Medical Specialties Commons^™

Evaluation Of Toxicity Following Electrically Mediated Interleukin-12 Gene Delivery In A B16 Mouse Melanoma Model, Loree Heller, Kathleen Merkler, Jeffrey Westover, Yolmari Cruz, Domenico Coppola, Kaaron Benson, Adil Daud, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

PURPOSE: Interleukin-12 (IL-12) has potential as an immunotherapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer but is unfortunately associated with toxicity. Delivery of a plasmid encoding IL-12 with electroporation induces an antitumor effect in the B16 mouse melanoma model without serious side effects. To translate this observation to the clinic, an evaluation of toxicity was done in the mouse model.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Weight change, tumor response, blood chemistry and hematology values, and serum IL-12 levels were evaluated. Multiple tissues were analyzed histopathologically.

RESULTS: A pronounced reduction in tumor volume, including a large percentage of complete regressions, was observed after electrically mediated …

Extra [Corrected] Pulmonary Uptake Of Tc-99m-Maa Perfusion Lung Scan As A Result Of Right To Left Intra Cardiac Shunt, Riffat Hussain, Maseeh-Uz-Zaman, Sohail Abrar Khan, M Nadeem Ahmad

Department of Radiology

Extra pulmonary accumulation of Tc-99m-macroaggregate of albumin (MAA) is rarely seen on perfusion lung scan, and has been reported in less than 4% of a study population of nearly 380 patients. It occurs when the agent bypasses the lungs due to a right to left (R-L) cardiac or pulmonary shunt, when it is shunted to the portal vein before reaching the right atrium and ventricle of the heart, and when the agent is degraded to a submicron particle size. When a pharmaceutical problem is excluded, extra-pulmonary uptake implies unusual hemodynamics with a shunt. A case is reported in which a …

Role Of Focused Appendiceal Computed Tomography In Clinically Equivocal Acute Appendicitis, Kashif Ashraf, Omer Ashraf, Vaqar Bari, Muhammad Zafar Rafique, Muhammad Uzair Usman, Ishtiaq Chisti

Department of Radiology

Objective: To determine the accuracy of FACT (focused appendiceal computed tomography) in evaluation of acute appendicitis.Methods: The study was conducted in Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, over a period of one year. Sixty-three patients with clinically equivocal acute appendicitis underwent thin-section non-enhanced helical CT. Axial scans were obtained in a single breath hold from L2 vertebral level to the pubic symphysis with 5-mm collimation and a pitch of 1.5. All scans were obtained without oral, intravenous, or rectal contrast material. Criteria for diagnosis of acute appendicitis included an enlarged appendix (>6 mm diameter) and periappendiceal inflammation. Final diagnoses were …

Oncolog Volume 51, Number 05, May 2006, Sunni Hosemann, Kathryn Carnes, Patrick Hwu Md

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

• A Better Kind of Brain Surgery
• Raloxifene Effective for Breast Cancer Prevention
• House Call: The Many Benefits of Massage
• DiaLog: Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapy, by Patrick Hwu, MD, Professor and Chair, Melanoma Medical Oncology

Berneese Periacetabular Osteotomy For Residual Hip Dysplasia In Adults - A Case Report And Review Of Literature, Izhar Kashif, Masood Umer, Haroon Rashid

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

Pelvic osteotomy for acetabular dysplasia has been introduced to improve acetabular coverage of the femoral head and reduce the risk of secondary osteoarthrosis. Several surgical methods for acetabular reorientation have been proposed for this purpose by reorientation of the acetabulum single, double, triple, spherical and periacetabular osteotomies. We report our first experience with periacetabulur berneese osteotomy described by Prof. R. Ganz and now the procedure of choice in appropriately selected patients. Fifteen years old boy who presented with complaints of fall and pain in the right gluteal region for 5 days duration that increased with walking. Examination revealed an …

Frequency Of Nsaid Induced Peptic Ulcer Disease, Saeed Hamid, Javed Yakoob, Wasim Jafri, Shanul Islam, Shahab Abid, Muhammad Islam

Section of Gastroenterology

Objective:

To determine the frequency of peptic ulcer disease in patients on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

Methods:

Record of eight hundred and twenty consecutive patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy; from January 1998 to December 2000 were reviewed. The endoscopic diagnosis varied from gastritis, peptic ulcer to duodenitis. The use of NSAID was documented by reviewing medical records of patients with peptic ulcer.

Results:

Peptic ulcers were found in 43% (353/820) patients. NSAID associated peptic ulcers were identified in 14.7% (52/353) patients. Diclofenac and aspirin were most common NSAIDs associated with peptic ulcers in 32.7% (17/52) and 30.7% (16/52) patients, …

Incidence And Outcome Of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation In Patients With Shunted Single Ventricle: Advantage Of Right Ventricle To Pulmonary Artery Shunt., Eric M. Graham, Geoffrey A. Forbus, Scott M. Bradley, Girish S. Shirali, Andrew M. Atz

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Keratinized Mucosa, Bone Dimensions On Mucosal Recession And Bone Loss, Jeanette Keng Ling Chua

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: To accomplish successful esthetic outcome, it would be an advantage if some pre-implant placement conditions could be identified which would predict soft and hard tissue outcomes post-implant placement. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of 1) height of mid-buccal keratinized mucosa at implant surgery and 2) thickness of mid-buccal bone after osteotomy on the amounts of mid-buccal mucosal recession and bone loss during the first year after implant treatment. This report presents the initial 3-month follow-up.

Materials and methods: Nine patients scheduled for surgical placement of a total of 11 single-staged implants, without adjacent teeth and planned …

Light During Darkness And Cancer: Relationships In Circadian Photoreception And Tumor Biology, Samar A. Jasser, David E. Blask, George C. Brainard

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

The relationship between circadian phototransduction and circadian-regulated processes is poorly understood. Melatonin, commonly a circadian phase marker, may play a direct role in a myriad of physiologic processes. The circadian rhythm for pineal melatonin secretion is regulated by the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Its neural source of light input is a unique subset of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells expressing melanopsin, the primary circadian photopigment in rodents and primates. Action spectra of melatonin suppression by light have shown that light in the 446–477 nm range, distinct from the visual system’s peak sensitivity, is optimal for stimulating the human circadian system. …

Staphylococcus Aureus Escapes More Efficiently From The Phagosome Of A Cystic Fibrosis Bronchial Epithelial Cell Line Than From Its Normal Counterpart, Todd M. Jarry, Ambrose L. Cheung

Dartmouth Scholarship

Staphylococcus aureus is frequently the initial bacterium isolated from young cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, and yet its role in CF disease progression has not been determined. Recent data from our lab demonstrates that S. aureus can invade and replicate within the CF tracheal epithelial cell line (CFT-1). Here we describe the finding that the fate of internalized S. aureus in CFT-1 cells differs from its complemented counterpart (LCFSN). S. aureus strain RN6390 was able to replicate within the mutant CFT-1 cells after invasion but not in the complemented LCFSN cells. At 1 h postinvasion, S. aureus containing vesicles within both …

The Effects Of Music On Art Making With Older Adults, Gertrude W. Goodwin

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

It is projected that by 2030, older adults will make up 69.4 million of the population in the United States (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2001). The basic physical, mental, and emotional needs of these older adults must be addressed to ensure an adequate quality of life. Quality of life refers to the degree needs are being met as well as the person’s perception and satisfaction with life. As the population ages there is an increased expectation for a higher quality of life because older adults are healthier, more active, and living longer. The therapeutic use of art and music …

Art Therapy And Sensory Stimulation To Decrease Agitation: A Pilot Study, Leslie Cristen Lavergne

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Dementia affects 1% of older adults in America between the ages of 65 and 74 years, and increases to 10% in those 85 years and older. The cognitive and behavioral symptoms of dementia may restrict an individuals ability to perform activities of daily living, such as self-care, memory, and language. The literature supports the premise that individuals who have dementia can benefit from a treatment approach that focuses on medication regulation, as well as mental stimulation. This study was an art therapy and sensory stimulation intervention designed to reduce agitation, a common non-cognitive symptom of dementia. This study included five …

Americans' Attitudes Toward Euthanasia And Physician-Assisted Suicide, 1936-2002, Jen Allen, Sonia Chavez, Sara Desimone, Debbie Howard, Keadron Johnson, Lucinda Lapierr, Darrel Montero, Jerry Sanders

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Public opinion polls conducted from 1936 to 2002 found that Americans support both euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Although public opinion regarding end-oflife decisions appears to have been influenced by the events of the times, Americans have consistently favored the freedom to end one's life when the perceived quality of life has significantly diminished, either by one's own hand or with the assistance of a physician. This paper indicates that existing policy regarding euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide conflicts with the American public's attitudes regarding the matter, as well as examines implications for social workers who serve clients facing end-of-life decisions.

Ms In Asian Countries, M Wasay, I A. Khatri, B Khealani, M Sheerani

Section of Neurology

This paper reviews all available English language literature on MS from Asian countries published between 1970 and 2005. Although limited data are available, the review reveals that western Asia--including the Middle East--has the highest prevalence of MS across the continent, and that MS in Asia largely resembles conventional MS in western countries. Opticospinal MS (a distinct clinical entity from conventional MS) is more common in eastern Asian regions. Larger epidemiological and genetic studies, with more complete ascertainment in various Asian populations, are needed so that we can understand the diversity of Asian MS.

Foreign Body Aspiration In Adults., Ali Bin Sarwar Zubairi, Haque A. S, Husain S. J, Javaid Khan

Department of Medicine

Foreign body aspiration is not an uncommon problem, particularly in children, the elderly, and those with predisposing factors like neurological impairment. In adults, regional differences exist in the type of foreign body aspirated. We report four cases of foreign body aspiration in South Asian adults, three of which were related to the widespread habit of chewing stimulant seeds such as betel nuts (two) and tamarind seed (one). It is important for clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion for the diagnosis of foreign body inhalation in the appropriate clinical setting. Bronchoscopy is necessary not only for the diagnosis but …

Knowledge Of Modifiable Risk Factors Of Heart Disease Among Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction In Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross Sectional Study, Muhammad S. Khan, Fahim H. Jafary, Tazeen H. Jafar, Azhar M. Faruqui, Syed I. Rasool, Juanita Hatcher, Nish Chaturvedi

Community Health Sciences

Background: Knowledge is an important pre-requisite for implementing both primary as well as secondary preventive strategies for cardiovascular disease (CVD). There are no estimates of the level of knowledge of risk factor of heart disease in patients with CVD. We estimated the level of knowledge of modifiable risk factors and determined the factors associated with good level of knowledge among patients presenting with their first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, a major tertiary care hospital in Karachi Pakistan. Patients …

Iodine Uptake Restoration In Thyroid Cancer, Kenneth B. Ain, Gopalakrishnan Venkataraman

Internal Medicine Faculty Patents

A method of expressing a tumor specific therapeutic response element in a cancerous cell is disclosed in which the response element was previously blocked from expression. The method comprises the step of administering an unblocking agent to the cancerous cell harboring a gene encoding the response element, thereby resulting in the expression of the response element.

Low Doses Of Memantine Disrupt Memory In Adult Rats, Catherine Creeley, David Wozniak, Joanne Labruyere, George Taylor, John Olney

Psychology Faculty Works

Memantine, a drug recently approved for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, has been characterized as a unique NMDA antagonist that confers protection against excitotoxic neurodegeneration without the serious side effects that other NMDA antagonists are known to cause. In the present study, we determined what dose of memantine is required to protect the adult rat brain against an NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxic process and then tested that dose and a range of lower doses to determine whether the drug in this dose range is associated with significant side effects. Consistent with previous research, we found that memantine confers a neuroprotective effect beginning …

Spontaneous Intracranial Arterial Dissection In The Young: Diagnosis By Ct Angiography, William C. Robertson, Curtis A. Given

Neurology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous carotid artery dissections have been rarely reported in children. Diagnosis has traditionally been confirmed by catheter arteriography. More recently diagnosis has been made by magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography; however the sensitivity of these techniques has yet to be determined. The authors are unaware of reports of carotid dissection confirmed by dynamic computed tomography (computerized tomographic arteriography) in the young.

CASE PRESENTATION: We recently evaluated a fourteen year-old male following the development of transient neurologic symptoms. There was no antecedent illness or trauma. Dynamic computed tomography revealed an intracranial dissection involving the supraclinoid segment of the …

Cardiac-Specific Elevations In Thyroid Hormone Enhance Contractility And Prevent Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction, Maria G. Trivieri, Gavin Y. Oudit, Rajan Sah, Benoit-Giles Kerfant, Hui Sun, Anthony O. Gramolini, Yan Pan, Alan D. Wickenden, Walburga Croteau

Dartmouth Scholarship

Thyroid hormone (TH) is critical for cardiac development and heart function. In heart disease, TH metabolism is abnormal, and many biochemical and functional alterations mirror hypothyroidism. Although TH therapy has been advocated for treating heart disease, a clear benefit of TH has yet to be established, possibly because of peripheral actions of TH. To assess the potential efficacy of TH in treating heart disease, type 2 deiodinase (D2), which converts the prohormone thyroxine to active triiodothyronine (T3), was expressed transiently in mouse hearts by using the tetracycline transactivator system. Increased cardiac D2 activity led to elevated cardiac T3 levels and …

In Search Of The Anglophone Doctor In Jacques Ferron’S Story “Le Petit William”, Vivian C. Mcalister, Christiane I. Mcalister

Surgery Publications

The story of ‘Le Petit William’ (Contes anglais, 1964) is based on Ferron’s experiences as a general practitioner in the Gaspé in 1946. A medical event, use of the maternal left lateral position by a sage-femme to deliver a baby boy, becomes allegory. The sage-femme had learned the technique from a visiting Anglophone doctor. A simple joke, which superficially appears to be the story’s culmination, takes on a sombre political tone when considered in the light of the Latin epigraph. Trips to the Gaspé, a review of the history of obstetrics and speculation are used in this paper to understand …

Surgery For Prolactinomas, Ashfaq A. Razzaq, Rashid Jooma

Section of Neurosurgery

A large proportion of prolactin secreting tumours of the pituitary gland are treatable by dopamine agonist drugs. however certain subgroups of these patients are better managed by surgical excision. the indications for surgery in prolactinomas remain controversial and this paper attempts to clarify these with illustrative cases. the factors favouring a surgical approach include poor tolerance of long term medical therapy, progression of visual deficits or recurrence while on medical treatment, cystic change in the tumour with pressure effects, csf fistula secondary to tumour shrinkage and prophylactic surgery in tumours anticipated to cause csf leak following medical therapy. the size …

Cerebral Embolism: Distal Subclavian Disease As A Rare Etiology, Iram Naz, Ziad Sophie

Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Subclavian artery occlusive disease is usually secondary to persistent compression caused by thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and rarely due to focal atherosclerosis. Emboli from diseased vessel can flow retrograde to the vertebral or carotid arteries to produce ischemic infarct with or without neurological deficit. We are reporting two cases of distal subclavian artery disease presenting with cerebral embolization, an unusual manifestation. Such surgically correctable lesions producing cerebral emboli and stroke needs consideration while evaluating patients with unusual presentation to prevent further occurrence of stroke.

Immunization Update, Karl M. Hess, Jeffery A. Goad

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

"Immunization represents a very effective primary prevention strategy to curb the rate of vaccine preventable diseases...Pharmacists can play a leading role in vaccination by serving as an advocate, facilitator, and active immunizer. As an advocate, pharmacists provide vaccine education while motivating people to get immunized. As a facilitator, pharmacy’s can host other groups, such as the visiting nurses association, to come into the pharmacy and vaccinate. As an active immunizer, however, pharmacists serve their greatest role by giving immunizations to adolescents and adults."

Com Outlook Spring 2006, College Of Osteopathic Medicine

COM Outlook

No abstract provided.

Median Survival Time Of Patients After Transcatheter Chemo-Embolization For Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zeeshan Haider, Haq Ul, Khalid Munir, M Uzair Usman, Muhammad Azeemuddin

Department of Radiology

Objective: To determine the effect on survival after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Design: Longitudinal cohort study.PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Radiology Department, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Stadium Road, Karachi, from December 1997 to September 2005.PATIENTS AND Methods: Patients undergoing TACE procedure for HCC were prospectively followed. Fortythree patients were enrolled from December 1997 to March 2003 in the study and subjected to chemoembolization therapy. Eight out of 43 patients were excluded from the study, who lost to follow-up. All the patients were followed till their death. Median and mean survival were calculated.Results: The median …

Colorectal Carcinoma, Preoperative Evaluation By Spiral Computed Tomography, Kashif Ashraf, Omer Ashraf, Zeeshan Haider, Zafar Rafique

Department of Radiology

Objectives: To assess the capability of spiral computed tomography (CT) scan in preoperative evaluation of colorectal carcinoma (CRC).Methods: A cross sectional study on 52 patients with recent histopathologic diagnosis of CRC was conducted over a period of one year at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. All these patients underwent spiral CT with oral and intravenous contrast administration. Surgery was subsequently done in all cases and surgical specimens were sent for detailed pathologic analysis. The radiologic findings on the CT scans were compared with the pathological findings.Results: The results proved that spiral CT had 60% sensitivity and 83% specificity for …

Oncolog Volume 51, Number 04, April 2006, Sunni Hosemann, Martha Morrison, Therese B. Bevers Md

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

• Redefining Unresectable Disease: Strategies for Treating Liver Metastases from Colorectal Cancer
• Cancer Screening Guidelines Revised: One on One with Dr. Therese Bevers
• House Call; What Is "Breast Self-Awareness"?
• DiaLog: The Revolutionary Cervical Cancer Vaccine, by Therese B. Bevers, MD, Medical Director, Cancer Prevention Center

Sentinel Lymph Node Scintigraphy And Radioguided Dissection In Breast Carcinoma: An Initial Experience At Aga Khan University Hospital, Maseeh Uz Zaman, Shaista Khan, Riffat Hussain, M Nadeem Ahmed

Department of Radiology

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of SLN biopsy using imaging and gamma probe in breast cancer and to establish this technique at Aga Khan University Hospital.Methods: Thirty two patients (mean age 33-76 yrs) with operable breast carcinoma (4 with post-neo adjuvant therapy) with clinically negative axilla were studied. In 28 patients simultaneous axillary dissection was performed. Sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) scintigraphy was performed a day before surgery by injecting Tc-99m labeled nannocolloid sub-dermally in the peri-areolar region in 24 and peri-tumoral in remaining 8. First lymph node (LN) to appear to on the scan was labeled as SLN and marked …

Socio-Demographic Correlates Of Betel, Areca And Smokeless Tobacco Use As A High Risk Behavior For Head And Neck Cancers In A Squatter Settlement Of Karachi, Pakistan, Samia Mazahir, Rabia Malik, Maria Maqsood, Kanwal Aliraza Merchant, Farida Malik, Atif Majeed, Zafar Fatmi, Muhammad Rizwanulhaq Khawaja, Shehzad Ghaffar

Community Health Sciences

Background

Head and neck cancers are a major cancer burden in Pakistan. They share a common risk factor profile including regular consumption of products of betel, areca and tobacco. Use of paan, chaalia, gutka, niswar and tumbaku is acceptable in Pakistan and is considered a normal cultural practice. This cross-sectional study was carried out to understand the relation of socio-demographic factors for the consumption of paan, chaalia, gutka, niswar and tumbaku in Pakistani population. Through systematic sampling, 425 subjects from a squatter settlement in Karachi were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. High risk behavior was defined as Daily use of …