Digital Commons Network^™

Upper Limb Motor Recovery In Chronic Stroke-Longitudinal Aggregate Analysis From Control Group Outcomes, Fabien Scalzo, Robert A Coker, Lauren Souders, Leo Petrossian, Kern Bhugra, Lauren Sheehan, Eric C Leuthardt, Alexander R Carter

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: This study examines the effects of regular physical activity on upper extremity motor recovery during the late subacute and chronic phases of stroke.

METHODS: Data were aggregated from 20 studies comprising 368 participants in control groups receiving usual care or general rehabilitation without specialized interventions. To isolate the impact of non-specific physical activity, studies involving robotics or task-specific therapies were excluded.

RESULTS: The primary outcome was the change in Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) motor scale. The pooled effect size for FMA-UE change was small and non-significant (Cohen's

DISCUSSION: These findings provide a quantitative benchmark for expected gains …

Building Toward A Standard Model For Perinatal Mental Healthcare, R Christopher Sheldrick, Megan Deichen Hansen, Nicole H Cirino, Mary Kimmel, Courtney King, Deirdre Logan, Rena Menke, Karen Tabb

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Healthcare decision-making relies on models that synthesize complex components such as disease epidemiology, diagnostic accuracy, and treatment efficacy. A healthcare model serves as a framework to integrate health systems research, biological understanding, and diverse perspectives on health, enabling decision-makers to optimize access, quality, cost, and equity. The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has underscored the need for a shared conceptualization in behavioral sciences to unify definitions and facilitate data synthesis. To achieve this, a standard model of perinatal mental healthcare is imperative.

OBJECTIVE: We propose the development of a standard model of perinatal mental healthcare, analogous …

Barriers And Facilitators To Implementing A Task-Sharing Mental Health Intervention For Sickle Cell Disease Populations In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: A Qualitative Analysis Using The Consolidated Framework For Implementation Research (Cfir), John Patena, Leah Elster, Tania Hameed, Sumedha Kulkarni, Alden Yuanhong Lai, Annika C Sweetland, Joyce Gyamfi, Temitope Ojo, Angela Odoms-Young, Charmaine Royal, Emmanuel Peprah

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: People living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) experience higher rates of common mental disorders (CMD). There is an alarming treatment gap in the provision of adequate mental health services for CMDs in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). One solution is the implementation of task-sharing interventions such as the Friendship Bench which utilizes concepts of problem-solving therapy (PST). This investigation uses a qualitative study design to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of implementing a PST-based task-sharing mental health intervention for SCD populations in LMICs using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

METHODS: Purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling strategies were …

No Evidence Of Mmr Induced Trained Immunity To Prevent Sars Cov2: Results From A Multi-Centre Rct, Sinead Delany-Moretlwe, George Kyei, Erik Dubberke, Linda Yun, Leon Du Toit, Mary Politi, Ben Swan, Anne Deschryver, Sherry Mckinnon, Ananya Gupta, Shabaana Khader, Michael S Avidan, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Measles-containing vaccines (MCV), by training innate immune cells, are hypothesized to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

METHODS: In this international, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned adults, 18 years and older, to receive MCV or saline. The primary outcome was polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed symptomatic COVID-19, up to 60 days after intervention. Secondary outcomes were PCR-confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 and serologically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, up to 150 days after intervention.

RESULTS: Of 3411 randomised participants, the modified intention-to-treat population included 1607 in the MCV and 1545 in the saline group. …

The Perfect Storm: Unraveling The Interplay Of Genetic Predisposition And Viral Triggers In Type 1 Diabetes Pathogenesis, Daniel A Veronese-Paniagua, Jeffrey R Millman

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the T cell-mediated destruction of insulin-secreting pancreatic β cells, leaving patients reliant on exogenous insulin to establish normoglycemia. Despite advancements in glucose management, the precise pathological mechanisms linking genetic predisposition and environmental triggers to the loss of immune tolerance remain incompletely understood, hindering the development of preventative therapies. This comprehensive review synthesizes clinical, experimental, and epidemiological data to detail the intricate pathogenesis of T1D, focusing on the convergence of autoimmunity, high-risk genetics, and enteroviral infection. We discuss how T1D is fundamentally a disease caused by failures in central and …

The Role Of Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Neuropeptides In Reward And Aversion, Kathryn Braden, Daniel C Castro

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The dorsal raphe nucleus is a critical node for affective and motivated circuits in the brain. Though typically known as a serotonergic hub, the dorsal raphe nucleus is also highly enriched in a variety of neuropeptides. Recent advances in biotechnology and behavioral modeling have led to a resurgence in neuropeptide research, allowing investigators to target unique peptide systems with unprecedented clarity. Here, we review and discuss multiple neuropeptide systems in dorsal raphe and consider how their activity may contribute to reward and aversion. While this is not an exhaustive review, this short overview will highlight the many opportunities available to …

Sauna Use As A Novel Management Approach For Cardiovascular Health And Peripheral Arterial Disease, Sergio Sastriques-Dunlop, Santiago Elizondo-Benedetto, Mohamed A Zayed

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Heat therapy (HT), particularly in the form of whole-body sauna bathing, has emerged as a promising intervention for the management of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Passive HT can induce both local and systemic physiological responses, primarily through repeated thermal stress consisting of short-term passive exposure to high temperatures. Such responses closely parallel the physiological adaptations observed during aerobic exercise. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) poses significant health challenges, impacting millions of individuals worldwide. Supervised exercise is considered a cornerstone therapy for PAD, yet many patients face significant health-related barriers that complicate its broad implementation.

METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive review of …

Parp Inhibitors In Melanoma Treatment: Potential, Challenges, And Future Directions, Angela Anaeme, Karen Moussa, Abdallah N Mansour, George Nassief, George Ansstas

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Genome integrity is a critical driver of cellular stability, and defects in the processes that maintain genome health are potent sources of cancer progression. Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), which damages cells through absent or erroneous repair of double-stranded DNA breaks, is a prime example of such cellular dysfunction. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors exploit these aberrancies in the cellular repair process by arresting the ability of the PARP enzyme to repair cellular and genetic damage, inducing the accumulation of DNA damage and cancer cell death. While the utility of PARP inhibitors has been established in many HRD-associated tumors - particularly breast, …

Assessing The Efficacy Of The Natural Disaccharide Trehalose In Ameliorating Diet-Induced Obesity And Metabolic Dysfunction, Yu-Sheng Yeh, Trent D Evans, Se-Jin Jeong, Ziyang Liu, Ali Ajam, Carlos Cosme, Jun Huang, Doureradjou Peroumal, Xiangyu Zhang, Ali Javaheri, Jaehyung Cho, Irfan J Lodhi, Babak Razani

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Trehalose is a naturally occurring disaccharide with versatile commercial applications and health benefits, including promise as a therapeutic for obesity and diabetes. Although numerous previous reports purport the therapeutic uses of orally ingested trehalose, the abundance of glycosidases in the gastrointestinal tract suggest the potential for significant limitations of oral trehalose that have not been addressed. We first fed mice a high-fat diet (HFD) while providing trehalose by both oral and intraperitoneal routes. This combined strategy was broadly efficacious in reversing HFD-induced weight gain, fat mass, insulin resistance, and the development of hepatosteatosis. In contrast, oral-only trehalose failed to improve …

Comparative Effectiveness Of Epilepsy Surgery Versus Additional Anti-Seizure Medications For Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome: Study Protocol For A Multicenter, Mixed-Methods Study, Sandi Lam, Liu Lin Thio, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) is a severe developmental epileptic encephalopathy without a known cure. Management of symptoms requires substantial care. Treatment options include anti-seizure medications, dietary therapy, and epilepsy surgery. Two main treatment pathways for patients with LGS with drug resistant epilepsy are additional anti-seizure medications or epilepsy surgery, which have been reported to be effective in reduction of seizure burden and improving quality of life. No studies have directly compared the outcomes of using epilepsy surgery versus using additional anti-seizure medications for the treatment of LGS.

METHODS: This study is a multicenter, mixed-methods comparative effectiveness study of LGS patients …

Bronchus-Associated Lymphoid Tissue In Lung Transplantation: A Facilitator Of Rejection Or Regulator Of Tolerance?, Alexander N Wein, Charles R Liu, Daniel Kreisel

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The role of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) in the regulation of immune responses to transplanted lungs remains an area of interest and controversy. Early studies in a rat pulmonary transplant model suggested BALT may accelerate rejection of grafts by inducing a local and systemic inflammatory response. Such observations were corroborated in intrapulmonary tracheal transplant models in the rat. While some human studies have described the presence of BALT in grafts that have been chronically rejected, others did not observe an association between induction of BALT and adverse outcomes. More recent investigations have found that BALT, enriched in immunoregulatory cell populations, …

Evaluating And Supporting Leadership, Management, And Mentoring: A Framework For Catalyzing Responsible Research And Healthy Research Environments, Tristan Mcintosh, Alison L Antes

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Those who lead research teams have myriad roles and responsibilities that are pivotal to both producing rigorous and responsible scientific work and creating a supportive research environment that cultivates this work. We begin by presenting a leadership, management, and mentoring (LMM) framework focused on three critical roles researchers must play that have direct impact on the scientific work, the work environment, and research team dynamics: the role of research leader, research manager, and research mentor. Research leadership involves fostering a healthy research culture by building relationships where team members feel respected and supported. Research management involves providing oversight and direction …

Characterization Of Tlr9 Responsiveness In Cell Subsets Derived From In Vitro Pdc Differentiation Of Hematopoietic Stem And Progenitor Cells, Sabina Sánchez Hernández, Tobias Wang Bjerg, Ian Helstrup Nielsen, Anders Laustsen, Hai Q Tang, Lars Henning Pedersen, Eynav Klechevsky, Martin R Jakobsen, Rasmus O Bak

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are multifunctional immune cells with roles in both the innate and adaptive immune system. Their hallmark function is production of large amounts of type I interferons in response to viral infections, but they are also capable of producing a range of other cytokines, antigen presentation, and cytotoxicity. Their potential as an immunotherapy for cancer and infectious disease is being explored, but broad application of these cells is challenged by low frequency in the blood and low viability during

The Gut Microbiome And Gastrointestinal Cancers: Mechanisms, Biomarkers And Therapeutic Opportunities, Sarbjeet Kaur Makkar, Kumar S Bishnupuri

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers remain a leading global cause of cancer-related mortality, significantly impacting public health and healthcare systems worldwide. Emerging evidence underscores the critical role of gut microbiome dysbiosis-characterized by disrupted microbial diversity and function-in GI carcinogenesis. Utilizing recent advancements in multi-omics technologies and sophisticated computational biology, researchers have elucidated distinct microbial signatures associated with colorectal, gastric, hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers. This review comprehensively analyzes the primary mechanisms through which gut microbes contribute to cancer development and progression, encompassing genotoxicity, chronic inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, epigenetic modifications, and immunomodulation. Moreover, we explore innovative microbiome-derived biomarkers for potential clinical applications, including …

Emergency Department Utilization Among Youth In Foster Care: Benefits Of A Patient-Centered Medical Home, Nicholas Szoko, Allison Phad, Mary E Fournier, George M Hoganson, Melissa Jonson-Reid

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Foster youth face unique medical, psychological, and social challenges, which can impact patterns of emergency department (ED) utilization. The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) offers a potential model to reduce overutilization of healthcare resources. Little work has examined relationships between PCMHs and ED utilization among foster youth.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to describe longitudinal trends in ED utilization among foster youth in a PCMH.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study leveraged electronic health record data from foster youth seen in a PCMH from 2018 to 2024. Frequency of ED utilization was calculated before, during, and after involvement in the PCMH. We used …

Uncovering A Novel Binding Trench In Errα: Insights From Molecular Simulations, Lamees Hegazy

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Although estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) holds significant therapeutic potential for treating various disorders, developing selective agonists remains challenging due to the poor pharmacokinetics and limited selectivity of current ligands. This study presents unconstrained molecular dynamics simulations of ERRα bound to an agonist ligand, uncovering dynamic ligand-binding behavior as the ligand shifts between two orientations: one in the orthosteric pocket and another in a newly identified trench adjacent to this site. The free energy landscape reveals that both binding orientations are comparably populated, with an accessible transition pathway between them. The identification of this novel binding trench expands our understanding of …

Hookworm Infection Modulates Lung And Intestinal Transcriptomic Responses To Sars-Cov-2 In Syrian Hamsters, Bruce A Rosa, Mahdiyeh Bigham, Tamarand L Darling, Ashutosh Arun, Kumar Sachin Singh, John Martin, Adrianus C M Boon, Makedonka Mitreva

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Helminth infections are widespread in resource-limited settings, and modulate host immune responses, with potential implications for viral coinfections. Intestinal helminths can alter susceptibility to respiratory viruses, but the mechanisms influencing SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes remain poorly understood.

METHODS: Using the Syrian hamster model, we investigated the impact of prior infection with the human hookworm

RESULTS: Prior hookworm infection did not significantly alter viral titers or weight loss compared to SARS-CoV-2 infection alone, but distinct transcriptional signatures compared were identified compared to either single infection. Coinfection uniquely differentially regulated hematopoiesis and B cell-associated genes (e.g.,

CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that

Exploring Implementation Strategies In Evidence-Based Open Streets Programs For Promoting Physical Activity In The Americas: A Scoping Review, Raúl D Gierbolini-Rivera, Milena Franco Silva, Lorna Fabiola Pineda, Bryan J Weiner, Byron J Powell, Ross C Brownson, Diana C Parra

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Chronic diseases are a leading public health concern in the Americas, and physical inactivity contributes significantly to their burden. Open streets program-community initiatives that temporarily close urban streets to vehicles-promote physical activity and community engagement, demonstrating positive health and social impacts. Effective implementation depends on identifying suitable strategies and frameworks. The Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) taxonomy, developed for clinical/healthcare contexts, has not been widely assessed for community-based interventions such as Open Streets. Implementation strategies could lead to specific outcomes (e.g., adoption, sustainability) that differ from program outcomes (e.g., PA levels, chronic disease prevalence). This scoping review focuses …

Caregiver Determinants And Capacity For Participation In Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy, Hunter G Moore, Amy Ayala, Bhooma R Aravamuthan, Alyssa E Smith, Sharon L Ramey, Catherine R Hoyt

2020-Current year OA Pubs

AIM: Hemiplegic cerebral palsy affects 1 in every 1,100 children, making it the most common pediatric motor disability. Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is an evidence-based intervention that significantly improves upper extremity function when implemented with high fidelity. Despite its effectiveness, CIMT's intensive nature-requiring daily therapy for up to twenty days-limits its availability. This study examined caregivers' perspectives on implementing and adapting home-based CIMT to identify practical solutions for improving intervention accessibility.

METHOD: Caregivers of a child who has a diagnosis associated with upper extremity motor impairment consistent with cerebral palsy were recruited from the Cerebral Palsy Center at the St. …

The Stabilizing Potential Of The Supraspinatus Is Inhibited In Tear-Associated Scapula Shapes But Can Be Modulated By Kinematic Adjustments, Erin C S Lee, Nathan M Young, Ellen Y Li, Rebekah L Lawrence, Michael J Rainbow

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Specific scapula shapes are associated with full-thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon. A primary role of the supraspinatus is to actively stabilize the glenohumeral joint against muscles that generate destabilizing shear forces. Mechanisms that increase the supraspinatus load required to perform this stabilizing function may increase an individual's susceptibility to tears. Previous work has shown that tear-associated scapula shapes increase the destabilizing action of the deltoid during arm-raising, but no work has investigated whether tear-associated shapes inhibit the stabilizing potential of the supraspinatus itself.

METHODS: We combined statistical shape modeling, kinematics-driven simulations of the glenohumeral joint, and a finite …

Expanding The Spectrum Of White Matter Abnormalities In Wolfram Syndrome: A Retrospective Review, Justin Simo, Heather M Lugar, Tamara Hershey, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Wolfram syndrome (WFS) is a genetic disorder mainly caused by pathogenic variants in the

METHODS: We conducted an international multicenter retrospective study of the clinical, genetic, and radiological data from 17 unrelated WFS subjects.

RESULTS: Seven subjects (7/17; 41%) showed at least one focal white matter lesion evocative of MS. Among these seven, three fulfilled the McDonald radiological criteria of dissemination in space and time, suggesting an inflammatory demyelinating process. All subjects reviewed in the study had at least one of the classical WFS MRI features.

CONCLUSION: Our report expands the WFS spectrum of white matter involvement …

Cluster Randomized Multilevel Intervention For Promoting Physical Activity In Rural Communities, Alan M Beck, Natalicio Serrano, Dixie Duncan, Amy A Eyler, Amanda Gilbert, Fatemeh Naghiloo, Rodrigo Reis, Rachel G Tabak, Ross C Brownson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Rural areas of the United States have lower levels of physical activity (PA) as compared to their urban and suburban counterparts, leading to higher levels of chronic diseases. The objective of the study was to increase PA in rural communities via a multilevel intervention.

METHODS: We implemented a cluster randomized controlled trial of a community-based multilevel PA intervention between 2019 and 2022 in 14 rural communities. The intervention consisted of (1) text messaging (i.e., individual level), (2) encouragement of walking groups (i.e., interpersonal level), and (3) community-based marketing (i.e., community level).

RESULTS: Participants meeting the 2018 PA guidelines for …

Perspectives Of Key Stakeholders On Integrating Wearable Sensor Technology Into Rehabilitation Care: A Mixed-Methods Analysis, Allison E Miller, Carey L Holleran, Marghuretta D Bland, Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft, Caitlin A Newman, Thomas M Maddox, Catherine E Lang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Rehabilitation is facing a critical practice gap: Patients seek out rehabilitation services to improve their activity in daily life, yet recent work demonstrates that rehabilitation may be having a limited impact on improving this outcome due to lack of objective data on patients' activity in daily life. Remote monitoring using wearable sensor technology is a promising solution to this address this gap. The purpose of this study was to understand patient and clinician awareness of the practice gap and preferences for integrating wearable sensor technology into rehabilitation care.

METHODS: This study used a mixed-methods approach consisting of surveys and …

Longitudinal Association Of Retinal Morphology And White Matter Progression In Retinal Vasculopathy With Cerebral Leukoencephalopathy And Systemic Manifestations, Henok Getahun, Rajendra S Apte, Wilson X Wang, Vivian Chen, Mae Gordon, Julia Huecker, John P Atkinson, M Kathryn Liszewski, Slim Fellah, Serguei V Astafiev, Jonathan J Miner, Andria L Ford

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy and systemic manifestations (RVCL-S) is a rare small vessel disease marked by vision loss and neurocognitive deterioration. We sought to characterize the relatedness of the underlying retinal structure and cerebral disease.

METHODS: Participants with RVCL-S underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT) and brain MRI at baseline and 2 years. Total macular volume (TMV) and central subfield thickness (CST) were generated from OCT images. Neuroimaging metrics of ischemic brain injury included white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, white matter microstructure (mean diffusivity), and normalized white matter volume. Associations between retinal and neuroimaging metrics were assessed.

RESULTS: Eleven …

Male Involvement Interventions Influencing Maternal Reproductive Health Outcomes: A Narrative Synthesis Using Re-Aim With Implications For Maternal Mortality In Africa, Onyekachukwu Anikamadu, Ucheoma Nwaozuru, Nkiruka Obodoechina, Olufunto Olusanya, Temitope Ojo, Juliet Iwelunmor

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Male involvement is crucial in optimizing maternal reproductive health outcomes, offering the potential to bolster reproductive health outcomes for mothers. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework can describe the implementation of interventions focused on promoting male involvement in maternal reproductive health. This study aims to (1) examine the implementation of male involvement interventions that influence maternal reproductive health outcomes and (2) report the implementation outcomes as conceptualized in the RE-AIM framework.

METHODS: This protocol followed the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science utilizing a systematic …

Barriers And Facilitators Of Integrating Cervical Cancer Screening Into Routine Hiv Care And Acceptability Of Self-Sampling For Hpv Dna Testing Among People With Hiv: An Exploratory Study In Southern Ghana, Evelyn Yayra Bonney, Emmanuel Frimpong Gyekye, Jonathan Klutse, Dzidzor Aku Attoh, Yeena Abla Tay, Nicholas Ekow Thomford, Mary Amoakoh-Coleman, Kwadwo Ansah Koram, George Boateng Kyei, Collins Stephen Ahorlu

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer poses a substantial global health challenge, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income nations. Women living with HIV are disproportionately affected compared to the general population. Our study explored the acceptance and preferences of participants regarding cervical cancer screening procedures during their HIV clinic visits.

METHODS: Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to inform questions, we conducted semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews with 85 people with HIV (PWH), across six southern Ghana sites, to identify factors that could promote or impede the integration of cervical cancer screening into HIV care in Ghana. We also explored the acceptability of …

Adaptation Of A Digital Health Intervention For Rural Adults: Application Of The Framework For Reporting Adaptations And Modifications-Enhanced, Maura M Kepper, Callie Walsh-Bailey, Loni Parrish, Ainsley Mackenzie, Lisa M Klesges, Peg Allen, Kia L Davis, Randi Foraker, Ross C Brownson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Adaptation is a key aspect of implementation science; interventions frequently need adaptation to better fit their delivery contexts and intended users and recipients. As digital health interventions are rapidly developed and expanded, it is important to understand how such interventions are modified. This paper details the process of engaging end-users in adapting the PREVENT digital health intervention for rural adults and systematically reporting adaptations using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced (FRAME). The secondary objective was to tailor FRAME for digital health interventions and to document potential implications for equity.

METHODS: PREVENT's adaptations were informed by two pilot …

Factors Associated With The Use Of Combined Nutritional Complementary And Alternative Medicine Among Southern Us Older Adults: Results From The Study Of Aging Ii, Kristen Allen-Watts, Deanna Rumble, Taylor Taylor, Andrew Sims, Lisa H Antoine, Georgiana Logan, Cynthia J Brown, Thomas W Buford, Burel R Goodin, Andrea Cherrington, Richard Kennedy

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Older adults use nutritional complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to reduce the risk of (or treat) non-communicable conditions and diet deficiencies. While prior research has explored the individual use of dietary supplements, vitamins, and minerals among older adults, few studies have examined factors influencing the combined use of these modalities, especially among Southern, older adults in the United States.

METHODS: Data were extracted from 419 participants from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging II, a population-based longitudinal study of mobility among community-dwelling older adults. Self-reported data, including insurance and rural residence status, was collected. Comorbidity burden …

Perceptions Of Oral Corticosteroid Use For Children With Asthma In A Survey Of Us Caregivers, Nina C Ramirez, Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, Kaharu Sumino, Dennis Williams, Mitu Patel, Donna D Gardner

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are an essential component of asthma treatment, but their long-term effects can be serious and cumulative. Potentially serious effects include adrenal suppression and psychological effects. To mitigate side effects, OCS use should be minimized. A survey of caregivers in the US was conducted to determine their perceptions of OCS use for their child with asthma.

METHODS: Individuals who participated in US consumer research panels were invited to complete an online cross-sectional survey from October-November 2023. Eligible participants were caregivers of a child ages 6-17 years currently being treated for asthma by a healthcare provider and who …

Hydroxyurea Utilization Among Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease In Tennessee: A Pooled Analysis Of Claims Data, Ayesha Mukhopadhyay, Matthew P Smeltzer, Judy Dudley, Sherif M Badawy, Joacy G Mathias, Allison P Plaxco, Meredith A Ray, Andrew D Wiese, Walter I Stevens, James G Gurney, Chinonyelum Nwosu, Jerlym S Porter, Lisa M Klesges, Jane S Hankins, William O Cooper

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: Hydroxyurea reduces severe disease among individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD). These individuals experience high acute care utilization, but the associations between patterns of hydroxyurea utilization and healthcare utilization are not well investigated.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the association between hydroxyurea use and healthcare utilization among individuals with SCD in Tennessee (TN).

DESIGN: We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study of individuals with SCD using secondary data analysis of Tennessee Medicaid, Medicare, and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBS-TN).

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 4,901 individuals with SCD were included in the study.

EXPOSURE: Hydroxyurea adherence was estimated …