Browsing by Author "Malone, Erin D"
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Item Adrenergic, cholinergic and nonadrenergic-noncholinergic intrinsic innervation of the jejunum in horses(American Veterinary Medical Association, 1999) Malone, Erin D; Kannan, Mathur S; Brown, David R; Turner, Tracy A; Trent, Ava MOBJECTIVE: To determine the major neurotransmitters that regulate contractile activity in the jejunum of horses. SAMPLE POPULATION: Jejunal specimens from 65 horses without gastrointestinal tract lesions. PROCEDURE: Jejunal smooth muscle strips, oriented in the plane of the circular or longitudinal muscular layer, were suspended isometrically in muscle baths. Neurotransmitter release was induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) delivered at 30 and 70 V intensities and at various frequencies on muscle strips maintained at low or high muscle tone. To detect residual nonadrenergic-noncholinergic neurotransmission, the response of muscle to EFS in the presence of adrenergic and cholinergic blockade was compared with the response in the presence of tetrodotoxin. RESULTS: Atropine (ATR) decreased the contractile response of muscle strips to EFS under most conditions. However, ATR increased the contractile response of high-tone circular muscle. Adrenergic blockade generally increased the muscle responses to 30 V EFS and in high-tone longitudinal muscle but decreased contractile responses in high-tone circular muscle. Tetrodotoxin significantly altered the responses to EFS, compared with adrenergic and cholinergic receptor blockade. CONCLUSIONS: Acetylcholine and norepinephrine appear to be important neurotransmitters regulating smooth muscle contractility in the equine jejunum. They induce contraction and relaxation, respectively, in most muscle preparations, although they may cause opposite effects under certain conditions. In addition, nonadrenergic-noncholinergic excitatory and inhibitory influences were detected. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Acetylcholine or norepinephrine release within the myenteric plexus of horses may alter gastrointestinal motility.Item Comparison of Veterinary Student Self-Perception of Comfort and Abilities in Independent Learning with Quality of Online/ Virtual Course and Student Performance(Education in the Health Professions, 2023) Root Kustritz, Margaret V; Lashbaugh, Kristy D; Rendahl, Aaron K; Malone, Erin D; Larsen, Roxanne J; Burton, Erin N; Gordon-Evans, Wanda JBackground: Students expressed concern about having been forced to move toward more online or virtual learning starting in March 2020 with the coronavirus disease pandemic. Our hypotheses were the following: if a course is well designed, success in the course is not dependent on student comfort level. If a course is not well designed, student comfort level is a significant factor, and those students who are more comfortable with independent learning may outperform students who are less comfortable in courses offered virtually. Materials and Methods: Student performance, as demonstrated by examination scores, was compared with their comfort as independent learners and with the quality of online/virtual course offerings. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and a linear mixed model. Results: Student performance was directly associated with comfort level, with those students who were less comfortable performing less well. Student discomfort with independent learning of online/virtual coursework could not be mitigated by increasing course quality in this study. Conclusions: Students may benefit from understanding what about independent learning makes them uncomfortable and directly addressing it. Instructors can do much to improve the learning experience in online courses by following published best practices. It may well be that many of the reported negatives of online learning will ease with time as students and instructors become more accustomed to independent learning paradigms.Item COVID Bedfellows: Combining Clinical Skills and Anatomy Laboratories in the DVM Curriculum(Education in the Health Professions, 2021) Malone, Erin D; Brown, Abby L; Spence, Susan JBackground: Prior to the fall of 2020, clinical skills and anatomy were considered separate courses with minimal overlap other than being offered to the same cohort of students. We had included clinical skills practice in anatomy labs on an intermittent and variable basis. Many of the skills were included only if time and faculty or staff availability permitted. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) pandemic made us think differently, particularly as the anatomy space was one of our largest rooms. Methods: Anatomy and clinical skills shared space and content during the 2020–2021 school year in an effort to meet physical distancing and other biosafety requirements required by the state and University. Results: Students were maintained in a single space and were engaged for a longer period of time, making their commute and biosafety steps worthwhile while simultaneously opening up other spaces for distanced teaching needs. The goal of one skill/day for motor skill learning was maintained despite a challenging laboratory teaching schedule. Certified veterinary technicians taught both the anatomy and the skills portion, showcasing the value of their training and freeing faculty for other responsibilities. Conclusion: This teaching and learning combination led to an enhanced understanding of procedurerelated anatomy; direct anatomy application to veterinary work; opportunities for recall, transfer, and supervised practice; and optimized staff and space utilization.Item Creating a teaching technician team for support of veterinary student training laboratories(Education in the Health Professions, 2022-09-09) Malone, Erin D; Brown, Abby LVeterinary technicians play valuable roles in most veterinary colleges and have particular strengths in coaching new learners. We moved to a teaching technician ‘float team’ model to provide teaching support to core pre-clinical laboratories in our DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) curriculum. The teaching technician team model has enabled us to better utilize staff skill sets and training, created efficiencies and expanded support provided to core laboratory courses, provided skill development and advancement opportunities for team members, and improved our ability to recognize and mentor our teaching staff. This model also allowed us to effectively adjust to the rapidly changing structure and increased numbers of laboratories brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic without increasing numbers of staff involved in laboratory teaching.Item Effects of intestinal ischemia on in vitro activity of adjacent jejunum in samples obtained from ponies(American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2001) Malone, Erin D; Kannan, Mathur SObjective—To determine whether intestinal ischemia would alter activity of the jejunum in vitro or alter staining characteristics for certain types of enteric neurotransmitters. Sample Population—Jejunal samples obtained from 10 ponies. Procedure—Jejunal samples were obtained from locations proximal and distal to an area of small intestine made ischemic for 60 minutes. A portion of each sample was stained to detect substance P-like immunoreactivity, cholinergic and adrenergic neurons, and nitric oxide synthase. Portions of the remaining samples were suspended in muscle baths. General activity patterns (frequency and amplitude of contraction), responses to neuronal depolarization induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS), and responses to 1 μM norepinephrine (NE) were compared with responses of a normal section of small intestine obtained prior to ischemic insult. Results—Staining patterns were not altered. Proximal and distal sections had evidence of decreased contractility, compared with the normal section. Contraction frequency also was decreased, and distal sections had lower contraction frequency than proximal sections. Relaxation responses were decreased in distal sections. Responses to NE differed significantly for distal and proximal sections, compared with normal sections. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Short-term ischemia can significantly affect adjacent bowel. Contractile and relaxation responses are impaired. Discrepancies in intestinal motility patterns and alterations in response to NE for sections proximal and distal to ischemic intestine could lead to clinical ileus or slowed transit of ingesta.Item The efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream (Aldara) in the treatment of aural plaque in horses: a pilot open-label clinical trial(Veterinary Dermatology, 2010) Torres, Sheila MF; Malone, Erin D; White, Stephen D; Koch, Sandra N; Watson, Johanna LAural plaques affect at least 22% of horses and can be asymptomatic or cause ear sensitivity. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopy studies have shown a strong association between aural plaques and papilloma virus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream, an immune response modifier with potent antiviral activity, in the treatment of equine aural plaques. Twenty-one horses were enrolled and 16 completed the study. Imiquimod 5% cream was applied three times a week, every other week. When both ears were affected only the worst affected ear was treated. Adverse effects in all horses included marked local inflammation, exudation and thick crust formation at the site of treatment and the adjacent skin. Removal of the crust before treatment was painful and required sedation in most horses. Complete resolution of lesions was noted in all horses immediately post-treatment and the long-term resolution rate was 87.5%. Duration of therapy ranged from 1.5 to 8 months (median: 2.9 mean: 3.5). All horses were followed-up for 12–22 months after treatment was discontinued and only two horses had a recurrence of lesions. Clinical signs related to the aural plaques prior to treatment were reported in 11 of 16 (68.8%) horses and included resistance to touching the ears and bridling. Complete resolution of these signs was reported by the owners in all of the horses followedup for at least 12 months. In conclusion, the topical application of imiquimod 5% cream is an efficacious treatment for aural plaques in horses.Item Efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream in the treatment of equine sarcoids: a pilot study(Wiley Online Library, 2008-06-28) Nogueira, Sandra AF; Torres, Sheila MF; Malone, Erin D; Diaz, Sandra F; Jessen, Carl; Gilbert, SophieImiquimod is an immune response modifier with potent antiviral and antitumour activity. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of an imiquimod 5% cream (Aldara™: 3M, Saint Paul, MN, USA) as a topical treatment for equine sarcoids. Fifteen horses with a total of 19 tumours were enrolled, including mixed (7), fibroblastic (5), flat (3), verrucous (2), and nodular (2) types. Baseline data included history, physical examination, tumour location, measurement and digital photography. Imiquimod was applied by the owners three times a week until complete resolution of the tumour or 32 weeks, whichever occurred first. Tumours were measured and photographed every 4 weeks. Treatment efficacy was defined as 75% or greater reduction of tumour size by the end of the trial. Four sarcoids were withdrawn from the study. Twelve of the remaining 15 tumours (80%) showed more than 75% reduction in size and nine (60%) totally resolved between 8 and 32 weeks. The most common adverse effects of exudation, erythema, erosions, depigmentation and alopecia were limited to the tumour and adjacent areas. The results suggest that topical imiquimod is a therapeutic option for the treatment of equine sarcoids, although more detailed studies are required to corroborate these initial findings.Item Evaluation of gastrointestinal activity patterns in healthy horses using B mode and Doppler ultrasonography(Canadian Veterinary Journal, 2005) Mitchell, Colin F; Malone, Erin D; Sage, Abby M; Niksich, KatieHealthy adult horses were examined by using transabdominal ultrasonography to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate activity of the jejunum, cecum, and colon with B mode and Doppler techniques. Doppler ultrasound was used to assess jejunal peristaltic activity. Examinations were performed on multiple occasions under imposed colic evaluation conditions, including fasting, nasogastric intubation, and xylazine sedation. In fasted horses, jejunal visibility was increased and jejunal, cecal, and colonic activity was decreased. The stomach was displaced ventrally and was visualized ventral to the costochondral junction. Xylazine sedation in fed horses had minimal effects; however, in fasted horses, xylazine significantly decreased jejunal and cecal activity. Nasogastric intubation in fasted horses had no observable effects on activity, but moved the stomach dorsally. B mode and Doppler jejunal activity were strongly correlated. Prior feeding and sedation status need to be considered when interpreting the results of equine abdominal ultrasound examinations. Doppler techniques may be useful for assessing jejunal activity.Item Evaluation of substance P as a neurotransmitter in the equine jejunum(American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2000) Malone, Erin D; Kannan, Mathur S; Brown, David ROBJECTIVE: To determine whether substance P (SP) functions as a neurotransmitter in equine jejunum. SAMPLE POPULATION: Samples of jejunum obtained from horses that did not have lesions in the gastrointestinal tract. PROCEDURE: Jejunal smooth muscle strips, oriented in the plane of the circular or longitudinal muscle, were suspended isometrically in muscle baths. Neurotransmitter release was induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) delivered at 2 intensities (30 and 70 V) and various frequencies on muscle strips that were maintained at low tension or were under contraction. A neurokinin-1 receptor blocker (CP-96,345) was added to baths prior to EFS to interrupt SP neurotransmission. Additionally, direct effects of SP on muscle strips were evaluated, and SP-like immunoreactivity was localized in intestinal tissues, using indirect immunofluorescence testing. RESULTS: Substance P contracted circularly and longitudinally oriented muscle strips. Prior treatment with CP-96,345 altered muscle responses to SP and EFS, suggesting that SP was released from depolarized myenteric neurons. Depending on orientation of muscle strips and stimulation variables used, CP-96,345 increased or decreased the contractile response to EFS. Substance P-like immunoreactivity was detected in the myenteric plexus and circular muscle layers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Substance P appears to function as a neurotransmitter in equine jejunum. It apparently modulates smooth muscle contractility, depending on preexisting conditions. Effects of SP may be altered in some forms of intestinal dysfunction. Altering SP neurotransmission in the jejunum may provide a therapeutic option for motility disorders of horses that are unresponsive to adrenergic and cholinergic drugs.Item The Kubler‑Ross Change Curve and the Flipped Classroom: Moving Students Past the Pit of Despair(Education in the Health Professions Journal, 2018) Malone, Erin DChange is hard. The flipped classroom, while a powerful and growing force in medical education, is a major change for many health professions’ students. Instructors may avoid “flipping” due to anticipated student resistance and poor course evaluations. The business community has developed specific guidelines on how to manage change using the Kubler‑Ross death and dying change curve. This article suggests the change curve and related management strategies can and should be applied to flipped classroom scenarios. Action steps are provided for each stage that can help students move from stress and frustration (“I can’t learn this way”) to integrated learning as fast as possible, while simultaneously allowing the full advantages of the flipped classroom to be realized.Item Managing chronic arthritis(Veterinary Clinics Equine Practice, 2002) Malone, Erin DManaging joint disease is a common requirement for owners of older horses. Needs range from keeping broodmares comfortable on pasture to maintaining dressage horses in performance. This article touches on the various treatment and control modalities available and discusses documented usefulness and potential side effects for the older horse.Item Monitoring the Curriculum through the Student Perspective(Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 2020) Malone, Erin D; Root Kustritz, Margaret V; Rendahl, Aaron; Molgaard, Laura KStudent input was deliberately included as part of the curriculum implementation and assessment plan at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. The new curriculum included design features to encourage deeper learning such as a spiral curriculum with cross-course integration, increased open time, and more active learning. Student well-being was seen as a simultaneous need. To gather overall perceptions of workload and well-being, student volunteers from each cohort were surveyed weekly starting in 2013. Survey questions asked about out-of-class work time, level of integration, extracurricular activities, student well-being habits, paid employment, and other factors. Survey questions were combined with course data to get a full picture of week quality, total course work time, extracurricular activities, and the effects of integration. Many of our hypotheses about curricular and extracurricular impacts on week quality were disproven. Week quality was most positively affected by student factors of sleep and exercise, whereas the curricular factors of out-of-class work time, total course work time, and examination hours had the strongest negative effects. A surprising finding was that open time, in-class hours, and paid employment hours had a minimal effect on week quality. Students identified excessively heavy semesters and uneven semester workloads that resulted in early revisions to the new curriculum. Student feedback provided a view of the curriculum that was not otherwise available and resulted in early and significant impacts on the new curriculum, and they provided insight into whether planned changes had occurred and how effective various factors were in reaching the curricular goals.Item Thoracoscopic-Assisted Diaphragmatic Hernia Repair Using a Thoracic Rib Resection(Veterinary Surgery, 2001) Malone, Erin D; Farnsworth, Kelly; Lennox, Tiffany; Tomlinson, Julia; Sage, Abby Musing thoracic rib resection aided by thoracoscopy and a flank incision. Study Design—Case report. Animal Population—One client-owned horse. Results—A six-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding was admitted for colic-associated colonic incarceration in a diaphragmatic hernia. Seven weeks after the initial colic surgery, the gelding underwent surgery to repair the defect. Thoracoscopy and a flank incision were used to identify the location of the hernia and the subsequent site of rib resection. The stomach was adhered to the edges of the defect, leaving only a small residual hole. Resection of the 14th rib provided excellent exposure of the defect and closure of the remaining hernia. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance—Thoracic rib resection can provide access to diaphragmatic hernias in adult horses. Thoracoscopy or a flank incision, or both, may aid in determining which rib is best resected.