Publication Type: Invited Paper
Abstract: Patients suffering from cancer have recently made use of complementary alternative therapies, with Massage Therapy (MT). Quantitative studies, using questionnaire design, have shown that MT may reduce psychological distress and enhance symptom control in cancer patients. However, little is known about the personal experiences and patient’s perceived affects associated with the therapy. This study explored the patients' experiences of MT using focus group interviews. Four themes emerged from the analysis including physical and mental benefits of MT, control of decision-making and positive implications of non-invasive treatment. These outcomes have been acknowledged to some extent by previous authors through qualitative design studies. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to the patients’ financial needs, availability of trained therapists, and collaborative efforts with health care providers related to complementary massage therapy.

Key words: breast cancer, complementary alternative medicine, massage therapy, and focus group(s).

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Abstract: Problem-solving courts differ from traditional courts in their attempt to get at the root of the individual and social problems motivating criminal behavior. The new legal institutions, devoted to crimes that involve problems like drug abuse, mental heath, and domestic violence, use judicial authority and increased collaboration with both social service professionals and the lay community to seek practical outcomes: reduced recidivism, increased sobriety, and healthier communities. For the most part, theoretical understandings of problem-solving courts have built on Foucault to argue that these new institutions use therapeutic techniques to widen and intensify state control. I argue that the Foucauldian approach captures some of the elements of problem-solving courts, but misses many others and ultimately mischaracterizes the real revolution in justice that these courts present. Problem-solving courts, domestic violence courts in particular, evidence an orientation not just to individual change, but also to social change and cultural transformation, in a manner well described by deliberative democratic theories of the state found in the work of Jurgen Habermas.

Publication Type: Poster
Abstract: Beta cell replacement therapy via islet transplantation is a promising possibility for the optimal treatment of type 1 diabetes. However, such an approach is severely limited by the shortage of donor organs. This problem could be overcome if transplantable islets can be generated from stem cells. We showed previously that adult beta cells could originate from duct or duct-associated cells. Ductal progenitor cells in the pancreas are thus particularly useful target for therapies that target beta cell replacement in diabetic patients, since duct cell types are abundantly available in the pancreas of these patients or in donor organs. We have tested various embryonic transcription factors in adult mouse and human duct cells for their effectiveness in inducing differentiation of ductal cells into insulin producing cells. Transfection with an adenovirus expressing PDX-1, Ngn3, NeuroD, or Pax4 induced expression of the insulin gene. The Pax4 adenovirus strongly induced Ngn3 expression, while Pax 4 is considered the downstream target of Ngn3. These data suggest that over-expression of transcription factors facilitates pancreatic progenitor cell differentiation into insulin-producing cells.
Currently we are examining the potential of embryonic stem (ES) cells differentiation. Specific aims of our research include establishing a protocol for the enrichment of definitive endoderm from murine embryonic stem cells, and investigating the biologic affects of these developmentally associated transcription factors in inducing the differentiation of murine ES cells into pancreatic -like cells. Our goal is to provide useful information with respect to the optimization of differentiation protocols and improvement of -cell function for the treatment of diabetes.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Findings from a larger qualitative study conducted with feminist female faculty in MFT programs will be presented, where they shared experiences in academia relating to their feminist ideology. Emergent themes will be presented and discussed in context of how academic institutions continue to be environments that offer them confirmation and fulfillment and yet oppress them

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Multicultural-feminist therapy with female adolescents is little studied, albeit recognized as an effective approach to working with women. This paper provides an overview of multicultural-feminist therapy, as a gender-specific intervention particularly well-suited to needs of adolescent girls, with particular attention accorded to effects of multiple oppressions faced by diverse clients.