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Prevalence Of Hypertension Among Low-Income Individuals In Muscogee County Columbus, Georgia, Amelia K. Fallah

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of elevated blood pressure (BP) among 409 low-income adults in Muscogee County, Columbus, Georgia—a population disproportionately burdened by hypertension. The findings reveal that elevated BP is significantly more prevalent among African Americans (71.4%) compared to non-African Americans (27.1%), highlighting the role of racial disparities influenced by systemic inequities, healthcare access, and chronic stress. Gender differences were modest, with females exhibiting a slightly higher prevalence (77.9%) than males (76.7%), potentially due to age-related hormonal changes post-menopause. Older adults (50+ years) represented most of the sample and showed significantly higher hypertension rates, consistent with established …

Feasibility And Psychometric Quality Of Smartphone Administered Cognitive Ecological Momentary Assessments In Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer, Ashley M. Henneghan, Emily W. Paolillo, Kathleen M. Van Dyk, Oscar Y. Franco-Rocha, Soyeong Bang, Rebecca Tasker, Tara Kaufmann, Darren Haywood, Nicolas H. Hart, Raeanne C. Moore

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is associated with burdensome side effects, including cognitive changes that require ongoing monitoring. Cognitive ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) allow for assessment of individual cognitive functioning in natural environments and can be administered via smartphones. Accordingly, we sought to establish the feasibility, reliability, and validity of a commercially available cognitive EMA platform. Methods: Using a prospective design, clinical cognitive and psychosocial assessments (cognitive batteries; patient reported outcomes) were collected at baseline, followed by a 28-day daily EMA protocol that included self-ratings for symptoms and mobile cognitive tests (memory, executive functioning, working memory, processing speed). Satisfaction and …

Double Atrial Septum With Interatrial Space In Patients Experiencing Ischemic Attack, Blerim Berisha, Fadhel Hamidani, Mathias Humm

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

No abstract provided.

Overview Of The Head And Neck Tumor Segmentation For Magnetic Resonance Guided Applications (Hnts-Mrg) 2024 Challenge, Kareem A Wahid, Cem Dede, Dina M El-Habashy, Serageldin Kamel, Michael K Rooney, Yomna Khamis, Moamen R A Abdelaal, Sara Ahmed, Kelsey L Corrigan, Enoch Chang, Stephanie O Dudzinski, Travis C Salzillo, Brigid A Mcdonald, Samuel L Mulder, Lucas Mccullum, Qusai Alakayleh, Carlos Sjogreen, Renjie He, Abdallah S R Mohamed, Stephen Y Lai, John P Christodouleas, Andrew J Schaefer, Mohamed A Naser, Clifton D Fuller

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Magnetic resonance (MR)-guided radiation therapy (RT) is enhancing head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment through superior soft tissue contrast and longitudinal imaging capabilities. However, manual tumor segmentation remains a significant challenge, spurring interest in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven automation. To accelerate innovation in this field, we present the Head and Neck Tumor Segmentation for MR-Guided Applications (HNTS-MRG) 2024 Challenge, a satellite event of the 27th International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention. This challenge addresses the scarcity of large, publicly available AI-ready adaptive RT datasets in HNC and explores the potential of incorporating multi-timepoint data to enhance RT …

The Human Spinothalamic Tract: Lessons From Cordotomy, Anthony K Allam, Michael Benjamin Larkin, Ishan A Patel, Mohammed Hasen, David Mears, Patrick Dougherty, Ashwin Viswanathan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The spinothalamic tract has long been known as a primary conductor of nociceptive information, with its anatomical and physiological understanding evolving over centuries of research. This comprehensive review traces the history of the spinothalamic tract beginning with Brown-Sequard’s 1860 report of contralateral analgesia following a hemisection of the spinal cord. As clinical and surgical interventions, such as cordotomies have advanced, so did our understanding of the spinothalamic tract’s function and anatomy. The spinothalamic tract’s role as a crossed pathway conducting pain and temperature sensations was solidified by the mid-20th century. However, intricate details of its somatotopic arrangement, anatomical distributions and …

Treatment Fidelity And Outcome In Cbt For Youth With Autism: The Meya Fidelity Scale, Bryce D Mcleod, Jeffrey J Wood, Jennifer Cecilione Herbst, Danielle Dunn, Philip C Kendall, Eric A Storch, An Chuen Cho, Kashia A Rosenau

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Assessing treatment fidelity in effectiveness research is critical to interpreting study findings. This paper details the development and initial psychometric evaluation of the Modular Evidence-Based Practices for Youth with Autism Fidelity Scale (MEYA-FS) designed to support the assessment of cognitive-behavioral treatments for youth with autism in effectiveness research.

Method: Recorded treatment sessions (N = 338) were randomly selected from 77 youth (M age = 9.65 years, SD = 1.87; 50.67% White; 85.33% male) who received the Schema, Emotion, and Behavior-Focused Therapy for Children (SEBASTIEN) (n = 51) or Coping Cat (n = 24) program.

Results: …

Influence Of Perceived Health Provider Communication, Diabetes Duration And Age At Diagnosis With Confidence In Diabetes Self-Care, Courtney L. Ortz, Meredith S. Duncan, Oluwatosin Leshi, William B. Burrows, Brittany L. Smalls

Family and Community Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Several factors influence individuals’ confidence to perform diabetes-related self-care activities, including perceived patient-provider communication, diabetes duration and age at diagnosis. It has been well-documented that patient-provider communication is essential when managing chronic diseases such as diabetes; however, the impact of this communication with diabetes duration and age at diabetes diagnosis on confidence in performing self-care behaviors is obscure.

Research design and methods: We utilized data from the 2021 Household Component of the Medical Expenditure Survey among participants 18 years or older who had completed the Diabetes Care Survey. Ordinal logistic regression models were utilized to assess the association between …

Hospital Vs Clinic Setting, Hailey Gaines

A with Honors Projects

Being a radiologic technology student means not only showing up to class but also going to clinicals. Clinicals provide hands-on learning with the imaging equipment along with learning anatomy and positioning techniques. Clinicals can help students learn like Asure quotes, “Through clinical practice, students translate theory into real-life experiences thereby allowing them to develop professional clinical attributes, such as professional identity, interpersonal skills, expertise in patient care, practice competence and confidence,” (Asare, 2017) in clinicals, students use the information they learned in class and apply it to either clinic or hospital settings. Hospitals are more faced-paced and see lots of …

Investigating The Ideal Candidate For The Fda’S Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids, Jamie N. Mayer

Capstone Showcase

Hearing loss is an underdiagnosed and undertreated medical condition affecting millions of Americans across a variety of ages and stages of life. Over-the-counter hearing aids are a new category of hearing aids created by the FDA. By targeting affordability and accessibility, over-the-counter hearing aids reduce barriers to care that individuals with hearing loss may face. There is a major impact of hearing loss on adults, specifically, for our elderly population who struggle with communication, staying engaged socially, and the additional stress of comorbid conditions. Elderly adults have the potential to derive immense benefit from over-the-counter hearing aids, specifically for those …

Recommendations For Diagnosis And Treatment Of Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea In Females Of Reproductive Age, Monica Foster

Capstone Showcase

Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) accounts for approximately 30% of total cases of secondary amenorrhea in women of reproductive age. HA is defined as the absence of menses due to inadequate secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by the hypothalamus leading to lack of secretion of gonadotropins from the anterior pituitary gland and steroid hormones from the ovaries. This feedback loop, called the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, regulates reproductive activity in animals and humans. When this system is disrupted in females due to a hormonal imbalance, menstrual abnormalities may emerge. Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is defined as the absence of menses in which anatomic …

Implementing A Remote Patient Monitoring Program To Improve Nutrition Status In Infant With Cystic Fibrosis, Jessica Jones, Stacie Hunter, Kelli Williams, Petrissa Ncomo, Rapheal Peeples, Alex Pottorff, Lauren Lazar, Meghana Sathe

2025

No abstract provided.

"The Perfect Storm": Weathering Black Racial Trauma Across The Lifespan And The Impact Of Covid-19, Taryne M. Mingo, Kiauhna Haynes

Adultspan Journal

Descendants of Africans Enslaved in the United States (DAEUS), who lived in the South prior to 1965 and experienced decades of legalized discrimination, were found to have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Arline Geronimus (1992) coined the term “weathering” to acknowledge the accumulation of racial trauma stored within the body over extended periods of time. The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study, aligned by the tenets of Critical Race Theory, explores how continuous racial trauma impacted DAEUS citizens’ well-being and trust in the COVID-19 vaccine. Three Group Experiential Themes emerged during this study, all connected with the experiences …

Diabetes Device Knowledge And Confidence Among School Nurses: A Mixed Methods Study, Cassandra F. Moffitt

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Problem: Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common chronic medical conditions in childhood. While manageable, these children may spend half of their day in the school setting and often need assistance from a school nurse to manage their care.

Theory: Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (1977) served as the theoretical framework for this study.

Research Questions: The research questions explored knowledge, confidence, and additional predictors of confidence related to diabetes devices.

Design/Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used. The Diabetes Device Confidence Scale (DDCS) was used to measure device confidence, while Subscale 10 of the KAT-1 instrument …

Breaking The Flow: Endovascular Repair Of A Coronary Cameral Fistula, Alexander S. Yaylayan, Athanasios Larkin, Kruten M. Patel, Jesse Klein

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

How Do Patient-Provider Relationships Affect Patient Satisfaction?, Rose D. Lightspeed

Anthós

This article reviews studies on patient satisfaction within the U.S. healthcare system to investigate how physicians’ behavior influences patients’ reported quality of care. Medical negligence, neglect, and cognitive biases are identified from the reviewed literature as physician behaviors that affect the patient-provider relationship and patient satisfaction. Emphasizing patient satisfaction and involvement in their care as important considerations when evaluating patient-provider relationships, Lightspeed underscores how the complex dynamic between patient and provider–including physicians’ reported feeling of inadequate interpersonal skills and patients’ sensitivity to dismissive communication–contributes to reduced satisfaction rates. Lightspeed argues that increasing physician awareness of these factors that influence patient …

A Spine-Specific Lexicon For The Sentiment Analysis Of Interviews With Adult Spinal Deformity Patients Correlate With Sf-36, Sf-36, And Odi Scores: A Pilot Study Of 25 Patients, Ross Gore, Michael M. Safaee, Christopher J. Lynch, Christopher P. Ames

VMASC Publications

Classic health-related quality of life (HRQOL) metrics are cumbersome, time-intensive, and subject to biases based on the patient’s native language, educational level, and cultural values. Natural language processing (NLP) converts text into quantitative metrics. Sentiment analysis enables subject matter experts to construct domain-specific lexicons that assign a value of either negative (−1) or positive (1) to certain words. The growth of telehealth provides opportunities to apply sentiment analysis to transcripts of adult spinal deformity patients’ visits to derive a novel and less biased HRQOL metric. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of constructing a spine-specific lexicon for sentiment analysis …

Week 96 Results Of Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide For Hiv Treatment In People With Substance Use Disorders, Joshua P. Havens, Sara Bares, Elizabeth Lyden, Nada A. Fadul, Susan Swindells

Journal Articles: Infectious Diseases

BACKGROUND: The BASE study (NCT03998176), a phase 4, 48-week (W), single-arm, prospective trial, revealed that the use of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) in people with HIV and substance use disorders (PWH/SUD) was safe and effective without emergent antiretroviral resistance despite incomplete adherence. Here, we present the W96 results.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all participants enrolled in the BASE study was completed from W48 to W96. End points of interest at W96 included the proportion of participants with viral suppression (VS; HIV RNA < 50 copies/mL [c/mL]), incidence of protocol-defined virologic failure (PDVF; 2 consecutive ≥400 c/mL), safety, adherence (percentage of days covered [PDC]), retention in care, and prevalence of ongoing substance use.

RESULTS: All enrolled BASE participants (n = 43) were included in the W96 analysis. At W48, 21 participants …

Identification Of Potential Prophylactic Medical Countermeasures Against Acute Radiation Syndrome (Ars), Kia T. Liermann-Wooldrik, Arpita Chatterjee, Elizabeth A. Kosmacek, Molly Myers, Oluwaseun Adebisi, Louise Monga-Wells, Liu Mei, Michelle P. Takacs, Patrick H. Dussault, Daniel R. Draney, Robert Powers, James W. Checco, Chittibabu Guda, Tomáš Helikar, David B. Berkowitz, Kenneth W. Bayles, Alan H. Epstein, Lynnette Cary, Daryl J. Murry, Rebecca E. Oberley-Deegan

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) occurs when hematopoietic or gastrointestinal cells are damaged by radiation exposure causing DNA damage to the bone marrow and gastrointestinal epithelial stem cell populations. In these highly proliferative cell types, DNA damage inhibits stem cell repopulation. In humans and animals, this inability to regenerate stem cells is lethal. Within this manuscript, several compounds, Amifostine, Captopril, Ciprofloxacin, PrC-210, 5-AED (5-androstene-3β,17β-diol), and 5-AET (5-androstene-3β,7β,17B-triol), are assessed for their ability to protect against ARS in an in vitro and/or in vivo setting. ARS was accomplished by irradiating mouse bone marrow cells or rat intestinal epithelial (IEC-6) cells in vitro …

Exploring Large Language Models For Summarizing And Interpreting An Online Brain Tumor Support Forum, Christy Muasher-Kerwin, M. Courtney Hughes, Michelle L. Foster, Ibrahiim Al Azher, Hamed Alhoori

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Objective

Methods

"You Sure Feel Like You're Alone, Kind Of Flailing Away Out There": Family Caregiver Perspectives Of Caring For An Individual With Glioblastoma Multiforme, Christy Muasher-Kerwin, Abby Baumbach, Yujun Liu, M. Courtney Hughes

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Objectives

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer. Family caregivers of individuals with GBM must navigate a wide range of their care recipients’ physical, cognitive, and psychosocial deficits to provide effective care, which is both mentally and physically demanding. This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of family caregivers of GBM patients about the barriers and challenges they encounter when providing care to their care recipients. Methods

Nineteen current and former family caregivers for individuals with GBM participated in semi-structured interviews from October 2023 through January 2024. We conducted interviews virtually and used applied …

Differences In Long Covid Severity By Duration Of Illness, Symptom Evolution, And Vaccination: A Longitudinal Cohort Study From The Inspire Group, Michael Gottlieb, Huihui Yu, Ji Chen, Erica S. Spatz, Nicole L. Gentile, Rachel E. Geyer, Michelle Santangelo, Caitlin Malicki, Kristyn Gatling, Sharon Saydah, Kelli N. O'Laughlin, Kari A. Stephens, Joann G. Elmore, Lauren E. Wisk, Michelle L'Hommedieu, Robert M. Rodriguez, Juan Carlos C. Montoy, Ralph C. Wang, Kristin L. Rising, Efrat Kean, Jonathan W. Dyal, Mandy J. Hill, Arjun K. Venkatesh, Robert A. Weinstein

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: Although short-term outcomes of Long COVID have been described, longer-term physical and mental health outcomes of Long COVID are less well-established. This study sought to assess differences in long-term physical and mental health outcomes extending up to three years among those with current, resolved, and no Long COVID, as well as duration of Long COVID and vaccination status. Methods: This was a prospective, multisite, study of participants with SARS-CoV-2 infection from 12/7/2020-8/29/2022, with data collected through 4/2/2024. Surveys included validated tools for physical and mental health. Data were analyzed by Long COVID status (never-had, resolved, current), Long COVID duration …

Introducing The University Of New Mexico 12-Level Functional Scale: A Novel Approach For Assessing Functional Recovery In Orthopaedic Trauma Patients, Devin A. Maez, Rick J. Gehlert, Thomas A. Decoster

Western Journal of Orthopaedics

The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Scale and other common activity scales are primarily used for patients undergoing joint reconstructive surgery. However, no such scale exists for musculoskeletal trauma patients. The authors propose The University of New Mexico (UNM) 12-Level Functional Activity Scale to address this gap in assessing functional activity and managing postoperative care for orthopaedic trauma patients. A comprehensive review of existing scales led to the development of the UNM Scale, emphasizing simplicity, objectivity, and potential benefits in patient education and interdisciplinary collaboration. The UNM Scale provides a structured approach to assess and monitor functional …

Exploring Familial Lymphoma And Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Rhea Mahajan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project aims to investigate the familial incidence of lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) within the patient population at Gabrail Cancer Center (GCC). Using the Electronic Medical Record from the past ten years, patients with current or historical diagnoses of lymphoma or CLL will be identified and surveyed (along with using patient records, including consult notes, hospital notes, MD notes, etc.) to extract any family history of these cancers. The project will analyze clinical outcomes in these cases, and analyze whether there were multiple family members to have been affected by lymphoma or CLL (or other cancers), and see …

Protein Marker-Dependent Drug Discovery Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells, Ashley V. Huang, Yali Kong, Kan Wang, Milton L. Brown, David Mu

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers globally. Unfortunately, many patients with breast cancer develop resistance to chemotherapy and tumor recurrence, which is primarily driven by breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). BCSCs behave like stem cells and can self-renew and differentiate into mature tumor cells, enabling the cancer to regrow and metastasize. Key markers like CD44 and aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 (ALDH1), along with pathways like Wingless-related integration site (Wnt), Notch, and Hedgehog, are critical to regulating this stem-like behavior of BCSCs and, thus, are being investigated as targets for various new therapies. This review summarizes marker-dependent strategies for targeting …

Efficacy And Safety Of 4-Month Rifapentine-Based Tuberculosis Treatments In Persons With Diabetes., Ekaterina V. Kurbatova, William C. Whitworth, Lakshmi Praveena Peddareddy, Patrick P. J. Phillips, Nigel A. Scott, Kia E. Bryant, Rodney Dawson, Sandra Wagner Cardoso, Wadzanai Samaneka, Melissa Engle, Ziyaad Waja, Erin Sizemore, Wendy Carr, Kelly E. Dooley, Radojka Savic, Susan Swindells, Richard E. Chaisson, Susan E. Dorman, Payam Nahid, Nhung V. Nguyen, Aids Clinical Trials Group A5349, Tuberculosis Trials Consortium Study 31

Journal Articles: Infectious Diseases

A previous study demonstrated noninferior efficacy of 4-month rifapentine/moxifloxacin regimen for tuberculosis (TB) treatment compared with the standard regimen. We explored results among study participants with diabetes. Among 2,516 randomized participants, 181 (7.2%) had diabetes. Of 166 participants with diabetes in the microbiologically eligible analysis group, 26.3% (15/57) had unfavorable outcomes in the control regimen, 13.8% (8/58) in the rifapentine/moxifloxacin regimen, and 29.4% (15/51) in the rifapentine regimen. The difference in proportion of unfavorable outcomes between the control and rifapentine/moxifloxacin arms in the microbiologically eligible analysis group was -12.5% (95% CI -27.0% to 1.9%); the difference between the control and …

The Hybrid General Internist: A Novel Solution To Declining Interest In Primary Care, Rae Witt, Jana L. Wardian, Victoria Kennel, Jennifer Parker, Chelsea Navarrette

Journal Articles: Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Sensory Diets On Occupational Performance, Kyndra Holloway, Cassandra Howard, Makena Collin, Princess Pillos

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

This study investigates the impact of individualized sensory diets on children’s occupational performance in daily life. Sensory diets are structured, child-specific interventions designed to facilitate improved sensory processing by integrating activities into established routines. They involve a tailored home program plan, consistent application, and interventions aligned with the child’s specific sensory needs (Wilbarger, 1995).Using a multiple single-case study design, this research examined the outcomes of sensory diets prescribed alongside direct occupational therapy (OT) services for four white male children aged 3 years, 11 months to 5 years, and 8 months with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Participants were recruited through Developmental FX (DFX) …

Puzzling Papules: Uncovering The Etiology Of A Rash In A Returning Traveler, Lisa Stampke, Md, Shahana Baig-Lewis Md, Mph

Abstracts, Posters, Presentations

No abstract provided.

Improving Timely Palliative Care Consultation In The Micu: A Nurse-Driven Quality Improvement Initiative, Sandy Louise Gray

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Improving Timely Palliative Care Consultation in the MICU: A Nurse-Driven Quality Improvement Initiative

Sandy L Gray

Background: Early palliative care in intensive care units improves outcomes and reduces costs, yet referrals are often delayed. At J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital’s medical intensive care unit (MICU), baseline median time to consultation was 112 hours (mean=246), exceeding recommended benchmarks and highlighting the need for a standardized process.

Purpose: This quality improvement project evaluated a nurse-driven screening tool to improve timeliness and consistency of palliative care consultations in the MICU.

Intervention: The tool was embedded in the electronic health record (EHR) …

Improving Postpartum Outcomes Through Therapeutic Individual And Group Occupational Therapy Sessions In Hospitalized Antepartum Patients, Melissa C. Learish

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Extended hospitalization in the postpartum period is occasionally medically indicated due to a variety of diagnoses, but can pose challenges to the psychosocial well-being of pregnant women, such as social isolation, anxiety, alteration of normal life routines, and less preparation for postpartum life. In acute care settings, however, maternal management tends to focus on physical stabilization rather than holistic maternal care, including opportunities for emotional support, occupational engagement, and postpartum planning. This doctoral capstone project was designed to assess the effect of individualized and group-based occupational therapy interventions for antepartum women who have been hospitalized for extended periods of time, …