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The Gw School Of Medicine And Health Sciences Medical Student Research Day, George Washington University

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

No abstract provided.

Public Health Research Day 2020, George Washington University

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

No abstract provided.

Factors Related To Icu Admissions Of Childhood Cancer Patients In Tertiary Preferred Hospital In The Private Sector Of India, Harleen Marwah, Ramandeep Arora

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

This study was performed to assess the predictive factors of Intensive Care Units (ICU) admission in newly diagnosed pediatric oncologic patients and in patients under ongoing oncologic treatment. Methods used to explore the research question included a retrospective analysis of children admitted to the ICU of the MAX Saket Superspecialty Hospital between March 1, 2013 and May 2018 in order to identify those patients with an oncologic condition who were admitted to an ICU. This subgroup was further evaluated for factors associated to ICU admissions, including: diagnosis, risk factors, complications leading to Pediatric ICU (PICU) admission, PICU therapy, and mortality …

Effects Of Alcohol Consumption On Nephropathy, Retinopathy, And Neuropathy In Type 1 Diabetes In The Diabetes Control And Complications Trial (Dcct), Victoria Trapani

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Effects of long-term alcohol consumption have not been well studied in populations with diabetes, though regular alcohol consumption is common among American adults and it is estimated that at least 10% of Americans have diabetes. Individuals living with diabetes who are heavy alcohol consumers may be at heightened risk for diabetic complications. Using the well-phenotyped Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) cohort of 1,246 adult subjects with type 1 diabetes, a secondary analysis was conducted to determine if relationships exist between alcohol consumption and nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy at baseline, follow-up year 5, and DCCT closeout. This secondary analysis found …

Interaction Between Intellectual Disability And Cerebral Palsy On The Co-Occurrence Of Autism Spectrum Disorder And Epilepsy, Prarthana Hareesh, Sean D. Cleary

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Intellectual disability (ID) is possibly a reason for the higher co-occurrence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children with epilepsy. Cerebral Palsy (CP) has also been found to co-occur with ASD (6.9%-hypotonic, 18.4%-spastic subtype) and with epilepsy (41%), but it is unclear if the co-occurrence of ASD and epilepsy varies by the presence of both, ID and CP. The purpose of this study to evaluate effect modification of CP and ID on ASD-epilepsy co-occurrence.

Nci Multi-Omics Mislabeling Challenge: A Machine Learning Approach, Yeshwant Chillakuru, Arjun Panda, Sindhu Kubendran, Norman Lee

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Sample mislabeling is a pervasive problem in biomedical research, especially large-scale multi-omics studies, contributing to errors and leading to false conclusions. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Cancer Institute Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (NCI-CPTA) have launched a data science challenge to address this problem. We developed a novel machine learning based approach that combines traditional machine learning with learning from cancer genomics literature to identify mislabeled tumors in the NCI-CPTA Multi-omics Mislabeling Challenge.

The training data contained a sample of a tumor from 80 different patients, each containing features on gender, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, and …

The Association Of Polymorphism Rs3736228 Within The Lrp5 Gene With Bone Mineral Density In A Cohort Of Caucasian Young Adults, Mohamed J. H. Al-Amoodi, Whitney Jones, Danny Lee, Steven Mckenzie, Helen C. Miller, Zach Zeller, Seth Stubblefield, Susan Knoblach, Heather Gordish-Dressman, Dustin Hittel, Laura L. Tosi

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a significant burden for our aging population. Developing a better understanding of the genetic underpinnings of poor bone quality may assist in the future development of prevention strategies. Correa-Rodriguez et al. have identified a group of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in a population of Spanish Caucasians. In particular, they found that SNP rs3736228 in the low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 5 (LRP5) gene had an influence on BMD. While the role of LRP5 in the Wnt canonical pathway has been fairly well characterized, its association with phenotypic BMD and …

Etiology And Management Of Hospitalized And Outpatient Diarrhea Among Children Less Than 5 Years Of Age In Lambaréné, Gabon, Christina Pugliese, Natalie Byrne, Frederique Nguema, Kafui Vodounou, Mirabeau Mbong Ngwese, Gedeon Manouana, Jean Edoa, Bayode Adegbite, Jeannot Zinsou, Ayola Adegnika, Martin Grobusch, David Diemert

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Objectives: Diarrhea remains a significant cause of global under-5 mortality, particularly in SubSaharan Africa (SSA). To reduce morbidity and mortality, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends oral rehydration salts (ORS), zinc supplementation, and continued feeding or breastfeeding for all children with diarrhea to prevent dehydration and malnutrition; antibiotics only for bloody diarrhea (i.e. probable shigellosis), suspected cholera, or severe non-intestinal infections (e.g. pneumonia or sepsis); and avoidance of antidiarrheals and antiemetics owing to lack of benefit and potential for harm in young children. Gabon is an upper-middle income country in SSA for which there is a lack of recent, high …

Comparison Of Existing Methods For Algorithmic Classification Of Dementia In The Health And Retirement Study, Kan Z. Gianattasio, Qiong Wu, M Maria Glymour, Melinda C. Power

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Dementia ascertainment is difficult and costly, hindering the use of large, representative studies such as the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to monitor trends or disparities in dementia. To address this issue, multiple groups of researchers have developed algorithms to classify dementia status in HRS participants using data from HRS and the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS), an HRS sub-study that systematically ascertained dementia status. However, the relative performance of each algorithm has not been systematically evaluated.

Objective: To compare the performance of five existing algorithms, overall and by sociodemographic subgroups.

Methods: We created two standardized datasets: (a) …

Shigellosis And Giardiasis Among People Living With Hiv In Washington, Dc, 2012-2016, Kimesha Linton, Kerri Dorsey, Sasha Mcgee, Preetha Iyengar, Garret Lum, Rupali Doshi

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Shigellosis and giardiasis are transmitted via food, water, and fecal-oral contact. CDC has recently reported increased shigellosis among men who have sex with men (MSM) and among people living with HIV (PLWH), particularly stage 3. Our goal was to characterize the incidence and risk factors associated with shigellosis and giardiasis among PLWH in Washington, DC, in an era of robust availability of antiretroviral treatment.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of HIV, shigellosis and giardiasis cases reported to the District of Columbia Department of Health from 2012 to 2016. We used LinkPlus to probabilistically match individuals with reported …

(Video) Dirty Cotton: Occupational Pesticide Exposure And Elevated Suicide Risk Among Male Cotton Farmers In India, Bethany Natalia Kondavaty

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Purpose: The aim of this critical analysis was to examine the association (or lack thereof) of occupational pesticide exposure and elevated suicide risk among male cotton farmers in India.

Methods: A literature review was performed using Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. The review included documents published before and after year 2002. Children were excluded from the search as well as women, with exception to research on gender differences in suicide.

Results: Studies outside India show a positive correlation between work-related pesticide exposure and suicide. Animal studies have shown that pesticides, as organophosphates, are toxic, …

Designing A Social Norms-Based Intervention To Reduce Anemia In India: A Formative Research Protocol, Aika Aluc, Erica Sedlander, Rajiv N. Rimal, Sameera A. Talegawkar, Hagere Yilma, Wolfgang Munar

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Economic and gender inequalities are important determinants of anemia in low and middle income countries. Gender dimensions of food security contribute to the undernutrition among women. More than half of women of reproductive age in India are anemic. Anemia causes increased risk of preterm delivery, higher maternal mortality and contributes to fatigue, which influences women’s work productivity. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends daily oral iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements during pregnancy and weekly supplements for women of reproductive age. Despite the efforts of government programs and global donors to reduce anemia in India, both initial uptake and …

Exploring The Relationship Among Role Models, Physical Activity And Dietary Behaviors Among Young Adults Enrolled In A Weight Management Trial, Rachel Ingersoll, Meghan Mavredes, Melissa Napolitano

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background. Role models can have a profound impact on an individual’s development and lifelong behaviors. However, there are gaps in research when it comes to the impact of role models among young adults, particularly related to health behaviors. Previous research has primarily focused on youth, leaving a gap of knowledge surrounding the developmental life stage of young adulthood. Little research has been done examining health risk behaviors such as physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary practices. It is important for young adults to develop healthy habits in college, for many habits will follow young adults into their adult lifespan.

Purpose. To …

Active And Passive Stress Management Mechanisms In Physically Active Young Adults, Krista Lepping, Melissa Napolitano

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Physical activity and stress are common factors that affect the health and wellness of young adults worldwide. Higher levels of stress in students can lead to increased blood pressure and decreased immune system defenses. Previous studies have found that students who report more physical activity also report lower levels of stress. Perceived stress is subjective, however, and therefore the amount of physical activity that affects stress levels could vary. Additionally, extensive research has yet to be conducted on the different coping mechanisms that physically active students use to relieve stress. These mechanisms may include physical activity as a …

(Video) Outreach Services To Treat Women Living With Obstetric Fistula: A Systematic Review, Pauline Pamela Pratt, Rashida Muhammad

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Obstetric fistula is a condition experienced by women who because of prolonged labor become incontinent forming one or more holes in between the rectum and the vagina or the vagina and the bladder (Heller, A., 2017). The hole causes uncontrollable stool and urine to leak from the woman. For most women with obstetric fistula, the duration of the labor leading to fistula varied between 5 hours and 9 days, averaging 3.0 days long (Heller, A., 2017). Women who suffer from this from this condition are do not have access to quality medical care. While prevention is the priority and …

Improving Adolescents’ Driving Behaviors Through A Personal Narrative-Based Psychosocial Intervention In Serbia, Hagere Yilma, Rajiv Rimal, Nargis Ryskulova

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Objectives: Road traffic crashes continue to be the leading cause of death among adolescents. While males are more vulnerable to crashes than females, driver education interventions are less likely to succeed among males than females. Some studies suggest that stronger optimistic bias and overconfidence bias in males may be the reason for this.

Methods: In a quasi-experiment conducted in Serbia, forty schools were stratified by size and randomly assigned to watch a road traffic safety presentation utilizing personal narratives or to a control arm. Surveys were administered before the intervention (N=1,449) and again six months later (N=1,072). Data was …

Disparities In Diabetes Rates And Quality Of Care Within Immigrants In The Usa, Anyun Chatterjee, Martin Blanco, George Gray

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Immigrants to the USA present an interesting opportunity to test the classical public health question of the impact of place on a health outcome. Diabetes is a prevalent disease in the USA which is slated to rise in rate in the future. Currently, 9.4% of the country is diabetic, and another 28% of the country is prediabetic. We posed the question - is this impact felt disproportionately by immigrants as they live in the US for a decade or more? Our preliminary literature search indicated that this has not been studied extensively, although the impact of American fast food on …

(Video) Reframing Discourse: Using Brfss Data To Deconstruct Influences Of Parenthood On Depression And Lgbtq+ Mental Health, Kate Luxion

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Introduction: Rates of depression contribute to the mental health epidemic, with parents in the United States considered a population at greater risk. Framing of mental health and depression has remained centered on cisgender, heterosexual identities (cis-heteronormative) despite diversity in family constellations. This presentation looks to reframe and expand the discussion on LGBTQ+ parents, depression, and mental health. The hypotheses tested look first at the differences in depression diagnosis. Second, the number of poor mental health days per month are examined for differences between the subsamples.

Methods: The study reviewed data from the 2014-2016 BRFSS surveys (n=371,268) focused on parents as …

A Survey Of Language Diversity And Communication In Indian Academic Emergency Departments, Rebecca S. Allen, Lalit Narayan, Jay Pandya, Zohray Talib, Katherine A. Douglass

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background

Communication in the Emergency Department (ED) is particularly important given the acuity of patients and lack of prior medical history. In India, patient care is further complicated by the many spoken languages, the regional differentiation in language and the fact that medical training is primarily delivered in English. Our objective was to document language diversity among clinicians in Indian EDs linked to an international training program and explore issues related to clinician-clinician and clinician-patient communication.

Methodology

A cross-sectional survey of ED clinicians was conducted from May to July 2017. Survey participants were recruited via convenience sampling by a researcher …

Urinary Tract Infection In Children With Spina Bifida And Spinal Cord Injury., Obumneke Amadi, Harolyn Belcher

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common bacterial infections (Schappert & Rechtsteiner, 2008; Litwin et al., 2005). Data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey estimated that UTI caused 8.1 million physicians visits (Schappert & Rechtsteiner, 2008). Children with spina bifida (SB) and spinal cord injury (SCI) are at high risk for UTI (Ouyang et al., 2010; Nair et al., 2005). The purpose of this study was to examine the organisms associated with UTI in the population of children with SB and SCI who were treated in out-patient and in-patient settings at the Kennedy Krieger …

An Exploration Of Global Women’S Health: Findings From A Pilot Online Course Elective For Health Sciences Studies At Gw, Marisa Cordon, Maranda Ward, Leslie Davidson

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

In 1995, 189 countries endorsed the Platform for Action, designed to address issues of gender equality, including health. Despite this 23 year old initiative, women’s health issues continue to be a global crisis (WHO, 2015). The SMHS piloted an 8-week online 1-credit course in Fall 2017 to educate GW students on the top ten issues for women’s health delineated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Each of the eight weeks covered a core women’s health WHO issue while tying in a global human rights perspective. Issues included but were not limited to reproductive health, STIs, violence against women, to name …

Review Of A Medical Pre-Clinical Curriculum For Competencies In Caring For Patients Who Are Lgbt, Gender Nonconforming, Or Born With Dsd, Nina Abon, Mandi L. Pratt-Chapman

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

This review aimed to assess whether the George Washington University medical, pre-clinical curriculum met any of the Association of American Medical College’s (AAMC) 30 professional competencies to improve health care for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), gender nonconforming, or born with disorders of sex development (DSD).

Methods:

Relevant sessions were reviewed based on instructors’ PowerPoint slides, audio recording of sessions (when available), assigned pre-session material, and notes taken by a student. Content and objectives from each session were mapped to corresponding AAMC competencies, and each competency was qualitatively graded as completely met, partially met, or unmet.

Results: …

Persistent Organic Pollutants And Mortality In The United States, Kristiann Fry, Melinda Power

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background/Objectives: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are environmentally and biologically persistent chemicals that include polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine (OC) pesticides. Currently, there is limited data on the association between exposure to POPs and the risk of mortality in the general US population. The objective of this study was to determine if higher exposure to POPs are associated with greater risk of all-cause, cancer, heart/cerebrovascular disease, or other-cause mortality in persons aged 60 years and older.

Methods: The analyses included participants aged 60 years and older from the 1999-2006 National Health and …

Medical Resource Utilization Of Outpatient Care For Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1, Rabia Idrees, Michael Fisher, Rachel Hachen, Brian Callaghan, Robert A. Avery

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background:

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant syndrome with manifestations affecting the central nervous system, musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system, and cognitive/behavioral functions. Many of these manifestations persist throughout life and require medical/surgical interventions.

The resource utilization and economic burden of caring for children with NF1 is unknown. Prior research has inherent selection bias and does not accurately reflect the incidence/resource utilization of morbidities. In order to identify which disease manifestations are in the most need of improved clinical algorithms and novel therapeutics, the frequency/type of resources utilized (i.e., diagnostic imaging and specialty visits) must be determined.

The …

(Video) Maternal Depression And Child Externalizing Behaviors, Julia Gruspier, Shannon Shisler, Rina C. Eiden

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

About 10.97% of women with children aged 1 to 4 years old are identified with depression. Children of mothers with depression are more likely to exhibit externalizing behavior problems, and these problems have been reported to appear more frequently in male children. We examined the association between maternal depression and externalizing behavior in toddlers, and whether child sex moderated these effects, as previous studies have shown child behavior to be linked to both child sex and maternal depression. The sample included 186 mother/child dyads (95 male children) who were recruited in the first trimester of pregnancy from an urban hospital. …

Consumption Of Low-Calorie Sweeteners In The United States 2009-12, Yichen Jin, Allison C. Sylvetsky, Jean A. Welsh, Kristina I. Rother, Sameera A Talegawkar

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

We have previously demonstrated that low-calorie sweetener (LCS) consumption increased in the United States (US) between 1999 and 2008 (from 9% to 15 % in kids and from 27% to 32% in adults), but little is known about current consumption. We therefore analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data collected in 2011-12 and compared LCS consumption patterns across socio-demographic subgroups. Dietary sources of LCS were identified using NHANES food descriptions. Prevalence of consumption nationally and by age, race, gender, socio-economic status, educational attainment, were estimated using two 24-hour dietary recalls. F-tests were used to evaluate differences in consumption …

Diet As A Risk Factor In Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Caitlin Bove, Vivek Jain, Naji Younes, Marijane Hynes

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Rationale: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disease affecting approximately 2% of women and 4% of men. It is independently associated with cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Established risk factors for OSA include obesity, male gender, post-menopausal state, smoking and increased neck circumference. Sleep deprivation, a common occurrence in OSA, is associated with weight gain and cravings for carbohydrates. Preference for fatty foods has been documented in sleep deprivation. Studies using mouse models have suggested that high fats diets increase the severity of sleep apnea independent of BMI (body mass index). We hypothesized that dietary habits, especially increased …