Thesis (M. Sc.)--McGill University, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1965. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of South Florida, 2006. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 49 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

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Background: Acute heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation are common, and are sometimes difficult to differentiate in the emergency department (ED). Objectives: To determine the clinical impact of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography (POCUS) in ED patients with suspected acute heart failure or COPD. Methods: We conducted a prospective health records review with 1:3 matching, and analyzed time to events using time-dependent Cox regression analyses, classification performance, and adverse events. Results: There were 81 patients with lung POCUS and 243 matched patients. No differences were found in ED length of stay or length of care, nor adverse events. Significance was found for time to treatment (P=0.03). Lung POCUS had high sensitivity (92.5%) and specificity (85.7%) for identifying acute heart failure. Conclusions: Lung POCUS could result in faster treatments for patients with suspected acute heart failure and COPD, and has high accuracy in identifying acute heart failure.

The Revolutionary Breath is praxis of conscious breathing and values awareness. I explore the transformative potential of this praxis through a method I call axio-somatic ethnography, which is an expansion of traditional autoethnography that de-centers identity and valorizes body-sensing as the foundation for authentic storytelling. The Revolutionary Breath is juxtaposed to the State Sponsored Breath, a constellation of physical and cultural habits and values. The Revolutionary Breath, itself, is composed of three Allowings, or conscious sensing practices, all framed within a commitment to the depth and ease of one’s breath. Throughout the dissertation, I use axio-somatic ethnography to present my own experiences of putting this praxis into use.

Fissura lábio palatina é a anomalia congênita craniofacial mais comum. A síndrome da apnéia obstrutiva do sono (SAOS) é uma doença prevalente, ainda pouco diagnosticada, e frequentemente associada a malformações craniofaciais. Dessa forma este estudo busca melhor entendimento do perfil respiratório durante o sono num grupo de 23 crianças, entre 7 e 12 anos, submetidas a palatoplastia entre 12 e 15 meses de idade, sendo o principal enfoque a presença de apnéia do sono e suas correlações com os achados clínicos desta população. Foram realizadas polissonografias e um protocolo de exame físico para detectar alterações associadas à obstrução de vias aéreas superiores (VASs). Os dados obtidos foram tabulados e analisados, descritivamente, e através de gráficos Box-plot para associação entre variáveis qualitativas e quantitativas. Encontramos uma média e mediana de IAH de 1,11/h (DP=0,78) e 0,9/h, respectivamente. O IAO apresentou média de 0,27/h (DP=0,38) e mediana de 0,1/h. Cerca de 30% dos pacientes apresentaram IAH acima de 1,4/h. Não houve importantes dessaturações da oxihemoglobina no grupo estudado. Desvio septal, hipertrofia de conchas nasais e hipertrofia das tonsilas palatinas foram variáveis que elevaram a média dos índices de distúrbio respiratório do sono, enquanto a presença de disjunção da maxila reduziu a média destes índices. Neste grupo, a prevalência de SAOS foi maior do que em populações normais, quando comparado a controles históricos. Há poucos estudos, avaliando o padrão respiratório do sono em crianças com alterações nas VASs, sendo necessário melhor conhecimento deste problema. A polissonografia é fortemente recomendada na avaliação de crianças com alterações nas VASs. / Cleft lip and palate is the most common congenital craniofacial abnormality. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is prevalent disease, poorly diagnosed and frequently associated with craniofacial malformations. This study aims to better understanding about respiratory profile of a 23 infant group, between 7 and 12 years, submited to palatoplasty about 12 to 15 months of age. The principal approach is OSAS presence and its clinicals correlations. Polissonografy and physical exam protocol to detect superior airway abnormalities were performed and the data were analized. The data were tabulated and analyzed descriptively and through Box-plot graphs for association between qualitative and quantitative variables. We found a mean and median AHI of 1.11/h (SD = 0.78) and 0.9/h, respectively. The IAO had an average of 0.27/h (SD = 0.38) and a median of 0.1/h. About 30% of patients had an AHI above 1.4/h. There was no significant oxyhemoglobin dessaturation in the study group. Septal deviation, turbinate hypertrophy and hypertrophy of the tonsils were variables that increased the average indices of sleep-disordered breathing, while the presence of maxillary disjunction, reduce the average of these indices. In this group the prevalence of OSA was higher than in normal populations when compared to historical controls. There are few studies describing the sleep breath pattern in children with alterations in superior airways, being necessary better understand of this problem. Polysomnography is strongly recommended for the assessment of children with airway abnormalities.

Fissura lábio palatina é a anomalia congênita craniofacial mais comum. A síndrome da apnéia obstrutiva do sono (SAOS) é uma doença prevalente, ainda pouco diagnosticada, e frequentemente associada a malformações craniofaciais. Dessa forma este estudo busca melhor entendimento do perfil respiratório durante o sono num grupo de 23 crianças, entre 7 e 12 anos, submetidas a palatoplastia entre 12 e 15 meses de idade, sendo o principal enfoque a presença de apnéia do sono e suas correlações com os achados clínicos desta população. Foram realizadas polissonografias e um protocolo de exame físico para detectar alterações associadas à obstrução de vias aéreas superiores (VASs). Os dados obtidos foram tabulados e analisados, descritivamente, e através de gráficos Box-plot para associação entre variáveis qualitativas e quantitativas. Encontramos uma média e mediana de IAH de 1,11/h (DP=0,78) e 0,9/h, respectivamente. O IAO apresentou média de 0,27/h (DP=0,38) e mediana de 0,1/h. Cerca de 30% dos pacientes apresentaram IAH acima de 1,4/h. Não houve importantes dessaturações da oxihemoglobina no grupo estudado. Desvio septal, hipertrofia de conchas nasais e hipertrofia das tonsilas palatinas foram variáveis que elevaram a média dos índices de distúrbio respiratório do sono, enquanto a presença de disjunção da maxila reduziu a média destes índices. Neste grupo, a prevalência de SAOS foi maior do que em populações normais, quando comparado a controles históricos. Há poucos estudos, avaliando o padrão respiratório do sono em crianças com alterações nas VASs, sendo necessário melhor conhecimento deste problema. A polissonografia é fortemente recomendada na avaliação de crianças com alterações nas VASs. / Cleft lip and palate is the most common congenital craniofacial abnormality. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is prevalent disease, poorly diagnosed and frequently associated with craniofacial malformations. This study aims to better understanding about respiratory profile of a 23 infant group, between 7 and 12 years, submited to palatoplasty about 12 to 15 months of age. The principal approach is OSAS presence and its clinicals correlations. Polissonografy and physical exam protocol to detect superior airway abnormalities were performed and the data were analized. The data were tabulated and analyzed descriptively and through Box-plot graphs for association between qualitative and quantitative variables. We found a mean and median AHI of 1.11/h (SD = 0.78) and 0.9/h, respectively. The IAO had an average of 0.27/h (SD = 0.38) and a median of 0.1/h. About 30% of patients had an AHI above 1.4/h. There was no significant oxyhemoglobin dessaturation in the study group. Septal deviation, turbinate hypertrophy and hypertrophy of the tonsils were variables that increased the average indices of sleep-disordered breathing, while the presence of maxillary disjunction, reduce the average of these indices. In this group the prevalence of OSA was higher than in normal populations when compared to historical controls. There are few studies describing the sleep breath pattern in children with alterations in superior airways, being necessary better understand of this problem. Polysomnography is strongly recommended for the assessment of children with airway abnormalities.

abstract: Many people with or at risk for diabetes have difficulty maintaining normal postprandial blood glucose levels (120-140 mg/dl). Research has shown that vinegar decreases postprandial glycemia. The purpose of this study was to examine a possible mechanism by which vinegar decreases postprandial glycemia, particularly the effect of vinegar ingestion on gut fermentation. In this parallel arm randomized control trial, the effects of daily ingestion of vinegar on gut fermentation markers were observed among adults at risk for type 2 diabetes in Phoenix, Arizona. Subjects (n=14) were randomly assigned to treatments consisting of a vinegar drink (1.5g acetic acid) or a placebo (2 vinegar pills containing 40mg acetic acid each). All participants were required to consume the vinegar drink (16 oz) or 2 placebo pills every day for 12 weeks. At week 12, participants filled out a questionnaire to report gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and three consecutive breath samples were taken from each subject to measure fasting breath hydrogen (BH2) with a breath analyzer. Fasting BH2 measures for the vinegar drink group (16.1+11.8 ppm) were significantly different than those from the pill group (3.6+1.4) with a partial eta squared of 0.39 (p=0.023). After adjusting for age as a confounding factor (r=0.406) and removing an outlier, fasting BH2 measures for the vinegar drink group (4.3+1.1 ppm) were still significantly different than those from the pill group (3.6+1.4) with a partial eta squared of 0.35 (p=0.045). Participants in both groups reported mild changes in GI symptoms. In conclusion, adults at risk for type 2 diabetes that consume 2 tablespoons of vinegar a day may have increased gut fermentation compared to those who do not consume vinegar. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Nutrition 2013

abstract: ABSTRACT This randomized, controlled, double-blind crossover study examined the effects of a preprandial, 20g oral dose of apple cider vinegar (ACV) on colonic fermentation and glycemia in a normal population, with the ultimate intention of identifying the mechanisms by which vinegar has been shown to reduce postprandial glycemia and insulinemia. Fifteen male and female subjects were recruited, ages 20-60y, who had no prior history of gastrointestinal (GI) disease or resections impacting normal GI function, were non-smokers, were non-vegetarian/vegan, were not taking any medications known to alter (glucose) metabolism, and were free of chronic disease including diabetes. Subjects were instructed to avoid exercise, alcohol and smoking the day prior to their trials and to consume a standardized, high-carbohydrate dinner meal the eve prior. There was a one-week washout period per subject between appointments. Breath hydrogen, serum insulin and capillary glucose were assessed over 3 hours after a high-starch breakfast meal to evaluate the impact of preprandial supplementation with ACV or placebo (water). Findings confirmed the antiglycemic effects of ACV as documented in previous studies, with significantly lower mean blood glucose concentrations observed during ACV treatment compared to the placebo at 30 min (p=0.003) and 60 min (p=0.005), and significantly higher mean blood glucose concentrations at 180 min (p=0.045) postprandial. No significant differences in insulin concentrations between treatments. No significant differences were found between treatments (p>0.05) for breath hydrogen; however, a trend was observed between the treatments at 180 min postprandial where breath hydrogen concentration was visually perceived as being higher with ACV treatment compared to the placebo. Therefore, this study failed to support the hypothesis that preprandial ACV ingestion produces a higher rate of colonic fermentation within a 3 hour time period following a high-carbohydrate meal. Due to variations in experiment duration noted in other literature, an additional study of similar nature with an expanded specimen collections period, well beyond 3 hours, is warranted. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Nutrition 2012