Digital Commons Network^™

Gender Differences In Marijuana-Related Problems Among Those Who Self-Reported Daily Smoking And Marijuana Use, Justin Ho

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

In 2012, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported about 5.2% of its respondents using tobacco and marijuana, with strong evidence of increasing marijuana use among tobacco users.¹ While smoking cigarettes has been shown to cause lung cancer,² additional studies associate habitual marijuana smoking with abnormal airway tissue histology, impeded airway conductance,³ decreased memory, psychomotor speed, and manual dexterity.⁴ Cigarette smoking and marijuana use are shown to have similar withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, and depression,^2,5 meaning that this example of polysubstance dependence could become a valid public health concern, especially with …

Depression And Disability In The United States, Colleen Pennington

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: To compare the prevalence of cognitive disabilities, mobility disabilities, and depression rates by varying categories including U.S. State, gender, and region. Methods: Data was obtained from the CDC Wonder data set for the prevalence of cognitive and mobility disabilities from the U.S. states for the years 2017-2018. Data was also obtained from the CDC for incidence of depression among the general population and those identifying with any disability. Data was analyzed with ANOVA and t-tests using SPSS. Results: Results reveal a significant difference in disability type and gender throughout the United States. There is also a significant difference in …

Do Medical Students' Assessments Of A Patient's Pain Vary Significantly With Gender And Year Of Medical Training?, Catherine Phamduy

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Chronic pain is a common ailment among US adults and can lead to high cost of healthcare when not treated effectively. Unfortunately, studies show that characteristics of the patient population and physician may also influence their treatment of patient pain. Increased years of medical training is associated with a decline in empathy, which may be measurable by a decline in physician’s assessment of patient’s pain. Doctors with the least experience tend to underestimate their patient’s pain. However, very little is known about medical students’ assessment of patient-reported pain. The objective is to determine the significant differences in medical students’ perceptions …

Age, Gender, And Racial Differences Between Acute Myocardial Infarction, Type 2 Diabetes, And Their Comortality, Steven Borchers

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Acute myocardial infarction and type two diabetes are within the top seven causes of death in the United States and their impact on society is costly. Although there are many studies conducted about these diseases, some of the research is aged and requires more recent datasets. The objective of this research is to revel trends in these diseases, as well as in their comorbidity, relating to age, gender, and race. To conduct this research, data has been collected from the CDC Wonder dataset using their comorbidity database. This comorbidity data uses USA death certificates from 1999-2017 to retrieve the medical …

Gender- And Region-Specific Changes In Estrogen Signaling In Aging Rat Brain Mitochondria, Christopher M. Evola, Tanner L. Hudson, Luping Huang, Adrian M. Corbett, Debra A. Mayes

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Recently epidemiological studies suggest females lose neuroprotection from neurodegenerative diseases as they go through menopause. It has been hypothesized that this neuroprotection is hormone‐dependent. The current study characterized cell signaling molecules downstream of estrogen receptor beta that are known to play a role in memory, PKC, ERK, and connexin‐43, in regions of the brain associated with memory decline in an attempt to elucidate significant changes that occur post‐estrus. Total whole cell lysates were compared to isolated mitochondrial protein because mitochondrial function is known to be altered during aging. As hypothesized, protein concentrations differed depending on age, gender, and brain region. …

The Effect Of Urinary Triclosan On Serumthyroxine In Us Population: 2011-2012 Nhanes Data, Katie M. Clark

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Triclosan is an antibacterial agent that is added to personal care products to prevent bacterial growth. The FDA banned the use of triclosan in soap in 2016 due to safety concerns. Triclosan is considered an endocrine disruptor and had reported effects on the body, including changes in thyroid function.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between urinary triclosan and serum thyroxine in U.S adults. Methods: Data from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed (N =1,476). Linear regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between log transformed triclosan and …

Older Adults With Elevated Bmi Are At Greater Risk Of Accelerated Knee Osteoarthritis: Data From The Osteoarthritis Initiative, Kyle D. Wallace

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Around 35% of adults with osteoarthritis (OA) have knee osteoarthritis (KOA), which generally progresses over several years; however, some individuals experience accelerated KOA (AKOA), a rapid progression to end-stage disease within 48-months. Purpose: To assess baseline differences among those who develop the different types of KOA, and to determine if baseline characteristics and measures can be used to predict an individual’s KOA status (Common KOA or AKOA) 48 months later.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) was completed. At baseline, 4,769 participants were enrolled. Data from individuals (n = 1,561) free of radiographic KOA (Kellgren-Lawrence …