Digital Commons Network^™

Using Polygenic Risk Scores To Evaluate Definitions Of Self-Reported Sleep Phenotypes Across Cohorts, Brian W Spitzer, Zhijie Huang, Heming Wang, Richa Saxena, Linda Gallo, Qibin Qi, Wassim Tarraf, Robert Kaplan, Melissa Lamar, Hector M González, Charles Decarli, Myriam Fornage, Jerome I Rotter, Stephen S Rich, Kent D Taylor, Xiuqing Guo, Alexis C Wood, Peter Y Liu, Susan R Heckbert, Chloé Sarnowski, Jan Bressler, Alanna C Morrison, Bing Yu, Pamela L Lutsey, Carmen R Isasi, Susan Redline, Tamar Sofer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Study objectives: Since genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of sleep phenotypes have been conducted in differing populations and definitions of sleep phenotypes vary across studies, we investigated associations between several polygenic risk scores (PRSs) and potential sleep definitions among multiethnic cohorts.

Methods: Using data from four cohorts (HCHS/SOL, ARIC, MESA, BHS, N = 16 895), we considered multiple definitions of short and long sleep, insomnia, and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). PRSs were developed based on summary statistics from GWAS in European ancestry individuals from the UK Biobank (UKB) and from GWAS conducted in a multiethnic population from the Million Veteran Program …

Loss Of Atp-Dependent Citrate Lyase Drives Left Ventricular Dysfunction By Metabolic Remodeling, Kyoungmin Kim, Ian K Williamson, Rebecca L Salazar, Janet Pham, Angela Davidian, Radhika Khanna Neicheril, Benjamin D Gould, Heidi Vitrac, Alia Sadiq, An Q Dinh, Evan C Lien, Francisca N De Luna Vitorino, Joanna M Gongora, Sara A Martinez, Melanie T Odenkirk, Anna K Boatman, Jessie R Chappel, Lawrence S C Czer, David J Lefer, Blake M Hanson, Benjamin A Garcia, Erin M Baker, Matthew G Vander Heiden, Philip L Lorenzi, Heinrich Taegtmeyer, David Piwnica-Worms, James F Martin, Anja Karlstaedt

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Metabolic adaptation and maladaptation are hallmarks of the failing heart and may be a target for therapeutic interventions. For example, sustained glucose oxidation during cardiac stress is associated with increased activity and abundance of ACL (ATP-dependent citrate lyase, Acly), which produces acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) from citrate and CoA and supports de novo lipid synthesis. However, our understanding of how ACL supports cardiac metabolic adaptation and its potential to modulate disease pathophysiology has not yet been investigated.

Methods: We used human heart tissue samples from healthy donors and patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Next, we used CRISPR (clustered, regularly interspaced …

Association Between Opioids And Leukemia/Lymphoma In Adults Living In The United States, Brenda Sue Newberry-Colasanti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Opioid prescribing rates and opioid misuse remain high throughout the United States. Exposure to opioids has been positively associated with various cancers; however, research evaluating associations between opioid exposure and hematologic cancers like leukemia and lymphoma is limited. Using the Socio- Ecological Model as a foundation, this quantitative cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the association between medicinal opioid use, opioid misuse, and leukemia/lymphoma while exploring how selected social determinants of health (SDOH) may modify that relationship. Secondary data were pooled from the 2015–20-year United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). One thousand three hundred and twenty binary …

Health Literacy And Diabetes Self-Care Behavior, Eucharia Amaefule

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited health literacy is a significant barrier to effective diabetes self-management among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet nationally representative evidence using comprehensive health literacy measures remains limited. Guided by the health belief model, the purpose of this quantitative, secondary data analysis using cross-sectional data was to examine the relationship between health literacy and diabetes self-care behaviors among U.S. adults with T2DM and determine whether education level moderated this relationship. Data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed for U.S. adults (N = 9, 535) with self-reported T2DM. Diabetes self-care behaviors included blood glucose monitoring, …

A Program Proposal For A Leadership-Driven, Evidence-Based, Intentional Rounding Playbook, Jacqueline Butler Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient experience is a key indicator of healthcare quality. In an acute care hospital in Northeast Georgia, intentional rounding is an established practice. Inconsistent communication, variable leadership engagement, and limited accountability are practice gaps that have reduced its effectiveness in improving patient experience outcomes. A comprehensive literature review using PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library yielded 15 peer-reviewed studies that consistently support intentional rounding as an evidence-based strategy for improving patient satisfaction. As the team leader for this Executive Leadership System Improvement Project, I proposed the development of an Evidence-Based, Leader-Driven Intentional Rounding Program Playbook to standardize enhanced rounding …

Awareness Of The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Among Healthcare Providers Caring For Older Adults, Anannya Pushkarna, Melanie Turk

Graduate Student Research Symposium

Introduction:

Prediabetes is a prevalent condition among older adults and represents a crucial opportunity where early interventions can help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lifestyle modifications are first-line management. The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP), a 12-month lifestyle change program initiated in 2018, is fully covered by Medicare, yet uptake remains limited. This study assessed healthcare providers’ beliefs about prediabetes and awareness of the MDPP.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was administered electronically to a national sample of physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs). Questions addressed beliefs about prediabetes, barriers to care, and knowledge/awareness of the …

A Critical Review On Enhancing Equity Of Mental Health Treatment Of African American Families Through Social Support And Social Capital, Julie Radlauer-Doerfler, Morgan E. Cooley, Heather M. Thompson, Atensia Earp Bowen, Gabe Caress, Alicia Best

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

African American adults and children experience both disproportionality and disparity when in contact with the mental health delivery system. There are a number of contextual factors that influence the treatment of African American families, such as systemic oppression or racism in both society and the behavioral health system or individual expressions of mental health symptomology. This review will provide an overview of how mental health disparities crossover systems, perceptions of mental health and mental health treatment among African American families, provide some context for why this review was written, as well as discuss the context of social support and social …

Breaking Barriers: A Student Led Racial Equity Assignment, Emily Murphy, Carol Bennett- Speight, Cecily Mitchell-Harper

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

This paper presents an innovative student led racial equity assignment in a small bachelor’s in social work program in the New York metropolitan area. This paper will define epistemological racism and utilize concepts from Narrative Theory and Critical Race Theory, to critically analyze what is taught about the pioneers of social work, identifying the stories and narratives that are told and the ones that are not told. This operationalization of the theories in practice with students will cultivate mindset shifts and strategies that enable participants to engage in social work practice that fully embodies the core values of the profession. …

Screening And Treatment Protocols Used In Nicus Across Minnesota For Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders (Pmads), Rachael Witt

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

Parents of infants with prolonged neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalizations are a population that is overlooked in recommended routine screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), yet this population is at greater risk for developing diagnosable mental health disorders. Previous research shows that across the US, PMAD screening and treatment practices vary widely, with many NICUs not providing any routine PMAD screening, psychoeducation, or treatment options to parents. The objective of this study was to explore the current mental health screening and treatment protocols used in NICUs across the state of Minnesota to learn if there are areas …

Utilizing Personal Stories Of Race In Child Welfare Education, Laura D. Boltz, Veronica Knowles, Amari Cooper

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

Families of color are overrepresented in the child welfare system. This is an issue that needs to be addressed in multiple ways, including social work education. However, policy changes may make it more difficult to address race in the classroom in a way that doesn’t attract attention. One of the ways that educators can address this is by using personal stories from their own practice experience to educate their students. In this study we discuss the literature around using personal stories and include our own personal stories that we have used in the classroom to have difficult discussions surrounding race …

Evaluating The Authentic Family Engagement And Strengthening Approach, Morgan E. Cooley, Vaughn J. Crichlow, Gabriel T. Cesar, Marianna L. Colvin, Corey B. Best, Kristin Smyth, Robin Jimenez-Bean

Journal of Justice-Informed Social Work Practice and Research

Persistent racial disproportionality of Black and brown families in the child welfare system across decades and generations highlights the need for a comprehensive understanding of the consequences of child removal and the urgency of authentic family engagement initiatives. The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether a group of child protective investigators who received (1) specialized training and (2) monthly family engagement and antiracism coaching during supervision sessions demonstrated fewer monthly removals of children from families compared to a group of investigators in the same service area who did not receive specialized training or coaching. The secondary purpose …

Uncovering The Path To Diagnosis Among Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Mini-Study, Jeffrey D. Whitaker, Rick Zoucha, Melissa Kalarchian

Graduate Student Research Symposium

Abstract

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often persists into adulthood, yet many adults are first diagnosed only after years of functional strain, compensation, and alternative explanations for their difficulties. Purpose: This study explored how adults first diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood described navigating the process of obtaining a formal diagnosis. Methods: A constructivist grounded theory mini-study was conducted with seven adults, ages 27 to 43, who reported receiving their first formal ADHD diagnosis at age 18 or later. Participants completed semi-structured Zoom interviews focused on early experiences, symptom interpretation, help-seeking, and formal assessment. Data were analyzed using initial, focused, and theoretical …

Position Statement By The Saudi Heart Failure Working Group Of The Saudi Heart Association On The Management Of Advanced Heart Failure In Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim Jelaidan, Abeer Bakhsh, Ammar G. Chaudhary, Ebtisam Alkhattaby, Fahmi Alkaf, Feras Khaliel, Ismail Raslan, Mohammed Alreshidan, Mosaad Alhussein, Waleed Alhabeeb

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Saudi Arabia. Despite remarkable progress in guideline-directed medical therapy, a significant proportion of patients progress to advanced HF and require evaluation for heart transplantation or mechanical circulatory support (MCS). In response to this growing burden, the Saudi Heart Association (SHA) developed recommendations to guide identification, timely referral, and optimal management of candidates for advanced HF therapies in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A multidisciplinary panel of 10 HF experts from Saudi Arabia convened for a series of structured virtual meetings to review local and international evidence. The panel integrated …

Exploring Academic–Practice Partnerships In Community Settings: A Narrative Review, Laura C. Sarver

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Purpose: This narrative review explored the literature on academic–practice partnerships in community settings within prelicensure nursing education. Methods: A search of three databases—MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus—led to the review of 12 articles exploring academic–practice partnerships in community settings within prelicensure nursing education. Results: Emergent themes encompassed components for planning, implementing, and evaluating academic–practice partnerships. Planning themes included completing community assessments, considering financial resources, and identifying guiding frameworks or models. Implementation themes included diverse nursing education and community partners and settings, academic–practice partnership initiatives, and integration of partnerships in prelicensure nursing education curricula. Lastly, evaluation themes included the exploration of a …

Infant Hippocampal And Amygdala Volume In An Observational Follow-Up From A Randomized Clinical Trial For Maternal Prenatal Depression, Catherine H. Demers, Benjamin L. Hankin, Lillybelle K. Deer, Robert J. Gallop, Mercedes Hoeflich Haase, M. Camille Hoffman, Martin A. Styner, Nancy K. Grote, Elysia Poggi Davis

Psychology: Data Sets

Prenatal maternal depression may have intergenerational effects on offspring brain development, with potential socioemotional consequences. In an observational follow-up of a randomized clinical trial of a prenatal depression intervention (the CARE Project; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03011801), brain development and subsequent negative emotionality were examined among 109 infants born to mothers randomized during pregnancy to brief interpersonal psychotherapy or enhanced usual care. These data include MRI-derived hippocampal and amygdala volumes at approximately 6 weeks of age and a laboratory-based assessment of infant negative emotionality at 6 months.

Resulting Publication: Infant hippocampal and amygdala volume in an observational follow-up from a randomized clinical trial …

Inhibiting Chikungunya Virus Protease Using Mtase-Like Domain Interactions For Novel Antiviral Therapies, Justin G. Julander

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Intouch Week Of July 20, 2026, New York Medical College

InTouch

• Military Health Professions Symposium Highlights Pathways to Serve in Medicine
• PHEP Participants Explore Research, Medicine, and Career Paths
• The Start of a New Era in Clinical Education
• ADHD Emerges as Overlooked Risk Factor in ACL Surgery Outcomes
• Future Physicians Strengthen Emergency and Disaster Medicine Skills Through Intensive Summer Training
• MEC Plaza Renovation Gets Underway
• Research Continues to Thrive at TCDM
• Student Spotlight: Azzam Althomali, M.P.H. '22, Has Devoted His Career to the Safety of Others

Education Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome And The Usage Of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, Kristina Cockerill

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that affects many women starting at puberty and continuing through to menopause. This disorder causes a lot of issues, such as facial hair, obesity, irregular menses, cysts on the ovaries, and insulin resistance. It can also, however, cause other long-term effects like metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular complications, kidney disease, and type II diabetes if not properly treated. The traditional treatment for PCOS is metformin, which helps the body use the insulin that it produces to control symptoms of PCOS. However, most women continue to have symptoms, and they are not aware that glucagon-like …

Editorial: Emerging Treatment Approaches For Substance Use Disorders, David Martinez Garza, Ilya O. Blokhin, Jonathan Brett, Ihsan Salloum

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Functional Divergence Of Capicua Isoforms Explains Differential Tissue Vulnerability In Neurological Disease, Mark A Durham, Ronald Richman, Elizabeth H-Y Chu, Kailey Xia, Hu Chen, Zhandong Liu, Surabi Veeraragavan, Binoy Shivanna, Huda Y Zoghbi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Many neurological diseases impact specific brain regions despite widespread expression of the disease-related protein. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) primarily affects the cerebellum, though Ataxin-1 (ATXN1) is widely expressed. We previously showed that intensified interaction between mutant ATXN1 and Capicua (CIC) drives SCA1 pathogenesis in the cerebellum, whereas ATXN1 loss augments amyloid β production in the hippocampus and cortex. CIC, however, forms a complex with ATXN1 and its paralog, Ataxin-1-like (ATXN1L), yet knockout of either yields completely different phenotypes. To determine whether this could be due to CIC having two isoforms, we generated mice bearing either the long (CIC-L) or …

Intravenous Versus Oral Tranexamic Acid In Shoulder Arthroplasty, Tarishi Parmar, Akin Adio, Mohammad Daher, Adam Khan, John Horneff, Joseph A. Abboud

Rothman Institute Papers

PURPOSE: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is used in shoulder arthroplasty to reduce blood loss. While intravenous (IV) TXA is standard, oral TXA offers advantages in cost and administration. This study compares 90-day complications and postoperative laboratory values between IV and oral TXA in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA).

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using TriNetX identified adults undergoing primary TSA (2005-2025) receiving TXA on the day of surgery, stratified by route (IV vs. oral). One-to-one propensity score matching was performed. Ninety-day outcomes included transfusion, thromboembolic events, cardiac and renal complications, neurologic events, infection, wound dehiscence, readmissions, emergency department visits, opioid utilization, and …

Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy As A Chronic Cancer Pain Syndrome: Mechanisms, Therapeutic Limitations, And Future Directions, Reed Firestone, Jamin Morrison

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, dose-limiting complication of cancer therapy and a major contributor to chronic neuropathic pain among cancer survivors. Although traditionally managed as a treatment-related toxicity, persistent CIPN frequently persists long after chemotherapy completion and is increasingly recognized as a major survivorship and palliative care challenge. This review synthesizes current mechanistic, clinical, and translational evidence and reframes persistent CIPN as a chronic neuropathic cancer pain syndrome. Methods: A narrative review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, supplemented by manual review of key references and clinical guidelines. Emphasis was placed …

Left Atrial Appendage Mimicking Coronary Aneurysm And Thrombus On Echocardiography In A Child With Kawasaki Disease, Anhar Ali Baeshen, Riad Abouzahr, Jameel Alata

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background: The left atrial appendage (LAA) is an embryologically distinct structure with anatomical features that may mimic pathological findings on echocardiography. In Kawasaki disease, this resemblance can cause diagnostic confusion with coronary artery aneurysm or thrombus.

Clinical presentation: A 7-year-old boy presented with fever lasting more than five days and cervical lymphadenopathy following a viral illness. Kawasaki disease was suspected. Transthoracic echocardiography suggested an abnormality of the left coronary artery with possible thrombus, and the patient was started on aspirin, clopidogrel, and apixaban. Coronary computed tomography angiography demonstrated normal coronary origins, course, and caliber, confirming the suspected lesion to be …

Full Issue: Volume 4, Issue 1 - 2026

Bone Bulletin

i - Editors’ Note by Elijah Hoffman and Liam Gibbons

ii - Foreword by Dr. Alan Hilibrand

7 - Clinical Uncertainty in Digital Monitoring After Shoulder Arthroplasty by Abhi Pandey

10 - The Changing Value of Joint Arthroplasty Under the RVU System by Kiley Hamou

13 - SCALPEL TO ROBOT TO ALGORITHM: Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and the Evolution of Spine Surgery by Mateja Stefanovic

18 - Suture-Free Nerve Repair in Upper-Extremity Surgery by Adam Gaughan

20 - The Impact of Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet Surgery on Distal Radius Fracture Plating by Michael Carey

23 - Unicompartmental Versus Total Knee …

Biologic Adjuncts In Hand Surgery: Current Evidence, Limitations, And Clinical Implications, Joseph Kelly

Bone Bulletin

Introduction Biologic therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) based treatments, have gained substantial attention across orthopaedics as agents that may enhance tissue healing and modulate inflammation.^1,4 Their use has expanded in the management of degenerative joint disease, tendinopathies, and fracture nonunion across multiple subspecialties within the field.^1,3,6 Despite the developing research base, prior hand-focused reviews have noted that orthobiologics in hand surgery remains an underdeveloped area, leaving limited guidance available to inform clinical decision making.^1-2

Hazards For The Female Athlete: Disparities In Acl Injury Risk And The Evolving Research Base, Abby Skiena

Bone Bulletin

Introduction

Sex plays a significant role in sports medicine risk factors, but historically, there has been a lack of research involving female participants and investigating physiologic factors unique to female athletes.^1–4 Male athletes face a 2.26 times higher risk of hip and groin injuries, a 2.4 times higher risk of hamstring injuries, and a 1.8-2.8 times higher risk of acute fractures, especially in competitive situations.² Alternatively, female athletes experience a 2-8 times higher rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, a 3.4 times higher risk of bone stress injuries, a 1.25 times higher rate of foot and ankle …

The Impact Of Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet Surgery On Distal Radius Fracture Plating, Michael Carey

Bone Bulletin

Introduction

The surgical technique known as wideawake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) has been widely used in soft tissue hand procedures since 2005.1 A local surgical field block using lidocaine with epinephrine provides local anesthesia and hemostasis via alpha-1 adrenergic agonism without the need for general anesthesia with a tourniquet. In addition to reducing costs related to general anesthesia (GA), WALANT procedures are suitable for American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification 4 (ASA 4) high-risk patients, specifically by eliminating anesthesia risks such as nausea, aspiration, pneumonia, and thromboembolism, all while maintaining or improving clinical outcomes compared with the current …

Clinical Uncertainty In Digital Monitoring After Shoulder Arthroplasty, Abhimaneu Pandey

Bone Bulletin

Introduction

Wearable sensor technology and smartphone based care platforms have been identified as promising technologies for postoperative care after joint arthroplasties.^1,2 In fact, in lower extremity arthroplasty, these technologies have already demonstrated their effectiveness in a multitude of randomized trials.^1,2 One recent multicenter RCT with 401 patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) showed that self-directed rehabilitation using a smartwatch and mobile application (mymobility with Apple Watch, Zimmer Biomet) achieved comparable range of motion and patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) to standard post-operative rehab without increasing adverse events.¹ Related evidence also indicates that “episode of care” smartphone applications …

Factors Influencing Piglet Average Daily Gain During The First Week Of Lactation In Hyperprolific Sow Under Tropical Conditions, Yosua Kristian Adi, Preechaphon Taechamaeteekul, Jakavat Ruampatana, Manmueang Malison, Roy Neville Kirkwood, Padet Tummaruk

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Birth weight (BW) is a key determinant of average daily gain (ADG) in piglets; however, hyperprolific sow genetics, particularly under tropical conditions, have increased the proportion of low-birth-weight piglets. This study evaluated factors associated with ADG during the first 7 days of lactation within birth weight categories (1.3 kg). A total of 1,185 piglets from 97 litters that survived to day 7 were included. Factors analyzed were cumulative birth interval, birth order, colostrum intake per kilogram of body weight, rectal temperature at 24 h postpartum, sex, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and cross-fostering. Birth weight, cumulative birth interval, birth order, colostrum …

Collaborative Healthcare: Advancing Interprofessional Practice & Education, Volume 16, Number 2, Spring/Summer 2026

Collaborative Healthcare: Interprofessional Practice, Education and Evaluation (JCIPE)

In this Issue:

• From the Editors
• What Does It Take to Truly Improve Black Maternal Health from an Interprofessional Lens?
• Spotlight on an Interprofessional Clinical Team
• Meet an IPE/IPCP Faculty Champion
• Meet an IPE/IPCP Student Champion