A Human Ivig, Modulates The Inflammatory Response Of The Brain And Lowers AΒ In App/Ps1 Mice Along A Different Time Course Than Anti-AΒ Antibodies, Tiffany L. Sudduth, Abigail Greenstein, Donna M. Wilcock

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Gammagard IVIg is a therapeutic approach to treat Alzheimer's disease currently in phase 3 clinical trials. Despite the reported efficacy of the approach the mechanism of action is poorly understood. We have previously shown that intracranial injection of anti-Aβ antibodies into the frontal cortex and hippocampus reveals important information regarding the time course of events once the agent is in the brain. In the current study we compared IVIg, mouse-pooled IgG, and the anti-Aβ antibody 6E10 injected intracranially into the frontal cortex and hippocampus of 7-month-old APP/PS1 mice. We established a time course of events ranging from 1 …

Preterm Birth And The Controversy Over Universal Cervical Length Screenings, Elizabeth Mearns, Laura Pizzi Pharmd, Mph, Jason K. Baxter Md, Mscp, Vincenzo Berghella Md

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Faculty And Staff Updates, Department Of Surgery, June 2013, Wright State University Department Of Surgery

Department of Surgery Updates

A three page newsletter created by the Department of Surgery documenting changes to the department. This issue contains a message from the chair, a list of important dates, committee meetings, scholarly activity and more.

Β-Estradiol-Dependent Activation Of The Jak/Stat Pathway Requires P/Cip And Carm1, N. Coughlan, G. Thillainadesan, J. Andrews, M. Isovic, J. Torchia

Paediatrics Publications

The steroid receptor coactivator p/CIP, also known as SRC-3, is an oncogene commonly amplified in breast and ovarian cancers. p/CIP is known to associate with coactivator arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) on select estrogen responsive genes. We have shown, using a ChIP-on-chip approach, that in response to stimulation with 17β-estradiol (E2), the p/CIP/CARM1 complex is recruited to 204 proximal promoters in MCF-7 cells. Many of the complex target genes have been previously implicated in signaling pathways related to oncogenesis. Jak2, a member of the Jak/Stat signaling cascade, is one of the direct E2-dependent targets of the p/CIP/CARM1 complex. Following E2-treatment, histone …

Maternal Taurine Supplementation In Rats Partially Prevents The Adverse Effects Of Early-Life Protein Deprivation On Β-Cell Function And Insulin Sensitivity, Christine Tang, Kelly Marchand, Loretta Lam, Victoria Lux-Lantos, Sandra M. Thyssen, June Guo, Adria Giacca, Edith Arany

Paediatrics Publications

Dietary protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation in rats impairs β-cell function and mass in neonates and leads to glucose intolerance in adult offspring. Maternal taurine (Tau) supplementation during pregnancy in rats restores β-cell function and mass in neonates, but its long-term effects are unclear. The prevention of postnatal catch-up growth has been suggested to improve glucose tolerance in adult offspring of low-protein (LP)-fed mothers. The objective of this study was to examine the relative contribution of β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance to impaired glucose tolerance in 130-day-old rat offspring of LP-fed mothers and the effects of maternal Tau supplementation …

Narrative Medicine As A Means Of Training Medical Students Toward Residency Competencies, Shannon L. Arntfield, Kristen Slesar, Jennifer Dickson, Rita Charon

Paediatrics Publications

Objective: This study sought to explore the perceived influence of narrative medicine training on clinical skill development of fourth-year medical students, focusing on competencies mandated by ACGME and the RCPSC in areas of communication, collaboration, and professionalism. Methods: Using grounded-theory, three methods of data collection were used to query twelve medical students participating in a one-month narrative medicine elective regarding the process of training and the influence on clinical skills. Iterative thematic analysis and data triangulation occurred. Results: Response rate was 91% (survey), 50% (focus group) and 25% (follow-up). Five major findings emerged. Students perceive that they: develop and improve …

Expression Of Ski Can Act As A Negative Feedback Mechanism On Retinoic Acid Signaling, Meaghan A. Melling, Charlotte R.C. Friendship, Trevor G. Shepherd, Thomas A. Drysdale

Paediatrics Publications

Background: Retinoic acid signaling is essential for many aspects of early development in vertebrates. To control the levels of signaling, several retinoic acid target genes have been identified that act to suppress retinoic acid signaling in a negative feedback loop. The nuclear protein Ski has been extensively studied for its ability to suppress transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling but has also been implicated in the repression of retinoic acid signaling. Results: We demonstrate that ski expression is up-regulated in response to retinoic acid in both early Xenopus embryos and in human cell lines. Blocking retinoic acid signaling using a retinoic …

How Do Symbolic And Non-Symbolic Numerical Magnitude Processing Skills Relate To Individual Differences In Children's Mathematical Skills? A Review Of Evidence From Brain And Behavior, Bert De Smedt, Marie-Pascale Noël, Camilla Gilmore, Daniel Ansari

Paediatrics Publications

Many studies have tested the association between number magnitude processing and mathematics achievement. However, results appear to be quite different depending on the number format used. When using symbolic numbers (digits), data consistent and robust across studies and populations have been found, with weaker performance associated with weak math achievement and dyscalculia. However, when using non-symbolic format (dots), many conflicting findings are reported. These inconsistencies might be explained by methodological issues. Alternatively, it might be that the processes measured by non-symbolic tasks are not particularly critical for school-relevant mathematics. A few neuroimaging studies have also shown the brain signature of …

Suicidal Ideation In Callers To A Crisis Hotline In Mumbai,, Amresh Srivastava, Megan Johnston, Larry Stitt, Meghana Thanksr, Sunita Iyer, Nilesh Shah, David Lester

Data and Test Instruments

Suicidal ideation in callers to a crisis hotline in Mumbai, India Amresh K. Shrivastava1,2, Megan Johnston3, Larry Stitt4, Meghana Thakar5, Sunita Iyer6, Nilesh Shah7 and David Lester8* 1Silver Mind Hospital and Mental Health Foundation of India, (PRERANA Charitable Trust) Mumbai. 2Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. 3Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 100 St. George St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2M2. 4Biostatistical Support Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. 5Silver mind Hospital, Mumbai, Currently, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practitioner, Lambeth CAMHS Early Intervention Team, South London and Maudsley …

Progressive Hair Coil Strangulation Of Penis, Shahzad Ms, Mohammed Shamim

Section of General Surgery

Strangulation of penis by hair strands is a well-known, but uncommon clinical entity. We report two cases occurring in circumcised boys causing progressive painless disfigurement of penis with strands of hair coiled around the penile shafts, strangulating the penis. Primary repair was done in one case and delayed primary repair was done in the other, both with satisfactory results.

Acetylation Of The Cell-Fate Factor Dachshund Determines P53 Binding And Signaling Modules In Breast Cancer., Ke Chen, Kongming Wu, Michael Gormley, Adam Ertel, Jing Wang, Wei Zhang, Jie Zhou, Gabriele Disante, Zhiping Li, Hallgeir Rui, Andrew A Quong, Steven B Mcmahon, Haiteng Deng, Michael P Lisanti, Chenguang Wang, Richard G Pestell

Department of Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Breast cancer is a leading form of cancer in the world. The Drosophila Dac gene was cloned as an inhibitor of the hyperactive epidermal growth factor (EGFR), ellipse. Herein, endogenous DACH1 co-localized with p53 in a nuclear, extranucleolar compartment and bound to p53 in human breast cancer cell lines, p53 and DACH1 bound common genes in Chip-Seq. Full inhibition of breast cancer contact-independent growth by DACH1 required p53. The p53 breast cancer mutants R248Q and R273H, evaded DACH1 binding. DACH1 phosphorylation at serine residue (S439) inhibited p53 binding and phosphorylation at p53 amino-terminal sites (S15, S20) enhanced DACH1 binding. DACH1 …

Craniocerebral Injuries In War Against Terrorism --- A Contemporary Series From Pakistan, Muhammad-Umair Bashir, Muhammad-Zubair Tahir, Ehsan Bari, Sehreen Mumtaz

Section of Neurosurgery

Objective: Terrorism-related bomb attacks on civilian population have increased dramatically over the last decade. Craniocerebral injuries secondary to improvised explosive devices have not been widely reported in the context of unarmored civilians. This series intends to report the spectrum of these injuries secondary to suicidal and implanted bombs as encountered at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan (AKUH). Further, a few pertinent management guidelines have also been discussed.
Methods: The hospital database and clinical coding during a 5-year period were examined for head injuries secondary to terrorism-associated blasts. In addition to patient demographics, data analysis for our series included initial …

Presenting Budget In A Research Grant Application, Junaid Ahmed Bhatti, Umbreen Akhtar, Bilal Arshed Butt, Naveed Zafar Janjua

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Who Guidelines Issued In 1997 And 2009 For Dengue Fever - Single Centre Experience., Munawar Khursheed, Uzma R. Khan, Kiran Ejaz, Jabeen Fayyaz, Irum Qamar, J. Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

Objective: To compare the original (1997) and revised (2009) versions of World Health Organization guidelines for dengue patients
Methods: Adult patients with a positive dengue Immunoglobulin M serology, and a diagnosis of dengue were included in the study at Aga Khan University Hospital during a three-year period from January 2005 to December 2007. Data related to these dengue patients was collected from their medical records. Guidelines were then applied by the research assistant and correlation among these guidelines was computed. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis.
Results: A total of 612 patients were found with a diagnosis of dengue, …

A Descriptive Study To Find Possible Correlation Between Mri Findings Of Pituitary Gland And Serum Prolactin Level, Muhammad Azeemuddin, Rohana Naqi, Mohammad Wasay

Department of Medicine

Objective: To explore equation, if any, between findings of magnetic resonance imaging of pituitary gland and serum prolactin level.

Methods: The retrospective, descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Radiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and related to patients\' records from April 19, 2006 to April 23, 2009. Seventy patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging of brain for pituitary gland. Inclusion criteria were all patients referred with relevant clinical symptoms or deranged serum prolactin level. Patients who were claustrophobic or had a pacemaker, aneurysm clip, metallic foreign body in the orbit or with no laboratory investigation were excluded from the …

Patients' Insight Of Interpreting Prescriptions And Drug Labels--A Cross Sectional Study., Muhammad Junaid Patel, Muhammad Shoaib Khan, Farheen Ali, Zehra Kazmi, Safia Awan, Ayesha Sorathia

Department of Medicine

Background: Errors in consuming drugs are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, besides an impact on the already overburdened health-care system. Misunderstanding drug labels and prescriptions plays an important role in contributing to adverse drug events.

Objective: To evaluate abilities to understand prescriptions and drug labels among patients attending tertiary care hospital in Karachi.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), from January to March 2009. After informed consent, 181 adult patients and their healthy attendants were interviewed at AKUH using a standardized questionnaire, which ascertained patient demographics, factors that might increase exposure …

Benefit Of Neuroprotection In Acute Ischaemic Stroke, Shall We Dare To Hope?, Anjum Akhtar, Ayeesha Kamran Kamal

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Durability, Reliability, Viability: 48 Year-Survival Of A Starr-Edwards Mitral Valve, Bilal Ayub, Justin L. Guthier, James K. Wu

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Uchunguzi (Journal Watch/Montre De Journal) June 2013, Benjamin Wachira

Family Medicine, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Oncolog, Volume 58, Number 06, June 2013, Joe Munch, Amelia Scholtz, Luanne Jorewicz

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• Addressing Emerging Survivorship Issues in Glioblastoma Patients: An increasing number of glioblastoma patients are becoming '' long-term'' survivors-living 3 or more years after diagnosis
• Prediction Tool Helps Determine Whether Older Breast Cancer Patients will benefit from Radiation: A statistical tool is now available to predict the likely individual benefit of radiation therapy for older women who have undergone breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer
• Sequential Multidrug Regiman May Offer an Alternative to Standard Cisplatin-Based Therapy for Urothelial Cancer: Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard neoadjuvant treatment for high-risk, surgically resectable, invasive urothelial cancer. But some patients are not good candidates for this …

Evaluation Of Clinical Outcomes Of Prophylactic Versus Preemptive Cytomegalovirus Strategy In Liver Transplant Recipients, Ifeanyi Onor, Sarah Todd, Erika Meredith, Sebastian Perez, Aneesh Mehta, G Lyon, Stuart Knechtle, Steven Hanish

Faculty and Staff Publications

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following solid organ transplantation (SOT). Two strategies, prophylactic, and preemptive have emerged for the prevention of CMV infection and disease after SOT. This retrospective chart review of two liver transplant cohorts: prophylactic and preemptive, compares the clinical impact of transitioning from prophylactic to preemptive strategy. The primary outcome is the incidence of CMV viremia at 3-and 6-months post-transplant. Secondary outcomes include: incidence of CMV tissue-invasive disease, acute cellular rejection, leukopenia and neutropenia, opportunistic infection rates, hospital readmission rates, and mortality at 3-and 6-months post-transplant. A total of 109 patients were …

Establishment And Validation Of A Novel Fucci (Fluorescent Ubiquitination-Based Cell Cycle Indicator) In An In Vitro Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Model, Jane Marie Isquith

Master's Theses

The deregulation of the cell cycle is important in the leukemic transformation and in the continued discovery of more efficient targeted therapies. After elucidation of the role of the RNA editor ADAR1 in the malignant reprogramming of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) progenitors to leukemia stem cells (LSCs) during the chronic phase to blast crisis stages of the disease, current research seeks to uncover the mechanism of action of ADAR1 in this process. To study the potential role ADAR1 plays in the changes to cell cycle during this disease progression, a novel Fucci (fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator) system was introduced …

Gastroschisis, Raffat Bano, Akhtar Amin Memon, Ammara Mushtaq

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

We report a case of gastroschisis which was not diagnosed antenatally and was delivered through lower segment caesarean section due to non-reassuring cardiotocograph and small for gestational age fetus in a 21-year old mother. It was associated with oligohydramnios and partial extension of wrist joint in the neonate. After delivery, baby was referred to tertiary care for specialized care by paediatric surgeon and neonatologist where he had silo reduction and surgical repair. Postnatally, the baby is in healthy condition till now.

B Cell Response And Hemagglutinin Stalk-Reactive Antibody Production In Different Age Cohorts Following 2009 H1n1 Influenza Virus Vaccination, Mark Y. Sangster, Jane Baer, Felix W. Santiago, Theresa T. Fitzgerald, Natalia A. Ilyushina

Dartmouth Scholarship

The 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza virus carried a swine-origin hemagglutinin (HA) that was closely related to the HAs of pre-1947 H1N1 viruses but highly divergent from the HAs of recently circulating H1N1 strains. Consequently, prior ex- posure to pH1N1-like viruses was mostly limited to individuals over the age of about 60 years. We related age and associated dif- ferences in immune history to the B cell response to an inactivated monovalent pH1N1 vaccine given intramuscularly to subjects in three age cohorts: 18 to 32 years, 60 to 69 years, and >70 years. The day 0 pH1N1-specific hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) …

Uv Radiation And The Skin, John A. D'Orazio, Stuart G. Jarrett, Alexandra Amaro-Ortiz, Timothy Scott

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

UV radiation (UV) is classified as a "complete carcinogen" because it is both a mutagen and a non-specific damaging agent and has properties of both a tumor initiator and a tumor promoter. In environmental abundance, UV is the most important modifiable risk factor for skin cancer and many other environmentally-influenced skin disorders. However, UV also benefits human health by mediating natural synthesis of vitamin D and endorphins in the skin, therefore UV has complex and mixed effects on human health. Nonetheless, excessive exposure to UV carries profound health risks, including atrophy, pigmentary changes, wrinkling and malignancy. UV is epidemiologically and …

Visual Outcome Of Cataract Surgery, Farzeen Khalid Hashmi, Qazi Assad Khan, Tanveer Anjum Chaudhry, Khabir Ahmad

Department of Surgery Docs

The aim of this study was to assess whether the visual outcome of cataract surgery in the institution was in accordance with the World Health Organization recommendations. In this retrospective case series, all patients who underwent cataract surgery by a single surgeon from January 2009 till June 2011 were included. Date were collected from medical records on age, gender, visual acuity and causes of sub-optimal outcome. The main outcome was best-corrected visual acuity in the operated eye, measured 4 – 6 weeks after surgery. Data on visual outcome was grouped using WHO's classification. Of the 495 eyes that underwent cataract …

Benzodiazepine Use In Medical Out-Patient Clinics: A Study From A Developing Country, Muhammad Junaid Patel, Syed Ahmer, Faheem Khan, Abdullah Waqar Ahmed Qureshi, Muhammad Farrukh Shehzad, Sania Muzaffar

Section of Internal Medicine

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of Benzodiazepine use in the outpatient setting of general medicine clinics at a single tertiary care centre.

Methods: The prospective prevalence study was conducted in the outpatient setting of Internal Medicine Clinics at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from November to December 2009. All subjects were interviewed after informed consent and variables were recorded on a specially-designed proforma. Apart from basic demographics and comorbid conditions, duration, frequency and route of benzodiazepine use, as well as the reason and who initiated it was noted. Chi-square test and t test was applied to see the …

Increased Expression Of Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor In Aged Mesenchymal Stem Cells Impairs Their Therapeutic Efficacy For Attenuating Myocardial Infarction Injury., Hongliang Liang, Huiyuan Hou, Wei Yi, Guodong Yang, Chunhu Gu, Wayne Bond Lau, Erhe Gao, Xinliang Ma, Zifan Lu, Xufeng Wei, Jianming Pei, Dinghua Yi

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

AIMS: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can ameliorate myocardial infarction (MI) injury. However, older-donor MSCs seem less efficacious than those from younger donors, and the contributing underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we determine how age-related expression of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) affects MSC therapeutic efficacy for MI.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Reverse transcriptase-polymerized chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analyses revealed dramatically increased PEDF expression in MSCs from old mice compared to young mice. Morphological and functional experiments demonstrated significantly impaired old MSC therapeutic efficacy compared with young MSCs in treatment of mice subjected to MI. Immunofluorescent staining demonstrated that administration of …

An Examination Of Executive Function, Mild Cognitive Impairment And Fall Risk In Community Dwelling Older Adults, Jennifer A. Blackwood

Dissertations

The aim of this three-paper dissertation was to examine the relationship between fall risk, executive function (EF) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in community dwelling older adults. Papers one and two describe how mild changes in cognition influence performance on four measures of fall risk, the Five Times Sit to Stand Test (FTSTS), usual gait speed, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) in a group of community dwelling older adults. The third paper describes if participation in a progressively challenging domain specific computerized cognitive training intervention influenced performance on measures of …