Papers by Katherine Galluzzi
PubMed, Sep 1, 2005
Pain may be the most common reason patients seek treatment from physicians. When persistent and u... more Pain may be the most common reason patients seek treatment from physicians. When persistent and unrelieved, pain can frustrate both the person suffering with this condition and the physician trying to alleviate it. Relief from chronic pain may be particularly difficult to achieve and fraught with misconceptions. Treatment usually requires trials of physical, pharmacologic, and surgical interventions to achieve resolution. In cases that remain insoluble, patients must accept partial relief and seek adaptive strategies. The source of persistent pain may be nociceptive or neuropathic. Both utilize the same nervous system pathways for transmission, but significant physiologic differences exist in the mechanism through which the body processes and resolves these painful stimuli. Nociceptive pain that results from a known or obvious source (eg, trauma, cancer metastasis, ischemia, arthritis) is often easy to identify. Neuropathic pain, however, may occur in the absence of an identifiable precipitating cause. Physicians must remain alert to differences in presentation and course of neuropathic pain syndromes, some of which may be subtle or unusual.
Journal of osteopathic medicine, Sep 1, 1999
Caring for Caregivers The Need: With the growth of the aged population, more adults with chronic ... more Caring for Caregivers The Need: With the growth of the aged population, more adults with chronic illnesses and conditions require assistance in going about their daily living. More than 80 percent of this assistance is provided by informal caregivers, primarily family members. Surveys by the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services indicate that roughly a quarter of North Carolinians reported they had cared for a family member or friend age 60 or older during the past month. Caregiving often takes a physical, emotional and financial toll on caregivers. Studies have shown that caregivers can be helped by a variety of interventions, including information and case assistance, education for self-care, skills training and access to other community services such as respite care, support groups and flexible workplace options.
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2005
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2019
Neuropathologic confirmation of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) involves labeling cytoplasmic Lew... more Neuropathologic confirmation of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) involves labeling cytoplasmic Lewy body inclusions for α-synuclein in cortical and subcortical neurons. The authors studied the postmortem brain of a 78-year-old man who had a diagnosis of DLB by exclusion. The patient had symptoms ascribed to DLB that included fluctuating cognitive changes in attention and executive function with progression to dementia, visual hallucinations, and parkinsonism. Sections from the olfactory bulbs and cortical and subcortical regions were stained with periodic acid-Schiff, as well as immunolabeled with antibodies specific for α-synuclein, tau protein, β-amyloid 1-42, and Chlamydia pneumoniae. Most regions demonstrated mixed neuropathologic features, and α-synuclein was notable in Lewy bodies in the amygdala and hippocampus. Periodic acid-Schiff–positive staining was noted in bodies in the amygdala and olfactory bulbs. In this case of DLB, neuropathologic inclusions were consistent with th...
Cambridge University Press eBooks, Nov 5, 2013
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2001
Background: Our laboratory has established a link between Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) and Alzheime... more Background: Our laboratory has established a link between Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using autopsied brains. In addition, we have demonstrated that human monocytes can be infected with Cpn with resultant alterations in cytokine profiles and amyloid processing. These cellular expression changes are similar to those seen in AD patients. Currently, our laboratory has an ongoing IRB approved translational research pilot study investigating infection as a biomarker for cognitive decline. The objective of this work was to identify markers related to amyloid, inflammation, and infection in patients’ samples in this study. We used multiplex arrays for the detection of amyloid and cytokines in sera and flow cytometry for Cpn intracellular infection of peripheral leukocytes in the buffy coats of patients’ blood. Methods: Tissue culture (TC) supernatants from Cpn-infected (CWL029 or AR39) THP1 cells were tested on multiplex ELISA cytokine and amyloid arrays along w...
• Patients were recruited by a geriatrician at the family medicine clinic at PCOM • An inclusion/... more • Patients were recruited by a geriatrician at the family medicine clinic at PCOM • An inclusion/ exclusion criteria was used to determine eligibility of a subject (Figure 1) • The St. Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) Exam was used to determine a subjects cognitive ability (Figure 2: see bottom for scoring key) • Normal = Control Subject • Dementia = AD Subject • The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was used to screen for any potential olfactory deficits in subjects (Figure 3) • 40 scratch and sniff odorants each of which is force-choice • > 65 yo: Anosmia ≤18; Severe Microsmia 19 -25 • Saliva was collected from subjects via passive drool (Salimetrics) • Saliva was treated with protectant (Qiagen) for RNA stabilization and long-term storage
The observation that there may be more people over the age of 65 alive today than the total numbe... more The observation that there may be more people over the age of 65 alive today than the total number who have ever reached that age is a stunning testament to our success at increasing longevity. However, with increasing numbers of elders comes the challenge of maintaining their quality of life. It is a fact of aging that chronic medical conditions will accrue, some of which may progress to chronic pain states. Persistent pain has become a chronic disease itself, like diabetes or hypertension.
Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.), Jan 19, 2015
Aims of this consensus panel were to determine (1) an optimal symptom-based method for assessing ... more Aims of this consensus panel were to determine (1) an optimal symptom-based method for assessing opioid-induced constipation in clinical practice and (2) a threshold of symptom severity to prompt consideration of prescription therapy. A multidisciplinary panel of 10 experts with extensive knowledge/experience with opioid-associated adverse events convened to discuss the literature on assessment methods used for opioid-induced constipation and reach consensus on each objective using the nominal group technique. Five validated assessment tools were evaluated: the Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM), Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life (PAC-QOL), Stool Symptom Screener (SSS), Bowel Function Index (BFI), and Bowel Function Diary (BF-Diary). The 3-item BFI and 4-item SSS, both clinician administered, are the shortest tools. In published trials, the BFI and 12-item PAC-SYM are most commonly used. The 11-item BF-Diary is highly relevant in opioid-induced co...
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2007
Pain may be the most common reason patients seek treatment from physicians. When persistent and u... more Pain may be the most common reason patients seek treatment from physicians. When persistent and unrelieved, pain can frustrate both the person suffering with this condition and the physician trying to alleviate it. Relief from such discomfort may be particularly difficult to achieve and fraught with misconceptions. Treatment usually requires trials of physical, pharmacologic, and surgical interventions to achieve resolution. In cases that remain insoluble, patients must accept partial relief and seek adaptive strategies. Sources of persistent pain may be nociceptive or neuropathic. Both utilize the same nerve pathways for transmission, but significant physiologic differences exist in mechanisms through which these painful stimuli are biologically processed and resolved. Nociceptive pain resulting from a known or obvious source (eg, trauma, cancer metastasis, ischemia, arthritis) is often easy to identify. Neuropathic pain, however, may occur in the absence of an identifiable precipi...
... Palliative Care in the Final Days of Life: TheyWere Expecting It at Any Time, James Hallenb... more ... Palliative Care in the Final Days of Life: TheyWere Expecting It at Any Time, James Hallenbeck, MD E. PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL ... Withdrawal of Life Support: Intensive Caring at theEnd of Life, Thomas J. Prendergast, MD; Kathleen A. Puntillo, RN, DNSc 39. ...
Home care/end-of-life training for medical students begins with a medical home visit to an elder ... more Home care/end-of-life training for medical students begins with a medical home visit to an elder and a small group case presentation after. Later that day, this group is called to assist with one of their patients who had been rushed to the emergency department. The elder (now a simulation mannequin) requires resuscitation. Advance Directive (AD) is available, which might inform their decision about whether to discontinue their efforts; however, despite everything, the elder dies. Following pronouncement of death, each student completes a death certificate and informs family members (actors) of the death; they are met with different reactions.
Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Problems, 1994
ABSTRACT Although direct care of the patient with Alzheimer's disease remains the focus o... more ABSTRACT Although direct care of the patient with Alzheimer's disease remains the focus of the physician's concern, the importance of evaluating and responding to the needs of that patient's caregivers cannot be ignored. Osteopathic physicians provide a truly holistic approach to treatment of the patient with Alzheimer's disease when that treatment includes the care of the entire family. This article provides a brief overview of the major issues affecting caregiving for the patient with Alzheimer's disease. It describes the warning signs of caregiver burnout; and it provides guidelines for accessing resources available to assist the caregivers.
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Papers by Katherine Galluzzi