Therapeutics Commons^™

Neuroprotective Effects Of Bilobalide Are Accompanied By A Reduction Of Ischemia-Induced Glutamate Release In Vivo, Dorothee Lang, Cornelia Kiewert, Alexander Mdzinarishvili, Tina Maria Schwarzkopf, Rachita K. Sumbria, Joachim Hartmann, Jochen Klein

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Neuroprotective properties of bilobalide, a specific constituent of Ginkgo extracts, were tested in a mouse model of stroke. After 24 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), bilobalide reduced infarct areas in the core region (striatum) by 40–50% when given at 10 mg/kg 1 h prior to MCAO. Neuroprotection was also observed at lower doses, or when the drug was given 1 h past stroke induction. Sensorimotor function in mice was improved by bilobalide as shown by corner and chimney tests. When brain metabolism in situ was monitored by microdialysis, MCAO caused a rapid disappearance of extracellular glucose in the …

Targeted Multistage Delivery Of Nanoparticles To The Bone Marrow, Aman Mann

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Bone marrow is a target organ site involved in multiple diseases including myeloproliferative disorders and hematologic malignancies and metastases from breast and prostate. Most of these diseases are characterized with poor quality of life, and the treatment options are only palliative due to lack of delivery mechanisms for systemically injected drugs which results in dose limitation to protect the healthy hematopoietic cells. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop effective therapeutic strategies that allow for selective delivery of therapeutic payload to the bone marrow. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems provide the opportunity to deliver drugs to the target tissue while …

The Development And Implementation Of An Anthropomorphic Head Phantom For The Assessment Of Proton Therapy Treatment Procedures, Paige A. Summers

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Proton therapy has become an increasingly more common method of radiation therapy, with the dose sparing to distal tissue making it an appealing option, particularly for treatment of brain tumors. This study sought to develop a head phantom for the Radiological Physics Center (RPC), the first to be used for credentialing of institutions wishing to participate in clinical trials involving brain tumor treatment of proton therapy. It was hypothesized that a head phantom could be created for the evaluation of proton therapy treatment procedures (treatment simulation, planning, and delivery) to assure agreement between the measured dose and calculated dose within …

Systematically Controlling For The Influence Of Age, Sex, Hertz And Time Post-Whole-Body Vibration Exposure On Four Measures Of Physical Performance In Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Cross-Over Study, Harold L. Merriman, C. Jayne Brahler, Kurt Jackson

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Though popular, there is little agreement on what whole-body vibration (WBV) parameters will optimize performance. This study aimed to clarify the effects of age, sex, hertz, and time on four physical function indicators in community-dwelling older adults (N = 32). Participants were exposed to 2 minutes WBV per session at either 2 Hz or 26 Hz, and outcome measures were recorded at 2-, 20-, and 40-minute post-WBV. Timed get-up-and-go and chair sit-and-reach performances improved post-WBV for both sexes, were significantly different between 2 Hz and 26 Hz treatments (P ≤ 0.05), and showed statistically significant interactions between age and gender …

Ultrasound Imaging Of Lumbar Multifidus Immediately Following Three Physical Therapy Techniques In Asymptomatic Individuals, Victoria Byers, Steven Lim, Kathryn Rice

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Study Design

Randomized, blinded, cohort, within subjects design.

Background and Objective

The effects of different manual therapy (MT) techniques on lumbar multifidus (LM) thickness have been investigated in subjects with low back pain (LBP) but have not been investigated in asymptomatic subjects. The objective of this study was to examine the immediate effects of mobilization and manipulation on contraction thickness of LM in healthy individuals.

Methods and Measures

Forty-two healthy individuals participated in the study. Ultrasound imaging techniques were used to record LM thickness (L4-5 level) at rest, during an abdominal drawing in maneuver (ADIM), and during a prone upper …

Chelation Therapy As A Treatment For Autism, Cassandra Baty, Rachel Terharr

Festival of Communities: UG Symposium (Posters)

As medical advances continue to be made, there has yet to be an effectively consistent cure to the commonly known condition, Autism. Some researchers and physicians state that by using chelation therapy, it could help cure mercury poisoning in autistic individuals who were affected by vaccines or other sources. Because of the lack of research and knowledge of chelation therapy, there has been some controversy as to the ethics of providing chelation therapy to autistic children. The families that are put through these trials are faced with high costs, and no guarantee that their child could be cured. But to …

Soul Medicine: The Role Of Traditional Senegalese Music In A Therapeutic Context, Alexa K. Dorris

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The purpose of this study was to discover the role of traditional Senegalese music used in therapeutic contexts. Specifically, I sought to discover its uses and understand the ideologies and cultural significance behind its usage. I collected data using participant observation, interviewing, and archival research in Dakar and Ngoundiame, a Serrere village, Senegal. I found that music was used for cathartic and healing purposes in two primary schools in Dakar and in the traditional ndepp ceremony, respectively. These usages of music reflected larger themes in Senegalese culture. In conclusion, I recommended that music be integrated into mental health treatment through …

Unifying The Mathematical Modeling Of In Vivo And In Vitro Microdialysis, Peter M. Bungay, Rachita K. Sumbria, Ulrich Bickel

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

A unifying approach is presented for developing mathematical models of microdialysis that are applicable to both in vitro and in vivo situations. Previous models for cylindrical probes have been limited by accommodating analyte diffusion through the surrounding medium in the radial direction only, i.e., perpendicular to the probe axis, or by incomplete incorporation of diffusion in the axial direction. Both radial and axial diffusion are included in the present work by employing two-dimensional finite element analysis. As in previous models, the nondimensional clearance modulus (Θ) represents the degree to which analyte clearance from the external medium influences diffusion through the …

Dietary Interventions Against Mammary Glands And Prostate Cancers, Juliana Adedayo Akinsete

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Dietary components modulate normal cellular functions and, in cancer cells, alter processes that lead to cancer and/or its progression. The change in the patterns of human food production and consumption over time has contributed to increasing risk for diseases including cancer. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are classes of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids in the human diet and are required for normal growth and development. Omega-3 and omega-6 fats are thought to be required in the ratio of 1:1 to 1:4 on which humans are thought to have evolved. However, the Western diet has greatly shifted from this ratio. The …

Knee Range Of Motion: Reliability And Agreement Of 3 Measurement Methods, Paul G. Peters, Michael A. Herbenick, Philip A. Anloague, Ronald J. Markert, L. Joseph Rubino

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

We conducted a study to compare 3 methods of measuring knee range of motion: visual estimation by physicians, hand goniometry by physical therapists, and radiographic goniometry. We hypothesized that reliability would be high within and across all techniques. We found intrarater and interrater reliability to be satisfactory for visual estimation, hand goniometry, and radiographic goniometry. Interrater reliability across methods did not agree satisfactorily. Between-methods differences in estimating knee range of motion may result from variations in technique among physicians and physical therapists.

A Comparison Of Two Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Programs In Females With Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Pilot Study, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, Wendy Chorny, C. Jayne Brahler, Ashley Ingley, Jennifer Kennedy, Valerie Osterfeld

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a condition affecting millions of Americans. Few studies have assessed the benefits of different exercises involved in pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). Purposte: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a traditional PFMT program to an assisted pelvic floor muscle training (APFMT) program that included contraction of hip musculature.

Investigating The Associations Between Core Strength, Postural Control And Fine Motor Performance In Children, Rachel Burnett, Nicole Cornett, Gina Rekart, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, C. Jayne Brahler, Susan Aebker, Megan Kreill

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Study design: Quantitative design including statistical analysis.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine if there is an association between core strength, postural control, fine motor precision and integration, specifically in typical children in the first and third grades, ages 6-10. The secondary purpose of this study was to determine if there was an association between BMI and fine and gross motor ability in this same population.

Background: The relationship between core strength, postural control and fine motor skills in children is not well understood. The assumption that trunk stability and control are necessary for the maturation of …

Is Thrombolytic Therapy Safe When Used To Treat Elderly Patients?, Daniel Yaeger

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Recently, research has been conducted to determine if thrombolytic therapy works to dissolve clots and if it is a safe treatment option. The specific purpose of this study is to determine if thrombolytic therapy is safe for use in the elderly. This study was conducted by reviewing the relevant literature that has been published from the time that research began to test the usefulness of thrombolytic therapy. Numerous journals were examined to ensure impartiality and emerge with an unbiased conclusion. The journals were discovered using PubMed article finder, using Google as a search engine, and by scrutinizing relevant references found …

Is The Gallbladder Really Unnecessary? An Evaluation Of Gallstone Treatment, Danielle Weinberg

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The following is the introduction of this article: The red numbers on your alarm read two o’clock AM, but you’re wide awake. A dull ache below your ribs has tossed you from the blissful ignorance of sleep into the painful reality of another nocturnal attack. As the pale streaks of daylight appear, you grit your teeth in agony while the ambulance goes over yet another bump in its rush to get you to the emergency room. A blur of white coats, lab tests, and CT scans, and then you’re staring into the bright lights above the operating table as the …

Alteplase: The Clot Buster, Mayer Goldberg

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The following is an excerpt from the introduction of this article: The human body is defined by many complex and inconsistent characteristics. For example, the body forms blood clots in traumatic events, but blood clots are likewise associated with hazardous or fatal conditions. Platelets are small cells, derived from the precursor megakaryocytes, which are responsible for blood clotting to prevent bleeding from a ruptured blood vessel. Platelets fasten to each other and release a coagulation factor that solidifies around the ruptured area to prevent blood loss. A subordinate quantity of platelets can result in excessive bleeding. However, high platelet numbers …

Small Intestine Submucosa Effects On Long Term Viability Of Transplanted Pancreatic Cells, Joshua P. Pregnar

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

The biologic functions carried out by the pancreas are, without a doubt, essential to life. This can be demonstrated by the fact that some diabetics require insulin supplementation and those suffering from other diseases of the pancreas, such as pancreatitis, or who have undergone pancreatectomy require supplementation with exocrine enzymes. As would be expected, we are constantly searching for more longterm, patient oriented solutions to chronic health conditions. As such, there has been a gradual transition from daily insulin injections to insulin pumps which allow for easier and more closely controlled glucose levels. Work has also been done regarding various …

A Comparison Of Pharmacist Travel-Health Specialists' Versus Primary Care Providers' Recommendations For Travel-Related Medications, Vaccinations, And Patient Compliance In A College Health Setting, Melissa J. Durham, Jeffery A. Goad, Lawrence S. Neinstein, Mimi Lou

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background. Pretravel medication and vaccination recommendations and receipt were compared between primary care providers (PCPs) without special training and clinical pharmacists specializing in pretravel health.

Methods. A retrospective chart review of patients seen for pretravel health services in a pharmacist-run travel clinic (PTC) compared to PCPs at a University Student Health Center. Vaccine/medication recommendations were assessed for consistency with national/international guidelines. Medical/pharmacy records were queried to determine the receipt of medications/vaccinations.

Results. The PTC recommended antibiotics for travelers' diarrhea were given more often when indicated (96% vs 50%, p < 0.0001), and patients seen in the PTC received their medications more often (75% vs 63%, p = 0.04). PCPs prescribed more antibiotics for travelers' diarrhea that were inconsistent with guidelines (not ordered when indicated 49% vs 6%, p < 0.0001 and ordered when not indicated 21% vs 3%, p < 0.0001). The PTC prescribed antimalarials more often when indicated (98% vs 81%, p < 0.0001), while PCPs prescribed more antimalarials that were inconsistent with guidelines (not ordered when indicated 15% vs 1%, p < 0.0001 and ordered when not indicated 19% vs 2%, p < 0.0001). The PTC ordered more vaccines per patient when indicated (mean = 2.77 vs 2.31, p = 0.0012). PTC patients were more likely to receive vaccines when ordered (mean = 2.38 vs 1.95, p = 0.0039). PCPs recommended more vaccines per patient that were inconsistent with guidelines (not ordered when indicated: mean = 0.78 vs 0.12, p < 0.0001, ordered when not indicated: mean 0.18 vs 0.025, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions. A pharmacist-run pretravel health clinic can …

Can Ultrafiltration Be Used As Primary Treatment Of Congestive Heart Failure?, Jennifer Tallis

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: To determine whether ultrafiltration can be used as primary treatment of Congestive Heart Failure.

Is The Use Of Narrowband Ultraviolet B (Nb-Uvb) Phototherapy Effective Monotherapy In The Treatment Of Adults With Plaque Psoriasis?, Andrea M. Cardine

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy is effective monotherapy in the treatment of adults with plaque psoriasis.

Does Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy And Aerobic Exercise Improve Exercise Tolerance / Ability In Heart Failure Patiens Better Then Either Intervention Alone Or No Intervention At All?, Douglas Ader

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to determine whether or not cardiac resynchronization therapy with aerobic exercise improves exercise tolerance / ability better then either treatment alone or no intervention at all.