Digital Commons Network^™

Sex-Based Disparities In Health Care Access And Utilization Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation, Ji Mei May Wong, Peter R. Kowey

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Females with atrial fibrillation (AF) experience a higher risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, and mortality than males with AF. Theories suggest that sex-based differences in hormonal, structural, and electrophysiologic factors are associated with this imbalance; we hypothesized that sex-based differences in health care access and utilization (HCAU) are also underlying factors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sex-based disparities in HCAU barriers exist among individuals with AF.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study used data on patients with AF in the All of Us Research Program Registered Tier dataset (version 8), which contains integrated data from the electronic health record …

Ppg-Sport: A Dataset For Reliable Heart Rate Monitoring From Wrist Ppg Under Dynamic Sports Conditions, Changshuo Hu, Hung Manh Pham, Yiming Zhang, Guanru Yan, Xiao Ma, Yuezhong Wu, Thivya Kandappu, Archan Misra, Dong Ma

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Photoplethysmography (PPG) has become a cornerstone of physiological sensing in wearable devices, enabling non-invasive monitoring of heart rate and related biomarkers. However, its reliability deteriorates sharply under dynamic, high-intensity, or non-periodic motions such as those in sports, where existing datasets fail to capture realistic wrist dynamics. To address this gap, we introduce PPG-Sport, the first large-scale dataset designed for heart rate monitoring from wrist-worn PPG under real sports conditions. The PPG-Sport dataset includes synchronized PPG, inertial measurement unit (IMU), and electrocardiography (ECG) recordings from both wrists of 30 participants across six representative activities: stationary, walking, running, badminton, table tennis, and …

Updated 2026 Comprehensive Evidence-Based Guidelines For Facet Joint Interventions In The Management Of Chronic Spinal Pain: American Society Of Interventional Pain Physicians (Asipp) Guidelines, Laxmaiah Manchikanti, Mahendra R. Sanapati, Sheri L. Albers, Alan D. Kaye, Vinita Singh, Nebojsa Nick Knezevic, Rajesh Naidu Janapala, Amol Soin, Annu Navani, Adam M. Kaye, Ahad Mussarat, Alexander Bautista, Dajie Wang, Paul J. Christo, Maged Mina, Daneshvari R. Solanki, Devi Nampiaparampil, Gerard Limerick, John Manor, Kris Ferguson, Lynn Cintron, Michael Bottros, Shirley Chen, Shivam S. Shah, Vahid Grami, Douglas P. Beall, Shalini Shah, Sairam Atluri, Mittal S. Prajapati, Alaa Abd-Elsayed, Salahadin Abdi, Steve Aydin, Sanjay Bakshi, Joseph Cabaret, Aaron K. Calodney, Kenneth D. Candido, Christopher G. Gharibo, Mayank Gupta, Michael Harned, Standiford Helm Ii, Sachin Sunny Jha, Radomir Kosanovic, Vidyasagar Pampati, Ramarao Pasupuleti, Bradley W. Wargo, Hermant Kalia, Gary Schwartz, Joshua A. Hirsch

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Chronic axial spinal pain is a major contributor to disability and healthcare expenditures, with facet joints recognized as one of the established sources of pain.

OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence-based guidance in performing diagnostic and therapeutic facet joint interventions.

METHODS: A multidisciplinary panel of experts from various medical and pharmaceutical disciplines, convened by the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP), reviewed the available evidence, considered patient perspectives, and formulated recommendations for facet joint interventions in the management of chronic pain.The methodology included the development of key questions with evidence-based statements and recommendations. Grading of the evidence and recommendations followed …

Robotic-Assisted Pedicle Screw Placement Achieves High Accuracy And Narrows The Experience Gap: A Preclinical Evaluation, Anna T. Reza, Matthias Walper, Mitchell K. Ng, Paul G. Mastrokostas, Andrew S. Lee, Rafael G. Rafael, Kornelis A. Poelstra, Ratliff K. John, Rajiv K. Sethi, Michael A. Mont

Rothman Institute Papers

To assess a robotic-assisted system versus open manual techniques to: (1) compare pedicle screw accuracy between fellows and attendings with and without robotic assistance, and (2) evaluate executed versus planned trajectory fidelity relative to prior reports. Robotic-assisted spine systems aim to improve the accuracy, reproducibility, and safety of pedicle screw placement. Limited evidence compares outcomes across differing surgeon experience levels. A total of 255 thoracolumbar pedicle screws were placed in synthetic torsos simulating adult degenerative anatomy. Four surgeons (two fellows, two attendings) each placed half their screws using open fluoroscopy-guided techniques and half using a minimally invasive percutaneous approach with …

Attachment Style, The Working Alliance, And Client Self-Disclosure In Individual Psychotherapy, Jennifer S. Baar

Dissertations

Client self-disclosure is a core component of the psychotherapy process and increased levels of client self-disclosure have been shown to predict more positive therapeutic outcomes (Pattee & Farber, 2008; Sloan & Kahn, 2005). Similarly, the working alliance and attachment are constructs that have been studied in psychotherapy research and are consistently associated with therapeutic outcomes. Specifically, stronger working alliance ratings and higher levels of secure attachment have been found to predict more positive therapy outcomes (e.g., Flückiger et al., 2018; Mallinckrodt et al., 2005; Sauer et al., 2010). As these three constructs have been found to influence psychotherapy outcomes, the …

Beta2-Agonist And Anti-Inflammatory Combination Therapy For Asthma Rescue: A Paradigm Shift In Asthma Care, Neil Skolnik, Jessica Stieritz, Julie Akers, Timothy Hudd, Wendy L. Wright, Ileen Gilbert, Nazrin Yusufova, Bill Cook, Emily Robb, Henry Naddaf

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) report and national and international guidelines have shifted away from short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA)-only bronchodilators as first-line asthma rescue therapy, recognizing that both bronchoconstriction and inflammation underlie the increase in symptoms preceding an exacerbation. Instead, the GINA Committee supports strategies to reduce inflammation, such as anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR) therapy (as-needed, low-dose inhaled corticosteroid [ICS]–formoterol or SABA–ICS for symptom relief) and single maintenance and reliever therapy (SMART) or maintenance and reliever therapy (MART; i.e., ICS–formoterol used as both maintenance and as-needed rescue therapy). This narrative review discusses the rationale behind the move toward AIR and SMART …

A Word From The Writing Team (June 2026), Pam Walter, Mfa, Laura Deloretta, Phd

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Co-Designed Interventions Package For Enhancing Women's Resilience In Reproductive And Child Health Through Income-Generating Associations: A Human-Centered Design Study In Tanzania, Kahabi Isangula, Aminieli Itaeli Usiri, Eunice Pallangyo

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Maternal and under-five mortality remain major public health concerns in many low- and middle-income countries, including Tanzania. Despite their widespread use in strengthening economic resilience, income-generating associations (IGAs) have not fully utilized their potential as platforms for addressing reproductive and child health (RCH) challenges.

Objective: This study aimed to co-design an intervention package with women participating in income-generating associations to enhance their preparedness and resilience in addressing RCH challenges in Tanzania.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study guided by a Human-Centered Design (HCD) framework was conducted in the Arusha and Shinyanga regions of Tanzania. The study followed …

Oculocardiac Reflex Elicited From An Exenterated Orbit, Joseph Desimone, Edward H. Bedrossian

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

No abstract provided.

Socioeconomic Inequalities In Health-Related Quality Of Life During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Six-Country Comparison Using The Eq-5d-5 L, Joëlle Eijkens, Joshua M. Bonsel, You-Shan Feng, M. F. Bas Janssen, Erica I. Lubetkin, Juanita A. Haagsma

Publications and Research

Purpose

Despite the growing attention to health inequalities, there is no global consensus on how to measure socio-economic status. This study examined inequalities in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic across six countries—China, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US)—using three SES indicators: education level, income, and work status.

Methods

Between April and June 2020, individuals aged 18–75 years old completed a web-based survey. HRQoL was measured using the EQ-5D-5L Level Sum Score (LSS), where higher scores indicate poorer health. Country-specific differences in LSS across SES groups …

Roots And Greens: Discovering The Power Of Indigenous Produce, Abiodun T. Atoloye, Sherif O. Olasoji, Ebunoluwa G. Ibidapo

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Courseware

The curriculum was designed in alignment with the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML), Empowerment Theory (ET), and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) frameworks. These frameworks were used to determine the selection and sequencing of learning activities. As reflected in CTML principles, the use of texts, images, infographics, and videos enhances knowledge retention and information comprehension and helps prevent cognitive overload. Through activities, homework, and family engagement, the principles of ET were incorporated into the curriculum to facilitate participants’ perceived control over food-related decisions. Additionally, by applying the principles of SCT, the curriculum incorporates scenario-based questions, opportunities to engage with peers, …

Marshall University 2026 College Of Health Professions Student Research Day, Cohp Research Committee

Appalachian Student Healthcare Research Review

Marshall University

2026 College of Health Professions Student Research Day

April 16, 2026

Student Oral Presentations

1. Validity of Using Smartphone Cameras and Pose Estimation Algorithms for Quantitative Analysis of Human Dynamic Movements

Flanders B, Wolfe T, Saines J, Liang H: School of Physical Therapy

2. Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Anaerobic Capacity and Body Composition in Novice Rock Climbers

George LG, Jones BJ: School of Health and Movement Sciences

3. Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Injuries and Mental Health

Rice C, Konz S: School of Health and Movement Sciences

Student Poster Presentations

4. Effects of Bright Light Therapy on Depression

Adams, …

Development And Validation Of The Lifetime Sense Of Safety Scale In Kenyan Adults, Karen Blackmon, Anne Nyambura, Anne Gitere, Levi Muyela, Catherine Onyancha, Kendi Muchungi, Catherine Ajalo, Litha Musili, Rachel Maina, Edna Bosire, Lukoye Atwoli, Zul Merali, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

Background. Safety supports psychological wellbeing and potentially shapes brain aging yet existing scales overlook cumulative lifespan safety experiences.

Methods. To address this gap, we developed and validated the Lifetime Sense of Safety (LSS) scale in Kenyan adults. The LSS uses visual analog scaling with a red-to-green color gradient to retrospectively rate felt safety across life stages and settings. We evaluated scale psychometrics and associations with social determinants of health and indicators of brain health.

Results. The LSS shows adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability, with two distinct but correlated factors representing childhood and adulthood safety. Women and …

Breaking Barriers: Harnessing Collaboration Between Individuals With Disabilities And Emergency Management In New Jersey, Daniel Wrinn

Master of Science in Emergency & Disaster Management Capstones

No abstract provided.

An Obligatory Role For Agrp Neurons In Maintaining Body Temperature During Time-Restricted Feeding, Cunjin Su, Jing Cai, Yuanzhong Xu, Benjamin R Arenkiel, Qingchun Tong

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Homeotherms maintain a steady body temperature through thermoregulation, a process critical for survival during fasting, in which the brain has to defend energy-costly body temperature while reducing energy expenditure to conserve energy reserve; however, the neural basis for defending body temperature remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that AgRP neuron lesion led to lethality during time-restricted feeding on chow but not on HFD, and caused no obvious impact on HFD-induced obesity or obesity-reducing responses to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonism. The lesion disrupted adaptive feeding behaviors during time-restricted feeding and reduced motivational feeding on chow. Notably, the lethality was caused by hypothermia …

Investigating Individual And Group Level Mediators Of Fear Acquisition, Rachel S. Lese

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The ability to discriminate between cues predictive of threat vs. safety (fear acquisition) and subsequently update fear responding when contingencies change (fear extinction) is crucial to survival for all organisms. While these processes have been the subject of intense experimental scrutiny for several decades, most human fear learning studies have focused primarily on extinction learning and fear recovery processes, with less focus on fear acquisition itself. Indeed, researchers typically aim to minimize variability during fear acquisition in order to rule out differences in extinction being driven by variability during the initial learning phase. Thus, experimental protocols are often optimized to …

A Decade Of Leadership And Impact: Celebrating 10 Years Of The Ors Spine Section, Makarand V. Risbud

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Socio-Ecological Models As A Framework For 21st-Century Genetic Counseling, Shana L. Merrill, Rebecca Mueller

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Socio-ecological models and the related concepts of micro-, meso-, and macro-level practice are commonly used in the fields of social work and public health yet have not been thoroughly conceptualized for application to genetic counseling practice, research, and training. The field of genetic counseling is currently undergoing significant expansion with more genetic counseling training programs, greater variation in genetic counselor job roles, and genetic counselors practicing in more globally dispersed regions. It is therefore a critical time to conceptualize and tailor relevant theoretical frameworks to unify and guide the evolving field of genetic counseling. In this paper, we posit that …

Evaluation Of Neuroplastic Changes In Psychological Intervention And Contemporary Treatments Of Depression, Taylor Severance

Dissertations

Major depressive disorder is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders worldwide. There is a vast range of treatment options for depression, with varying levels of effectiveness. Recent treatments for depression have expanded, increasing alternative treatments, and it is unknown which treatments have the largest impact on depression. This research was designed to examine the treatments of depression, with a focus on psychotherapy and contemporary treatments such as ketamine, psilocybin, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. A literature review was conducted to assess treatment outcomes and neuroplastic changes in these interventions, as well as combinations of the interventions. Data were evaluated …

From Evidence To Action: Case For Further Investment In Family Planning For Faster Fertility Decline, Population Council Pakistan

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

For over three decades, the Population Council Pakistan has generated evidence and supported governments in designing innovative approaches to address population and reproductive health challenges. Building on evidence around fertility transition, reproductive health, and the nationally endorsed Tawazun (balance) narrative, the Population Council supported the Government of Punjab through the FCDO-funded Delivering Accelerated Family Planning in Pakistan (DAFPAK) initiative and other strategic partnerships to implement scalable solutions for strengthening family planning services. This brief outlines five high-impact, proven interventions ready for institutional scale-up and provides an actionable path forward to transform routine health encounters into sustainable health system reforms.

Exploring Capacity For Future Sustainability Of Healthy Eating Policy, Systems, And Environmental Change Strategies Previously Implemented Through Snap-Ed Programming, Carrie L. Draper, Nicholas Younginer Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Objective

Design

Setting

Participants

Phenomenon of Interest

Analysis

Results

Fetal Instability And Resuscitative Management During Fetal Intervention: A Retrospective, Descriptive Analysis Of 245 Fetal Cardiac And Spina Bifida Procedures, Claire A Naus, Betul Yilmaz Furtun, Jessian L Munoz, Rebecca M Johnson, Carolyn A Altman, Michael A Belfort, Luc Joyeux, Alice King, David G Mann, Shaine Morris, Athar M Qureshi, Magdalena Sanz Cortes, William E Whitehead, Caitlin D Sutton

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The heterogeneity of fetal surgery has led to variability in the nature and frequency of fetal instability. Understanding these differences is critical for optimizing management.

Methods: We reviewed all fetal atrial septal interventions (FASI) and fetoscopic myelomeningocele (fMMC) repairs with fetal instability performed at our institution between March 2012 and April 2025. We described and compared the frequency, timing, etiology, and management of fetal instability.

Results: During the study period, 28 unique patients underwent 35 FASI procedures, and 210 patients underwent fMMC repair. Fetal instability occurred in 51 of 245 cases (20.8%), with rates varying significantly by procedure type …

Thrive: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Study Of Veligrotug For Active Thyroid Eye Disease, Michael T Yen, Kimberly Cockerham, Peerooz Saeed, Steven Leibowitz, Raghu C Mudumbai, Michael P Schittkowski, Vickie Lee, Jody Abrams, Roger E Turbin, Julián Bermúdez Pío-Rendón, Eckart Bertelmann, Edwina Eade, Navdeep Nijhawan, Marta Pérez-López, Marco Sales-Sanz, Sandy Zhang-Nunes, Andrea L Kossler, Ashley Pajak, Abhijit Narvekar, Radhika Tripuraneni, Antonio Manuel Garrido-Hermosilla

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Thyroid eye disease (TED) is a debilitating autoimmune disease with significant unmet needs. This study's objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of veligrotug, a full antagonist monoclonal antibody to the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, in patients with active TED.

Design: Veligrotug was assessed in THRIVE, a global, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial.

Participants: Adult patients with moderate-to-severe active TED (onset ≤ 15 months, proptosis ≥ 3 mm above normal, and clinical activity score [CAS] ≥ 3) received either veligrotug or placebo.

Methods: Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive 10 mg/kg veligrotug or placebo administered every …

Generation And Characterization Of Twist1 Acetyl-Mimic And Acetyl-Deficient Mouse Models, Mary Elmeniawi, Xiaobin Yu, Samuel Wen, Gunjan A Bhatia, Lan Liao, Jianming Xu, Walid D Fakhouri

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

TWIST1 encodes a highly conserved basic helix–loop–helix transcription factor essential for embryonic development from Drosophila to humans. TWIST1 activity is regulated by post‐translational modifications, including phosphorylation during development and cancer metastasis. Recent cancer studies identified acetylation of lysines K73 and K76 as a novel regulatory modification that shifts TWIST1 from a repressive to an activating state during epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the developmental and in vivo functions of TWIST1 acetylation remain unknown. To investigate the physiological role, we generated the first acetyl‐deficient Twist1 K73,76R K73,76R and acetyl‐mimic Twist1 K73,76Q K73,76Q mouse models using CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated genome editing. Targeted sequencing confirmed substitutions, …

Silk Vista Baby Versus Pipeline Embolization Device For Unruptured Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysms: A Multicenter Propensity-Weighted Comparative Study., Valerio Da Ros, Frédéric Clarençon, Adam A. Dmytriw, Pascal Jabbour Md, Marios Psychogios, Peter Sporns, Ajit S. Puri, Ameer E. Hassan, Oktay Algin, Markus A. Möhlenbruch, Mauro Bergui, Oded Goren, Gregoire Boulouis, Takeshi Morimoto, Raoul Pop, Joanna Wk Ho, Virginia Pujol Lereis, Jared Cooper, Giancarlo Salsano, Alessandro Sgreccia, Arturo Consoli, Eytan Raz, Julien Burel, Khawaja Muhammad Baqir Hassan, Zhe Ji, Riitta Rautio, Maria Ruggiero, Federico Sabuzi, Stefania Proietti, Joseph Domenico Gabrieli, Michael Levitt, Antonio Armando Caragliano, Christophe Cognard, Gaultier Marnat, Nicola Limbucci, Mariangela Piano, Alexis Guedon, Andrea Romi, Fortunato Di Caterino, Mykola Vyval, Adrien Guenego, Mohamad Abdalkader, Thanh Nguyen, Vitor Mendes Pereira, Ocilio Ribeiro Goncalves, Erwah Kalsoum, Alessandro Pedicelli, Andrea M Alexandre, Luca Scarcia

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Flow diversion is effective for unruptured distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysms, yet comparative data between the Silk Vista Baby (SVB) and Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) in this challenging territory remain scarce.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study using the CRETA Registry, including consecutive patients with unruptured DACA aneurysms treated with SVB or PED. The primary endpoint was complete angiographic occlusion (O'Kelly-Marotta grade D). Secondary outcomes included procedural characteristics, clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale), and complications. Overlap weighting was applied to account for non-randomized treatment allocation. Predictors of occlusion were explored using penalized logistic regression. A sensitivity analysis …

Free Flap Eras, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways

No abstract provided.

Mastoiditis, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways

No abstract provided.

Decentralizing Dementia Research To The Us–Mexico Border: The Rio Grande Valley Ad-Rcmar As A Model For Translational Equity, Gladys E. Maestre, John Blangero, Eron Manusov, Gabriel A. De Erausquin, Francisco Fernandez, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Vincent P. Diego, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Claudia Alaniz, Neyra García, Rosa V. Pirela, Andrew Tsin, Michael Mahaney

School of Medicine Publications

Translational equity means ensuring that diagnostics, treatments, care models, and prevention strategies are developed and implemented so they work for populations with the greatest burden and least access to care. In Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), where most evidence derives from highly educated, non-Hispanic White participants at large academic centers, translational equity is critical to prevent misclassification, limited access, and widening disparities and to ensure that underrepresented communities shape how new knowledge moves into practice. Hispanic and other populations in the United States are disproportionately affected by ADRD yet remain underrepresented in research, with gaps especially pronounced in high-poverty …

Facilitators And Barriers That Exist For Patients Receiving Dental Care In Rural Communities, Monse Sandoval Brumbaugh

University Honors Theses

Rising healthcare costs and limited access to care have exacerbated the shortage of healthcare providers. Although multiple factors contribute to a clinician’s preference for practicing in rural areas, the imbalance created leads to rural communities with significantly reduced access to essential services, particularly dental care. The disparity between urban and rural healthcare is a well-documented global problem, but it remains a pressing issue in the United States, particularly in Oregon. The Full Time Equivalents (FTE) count of full-time practicing dentists in rural regions is significantly lower than in urban areas. Statewide, there are about 0.48 dentists per 1,000 residents. However, …

Phenome-Wide Association Study Of P2rx7 Identifies Schizophrenia And Mood Disorders As Primary Associated Phenotypes, Ling Zhu, Qiao Mao, Zhixiong Luo, Bin Chen, Yong Zhang, Xiaowei Lu, Ping Liu, Jiawu Ji, Xiaoping Wang, Kesheng Wang Phd, Ma, Bs, Xinghua Pan, Yuping Cao, Na Liu, Jennifer Luo, Lingjun Zuo, Zhiren Wang, Xingguang Luo, Xiaoyun Guo

Faculty Publications

Objectives: P2RX7 has been implicated in bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. However, the specificity and comparability of these as sociations remain unclear. This study aimed to systematically evaluate multiple neuropsychiatric disorders to identify those most robustly associated with P2RX7.

Methods: We analyzed 1861 imputed SNPs spanning the P2RX7 gene in 1,087,925 individuals from 72 inde pendent cohorts across 18 neuropsychiatric disorders. SNP-disease associations were assessed within each cohort, followed by meta-analysis and false discovery rate (FDR) correction to identify significant disease-risk variants. P2RX7 mRNA and protein expression across tissues or cells …