Browsing by Subject "therapy"
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Item Becoming a Person(Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, 1956) Rogers, Carl R.Item Biochemical Institute Studices V: Cancer Studies II(University of Texas at Austin, 1953-07-15) University of Texas at AustinItem The challenges and opportunities in tuberculosis control, from Texas to Afghanistan(2010-05) Eckhoff, Grace; Andrew D. EllingtonTuberculosis is one of the most ancient human pathogens. Very early in the history of humans, tuberculosis spread throughout the world and currently infects one third of the world’s population1. Tuberculosis, both as a pathogen and a disease state, is fascinating in its own right. Considering the global public health significance of tuberculosis, which infects one third of the world’s population and kills over 1.5 million people per year, tuberculosis remains a threat and demands further research. For these reasons, my undergraduate research has largely centered on tuberculosis. Chapter 1 gives a broad overview of tuberculosis, applicable but not specific to my research. Each subsequent chapter focuses on a research project, with relevant additional background on tuberculosis. Chapter 2 is based on an internship at the Texas Department of State Health Services analyzing reasons for delayed completion of tuberculosis therapy for patients whose therapy initiated in Texas in 2006. Chapter 3 examines the potential for molecular methods of tuberculosis in low-resource setting, building off of my experience using mutations in the rpoB gene as a surrogate marker of rifampin resistance in Afghanistan. Chapter 4 briefly expands upon further work done in the lab of Dr. Andrew Ellington at the University of Texas at Austin under the supervision of Xi Chen, developing non-enzymatic methods of nucleic acid detection to indicate the presence of tuberculosis and other pathogens.Item Effects Of Swimming Training On Blood Pressure And Vascular Function In Adults > 50 Years Of Age(2012-04) Nualnim, Nantinee; Parkhurst, Kristin; Dhindsa, Mandeep; Tarumi, Takashi; Vavrek, Jackie; Tanaka, Hirofumi; Nualnim, Nantinee; Parkhurst, Kristin; Dhindsa, Mandeep; Tarumi, Takashi; Vavrek, Jackie; Tanaka, HirofumiSwimming is ideal for older adults because it includes minimum weight-bearing stress and decreased heat load. However, there is very little information available concerning the effects of regular swimming exercise on vascular risks. We determined if regular swimming exercise would decrease arterial blood pressure (BP) and improve vascular function. Forty-three otherwise healthy adults >50 years old (60 +/- 2) with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension and not on any medication were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of swimming exercise or attention time controls. Before the intervention period there were no significant differences in any of the variables between groups. Body mass, adiposity, and plasma concentrations of glucose and cholesterol did not change in either group throughout the intervention period. Casual systolic BP decreased significantly from 131 +/- 3 to 122 +/- 4 mm Hg in the swimming training group. Significant decreases in systolic BP were also observed in ambulatory (daytime) and central (carotid) BP measurements. Swimming exercise produced a 21% increase in carotid artery compliance (p <0.05). Flow-mediated dilation and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity improved after the swim training program (p <0.05). There were no significant changes in any measurements in the control group that performed gentle relaxation exercises. In conclusion, swimming exercise elicits hypotensive effects and improvements in vascular function in previously sedentary older adults. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (Am J Cardiol 2012;109: 1005-1010)Item Empiric Guideline-Recommended Weight-Based Vancomycin Dosing and Mortality in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia: A Retrospective Cohort Study(2012-04) Hall, Ronald G., II; Giuliano, Christopher A.; Haase, Krystal K.; Hazlewood, Kathleen A.; Frei, Chistopher R.; Forcade, Nicolas A.; Brouse, Sara D.; Bell, Todd; Bedimo, Roger J.; Alvarez, Carlos A.; Frei, Chistopher R.; Forcade, Nicolas A.No studies have evaluated the effect of guideline-recommended weight-based dosing on in-hospital mortality of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia receiving at least 48 hours of empiric vancomycin therapy between 01/07/2002 and 30/06/2008. We compared in-hospital mortality for patients treated empirically with weight-based, guideline-recommended vancomycin doses (at least 15 mg/kg/dose) to those treated with less than 15 mg/kg/dose. We used a general linear mixed multivariable model analysis with variables identified a priori through a conceptual framework based on the literature. Results: A total of 337 patients who were admitted to the three hospitals were included in the cohort. One-third of patients received vancomycin empirically at the guideline-recommended dose. Guideline-recommended dosing was not associated with in-hospital mortality in the univariable (16% vs. 13%, OR 1.26 [95% CI 0.67-2.39]) or multivariable (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.33-1.55) analysis. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were ICU admission, Pitt bacteremia score of 4 or greater, age 53 years or greater, and nephrotoxicity. Conclusions: Empiric use of weight-based, guideline-recommended empiric vancomycin dosing was not associated with reduced mortality in this multicenter study.Item Empiric Guideline-Recommended Weight-Based Vancomycin Dosing and Nephrotoxicity Rates in Patients with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia: A Retrospective Cohort Study(2013-02) Hall, Ronald G., II; Hazlewood, Kathleen A.; Brouse, Sara D.; Giuliano, Christopher A.; Haase, Krystal K.; Frei, Chistopher R.; Forcade, Nicolas A.; Bell, Todd; Bedimo, Roger J.; Alvarez, Carlos A.; Frei, Chistopher R.; Forcade, Nicolas A.Previous studies have established a correlation between vancomycin troughs and nephrotoxicity. However, data are currently lacking regarding the effect of guideline-recommended weight-based dosing on nephrotoxicity in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (MRSAB). Methods: Adults who were at least 18 years of age with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and received of empiric vancomycin therapy for at least 48 hours (01/07/2002 and 30/06/2008) were included in this multicenter, retrospective cohort study. The association between guideline-recommended, weight-based vancomycin dosing (at least 15 mg/kg/dose) and nephrotoxicity (increase in serum creatinine (SCr) by more than 0.5 mg/dl or at least a 50% increase from baseline on at least two consecutive laboratory tests) was evaluated. Potential independent associations were evaluated using a multivariable general linear mixed-effect model. Results: Overall, 23% of patients developed nephrotoxicity. Thirty-four percent of the 337 patients who met study criteria received weight-based dosing. The cohort was composed of 69% males with a median age of 55 years. The most common sources of MRSAB included skin/soft tissue (32%), catheter-related bloodstream bacteremia (20%), pulmonary (18%). Eighty-six percent of patients received twice daily dosing. Similar rates of nephrotoxicity were observed regardless of the receipt of guideline-recommended dosing (22% vs. 24%, OR 0.91 [95% CI 0.53-1.56]). This finding was confirmed in the multivariable analysis (OR 1.52 [95% CI 0.75-3.08]). Independent predictors of nephrotoxicity were (OR, 95% CI) vancomycin duration of greater than 15 days (3.36, 1.79-6.34), weight over 100 kg (2.74, 1.27-5.91), Pitt bacteremia score of 4 or greater (2.73, 1.29-5.79), vancomycin trough higher than 20 mcg/ml (2.36, 1.07-5.20), and age over 52 years (2.10, 1.08-4.08). Conclusions: Over one out of five patients in this study developed nephrotoxicity while receiving vancomycin for MRSAB. The receipt of guideline-recommended, weight-based vancomycin was not an independent risk factor for the development of nephrotoxicity.Item A Family Grows: Report of a Family-Centered Therapy Project(Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, 1959) Hogg Foundation for Mental Health; Kruger Smith, Bert; Warren, BetsyItem The Influence of Video Games on the Mental Health of College Students and Adolescents(2021-05-11) Taylor, Andre; Mackert, MichaelAs video games experience a rise in popularity, the issues of participating in this hobby become more concerning. For mental health, problems with video games can lead to an exacerbating effect on psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression. This thesis gathers sources from across psychology and communication disciplines to determine the effects of video games on the mental health of adolescents and college students. This literature review finds that the effects of video games on the mental health of adolescents and college students are complex. I examined and compared the results of various studies over the last 20 years and offer conclusions and propose solutions to these issues. Using the existing literature, I show that playing video games obsessively can be an issue. However, in the absence of addiction, video games can be used to treat symptoms or aid therapists for mental health issues as they relate to psychiatric disorders. Simply playing video games will generally not affect college students or adolescents negatively. When paired with addiction or obsession, however, video games are correlated with the development of psychiatric disorders. But addiction and obsession are not defined by the amount of time that video games are played. In the case of depression, playing video games through an addiction or obsessively can worsen symptoms or correlate with their development. Some studies show anxiety can be correlated to video game addiction, and others show the opposite result. There is little research in this field of study, and as such, more studies and experiments should investigate this phenomenon. Specifically, research should be done to determine if video game addiction, usage, and psychiatric disorders are correlated and whether video games can be used by health professionals to combat these disorders.Item Making Light of Abuse Through ‘Trauma-Bonding’(ORANGE Magazine, 2021-06-17) Bittner, EmmaItem Manipulation of the Tumor Immunomicroenvironment Using Nanovaccination(2015-05-18) Li, Jeffrey; Cui, ZhengrongCancer immunotherapy is an attractive approach for treating cancer where the host immune system is activated to combat the cancer. Here, we report on the development of a liposome-based nanovaccines formulation consisting of DOTAP (1, 2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane) which has some immunogenicity as well as certain levels of cell death ability, and an adjuvant, MPL-A (monophosphoryl lipid A), a toll like receptor-4 agonist and IL-12, an immunomodulatory agent. The result shows that localized treatment of mice bearing oorthotopic 4T1 breast tumors with the nanovaccines elicit an antigen-specific cytotoxic T-cell response, abrogating the tumor significantly as compared with single agent treatment. Immunohistochemistry data shows the treatment inhibits proliferation of tumor cells and causes infiltration of cancer-fighting immune cells such as cytotoxic (Tc) cells. In summary, an MPL-IL-12-liposome cancer nanovaccine drastically decreases tumor size and manipulates the tumor immunomicroenvironment by decreasing cancer cell proliferation and increasing stimulation of cancer fighting immune cells, as well as increasing expression of iNOS.Item Pyrosequencing To Detect Mutations In FKS1 That Confer Reduced Echinocandin Susceptibility In Candida Albicans(2008-11) Wiederhold, Nathan P.; Grabinski, Jodi L.; Garcia-Effron, Guillermo; Perlin, David S.; Lee, Samuel A.; Wiederhold, Nathan P.; Grabinski, Jodi L.Pyrosequencing was compared to Sanger dideoxy sequencing to detect mutations in FKS1 responsible for reduced echinocandin susceptibility in Candida albicans. These methods were in complete agreement for 10 of 12 clinical isolates with elevated echinocandin MICs, supporting the potential feasibility of pyrosequencing to detect mutations within diploid fungi.Item Rehabilitation In Bilingual Aphasia: Evidence For Within- And Between-Language Generalization(2013-05) Kiran, Swathi; Sandberg, Chaleece; Gray, Teresa; Ascenso, Elsa; Kester, Ellen; Kester, EllenPurpose: The goal of this study was to examine if there was a principled way to understand the nature of rehabilitation in bilingual aphasia such that patterns of acquisition and generalization are predictable and logical. Method: Seventeen Spanish-English bilingual individuals with aphasia participated in the experiment. For each participant, three sets of stimuli were developed for each language: (a) English Set 1, (b) English Set 2 (semantically related to each item in English Set 1), (c) English Set 3 (unrelated control items), (d) Spanish Set 1 (translations of English Set 1), (e) Spanish Set 2 (translations of English Set 2; semantically related to each item in Spanish Set 1), and (f) Spanish Set 3 (translations of English Set 3; unrelated control items). A single-subject experimental multiple baseline design across participants was implemented. Treatment was conducted in 1 language, but generalization to within- and between-language untrained items was examined. Results: Treatment for naming on Set 1 items resulted in significant improvement (i.e., effect size >4.0) on the trained items in 14/17 participants. Of the 14 participants who showed improvement, within-language generalization to semantically related items was observed in 10 participants. Between-language generalization to the translations of trained items was observed in 5 participants, and between-language generalization to the translations of the untrained semantically related items was observed in 6 participants. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated within- and between-language patterns that were variable across participants. These differences are indicative of the interplay between facilitation (generalization) and inhibition.Item Semantic Complexity In Treatment Of Naming Deficits In Aphasia: Evidence From Well-Defined Categories(2008-11) Kiran, Swathi; Johnson, Lauren; Kiran, Swathi; Johnson, LaurenPurpose: Our previous work on manipulating typicality of category exemplars during treatment of naming deficits has shown that training atypical examples generalizes to untrained typical examples but not vice versa. In contrast to natural categories that consist of fuzzy boundaries, well-defined categories (e.g., shapes) have rigid category boundaries. Whether these categories illustrate typicality effects similar to natural categories is under debate. The present study addressed this question in the context of treatment for naming deficits in aphasia. Methods: Using a single-subject experiment design, 3 participants with aphasia received a, semantic feature treatment to improve naming of either typical or atypical items of shapes, while generalization was tested to untrained items of the category. Results: For 2 of the 3 participants, training naming of atypical examples of shapes resulted in improved naming of untrained typical examples. Training typical examples in 1 participant did not improve naming of atypical examples. All 3 participants, however, showed weak acquisition trends. Conclusions: Results of the present study show equivocal support for manipulating typicality as a treatment variable within well-defined categories. Instead, these results indicate that acquisition and generalization effects within well-defined categories such as shapes are overshadowed by their inherent abstractness.Item The Contention of Gender Affirmative Care(2023-11) Neely, ThomasThis thesis explores the nature of nonmedical, social aspects of gender affirming care (GAC) and social transitioning for transgender minors. It describes how the results of the two processes have lead to favorable psychological results, and covers the opposition against the processes for minors. This thesis finds that arguments against GAC and social transitioning for minors, as well as actions taken to impede the processes, are based on fallacious data, harmful assumptions, and ultimately result in the deterioration of mental health for transgender minors. It concludes that nonmedical GAC and social transition for transgender minors should be permissible, on the basis that opposition is false and harmful, and on the basis that allowing the processes to take place demonstrates exclusively benefits.Item Therapeutic horsemanship and children adopted from foster care : a case study analysis using mixed methods(2007-08) Cody, Patricia Anne; Franklin, CynthiaThe purpose of this study was to explore the potential benefits of a therapeutic horsemanship program for children adopted from foster care and their adoptive mothers. Standardized measures, open-ended interviews and surveys were administered to determine effects on external child behavior, child self-esteem and parenting stress. The Child Behavior Checklist was administered to measure behavioral challenges in the children in this sample. There were no statistically significant changes on any of the CBCL scales. Qualitative data from the mothers, Instructors and researcher observations show some affect on behavior. The Culture Free Self-Esteem Inventory-3 was administered to measure self-esteem of the nine children in the sample. The decrease on the Global Self-Esteem Quotient of the CFSEI-3 was statistically significant using. Of the nine children, only three of them scored in the clinical range at pre-test. Of these three, two moved into the normal range and the third improved her score to be very close to the normal range. Qualitative data from the mothers, Instructors and researcher observations support this finding. The Total Stress score of the Parenting Stress Index -- Short Form for the mothers in the sample did not show a statistically significant decrease. Six of the nine mothers' pre-test and post-test scores were in the clinical range and only three had decreased post-test scores. The Qualitative data obtained through interviews, surveys and observations did not support a direct impact of the program on stress levels but rather an impact on level of support. Many mothers reported that they liked spending time with the other mothers to share resources and discuss their children. The data collected in this study does not provide sufficient evidence to make any causal statements about therapeutic horsemanship programs and children adopted from foster care. It does, however, provide support for the need for future research. The findings from this study have implications for meeting the needs of a variety of children adopted from foster and their adoptive parents.