Digital Commons Network^™

Barriers To Hiv Related Services Among Men Who Have Sex With Men (Msm) In Rural Georgia, Jordan D. Helms, Alvin Tran, Neal Carnes, Eric J. Nehl

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSM) living in the Southeastern United States are at high risk of contracting HIV, and those in rural communities experience challenges in accessing HIV prevention and treatment.

Methods: Seven health care workers and 17 MSM in rural health care districts participated in semi-structured interviews. A theory-informed thematic analysis approach was used to summarize and compare perspectives between health care workers and MSM participants.

Results: Stigma, insufficient resources, and social structures of rural life emerged as barriers to accessing HIV-related services

Conclusions: Overcoming these barriers are necessary to reduce HIV infection …

Analysis Of Genetic Diversity In A Novel Vaccine Candidate, The Glutamic Acid-Rich Protein Of Plasmodium Falciparum (Pfgarp), Rattanaporn Rojrung

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Malaria vaccine development confronts high genetic polymorphism in some antigenic components of the vaccine candidates, which could potentially limit the vaccine efficacy. An antigen of Plasmodium falciparum, designated glutamic acid-rich protein (PfGARP), has recently been considered as a strong vaccine target against asexual-blood-stages parasite. It has been shown that naturally acquired anti-PfGARP antibodies elicited clinical protection against severe malaria among people living in hyperendemic areas. Furthermore, PfGARP has been involved in binding to human erythrocyte band 3, which induces erythrocyte aggregation and might bring about severe malaria. However, the extent of genetic variation in the pfgarp locus among field isolates …

Identification Of Aroma Compounds In Thai Colored Rice Varieties, Supawat Jindawatt

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Consumers are interested in colored rice because its health benefits and its high fiber and protein content. Normally, the colored rice smell is generally not as strong as the jasmine rice. The first objective of this research was to investigate the proper preheated time and headspace incubation temperature to extract as many volatile compounds as possible from Thai-colored rice using the static headspace GC-MS approach. Secondly, this study aimed to identify the key volatile aroma compounds in Thai native-colored rice varieties. For optimum conditions, Red Hawm Rice (KDML105R-PSL-E-14) was used in this study. The optimal condition was preheated in a …

Associated Factors Of Completed Suicide Among Attempted Suicide Cases In Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand During 2018 – 2021: A Secondary Data Analysis, Pattarachai Simaroj

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Suicide is a cause of death with impact emotional and societal costs, although it is a generally preventable cause of death and a critical global public health issue. In Thailand, the suicide rate is on the uptrend, and Chaiyaphum province is also one of the provinces that face this lethal phenomenon. However, there are very few studies about suicide cases in Chaiyaphum province. Therefore, this current study aimed to evaluate the associated factors with completed suicide cases in Chaiyaphum province. This study used the registry-based data of completed suicide and attempted suicide cases in the self-harm surveillance database of Thailand …

Molecular Characterization Of Bacillus Anthracis Isolates Recovered From Nomic Andnonnomic Hosts, Doğan Akça, Fati̇h Büyük, Emre Karakaya, Mustafa Reha Coşkun, Eli̇f Çeli̇k, Mi̇tat Şahi̇n, Özgür Çelebi̇, Sali̇h Otlu, Ali̇ye Gülmez Sağlam, Eray Büyük, Seda Durhan, İzzet Burçi̇n Saticioğlu, Seçi̇l Abay, Tuba Kayman, Fuat Aydin

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Anthrax, which is primarily a disease of herbivores, is known to infect many animal species. In order to break the cycle of anthrax infection, it is important to identify the potential hosts or reservoirs of its causative agent. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize Bacillus anthracis isolates recovered from a variety of hosts and environments during anthrax sporadic in the Kars and Kayseri regions of Turkey. For this purpose, a total of 23 B. anthracis field isolates obtained from human, cattle, sheep, dog, horse, puma, soil, and fodder were used. In addition, the Sterne vaccine strain was included. All B. …

The Syndemic Landscape: A New Paradigm For Montana Suicide Prevention Grounded In Agricultural Renewal, Emory Chandler Padgett

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Montana has had one of the highest suicide rates in the nation for half a century, and since 2000, it has risen almost 50%. Despite suicide’s alarming persistence in the state, there has been minimal academic study of suicide or mental health specifically in Montana, so this thesis attempts to answer a few questions: Why does Montana have such a high suicide rate? Is there something culturally, historically, or socially unique about Montana that contributes to suicide? Are current prevention efforts helpful, harmful, or lacking? Could a consideration of culture and land benefit an understanding of suicide in Montana? What …

Alteration Of Gut Microbiome Diversity And Composition Following Treatment In Chronic Liver Diseases, Thananya Jinato

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Chronic liver diseases (CLD) have become a significant global health challenge due to their potential progression towards hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), resulting in increased morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. The major etiologies of CLD and HCC include viral infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as environmental factors such as high caloric intake and lifestyle changes, which contribute to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In recent years, evidence has highlighted the association between these factors and the alteration of the gut microbiota, or dysbiosis, and its impact on health status and …

Rapid Changes In Public Perception Toward A Conservation Initiative, Rebecca Niemiec, Richard E.W. Berl, Mireille Gonzalez, Tara L. Teel, Jonathan Salerno, Stewart Breck, Cassiopeia Camara, Matthew Collins, Courtney Scholtz, Dana Hoag, Kevin R. Crooks

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rapid, widespread changes in public perceptions and behaviors have the potential to influence conservation outcomes. However, few studies have documented whether and how such shifts occur throughout the span of a conservation initiative. We examined the 2020 ballot initiative to reintroduce wolves into Colorado, which passed with less support than prior surveys had estimated. We conducted a postelection survey of Colorado residents using the same methods as our preelection survey to compare responses between surveys and to official election results. Reported voting in favor of wolf reintroduction in the postelection survey decreased in comparison to voting intentions shared in the …

A Systematic Map Of Human-Carnivore Coexistence, Cassandre C. Venumière-Lefebvre, Stewart W. Breck, Kevin R. Crooks

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Carnivore populations globally have largely declined, and coexistence, where humans and carnivores share landscapes, plays a crucial role in carnivore conservation. However, the term “coexistence” is often used in scientific and popular literature without being clearly defined. Herein, we provide a global perspective on what coexistence is and how it is studied. We conducted a systematic map of 366 articles published between 1987 and 2020 to characterize human-carnivore coexistence literature according to coexistence definitions, temporal trends, geographic and taxonomic focus, and four thematic aspects of coexistence: carnivore ecology, human endeavors, social conflict and human-carnivore conflict. We used chi-squared tests and …

Spatial Risk Modeling Of Cattle Depredation By Black Vultures In The Midwestern United States, Brandon M. Quinby, Bryan M. Kluever, Grant N. Burcham, Lee Humberg, Landon R. Jones, Marian L. Wahl, Patrick A. Zollner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

ock operations through depredation of stock are a cause of human‐wildlife conflict. Management of such conflict requires identifying environmental and non‐environmental factors specific to a wildlife species' biology and ecology that influence the potential for livestock depredation to occur. Identification of such factors can improve understanding of the conditions placing livestock at risk. Black vultures (Coragyps atratus) have expanded their historical range northward into the midwestern United States. Concomitantly, an increase in concern among agricultural producers regarding potential black vulture attacks on livestock has occurred. We estimated area with greater or lesser potential for depredation of domestic cattle by black …

Clinical Characteristics And Outcomes Of Castleman Disease: A Multicenter Consortium Study Of 428 Patients With 15-Year Follow-Up, Wanying Liu, Qingqing Cai, Tiantian Yu, Paolo Strati, Frederick B Hagemeister, Qiongli Zhai, Mingzhi Zhang, Ling Li, Xiaosheng Fang, Jianyong Li, Ruifang Sun, Shanxiang Zhang, Hanjin Yang, Zhaoming Wang, Wenbian Qian, Noriko Iwaki, Yasuharu Sato, Eric Oksenhendler, Zijun Y Xu-Monette, Ken H Young, Li Yu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Castleman disease (CD) has been reported as a group of poorly understood lymphoproliferative disorders, including unicentric CD (UCD) and idiopathic multicentric CD (iMCD) which are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative and human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) negative. The clinical and independent prognostic factors of CD remain poorly elucidated. We retrospectively collected the clinical information of 428 patients with HIV and HHV-8 negative CD from 12 large medical centers with 15-year follow-up. We analyzed the clinicopathologic features of 428 patients (248 with UCD and 180 with iMCD) with a median age of 41 years. The histology subtypes were hyaline-vascular (HV) histopathology …

Inclusion Of Children With Disabilities In Qualitative Health Research: A Scoping Review, Janet Njelesani, Vongai Mlambo, Tsedenia Denekew, Jean Hunleth

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Children with disabilities have the right to participate in health research so their priorities, needs, and experiences are included. Health research based primarily on adult report risks misrepresenting children with disabilities and their needs, and contributes to exclusion and a lack of diversity in the experiences being captured. Prioritizing the participation of children with disabilities enhances the relevance, meaningfulness, and impact of research.

METHODS: A scoping review was conducted to critically examine the participation of children with disabilities in qualitative health research. The electronic databases PubMed, PsychInfo, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched. Inclusion criteria included qualitative health studies …

Epithelial Abnormalities In The Small Intestine Of Zambian Children With Stunting, Chola Mulenga, Sanja Sviben, Kanta Chandwe, Beatrice Amadi, Violet Kayamba, James A J Fitzpatrick, Victor Mudenda, Paul Kelly

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Environmental enteropathy (EE) contributes to impaired linear growth (stunting), in millions of children worldwide. We have previously reported that confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) shows fluorescein leaking from blood to gut lumen

METHODS: We performed confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) in 75 children and collected intestinal biopsies for histology in 91 children. CLE videos were evaluated, employing the Watson score to determine severity of leakiness. Morphometry was carried out on well-orientated mucosa and 3 biopsies were examined by electron microscopy.

RESULTS: Confocal laser endomicroscopy demonstrated substantial leakage from circulation to gut lumen in 73 (97%) children. Histology consistently showed characteristic changes …

Highlights From International Conference On Cancer Health Disparities 2021, Murali M. Yallapu, Jorge L. Teniente, Andrew Tsin, Subhash C. Chauhan

School of Medicine Publications

The first International Conference on Cancer Health Disparities (ICCHD) was held on August 13-14, 2021, in Harlingen, TX, USA. This two-day ICCHD-2021 was organized by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, School of Medicine (UTRGV-SOM). About 200 national and international delegates from 10 countries attended this hybrid meeting in person and through online digital platforms. The event delegates were representatives from National Institutes of Health (NIH), Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), and the City of Harlingen, in addition to clinicians, faculty, researchers, scientists, bioinformaticians, geneticists, bioethicists, and others. Under the theme of Cancer Health Disparities, this …

Racial/Ethnic Disparities And Determinants Of Sufficient Physical Activity Levels, Nikhil Anil Patel, Sina Kianoush, Xiaoming Jia, Vijay Nambi, Stephanie Koh, Jaideep Patel, Anum Saeed, Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed, Mouaz Al-Mallah, Anandita Agarwala, Salim S Virani, Mahmoud Al Rifai

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Adequate physical activity is an integral requirement for achieving cardiovascular health. Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Hence, it is important to identify racial/ethnic groups that are less likely to achieve sufficient physical activity levels, and to address barriers to meeting physical activity requirements.

METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the 2006-2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used to compare self-reported sufficient physical activity among different racial/ethnic groups: non-Hispanic (NH) Whites, NH Blacks, NH Asians, and Hispanics in the United States. Sufficient physical activity was defined as ≥ 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity, …

Interpersonal Psychotherapy For Depressed Adolescents: A Systematic Review Of Quantitative Studies Exploring Effectiveness, Concomitant Findings, And Mediating And Moderating Variables, Luke Rex

Theses and Dissertations

Depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2022), almost one-fifth of adolescents ages 12 to 17 years in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in 2020, representing 4.1 million people, and over half did not receive any treatment. An interpersonal approach to therapy for adolescents known as Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents (IPT-A), developed by Dr. Laura Mufson, has been regarded as having well-established efficacy in treating depressed adolescents. This systematic review of quantitative studies (without meta-analysis) was conducted to (a) examine …

Building A Virtual Community Of Practice For Medical Students: The Global Emergency Medicine Student Leadership Program, Ashley Pickering, Andrés Patiño, Stephanie C. Garbern, Dania Abu-Jubara, Alexandra Digenakis, Anthony Rodigin, Michaela S. Banks, Kimberly Herard, Stacey Chamberlain, Elizabeth L. Devos

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) facilitate distance learning and mentorship by engaging members around shared knowledge and experiences related to a central interest. The American College of Emergency Physicians and Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association's Global Emergency Medicine Student Leadership Program (GEM‐SLP) provides a valuable model for building a VCoP for GEM and other niche areas of interest. This VCoP facilitates opportunities for experts and mentees affiliated with these national organizations to convene regularly despite barriers attributed to physical distance. The GEM‐SLP VCoP is built around multiple forms of mentorship, monthly mentee‐driven didactics, academic projects, and continued engagement of program graduates …

2021 - The Second Annual Fall Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the Fall 2021 Symposium of Student Scholars, held on November 18, 2021. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

Nurse Practitioner-Led Care Pods: A Team Communication Enhancement Model, Miranda Saint-Louis, Miranda Saint Louis

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Communication has become a key performance measure in the shift to value-based healthcare. Given the impact of communication failures on patient harm, length of stay, and dissatisfaction with care, new models of care with better communication through structured teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration are needed.

Problem: In a 16-bed geriatric medical/surgical unit of a New York City multispecialty community hospital, the workflow structure unintentionally created inconsistent handoff communication, gaps in continuity of care, missed care events, and inattention to the patient’s priorities in the care plan. A gap analysis identified communication deficiencies that impacted team effectiveness and patient care …

Utility Of S100a12 As An Early Biomarker In Patients With St-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction, Xiaolin Zhang, Minghui Cheng, Naijing Gao, Yi Li, Chenghui Yan, Xiaoxiang Tian, Dan Liu, Miaohan Qiu, Xiaozeng Wang, Bo Luan, Jie Deng, Shouli Wang, Hongyan Tian, Geng Wang, Xin-Liang Ma, Gregg W Stone, Yaling Han

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Importance: S100A12 is a calcium binding protein which is involved in inflammation and progression of atherosclerosis.

Objective: We sought to investigate the utility of S100A12 as a biomarker for the early diagnosis and prognostication of patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Design, Setting, and Participants: S100A12 was measured in 1023 patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain between June 2012 and November 2015. An independent cohort of 398 patients enrolled at 3 different hospitals served as a validation cohort.

Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary clinical endpoint of interest was major adverse cardiac and cerebral …

Antipsychotic Medication Administration In Oregon Assisted Living/Residential Care Settings: Analyzing An Action Situation, Sarah Dys

Dissertations and Theses

Antipsychotic medication use (APU) in assisted living and residential care (AL/RC) settings is an under-studied and controversial health policy issue. APU in older adults with dementia is associated with an increased risk of falls, hospitalizations, and early mortality. I operationalize the Institutional Analysis and Development Framework using a situational analysis approach, an extension of grounded theory methods, to explore the APU in Oregon AL/RC settings. Regulatory deficiency citations, Oregon AL/RC population data, and semi-structured interviews suggest that staff role clarity, organizational characteristics, and perceived agency influence decision-making around APU. AL/RC providers and caregivers are forced to simultaneously balance and prioritize …

The Potential Of Mental Health Policy Implementation: Methods And Applications, Meagan Renee Pilar

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Mental illness affects roughly 20% of the world in some capacity and can be debilitating. Though a large emphasis has historically been placed on individual-level interventions (e.g., therapy or medication), mental health policies present an opportunity to intervene on a large scale, with the potential to enhance impact and equity. This dissertation contributes to the mental health policy research literature in three main ways—(1) exploring factors affecting policymakers’ overall support of mental health policies; (2) assessing the use and quality of quantitative and qualitative methods within this field; and (3) exploring implementation determinants and outcomes, as well as strategies used …

Access Barriers To Telehealth, Quynh Chau, Amita Behuria Pathak, Daniel Turner, Jacquelyn Cheun, Carl Noe

SMU Data Science Review

Abstract. Telehealth has long been touted as an efficient and cost-effective way to deliver health care services to patients. The COVID-19 global pandemic hastened the adoption of this technology in the United States. Despite its promises, telehealth as a technology-based model of health service delivery has also highlighted access to care inequities in the form of uneven utilization across various patient demographics. This research uses machine learning and publicly available data sources to describe telehealth utilization based on social determinants of care. The implications of this application can be used to inform health care providers of how to target efforts …

New Orleans During A Pandemic: Engaging African American Community Stakeholders On Covid-19 Information, Prevention, Testing And Vaccination, Anthony Thompson

XULAneXUS

This case study examines how the Louisiana Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities (LA-CEAL) worked to engage African American residents in New Orleans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on research interviews with Black physicians, pharmacists, and community health providers, along with field notes collected during 12 months of project assistance, the study addresses four research questions concerning African American hesitancy toward COVID-19 treatment and vaccination, strategies for community engagement, clinical trial recruitment, and inclusive research practices during a pandemic. Findings indicate that vaccine hesitancy and research mistrust among Black New Orleanians are rooted in a long history of scientific racism …

Case Report: Neurologic Presentation Of West Nile Virus: Difficult Diagnosis, Eron G. Manusov, Amalia Mora Campuzano, Omar Ahmed, Samantha Macias, Carolina Gomez De Ziegler, Gerardo Munoz Monaco

School of Medicine Publications

West Nile virus infections have surged across the globe. South Texas, located on the path of bird migration, with Culex quinquefasciatus and other Culex species, and biotic primers that predispose the area to epidemics (floods, amplifying hosts, and lack of mosquito control and prevention) remains a highly endemic area for arbovirus spread. West Nile virus infection ranges from mild febrile illness to severe central nervous system involvement. The purpose of this report is to highlight complex presentations of WNV and how confounding presenting symptoms delay diagnosis. The secondary goal is to describe how pandemics, such as SARS-CoV-2, can overwhelm the …

Examination Of Covid-19 And The Spanish Flu Of 1918, Caden A. Striegle

Honors Projects

COVID-19, for many across the globe, has been a pandemic the likes of which has never been seen before. It has caused many aspects of life to change in order to adapt to the new limitations and cautions brought about by the global spread of a novel virus. However, almost exactly 100 years prior, a strain of the H1N1 influenza virus also known as the Spanish Flu of 1918, similarly uprooted life for millions of people around the globe. These two pandemics, while similarly leading to great disruption of global health, had many differences in the demographics impacted as well …

Hospital Effluents And Wastewaters Treatment Plants: A Source Of Oxytetracycline And Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria In Seafood, Bozena Mccarthy, Samuel Obeng Apori, Michelle Giltrap, Abhijnan Bhat, James Curtin, Furong Tian

Articles

The present study employs a data review on the presence and aggregation of oxytetracycline (OTC) and resistance (AMR) bacteria in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and distribution of the contaminated effluent with the aid of shallow and deep ocean currents. The study aims to determine the fate of OTC, AMR bacteria in seafood, and demonstrate a relationship between AMR levels and human health. This review includes (1) OTC, (2) AMR bacteria, (3) heavy metals in aquatic environments, and their relationship. Few publications describe OCT in surface waters. Although, OTC and other tetracyclines were found in 10 countries in relatively low concentrations, …

Policy Implications Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Food Security In Rural America: Evidence From Appalachia, Kathryn M. Cardarelli, Emily M. Dewitt, Rachel Gillespie, Rachel Hogg-Graham, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Janet T. Mullins

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Rural communities are disproportionally affected by food insecurity, making them vulnerable to the consequences of supply disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While access to food was initially diminished due to food supply disruptions, little is known about the mechanisms through which federal emergency assistance programs impacted food access in rural populations. Through a series of five focus groups in spring 2021, we examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food access in a rural Appalachian community in Kentucky. Data were analyzed using a Grounded Theory Approach. Findings revealed the following four primary themes: food scarcity in grocery stores; …

Covid-19 Investigated In Terms Of Disparities: An Analysis Of The Past, Present, And Future Of Public Health In Illinois, Hannah Deblock

University Honors Program

As a relatively new topic, previous literature fails to address the relation of social determinants of health to COVID-19. By combining existing knowledge on previous epidemics, information on the role of social determinants of health, and data on COVID-19, conclusions can be made about the path going forward. Historically, nonpharmacologic interventions such as quarantine periods, face coverings, and social distancing have been used in epidemics such as the Spanish Influenza of 1918-19. In terms of social determinants of health, geographical location, educational level, and income level all play a part in the health of an individual. Rather than emphasizing personal …

Assessing Acceptability Of Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Dose Among Adult Americans: A Cross-Sectional Study, Tesfaye Yadete, Kavita Batra, Dale M. Netski, Sabrina Antonio, Michael J. Patros, Johan C. Bester

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Given the emergence of breakthrough infections, new variants, and concerns of waning immunity from the primary COVID-19 vaccines, booster shots emerged as a viable option to shore-up protection against COVID-19. Following the recent authorization of vaccine boosters among vulnerable Americans, this study aims to assess COVID-19 vaccine booster hesitancy and its associated factors in a nationally representative sample. A web-based 48-item psychometric valid survey was used to measure vaccine literacy, vaccine confidence, trust, and general attitudes towards vaccines. Data were analyzed through Chi-square (with a post hoc contingency table analysis) and independent-sample t-/Welch tests. Among 2138 participants, nearly 62% intended …