Digital Commons Network^™

Covid-19, Vaccination, And Heart Transplantation, Forest W. Arnold

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

The Colby Echo (2022-05-05), Colby College

The Colby Echo

Published by the students of Colby College since 1877, The Colby Echo is the weekly, editorially independent student-run newspaper of Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Published monthly, 1877-1886; semi-monthly; 1886-1897; and weekly during the academic year, 1898-present.

Dietary Score Associations With Markers Of Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Analysis Of A Middle- To Older-Aged Population, Seán R. Miller, Pilar Navarro, Janas M. Harrington, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., James Hébert Scd, Ivan J. Perry, Catherine M. Phillips

Faculty Publications

Purpose

To assess relationships between the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Mediterranean Diet (MD), Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII^®) and Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII™) scores and pro-inflammatory cytokines, adipocytokines, acute-phase response proteins, coagulation factors and white blood cells.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of 1862 men and women aged 46–73 years, randomly selected from a large primary care centre in Ireland. DASH, MD, DII and E-DII scores were derived from validated food frequency questionnaires. Correlation and multivariate-adjusted linear regression analyses with correction for multiple testing were performed to examine dietary score relationships with biomarker concentrations.

Results

In fully …

Polygenic Transcriptome Risk Scores For Copd And Lung Function Improve Cross-Ethnic Portability Of Prediction In The Nhlbi Topmed Program, Xiaowei Hu, Dandi Qiao, Wonji Kim, Matthew Moll, Pallavi P Balte, Leslie A Lange, Traci M Bartz, Rajesh Kumar, Xingnan Li, Bing Yu, Brian E Cade, Cecelia A Laurie, Tamar Sofer, Ingo Ruczinski, Deborah A Nickerson, Donna M Muzny, Ginger A Metcalf, Harshavardhan Doddapaneni, Stacy Gabriel, Namrata Gupta, Shannon Dugan-Perez, L Adrienne Cupples, Laura R Loehr, Deepti Jain, Jerome I Rotter, James G Wilson, Bruce M Psaty, Myriam Fornage, Alanna C Morrison, Ramachandran S Vasan, George Washko, Stephen S Rich, George T O'Connor, Eugene Bleecker, Robert C Kaplan, Ravi Kalhan, Susan Redline, Sina A Gharib, Deborah Meyers, Victor Ortega, Josée Dupuis, Stephanie J London, Tuuli Lappalainen, Elizabeth C Oelsner, Edwin K Silverman, R Graham Barr, Timothy A Thornton, Heather E Wheeler, Topmed Lung Working Group, Michael H Cho, Hae Kyung Im, Ani Manichaikul

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

While polygenic risk scores (PRSs) enable early identification of genetic risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), predictive performance is limited when the discovery and target populations are not well matched. Hypothesizing that the biological mechanisms of disease are shared across ancestry groups, we introduce a PrediXcan-derived polygenic transcriptome risk score (PTRS) to improve cross-ethnic portability of risk prediction. We constructed the PTRS using summary statistics from application of PrediXcan on large-scale GWASs of lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1] and its ratio to forced vital capacity [FEV1/FVC]) in the UK Biobank. We examined prediction performance and …

Open Lab Vs. Radiologic Students Final Practical Grades, Navdeep Kaur, Safraz Harun, Katie Tam, Robert O'Brien

Publications and Research

Open Lab provides the students of the Radiologic Technology & Medical Imaging Department the opportunity outside regular class time to practice communicating effectively in a health care setting, and grants the students the freedom to craft critical thinking skills in a radiologic environment. Our research aims to analyze the correlation between hourly time spent in Open Lab, and its contributing factor to a student's overall Radiographic Procedures grade. The amount of time spent in Open Lab can additionally contribute to a student's grasp of didactic concepts, and their integration into the clinical setting. Additional time spent in the laboratory can …

Vincristine Side Effects With Concomitant Fluconazole Use During Induction Chemotherapy In Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Caleb A. Cave, Reyna C. Ramirez, Robin High, James B. Ford, Chittalsinh M. Raulji, Jill C. Beck

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

As a mainstay of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), vincristine’s side effect profile is well known. Parallel administration of the antifungal fluconazole has been shown to interfere with the metabolism of vincristine, potentially resulting in increased side effects. We conducted a retrospective chart review to determine whether concomitant administration of vincristine and fluconazole during pediatric ALL therapy impacted side effects of vincristine, namely, hyponatremia and peripheral neuropathy. We also evaluated whether the incidence of opportunistic fungal infections was impacted by fluconazole prophylaxis. Medical charts of all pediatric ALL patients treated with induction chemotherapy at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center …

Impact Of The Filmarray® Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel On Clinical Practice In Pediatrics; A Multicentered Study, John Chatterton, Aleisha Nabower, Nathan Gollehon, Nathaniel Goodrich, Prabi Rajbhandari, Jaclyn Eisenberg, Kimberly Martin, Megan Woslager, Maheswari Ekambaran, Krow Ampofo, Elizabeth Lyden, Jessica Snowden

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

Background

The FilmArray® Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel (MEP) is a rapid multiplex assay that tests cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for 14 common central nervous system (CNS) pathogens, with results available in hours as opposed to days with the gold standard CSF culture. Current literature on the impact of MEP testing on length of stay (LOS) and antimicrobial use in pediatric patients is from only single site studies with variable results.

Hypothesis

MEP testing in pediatric patients would be associated with a decreased LOS, time on IV antibiotics, and time to narrowing antibiotics.

Design/Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of 5 sites. Inclusion criteria …

Assessing Body Fat In Pediatric Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A Preliminary Comparison Of Anthropometric Techniques, Arianna Dalamaggas, Megan Gillespie, Adriano Dellapolla, Kaeli Samson, Elizabeth Strudthoff, Vincent Eaton, Maegen Wallace

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

Background: Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder causing brittle bones, extremity deformities, short stature, and scoliosis, resulting in decreased physical function. Body Mass Index (BMI) is used as a proxy for body fat in the general population, however, it is particularly inaccurate measure to gauge body fat in OI patients due to skeletal deformities and short stature. There is a critical need to identify the anthropometric and body composition characteristics that contribute to important health outcomes and improve disease management in patients with OI. Current literature is lacking data on percent body fat (% BF) composition in patients …

Tocopherol Content Of Maternal Breast Milk And Impact On Neonatal Growth, Alyssa Freeman, Alex Hergenrader, Olivia Paetz, Sarah Sweeney, Lauren Wegner, Nicole Bender, Ridhi Chaudhary, Khadijjta Ali, Matthew Van Ormer, Maranda Thompson, Rebecca Slotkowski, Corrine K. Hanson, Melissa K. Thoene, Ann Anderson-Berry

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

Background: Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient consisting of α-, β-, δ-, and γ-tocopherol isoforms that has established effects on neonatal growth in utero. Higher maternal plasma tocopherol concentrations in pregnancy are associated with increased neonatal weight, length, and head circumference percentiles at birth. However, less is known about the impacts of tocopherols on post-natal growth. Since many neonates consume maternal breast milk as their post-natal nutrient source, it is important to understand the tocopherol content of breast milk and associations with neonatal growth.

Significance of Problem: Although the tocopherols demonstrate positive associations with neonatal growth in utero, the role …

Evaluation Of Tocopherol Isoforms In Maternal Breast Milk And Their Relationship With Maternal Dietary Intake, Alyssa Freeman, Alex Hergenrader, Olivia Paetz, Sarah Sweeney, Lauren Wegner, Nicole Bender, Ridhi Chaudhary, Khadijjta Ali, Matthew Van Ormer, Maranda Thompson, Rebecca Slotkowski, Corrine K. Hanson, Melissa K. Thoene, Ann Anderson-Berry

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

Background: Vitamin E is an essential, fat-soluble nutrient with four isoforms: α-, β-, δ-, and γ-tocopherol. These isoforms differentially modulate inflammation and show variable associations with perinatal outcomes, such as preterm delivery and Apgar scores. However, little is known about the role of these isoforms on post-natal outcomes and their presence in maternal breast milk, a neonate’s ideal nutrition source.

Significance of Problem: To analyze the role of tocopherols on post-natal growth and inflammation, it is critical to first assess their presence in maternal breast milk. Relating these measures to maternal dietary intake can advance our understanding of breast milk …

Omega-3 And Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Levels In Placental Tissue And Association With Maternal Dietary Intake, Alexandra Hergenrader, Matthew Van Ormer, Maranda Thompson, Rebecca Slotkowski, Alyssa Freeman, Olivia Paetz, Sarah Sweeney, Lauren Wegner, Khadijjta Ali, Nicole Bender, Ridhi Chaudhary, Melissa K. Thoene, Corrine K. Hanson, Ann Anderson-Berry

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

Background: Omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are precursors to lipid mediators that modulate inflammation throughout the body. Derivatives of n-3 PUFAs have anti-inflammatory properties and promote growth and neurodevelopment in the fetus. Conversely, n-6 PUFA metabolites exert pro-inflammatory effects and may contribute to adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Studies have shown that maternal dietary intakes of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs are associated with their levels in maternal serum, but less is known about the association between PUFA intake and placental levels of these nutrients. A fetus must obtain essential PUFAs from their mother through the placenta, …

Assessing The Impact Of Socioeconomic Status On Maternal And Cord Serum Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Levels, Alexandra Hergenrader, Matthew Van Ormer, Maranda Thompson, Rebecca Slotkowski, Alyssa Freeman, Olivia Paetz, Sarah Sweeney, Lauren Wegner, Khadijjta Ali, Nicole Bender, Ridhi Chaudhary, Melissa K. Thoene, Corrine K. Hanson, Ann Anderson-Berry

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

Background: Omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) modulate inflammation throughout the lifespan and are essential in fetal growth and development. Previous studies have demonstrated that individuals with lower socioeconomic status (SES) may be at risk for low intake of n-3 PUFAs; however, no research has compared the concentrations of these nutrients present in maternal and cord serum between markers of SES.

Significance of Problem: Individuals with low serum levels of n-3 PUFAs may suffer from unfavorable birth and pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, it is important to identify populations who may have decreased serum levels of these nutrients in order to provide …

Health Care Access And Use Among Children & Adolescents With History Of Parental Incarceration — United States, 2019, Rohan Khazanchi, Nia Heard-Garris, Tyler N.A. Winkelman

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

Background: Children and adolescents exposed to parental incarceration (PI) have suboptimal health care access, utilization, and outcomes in adulthood. However, very little is known about health care access and use during childhood itself for children and adolescents exposed to PI.

Significance: The United States incarcerates more people and at a higher rate than any other country in the world, with stark spillover impacts on the lives of over 5 million children who have had an incarcerated parent.

Objective: Using the nationally representative 2019 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Child Sample, we examined the relationship between PI and key measures …

Mechanism Of Cyclophosphamide-Induced Ovarian Follicle Loss In The Prepubertal Mouse, Yi Luan, Seok-Yeong Yu, Ibrahim F. Elesh, Rosemary Dong, Amirhossein Abazarikia, So-Youn Kim

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

Background: Cancer therapies cause serious side effects, affecting the quality of life for young cancer survivors. The ovary is affected by cancer therapies, causing premature ovarian insufficiency, leading to endocrine dysfunction, infertility, and ovarian aging. Thus, maintaining ovarian function against cancer treatment is an unmet need for female cancer patients. Cyclophosphamide (CPA), a common chemotherapeutic agent, forms DNA crosslinks to induce apoptosis in rapidly proliferating tumor cells. However, the underlying mechanism of the CPA-induced oocyte death in ovarian reserve remains unclear.

Experimental design: This study aims to investigate the mechanism of oocyte death in primordial follicles by generating …

Sap30, A Novel Oncogenic Transcription Factor In High-Risk Neuroblastoma: Clinical Significance And Role In Tumor-Progression, Survival, And Drug Resistance, Anup Pathania, Philip Prathipati, Nagendra K. Chaturvedi, Subash Gupta, Don W. Coulter, Kishore Challagundla

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

Neuroblastoma is the most common devastating extracranial solid malignancy in children, accounting for 15% of childhood cancer-related mortality. Despite an intense treatment regimen, approximately 50% of children treated for high-risk neuroblastoma have more aggressive tumor relapse with less than 20% five-year overall survival. Amplification of the oncogene MYCN is associated with a high risk of relapse. However, only 25% of high-risk neuroblastomas are MYCN-amplified, indicating that the rest are driven by factors other than MYCN. Therefore, it is essential to identify novel driver transcription factors but not passenger genes that improve prediction efficacy of therapy response and association with high-risk, …

Exploring Nonlinearity In The Association Between Birth Defect Rates And Agrichemicals In Groundwater In An Agricultural State, Martha G. Rhoades, Debora L. Barnes-Josiah, Roy F. Spalding, Leslie M. Howard, Colleen E. Steele, Cheryl L. Beseler

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

Background: Agricultural practices over the last 70 years have led to increased agrichemical contamination in some drinking water supplies. Studies report an elevated risk of birth defects associated with exposure to nitrate or atrazine, but little is known about effects of co-exposure. This ecological study evaluated the relationship between the concomitant presence of nitrate and atrazine in Nebraska drinking water supplies and risk for birth defects.

Methods: County birth data were combined with water chemistry data retrieved from a state-sponsored agrichemical contaminant database. Segmented linear regression was used to examine associations between percentage of wells with nitrate and atrazine (separately …

Thematic Analysis Of Third-Year Medical Student Reflections On Social Determinants Of Health During Their Pediatric Clerkship: Emergent Themes And Topic Interconnectedness, Paul Witt, Michelle Howell Smith, Shirley F. Delair, Nathan Gollehon, Sharon R. Stoolman, Jason Burrows

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

Background. Social determinants of health (SDOH), as defined by the World Health Organization, are the “non-medical factors that influence health outcomes… the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.” Studies have estimated that SDOH account for 30-55% of health outcomes. Understanding the impact of SDOH can be integrated into medical education in different formats, here we explore student reflections.

Methods. In the 2021-2022 academic year, third-year medical students at a midwestern medical school submitted discussion board reflections on their experiences …

Therapeutic Potential Of Suvorexant On Intergenerational Maternal Oxycodone Exposure, Jina Yi, Sneh Koul, Gurudutt Pendyala, Sowmya V. Yelamanchili

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

Background:

Maternal opioid misuse is a rising public health concern. Our lab previously published findings that in-utero oxycodone exposure (IUO) has detrimental impacts that persist to the F2 generation, including abnormal genetic expression, increased anxiety, and a difference in phenotypic measurements. The estimated cost of hospital admissions for infants suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome was $316 million in 2012 and is still rising. This figure does not take into account long-term costs, nor does it consider lasting effects on the F2 generation. Thus, it is critical to find a way to mitigate the negative impacts of IUO.

Suvorexant (suvo) is …

Fortuitous Diagnosis Of Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return In A Newborn With Hypoglycemia, Joseph Maes, Terence Zach

Child Health Research Institute Pediatric Research Forum

No abstract provided.

The Dream Of The Common Good: Not A Nightmare, Jackson Gregory Dellinger

Honors Theses

This paper examines an emerging position in the philosophy of law, common-good constitutionalism. In the first two parts of the paper, I explain the position and constitutionalism more generally, examining how common-good constitutionalism fits within the definition of constitutionalism providing by a neutral scholar. In the next five parts, I attempt to show that common-good constitutionalism’s preference for explicit adherence to the common good does not violate constitutionalism. In doing so, I provide an examination of common-good constitutionalism’s relationship with three important constitutional principles and the separability of common-good constitutionalism as a whole and the infamous views of its most …

Sources Of Patient Information For Type 2 Diabetes Self-Care In Northern Mississippi, Minh-Sang La

Honors Theses

Given the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the United States and the continuous rise of cases, especially within Mississippi, there is an increasing need to identify if, and how, patients with Type 2 Diabetes receive information about self-care. While there is data available on the topic of where patients receive their information and the influence it has on their health in other countries of the world, the research on the source of Type 2 Diabetes education in the United States is scarce. Therefore, this study aims to bridge the gap of understanding where patients with Type 2 Diabetes …

Content Analysis Of Vitiligo Portrayal On Social Media, Mary Miller

Honors Theses

Given that vitiligo affects a small percentage of the world population, and its affects are not widely known, there is an increasing need to learn of its effects on those with vitiligo, both physical and psychological. Social media has become an influential platform to spread awareness and build confidence in those with vitiligo. This study aims to find how vitiligo is portrayed through social media using content analysis procedures. This is a cross-sectional content analysis that utilized a codebook to analyze Instagram posts. The results were analyzed by interrater reliability and frequency for each coder. The findings of this content …

How Immigration Policy Affects Migratory Flows And Immigrant Experiences: A Comparative Analysis Of Policy Impacts On Northern Triangle And Venezuelan Immigrants In The United States, Audrey Lynn Mcdonough

Honors Theses

In the past two decades, the US has experienced a large influx of immigrants from Venezuela and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Due to these unprecedented increases, there has been numerous notable shifts in Immigration control policy between the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Generally, policies under Obama were favorable and reflected pro-immigrant rhetoric. Meanwhile, Trump took a drastic turn toward restrictionist, unfavorable policies. This study aims to examine the impact of immigration policy on migratory flows and the immigrant experience in the US. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, I examine data …

Firsthand Experience In A Community Pharmacy Through The Lens Of A Pharmacy Technician, Khamariah Patrice Yelder-Anderson

Honors Theses

In the first chapter, I discussed three of the major issues in a community pharmacy which are rude customers, phones, and shorter hours. Technicians have to deal with very opinionated customers who can come off as insolent. The phones are a popular mode of communication for both the patients and physicians but that doesn’t account for the added demands it places on pharmacy workers. Lastly, the pharmacy has experienced later openings with earlier closings that have left filled queues and unhappy customers. The next chapter, interpersonal dynamic, takes a deeper look into how various roles of the pharmacy engage with …

Developing "A Personal Knowing" - A Grounded Theory Study, Mark Davies

Dissertations

The past 30 years have seen rapid expansion in nursing roles, and the provision of education that supports them. However, the nature of the knowledge that characterises advanced practice, and the pedagogical strategies that are utilised in catalysing its development have yet to be extensively evaluated. Whilst a number of frameworks which purport to conceptualise this knowledge do exist, such structures remain somewhat provisional. Likewise, the pedagogical approaches employed in the development of knowledge for advanced practice are derived as much from teacher preference, organisational expedience, and external policy drivers as educational efficacy. The study presented within this thesis addresses …

Stirring Up The Soil: Best Practices To Mitigate Lead Exposure In Contaminated Soils Within Omaha, Nebraska, Mckenzie Blaine

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Cities across the nation in the United States experience problems associated with lead contamination in their urban soils due to industrial pollution. In many instances, the emission of lead particles occurred – unregulated – for several decades. Though there are federal cleanup efforts to help minimize the negative impacts of lead contamination for the public in the United States, the efforts are designated for specified criteria and thus do not reach all areas which need to be remediated. In order to perform proper lead abatement practices, local organizations must take initiative on projects which meet the needs and demands of …

Online Dating During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Is It The New Norm?, Sara Henry, Emily Foster, Alexandra Kraft, Amanda N. Gesselman

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

For many who were single during the COVID-19 pandemic, this public health crisis may have led to issues with dating or finding a romantic partner. To understand the impact of the pandemic on dating life, in the present study, we examined single people’s dating app usage collected as part of The Kinsey Institute’s annual Singles in America project. Using a nationally representative sample of people who were currently single in the U.S. (N = 4,877 with an average age of 45.92), we found that the vast majority of single people (96%) were using dating apps (e.g., Tinder, Bumble, Match) during …

Montana Kaimin, May 5, 2022, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Religious Sexual Minorities, Belongingness, And Suicide Risk: Does It Matter Where Belongingness Comes From?, Samuel J. Skidmore, G. Tyler Lefevor, Rachel M. Golightly, Eric R. Larsen

Psychology Faculty Publications

Sexual minorities (SMs) experience a unique set of stressors as a result of their minority status that can lead to adverse mental health outcomes, including increased suicidal ideation (SI). A sense of belongingness—particularly in sexual minority communities—has been shown to buffer these outcomes. It is less clear, however, how belongingness in communities that hold heteronormative values may relate to SI. The present study fills this gap through an analysis of data from 602 SM members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (CJCLDS; “Mormon” church). We examine how minority stressors and religiousness are related to SI for SMs …

Effect Of Mycorrhizae Inoculation On The Growth And Success Of Three Taxodium Distichum Hybrids In Saline - Impacted Coastal Soils, Elif Ilhan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2008, Galveston Island was severely impacted by Hurricane Ike, resulting in high salt deposition in the soil and groundwater. This caused a loss of many native plant species. A study was initiated to determine effective ways to promote the growth conditions of three bald cypress genotypes (Taxodium distichum var distichum and Taxodium distichum var mexicanum crosses) in salt-affected soils. The treatments applied were mycorrhizae inoculation, fertilizer application, and a combination of mycorrhizae inoculation and fertilizer application. A total of sixty (60) trees planted in plots of three rows and divided into five randomized replication blocks of four treatments …