The Use of Clinical Hypnotherapy to Improve Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Objective The medical education and practice of medicine have been focused on medications, surgeries, and other physical modalities of treatment for decades. Despite evidence showing that the subconscious mind is effective for influencing the general health of the body, the utilization of the subconsciousmind has been largely absent in medical training and practices. Clinical hypnotherapy is an effective method in which the unconscious level of the mind can be accessed and potentially utilized for healing physical ailments. Research Design and Methods This pilotstudy was designed to quantitatively research the effect that Hypnotherapy has on processing blood sugar levels with type 2 diabetics. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group with clinical therapeutic treatments but without hypnotherapy sessions and other therapeutic treatment, and an experimental group that received 5 specially designed sessions of hypnotherapy to supplement their clinical therapeutic treatment. Baseline HgbA1C levels were obtained in both groups, and again at 3 and 6 months after the onset of the study. Daily blood sugars and responses to stressors were also measured and logged by all participants. Results All participants in the experimental group improved in handling daily stress and processing blood sugar. All control group participants experienced more difficulty in managing daily stress as well as experienced greater difficulty in processing blood sugar. Conclusions This clinical trial serves as a pilot study and provided statistically significant results that proper clinical hypnotherapy can be usedas an important tool for the treatment of type 2 diabetic patients

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ARIZONA STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND OTHER WESTERN STATES' RETIREMENT SYSTEMS.

The main purpose of this study was to determine whether there were significant differences in the Arizona State Retirement System when compared with Systems in Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington. To provide perspective, it was necessary to review the literature of public employees and teacher retirement systems as presented by authorities in the field. Major categories were selected for purposes of comparison. As the categories were analyzed and conclusions were reached, recommendations for action and for further research were made. The findings indicated that the Arizona State Retirement System had a higher over-all cost and provided fewer and less costly benefits than the majority of the other Retirement Systems studied. The recommendations included the standardization of information, formation of a coalition of members, and a separate study commission of Legislative and public members. Improvement of benefits and/or the decrease of dollar amounts necessary for the continued sound and equitable operation of the Arizona State Retirement System were also recommended

The Role of Recombinases, Rad51 and DMC, in Generating Genetic Diversity in Trichomonas vaginalis through Homologous Recombination

Trichomonas vaginalis displays no evidence of sexual reproduction, yet contains homologs for numerous meiotic genes. Without sexual reproduction, allelic variation is restricted to mutation or homologous recombination (HR). Current research aims to confirm the role of recombinases, TvRad51 and TvDMC, in HR. HR occurs after a DNA double stranded break, allowing an exchange of genetic information between allelic sequences. Therefore, the repair of the break promotes genetic diversity. Both Rad51 and DMC aid HR in eukaryotes, although DMC only assists during meiosis. We performed a triple strand exchange assay and an ATPase assay that monitored the oxidation state of NADH to look for evidence that TvRad51 and TvDMC are functional and can assist in HR. The triple strand exchange measures interactions between circular ssDNA and its double stranded replicate. Assays were run on an agarose gel and analyzed for the presence of joint molecules and nicked circular DNA. Our results indicate the presence of joint molecules and nicked circular DNA for both RecA, a bacterial recombinase, and TvDMC1, confirming that this protein does assist with HR in T. vaginalis. Future rese arch will confirm the role of TvRad51 in HR and further examine the function of these homologs

The Role of Recombinases, Rad51 and DMC, in Generating Genetic Diversity in Trichomonas vaginalis through Homologous Recombination

Trichomonas vaginalis displays no evidence of sexual reproduction, yet contains homologs for numerous meiotic genes. Without sexual reproduction, allelic variation is restricted to mutation or homologous recombination (HR). Current research aims to confirm the role of recombinases, TvRad51 and TvDMC, in HR. HR occurs after a DNA double stranded break, allowing an exchange of genetic information between allelic sequences. Therefore, the repair of the break promotes genetic diversity. Both Rad51 and DMC aid HR in eukaryotes, although DMC only assists during meiosis. We performed a triple strand exchange assay and an ATPase assay that monitored the oxidation state of NADH to look for evidence that TvRad51 and TvDMC are functional and can assist in HR. The triple strand exchange measures interactions between circular ssDNA and its double stranded replicate. Assays were run on an agarose gel and analyzed for the presence of joint molecules and nicked circular DNA. Our results indicate the presence of joint molecules and nicked circular DNA for both RecA, a bacterial recombinase, and TvDMC1, confirming that this protein does assist with HR in T. vaginalis. Future rese arch will confirm the role of TvRad51 in HR and further examine the function of these homologs

Potential of Silicon Amendment for Improved Wheat Production

Many studies throughout the world have shown positive responses of various crops to silicon (Si) application in terms of plant health, nutrient uptake, yield, and quality. Although not considered an essential element for plant growth, Si has been recently recognized as a “beneficial substance” or “quasi-essential” due to its important role in plant nutrition, especially notable under stressed conditions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of Si on wheat plant height, grain yield (GY), and grain protein content (GP). The experiment was conducted during two consecutive growing seasons in Idaho. A split-plot experimental design was used with three Si fertilization rates (140, 280, and 560 kg Si ha−1) corresponding to 100, 50, and 25% of manufacturer-recommended rates and two application times—at planting and tillering (Feekes 5). MontanaGrowTM (0-0-5) by MontanaGrow Inc. (Bonner, MT, USA) used in this study is a Si product sourced from a high-energy amorphous (non-crystalized) volcanic tuff. There was no significant effect of Si rate and application time on plant height, nutrient uptake, GY, or GP of irrigated winter wheat grown in non-stressed conditions. These results could be directly related to the Si fertilizer source used in the study. We are planning to further evaluate Si’s effect on growth and grain production of wheat grown in non-stressed vs. stressed conditions utilizing several different Si sources and application methods