Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Future Cannot Come Soon Enough: How Federal Regulation Of Telepsychiatry Is Necessary To Create Greater Access To Mental Health Services During A Time When Psychiatrists Are In Short Supply, Lisa V. Parciak

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

Legal Remedies To Address Stigma-Based Health Inequalities In The United States: Opportunities And Challenges, Valarie K. Blake, Mark L. Hatzenbuehler

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Stigma is an established driver of population-level health outcomes. Antidiscrimination laws can generate or alleviate stigma and, thus, are a critical component in the study of improving population health.

Currently, antidiscrimination laws are often underenforced and are sometimes conceptualized by courts and lawmakers in ways that are too narrow to fully reach all forms of stigma and all individuals who are stigmatized.

To remedy these limitations, we propose the creation of a new population-level surveillance system of antidiscrimination law and its enforcement, a central body to enforce antidiscrimination laws, as well as a collaborative research initiative to enhance the study …

Mammary Tumor And Mastectomy Synergistically Promote Neuroinflammation In A Breast Cancer Survivor Model, Kathryn M. Emmer, William H. Walker Ii, Ning Zhang, A. Courtney Devries

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Understanding why breast cancer survivors are at an increased risk for cognitive and affective disorders is essential for developing targeted treatment plans and improving quality of life. Microglia priming results in chronic neuroinflammation and can contribute to neuronal degeneration and dysfunction, thereby offering a potential mechanism for altered brain function that persists after tumor removal. This study examined whether mammary tumors alter microglia and augment the inflammatory profile and behavior of mice. To test this, non-metastatic mammary tumor cells (67NR) were injected orthotopically into the mammary glands of BALB/c mice, allowed to grow for 16 days, and then the tumors …

Meta-Analysis Of Duration Of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy In Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Safi U. Khan, Irbaz Bin Riaz, Hammad Rahman, Ahmed N. Lone, Munis Raza, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, Anum Riaz, Edo Kaluski

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

No abstract provided.

Sex Differences In Lifestyle Behaviors Among U.S. College Freshmen, Melissa D. Olfert, Makenzie L. Barr, Camille C. Charlier, Geoffrey W. Greene, Wenjun Zhou, Sarah E. Colby

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Within lifestyle behavior research, the sex of populations causes differences in behaviors and outcomes of studies. This cross-sectional study investigated lifestyle behavior patterns in college students, examining sex differences in four areas: Nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress. Data from over 1100 college freshmen across 8 United States universities were used for this cross-sectional analysis. Self-reported data assessed fruit and vegetable intake, fat percent intake, physical activity, perceived stress, and sleep quality. Statistical analysis included Pearson chi-squared and Mann–Whitney’s U tests for scores by sex. Likewise, healthy cut-offs were used to determine frequency of participants within range of the five …

Opioid-Related Outcomes In West Virginia, 2008-2016, Sara Warfield, Robin Pollini, Cara M. Stokes, Rob Bossarte

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Objectives. To examine opioid-related outcomes by using hospitalization and mortality data as an indicator of the current opioid crisis in West Virginia. Methods. We used data from the West Virginia University Medicine health care system to examine the trend in opioid overdoses and percentage of patients with a repeat overdose from 2008 to 2016. We obtained the opioid overdose death rate for the state from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WONDER (Wide-ranging ONline Data for Epidemiologic Research) mortality data for 2008 to 2016. Results. The hospitalization rate for opioid overdoses increased (13%) on average each year in a similar …

Association Between Breastfeeding And Childhood Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, Amna Umer, Candice Hamilton, Roger A. Edwards, Lesley Cottrell, Peter Giacobbi Jr., Kim Innes, Collin John, George A. Kelley, William Neal, Christa Lilly

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Introduction The immediate benefits of breastfeeding are well-established but the long-term health benefits are less wellknown. West Virginia (WV) has a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and lower breastfeeding rates compared to national averages. There is a paucity of research examining the relationship between breastfeeding and subsequent childhood CVD risk factors, an issue of particular relevance in WV. Methods This study used longitudinally linked data from three cross-sectional datasets in WV (N=11,980). The information on breastfeeding was obtained retrospectively via parental recall when the child was in the fifth grade. The outcome variables included blood pressure measures [systolic blood …

Student Perspectives On Oncology Curricula At United States Medical Schools, Brandon C. Neeley, Daniel W. Golden, Jeffrey V. Brower, Steve E. Braunstein, Ariel E. Hirsch, Malcolm D. Mattes

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Delivering a cohesive oncology curriculum to medical students is challenging due to oncology’s multidisciplinary nature, predominantly outpatient clinical setting, and lack of data describing effective approaches to teaching it. We sought to better characterize approaches to oncology education at US medical schools by surveying third and fourth year medical students who serve on their institution’s curriculum committee. We received responses from students at 19 schools (15.2% response rate). Key findings included the following: (1) an under-emphasis of cancer in the curriculum relative to other common diseases; (2) imbalanced involvement of different clinical subspecialists as educators; (3) infrequent requirements for students …

An Exploratory Study On The Intergenerational Transmission Of Obesity And Dieting Proneness, Elizabeth A. Claydon, Keith J. Zullig, Christa L. Lilly, Stephanie C. Zerwas, Danielle M. Davidov, Lesley Cottrell, Marney A. White

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Purpose There is a paucity of research exploring individuals’ memories of parental dieting behavior, engagement in “fat talk”, or criticism of weight or eating behavior in childhood. This exploratory study utilized a community sample to further characterize the retrospective report of parenting dieting behavior. Methods A total of 507 participants (78.1% females; 20.7% males; and 1.2% transgender) were recruited to participate in an online, self-administered survey. Results Forty percent (216) of participants reported maternal dieting in their family of origin and 34% (182) reported maternal fat talk, 24% (120) reported paternal dieting, and 11% recalled paternal ‘fat talk’ (58). Subgroup …

Shifts In Leukocyte Counts Drive The Differential Expression Of Transcriptional Stroke Biomarkers In Whole Blood, Grant C. O'Connell, Madison B. Treadway, Connie S. Tennant, Noelle Lucke-Wold, Paul D. Chantler, Taura L. Barr

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Our group recently identified a panel of ten genes whose RNA expression levels in whole blood have utility for detection of stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanisms by which these genes become differentially expressed during stroke pathology. First, we assessed the transcriptional distribution of the ten genes across the peripheral immune system by measuring their expression levels on isolated neutrophils, monocytes, B-lymphocytes, CD-4+ T-lymphocytes, CD-8+ T-lymphocytes, and NK-cells generated from the blood of healthy donors (n = 3). Then, we examined the relationship between the whole-blood expression levels of the ten genes and white blood …

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Is Transmissible In Vitro Between Cells Of The Central Nervous System, Neil T. Sprenkle, Anirudhya Lahiri, James W. Simpkins, Gordon P. Meares

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Improper protein folding and trafficking are common pathological events in neurodegenerative diseases that result in the toxic accumulation of misfolded proteins within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). While low‐level stimulation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) is protective, sustained UPR activation resulting from prolonged ER stress can promote neurotoxicity. The cell‐autonomous mechanisms of the UPR have been extensively characterized. However, the cell‐extrinsic role of the UPR under physiological and pathological states in the CNS remains to be elucidated. To begin to address this, we evaluated if transferring conditioned media between ER‐stressed astrocytes and neurons could modulate their functional …

Enhanced A1 Adenosine Receptor-Induced Vascular Contractions In Mesenteric Artery And Aorta Of In L-Name Mouse Model Of Hypertension, Vishal R. Yadav, Bunyen Teng, S. Jamal Mustafa

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

L-NAME-induced hypertension is commonly used to study endothelial dysfunction and related vascular effects. It has been reported that genetic deletion of A1 adenosine receptor (AR) reduces blood pressure (BP) increases in mice and thus, suggesting the involvement of A1AR. Thus, we sought to determine whether A1AR-induced vascular responses were altered in this mouse model of hypertension. L-NAME (1 mg/ml) was given in the drinking water for 28 days to mice. The BP was monitored using non-invasive tail-cuff system. Muscle tension studies were performed using DMT for mesenteric arteries (MAs) and organ bath for aorta. Protein expression was analyzed by western …

Cortactin Phosphorylation By Casein Kinase 2 Regulates Actin-Related Protein 2/3 Complex Activity, Invadopodia Function And Tumor Cell Invasion, Steven M. Markwell, Amanda G. Ammer, Erik T. Interval, Jessica L. Allen, Brenen W. Papenberg, River A. Hames, Johnathan E. Castaño, Dorothy A. Schafer, Scott A. Weed

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Malregulation of the actin cytoskeleton enhances tumor cell motility and invasion. The actin-binding protein cortactin facilitates branched actin network formation through activation of the actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex. Increased cortactin expression due to gene amplification is observed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and other cancers, corresponding with elevated tumor progression and poor patient outcome. Arp2/3 complex activation is responsible for driving increased migration and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation by governing invadopodia formation and activity. Although cortactin-mediated activation of Arp2/3 complex and invadopodia regulation has been well established, signaling pathways responsible for governing cortactin binding to Arp2/3 …

Ischemic Stroke Alters Immune Cell Niche And Chemokine Profile In Mice Independent Of Spontaneous Bacterial Infection, Breanne Y. Farris, Kelly L. Monaghan, Wen Zheng, Courtney D. Amend, Heng Hu, Amanda G. Ammer, James E. Coad, Xuefang Ren, Edwin C. K. Wan

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background

The aim of this study is to report the long-term efficacy and safety of thoracoscopic epicardial left atrial ablation (TELA) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

This was a retrospective review of medical records. We included all patients diagnosed with paroxysmal AF who underwent TELA at our institution between 04/2011 and 06/2017. TELA included pulmonary vein isolation, LA dome lesions and LA appendage exclusion. All (n = 55) patients received an implantable loop recorder (ILR), 30 days post-operatively. Antiarrhythmic and anticoagulation therapy were discontinued at 90 and 180 days postoperatively, respectively, if patients were free of …

Evaluating The Impact Of An Intervention To Promote Empathy For Patients With Substance Use Disorder In A Rural Emergency Department, Theresa Poling

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Background

Negative attitudes of health professionals towards patients with SUD are common and contribute to suboptimal health care for this marginalized group of patients (Van-Boekel, Brouwers, Van-Weeghel & Garretson, 2013).

Objectives

Promoting empathy in the Emergency Department (ED) has the potential to increase nursing staff’s awareness of their attitudes and perceptions toward patients with SUD, thereby decreasing the stigma associated with addiction and improving patient care and patient outcomes. The rationale for implementing this project was to evaluate a tool to promote empathy. This tool was developed by the student researcher based on a literature search and analysis.

Design

This …

Environmental Regulation Of The Heart: The Role Of Non-Coding Rna And Epigenetics In Influencing Mitochondrial And Cellular Health, Quincy Alexander Hathaway

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The mitochondrion, a small but ubiquitously distributed organelle in the cell, continues to be the focus of many disease pathogeneses, tissue and organ dysfunctions, and other morbidities that occur throughout the body. The purpose of this work was to understand how cardiac mitochondrion are altered in disease and pathological states, specifically in their adaptation to environmentally stimulated regulatory networks, such as epigenetic modifications and promotion/inhibition of non-coding RNAs. Acute stress to mitochondrial regulation (inhalation toxicology) as well as chronic (type 2 diabetes mellitus) was examined. Using a FVB transgenic microRNA-378a mouse knockout model, the cardiovascular impact derived from altering the …

Intranasal Peptide-Based Fpva-Klh Conjugate Vaccine Protects Mice From Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Acute Murine Pneumonia, Emel Sen-Kilic, Catherine B. Blackwood, Dylan T. Boehm, Wiliam T. Witt, Aaron C. Malkowski, Justin R. Bevere, Ting Y. Wong, Jesse M. Hall, Shelby D. Bradford, Melinda E. Varney, Fredrick Heath Damron, Mariette Barbier

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen causing acute and chronic respiratory infections associated with morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with cystic fibrosis. Vaccination against P. aeruginosa before colonization may be a solution against these infections and improve the quality of life of at-risk patients. To develop a vaccine against P. aeruginosa, we formulated a novel peptide-based P. aeruginosa subunit vaccine based on the extracellular regions of one of its major siderophore receptors, FpvA. We evaluated the effectiveness and immunogenicity of the FpvA peptides conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) with the adjuvant curdlan in a murine vaccination and challenge …

An Application Of The Two-Stage Model Of Motor Learning To Speech Motor Control, Jacob W. Cahn

Capstones and Honors Theses

Purpose: This study used a two-stage model of motor learning (Latash, 2012) to evaluate bad and good variance during a speech learning task. Stage 1 learning involves minimizing bad variance, or overall error, whereas Stage 2 learning involves changes in good variance while ceiling accuracy is maintained. Using two different variables to evaluate speech complexity (manner of articulation and syllable length), two hypotheses were evaluated: 1) A two-stage model exists during speech motor learning and 2) complexity of stimuli will alter the achievement and maintenance of each stage during learning.

Methods: Twelve native English speakers with normal speech and hearing …

Contextual Interference In Speech Motor Learning Secondary To Similar Phonemes, Katelyn M. Bond

Capstones and Honors Theses

Purpose: The contextual interference (CI) effect is a motor learning phenomenon where learners experience difficulty during training resulting in poor performance; however, improved performance is observed in transfer conditions. Different variables elicit a CI effect, and the purpose of this study is to investigate whether phoneme (or sound) similarity may result in a CI effect during speech motor learning.

Method: The study included twenty-nine participants whose hearing and speech abilities were within the normal range. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two training sessions involving nonwords with either similar or dissimilar phonemes. Each training session included nonword repetition training …

Evaluability Assessment Of “Growing Healthy Communities,” A Mini-Grant Program To Improve Access To Healthy Foods And Places For Physical Activity, Christiaan G. Abildso, Angela Dyer, Shay M. Daily, Thomas K. Bias

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Mini-grants have been used to stimulate multisector collaboration in support of public health initiatives by funding non-traditional partners, such as economic development organizations. Such mini-grants have the potential to increase access to healthy foods and places for physical activity through built environment change, especially in small and rural towns in the United States. Although a promising practice, few mini-grant evaluations have been done. Therefore, our purpose was to conduct an Evaluability Assessment (EA), which is a process that can help promising programs that lack evidence advance toward full-scale evaluation. Specifically, we conducted an Evaluability Assessment of a statewide mini-grant program, …

Development Of Targeted Alpha Particle Therapy For Solid Tumors, Narges K. Tafreshi, Michael L. Doligalski, Christopher J. Tichacek, Darpan N. Pandya, Mikalai M. Budzevich, Ghassan El-Haddad, Nikhil I. Khushalani, Eduardo G. Moros, Mark L. Mclaughlin, Thaddeus J. Wadas, David L. Morse

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Abstract: Targeted alpha-particle therapy (TAT) aims to selectively deliver radionuclides emitting α-particles (cytotoxic payload) to tumors by chelation to monoclonal antibodies, peptides or small molecules that recognize tumor-associated antigens or cell-surface receptors. Because of the high linear energy transfer (LET) and short range of alpha (α) particles in tissue, cancer cells can be significantly damaged while causing minimal toxicity to surrounding healthy cells. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated the remarkable efficacy of TAT in the treatment of metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the current consensus regarding the properties of the α-particle-emitting radionuclides that are potentially …

Orofacial Granulomatosis In A Child, Reena Razdan, Maxwell D. Newby, Michele M. Carr

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is a rare, idiopathic disorder of the orofacial region. It is clinically characterized by persistent and/or recurrent enlargement of the soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region, often manifesting as labial enlargement and swelling of intraoral sites such as the gingiva, tongue, and buccal mucosa. Full-thickness mucosal biopsy reveals noncaseating granulomatous inflammation, similar to Crohn’s disease and sarcoidosis. Thus, OFG must be distinguished from other chronic granulomatous disorders. We report a case of a young female patient who presented with labial and maxillary gingival enlargement without any identifiable systemic causes, with suggested involvement of environmental triggers.

Retrospective Review Of The Patient Cases At A Major Trauma Center In Nairobi, Kenya And Implications For Emergency Care Development, Julie Saleeby, Justin G. Myers, Karen Ekernas, Katherine Hunold, Ali Wangara, Alice Maingi, Peyton Wilson, Vincent Mutiso, Sarah Zamamiri, Daniel Bacon, Wes Davis, John Suder, Yash Agrawal, Ogar Ogar, Ian B.K. Martin, Stephen Dunlop

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Introduction

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are continuing to experience a “triple burden” of disease - traumatic injury, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and communicable disease with maternal and neonatal conditions (CD&Ms). The epidemiology of this triad is not well characterised and poses significant challenges to resource allocations, administration, and education of emergency care providers. The data collected in this study provide a comprehensive description of the emergency centre at Kenya's largest public tertiary care hospital.

Methods

This study is a retrospective chart review conducted at Kenyatta National Hospital of all patient encounters over a four-month period. Data were collected from financial …

Expenditure, Coping, And Academic Behaviors Among Food-Insecure College Students At 10 Higher Education Institutes In The Appalachian And Southeastern Regions, Rebecca L. Hagedorn, Laura H. Mcarthur, Lanae B. Hood, Maureen Berner, Elizabeth T. Anderson Steeves, Carol L. Connell, Elizabeth Wall-Bassett, Marsha Spence, Oyinlola Toyin Babatunde, E Brooke Kelly, Julia F. Waity, J Porter Lillis, Melissa D. Olfert

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background

A number of studies have measured college student food insecurity prevalence higher than the national average; however, no multicampus regional study among students at 4-y institutions has been undertaken in the Appalachian and Southeast regions of the United States.

Objectives

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of food insecurity among college students in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, and to determine the association between food-insecurity status and money expenditures, coping strategies, and academic performance among a regional sample of college students.

Methods

This regional, cross-sectional, online survey study included 13,642 college …

Mutations In Arl2bp, A Protein Required For Ciliary Microtubule Structure, Cause Syndromic Male Infertility In Humans And Mice, Abigal R. Moye, Nicola Bedoni, Jessica G. Cunningham, Urikhan Sanzhaeva, Eric S. Tucker, Peter Mathers, Virginie G. Peter, Mathieu Quinodoz, Liliana P. Paris, Luisa Coutinho-Santos, Pedro Camacho, Madeleine G. Purcell, Abbie C. Winkelmann, James A. Foster, Elena N. Pugacheva, Carlo Rivolta, Visvanathan Ramamurthy

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Cilia are evolutionarily conserved hair-like structures with a wide spectrum of key biological roles, and their dysfunction has been linked to a growing class of genetic disorders, known collectively as ciliopathies. Many strides have been made towards deciphering the molecular causes for these diseases, which have in turn expanded the understanding of cilia and their functional roles. One recently-identified ciliary gene is ARL2BP, encoding the ADP-Ribosylation Factor Like 2 Binding Protein. In this study, we have identified multiple ciliopathy phenotypes associated with mutations in ARL2BP in human patients and in a mouse knockout model. Our research demonstrates that spermiogenesis …

Investigational Monoclonal Antibodies In The Treatment Of Multiple Myeloma: A Systematic Review Of Agents Under Clinical Development, Ahmad Iftikhar, Hamza Hassan, Nimra Iftikhar, Adeela Mushtaq, Atif Sohail, Nathaniel Rosko, Rajshekhar Chakraborty, Faryal Razzaq, Sonia Sandeep, Jason Neil Valent, Abraham Sebastian Kanate, Faiz Anwer

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: Immunotherapy for multiple myeloma (MM) has been the focus in recent years due to its myeloma-specific immune responses. We reviewed the literature on non-Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to highlight future perspectives. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov to include phase I/II clinical trials. Data from 39 studies (1906 patients) were included. Of all the agents, Isatuximab (Isa, anti-CD38) and F50067 (anti-CXCR4) were the only mAbs to produce encouraging results as monotherapy with overall response rates (ORRs) of 66.7% and 32% respectively. Isa showed activity when used in combination with …

Emergency Physicians' Perception Of Barriers And Facilitators For Adopting An Opioid Prescribing Guideline In Ohio: A Qualitative Interview Study, Jonathan Penm, Neil J. Mackinnon, Chloe Connelly, Rebecca Mashni, Michael S. Lyons, Edmond A. Hooker, Erin L. Winstanley, Steve Carlton-Ford, Erica Tolle, Jill Boone, Kathleen Koechlin, Jolene Defiore-Hyrmer

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Background Ohio has the fifth highest rate of prescription opioid overdose deaths in the United States. One strategy implemented to address this concern is a state-wide opioid prescribing guideline in the emergency department (ED). Objective Our aim was to explore emergency physicians’ perceptions on barriers and strategies for the Ohio ED opioid prescribing guideline. Methods Semi-structured interviews with emergency physicians in Ohio were conducted from October to December 2016. Emergency physicians were recruited through the American College of Emergency Physicians Ohio State Chapter. The interview guide explored issues related to the implementation of the guidelines. Interview data were transcribed and …

Impact Of Tumor Size On Local Control And Pneumonitis After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy For Lung Tumors, Sean M. Parker, R. Alfredo Siochi, Sijin Wen, Malcolm D. Mattes

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Purpose Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is commonly used to treat primary or oligometastatic malignancies in the lung, but most of the available data that describe the safety and efficacy of SBRT are for smaller tumors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of tumor size, among other factors, on local control (LC) and radiation pneumonitis (RP) in patients who received lung SBRT. Methods and materials This retrospective study included 144 patients with 100 primary (57.1%) and 75 metastatic (42.9%) lung tumors treated with SBRT between 2012 and 2018. Measurements of tumor size, treatment volume, histology, and …

Position On House Bill 3111, Katelyn Ramsey

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Background Checks For Physical Therapists, Ashley M. Casto

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.