KSU Symphony Orchestra

The KSU Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Nathaniel F. Parker, present a concert with the winners of the KSU Young Artists competition: Alice Zhang, piano and Keshav Anand, trumpet.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/2302/thumbnail.jp

Herbal Therapies in Cancer Patients: Managing Side Effects and Improving Quality of Life

Introduction: This comprehensive review explores the role of herbal therapies in managing the side effects of cancer treatments and enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients. As conventional cancer treatments often induce a myriad of adverse effects, ranging from nausea and fatigue to pain and emotional distress, the integration of herbal therapies has gained attention as a potential complementary approach. Methods: The review synthesizes existing literature, drawing upon both preclinical and clinical studies, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of various herbs in alleviating common side effects associated with cancer therapies. Special emphasis is placed on the potential benefits of herbal interventions in addressing physical symptoms, such as nausea and pain, as well as psychological and emotional challenges faced by cancer patients. Furthermore, the review explores the mechanisms of action behind these herbal interventions and potential synergies with conventional treatments. Insights into patient perspectives and experiences with herbal therapies contribute to a holistic understanding of their impact on overall well-being. Conclusion: By providing a critical analysis of the current state of knowledge, this review aims to guide healthcare professionals, researchers, and patients in making informed decisions regarding the integration of herbal therapies into cancer care, ultimately improving the supportive care and quality of life for individuals undergoing cancer treatment

Migrating Ingested Foreign Body of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract with Resultant Septic Shock : Case report and literature review

Complications due to foreign body ingestion are rare; however, if present, these can cause significant morbidity to the patient. An overlooked ingested foreign body could present as an emergency and may prove fatal. We present a case of an accidentally ingested foreign body with delayed presentation, which migrated to the neck and produced a cervical abscess presenting as septic shock. The patient required prompt stabilisation followed by surgical intervention. The patient’s vital signs returned to normal on the second post-operative day, and he was discharged the following day

ALS and Oxidative Stress: The Neurovascular Scenario

Oxidative stress and angiogenic factors have been placed as the prime focus of scientific investigations after an establishment of link between vascular endothelial growth factor promoter (VEGF), hypoxia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis. Deletion of the hypoxia-response element in the vascular endothelial growth factor promoter and mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) which are characterised by atrophy and muscle weakness resulted in phenotype resembling human ALS in mice. This results in lower motor neurodegeneration thus establishing an important link between motor neuron degeneration, vasculature, and angiogenic molecules. In this review, we have presented human, animal, and in vitro studies which suggest that molecules like VEGF have a therapeutic, diagnostic, and prognostic potential in ALS. Involvement of vascular growth factors and hypoxia response elements also highlights the converging role of oxidative stress and neurovascular network for understanding and treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders like ALS

Revolutionizing Herbal Medicine: Exploring Nano Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract. Introduction: Traditional herbal medicine has been practiced for centuries and continues to play a significant role in healthcare systems worldwide. However, the efficacy and therapeutic potential of herbal remedies can be limited due to various factors such as poor bioavailability, instability, and non-specific targeting. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these limitations and revolutionize the field of herbal medicine. This review explores the application of nano drug delivery systems in enhancing the effectiveness of herbal therapeutics.  The utilization of nanotechnology in the context of herbal medicine involves the design and development of nano-sized carriers that can encapsulate and deliver herbal bioactive compounds to the target sites in a controlled and targeted manner. Various types of nanocarriers, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, and nanoemulsions, have been extensively investigated for their potential in improving the bioavailability, stability, and controlled release of herbal compounds.  The integration of nanotechnology with herbal medicine offers several advantages, including enhanced solubility, protection against degradation, prolonged circulation time, and specific targeting to diseased tissues or cells. Furthermore, nano drug delivery systems can also facilitate the combination of multiple herbal ingredients, enabling synergistic effects and customized therapeutic approaches.  This review provides an overview of the recent advancements in nano drug delivery systems for herbal medicine, highlighting their potential applications in various therapeutic areas, such as cancer treatment, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and inflammatory conditions. Additionally, challenges and future perspectives regarding the clinical translation of these nanotechnological approaches are discussed.  In conclusion, the integration of nanotechnology with herbal medicine holds great promise in revolutionizing the field of healthcare. The development of efficient and targeted nano drug delivery systems can significantly enhance the therapeutic efficacy of herbal remedies, leading to improved patient outcomes and the potential for personalized medicine. Further research and collaborations between scientists, herbalists, and clinicians are needed to unlock the full potential of nano drug delivery systems in herbal medicine. Keywords: Revolutionizing, Herbal medicine, Nano drug delivery systems, Bioavailability, Stability, Nanotechnology, Nanocarriers, Liposomes, Polymeric nanoparticles, Solid lipid nanoparticles, Nanoemulsion

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Medical Marijuana Certification, a CME Educational Module, and the Correlation between the two on “high volume” Certifiers in Arizona.

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine.In 2010, the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act was passed which required the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) to establish a medical marijuana program. Since the institution of the program, AZDHS has monitored the “top 24” frequent certifiers for medicinal marijuana who in 2012 accounted for 75% of the total number of marijuana certifications in the state. ADHS contracted with the University Of Arizona College Of Public Health to create a CME module to educate physicians about the medical marijuana act and their responsibilities. Objective: To determine the composition of physicians completing the CME module, to assess the number of certifications written by these physicians, and to understand the trend that has occurred. Results: Among those individuals completing the training module, 25 physicians were identified by ADHS as having certified patients both before and after the module completion. Those 25 physicians account for 8782 certifications prior to the module and 28131 certifications after the institution of the module, a significant increase (p <0.0001). The results are surprising as we expected this number to decrease on the assumption that physicians are over certifying and not cross referencing the Board of Controlled Substances and taking the CME module would educate them on these topics. Hence this study demonstrates that further research is necessary in analyzing physician behavior with regards to medical marijuana certifications, with education of physicians playing a critical role.This item is part of the College of Medicine - Phoenix Scholarly Projects 2014 collection. For more information, contact the Phoenix Biomedical Campus Library at [email protected]

Amyloid Imaging: Poised for Integration into Medical Practice

Amyloid imaging represents a significant advance as an adjunct in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) because it is the first imaging modality that identifies in vivo changes known to be associated with the pathogenesis. Initially, 11C-PIB was developed, which was the prototype for many 18F compounds, including florbetapir, florbetaben, and flutemetamol, among others. Despite the high sensitivity and specificity of amyloid imaging, it is not commonly used in clinical practice, mainly because it is not reimbursed under current Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines in the USA. To guide the field in who would be most appropriate for the utility of amyloid positron emission tomography, current studies are underway [Imaging Dementia Evidence for Amyloid Scanning (IDEAS) Study] that will inform the field on the utilization of amyloid positron emission tomography in clinical practice. With the advent of monoclonal antibodies that specifically target amyloid antibody, there is an interest, possibly a mandate, to screen potential treatment recipients to ensure that they are suitable for treatment. In this review, we summarize progress in the field to date

Milk metabolites and neurodegeneration: Is there crosstalk?

Milk has been considered as a natural source of nutrition for decades. Milk is known to be nutrient-rich which aids the growth and development of the human body. Milk contains both macro- and micronutrients. Breast milk is widely regarded as the optimal source of neonatal nutrition due to its composition of carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and antibodies. However, despite the wide use of milk products, investigations into the role of milk in degenerative diseases have been limited. This review will examine the relationship between the β-casein gene found in bovine milk and disease states by using age-related macular degeneration as an example