Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Total Hip Arthroplasty: Copd And Its Effect On Postoperative Complications, Camille Boustani, Shane A. Sobrio, Alex Gu, Chapman Wei, Andrew Holmes

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Introduction

The demand for Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) has rapidly risen and continues to due to high success rates of this procedure and the growing aging population. Particularly in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), studies have indicated an increased risk of various postoperative complications across several surgery types. Despite the prevalence of COPD, very little has been investigated regarding postsurgical complications in patients with COPD following a THA. The aim of the current study is to utilize the NSQIP database and determine differences in short-term postoperative complications after undergoing THA, comparing patients with and without COPD.

Methods

In total, 74,814 …

An Assessment Of Cultural Perceptions And Recognition Of Ebola Virus Disease, And Its Correlation With Traditional Burial Practice In Rural Guinea, Chulwoo Park, Amira Roess, Sally Lahm, Mamadou Kally Bah, Mohamed Campel Camara, John Sandberg

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background:

In the midst of the unprecedented Ebola outbreak in West Africa during 2014-2016, the humanitarian response to control the disease was hampered in part because there was a limited understanding of local traditional rituals or indigenous medicine (ethnomedicine) on the part of the responders. The Ebola outbreak claimed 11,310 lives, more than all other outbreaks combined. West African burial funeral ceremonies and surrounding rituals may have hindered interventions that included the forceful removal of the sick or dead from the community.

Objective:

Our objective was to understand transmission associated with traditional burial practices in rural Guinea. Through the lens …

Acute Hepatic Failure And Oral Amiodarone, Hani Alhamoud, Sivateja Mandava, Talal Alzahrani

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Introduction:

Amiodarone is associated with serious complications such as lung toxicity, thyroid dysfunction, and QT-prolongation. Further, hepatic failure from the intravenous (IV) formulation of amiodarone is described in numerous case reports and case series. Although there are reports of elevated liver enzymes from the oral formulation of amiodarone, to our knowledge, none have definitively identified a case of acute hepatic failure from the oral formulation alone. In this case, we report an instance of acute hepatic failure after increasing the oral amiodarone dosage as well as rapid recovery following cessation of the medication.

Case report:

A 61-year-old male with a …

Tumor Surveillance Using Liquid Biome In Pediatric High Grade Gliomas, Erin Bonner, Eshini Panditharatna, Madhuri Kambhampati, Stefaan Van Gool, Wilfried Stuecker, Roger J. Packer, Javad Nazarian

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Immunotherapy is currently being used to treat pediatric brain cancer, though its efficacy in treating patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), the deadliest pediatric brain tumor, has not been evaluated. MRI is the gold standard for monitoring tumor response to therapy, but is limited by pseudoresponse and psuedoprogression: post-treatment, immune cells infiltrate the primary tumor causing transient tumor enlargement, which falsely resembles tumor progression on MRI. Thus, it is critical to develop more accurate approaches to monitor tumor response to immunotherapy. Here, we use a liquid biopsy platform we have already established to monitor tumor response to therapy, to …

Evaluation Of Group Movement Programs (Plié And Paired Plié) For People With Memory Loss, Alzheimer’S Disease Or Dementia, Martin Blanco, Deborah Barnes

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Today, one in ten people ages 65 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia. This serious condition often causes great suffering among affected individuals and their families, and there are no medications that stop or slow the disease. It is therefore important to evaluate alternative interventions that may benefit both patients and their care partners. Preventing Loss of Independence through Exercise (PLIÉ) and Paired PLIÉ are group movement programs that combine neuroscience and integrative medicine for individuals with dementia. We analyzed data from [N=39] anonymous evaluation surveys performed as part of two ongoing randomized control trials. Survey data included general questions on …

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) …

How Climate Effects The Tick Vector Of Lyme Disease: A Critical And Systematic Review Of The Literature, Anita Desikan, Matias Attene Ramos

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background

Lyme disease (LD) is a common vector-borne disease in North America. Understanding the causes behind inter-annual fluctuations of LD incidence can help warn healthcare providers of upcoming outbreaks.

Objective

Identifying what specific climate variables affects the vector, Ixodes scapularis ticks, and ultimately LD incidence.

Methods

A systematic review was carried out to understand how climate variables affect the tick population variables that are related to LD.

Results

Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias was generally rated “low” or “probably low” and quality of evidence was rated “moderate”. Strength of evidence was assessed for tick abundance, a …

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 …

Systematic Literature Review Of Indoor School Exposure To Pm2.5 In Children, Brittany Wagner, Ami Zota

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that puts a strain on lung function and breathing. It is the leading cause of school absenteeism and hospitalization for American children. Genetics play a major role in allergy related disease development such as asthma, but environmental exposures are proving to be a potential contributor to childhood asthma. Despite the sufficient data regarding air pollution, there is a huge knowledge gap regarding indoor air quality and its relationship with health outcomes such as asthma. Many of the studies available only look at outdoor air pollution levels, while children spend the majority of their time …

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 …

Recurrent Episodes Of Acute Pancreatitis Present To The Ed With More Severe Disease By Ct Than First-Time Acute Pancreatitis, Maryam Boumezrag, Hamza Ijaz, Lorna Richards, Sormeh Harounzadeh, Angeline Johny, Paige Kulie, Caitlin Davis, Yan Ma, Maxine Le Saux, Andrew C. Meltzer

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Study Objective: Approximately 30% of patients with one episode of acute pancreatitis experience a recurrent episode. The objective of this study is to compare the severity of the first-time episode versus recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis based on CT scan.

Methods: This study was conducted as part of a retrospective chart review at a single academic urban emergency department from 2012-2016. Criteria for inclusion included clinical symptoms of pancreatitis, age greater than or equal to 18 years, ED diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, and, an abdominal CT scan within 24 hours of triage. Exclusion criteria were traumatic cause of acute pancreatitis …

Characteristics Of Correctly Identified Pediatric Obesity And Overweight Status And Management In An Academic General Pediatric Clinic, Ana Morais, Joseph Kelly, James E. Bost, Susma Vaidya

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Objective: The goals of this study were to identify and characterize the rates of documentation and guideline-based management of overweight and obese children within an academic pediatric clinic.

Population/Methods: Overweight, obese, and severely obese children were identified from 7,422 well child visits in 2016 within a primary care clinic that cares for a primarily urban, minority (80% African American), and Medicaid (85%) population until the age of 12. During this 1-year study, there were 79 pediatric residents, 19 attending pediatricians, and 5 nurse practitioners who treated patients. Through a retrospective electronic medical record review, diagnosis and treatment including counseling, …

Who Is Saying What About Inflammatory Bowel Disease On Twitter?, Ali Khan, Anna Silverman, Anthony Rowe, Samantha Rowe, Matt Tick, Steve Testa, Keri Dodds, Bedoor Alabbas, Marie L. Borum

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: With about 330 million active users and its growing media attention globally, Twitter is a powerful tool for conveying information to the general population. There is limited data on the utilization of Twitter for disseminating medical information. This study evaluated messages on Twitter regarding Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Methods: Social Feed Manager (SFM; version 1.10.0; GW University, 2017), a software that mines social media platforms, was used to extract information regarding IBD-related tweets and their accounts over a 10-day period. We queried Twitter for terms related to IBD and categorized messages by geographic origin, type of user, and message …

Legionnaire's Disease Presenting With Severe Rhabdomyolysis And Acute Renal Failure: A Case Report, Benjamin Plotz, Victoria K. Shanmugam

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Legionnaire's disease is caused by Legionella species, and is a recognized but rare cause of rhabdomyolysis. Legionella species live in water, and exposure to inoculated water systems leads to transmission of the disease, and commonly causes pneumonia in infected individuals. While the mechanism of muscle destruction legionella infection causes is not fully understood, the prevailing theory is that rhabdomyolysis is linked to an endotoxin released by the bacteria into the blood stream. Massive muscle necrosis manifests as limb weakness, muscle pain, swelling, and gross pigmenturia due to the release of electrolytes, myoglobin, and other sarcoplasmic proteins into the bloodstream. A …

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 …

Cost-Effectiveness Of Alternative Anticoagulation Strategies For Postoperative Management Of Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients, Savannah R. Smith, Jeffrey Katz, Elena Losina

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Anticoagulation is essential for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) prevention following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Some research has suggested that longer duration anticoagulation can substantially reduce the risks of DVT and PE; however, in the absence of definitive recommendations, physicians are left weighing the risks of DVT and PE against those of anticoagulation, including gastrointestinal (GI) and central nervous system (CNS) hemorrhage and increased likelihood of prosthetic joint infection (PJI). We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis to evaluate the benefits and risks of 14- and 35-day therapy with the most commonly prescribed anticoagulants post-TKA.

Background: Anticoagulation is …