by Wai Bong Ngai. / Bibliography: leaves 105-106 / Thesis (M.Ph.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1985

Codeine-containing medication is commonly used for pain after c-section. In most people, 10% of codeine is biotransformed into morphine by the Cytochrome P450 enzyme 2D6 (CYP2D6). Individuals who convert up to 50 fold more codeine into morphine, ultrarapid metaboizers, are at a greater risk for adverse effects. Conversely poor metabolizers, individuals who convert almost no codeine into morphine, are at risk for untreated pain. The pharmacodynamic relationship between codeine-analgesia and CYP2D6 genotype is studied for possible development of a titration model. To minimize these treatment risks, alternatives to opioids are sought. Reiki, an ancient Japanese form of healing used to treat pain and depression, has not been systematically reviewed for its efficacy in treating pain. My systematic review of Reiki literature (n=12) showed that while most trials yielded a positive result on primary outcomes, all existing Reiki studies lacked in one of the three key areas of proper patient allocation concealment, randomization or blinding which can lead to the introduction of bias. We designed a randomized controlled trial using distant Reiki for postpartum pain, taking careful steps to control for each of those three key areas. Eighty pregnant women scheduled for an elective c-section where recruited and randomly allocated to one of the two arms (n=40 Reiki and n=40 control). Women were monitored in hospital for up to three days. Visual Analogue Scores (VAS) for pain were recorded 4 times per day; and all pain medication, adverse effects and milestone recovery rates after c-section were recorded. Blood samples were taken to determine CYP2D6 genotype. We determined that distant Reiki did not reduce women’s pain; neither the measured pain nor the cumulative dose of pain medication differed between groups. Moreover, rates of recovery after c-section were also not different between the two groups. This led to the conclusion that distant Reiki was not suitable as a primary method of controlling pain after c-section. Our second study (n=45) looked for correlation between CYP2D6 genotype and effectiveness of codeine analgesia. Only a small sample of the women were genetic extremes (n=2 poor metabolizers and n=3 ultrarapid metabolizers), while most were, as expected, extensive or intermediate metabolizers. An individual examination of each of these cases provided valuable insight into patients where CYP2D6 polymorphism is clinically relevant. Two of the three ultrarapid metabolizers stopped opioid analgesia due to adverse effects, while both poor metabolizers complained that the codeine-containing medication was not providing analgesia (i.e. ineffective pain treatment). Healthcare providers need to be aware of patient response to pharmacotherapy and use this information to individualize postpartum opioid analgesia.

Codeine-containing medication is commonly used for pain after c-section. In most people, 10% of codeine is biotransformed into morphine by the Cytochrome P450 enzyme 2D6 (CYP2D6). Individuals who convert up to 50 fold more codeine into morphine, ultrarapid metaboizers, are at a greater risk for adverse effects. Conversely poor metabolizers, individuals who convert almost no codeine into morphine, are at risk for untreated pain. The pharmacodynamic relationship between codeine-analgesia and CYP2D6 genotype is studied for possible development of a titration model. To minimize these treatment risks, alternatives to opioids are sought. Reiki, an ancient Japanese form of healing used to treat pain and depression, has not been systematically reviewed for its efficacy in treating pain. My systematic review of Reiki literature (n=12) showed that while most trials yielded a positive result on primary outcomes, all existing Reiki studies lacked in one of the three key areas of proper patient allocation concealment, randomization or blinding which can lead to the introduction of bias. We designed a randomized controlled trial using distant Reiki for postpartum pain, taking careful steps to control for each of those three key areas. Eighty pregnant women scheduled for an elective c-section where recruited and randomly allocated to one of the two arms (n=40 Reiki and n=40 control). Women were monitored in hospital for up to three days. Visual Analogue Scores (VAS) for pain were recorded 4 times per day; and all pain medication, adverse effects and milestone recovery rates after c-section were recorded. Blood samples were taken to determine CYP2D6 genotype. We determined that distant Reiki did not reduce women’s pain; neither the measured pain nor the cumulative dose of pain medication differed between groups. Moreover, rates of recovery after c-section were also not different between the two groups. This led to the conclusion that distant Reiki was not suitable as a primary method of controlling pain after c-section. Our second study (n=45) looked for correlation between CYP2D6 genotype and effectiveness of codeine analgesia. Only a small sample of the women were genetic extremes (n=2 poor metabolizers and n=3 ultrarapid metabolizers), while most were, as expected, extensive or intermediate metabolizers. An individual examination of each of these cases provided valuable insight into patients where CYP2D6 polymorphism is clinically relevant. Two of the three ultrarapid metabolizers stopped opioid analgesia due to adverse effects, while both poor metabolizers complained that the codeine-containing medication was not providing analgesia (i.e. ineffective pain treatment). Healthcare providers need to be aware of patient response to pharmacotherapy and use this information to individualize postpartum opioid analgesia.

This project is intended to utilize an immobilized bio-active first generation fusion constructed cytokine inducing in receptive cell lines guided vasculogenic development. This research through the assembly, expression and purification of a bio-active molecule the CaM-VEGF120 fusion construct permitted the creation of a first generation smart-gel platform. Cell culture bringing together HUVECs or cBOECs with soluble or immobilized CaM-VEGF120 coupled with a type-I collagen platform are the main components intended to induce guided vascular sprouting. Purification of the CaM-VEGF120 was achieved utilizing HIC coupled with size exclusion chromotography. Mass Spectrometry and cellular augmentation noted by survivability and proliferation suggests the correct CaM-VEGF120 properties were achieved. Cell culture interactive changes were recorded utilizing fluorescent and phase microscopy. The 66 KDa dimeric CaM-VEGF120 was able to phosphorylate the cytoplasmic Tyr1175 localized to the C-terminal portion of the transmembrane VEGFR2. GNP immobilized CaM-VEGF120 induced VEGFR2 expressing cell lines as were imaged over a week’s period recording vascular pseudo-tube formation. These events resulting from contact with the immobilized CaM-VEGF120 and VEGFR2 induced activity thus presenting in vitro guided vascular pseudo-tube development. This research is being pursued utilizing HUVEC and cBOECs as guided vascular pseudo-tube structural formation is possible. This successful model implies a first generation model for physiological vascular development having therapeutic applications.

Efficient execution of parallel applications requires insight into how the parallel system features impact the performance of the application. Significant experimental analysis and the development of performance models enhance the understanding of such an impact. Deep understanding of an application’s major kernels and their design leads to a better understanding of the application’s performance, and hence, leads to development of better performance models. The Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) is the latest in a series of global atmospheric models developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) as a community tool for NCAR and the university research community. This work focuses on analyzing CAM and understanding the impact of different architectures on this application. In the analysis of CAM, kernel coupling, which quantifies the interaction between adjacent and chains of kernels in an application, is used. All experiments are conducted on four parallel platforms: NERSC (National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center) Seaborg, SDSC (San Diego Supercomputer Center) DataStar P655, DataStar P690 and PSC (Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center) Lemieux. Experimental results indicate that kernel coupling gave an insight into many of the application characteristics. One important characteristic of CAM is that its performance is heavily dependent on a parallel platform memory hierarchy; different cache sizes and different cache policies had the major effect on CAM’s performance. Also, coupling values showed that although CAM’s kernels share many data structures, most of the coupling values are still destructive (i.e., interfering with each other so as to adversely affect performance). The kernel coupling results helps developers in pointing out the bottlenecks in memory usage in CAM. The results obtained from processor partitioning are significant in helping CAM users in choosing the right platform to run CAM.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Florida, 2001. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 82 p.; also contains graphics. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-81).

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

This project is intended to utilize an immobilized bio-active first generation fusion constructed cytokine inducing in receptive cell lines guided vasculogenic development. This research through the assembly, expression and purification of a bio-active molecule the CaM-VEGF120 fusion construct permitted the creation of a first generation smart-gel platform. Cell culture bringing together HUVECs or cBOECs with soluble or immobilized CaM-VEGF120 coupled with a type-I collagen platform are the main components intended to induce guided vascular sprouting. Purification of the CaM-VEGF120 was achieved utilizing HIC coupled with size exclusion chromotography. Mass Spectrometry and cellular augmentation noted by survivability and proliferation suggests the correct CaM-VEGF120 properties were achieved. Cell culture interactive changes were recorded utilizing fluorescent and phase microscopy. The 66 KDa dimeric CaM-VEGF120 was able to phosphorylate the cytoplasmic Tyr1175 localized to the C-terminal portion of the transmembrane VEGFR2. GNP immobilized CaM-VEGF120 induced VEGFR2 expressing cell lines as were imaged over a week’s period recording vascular pseudo-tube formation. These events resulting from contact with the immobilized CaM-VEGF120 and VEGFR2 induced activity thus presenting in vitro guided vascular pseudo-tube development. This research is being pursued utilizing HUVEC and cBOECs as guided vascular pseudo-tube structural formation is possible. This successful model implies a first generation model for physiological vascular development having therapeutic applications.