Digital Commons Network^™

Laser Stimulated Dynamic Thermal Imaging System For Tumor Detection, Hongyu Meng

McKelvey School of Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Laser stimulated dynamic thermal imaging system for tumor detectionby Hongyu Meng Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering Washington University in St. Louis, 2021 Professor Samuel Achilefu, Chair Recent advances in infrared sensor technology have enabled the rapid application of thermal imaging in materials science, security and medicine. Relying on the infrared characteristics of living systems, thermal imaging has been used to generate individual heat maps, detect inflammation and tumor. As an imaging system, thermal imaging has the advantages of portability, real-time, non-invasive, and non-contact. But the low specificity of thermal imaging hinders its wide clinical application.

Unfortunately, label-free DTI is …

Evaluation Of An Educational Intervention Regarding The Importance Of Practicing Sun Protective Behaviors Among Racially Diverse College Students: A Quality Improvement Project, Alexandra Jade Palumbo, C. Victoria Framil

Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects

Any sun exposure one receives is considered a future risk related to the development of skin cancer. The color of one’s skin and an individual’s race are two key factors that can greatly contribute to one’s potential risk. Young adults have been shown to participate in risky behaviors. Racially diverse individuals are noted to have decreased knowledge related to sun safety and practicing protective behaviors. This quality improvement (QI) project was implemented in a virtual setting within a majority minority serving urban university. Participants included Florida International University’s (FIU) students.

A comprehensive literature search was completed and it revealed a …

Lung Cancer Screening: An Evidence-Based Practice Change Project, Robert Bland

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Lung cancer is the leading cause of global cancer deaths and is a significant health issue in the US, claiming more than 155,000 lives each year. Lung cancer screening through low dose computed tomography (LDCT) can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20 percent but unfortunately, lung cancer screening is underutilized.

PICOT Question: The PICOT question that guided this project was: in a patient population eligible for LDCT lung screening (P), how does auditing of practice with feedback to the providers (I), compared to not doing the interventions as mentioned above (C), increase LDCT lung cancer screenings in the …

The Intra- And Inter-Rater Reliability Of An Arm Care Screening Tool In High School Baseball Coaches, Kyle A. Matsel, Stephanie N. Brown, Matthew C. Hoch, Robert J. Butler, Philip M. Westgate, Terry R. Malone, Timothy L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Preseason movement screening can identify modifiable risk factors, deterioration of function, and potential for injury in baseball players. Limited resources and time intensive testing procedures prevent high school coaches from accurately performing frequent movement screens on their players.

Purpose: To establish the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of a novel arm care screening tool based on the concepts of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA™) in high school coaches.

Study Design: Methodological intra- and inter-rater reliability study.

Methods: Thirty-one male high school baseball players (15.9 years ± 1.06) were independently scored on the Arm Care …

Healthcare Assessment Algorithms/Guides In Pandemic Eras: Capturing Critical Data (Aged 65 And Older), Becky Marie Bautch

Capstones & Scholarly Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about many concerns for populations across the globe in terms of health and well-being including in the United States. It changed the way patients interact within society and limited access to resources that were once readily available. The American population had to adjust the way they go about what used to be considered normal and address challenges in a new era. Fear of the unknown and the mandated lockdowns in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) prevented normal standard healthcare visits for the population. Many patient interviews in primary care are being …

Understanding Colorectal Cancer: Increasing Screening Rates Amongst Young- And Middle-Aged Adults By Enhancing Prevention Potential, Sarah Agudelo

Nursing | Senior Theses

As nurses, working towards the best health outcomes for our patients is critical to our care. A large aspect of this care includes being knowledgeable of risk factors and precautions to take to avoid conditions and illnesses. Colorectal cancer remains to be a highly preventable disease, yet it is one of the top five leading causes of cancer deaths in the nation. Preventing colorectal cancer requires the efficient use of screening and education, while also addressing barriers of inconvenience and affordability. This senior thesis delves deeper into colorectal cancer prevention by asking the research question: For young and middle-aged adults, …

Digital Markers Of Autism, Ivonne Monarca, Franceli L. Cibrian, Monica Tentori

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition that affects how a people communicate and interact with others. The use of screening tools during childhood is very important to detect those children who need to be referred for a diagnosis of ASD. However, most screening tools are based on parents' responses so the result can be subjective. In addition, most screening tools focus on social and communicative skills leaving aside sensory features, which have shown to have the potential to be ASD markers. Tactile processing has been little explored due to lack of tools to asses it, however with the …

A Review Of The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Colorectal Cancer Screening: Implications And Solutions, Suneha Sundaram, Sean Olson, Paranjay Sharma, Shanmugarajah Rajendra

Student Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of medical care, including cancer screening and preventative measures. Colorectal cancer screening declined significantly at the onset of the pandemic as the result of an intentional effort to conserve resources, prioritize emergencies and reduce risk of transmission. There has already been an increase in diagnosis at more advanced stages and symptomatic emergencies due to suspended screenings. As endoscopy units find their way back to pre-pandemic practices, a backlog of cases remains. The missed CRC diagnoses amongst the missed screenings carry a risk of increased morbidity and mortality which will only increase as time-to-diagnosis …

The Role Of Healthcare Providers In Using The Knowledge Of Sickle Cell Trait To Mitigate Health Problems In African American Clients., Stella N. Udechukwu

Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell trait (SCT) for long has been regarded as a benign condition and as such healthcare providers do little to nothing to mitigate adverse health problems associated with sickle cell trait. An effective approach to improving health outcome for those with SCT is to educate providers on SCT, its complications and management. This study is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an educational intervention on providers’ knowledge, attitude and practice regarding sickle cell trait.

Method: A quasi experiment study was conducted in Jackson Health System on 30 providers belonging to internal medicine team to evaluate their …

Can The Hunger Vital Sign™ Act As A Prescreen For Other Social Needs?, Richard Sheward, Charlotte Bruce, Deborah A. Frank, Sharon Coleman, Stephanie Ettinger De Cuba, Blair Robinson, Diana B. Cutts

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Background: Addressing health-related social needs is essential for improving health and reducing longstanding disparities. However, barriers to screening – including clinician and patient time burden of screening for multiple social needs – limit identification. To address this concern and promote the uptake of screening by clinicians, it is important that screening tools effectively and efficiently identify social needs’ presence and absence among patients.

Objective: This study evaluated whether a validated and widely implemented 2-question food insecurity screening tool, the Hunger Vital Sign™ (HVS™), has adequate negative predictive value to serve as a pre-screen for other social needs.

Methods: In 2007-2015, …

Knowledge Awareness Of Depression Screening In Individuals With Chronic Liver Disease Among Healthcare Providers In Miami, Florida: A Quality Improvement Project, Glenda Quinones

Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects

Depression is a significant public health issue that affects over 350 million people worldwide. Depression has been associated with decreased cognitive function and medication compliance in individuals with chronic liver disease (CLD); however, research indicates a lack of depression screening in this population among healthcare providers in the United States (U.S.). The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase knowledge awareness of depression screening in individuals with CLD among healthcare providers in Miami, Florida. A descriptive, cross-sectional, pre- and posttest design was employed to conduct this project. Convenience sampling technique was utilized to recruit N = 18 participants …

Validity Of The American Diabetes Association Diabetes Risk Test As Screening For Prediabetes In A Sample Of Peruvian Workers, Victor Juan Vera-Ponce, Jorge Enrique Osada Liy, Mario J. Valladares-Garrido

Revista de la Facultad de Medicina Humana

Objective: To evaluate the validity of the risk test of the American Diabetes Association (ADA Test) as a screening for hyperglycemia in a sample of workers in Lima, Peru. Methods: Cross-sectional study of diagnostic tests. Secondary analysis of the data generated by the electronic health record of an occupational polyclinic, carried out in January and February 2020. The sample was made up of workers from different areas who attended for their occupational medical evaluation. Prediabetes was considered with a fasting glucose ≥ 100 mg / dl but less than 126 mg / dl. Results: 397 subjects were evaluated. The prevalence …

Patient And Clinician Characteristics That Predict Breast Cancer Screening Behavior In 40–49-Year-Old Women, Sarina Schrager, Claudia Evaristo, Terry Little, Lori Dubenske, Elizabeth S. Burnside

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Guidelines recommend that clinicians practice shared decision-making (SDM) with women in their 40s to discuss breast cancer screening. Traditionally, SDM includes discussion of values and preferences to help determine a decision that is congruent with what the patient desires. We analyzed 54 women’s breast cancer screening decisions after a SDM conversation with their clinician. We looked at both patient and clinician characteristics that predicted whether or not a woman would get a screening mammogram. Women with a family history of breast cancer or who had a previous abnormal mammogram had higher rates of screening. Screening rates also varied widely between …

Use Of Electronic Health Records To Manage Tobacco Screening And Treatment In Rural Primary Care, Jean A. Talbot Phd, Erica C. Ziller Phd, Carly Milkowski Mph

Mental Health / Substance Use Disorders

Researchers at the Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine examined whether the use of electronic health records by rural primary care physicians facilitates their use of best practices in addressing tobacco dependence. The study used the National Ambulatory Medicare Care Survey (2012-2015) to explore how rurality and use of tobacco-related electronic health record functions were related to smoking status documentation and cessation treatment at adult primary care visits. Rural-urban comparisons were also examined.

The authors conclude that rural primary care physicians were at least as successful as their urban counterparts in leveraging electronic health records to enhance …

Frequency Of Retinopathy Of Prematurity (Rop) In Infants Screened For Rop: Two Years Follow-Up Results Of A Single Center In Turkey, Adem Ugurlu

BioMedicine

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in infants referred to our clinic for screening ROP.

Material and Method: The data of 729 infants who were referred to the ROP outpatient clinic of the Ophthalmology Unit of Erzincan Binali Yildirim University, Turkey between April 2018 and March 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The gestational age and weight of the infants, stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, duration of oxygen therapy, and detailed ophthalmologic examination findings were recorded in the study.

Findings and Results: Of the 729 babies screened for ROP,122 …

Cognitive And Behavioral Domains That Reliably Differentiate Normal Aging And Dementia In Down Syndrome, Jordan P. Harp, Lisa M. Koehl, Kathryn L. Van Pelt, Christy L. Hom, Eric Doran, Elizabeth Head, Ira T. Lott, Frederick A. Schmitt

Neurology Faculty Publications

Primary care integration of Down syndrome (DS)-specific dementia screening is strongly advised. The current study employed principal components analysis (PCA) and classification and regression tree (CART) analyses to identify an abbreviated battery for dementia classification. Scale- and subscale-level scores from 141 participants (no dementia n = 68; probable Alzheimer’s disease n = 73), for the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB), Dementia Scale for People with Learning Disabilities (DLD), and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales—Second Edition (Vineland-II) were analyzed. Two principle components (PC1, PC2) were identified with the odds of a probable dementia diagnosis increasing 2.54 times per PC1 unit increase and by …

Screening Of Rabies Among Dogs In Kelantan Using Direct Fluorescence Antibody Test (Dfat), Imad Ibrahim Ali Al-Sultan, Fawzia Jassim Shalsh, Abdul Rahman Bin Aziz, Salahudeen Muhamad

Al-Qadisiyah Journal of Pure Science

Inarguably, in several developing and in-transition countries, human are threatened by the occurrence of rabies in domestic dogs and it is posing a major concern. However, the infection of rabies in domestic livestock could definitely have economic consequences. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of rabies among dogs in Kelantan by the use of Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test (DFAT) to determine presence of rabies infection in dogs. The detected rabies cases were 12.5% (1 out of 8 samples). The finding might be inconclusive due to small sample size. It was generally difficult to obtain a satisfactory large number representing …

A Self-Sampling Collection Program As An Approach That Can Provide More Women Cervical Cancer Screening To Detect Hpv In Kazakhstan, Assem Suleimenova

English Language Institute

A potential for self-sampling Human Papillomavirus testing to include more of the female population in low- and middle- income countries in the cervical screening program (the example of Kazakhstan).

Distress Evaluation During Chemotherapy: The Real-Time Assessment Strategies For Oncology Nurses Among Asian Population In Outpatient Clinics, Ying Huang

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Background: Routine oncology visits failed to identify 50-94% of patient’s distress, which creates a considerable burden, impairs emotional well-being and reduces patients’ quality of life. Limited in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic have reduced access to care for many patients, further adding to their emotional distress. Untreated distress also leads to elevated stress levels, systemic inflammation, non-compliance with treatment, and higher mortality rates. Early distress screening and multidisciplinary care are recommended to reduce the impacts of distress.

Objectives: To identify the best outpatient practices to address newly diagnosed cancer patients’ unique needs due to distress.

Methods: Databases searched including CINAHL® …

Improving Mammography Rates Among The Hispanic Population: An Evidence-Based Project Utilizing A Promotora Intervention, Dawn Mirowski

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in Hispanic women in the U.S., with mammography being the most effective means of reducing breast cancer mortality. Promotoras have been shown to improve health promotion, including mammography, among the Hispanic population.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In Hispanic women 40 years or older (P), how does the use of a promotora intervention (I), compared to no promotora intervention (C), affect mammography rates (O) within an 8-week period (T)?

Evidence: Twenty-one studies that met the inclusion criteria supported the use of promotoras to improve mammography …

Using The 4m Model To Screen Geriatric Patients In The Emergency Department, Martinus Megalla, Roopa Avula, Christopher Manners, Portia Chinnery, Lindsey Perrella, Douglas Finefrock

Journal of Geriatric Emergency Medicine

Several models of specialized geriatric care in the Emergency Department (ED) have been developed since the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) began accrediting geriatric EDs in 2018. There is considerable variability in terms of both design and efficacy in regard to screening older patients in the ED and determining proper interventions The John A. Hartford Foundation and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) have developed the 4M Model for Creating Age-Friendly Health Systems which aims to provide high quality care to older patients by addressing four critical elements: Mentation, Mobility, Medication, What Matters. This article describes a screening tool for …

The Impact Of Cancer-Related Stigma On Screening Adherence: A Scoping Review, Eduardo Levi, Lisa T. Wigfall, David P. Farris, Scherezade K. Mama, Juliet Kroll

Summer Experience 2021

No abstract provided.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Guidelines: Analysis Of The 2019 National Health Interview Survey (Nhis), Isabela M. Bumanlag Bs, Joseph Abi Jaoude Md, Ethan B. Ludmir Md, Cullen M. Taniguchi Md, Phd

Summer Experience 2021

No abstract provided.

Study On The Components And Distribution Of Betalain Pigments In Different Species Of Pitaya Fruit, Yang Xin-Feng, Wang Pan, Guo Xiao-Jie, Yang Lei, Li Qiong

Food and Machinery

Objective： To reveal the compositions of betalains (BLs) from pitaya fruit and their distribution in different parts. Methods: Three types of pitaya fruits, red peel-red flesh (RR), red peel-white flesh (RW), and yellow peel-white flesh (YW), were selected. The screening and confirmation of BLs were performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC QTOF-MS/MS). Results: A total of 19 components were identified, including betanin, phyllocactin, indicaxanthin, etc. Most components (14) were identified from the peel part of RR fruit, and secondly, 12 components from the flesh part of RR fruit and nine components from the peel part of RW fruit. Conclusion: …

The Impact Of An Evidence-Based Multi-Component Intervention On Colorectal Cancer Screening In Primary Care At A Healthcare System, Ahnnya Slaughter

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States; many of the deaths are preventable with early detection. Adherence rates for colorectal cancer screening with fecal immunochemical test kits (FIT) was below the national benchmark at this facility.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: Among veterans 50 – 75 years old requiring average risk colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) seen in primary care at a veterans affairs healthcare system facility (P), how does the use of a multi-component intervention (I), compared to the usual care (C), affect the number of …

Subjective Cognitive Decline Higher Among Sexual And Gender Minorities In The United States, 2015–2018, Jason D. Flatt, Ethan C. Cicero, Nickolas H. Lambrou, Whitney Wharton, Joel G. Anderson, Erin D. Bouldin, Lisa C. Mcguire, Christopher A. Taylor

Social & Behavioral Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) represents self-reported problems with memory, a possible early sign of dementia. Little is known about SCD among sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender or gender non-binary. Methods: Data were weighted to represent population estimates from 25 states’ 2015–2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to describe SCD in adults ≥ 45 years by SGM status. Logistic regression tested associations between demographic and health conditions. Results: SCD prevalence was higher in SGM (15.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI]:13.1–18.2) than in non-SGM adults (10.5%; 95% CI:10.1–10.9; P < .0001). SGM adults with SCD were also more likely to report functional limitations due to SCD than non-SGM adults with SCD, 60.8% versus 47.8%, P =.0048. Differences in SCD by SGM status were attenuated after accounting for depression. Discussion: Higher prevalence of SCD in SGM adults highlights the importance of ensuring inclusive screenings, interventions, care services, and resources for SGM adults.

Improving Depression Screening For Clinical Staff In A Psychiatric Rehabilitation Facility: A Quality Improvement Project, Myrlene Merveille

Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing Student Projects

Abstract

Background: Depression is the most common of mental disorders in the United States affecting a significant portion of the population. Despite the serious consequences of untreated depression, depression screening remains a challenge across healthcare settings prompting the United States Prevention Task Services to develop strong recommendations to improve screening and treatment. Yet, despite those recommendations, lack of knowledge about depression screening continues to impede this process. The presence of substance use in individuals affected by depression worsens the severity of either condition alone. Considering the frequency of co-occurring substance use and depression, it becomes vital that staff working at …

Using The Multi-Theory Model (Mtm) Of Health Behavior Change To Explain The Correlates Of Mammography Screening Among Asian American Women, Manoj Sharma, Chia-Liang Dai, Kavita Batra, Ching-Chen Chen, Jennifer R. Pharr, Courtney Coughenour, Asma Awan, Hannah Catalano

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Globally, breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women. The incidence of breast cancer has been growing among Asian American women. Mammography is a screening procedure that provides early diagnosis for the timely treatment to reduce premature mortality due to breast cancer. However, there are no national data available that summarize the rates of mammography screening among Asian American women. Some small-scale studies have reported low rates of mammography uptake among Asian American women. This cross-sectional study utilized the fourth-generation, multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change to explain the correlates of mammography screening among Asian American women between …

Impact Of Social Isolation In Hiv-Positive Individuals During A Pandemic, Corina Jane Bakoylis

Dissertations

Problem: The global pandemic of COVID-19 caused concern for immunocompromised individuals. The purpose of this quality improvement initiative was to assess the impact of social isolation on feelings of loneliness, depression, and social isolation experiences in HIV-positive individuals residing in a long-term care facility.

Methods: A mixed-method convergent design with a purposeful sample of HIV-positive adult residents residing in a long-term care facility was utilized. An evaluation of loneliness using the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale (Version 3) and depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) were completed. Personal experiences were also assessed with five predetermined open-ended …

Primary Care Screening For Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) In The Adult Population, Carrie Plisco

Dissertations

Problem: Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is associated with chronic diseases in adulthood. Several studies found over 60% of adults have had exposure to one or more ACEs. While guidelines for ACEs screening exist, most primary care practices do not perform screening at this time. This results in a lack of referrals for adults with history of ACEs for proper behavioral health (BH) intervention.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) initiative utilized a descriptive observational design. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ACEs screening tool was administered to a convenience sample of adult patients aged 18 years and …