Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Masculine Ideals And Health In Older Men: Findings From The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, Shane D. Burns, Patricia Drentea

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How do older men’s masculine ideals affect their health? Are masculine activities involved in this relationship? Masculine identity upholds beliefs about masculine enactment. These beliefs can be detrimental to men and can lead to behaviors that can put undue stress on them. We examine how masculine ideals are associated with health and depressive symptomatology in older men. We used 2011 data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (n = 2,594) to investigate how masculine ideals inform older men’s health and how participation in masculine activities might shape these outcomes. Findings from this study illustrate that traditional masculine ideals are associated …

Distance From A Cultural Model Of Substance Use Risk, Internalization, And Self-Stigma In Urban Brazil, Nicole L. Henderson, William W. Dressler, Natalia Priolli Jora Pegoraro, Ana Falcao, Sandra Cristin Pillon

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Introduction: A cognitive theory of culture as socially distributed cultural models has proven useful in research. Cultural models exist in two forms: the model shared by individuals in a social group, and individual versions of that model modified by personal experience. In previous research we documented a shared cultural model of substance use risk among a general population sample in urban Brazil. Here we examine how this model is distributed among persons under treatment for substance use/misuse and the implications for perceived and self-stigma.

Methods: A convenience sample of 133 persons under treatment rated the influence of risk factors for …

E-Cigarette Use And Respiratory Symptoms In Adults: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mohammed M. Alqahtani, Faraj K. Alenezi, Mohammed A. Almeshari, Abdullah M. Alanazi, Ziyad Ben Taleb, Mohammad E Ebrahimi Kalan, Mary P. Martinasek, Rheese J. Mcnab, Rachel Culbreth, Mansour Alotaibi, Hassan Alijohani, Lynda T. Goodfellow, Taha T. Ismaeil, Saleh S. Algarni, Tareq F. Alotaibi, Mobarek K. Alqahtani, Hamoud Al-Ajel, Khalid S. Alwadeai, Nafea S. Almutairi, Eric Ford

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Introduction:
Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is gaining popularity among adults. Monitoring e-cigarette-induced respiratory symptoms is crucial for both clinical and regulatory purposes. We systematically reviewed the current literature to understand the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among exclusive e-cigarette users, dual users, and former smokers.

Methods:
Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Scopus. We included all English-language, empirical quantitative articles that explored the prevalence of e-cigarette-related respiratory symptoms. Random-effects models were utilized in conducting the meta-analyses. The quality of identified studies was evaluated using the NIH Study Quality Assessment Tools. This study is registered with PROSPERO(#CRD42020165973).

Results:
The …

Sex And Race Differences In Obesity-Related Genetic Susceptibility And Risk Of Cardiometabolic Disease In Older Us Adults, Hairui Yu, Nicole Armstrong, Greg Pavela

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Importance The fat mass and obesity–associated gene (FTO) is associated with obesity phenotypes, but the association is inconsistent across populations. Within-population differences may explain some of the variability observed.

Objective To investigate sex differences in the association between FTO single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and obesity traits among self-identified non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White US adults, to examine whether the SNVs were associated with cardiometabolic diseases, and to evaluate whether obesity mediated the association between FTO SNVs and cardiometabolic diseases.

Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study used data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) …

Championing Awareness Of The Opioid Epidemic Through A Service-Learning Module For Non-Stem Biology Majors, Ryleigh Fleming, Sarah J. Adkins, Marco Esteban, Cinnamin Cross, Amy Hutson Chatham, Samiksha A. Raut

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Over 50,000 people die annually from opioid overdoses in the United States leading to what has become known as the “opioid epidemic.” This is of heightened concern in states like Alabama that experience higher rates of overall drug use and overdose deaths. Thus, it is increasingly important for college students in Alabama to learn about how the opioid epidemic is affecting their communities. Previous studies have demonstrated that engaging non-majors in innovative active-learning oriented pedagogies like service-learning can enhance their understanding and awareness about contemporary societal issues. Despite its pedagogical potential, the impact of opioid-related service-learning, particularly for non-majors, continues …

Altered Response To Toll-Like Receptor 4 Activation In Fibromyalgia: A Low-Dose, Human Experimental Endotoxemia Pilot Study, Chloe Jones, Luke Parkitny, Larissa Strath, Brant M. Wagener, Andrew Barker, Jarred Younger

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In this pilot study, a human intravenous injection of low-dose endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) model was used to test if fibromyalgia is associated with altered immune responses to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation. Eight women with moderately-severe fibromyalgia and eight healthy women were administered LPS at 0.1 ng/kg in session one and 0.4 ng/kg in session two. Blood draws were collected hourly to characterize the immune response. The primary analytes of interest, leptin and fractalkine, were assayed via commercial radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, respectively. Exploratory analyses were performed on 20 secreted cytokine assays by multiplex cytokine panels, collected …

Factors Associated With Completeness In Documentation Of Diagnostic Work-Up And Treatment In Patients With Breast Cancer In Sudan, Noon I. Eltoum, Nicole E. Caston, Lily Gutnik, Mahmoud A. Alfardous Alazm, Feras O. Mohamed, Lama M. Abdalkarem, Saad A S Ali, Abrar Z. Badwani, Nicole L. Henderson, Andres Azuero, Gabrielle Rocque

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Purpose: This study evaluates the relationship between geography and ethnicity on the completeness of documentation of diagnostic work-up and treatment modalities in Sudan for patients with breast cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study used data abstracted from patients with breast cancer receiving cancer care at Sudan’s largest cancer centre (Radiation and Isotopes Center Khartoum) in 2017. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics were abstracted from paper medical records. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated to evaluate complete diagnostic work-up on ethnic group, origin and residence using binomial logistic regression models.

Results: Of 237 patients, the median age was 52 (interquartile …

Hla-Dqb1*06 And Select Neighboring Hla Variants Predict Chlamydia Reinfection Risk, Kanupriya Gupta, Howard W. Wiener, Hemant K. Tiwari, William M. Geisler

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Associations of HLA class II alleles with genital chlamydial infection outcomes have been reported, especially HLA DQB1*06. However, the potential role of DQB1*06 in influencing reinfection risk has still not been established. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the association of DQB1*06 with chlamydia reinfection was impacted by any other nearby HLA class II variants that were also associated with reinfection. We used next-generation sequencing to map HLA class II variants spanning the HLA-DQ and -DR loci. DQB1*06 as well as DQB1*04 were confirmed as significant predictors of chlamydia reinfection, when controlling for age and percent African …

Quality Matters: Nurse Staffing And Clinical Outcomes, Shea Polancich Phd, Rn, Faan, Tracey Dick Phd, Rn, Terry Poe Dnp, Rn, Rebecca Miltner Phd, Rn, Faan, Aoyjai Montgomery Phd, Bsn, Patricia Patrician Phd, Rn, Faan

School of Nursing Professional Posters

No abstract provided.

Learning Health Center Leadership Makes The Case For Quality In Reducing Hospital Acquired Pressure Injury, Shea Polanich Phd, Rn, Faan, Shannon Layton Dnp, Rn, Rebecca Miltner Phd, Rn, Faan

School of Nursing Professional Posters

No abstract provided.

Delayed Presentation Of Popliteal Artery Injury After Salter- Harris Iii Proximal Tibia Fracture, Alexandra H. Seidenstein, Timothy W. Torrez, Jacob A. Garcia, Shadi K. Awad, Henry Debell, Shawn R. Gilbert, Kevin A. Williams

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Introduction. Proximal tibia physeal fractures in children are not very common but can be dangerous because they can harm popliteal fossa structures, especially the popliteal artery. Popliteal artery injuries (PAI) are most commonly the result of trauma to the lower extremity, including blunt force, hyperextension injuries, complex fractures, and knee dislocations that can compromise popliteal neurovascular structures. Case Presentation. A 14-year-old boy presents to the emergency department after being transferred from an outside hospital 24 hours after a left lower extremity hyperextension injury. Radiographs demonstrated a Salter-Harris III proximal tibia fracture with posterior displacement. ABIs were deferred due to palpable …

Antiviral Treatment Of Maternal And Congenital Cytomegalovirus (Cmv) Infections, Swetha Pinninti, Suresh Boppana

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Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous member of the Herpesviridae family, responsible for the most common congenital viral infection—congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection. While a majority of HCMV infections in children and adults are asymptomatic, HCMV is well known to cause severe infections in the immunocompromised individual and maternal infections with variable long-term sequelae after maternal–fetal transmission with primary or nonprimary infections. HCMV seroprevalence and cCMV incidence vary by geographic area and demographic characteristics like race and socioeconomic status. While cCMV birth prevalence ranges from 0.2% to 6% in different parts of the world, it is influenced by regional HCMV seroprevalence …

Pspa-Mediated Aggregation Protects Streptococcus Pneumoniae Against Desiccation On Fomites, Jessica R. Lane, Muralidhar Tata, Rahena Yasmin, Hansol Im, David E. Briles, Carlos J. Orihuela

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Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) resides in the nasopharynx where it can disseminate to cause disease. One key Spn virulence factor is pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), which promotes survival by blocking the antimicrobial peptide lactoferricin. PspA has also been shown to mediate attachment to dying epithelial cells in the lower airway due to its binding of cell surface-bound mammalian (m)GAPDH. Importantly, the role of PspA during colonization is not well understood. Wildtype Spn was present in nasal lavage elutes collected from asymptomatically colonized mice at levels ∼10-fold higher that its isogenic PspA-deficient mutant (ΔpspA). Wildtype Spn also …

The Healers: Becoming A Medical Professional In The Modern Era, John A. Soldner

Book Collection

A practical guide for aspiring physicains, pharmacists, dentists, physician assistants, and registered nurses.

Implementation Of Rapid Postcode Debrief Tool To Reduce Postcode Stress In Micu Rns: A Quality Improvement Study, Julie Capuson, Elyse Falchek, Elizabeth Harper, Nicole Kotval

School of Nursing Student Presentation Posters

Faculty Chair: Dr. Patricia Speck and Dr. Tami Long
Clinical Mentor: Geri Anne Warman
Presented: DNP Orientation UAB School of Nursing, July 2023

The Impact Of A Colonoscopy Bowel Prep Educational Video On Bowel Prep Outcomes, Tula Jefferson, Lauren Williams-Bryant

School of Nursing Student Presentation Posters

Faculty Chair: Dr. Tedra Smith
Clinical Mentor: Briana Golden
Presented: DNP Orientation UAB School of Nursing, July 2023

Diabetic Training For Nurses Through An Evidence-Based Bundle, Shanteia Beavers Bsn, Rn, Alex Bristow Bsn, Rn, Amanda Houser Bsn, Rn

School of Nursing Student Presentation Posters

Faculty Chair: Curry Bordelon
Clinical Mentor: Emily Guess
Presented: DNP Orientation UAB School of Nursing, July 2023

Decreasing Fall Rates On Unit 75 Medical-Surgical Using Revised Fall Prevention Program, Sierra M. Foster, Brooke L. Johnson, Shelby F. King, Courtney R. Morris, Cassandra A. Wheeler

School of Nursing Student Presentation Posters

Faculty Chair: Dr. Lisa Pair
Clinical Mentor: Sapheria Pollard
Presented: DNP Orientation UAB School of Nursing, July 2023

The Impact Of Self-Care Education And A Meal Voucher Incentive Program On No-Show Rates At The University Alabama At Birmingham Heart Failure Transitional Services For Adults Clinic, Lauren Lipton, Sara Monson, Jihe Park, Mary Faith Trammell

School of Nursing Student Presentation Posters

Faculty Chair: Dr. Somali Nguyen
Clinical Mentor: Dr. Connie White-Williams
Presented: DNP Orientation UAB School of Nursing, July 2023

A Focused Review Of Statistical Practices For Relating Radiation Dose-Volume Exposure And Toxicity, Andrew M. Mcdonald, Craig S. Schneider, John M. Stahl, Robert A. Oster, Richard A. Popple, Charles S. Mayo

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Purpose Relating dose-volume histogram (DVH) information to patient outcomes is critical for outcomes research in radiation oncology, but this is statistically challenging. We performed this focused review of DVH toxicity studies to characterize current statistical approaches and determine the need for updated reporting recommendations. Methods and materials We performed a focused MEDLINE search to identify studies published in 5 radiation oncology specialty journals that associated dosimetry with toxicity outcomes in humans receiving radiotherapy between 2015 and 2021. Elements abstracted from each manuscript included the study outcome, organs-at-risk (OARs) considered, DVH parameters analyzed, summary of the analytic approach, use of multivariable …

Standing In The Gap: The Academic And Professional Divide Between Health Administration And Health Policy, Steven W. Howard, Michael A. Counte, Leah J. Vriesman, Harrison D. Brink

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There are diverse types of health care systems, policies and health care organizations existing in health care delivery arrangements across the world (1). Two distinct influential groups of professionals have emerged as a result. They are: 1. Macro-level, population-oriented heath policy planners and analysts (health policy professionals–HPP) and 2. More micro-level, institutionally-oriented managers and organizational leaders and executives (health management professionals–HMP). As the old idiom goes, “one can't see the forest for the trees.” Are HPP professionals at such “altitude” that they have a clear vision of the forest, but fail to understand how things are on the …

Circadian Regulation Of Dentate Gyrus Excitability Mediated By G-Protein Signaling, Jose Carlos Gonzalez, Haeun Lee, Angela M. Vincent, Angela L. Hill, Lacy K. Goode, Gwenalyn D. King, Karen L. Gamble, Jacques I. Wadiche, Linda Overstreet-Wadiche

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The central circadian regulator within the suprachiasmatic nucleus transmits time of day information by a diurnal spiking rhythm driven by molecular clock genes controlling membrane excitability. Most brain regions, including the hippocampus, harbor similar intrinsic circadian transcriptional machinery, but whether these molecular programs generate oscillations of membrane properties is unclear. Here, we show that intrinsic excitability of mouse dentate granule neurons exhibits a 24-h oscillation that controls spiking probability. Diurnal changes in excitability are mediated by antiphase G-protein regulation of potassium and sodium currents that reduce excitability during the Light phase. Disruption of the circadian transcriptional machinery by conditional …

Effectiveness Of The Invisalign System For Deep Bite Correction, Jerry D. Spillers Iii

All ETDs from UAB

Objective: To assess the dental and skeletal changes resulting from correction of a deep bite using Invisalign (Align Technology, Santa Clara, CA, USA).Methods: This is a retrospective case series study which analyzed pre and post treatment cephalograms for 37 adult deep bite patients. Each patient was treated by one, experi-enced clinician using the same treatment protocols. Nineteen variables, ten linear and nine angular. The Wilcoxon analysis was used to determine if there was a significant dif-ference in pre and post treatment variables. Results: Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) occurred for 14 of 19 variables. These include a decrease in Overjet (-0.97 mm), decrease in overbite (-4.07 mm), extru-sion of the upper first molar (0.47 mm), intrusion of the upper incisor (-0.67mm), extru-sion of the lower second molar (1.01 mm), lower first molar (1.20 mm), lower second premolar (1.70 mm), and lower first premolar (1.74 mm), intrusion of the lower incisor (-1.88 mm), proclination of lower incisor, (4.09 ̊), and increase in SN-MP (0.54 mm). A decrease in anterior occlusal plane (AOP) was also statistically significant. Conclusions: Invisalign is an effective treatment modality for correcting dental deep bites through posterior extrusion and anterior intrusion. Minimal skeletal changes are seen when correcting deep bites with Invisalign.

Application Of Machine Learning And Network Approaches To Prioritize Safe And Efficacious Drug Repurposing Candidates, Jennifer L. Fisher

All ETDs from UAB

Only ten percent of drugs in clinical trials are ultimately approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With many diseases and disorders needing therapeutic options, computational drug repurposing methodologies are great alternatives to some drug discovery methods due to quicker FDA approval and lower cost. We sought to gain insights to improve the identification of drug repurposing candidates that will be safe and effective to increase the success of computational drug repurposing approaches. In regards to identifying safe drug candidates, pharmacovigilance studies of adverse event case reports identified that women are more likely to experience an adverse event, and …

Social Determinants Of Health And Blood Pressure Control In Black And White Us Adults, Oluwasegun Philip Akinyelure

All ETDs from UAB

Black adults in the US have 2 to 3 times higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality compared to White adults. Most of the excess CVD mortality in Black adults has been attributed to their higher prevalence of hypertension and uncontrolled blood pressure (BP). In October 2020, the US Surgeon General published a Call-to-Action to improve hypertension control and identified social determinants of health (SDOH) as a major contributor to Black:White disparities in hypertension control. Prior research has showed that SDOH are associated with excess hypertension risk among Black compared with White adults, but data on their association with BP …

Factors Impacting Serious Illness Care In Alabama: An Assessment Of The Current State Of Hospital Palliative Care, Amy M. Beasley

All ETDs from UAB

BACKGROUND: Palliative care (PC) use has been shown to offer many benefits to patients and families. Hospital PC has expanded in the United States, though growth has been limited within hospital types and geographic locations. According to the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), Alabama was rated a “D,” indicating that significant improvements in PC are needed. The purpose of this study was to develop a thorough description of access to palliative care in Alabama hospitals. METHODS: A mixed methods multiple case study was employed with quantitative data embedded into a qualitative case study approach. Four hospitals were selected based …

Pharmacologic Proteasome Activators Ameliorate Alzheimer's-Like Pathology In Ad Fly Models, Mehar Bano

All ETDs from UAB

The proteasome is a large multi-subunit protease responsible for the degradation and removal of oxidized, misfolded, and polyubiquitinated proteins. The proteasome plays a critical role in nervous system processes. This includes the maintenance of cellular homeostasis in neurons (1). It also includes synaptic efficacy and plasticity as well as protein turnover, presynaptic vesicle transport, and neuronal protesostasis. Proteasome function is impaired as a consequence of aging, which is aggravated by conditions like Alzheimer's Disease and Related-Dementias (AD, ADRD) (2). According to earlier work from our lab the proteasome is critical to how quickly AD progresses. In Drosophila, human cells, and …

Acute Placental Inflammation And Growth Outcomes In Preterm Infants, Emily Gunawan

All ETDs from UAB

Background. Acute placental inflammation (API) has been associated with various adverse outcomes in preterm infants. However, little is known about how API affects their body composition and growth outcomes. This study aims to examine the association between API and growth outcomes in preterm infants. Methods. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of mother-infant dyads born < 326/7 weeks of gestation with fat mass (FM) accretion measured using air displacement plethysmography at term-equivalent age. API severity including maternal inflammatory response (MIR) and fetal inflammatory response (FIR) was staged according to criteria by Society for Pediatric Pathology based on placental pathology reports. We examined the differences in characteristics of mother-infant dyads by API severity using ANOVA or the Kruskall-Wallis test. The association between API severity and growth outcomes was analyzed using linear regression models and adjusted for statistically significant confounders. Mediation analyses were used to study the direct and indirect association of API and growth outcomes via gestational age. Results. Among 375 mother-infant dyads analyzed, 104 (28%) dyads had MIR. FIR was found in 82% of dyads with MIR. Adjusted models indicated that API severity progression was positively associated with FM accretion. Gestational age partially (49%) iv mediated the association between API severity and FM z score (indirect effect: b=0.12, 95% CI: 0.05-0.19; direct effect: b=0.12, 95% CI: 0.01-0.25). Conclusions. API severity is associated with growth outcomes and helps to accurately predict body composition in preterm infants.

The Effect Of Weather Events On Dengue Fever In Brazil 2014-2022, Maryclare Gabel

All ETDs from UAB

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that is spread through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquito. Half the world's population lives in a dengue fever risk zone. There are an estimated 100 million symptomatic dengue fever cases each year, with 40,000 deaths reported. Brazil reports the highest annual dengue fever cases in Latin America. In 2022, Brazil recorded 2.36 million dengue fever cases, the highest number of cases ever recorded in the country. We designed a retrospective ecological study to evaluate the temporal trends and the association between weather events and dengue fever incidence …

Understanding Molecular Mechanisms Of Glioblastoama Resistance To Design Novel Combinatorial Therapies, Amber B. Jones

All ETDs from UAB

Treatment options for the universally lethal brain tumor, glioblastoma (GBM), are severely limited and often unsuccessful in fully eradicating the disease. Extremely aggressive in nature, GBM cells often implore suppressive mechanisms to evade therapeutic detection which aids in the dismal 15-month median survival rate. Facilitating disease severity and more importantly, disease recurrence, are the immunosuppressive and chemoresistant phenotypes of GBM cells. Specifically, the DNA alkylating agent, temozolomide (TMZ) possesses lymphodepleting properties shunting robust immune cell infiltration into an immunologically cold tumor microenvironment. Additionally, through inherent or acquired mechanisms, GBM tumors commonly become resistant to the DNA damaging effects of TMZ …