Digital Commons Network^™

Treatment Fidelity And Outcome In Cbt For Youth With Autism: The Meya Fidelity Scale, Bryce D Mcleod, Jeffrey J Wood, Jennifer Cecilione Herbst, Danielle Dunn, Philip C Kendall, Eric A Storch, An Chuen Cho, Kashia A Rosenau

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Assessing treatment fidelity in effectiveness research is critical to interpreting study findings. This paper details the development and initial psychometric evaluation of the Modular Evidence-Based Practices for Youth with Autism Fidelity Scale (MEYA-FS) designed to support the assessment of cognitive-behavioral treatments for youth with autism in effectiveness research.

Method: Recorded treatment sessions (N = 338) were randomly selected from 77 youth (M age = 9.65 years, SD = 1.87; 50.67% White; 85.33% male) who received the Schema, Emotion, and Behavior-Focused Therapy for Children (SEBASTIEN) (n = 51) or Coping Cat (n = 24) program.

Results: …

Commentary: Impact Of Resistance Training Intensity On Body Composition And Nutritional Intake Among College Women With Overweight And Obesity: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial, Joshua L Keller, Sarah E Deemer, Gian Luca Di Tanna, Sherri L Pals, Kevin R Fontaine, David B Allison

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Global Consensus On Optimal Exercise Recommendations For Enhancing Healthy Longevity In Older Adults (Icsfr), Mikel Izquierdo, Philipe De Souto Barreto, Hidenori Arai, Heike A Bischoff-Ferrari, Eduardo L Cadore, Matteo Cesari, Liang-Kung Chen, Paul M Coen, Kerry S Courneya, Gustavo Duque, Luigi Ferrucci, Roger A Fielding, Antonio García-Hermoso, Luis Miguel Gutiérrez-Robledo, Stephen D R Harridge, Ben Kirk, Stephen Kritchevsky, Francesco Landi, Norman Lazarus, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Emanuele Marzetti, Reshma A Merchant, John E Morley, Kaisu H Pitkälä, Robinson Ramírez-Vélez, Leocadio Rodriguez-Mañas, Yves Rolland, Jorge G Ruiz, Mikel L Sáez De Asteasu, Dennis T Villareal, Debra L Waters, Chang Won Won, Bruno Vellas, Maria A Fiatarone Singh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aging, a universal and inevitable process, is characterized by a progressive accumulation of physiological alterations and functional decline over time, leading to increased vulnerability to diseases and ultimately mortality as age advances. Lifestyle factors, notably physical activity (PA) and exercise, significantly modulate aging phenotypes. Physical activity and exercise can prevent or ameliorate lifestyle-related diseases, extend health span, enhance physical function, and reduce the burden of non-communicable chronic diseases including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, and chronic respiratory diseases as well as premature mortality. Physical activity influences the cellular and molecular drivers of biological aging, slowing aging rates-a foundational …

Circulating Tumor Hpv Dna, Antibodies To Hpv16 Early Proteins, And Oral Hpv16 Dna As Biomarkers For Hpv-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer Screening, Kristina R Dahlstrom, Andrew T Day, Victor M Alvarez, Samantha R Chirinos, Giselle Santillana, Ming Guo, Karen S Anderson, Erich M Sturgis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Oropharyngeal cancer rates continue to rise with no effective screening method. Persistent oral oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV), antibodies to HPV16 early (E) oncoproteins, and circulating tumor HPV DNA (ctHPVDNA) are biomarkers that show promise for use in HPV-related cancer screening.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of biomarkers for HPV-related cancer and their agreement in middle-aged men.

Methods: Men aged 50–64 years from the general population provided oral rinse and blood samples as well as information about demographics, tobacco/alcohol exposure, sexual behavior, and HPV-related disease history. Oral rinse was tested for HPV16 DNA and plasma was tested for HPV16 E …

Developing An Annual Review Of The Literature, Weinstein R Amy, Szauter Karen, Duca Nicholas, Jacob Jackcy, Ismail Nadia, Pincavage Amber, Walsh Katherine, Alexandraki Irene

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Many national meetings and speaker series feature an "Annual Review of the Literature" (ARL) session in which an individual or team presents a sampling of articles, selected and prepared because they represent important current topics or new ideas in the discipline of interest. Despite this, there is little in the medical literature describing how to thoughtfully and systematically develop these sessions. We identify best practices that we have developed and used in the United States Clerkship Directors of Internal Medicine (CDIM) over many years. These include identification of a theme, team assembly, timeline development, search strategy and rubric development and …

What Is The Robustness Of Randomized Controlled Trials Supporting Rhinosinusitis Guidelines?, Najm S Khan, Aatin K Dhanda, Masayoshi Takashima, Richard Liu, Yuki Yoshiyasu, Wenbo Wu, Whitney Jin, Edward D Mccoul, Murugappan Ramanathan, Omar G Ahmed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: To determine the robustness of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) supporting the current rhinosinusitis guideline; International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: rhinosinusitis (ICAR-RS).

Materials & methods: RCTs referenced by ICAR-RS with primary dichotomous outcomes were analyzed. The Fragility Index (FI) was calculated for trials with statistically significant findings. Trial characteristics, the FI, and FI minus number lost to follow-up (LTF) were assessed for associations.

Results: A total of 317 RCTs were identified, with 38 trials possessing a primary dichotomous outcome. Thirty-one percent evaluated surgical interventions and 24 % were industry-sponsored. The mean sample size was 116 with 9 patients, …

Cervical Cancer Prevention Behaviors In Young Black Women, Angela J Johnson, Monica J Johnson, Juinell B Williams, Emma Muscari, Laura Palmo, Michelle Ruiz, Brianna Bush, Lisa C Campbell

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: In the United States, Black women have the second highest incidence of cervical cancer (CC) due to high incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV), slow HPV clearance rates, and low receipt of preventive pap smears and vaccines.

Objective: A Black Feminist Thought framework was used to examine how the media portrayal of Black women, racial identity, and familial factors impact CC prevention behaviors among young Black women.

Design: Black women enrolled at a large southeastern university consented and participated in an online mixed-methods survey examining facilitators and barriers to CC prevention behaviors. Quantitative items were analyzed via descriptive statistics, and …

Baseline Predictors For 28-Day Covid-19 Severity And Mortality Among Hospitalized Patients: Results From The Impacc Study, Jintong Hou, Benjamin Haslund-Gourley, Joann Diray-Arce, Annmarie Hoch, Nadine Rouphael, Patrice M Becker, Alison D Augustine, Al Ozonoff, Leying Guan, Steven H Kleinstein, Bjoern Peters, Elaine Reed, Matt Altman, Charles R Langelier, Holden Maecker, Seunghee Kim, Ruth R Montgomery, Florian Krammer, Michael Wilson, Walter Eckalbar, Steven E Bosinger, Ofer Levy, Hanno Steen, Lindsey B Rosen, Lindsey R Baden, Esther Melamed, Lauren I R Ehrlich, Grace A Mccomsey, Rafick P Sekaly, Joanna Schaenman, Albert C Shaw, David A Hafler, David B Corry, Farrah Kheradmand, Mark A Atkinson, Scott C Brakenridge, Nelson I Agudelo Higuita, Jordan P Metcalf, Catherine L Hough, William B Messer, Bali Pulendran, Kari C Nadeau, Mark M Davis, Ana Fernandez Sesma, Viviana Simon, Monica Kraft, Chris Bime, Carolyn S Calfee, David J Erle, Impacc Network, Lucy F Robinson, Charles B Cairns, Elias K Haddad, Mary Ann Comunale

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic threatened public health and placed a significant burden on medical resources. The Immunophenotyping Assessment in a COVID-19 Cohort (IMPACC) study collected clinical, demographic, blood cytometry, serum receptor-binding domain (RBD) antibody titers, metabolomics, targeted proteomics, nasal metagenomics, Olink, nasal viral load, autoantibody, SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers, and nasal and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) transcriptomics data from patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The aim of this study is to select baseline biomarkers and build predictive models for 28-day in-hospital COVID-19 severity and mortality with most predictive variables while prioritizing routinely collected variables.

Methods: We analyzed 1102 …

The Utilization Of Microbial Cell-Free Dna Next-Generation Sequencing For The Detection Of Human Herpesvirus-8 In A Quaternary Care Center, Rebecca Berger, Jennifer Jacobe, Fernando H Centeno, Todd Lasco, Mayar Al Mohajer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8) can present with cutaneous or extracutaneous manifestations. While violaceous skin lesions characterize cutaneous Kaposi sarcoma, extracutaneous HHV8 is challenging to diagnose due to nonspecific symptoms.

Objectives: We evaluated the role of microbial cell-free DNA next-generation sequencing (mcfDNA NGS) in diagnosing HHV8-related illness.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Methods: Between 2017 and 2024, we reviewed the medical charts of 10 immunosuppressed patients at a quaternary care center who had positive HHV8 mcfDNA NGS results.

Results: The clinical and laboratory turnaround times of mcfDNA NGS were 3 and 1 days, respectively (8.5 and 7 days for immunohistochemistry vs 5.5 and …

Utility Of Microbial Cell-Free Dna Sequencing In The Diagnosis Of Mycobacterial Infections In A Quaternary Care Center, Fernando H Centeno, Todd Lasco, Ahmed M Hamdi, Mayar Al Mohajer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

We examine the performance of microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing on patients admitted to a quaternary care hospital in Houston, Texas. The test was 75.0% sensitive and 97.8% specific for all mycobacterial infections. mcfDNA NGS results led to adjustments in antimicrobial therapy for seven of nine patients with positive results.

Pregnancy In Dystonia Or Tourette's Patients With Dbs Fourteen News Cases And A Review Of The Literature, Raja Mehanna, Arjun Tarakad, Lisa Yutong Taneff, Erin Furr Stimming

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has been demonstrated to improve quality of life in patients with refractory dystonia and Tourette's syndrome (TS). Because of the young age at onset of these disorders, and the marked benefit from DBS, pregnancy in patients who have received DBS is becoming a more frequent clinical occurrence, although clear management guidelines are lacking.

Cases: We report 14 new pregnancies in patients with dystonia or TS and DBS.

Literature review: Upon review of the literature, 23 pregnancies in patients with dystonia or TS were previously reported in seven articles.

Conclusion: Based on the available data from …

The Demodex Expert Panel On Treatment And Eyelid Health (Depth) Consensus Regarding The Preferred Treatment For Demodex Blepharitis, Eric Donnenfeld, Kelly K Nichols, Brandon D Ayres, Marjan Farid, Preeya K Gupta, Richard Lyndon Lindstrom, Stephen Pflugfelder, Christopher E Starr, Nandini Venkateswaran, Ian Benjamin Gaddie, Paul M Karpecki, Cecelia Koetting, Selina Mcgee, Laura M Periman, Elizabeth Yeu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: To reach consensus on Demodex blepharitis (DB) treatment approaches using a modified Delphi process involving 15 ocular surface disease experts.

Methods: The Demodex Expert Panel on Treatment and Eyelid Health (DEPTH) consisted of 15 well-published ocular surface disease experts. Panelists completed two online surveys, a live consensus meeting, and a follow-up survey. The surveys consisted of scaled and multiple-choice questions related to the clinical and patient-reported outcomes of DB and its treatment. For the scaled questions using a 1 to 9 Likert scale, consensus was defined as weighted mean scores of 1-3 and 7-9, whereas for multiple-choice questions, consensus …

On The Nose: Nasal Neurostimulation As A Technology Countermeasure For Sinonasal Congestion In Astronauts, Timon Ax, Philipp H Zimmermann, Tomas L Bothe, Karen Barchetti, Cintia S De Paiva, Francesc March De Ribot, Slade O Jensen, Thomas J Millar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Human spaceflight subjects the body to numerous and unique challenges. Astronauts frequently report a sense of sinonasal congestion upon entering microgravity for which the exact pathomechanisms are unknown. However, cephalad fluid shift seems to be its primary cause, with CO2 levels and environmental irritants playing ancillary roles. Current management focuses on pharmacotherapy comprising oral and nasal decongestants and antihistamines. These are among the most commonly used treatments in astronauts. With longer and more distant space missions on the horizon, there is a need for efficacious and payload-sparing non-pharmacological interventions. Neurostimulation is a promising countermeasure technology for many ailments on Earth. …

Decline In Us-China Science: Can Ophthalmology Remain Collaborative?, Kevin Y Huang, Parth A Patel, Austin Huang, Allen C Ho, Jost B Jonas, Xiaodong Sun, Youxin Chen, Yingfeng Zheng, Yih-Chung Tham, Christina Y Weng, Tien Yin Wong

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Women’S Health In Rural American Communities, Leandra Moukoudi Ndoko, Stephanie Zeszutek Do, Renee Reijo Pera Phd

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (Great Falls) Publications and Research

Limited data have been published on the status of women’s health in rural areas, particularly pertaining to women of color and rural women in the United States. The aim of this review is to briefly describe the trends in women’s health in rural areas, the factors contributing to poor health outcomes and potential ways to focus improvements most effectively. To provide this overview, approximately 310 articles were screened by full text on the database PubMed. Of these, 27 articles are described in more detail in this piece. Data focus on women’s health in the United States and include information bulletin …

Original Discontent, William Magnuson

Vanderbilt Law Review

There are many theories of constitutional interpretation. Most, but not all, assert that, in interpreting the U.S. Constitution’s provisions, we should start by taking seriously the intentions of the enactors, meaning, roughly speaking, its drafters, defenders, and ratifiers. This Article argues that, in doing so, judges, scholars, and policymakers have underestimated an important feature of the process of constitution-making: the discontent of the enactors themselves with the Constitution they were enacting. Time and again, during the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, during the penning of the Federalist Papers, and during the state ratifying conventions, the enactors expressed deep reservations about the …

Growing The Abriendo Oportunidades® Ecosystem: Spotlight On Mentor Networks, Population Council

Adolescents and Young People

The emergence of REDMI Aq’ab’al and Na’leb’ak ONG, two civil society networks of young Indigenous women, represents a monumental evolution of the Abriendo Oportunidades^® (AO^®) program. As AO^® successfully supported young female Indigenous mentors to increase their autonomy, community visibility, and professional skills, the formation and growth of these independent networks now promotes a larger movement of sustainable, responsive, and community-led social progress. It also provides a new platform for mentors to be recognized and credited for their work, even after they have “graduated” from direct participation in AO^®. This brief is part of …

Growing The Abriendo Oportunidades® Ecosystem: Spotlight On Escuela De Oportunidades, Population Council

Adolescents and Young People

Developed in partnership with the Office of the Vice President in 2021, Escuela de Oportunidades is a national internship program that intentionally invests in young female Indigenous professionals to increase their visibility in governance structures. Through a combination of mentorship, training, and practical experience, Escuela de Oportunidades has successfully facilitated the entry of Indigenous Guatemalan women into government institutions, enhancing gender and ethnic inclusivity in public service. This brief is part of the Abriendo Oportunidades^® Legacy Series, celebrating and highlighting 20 years of impactful program implementation.

Growing The Abriendo Oportunidades® Ecosystem: Sowing Seeds Of Change Within Government Systems, Population Council

Adolescents and Young People

Population Council-Guatemala (PC-Guatemala) is supporting and shaping a movement led by young Indigenous leaders to expand inclusive education and civic participation opportunities. Through mechanisms such as professional internships, school re-integration programs, and other government collaborations, young Indigenous women are building the knowledge, skills, and relationships to lead community development efforts and inform inclusive national policies. This brief is part of the Abriendo Oportunidades^® Legacy Series, celebrating and highlighting 20 years of impactful program implementation.

Growing The Abriendo Oportunidades® Ecosystem: Equipping Young Mentors With Skills And Resources To Expand Girl-Centered Programming In Belize, Population Council

Adolescents and Young People

Building on the success of the Abriendo Oportunidades^® (AO^®) program in Guatemala, in 2014 Population Council Guatemala (PC-Guatemala) and Toledo Mayan Women’s Council established the Toledo Adolescent Girls program (TAG), a safe space initiative that equipped young Indigenous girls and female mentors with life skills. The project demonstrated that neighboring countries are interested in expanding the AO model, and that the Council can successfully support programmatic adaptation to meet the needs of other Indigenous communities in Mesoamerica. This was achieved by introducing age-segmented groups, prioritizing transportation funding for mentors and supervisors, and continuing to tailor to local …

The Social Life Of The Abriendo Oportunidades® Program In Guatemala: Three Decades Of Enabling Community And Civic Spaces For Indigenous Girls And Women, Population Council

Adolescents and Young People

Since 2004, Abriendo Oportunidades^® (Opening Opportunities, AO) has emerged as a gender transformative social program to support Indigenous girls and young women in Guatemala’s post-war context. Following an evidence-based, community-anchored approach, AO began as a program and has evolved into a social movement. AO has continuously demonstrated its impact in reducing girls’ exposure to gender-based violence and pioneered alternative education through utilizing mentors as tutors. Over time, AO has successfully reached more than 25,000 Indigenous girls and adolescents across 500+ rural Guatemala communities and built a pathway of professional opportunities for the young women who lead the program. AO …

Young Feminist Organizing Fanzine—Defender, Insistir Y Resistir Desde El Territorio, Feministas Jóvenes Organizadas

Adolescents and Young People

No abstract provided.

Young Feminist Organizing Fanzine—To Defend, To Insist And To Resist From The Territory, Feministas Jóvenes Organizadas

Adolescents and Young People

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Interventions For The Prevention And Management Of Maternal Anemia In The Advent Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, John Kyalo Muthuka Dr., Diana Kageni Mbari-Fondo, Francis Muchiri Wambura, Kelly Oluoch, Japheth Mativo Nzioki, Nabaweesi Rosemary Dr

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Smithian Merchant Towns And Good Government In The Wealth Of Nations, John B. Estill

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Commentators on Adam Smith’s Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations often characterize Smith as a proponent of government in multiple areas, including security in person, property, contract, and some public goods. However, Smith understood government more expansively than people today. In volume I, book III, chapters I–IV, Smith describes the evolution of merchant towns in England that led to “good governance” that dismantled the feudal system. This limited government not only included the security provided by the formal laws and institutions. It also aligned the informal elements of individual civic ethics and self-reliance with the …

Girls First Fund: External Evaluation—Endline Evaluation Report, Brian Medina Carranza, Neelanjana Pandey, Angel Del Valle, Fatima Zahra

Adolescents and Young People

The Population Council is leading an evaluation of programs funded by the Girls First Fund (GFF) in the Dominican Republic (DR), India, and Niger. These three countries were chosen to maximize geographic, social, cultural, and economic diversity across contexts, but common to all three is the continued persistence of child marriage and the presence of collective efforts to eliminate it. The broader goal of this evaluation is to: 1) demonstrate proof of concept for the impact of  GFF-supported programs; 2) examine key outcomes of interest to the GFF and the community-based organizations that it funds, including education, child marriage, and …

The Rights Of Englishmen, A Primary Source Reader For Students Of Early Modern British History & Early American History, Robin Brooks Ishler

Open Touro Created

2025

This book is a collection of primary sources from the United Kingdom and English-Speaking North America from the Magna Carta in 1215 through the middle of the 19th Century, with commentary and an introduction from Dr. Robin Ishler. The purpose of the book is not only to act as a resource for students of Early Modern British history and early American history, but also to demonstrate the deep political and philosophical connections between the United States and the larger English legal and societal context from which it emerged. Dr. Ishler argues that it is an unfortunate reality that many …

The Association Of Human Milk Intake And Outcomes In Biliary Atresia, Mary Elizabeth M Tessier, Jeremy M Schraw, Stacey Beer, Sanjiv Harpavat, M Kyle Jensen, John C Magee, Vicky Ng, Michael E Scheurer, Sarah A Taylor, Benjamin L Shneider

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Human milk intake has many benefits which could influence outcomes in biliary atresia (BA). However, the role of human milk in BA has not been examined. We hypothesized that human milk intake would be associated with improved outcomes in BA.

Methods: We assessed the impact of any human milk (AHM) as compared to formula only (FO) intake before Kasai portoenterostomy (KP) on outcomes in 447 infants with BA using the PROBE database (NCT00061828) post hoc. The primary outcome was clearance of jaundice (COJ = total bilirubin (TB) < 2 mg/dL by 3 months post-KP). Secondary outcomes included 2-year survival with native liver (SNL), bilirubin levels, cholangitis, ascites, and growth. We assessed the fecal microbiome (n = 8) comparing AHM versus FO.

Results: At baseline, 211 infants received AHM and 215 received …

An Evaluation Of Genetic Predisposition To Congenital Anomalies And Pediatric Cancer Supports, Hyunjung Gu, Yao Yu, Saumya Dushyant Sisoudiya, Pamela Mishra, He Li, Jeremy M Schraw, Michael E Scheurer, Donna M Muzny, Danielle Mitchell, Olga Taylor, Shalini N Jhangiani, Shannon Dugan-Perez, Yifan Wu, Harsha Doddapaneni, Sravya Venkata Bhamidipati, Marie-Claude Gingras, Jennifer E Posey, Richard A Gibbs, Chad D Huff, Sharon E Plon, Philip J Lupo, Aniko Sabo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Although congenital anomalies are among the strongest risk factors for developing pediatric cancer, the genetic underpinnings remain unclear. Therefore, we evaluated germline susceptibility in children with congenital anomalies and cancer.

Methods: Through the Genetic Overlap Between Anomalies and Cancer in Kids Study, we recruited 47 participants with anomalies and cancer, along with their biological families. Genome sequencing was performed, focusing on single-nucleotide variants, indels, and structural variants. Pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were identified by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics classification.

Results: We identified pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in 23.4% (11 of 47) of participants. …

Evaluation Of Methotrexate Pharmacogenomic Variation To Predict Acute Neurotoxicity In Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Rachel D Harris, Olga A Taylor, M Monica Gramatges, Amy E Hughes, Mark Zobeck, Sandi Pruitt, M Brooke Bernhardt, Ashley Chavana, Van Huynh, Kathleen Ludwig, Laura Klesse, Kenneth Heym, Timothy Griffin, Rodrigo Erana, Juan Carlos Bernini, Ashley Choi, Yuu Ohno, Melissa A Richard, Alanna C Morrison, Han Chen, Bing Yu, Philip J Lupo, Karen Rabin, Michael E Scheurer, Austin L Brown

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Methotrexate is an important component of curative therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but the role of genetic variation influencing methotrexate clearance and transport in toxicity susceptibility in children with ALL is not well established. Therefore, we evaluated the association between suspected methotrexate pharmacogenomic variants and methotrexate-related neurotoxicity.

METHODS: This study included children (aged 2-20 years) diagnosed with ALL (2005-2019) at six treatment centers in the southwest United States. Clinical information was abstracted from medical records. Suspected neurotoxic events occurring within 21 days of intravenous and/or intrathecal methotrexate delivered between the end of induction and start of maintenance …