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Policy, Misinformation, And Mortality: The Effects Of Abortion Restrictions On Maternal Outcomes, Gabrielle Samiratedu Dmsc, Mcms, Pa-C

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

The objective of this review is to evaluate the effects of restrictive abortion laws on maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States. Even before the landmark reversal of Roe v. Wade, the US had one of the highest maternal mortality rates among other high-income countries, and rates are expected to continue to rise in states with restrictive abortion policies. Electronic databases and public health data were analyzed to assess clinical outcomes, access to care, and disparities associated with abortion restrictions nationally and internationally. The findings suggest that states with highly restrictive abortion policies experience higher rates of maternal morbidity …

Large-Scale Blood Pressure Gwas Accounting For Gene-Depression Interactions In 564,680 Individuals From Diverse Populations, Songmi Lee, Clint L Miller, Amy R Bentley, Michael R Brown, Pavithra Nagarajan, Raymond Noordam, John L Morrison, Karen Schwander, Kenneth Westerman, Minjung Kho, Aldi T Kraja, Paul S De Vries, Farah Ammous, Hughes Aschard, Traci M Bartz, Anh Do, Charles T Dupont, Mary F Feitosa, Valborg Gudmundsdottir, Xiuqing Guo, Sarah E Harris, Keiko Hikino, Zhijie Huang, Christophe Lefevre, Leo-Pekka Lyytikäinen, Yuri Milaneschi, Giuseppe Giovanni Nardone, Aurora Santin, Helena Schmidt, Botong Shen, Tamar Sofer, Quan Sun, Ye An Tan, Jingxian Tang, Sébastien Thériault, Peter J Van Der Most, Erin B Ware, Stefan Weiss, Wang Ya Xing, Chenglong Yu, Wei Zhao, Md Abu Yusuf Ansari, Pramod Anugu, John R Attia, Lydia A Bazzano, Joshua C Bis, Max Breyer, Brian Cade, Guanjie Chen, Stacey Collins, Janie Corley, Gail Davies, Marcus Dörr, Jiawen Du, Todd L Edwards, Tariq Faquih, Jessica D Faul, Alison E Fohner, Amanda M Fretts, Srushti Gangireddy, Adam Gepner, Mariaelisa Graff, Edith Hofer, Georg Homuth, Michelle M Hood, Xu Jie, Mika Kähönen, Sharon L R Kardia, Carrie A Karvonen-Gutierrez, Lenore J Launer, Daniel Levy, Maitreiyi Maheshwari, Lisa W Martin, Koichi Matsuda, John J Mcneil, Ilja M Nolte, Tomo Okochi, Laura M Raffield, Olli T Raitakari, Lorenz Risch, Martin Risch, Ana Diez Roux, Edward A Ruiz-Narvaez, Tom C Russ, Takeo Saito, Pamela J Schreiner, Rodney J Scott, James Shikany, Jennifer A Smith, Harold Snieder, Beatrice Spedicati, E Shyong Tai, Adele M Taylor, Kent D Taylor, Paola Tesolin, Rob M Van Dam, Rujia Wang, Wei Wenbin, Tian Xie, Jie Yao, Kristin L Young, Ruiyuan Zhang, Alan B Zonderman, Biobank Japan Project, Lifelines Cohort Study, Maria Pina Concas, David Conen, Simon R Cox, Michele K Evans, Ervin R Fox, Lisa De Las Fuentes, Ayush Giri, Giorgia Girotto, Hans J Grabe, Charles Gu, Vilmundur Gudnason, Sioban D Harlow, Elizabeth Holliday, Jonas B Jost, Paul Lacaze, Seunggeun Lee, Terho Lehtimäki, Changwei Li, Ching-Ti Liu, Alanna C Morrison, Kari E North, Brenda W J H Penninx, Patricia A Peyser, Michael M Province, Bruce M Psaty, Susan Redline, Frits R Rosendaal, Charles N Rotimi, Jerome I Rotter, Reinhold Schmidt, Xueling Sim, Chikashi Terao, David R Weir, Xiaofeng Zhu, Nora Franceschini, Jeffrey R O'Connell, Cashell E Jaquish, Heming Wang, Alisa Manning, Patricia B Munroe, Dabeeru C Rao, Han Chen, W James Gauderman, Laura J Bierut, Thomas W Winkler, Myriam Fornage

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Gene-environment interactions may enhance our understanding of blood pressure (BP) biology. We conducted a meta-analysis of multi-population genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of BP traits accounting for gene-depressive symptomatology (DEPR) interactions. Our study included 564,680 adults from 67 cohorts and four population backgrounds: African (5%), Asian (7%), European (85%), and Hispanic (3%). We discovered seven previously unreported BP loci showing gene-DEPR interaction. These loci mapped to genes implicated in neurogenesis (TGFA and CASP3), lipid metabolism (ACSL1), neuronal apoptosis (CASP3), and synaptic activity (CNTN6 and DBI). We also showed evidence for gene-DEPR interaction at nine known BP loci, further suggesting links between …

Association Of Neighborhood Economic Trajectories And Risk Of Mortality Among Older Adults, Erika Figueroa-Solis, Qian Xiao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background

Lower neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and decline in neighborhood SES have been linked to detrimental health outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and mortality. However, few studies have investigated distinct types of neighborhood economic trajectories in relation to mortality. We examined the association between the recently developed multidimensional measure of neighborhood trajectories and mortality in older adults enrolled in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study (NIH-AARP).

Methods

Neighborhoods were classified into five groups based on economic change patterns from 2000 to 2016 using American Community Survey data: Stability, Growth, Displacement, Abandonment, and Poverty Concentration. Mortality …

Characteristics And Effectiveness Of Maternal Health Interventions To Prevent Mother-To-Child Transmission (Pmtct) Of Syphilis In A Global Setting: A Scoping Review Using Intervention Mapping As A Framework, Jinni Tang, Anusha Sajja, Christine Markham, Emily T Hebert, Irene Stafford, Sheryl Dacso, Melissa F Peskin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Despite the availability of cost-effective treatments, maternal syphilis continues to contribute significantly to preventable stillbirths and congenital syphilis cases worldwide. This scoping review aimed to identify and characterize maternal health interventions designed to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of syphilis globally, using a modified Intervention Mapping (IM) framework.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review of maternal health interventions targeting PMTCT of syphilis published between January 2010 and August 2023. Searches were performed in PubMed, Medline Ovid, and Embase, supplemented by manual reference screening. Eligible studies described at least one maternal health intervention addressing syphilis PMTCT and were analyzed using a …

Broad Laboratory Testing Does Not Show Utility For Telogen Effluvium: A Retrospective Analysis Of 22-Million Laboratory Results Using Trinetx, Zachary J.K. Neubauer, Shari R. Lipner

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

No abstract provided.

Sociodemographic And Hiv-Related Characteristics Associated With Mental Health Diagnoses Among People Living With Hiv, Monique J. Brown Ph.D., Mph, Jiayang Xiao, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Mental health diagnoses have been linked to poor HIV treatment outcomes and poorer quality of life among people living with HIV (PLWH). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between sociodemographic and HIV-related characteristics, and common and serious mental health disorders among PLWH in South Carolina (SC). Data were obtained from the integrated system of statewide electronic health record (EHR) data in SC (2006–2019; N = 8,124). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the associations between sociodemographic and HIV-related characteristics, and common mental health disorders and serious mental health disorders. Among the study population, 4% were 60 …

Zoliflodacin Versus Ceftriaxone Plus Azithromycin For Treatment Of Uncomplicated Urogenital Gonorrhoea: An International, Randomised, Controlled, Open-Label, Phase 3, Non-Inferiority Clinical Trial, Alison Luckey, Manica Balasegaram, Lindley A. Barbee, Teresa A. Batteiger, Helen Broadhurst, Stephanie E. Cohen, Sinead Delany-Moretlwe, Henry J.C. De Vries, Jodie A. Dionne, Katherine Gill, Chris Kenyon, Rossaphorn Kittiyaowamarn, Drew Lewis, John P. Mueller, Vimla Naicker, Seamus O'Brien, John P. O'Donnell, Nittaya Phanuphak, Elizabeth Spooner, Subasree Srinivasan, Stephanie N. Taylor, Magnus Unemo, Zinhle Zwane, Edward W. Hook, Zoliflodacin Phase 3 Study Group

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background Development of new treatments for gonorrhoea is a global public health priority. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of zoliflodacin versus ceftriaxone plus azithromycin in patients with uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhoea. Methods In this phase 3, multinational, randomised, controlled, open-label, non-inferiority clinical trial, participants aged 12 years and older with clinical suspicion of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhoea were eligible for inclusion. The trial was done in 17 outpatient clinics in Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, Thailand, and the USA. Participating countries with high disease prevalence were identified for participation in the study. Sites selected for participation were led by …

Fibrinogen-Associated Plasma Metabolites And Implications For Coagulation, Inflammation, And Vascular Diseases, Jayna C Nicholas, Taryn Alkis, Joshua C Bis, Eric Boerwinkle, Jennifer A Brody, Clary B Clish, Paul S De Vries, Yan Gao, Robert E Gerzsten, Xiuqing Guo, Andrew D Johnson, Martin G Larson, Rozenn N Lemaitre, Bruce M Psaty, Vasan Ramachandran, Alexander P Reiner, Stephen S Rich, Benjamin Rodriguez, Jian Rong, Jerome I Rotter, Jeanette Simino, Nicholas L Smith, James Wilson, Jie Yao, Alanna C Morrison, Bing Yu, Laura M Raffield

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Fibrinogen is a critical coagulation factor that plays an essential role in thrombosis and is elevated in individuals with chronic inflammation. Here, we used fibrinogen as a representative quantitative measure of pro-coagulant risk and evaluated metabolites associated with fibrinogen levels through non-targeted plasma metabolomic profiling (Broad and Metabolon platforms).

Methods: Our analysis included 10,533 individuals across six U.S. based cohorts representing diverse population groups. The cross-sectional relationship between each of 789 tested metabolites and plasma fibrinogen concentration was assessed with adjustment for relevant covariates such as age, sex, body mass index, and circulating lipoprotein levels.

Results: Meta-analysis of per-cohort …

Utilizing Machine Learning Techniques For Computer-Aided Covid-19 Screening Based On Clinical Data, Honglun Xu, Andrews T. Anum, Michael Pokojovy, Sreenath Chalil Madathil, Yuxin Wen, Md. Fashiar Rahman, Tzu-Liang Bill Tseng, Scott Moen, Eric Walser

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of rapid clinical decision-making to facilitate the efficient usage of healthcare resources. Over the past decade, machine learning (ML) has caused a tectonic shift in healthcare, empowering data-driven prediction and decision-making. Recent research demonstrates how ML was used to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper puts forth new computer-aided COVID-19 disease screening techniques using six classes of ML algorithms (including penalized logistic regression, random forest, artificial neural networks, and support vector machines) and evaluates their performance when applied to a real-world clinical dataset containing patients’ demographic information and vital indices (such as …

Cancer Literacy And Social Determinants Of Health: An Epidemiological Analysis Of Trust, Digital Engagement, And Healthcare Utilization In Cancer Information Seeking, Kimberly Leeann Hazel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rise of online health information has increased access to cancer resources but also amplified misinformation, creating trust gaps that threaten prevention, treatment, and health equity. This study examined how trust in cancer information sources, online information-seeking, and healthcare perceptions relate among U.S. adults. Guided by the health information seeking behavior, the socioecological model, and the structural influence model of health communication, data from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (N = 6,197) were analyzed with logistic regression, mediation, and moderation modeling, controlling for demographics. Trust in government agencies predicted greater cancer information seeking (odds ratio [OR] = 1.94, …

Factors Affecting The Level Of Grief Experienced By Men Whose Female Partner Died In The United States, Keona C. Lee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Grief is an emotional reaction to the loss of a loved one through death. Although grief is a universal human experience, its perspective is unique, and research has often ignored the varied experiences of racial/ethnic and cultural groups, particularly men of color in the United States. The purpose of this quantitative study was to measure the level of grief experienced by men whose female partner died and to determine whether ethnicity, having a prior mental health diagnosis, social support, and traumatic or anticipated loss significantly impacted their level of grief. The study was guided by the social-ecological model to explain …

State Prior Authorization Prohibitions And Buprenorphine Retention Among Privately Insured Patients, Ju-Chen Hu, Shashi N. Kapadia, Hao Zhang, Ali Jalali, Kristen Underhill, Christina Andrews Ph.D., Yuhua Bao

Faculty Publications

Importance  Buprenorphine is the most commonly prescribed medication for opioid use disorder, but rates of retention in treatment remain low. Prior authorization (PA) has been identified as a barrier to the administration of buprenorphine, and patients may need multiple PAs to continue treatment; thus, many states have passed laws to prohibit the use of PA for buprenorphine in private insurance.

Objective  To examine the association between PA prohibitions and buprenorphine treatment retention overall and by branded vs generic drug status.

Design, Setting, and Participants  This cross-sectional study used a difference-in-differences design and private insurance claims data from 49 states and …

Multiple Myeloma Risk Linked To Dna Damage Response Genes, Michael Conry, Irina Ostrovnaya, Yelena Kemel, Saloni Sinha, Linda B. Baughn, Brian Avery, Kylee Maclachlan, Victoria Groner, Lauren Banaszak, Aaron Norman, Nicholas J. Boddicker, Alyssa I. Clay-Gilmour Ph.D., Shaji Kumar, Ellen Kim, Sita Dandiker, Mitul Waghmare, Susan Slager, Douglas Sborov, Judy Garber, Elizabeth E. Brown, Michelle Hildebrandt, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

Background DNA damage response genes (DDRG), implicated in several cancers as both predisposing risk factors as well as biomarkers for aggressiveness, have not been fully explored in multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods Herein, we analyzed disease associations of pathogenic variations in nine putative candidate genes using 3 446 MM cases and 323 233 cancer-free controls.

Results Increased MM risk was found to be associated with inherited rare pathogenic mutations in TP53, ATM, CHEK2, KDM1A, and ARID1A, with an enrichment of these variants among individuals with early onset or family history of MM. Individuals with TP53 or ATM germline mutations are also …

Music Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Via Telehealth For Anxiety In Survivors Of Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Kevin T. Liou, Joke Bradt, M. Beatriz Currier, Raymond Baser, Katherine Panageas, Jodi Macleod, Desiree Walker, Susan Q. Li, Ana Maria Lopez, Kelly Mcconnell, Jun J. Mao

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Anxiety is prevalent, disruptive, and undertreated among survivors of cancer. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first-line treatment, but not all individuals have access, respond to treatment, or prefer this option because of stigma. Music therapy is effective for short-term anxiety reduction, but it is unknown whether it is noninferior to first-line CBT for long-term anxiety reduction.

METHODS: This comparative effectiveness trial randomly assigned English- or Spanish-speaking survivors of cancer to seven weekly telehealth sessions of music therapy or CBT. The coprimary end points were changes in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety score at weeks 8 …

Circumciser Type And The Type Of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Prevalence For Girls Ages 0-14 Years In Ethiopia, Jean-Pierre Ramazani Abedi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite ongoing eradication efforts, female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) remains a major public health and human rights concern in Ethiopia. This quantitative study was conducted to examine how circumciser type (traditional cutter, birth attendant, or health professional) influences FGM/C prevalence and severity among girls ages 0–14, considering the moderating effects of residence and mothers’ FGM status, while controlling for age and income. Guided by the social ecological model and using 2016 E Ethiopian Demographic Health Surveys data, analysis indicates a significant association between circumciser type and FGM/C type (χ² (2, N = 1,553) = 6.86, p = .032), which …

Trends In The Implementation Of The Cyberchondria Severity Scale: Bibliometric Analysis, Adam C Powell, Cayetana Calderon-Smith

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Cyberchondria, a combination of the words "cyber" and "hypochondriasis," is a condition that is receiving increasing attention from clinicians and researchers globally. Researchers are currently using multiple instruments to quantify it. Furthermore, the instruments have been translated into multiple languages.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the extent to which researchers are measuring cyberchondria using the 33-item Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS) and its 12-item abbreviated version, the CSS-12. It also examined the relative use of cyberchondria instruments in different languages.

METHODS: PubMed and PsycInfo were searched for articles published between May 1, 2019, and December 31, 2024, featuring the …

Does Adding An Interbody Cage In L4–L5 Posterolateral Fusion For Degenerative Spondylolisthesis And Stenosis Improve Clinical Outcome?, Enrico Aimar, Lucrezia Di Stefano, Federico Longhitano, Alberto Bona, Marco Meloni, Tommaso Alfiero, Federica Valente, Roberta Bonomo, Giulio Bonomo, Flavio Tancioni, Guglielmo Iess

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: As the population ages, L4-L5 degenerative spondylolisthesis is increasingly common. Posterolateral fusion was long standard; interbody cages are widely used for perceived higher fusion rates.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Does adding an interbody cage to posterolateral fusion improve outcomes or reduce complications in elderly patients with grade I spondylolisthesis and severe stenosis?

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 319 adults aged 60-85 who underwent single-level L4-L5 fusion (2011-2018) after failed conservative care. Patients received posterior lumbar fusion (PLIF, n = 155) or posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF, n = 164). Primary outcomes were Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) change and complications over a …

Clinical Performance Of A Novel Point-Of-Care High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I Assay, Alan H. B. Wu, Simon A. Mahler, Stacey L. House, Saeed A. Jortani, Michael H. Creer, Kristin L. Rising, Jason J. Bischof, Chad Crystal, Gary F. Headden, Fred S. Apple, Nicholas E. Harrison, Andrew C. Meltzer, Justin T. Baca, Brian Tiffany, Mark Sochor, Grace U. Pentecostes, Katrina P. Di Tullio, Manish S. Gupta, Adam J. Singer, James L. Januzzi

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays performed in the central laboratory have long turnaround times. This study evaluates the clinical performance of a novel bedside point-of-care (POC) hs-cTnI assay (i-STAT® hs-TnI) to aid in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODS: A prospective multisite cohort study involving emergency department (ED) patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome was conducted at 28 sites across the United States. Serial whole blood samples were collected at 0-1 h and >1-3 h from ED presentation. Primary outcome was MI or non-MI. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV) for MI were calculated with …

Intimate Partner Violence Experience, Support Seeking And Coping Strategies Among Pregnant Women In Southwestern Uganda, Eve Katushabe, John Baptist Asiimwe, John Bosco Ndinawe, Editor Abeneitwe, Agnes Katusiime, Gladys Nakidde, Vincent Batwala

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy remains a global health challenge. This study aimed to explore pregnant women’s experiences of IPV, support seeking, and coping strategies in Southwestern Uganda. Pregnant women who had experienced IPV during pregnancy were purposively selected and completed in-depth interviews, with data saturation reached after 25 participants. Guided by the feminist theory, data were analyzed deductively and inductively using thematic analysis. Participating pregnant women were exposed to physical violence (e.g., the gravid abdomen being stepped on), psychological violence (e.g., verbal abuse), sexual violence (e.g., being forced into uncomfortable sexual positions), and financial control and manipulation (e.g., …

M-O-M-S On The Bayou: Implementation Of An Intervention To Improve Mental Health After Disaster, E. W. Harville, Gloria Giarratano, M. Patterson, M. Schultheis, K. S. Dorans, S. Turner, S. Harris, S. Longo, K. Weis

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Pregnant women are a vulnerable population after disaster. Their health may be improved through community-based support programs in addition to their standard prenatal care. We conducted a prenatal peer support program, Mentors Offering Maternal Support (M-O-M-S), focused on improving mental health in hurricane-affected areas in southern Louisiana. M-O-M-S consists of six biweekly sessions covering pregnancy acceptance, maternal role identification, family and partner relationships, preparation for labor/fears around labor, well-being/safety of self and baby, and post-delivery health and maternal-infant bonding. The program is led by a “mentor”, an experienced mother but not necessarily a clinician or social worker, who guides the …

Asian Reference Values For Handgrip Strength, Gait Speed, Five-Times-Sit-To-Stand Test, Muscle Mass And Calf Circumference, Jozo Grgic, Siew Ling Tey, Dieu Thi Thu Huynh, Yen Ling Low, Zeljko Pedisic, Nina Schaller, Vanessa Kristina Wazny, Weilan Wang, Yasuhiko Saito, Ravindra P Rannan-Eliya, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Monique Chaaya, Carlos Mendes De Leon, Preeti Gupta, Ecosse L Lamoureux, Mythily Subramaniam, Edimansyah Abdin, Rahul Malhotra, Angelique Chan, Bayasgalan Tumenbayar, Oyunbileg Luvsandavaajav, Bolormaa Enkhtuvshin, Norma Mansor, Halimah Awang, Andrea B Maier

Faculty Publications

Background:Handgrip strength, gait speed, Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST) performance, skeletal muscle mass and calf circumference are important health outcomes, particularly useful for diagnosing sarcopenia. The aim of this study was to establish reference (normative) values for handgrip strength, gait speed, FTSST performance, skeletal muscle mass and calf circumference by pooling individual participant data from national cohorts in Asia.

>Methods:We conducted a pooled analysis of individual participant data from 20 national cohorts representing 12 Asian countries (China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Sri Lanka). We included cohorts with data on at least …

Anti-Csf-1r Therapy With Combined Immuno-Chemotherapy Coordinate An Adaptive Immune Response To Eliminate Macrophage Enriched Triple Negative Breast Cancers, Diego A Pedroza, Xueying Yuan, Fengshuo Liu, Hilda L Chan, Christina Zhang, William Bowie, Alex J Smith, Sebastian J Calderon, Nadia Lieu, Weiguo Wu, Paul Porter, Poonam Sarkar, Na Zhao, Constanze V Oehler, Ondrej Peller, M Waleed Gaber, Qian Zhu, Charles M Perou, Xiang H-F Zhang, Jeffrey M Rosen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Women diagnosed with metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC) have limited treatment options, are more prone to develop resistance and are associated with high mortality. A cold tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) characterized by low T cells and high tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) in mTNBC is associated with the failure of standard-of-care chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment. We demonstrate that the combination of immunomodulatory low-dose Cyclophosphamide (CTX) coupled with anti-CSF-1R antibody targeted therapy (SNDX-ms6352) and anti-PD-1 (ICB), was highly effective against aggressive metastatic Trp53 null TNBC transplantable syngeneic models that present with high macrophage infiltration. Mechanistically, CSF-1R inhibition along …

Optimal Intervention Strategies In Age-Structured Sirvd Model: Epidemiological And Economic Analysis Of Covid-19 In Korea, Joon Chun, Melisa Hendrata

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

This study employed an age-structured Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Vaccinated-Deceased (SIRVD) model to design optimal COVID‑19 intervention strategies by integrating epidemiological dynamics with economic costs. Using empirical data from South Korea, we estimated transmission parameters and analyzed quarantine-based non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) alongside targeted vaccination scenarios. Our results indicated that a stronger form of mild NPI (upper range of Level I), when combined with targeted vaccination that prioritized seniors, achieved substantial reductions in infection peaks and overall economic burden. These findings underscore the effectiveness of age-specific strategies in epidemic management and offer critical insights for policymakers seeking balanced, resource-efficient approaches.

Dual Challenges, Shared Wins: Unlocking Climate Financing For Nutrition, Chiara Dell’Aira, Natalia Rovelo-Velazquez, Sarah Lahaye, Xiu Xin Catherine Lok, Stella Nordhagen, Stephen Dorey, Mireya Vilar-Compte

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Background

The intertwined challenges of climate change and malnutrition amplify each other, with climate change exacerbating malnutrition, particularly in vulnerable populations; and food systems significantly contributing to emissions and environmental degradation. Addressing these issues together offers opportunities for shared gains, yet funding streams for these sectors remain siloed and misaligned.

Objective

This study developed a scoring methodology to assess the compatibility of climate funds with financing nutrition-related actions where synergies align with climate funds’ primary goals, referred to as the “scope for nutrition integration”.

Methods

Using the Climate Funds Update database, 18 active climate funds were systematically reviewed …

Cost-Effectiveness Of Home-Based Self-Sampling Vs Clinician Sampling For Anal Precancer Screening, Haluk Damgacioglu, Timothy L Mcauliffe, Timothy J Ridolfi, Elizabeth Chiao, Maria E Fernandez, Vanessa Schick, Jennifer S Smith, Bridgett Brzezinski, Jenna Nitkowski, Ashish A Deshmukh, Alan G Nyitray

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Anal cancer screening is recommended for high-risk populations, particularly sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals. However, the cost-effectiveness of home-based self-sampling in increasing anal cancer screening uptake has not yet been evaluated in the US.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of home-based anal self-sampling compared with clinic-based screening among SGM individuals.

Design, setting, and participants: This economic evaluation used data from a 2-group randomized clinical trial conducted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from January 2020 to August 2022, enrolling SGM individuals aged 25 years or older. Participants were randomized to home-based self-sampling or clinic-based screening. Costs for home-based screening were obtained …

Medicaid Expansion And Breast Cancer Care And Outcomes-What Lies Ahead?, Meghan H. Maceyko, Oluwadamilola M. Fayanju

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Nurse-Led Interventions To Reduce Occupational Hand Injuries In Manufacturing, Patti Harter

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Occupational hand injuries cause preventable morbidity, lost productivity, and workers’ compensation costs in manufacturing. Although safety policies and personal protective equipment (PPE) are in place, inconsistent glove use, slow hazard identification, and delayed response still cause injuries. This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated an eight-week, nurse-led injury-prevention bundle at a Texas heavy-vehicle manufacturing facility. The intervention required daily glove inspections, Safety Champion participation, real-time electronic hazard reporting, and corrective action within the shift. Injury outcomes were measured using Occupational Safety and Administration (OSHA) rates per 200,000 work hours and percentage change from baseline. After implementation, hand injury rates fell from …

Sexually Transmitted Infections And Screening: An Educational, Evidence-Based, Quality Improvement Bundle, Misty D. White

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: With sexually transmitted diseases on the rise in central Texas, advance practice providers were not following evidence-based practice recommendations for sexually transmitted infection screening, treatment, and follow-up. Screening for sexually transmitted diseases occurred at a rate of less than one patient every 7.75 days.

Objective: The objective of this project was to develop and implement an advanced practice provider training tool to educate the clinic providers on sexually transmitted infections, collect pre- and post-data for the educational sexually transmitted infection bundle, and collect sexually transmitted infection screening, identification, treatment, and follow-up data generated by the clinic advanced practice providers …

Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening Adherence, Albin Abraham

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background

As the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent but highly preventable form of cancer (American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable [ACSNCCR], 2026; Maratt et al., 2024). Screening for CRC is fundamental to prevention and early detection. Despite advances in screening measures, CRC screenings remain suboptimal (Tonini & Zanni, 2024). In the US, more than one in three adults 45 years or older are not screened as recommended (ACSNCCR, 2026).

Purpose

As a safety-net county health network primarily serving the under-resourced population, the organization is uniquely positioned to impact …

Advancing Screening For Intimate Partner Violence In Pregnant Individuals Throughout The Perinatal Period To Prevent Adverse Pregnancy And Maternal Outcomes, Emilia R. Valdez

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Intimate Partner Violence experienced by pregnant individuals contributes to adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal health. A mother’s exposure to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) can affect their ability to carry a healthy pregnancy to term (38 – 40 weeks gestational age) and places them at risk for comorbidities including; Preterm birth, Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Low Birth Weight/ Small for Gestational Age, Premature Rupture of Membranes and Miscarriage. The incidence of IPV screening is not accessible to all pregnant individuals due to healthcare providers lack of education, time constraints in the workplace, bias and discomfort towards IPV. The implementation of IPV …