Digital Commons Network^™

Multi-Level Correlates Of Safer Conception Methods Awareness And Attitudes Among Ugandan Hiv Clients With Fertility Intentions., Glenn J. Wagner, Mahlet A. Woldetsadik, Jolly Beyeza-Kashesya, Kathy Goggin, Deborah Mindry, Sarah Finocchario-Kessler, Sarah Khanakwa, Rhoda K. Wanyenze

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Many people living with HIV desire childbearing, but low cost safer conception methods (SCM) such as timed unprotected intercourse (TUI) and manual self-insemination (MSI) are rarely used. We examined awareness and attitudes towards SCM, and the correlates of these constructs among 400 HIV clients with fertility intentions in Uganda. Measures included awareness, self-efficacy, and motivation regarding SCM, as well as demographics, health management, partner and provider characteristics. Just over half knew that MSI (53%) and TUI (51%) reduced transmission risk during conception, and 15% knew of sperm washing and pre-exposure prophylaxis. In separate regression models for SCM awareness, motivation, and …

Multiple Behavior Change Intervention To Improve Detection Of Unmet Social Needs And Resulting Resource Referrals., Jeffrey D. Colvin, Jessica L. Bettenhausen, Kaston D. Anderson-Carpenter, Vicki Collie-Akers, Laura Plencner, Molly Krager, Brooke Nelson, Sara Donnelly, Julia Simmons, Valeria Higinio, Paul J. Chung

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: It is critical that pediatric residents learn to effectively screen families for active and addressable social needs (ie, negative social determinants of health). We sought to determine 1) whether a brief intervention teaching residents about IHELP, a social needs screening tool, could improve resident screening, and 2) how accurately IHELP could detect needs in the inpatient setting.

METHODS: During an 18-month period, interns rotating on 1 of 2 otherwise identical inpatient general pediatrics teams were trained in IHELP. Interns on the other team served as the comparison group. Every admission history and physical examination (H&P) was reviewed for IHELP …

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (Ecmo) For Severe Toxicological Exposures: Review Of The Toxicology Investigators Consortium (Toxic)., G S. Wang, R Levitan, T J. Wiegand, Jennifer Lowry, R F. Schult, S Yin, Toxicology Investigators Consortium

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Although there have been many developments related to specific strategies for treating patients after poisoning exposures, the mainstay of therapy remains symptomatic and supportive care. One of the most aggressive supportive modalities is extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Our goal was to describe the use of ECMO for toxicological exposures reported to the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC). We performed a retrospective review of the ACMT ToxIC Registry from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013. Inclusion criteria included patients aged 0 to 89 years, evaluated between January 2010 through December 2013, and received ECMO for …

Identification Of An Association Of Tnfaip3 Polymorphisms With Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression In Fibroblasts In An Integrative Study Of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Genetic And Environmental Factors*, Peng Wei, Yang Yang, Xinjian Guo, Nainan Hei, Syeling Lai, Shervin Assassi, Mengyuan Liu, Filemon Tan, Xiaodong Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a fibrotic disease attributed to both genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. This study was undertaken to investigate the associations between SSc-associated genetic variants and the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes in human fibroblasts stimulated with silica particles in time-course and dose-response experiments.

METHODS: A total of 200 fibroblast strains were examined for ECM gene expression after stimulation with silica particles. The fibroblasts were genetically profiled using Immunochip assays and then subjected to whole-genome genotype imputation. Associations of genotypes and gene expression were first analyzed in a Caucasian cohort and then validated in a meta-analysis …

Development Of A Spirometry T-Score In The General Population, Sei Won Lee, Hyun Kuk Kim, Seunghee Baek, Ji-Ye Jung, Young Sam Kim, Jae Seung Lee, Sang-Do Lee, David M. Mannino, Yeon-Mok Oh

Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background and objective: Spirometry values may be expressed as T-scores in standard deviation units relative to a reference in a young, normal population as an analogy to the T-score for bone mineral density. This study was performed to develop the spirometry T-score.

Methods: T-scores were calculated from lambda-mu-sigma-derived Z-scores using a young, normal age reference. Three outcomes of all-cause death, respiratory death, and COPD death were evaluated in 9,101 US subjects followed for 10 years; an outcome of COPD-related health care utilization (COPD utilization) was evaluated in 1,894 Korean subjects followed for 4 years.

Results: The …

Project Achieve – Using Implementation Research To Guide The Evaluation Of Transitional Care Effectiveness, Jing Li, Jane Brock, Brian Jack, Brian Mittman, Mary Naylor, Joann Sorra, Glen P. Mays, Mark V. Williams, Arnold J. Stromberg, Heather M. Bush, Allison Scott, Robert Duff, Emily R. Clear, Hannah Keeler, Project Achieve

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Poorly managed hospital discharges and care transitions between health care facilities can cause poor outcomes for both patients and their caregivers. Unfortunately, the usual approach to health care delivery does not support continuity and coordination across the settings of hospital, doctors’ offices, home or nursing homes. Though complex efforts with multiple components can improve patient outcomes and reduce 30-day readmissions, research has not identified which components are necessary. Also we do not know how delivery of core components may need to be adjusted based on patient, caregiver, setting or characteristics of the community, or how system redesign can be …

Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking And Susceptibility To Cigarette Smoking Among Young Adults In The United States, 2012–2013, Ramzi G. Salloum, M. Rifat Haider, Tracey E. Barnett, Yi Guo, Kayla R. Getz, Jim Thrasher, Wasim Maziak

Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION:

Waterpipe tobacco smoking, also known as hookah and shisha, has surged in popularity among young people in the United States. Waterpipe is also increasingly becoming the first tobacco product that young people try. Given the limited access to and limited portability of waterpipes, waterpipe smokers who become more nicotine dependent over time may be more likely to turn to cigarettes. This study examined the relationship between waterpipe tobacco smoking and susceptibility to cigarette smoking among young adults in the United States.

METHODS:

Using data from the 2012-2013 National Adult Tobacco Survey, a nationally representative sample of US adults, we …

Is The Closest Facility The One Actually Used? An Assessment Of Travel Time Estimation Based On Mammography Facilities, Jennifer Alford-Teaster, Jane M. Lange, Rebecca A. Hubbard, Christoph I. Lee, Jennifer S. Haas, Xun Shi, Heather A. Carlos, Louise Henderson, Deirdre Hill, Anna N. A. Tosteson, Tracy Onega

Dartmouth Scholarship

Characterizing geographic access depends on a broad range of methods available to researchers and the healthcare context to which the method is applied. Globally, travel time is one frequently used measure of geographic access with known limitations associated with data availability. Specifically, due to lack of available utilization data, many travel time studies assume that patients use the closest facility. To examine this assumption, an example using mammography screening data, which is considered a geographically abundant health care service in the United States, is explored. This work makes an important methodological contribution to measuring access--which is a critical component of …

Planning Ahead: Object-Directed Sequential Actions Decoded From Human Frontoparietal And Occipitotemporal Networks., Jason P Gallivan, Ingrid S Johnsrude, J Randall Flanagan

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Object-manipulation tasks (e.g., drinking from a cup) typically involve sequencing together a series of distinct motor acts (e.g., reaching toward, grasping, lifting, and transporting the cup) in order to accomplish some overarching goal (e.g., quenching thirst). Although several studies in humans have investigated the neural mechanisms supporting the planning of visually guided movements directed toward objects (such as reaching or pointing), only a handful have examined how manipulatory sequences of actions-those that occur after an object has been grasped-are planned and represented in the brain. Here, using event-related functional MRI and pattern decoding methods, we investigated the neural basis of …

Understanding And Meeting Information Needs For Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Bradley V. Watts, Maha H. Zayed, Hilary Llewellyn-Thomas, Paula P. Schnurr

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background:

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a commonly occurring mental illness. There are multiple treatments for PTSD that have similar effectiveness, but these treatments differ substantially in other ways. It is desirable to have well-informed patients involved in treatment choices. A patient decision aid (PtDA) is one method to achieve this goal. This manuscript describes the rationale and development of a patient decision aid (PtDA) designed for patients with PTSD.

Methods:

We conducted an informational needs assessment of veterans (n = 19) to obtain their baseline information needs prior to the development of the PtDA. We also conducted a …

Elevated Transpulmonary Gradient And Cardiac Magnetic Resonance-Derived Right Ventricular Remodeling Predict Poor Outcomes In Sickle Cell Disease, Kim-Lien Nguyen, Xin Tian, Shoaib Alam, Alem Mehari, Steve W. Leung, Catherine Seamon, Darlene Allen, Caterina P. Minniti, Vandana Sachdev, Andrew E. Arai, Gregory J. Kato

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Initial Benchmarking Of The Quality Of Medical Care In Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus., Rina Mina, Julia G. Harris, Marisa S. Klein-Gitelman, Simone Appenzeller, Maraisa Centeville, Diane Eskra, Jennifer L. Huggins, Anne L. Johnson, Raju Khubchandani, Prachi Khandekar, Jiha Lee, Hai Mei Liu, Joshua D. Pendl, Clovis A. Silva, Marco F. Silva, Ahmad I. Zaal, Esi Morgan Dewitt, Stacy P. Ardoin, Hermine I. Brunner

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of medical care in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at tertiary pediatric rheumatology centers as measured by observance of SLE quality indicators (SLE-QIs).

METHODS: International consensus has been achieved for childhood-onset SLE-QIs capturing medical care provision in 9 domains: diagnostic testing, education of cardiovascular (CV) risk and lifestyles, lupus nephritis (LN), medication management, bone health, ophthalmologic surveillance, transition, pregnancy, and vaccination. Using medical record information, the level of performance of these childhood-onset SLE-QIs was assessed in childhood-onset SLE populations treated at 4 tertiary pediatric rheumatology centers in the US, 2 in Brazil, and 1 center …

Down-Regulation Of Placental Neuropilin-1 In Fetal Growth Restriction., Dev Maulik, Alok De, Louis Ragolia, Jodi Evans, Dmitry Grigoryev, Kamani Lankachandra, David Mundy, Jolene Muscat, Mary M. Gerkovich, Shui Qing Ye

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with adverse outcomes extending from fetal to adult life, and thus, constitutes a major health care challenge. Fetuses with progressive growth restriction show increasing impedance in the umbilical artery flow, which may become absent during end-diastole. Absent end-diastolic flow (AEDF) is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes including stillbirths and perinatal asphyxia. Placentas from such pregnancies demonstrate deficient fetoplacental vascular branching. Current evidence, moreover, indicates an antiangiogenic state in maternal circulation in several pregnancy complications including preeclampsia, small-for-gestational-age births, fetal death, and preterm labor. The angiogenic mediators in maternal circulation are predominantly of placental …

Differences And Similarities In The Clinicopathological Features Of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors In China And The United States: A Multicenter Study, Li-Ming Zhu, Laura Tang, Xin-Wei Qiao, Edward M. Wolin, Nicholas N. Nissen, Deepti Dhall, Jie Chen, Lin Shen, Yihebali Chi, Yao-Zong Yuan, Qi-Wen Ben, Bin Lv, Ya-Ru Zhou, Chun-Mei Bai, Jie Chen, Yu-Li Song, Tian-Tian Song, Chong-Mei Lu, Run Yu, Yuan-Jia Chen

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The presentation, pathology, and prognosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) in Asian patients have not been studied in large cohorts. We hypothesized that the clinicopathological features of PNETs of Chinese patients might be different from those of US patients. The objectives of this study were to address whether PNETs in Chinese patients exhibit unique clinicopathological features and natural history, and can be graded and staged using the WHO/ENETS criteria.

This is a retrospective review of medical records of patients with PNETs in multiple academic medical centers in China (7) and the United States (2). Tumor grading and staging were based …

Endosteal Biologic Augmentation For Surgical Fixation Of Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures, Lionel E Lazaro, Jacqueline F Birnbaum, Nadja A Farshad-Amacker, David L Helfet, Hollis G Potter, Dean G Lorich

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: To report outcomes of a cohort with displaced femoral neck fractures (FNFs) treated with a length/angle-stable construct augmented with an endosteal fibular allograft serving as a biologic dowel.

DESIGN: Prospective.

SETTING: Level I Trauma Center.

PATIENTS: The study group consists of 27 patients with isolated FNF surgically treated by a single surgeon.

INTERVENTION: Open reduction of the femoral neck, fixed with a length- and angle-stable construct of 2 fully threaded cannulated screws augmented with an endosteal fibular allograft serving as a biologic dowel.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Clinical and radiographic outcomes of the fixation construct and the viability of both …

The Mosaic Mitral Valve Bioprosthesis: A Long-Term Clinical And Hemodynamic Follow-Up, Michele Celiento, Stefania Blasi, Andrea De Martino, Stefano Pratali, Aldo D Milano, Uberto Bortolotti

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

We reviewed the cases of 100 patients (mean age, 73 ± 10 yr; 64 men) who had mitral valve replacement with a Medtronic Mosaic porcine bioprosthesis from 1995 through 2011. The mean New York Heart Association (NYHA) class was 3 ± 0.7, and 52 patients were in atrial fibrillation. Prosthetic sizes were chiefly 27 mm (50 patients) and 29 mm (40 patients). Follow-up ended in December 2012 and is 97% complete, with a cumulative duration of 611 patient-years (mean duration, 6 ± 4.6 yr; maximum, 17.7 yr). The early mortality rate was 10% (6% in elective patients); late deaths occurred …

Diagnostic Value Of End Tidal Capnography In Patients With Hyperglycemia In The Emergency Department., Ralphe Bou Chebl, Bryan Madden, Justin Belsky, Elie Harmouche, Lenar Yessayan

Emergency Medicine Articles

BACKGROUND: Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a potentially life-threatening emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. In paediatric populations an end tidal capnography value greater than 36 mmHg was found to be 100 % sensitive in ruling out DKA.

METHODS: A cross sectional observational study of adults ≥ 17 years of age presenting to the emergency department between January 2014 and May 2014 with glucose > 550 mg/dL. In all patients, nasal capnography and venous blood gas analysis were performed prior to any insulin or intravenous fluid administration. The diagnosis of DKA was based on the presence of anion gap metabolic acidosis, …

Post-Prandial Glucose And Insulin Responses Of Hummus Alone Or Combined With A Carbohydrate Food: A Dose-Response Study, Livia S. Augustin, Laura Chiavaroli, Janice Campbell, Adish Ezatagha, Alexandra L. Jenkins, Amin Esfahani, Cyril Kendall

NYMC Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: Pulses are low glycemic index (GI) foods and have been associated with reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. However the blood glucose and insulin responses of hummus, a food containing chickpea, have not been thoroughly tested.

METHODS: Ten healthy subjects each consumed 11 breakfast study meals in randomized order over a period of 15 weeks. Hummus was consumed alone at three doses (2.7 g, 10.8 g and 25 g available carbohydrate [avCHO] portions) and with 50 g avCHO from white bread at three doses (2.7 g, 5.4 g and 10.8 g avCHO portions). The responses elicited …

Incidence And In-Hospital Mortality Of Acute Kidney Injury (Aki) And Dialysis Requiring Aki (Aki-D) After Cardiac Catheterization In The National Inpatient Sample, Jeremiah R. Brown, Michael E. Rezaee, Elizabeth L. Nichols, Emily J. Marshall, Edward D. Siew, Michael E. Matheny

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background:

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and dialysis‐requiring AKI (AKI‐D) are common, serious complications of cardiac procedures.

Methods and Results:

We evaluated 3 633 762 (17 765 214 weighted population) cardiac catheterization or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) hospital discharges from the nationally representative National Inpatient Sample to determine annual population incidence rates for AKI and AKI‐D in the United States from 2001 to 2011. Odds ratios for both conditions and associated in‐hospital mortality were calculated for each year in the study period using multiple logistic regression. The number of cardiac catheterization or PCI cases resulting in AKI rose almost 3‐fold from …

The Relationship Between Foot Arch Measurements And Walking Parameters In Children, Simone V. Gill, Sara Keimig, Damian Kelty-Stephen, Ya-Ching Hung, Jeremy M. Desilva

Dartmouth Scholarship

Walking mechanics are influenced by body morphology. Foot arch height is one aspect of body morphology central to walking. However, generalizations about the relationship between arch height and walking are limited due to previous methodologies used for measuring the arch and the populations that have been studied. To gain the knowledge needed to support healthy gait in children and adults, we need to understand this relationship in unimpaired, typically developing children and adults using dynamic measures. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between arch height and gait in a sample of healthy children and adults …

Transdiagnostic Psychiatric Symptoms And Event-Related Potentials Following Rewarding And Aversive Outcomes, Jeffrey S. Bedwell, Geoffrey Potts, Diane C. Gooding, Benjamin J. Trachik, Chi C. Chan, Christopher C. Spencer

Psychology Faculty Publications

There is a need for a better understanding of transdiagnostic psychiatric symptoms that relate to neurophysiological abnormalities following rewarding and aversive feedback in order to inform development of novel targeted treatments. To address this need, we examined a transdiagnostic sample of 44 adults (mean age: 35.52; 57% female), which consisted of individuals with broadly-defined schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (n = 16), bipolar disorders (n = 10), other mood and anxiety disorders (n = 5), and no history of a psychiatric disorder (n = 13). Participants completed a Pavlovian monetary reward prediction task during 32-channel electroencephalogram recording. We assessed the event-related potentials (ERPs) …

Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis Recurrence After Kidney Transplantation: Using The New Classification., Sami Alasfar, Naima Carter-Monroe, Avi Z Rosenberg, Robert A Montgomery, Nada Alachkar

Pathology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is an uncommon glomerular disorder that may lead to end stage renal disease (ESRD). With new understanding of the disease pathogenesis, the classical classification as MPGN types I, II, III has changed. Data on post-transplant MPGN, in particular with the newly refined classification, is limited. We present our center's experience of MPGN after kidney transplantation using the new classification.

METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 34 patients with ESRD due to MPGN who received 40 kidney transplants between 1994 and 2014. We reviewed the available biopsies' data using the new classification. We assessed post transplantation …

A Selective Impairment Of Perception Of Sound Motion Direction In Peripheral Space: A Case Study., Lore Thaler, Joseph Paciocco, Mark Daley, Gabriella D Lesniak, David W Purcell, J Alexander Fraser, Gordon N Dutton, Stephanie Rossit, Melvyn A Goodale, Jody C Culham

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

It is still an open question if the auditory system, similar to the visual system, processes auditory motion independently from other aspects of spatial hearing, such as static location. Here, we report psychophysical data from a patient (female, 42 and 44 years old at the time of two testing sessions), who suffered a bilateral occipital infarction over 12 years earlier, and who has extensive damage in the occipital lobe bilaterally, extending into inferior posterior temporal cortex bilaterally and into right parietal cortex. We measured the patient's spatial hearing ability to discriminate static location, detect motion and perceive motion direction in …

Genetic Susceptibility Loci Of Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia Do Not Represent Risk For Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Control Study In Caucasian Patients, Minghua Wu, Shervin Assassi, Gloria A. Salazar, Claudia Pedroza, Olga Y. Gorlova, Wei V. Chen, Julio Charles, Miranda L. Taing, Kelley Liao, Fredrick M. Wigley

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) has phenotypic similarities to lung involvement in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). We aimed to assess whether genetic susceptibility loci recently identified in the large IIP genome-wide association studies (GWASs) were also risk loci for SSc overall or severity of ILD in SSc. Methods: A total of 2571 SSc patients and 4500 healthy controls were investigated from the US discovery GWAS and additional US replication cohorts. Thirteen IIP-related selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped and analyzed for their association with SSc. Results: We found an association of SSc with the SNP rs6793295 …

Factors Underlying Ebola Virus Infection Among Health Workers, Kenema, Sierra Leone, 2014-2015, Mikiko Senga, Kimberly Pringle, Andrew Ramsay, David Brett-Major, Robert A. Fowler, Issa French, Mohamed Vandi, Josephine Sellu, Christian Pratt, Josephine Saidu, Nahoko Shindo, Daniel G. Bausch, Sierra Leone Kenema District Task Force And Kenema Government Hospital

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Ebola virus disease (EVD) in health workers (HWs) has been a major challenge during the 2014-2015 outbreak. We examined factors associated with Ebola virus exposure and mortality in HWs in Kenema District, Sierra Leone.

METHODS: We analyzed data from the Sierra Leone National Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Database, contact tracing records, Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) staff and Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) rosters, and burial logs.

RESULTS: From May 2014 through January 2015, 600 cases of EVD originated in Kenema District, including 92 (15%) HWs, 66 (72%) of whom worked at KGH. Among KGH medical staff and international volunteers, 18 of …

Ebola Virus Disease And Critical Illness, Aleksandra Leligdowicz, William A. Fischer, Timothy M. Uyeki, Thomas E. Fletcher, Neill K.J. Adhikari, Gina Portella, Francois Lamontagne, Christophe Clement, Shevin T. Jacob, Lewis Rubinson, Abel Vanderschuren, Jan Hajek, Srinivas Murthy, Mauricio Ferri, Ian Crozier, Elhadj Ibrahima, Marie-Claire Lamah, John S. Schieffelin, David Brett-Major, Daniel G. Bausch, Nikki Shindo, Adrienne K. Chan, Tim O'Dempsey, Sharmistha Mishra, Michael Jacobs, Stuart Dickson, G. Marshall Lyon, Robert A. Fowler

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

As of 20 May 2016 there have been 28,646 cases and 11,323 deaths resulting from the West African Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak reported to the World Health Organization. There continue to be sporadic flare-ups of EVD cases in West Africa.EVD presentation is nonspecific and characterized initially by onset of fatigue, myalgias, arthralgias, headache, and fever; this is followed several days later by anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Anorexia and gastrointestinal losses lead to dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, and metabolic acidosis, and, in some patients, acute kidney injury. Hypoxia and ventilation failure occurs most often with severe illness and …

Costs And Consequences: Hepatitis C Seroprevalence In The Military And Its Impact On Potential Screening Strategies, David Brett-Major, Kevin D. Frick, Jennifer A. Malia, Shilpa Hakre, Jason F. Okulicz, Charmagne G. Beckett, Linda L. Jagodinski, Michael A. Forgione, Philip L. Gould, Stephen A. Harrison, Clinton K. Murray, Francisco J. Rentas, Adam W. Armstrong, Aatif M. Hayat, Laura A. Pacha, Peter Dawson, Angelia A. Eick-Cost, Hala H Maktabi, Nelson L. Michael, Steven B. Cersovsky, Sheila A. Peel, Paul T. Scott

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

UNLABELLED: Knowledge of the contemporary epidemiology of hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection among military personnel can inform potential Department of Defense screening policy. HCV infection status at the time of accession and following deployment was determined by evaluating reposed serum from 10,000 service members recently deployed to combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in the period 2007-2010. A cost model was developed from the perspective of the Department of Defense for a military applicant screening program. Return on investment was based on comparison between screening program costs and potential treatment costs avoided. The prevalence of HCV antibody-positive and chronic HCV …

Acute Mountain Sickness Symptom Severity At The South Pole: The Influence Of Self-Selected Prophylaxis With Acetazolamide., Michael F. Harrison, Paul J. Anderson, Jacob B. Johnson, Maile Richert, Andrew D. Miller, Bruce D. Johnson

Emergency Medicine Articles

INTRODUCTION: Acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, remains the only FDA approved pharmaceutical prophylaxis for acute mountain sickness (AMS) though its effectiveness after rapid transport in real world conditions is less clear.

METHODS: Over 2 years, 248 healthy adults traveled by airplane from sea level (SL) to the South Pole (ALT, ~3200m) and 226 participants provided Lake Louise Symptom Scores (LLSS) on a daily basis for 1 week; vital signs, blood samples, and urine samples were collected at SL and at ALT. Acetazolamide was available to any participant desiring prophylaxis. Comparisons were made between the acetazolamide with AMS (ACZ/AMS) (n = …

Visual Acceleration Perception For Simple And Complex Motion Patterns., Alexandra S Mueller, Brian Timney

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Humans are able to judge whether a target is accelerating in many viewing contexts, but it is an open question how the motion pattern per se affects visual acceleration perception. We measured acceleration and deceleration detection using patterns of random dots with horizontal (simpler) or radial motion (more visually complex). The results suggest that we detect acceleration better when viewing radial optic flow than horizontal translation. However, the direction within each type of pattern has no effect on performance and observers detect acceleration and deceleration similarly within each condition. We conclude that sensitivity to the presence of acceleration is generally …

Structural Brain Injury In Patients With Disorders Of Consciousness: A Voxel-Based Morphometry Study., Pieter Guldenmund, Andrea Soddu, Katherine Baquero, Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse, Marie-Aurélie Bruno, Olivia Gosseries, Steven Laureys, Francisco Gómez

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

MAIN OBJECTIVE: Disorders of consciousness (DOC; encompassing coma, vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (VS/UWS) and minimally conscious state minus/plus (MCS-/+)) are associated with structural brain injury. The extent of this damage remains poorly understood and merits a detailed examination using novel analysis techniques. Research design/methods and procedures: This study used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) on structural magnetic resonance imaging scans of 61 patients with DOC to examine grey and white matter injury associated with DOC, time spent in DOC, aetiology and diagnosis.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: DOC and time spent in DOC were found to be associated with widespread structural brain injury, …