Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Enhancing Uterine Contraction Detection Through Novel Ehg Signal Processing: A Pilot Study Leveraging The Relationship Between Slow And Fast Wave Components To Improve Signal Quality And Noise Resilience, Hansong Gao, Zichao Wen, Meng Jiang, Yuan Nan, Yong Wang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Uterine contractions, driven by complex electrical activities within the uterine smooth muscle cells, play a critical role in labor and delivery. Various techniques, including EHG and EMMI, have been developed to record and image uterine electrical activities. Both EHG and EMMI use a bandpass filter (fast wave 0.34-1Hz) to preserve uterine contraction activities. However, high-frequency signals are usually weak and are prone to multiple sources of noise and artifacts, significantly impacting the accuracy of contraction detection and subsequent analysis of long- and short-distance signaling in the laboring uterus. Existing methods, such as Zero-Crossing-Rate (ZCR) and Teager-Kaiser Energy Operator (TKEO), employ …

Building Capacity For Hiv And Implementation Science Among Students In The United States: The Stimulating Training And Access To Hiv Research Experiences (Star) Program, Ucheoma Nwaozuru, Onyekachukwu Anikamadu, Alexis Engelhart, David Oladele, Bryce Puesta Takenaka, Olufunto A Olusanya, Temitope Ojo, Juliet Iwelunmor, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Expanding HIV research capacity among the global majority (individuals identifying as Black/African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Multiracial, and Hispanic/Latino) is important. However, achieving national goals to increase the pool of implementation science and HIV early-stage investigators from underrepresented backgrounds remains elusive, largely due to limited investment in training and mentoring these individuals. To address this issue, we launched the Stimulating Training and Access to HIV Research Experiences (STAR) program, a partnership led by Saint Louis University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collaboration with Georgia State …

New Perspectives On Extracorporeal Life Support: Expert Teams And Precise Selection Of Candidates Are Transforming Pediatric Cancer And Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Care, Caitlin Hurley, Matteo Di Nardo, Matthew Rees, Diego R Hijano, Ahmed Said, Akshay Sharma, Lama Elbahlawan, Melissa R Hines, Jennifer A Mcarthur, Hitesh Sandhu, Saad Ghafoor

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Extra Corporeal Life Support (ECLS) for pediatric oncology and stem cell transplant patients over the past two decades has made progress. Substantial improvements in ECLS, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), and mechanical ventilation techniques, along with enhanced anticoagulation management and infection control, have contributed to better patient outcomes. Additionally, advancements in HLA matching, donor selection, and the management of chemotherapy and transplant complications have further improved survival rates. The authors propose establishing an expert team and a standardized process to evaluate ECLS candidacy, addressing past controversies and optimizing outcomes for this vulnerable population. The criteria for candidacy have evolved significantly, …

Distinct Gut Microbiome Features Characterize Fasciola Hepatica Infection And Predict Triclabendazole Treatment Outcomes In Peruvian Patients, Giljae Lee, Bruce A Rosa, Martha V Fernandez-Baca, John Martin, Rodrigo A Ore, Pedro Ortiz, Miguel M Cabada, Makedonka Mitreva

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND:

METHODS: In this study, we investigated the relationship between

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Infection was associated with specific microbial taxonomic and functional features, including higher abundance of

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore the impact of helminth infection on gut microbiome and suggest a potential role of gut microbiota in modulating TCBZ efficacy, offering novel insights into

Stimulating Training And Access To Hiv Research Experiences (Star Program): A Protocol For A Crowdsourced, Project-Based, Implementation Science Training Program Using Mixed-Methods Design, Juliet Iwelunmor, Idia Thurston, Collins Airhihenbuwa, Weiming Tang, Ucheoma Catherine Nwaozuru, Onyekachukwu Anikamadu, David Oladele, Bryce Takenaka, Khadijah Ameen, Olufunto A Olusanya, Temitope Ojo, Joseph D Tucker

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: HIV is more common among underrepresented minority adolescents and young adults (AYA, 13-24 years old) in the United States. Low uptake of HIV prevention services suggests a missed opportunity for implementing evidence-based interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and sexually transmitted infection testing among this important population. Most research institutions in the United States also have limited opportunities for AYA training, mentorship, and capacity-building activities.

METHODS: The "Stimulating Training and Access to HIV Research Experiences" (STAR) program brings together a highly qualified group of research mentors to achieve three specific aims: (1) identify and recruit underrepresented minority AYA interested …

Dermatology Scheduling Triage Of Transplant Patients And Transplant Candidates To Improve Early Diagnosis And Prevention Of Skin Cancer: International Immunosuppression And Transplant Skin Cancer Collaborative Cxpert Consensus Recommendations, Kelsey E Hirotsu, Basia Michalski-Mcneely, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) have a high risk of developing aggressive skin cancers. However, there are no standardized triage guidelines to assist dermatology clinics with scheduling new patients pre- or post-transplant. Dermatologic care of SOTRs requires multidisciplinary coordination, extensive assessment, tailored counseling, and longitudinal care. Specialized high-risk transplant clinics are designed to address this clinical need but are a limited resource. This triage algorithm aims to provide a practical framework for tertiary care centers or community practice clinics receiving pre- or post-transplant referrals for active concerning growths or routine skin cancer screening exams. In summary, our expert panel recommends …

Venous Microtrauma Associated With Pharmacomechanical Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis In A Large Animal Acute Deep Venous Thrombosis Model, Mohamed S Zaghloul, Sophia R Pyeatte, Shahab Hafezi, Usama Ismail, Rodrigo Meade, Batool Arif, Roger Rowe, Luis Sanchez, Mohamed A Zayed

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Pharmacomechanical catheter-directed thrombolysis (PCDT) is commonly used to treat acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The AngioJet Rheolytic Thrombectomy (ART) device is a widely used option. However, previous serious adverse events led to an FDA black-box warning. Limited large animal studies have assessed ART's efficacy and safety. We investigated the periprocedural outcomes and venous histomorphic impact of ART in a novel large animal acute DVT model.

METHODS: Six adult male Yorkshire pigs (96-113 kilograms) underwent general anesthesia and continuous hemodynamic monitoring. Acute DVT was induced in the infrarenal IVC using occlusive balloons. Three pigs were treated with ART's thrombectomy mode …

High-Resolution Single-Cell Rna Sequencing Using Canfam4 Reveals Novel Immune Subsets And Checkpoint Programs In Healthy Dogs, Myung-Chul Kim, Taeeun Gu, Hyeewon Seo, Yewon Moon, Nicholas Borcherding, Ryan Kolb, Yubin Kim, Youngmin Yun, Woo-Jin Song, Chung-Young Lee, Hyun Je Kim, Weizhou Zhang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) enables high-resolution profiling of immune heterogeneity. Although previous studies have mapped the single-cell transcriptomic atlases of peripheral leukocytes in healthy dogs, the identification and functional characterization of distinct immune subsets remain incomplete.

METHODS: We constructed a single-cell atlas of peripheral leukocytes from six healthy small-breed dogs using the 10x Genomics platform and the updated canFam4 genome.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Analysis of 30,040 high-quality transcriptomes revealed 51 distinct immune subsets, including

CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this study represents the first comprehensive, gene-resolved single-cell analysis to reveal immunoregulatory checkpoint mechanisms underlying immune homeostasis in healthy dogs. Our …

Advancing Public Health Leadership Through Culturally Centered And Responsive Research Mentorship Training In Nigeria, Rifkatu Reng, Manmak Mamven, Fatima Kyari, Elizabeth N Christian, Anthony Orji, Roseline Abah, Nanna Ripiye, Gregory Erhabor, Mark D Huffman, Dike Ojji, Leah C Neubauer, Lisa R Hirschorn

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Effective leadership in research and public health is critical to strengthen evidence generation and translation into policy and practice. Mentorship in research and public health is critical to develop leaders, but mentorship training is often

Adapting A Sexual And Reproductive Health Program For Latina Teens And Their Female Caregivers: A Qualitative Study, Katherine G Merrill, Ana A Baumann, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Adaptation is widely recognized as important when interventions are to be delivered in new settings or with new populations. However, there are gaps in the literature on how adaptations are carried out and documented. IMARA is a 12-h evidence-based sexual health intervention for Black teens and their mothers, designed for delivery over two days. We present our systematic process of adapting IMARA for Latinas to produce the

METHODS: Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, we carried out a qualitative study that included 7 focus groups: 4 with staff from community partner organizations (

RESULTS: Informed by the data, …

Problem-Solving Training To Improve Caregiver Burden And Depressive Symptoms Among Dementia Caregivers: Personal And Clinical Factors Of Responders Vs. Non-Responders, Shannon B Juengst, Matthew Lee Smith, Kristin Wilmoth, Brittany Wright, Gang Han, Charlene Supnet, Gladys Maestre

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Metacognitive strategy training interventions, like Problem-Solving Training/Descubriendo Soluciones Juntos (PST/DSJ), have efficacy for improving caregiver burden and depressive symptoms. We previously demonstrated that PST/DSJ improved caregiver burden and depressive symptoms among caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias (ADRD), regardless of the number of sessions or boosters received. However, these results did not examine factors characterizing those who responded (improvement in caregiver burden or depressive symptoms) or did not respond to the intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To identify key personal and clinical factors associated with response to PST/DSJ. Personal factors included age, gender, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education, and employment …

Neural Mechanisms Underlying Synchronization Of Movement To Musical Cues In Parkinson Disease And Aging, Elinor C Harrison, Sarah Grossen, Lauren E Tueth, Allison M Haussler, Kerri S Rawson, Meghan C Campbell, Gammon M Earhart

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: External and internal musical cues provide therapeutic techniques for gait rehabilitation in aging and neurological disorders. For people with Parkinson disease (PwPD), mental singing is a type of internal cue that can regularize gait timing. No studies to date have directly measured brain activity during external and internal musical cues as used in gait rehabilitation. Evidence suggests the neural mechanisms of external vs. internal cued movement differ. External cues are thought to drive movement via recruitment of cerebello-thalamo-cortical (CTC) pathways, while internal cues are thought to rely more on striato-pallido-thalamocortical (SPT) pathways.

METHODS: We investigated the neural mechanisms that …

Co-Designing A Mobile Application To Reduce Self-Stigma For People With Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy And The Postpartum Period, Bailey W Osweiler, Thue Rammaha, Hannah S Szlyk, Nathaniel A Dell, Jushawn Macon, Nicholas C Jacobson, Casey Burley, Micah Goodman, Patricia A Cavazos-Rehg, Alex T Ramsey

2020-Current year OA Pubs

AIMS: Pregnant and postpartum individuals (PPI) face unique challenges to recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD), including stigma from self and others.

METHODS: In this fully-remote study, participants provided human-centered design feedback in semi-structured interviews at 1-month to guide adaptations. Participants also completed structured questionnaires including validated measures of self-stigma at baseline, 1-month, and 2-month follow-ups and technology acceptance at 1-month and 2-month follow-ups. Paired samples t-tests determined whether differences existed between baseline and 2-month self-stigma and between 1-month and 2-month technology acceptance.

RESULTS: Twenty PPI (40% pregnant, 60% postpartum) representing diverse geographic U.S. regions used

CONCLUSIONS: These results support …

Clinician Perspectives On The Multilevel Impacts Of Pediatric Early Warning Systems (Pews) In Resource-Variable Hospitals, Amela Siječić, Sayeda Islam, Sara Malone, Kim Prewitt, Bobbi J Carothers, Douglas A Luke, Virginia Mckay, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Pediatric Early Warning Systems (PEWS) are evidence-based interventions that monitor hospitalized pediatric patients to improve outcomes and prevent complications, particularly in children with cancer. However, there is limited data on how clinicians perceive the impact of PEWS on patient care across healthcare centers in resource-variable settings. Understanding clinicians' perceptions of PEWS is crucial, as their recognition of its benefits can enhance adoption and sustainability across various healthcare settings.

OBJECTIVE: To assess clinician perceptions of impacts following PEWS implementation across pediatric oncology centers in Latin America and Spain.

METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of a study assessing capacity for …

Overcoming Recruitment Barriers Through Meaningful Community Engagement: Lessons Learned From A Maternal-Child Food Insecurity Assessment In Underserved Communities, Gabriela Buccini, Cristina Hernandez, Kristen N Herlosky, Shannon Rabb, Lizette Guillen, Dodds Simangan, Jyoti Desai, Alison Brown, Juanita Chinn, Timothy Grigsby, Jason Flatt, Ana A Baumann

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Recruiting participants from underserved communities for research can be challenging due to multilevel barriers. We conducted a maternal-child food insecurity needs assessment within underserved communities in urban Las Vegas, Nevada, and numerous barriers were faced to recruiting participants. This study aimed to examine barriers to participant recruitment, identify practical strategies for engaging participants, and analyze these strategies guided by the Meaningful Community Engagement Framework.

METHODS: This case study used an ethnography approach to analyze data collection barriers and community engagement strategies employed from March 2022 to February 2023 during a maternal-child food insecurity needs assessment. Inductive and deductive qualitative …

Mechanosensitivity Of Macrophage Polarization: Comparing Small Molecule Leukadherin-1 To Substrate Stiffness, Hemant Joshi, Edgar Anaya, Anvitha Addanki, Alison Almgren-Bell, Elizabeth M Todd, Sharon Celeste Morley

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Macrophages sustain tissue homeostasis through host defense and wound repair. To promote host defense, macrophages upregulate surface markers associated with antigen processing and secrete pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-6 and IL-1β. After pathogen clearance, macrophages shift phenotype to promote wound repair. Shifts in phenotypes are termed "polarization" and have historically been modeled by exposure to soluble mediators such as LPS+IFNγ (host defense) or IL-4+IL-13 (tissue repair). Greater emphasis is now being placed on understanding how the mechanical environment of macrophages, such as tissue compliance, regulates macrophages responses. Here, we compare incubation of primary macrophages on collagen-coated silica gels of varying …

Effects Of Vagus Nerve Stimulation On Daily Function And Quality Of Life In Markedly Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: Findings From A One-Year, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial, A John Rush, Charles R Conway, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Depression treatments aim to minimize symptom burden and optimize quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial function.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the effects of adjunctive versus sham vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on QoL and function in markedly treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

METHODS: In this multicenter, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, 493 adults with TRD and ≥4 adequate but unsuccessful antidepressant treatment trials (current episode) were randomized to active (n = 249) or sham (n = 244) VNS (plus treatment as usual) over a 12-month observation period. Quarterly outcomes included QoL with the Q-LES-Q, Mini-Q-LES-Q, and EQ-5D-5L, and function with the WHODAS 2.0 and Work Productivity …

Vagus Nerve Stimulation In Treatment-Resistant Depression: A One-Year, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial, Charles R Conway, Christopher L Kriedt, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Few treatments are available for individuals with marked treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the safety and effectiveness of FDA-approved adjunctive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in patients with marked TRD.

METHODS: This 12-month, multicenter, double-blind, sham-controlled trial included 493 adults with marked treatment-resistant major depression who were randomized to active or no-stimulation sham VNS for 12 months. The primary outcome was percent time in response across months 3-12, with response defined as a ≥50 % change from baseline on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Several secondary endpoints were evaluated.

RESULTS: Overall, 88.4 % of participants completed the trial. Percent …

Exploring Factors Contributing To Patient Decision-Making In The Care Journey To Elective Hernia Care In Kenya, Helen W. Li, Jesse Kiprono Too, Sarah Nyanchama Nyariki, Charles Nathan Nessle, Sara Malone, Rachel Matsumoto, Teddy Ashibende Aurah, Jeffrey A. Blatnik, Joanna Hunter-Squires, Ivan Seno Saruni

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Capacity for elective general surgical care is an important reflection of a health system's ability to meet a population's surgical needs and is currently known to be inadequate in many low- and middle-income countries. Patient agency is a key, understudied factor which shapes how and when patients ultimately decide to engage with formal care. Understanding factors which influence patient care seeking activity can have important implications for how current and future health systems may be utilized. This study aims to explore how patients approach the navigation and triage of their elective hernia condition within the Kenyan surgical care system. …

Diagnosis And Management Of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Current Insights, Abhinav Vayal-Veettil, C Prakash Gyawali

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) results from retrograde movement of gastric content into the esophagus and beyond, resulting in symptoms, mucosal injury and long-term complications. Typical symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation are highly suggestive of GERD, but atypical presentations require careful evaluation to rule out alternative diagnoses. Diagnostic modalities, including endoscopy, ambulatory reflux monitoring, and high-resolution manometry, play a pivotal role in confirming GERD and guiding personalized treatment. Management strategies consist of lifestyle modifications, pharmacologic therapy with anti-secretory agents, and adjunctive treatments such as alginates and baclofen. For refractory cases, surgical and endoscopic interventions offer durable symptom relief. Complications of GERD …

Surgeons, Physiatrists And Neurologists Speaking "Edx And Nerve Surgery": A Paradigm Shift For Nerve Injured Patients, Deng Pan, Aneri U Patel, J Megan Patterson, Anna Rose Johnson, Travis Gordon, Susan E Mackinnon

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Surgeons' ability to interpret electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies has greatly enhanced patient selection and outcome for nerve surgeries as it has informed our understanding of the classification of nerve injury. EDX measures axons present, lost, or demyelinated. It does not measure an area where axons experience chronic ischemia, making a Sunderland Zero nerve injury a clinical diagnosis that should be suspected when patients have normal EDX, decreased recruitment on electromyography (EMG), and no atrophy. Only observation of recovery in the earliest postoperative period would confirm a Sunderland Zero. In this article, we present an expanded classification of nerve injury, highlighting Sunderland …

Tourette Syndrome Research Highlights From 2024 [Version 3; Peer Review: 2 Approved, 1 Approved With Reservations], Andreas Hartmann, Per Andrén, Cyril Atkinson-Clement, Virginie Czernecki, Cécile Delorme, Simon Morand-Beaulieu, Nanette Mol Debes, Kirsten Müller-Vahl, Peristera Paschou, Natalia Szejko, Apostolia Topaloudi, Kevin J Black

2020-Current year OA Pubs

We summarize research reports from 2024 relevant to Tourette syndrome, which the authors consider the most important or interesting. This working draft aims to submit this content for publication around the beginning of 2025 in the yearly Tourette Syndrome Research Highlights series on F1000Research. The authors welcome article suggestions and thoughtful feedback from readers, who can add a comment by clicking on the rectangular comment box icon to the left of the LOG IN link at the top of this page. For private comments, you can reach us by email ( [email protected] or [email protected]).

Tracking The Evolving Role Of Artificial Intelligence In Implementation Science: Protocol For A Living Scoping Review Of Applications, Evaluation Approaches And Outcomes [Version 2; Peer Review: 2 Approved], Guillaume Fontaine, Byron J Powell, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) offers significant opportunities to improve the field of implementation science by supporting key activities such as evidence synthesis, contextual analysis, and decision-making to promote the adoption and sustainability of evidence-based practices. This living scoping review aims to: (1) map applications of AI in implementation research and practice; (2) identify evaluation approaches, reported outcomes, and potential risks; and (3) synthesize reported research gaps and opportunities for advancing the use of AI in implementation science.

METHODS: This scoping review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and the Cochrane guidance for living systematic reviews. A living scoping …

Pediatric Cervical Spine Clearance: A 10-Year Evaluation Of X-Ray In Evaluable Patients At A Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, William Starr, Stephanie Iantorno, Jing Wang, Richard Eldredge, Rajiv Iyer, Karch Smith, Natalya Mcnamara, Kezlyn Larsen, Stephen Fenton, Robert Swendiman, Katie Russell

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVES: Cervical spine (c-spine) X-ray (XR) remains an important tool for pediatric trauma patients. XR is a low radiation alternative to multidetector CT (MDCT). Our primary aims were to analyze the sensitivity of a negative c-spine XR and to analyze what factors lead to additional imaging after a negative c-spine XR.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a level 1 pediatric trauma center from 2012 to 2021. We compared the group with negative c-spine XR and no additional imaging to the group with negative c-spine XR followed by additional c-spine MDCT and/or MRI.

RESULTS: There were 2,081 negative …

Development Of A High-Throughput Platform For Quantitation Of Histone Modifications On A New Qtof Instrument, Emily Zahn, Yixuan Xie, Xingyu Liu, Rashmi Karki, Richard M Searfoss, Francisca N De Luna Vitorino, Joanna K Lempiäinen, Joanna Gongora, Zongtao Lin, Chenfeng Zhao, Zuo-Fei Yuan, Benjamin A Garcia

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) regulate gene expression patterns through epigenetic mechanisms. The five histone proteins (H1, H2A, H2B, H3, and H4) are extensively modified, with over 75 distinct modification types spanning more than 200 sites. Despite strong advances in mass spectrometry (MS)-based approaches, identification and quantification of modified histone peptides remains challenging because of factors, such as isobaric peptides, pseudo-isobaric PTMs, and low stoichiometry of certain marks. Here, we describe the development of a new high-throughput method to identify and quantify over 150 modified histone peptides by LC-MS. Fast gradient microflow liquid chromatography and variable window sequential windows acquisition of …

Accuracy And Reliability Of Video-Based Range-Of-Motion Assessments In Postreconstruction Brachial Plexus Patients, Christopher J. Dy, Stephen J. Demartini, Eshan Sane, David M. Brogan, Planet Study Group

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Following surgical reconstructions considered successful, many patients with brachial plexus injuries (BPI) have limited limb motion. In addition to manual muscle testing, clinicians typically measure active range of motion (AROM). AROM measurement relies on in-person examination and manual goniometers or visual estimation, both of which are subject to interobserver variability. The purpose of this proof-of-concept study was to evaluate reliability of video-based AROM assessments. We hypothesized that video-based assessment of AROM would have high inter-rater reliability (IRR) among surgeons who perform BPI reconstruction.

METHODS: We video recorded a standardized examination in a convenience sample of 8 postreconstruction BPI patients …

Caregiver Worry About Covid-19 As A Predictor Of Social Mitigation Behaviours And Sars-Cov-2 Infection In A 12-City U.S. Surveillance Study Of Households With Children, Steven M Brunwasser, Katherine Rivera-Spoljaric, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: Understanding compliance with COVID-19 mitigation recommendations is critical for informing efforts to contain future infectious disease outbreaks. This study tested the hypothesis that higher levels of worry about COVID-19 illness among household caregivers would predict lower (a) levels of overall and discretionary social exposure activities and (b) rates of household SARS-CoV-2 infections.

METHODS: Data were drawn from a surveillance study of households with children (

RESULTS: Caregivers with high enrollment levels of worry about COVID-19 illness were more likely to reduce direct social contact outside the household, particularly during the U.S.'s most deadly pandemic wave. Households of caregivers with …

Disclosing Disabilities: Barriers For Medical School Applicants, Sarah Leah Solomon, Aitan E. Magence, Harry Haran, Fern R. Juster, Kristina H. Petersen

2020-Current year OA Pubs

This study investigated the availability of accommodation request procedures for medical school admissions interviews and the accessibility of Technical Standards (TS) for candidates with disabilities (CWD) across Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)-accredited institutions in the United States and Canada. Utilizing a cross-sectional study methodology, surveys were distributed to Deans of Admissions and Disabilities Resource Professionals (DRP) at all LCME-accredited US and Canadian MD programs. Surveys gathered data about interview formats, interview accommodation procedures, and TS accessibility during the 2018-2019 academic year. We received responses from 71 institutions (41.3%), with 56.3% survey completion rate (n = 40). Among respondents, interview …

Comparison And Clinical Applicability Analysis Of All-Posterior, Combined Anterior-Posterior, And Combined Lateral-Posterior Approaches In Adult Spinal Deformities: A Narrative Review, Garrison P. Bentz, Christopher Diaz, Nicholas A. Pollatta, Mark J. Lambrechts

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.