Digital Commons Network^™

Clinical Outcomes After Hospitalization For Acute Coronary Syndrome In Patients Treated With Semaglutide Versus Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective Multicenter Analysis, Nameer Ascandar, Charles Boadu, Gauthier Stepman, George Skaf, Olugbenga Oyesanmi, Sabry Omar, Rias Ali, Michael Schandorf-Lartey

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Obesity is a chronic medical condition with a rising prevalence in the United States. A wide range of morbidity and mortality is associated with obesity, with coronary artery disease being among the most common. Ischemic heart disease continues to be the primary cause of death in the United States. Taken together, interventions to minimize the detrimental effects of obesity on patients at risk of heart disease will not only benefit the patient, but the health care system as well.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we used the HCA Healthcare enterprise data warehouse to identify all adult patients who were …

The Prevalence Of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome In The State Of Florida, Jason M. Clark, Laura Mena-Albors, Huazhi Liu, Darwin Ang

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is associated with significant mortality. Multiple studies have evaluated the prevalence of ACS at individual institutions and/or for short durations. No study has looked at the change of prevalence over an extended time or included nonresearch institutions. This study aims to evaluate the trend in the prevalence of ACS over time within the state of Florida.

Methods

This is a population-based retrospective study using deidentified data from the Florida’s Agency of Healthcare Database between 2006 and 2021. A total of 16 217 617 patients were evaluated within the intensive care unit (ICU), with 4002 developing …

Care Alert Program In Chronic Emergency Department Using Patients: Expanded Study, Jonathan Leggett, Kaitlyn Phelps, David Nuñez, Brent Wright, Erica Gibbons, Jonathan Bryan, Brian Griggs

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

The Care Alert Program (CAP) is designed to help navigate encounters with patients who are high utilizers of Emergency Department (ED) resources. The CAP intends to address the needs of this challenging patient population by designing individualized care plans that are approved by a multidisciplinary committee. The patient populations that frequently use ED resources often have chronic medical conditions, a poor understanding of their conditions, unrealistic expectations regarding treatment, a lack of outpatient resources, and present with multiple complaints when using ED resources.

Methods

The CAP was adopted by our facility in the spring of 2020. The present study …

Automated Dispensing Cabinet Stocking Schedule And Inventory Management Optimization, Daniel Elkes, Victoria Timmons

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Prior practice in a 523-bed community hospital required automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) to be replenished daily by early afternoon to ensure accurate drug ordering. Because of the tight time window, technicians frequently refilled ADCs during peak medication administration times. After a positive report from a smaller facility in the health system, the study facility implemented a quality improvement project to optimize the ADCs. This involved new processes of every-other-day ADC replenishment staggered via shift-specific workflows, and a dedicated technician was assigned to optimize ADC inventories.

Methods

Monthly reports of ADC refilling and dispensing transactions were compiled from inpatient, nonprocedural …

Efficacy And Safety Of Lotilaner Ophthalmic Solution 0.25% In Demodex Blepharitis: A Systematic Review, Stephanie P. Fabara, Thalia Fabara, Akankcha Alok, Nausheen Khuddus

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Demodex blepharitis is a chronic eyelid inflammation caused by Demodex mites, which are ubiquitous skin parasites. Lotilaner, a newly United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug, is an antiparasitic agent that selectively inhibits parasite-specific γ-aminobutyric acid chloride channels, inducing spastic paralysis and death of Demodex mites. It is applied as an ophthalmic solution, 0.25%, twice a day for 6 weeks, and it has a long half-life and high lipophilicity, facilitating the penetration of the drug into the eyelash follicles and meibomian glands where the mites reside. This study systematically reviewed 6 clinical trials that compared lotilaner with placebo for …

Beneath The Label - Evaluating The Fda Approval Of Copenhagen Classic Snuff As A Modified Risk Tobacco Product, Yisroel Grabie, Tafani Chowdhury, Sudeep Acharya

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

In this review, we critically evaluate the Food and Drug Administration's modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) status granted to a smokeless tobacco product (March 2023), Copenhagen Classic Snuff (CCS). This new status necessitates an assessment of the product CCS use and its public health impacts. We assess the impact of CCS as it relates to the reduction of lung cancer risk and the potential increased risk for nasopharyngeal cancer, chronic rhinitis, nicotine dependence, and other health hazards. Concerns persist regarding nicotine's harm and public misperception due to risk reclassification, and caution should be maintained to discourage novel snuff users. Advocating …

The Relationship Between Fast Food Consumption And Physical Activity With Primary Dysmenorrhea In Adolescents, Wahyuni Wahyuni

Jurnal Vokasi Indonesia

Background: Menstruation is a bleeding event that occurs when the inner lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium, sheds. Dysmenorrhea is one of the symptoms that teenage girls often feel during menstruation. Dysmenorrhea can affect women's comfort and quality of life. There are two types of dysmenorrhoea, namely primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhoea. Primary dysmenorrhoea refers to the condition of menstrual pain that adolescent girls often experience, with a prevalence rate of 60-90%. Risk factors for primary dysmenorrhoea are influenced by several factors, including fast food intake, physical activity level, stress level, age at first menstruation (menarche), and nutritional …

A Review Of Medications Listed In The 2023 Beers Criteria, Hanh Motilall, Kelley Maberry, Connor Quinter

Transformative Medicine

The American Geriatrics Society’s (AGS) 2023 Beers Criteria identifies potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) to use in geriatric patients defined as greater than or equal to 65 years of age. This population experiences pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes, which raise the risk of potentially harmful side effects. The Beers Criteria were developed as a clinical tool to help healthcare providers improve medication safety in this vulnerable population. The main focus of this article is on commonly seen medications and the rationale for recommended avoidance in geriatric patients. Additionally, a table of potentially clinically important drug-drug interactions that should be avoided in older …

"What Is Causing This Sinus Tachycardia?", Muhammad Asad Hanif, Nayab Mirza, Jaswanth Jasti

Transformative Medicine

No abstract provided.

Neurosarcoidosis Presenting As Cauda Equina Syndrome: Case Report And Review Of The Literature, Benjamin Millar, Lauren Carmody, Fnu Naintara, Tara Dutta, Abhinav Hoskote

Transformative Medicine

Background

Sarcoidosis is a systemic immune disease with an unknown trigger, identified histologically by non-caseating granulomas. Neurosarcoidosis is a subset in which granulomatous inflammation infiltrates the central or peripheral nervous system. Sarcoid myelopathy affects a very small fraction of sarcoidosis patients. We present here the case of a 35 year old male who presented primarily for cauda equina symptoms.

Case Presentation

A 35-year-old Caucasian male with past history of hypertension, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and type II diabetes mellitus presented to the emergency department complaining of a headache with left sided face numbness and periorbital swelling. He reported two months of gradual, …

Bilateral Patellar Tendon Rupture: Obesity As A Risk Factor, Alyssa Ison, Adam Sigal Md, Gary Canner Md

Transformative Medicine

Introduction
Bilateral patellar tendon rupture is an uncommon presentation in the Emergency Department but can occur in the setting of certain risk factors. Obesity is an independent predisposing condition in which early identification can expedite diagnosis and treatment.

Case Description
We report a case of bilateral patellar tendon rupture in a young male with obesity as the sole risk factor following a low-energy trauma. The patient ruptured his bilateral patellar tendons while jumping up during a basketball game. The diagnosis was made on exam and confirmed with plain radiographs and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Because of the bilateral involvement and inability …

Retrospective Analysis Of Bleeding And Wound Complications After Preoperative Administration Of Ketorolac In Acute Appendicitis, Kate Yurick Md, Jahan Aslami Ms, John Lemoine Bs, Luke Rovenstine Bs, Tan Tran Bs, Traci Deaner Msn, Rn, Thomas Wasser Phd, Adam Sigal Md

Transformative Medicine

ABSTRACT:

Introduction:

Opioids are a mainstay of acute pain management and provide excellent analgesia for severe pain. However, their side effect profile and complication rates raise concerns regarding routine administration.

Methods:

This study is a retrospective cohort study of 1415 patients in a single tertiary care center comparing bleeding and operative complications in patients administered ketorolac prior to appendectomy.

Results:

There was no difference between the ketorolac and non-ketorolac groups regarding blood loss (0.7% vs 0.6%, p=0.572) and hemoperitoneum (0.4% vs 0.6%, p = 0.43) There was no difference between the groups regarding need for re-exploration (0.6% vs 0.6%, …

Effect Of Expanded Perlite And Exfoliated Vermiculite Aggregate Additives On Water Vapor Permeability Performance Of Cement-Based Lightweight Mortars, Lütfullah Gündüz, Şevket Onur Kalkan

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Vapor diffusion is the movement of water vapor molecules through porous materials such as wood, insulation products, and lightweight wall elements due to differences in vapor pressure. Vapor retarders are used to control vapor diffusion through wall sections and surfaces. All building materials provide some resistance to vapor diffusion, and the amount of resistance varies depending on the material's properties. These properties can vary with relative humidity and moisture content, age, temperature, and other factors. Vapor resistance is usually expressed using the inverse term of ``vapor permeability,'' which is the relative ease of vapor diffusion through a material. Water vapor …

Identification Of Barriers And Drivers In The Adoption Of Sustainable Construction Practices In The Turkish Construction Industry: Exploratory Factor Analysis, Tülay Çivici, Mustafa Serhan Ünlütürk

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Although the importance of sustainability in the construction industry has been emphasised by many researchers and endorsed by many authorities, it is clear that the practices in the industry still need to be improved. The primary issue for adopting sustainable practices in the construction industry is identifying the barriers and drivers. For this reason, the study analysed the literature to identify the critical barriers and incentives for adopting sustainable practices in the construction industry. In light of the information from the literature, the necessary barriers and motivators in adopting sustainable practices in the construction industry were determined, and a questionnaire …

Psychological Development Serves As A Reliable Predictor Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Toddlers And Preschoolers, Hussein Allawi Hussein

Al-Ameed Journal for Medical Research and Health Sciences

Objectives: The goal of the current study was to use psychological development in toddlers and preschoolers to predict autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It was also looked at how sex differences affected ASD.

Methods: In this study (Case-Control), a purposive sample of 100 Children from the Karbala province-Iraq, ranging in age from 2 to 7, took part. There were two groups: 50 healthy Children (Control group) and 50 Children with ASD (Test group). To gauge the child's aptitude and response for communication and social interaction, the psychological development questionnaire-1 (PDQ-1) was used.

Results: The present study's sample was categorized into 2 …

Impacts Of Fasting Holy Month Of Ramadan During Pregnancy On Pregnancy/Birth Outcomes: An Umbrella Review, Md Estiar Rahman, May Salama, Abdullah Al-Taiar

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the obligatory duties in Islam, which includes refraining from consuming food and drinks and engaging in sexual activity from dawn to sunset. Though pregnant women are exempted from this practice, approximately 80-90% of Muslim pregnant women choose to fast during Ramadan as part of their religious and cultural beliefs. The impact of fasting holy month of Ramadan during pregnancy on pregnancy/birth outcome remains under debate, despite several primary research studies and literature reviews. Up to date, no guidelines or recommendations have been formulated regarding fasting holy month of Ramadan for …

Development Of A Risk Management System For Public Works Projects In Developing Countries: A Case Study Of Lebanon, Olivia Kalakesh, Walid Shatila, Ali Hatoum

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The complexity of construction projects and their dependence on a wide range of factors make the integration of risk management into project management essential for achieving successful project outcomes. This research aims to develop a risk management system for public works projects, primarily in Lebanon. To achieve this, the main risks affecting the Lebanese construction industry were investigated, and their impact on the “golden triangle” of time, cost, and quality was analyzed. A questionnaire survey was conducted with a randomly selected sample of 55 engineers working in the Lebanese construction market. The questionnaire included 52 risk factors categorized into seven …

Fedevd: A Federated Road Traffic Event Detector From Social Networks, Ahmad Traboulsi, May Itani, Layal Abu Daher, Ali Haidar

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The increasing population and the corresponding rise in the number of vehicles, coupled with inadequate public transportation, is increasing the already existing traffic problem. One solution to this problem has been the implementation of Traffic Monitoring Systems (TMS). However, TMS deployment entails significant costs, including (1) the installation of hardware in key areas and (2) the employment of dedicated monitoring personnel. Simultaneously, Online Social Networks (OSNs) have become global platforms with rapidly growing user bases, leading to a surge in user engagement. This widespread participation has transformed social networks into invaluable sources of data for analytics, business intelligence, and decision …

Assessing The Influence Of Afforestation On Soil Quality And Soil Organic Carbon: A Case Study In Rashaya District, Lebanon, Mohammad Saleh, Wael Mostafa, Safaa Baydoun, Hisham Salman, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Afforestation is a promising strategy for improving soil quality and enhancing carbon sequestration, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts. This study assessed the impact of afforestation on soil parameters in two afforested areas and one natural forest, compared with adjacent non-forested sites in Rashaya al-Wadi, Lebanon. Soil samples (0–30 cm depth) were analyzed for texture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic matter (SOM), soil organic carbon (SOC), organic nitrogen (ON), mineral nitrogen (MN), and available phosphorus (AP) using ISO and standardized protocols at the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI). The findings indicate that afforestation significantly increased SOM, SOC, and ON, …

Phytochemical Analysis And Antimicrobial Activity Of Micromeria Barbata Leaf And Stem Extracts Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa: Insights From Molecular Docking And In Vitro Assays, Shiraz Rawas, Dalia El-Badan, Nawal Al Hakawati

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The present study provides the characterization of the phytochemical content and the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts from the leaves (LM) and stems (SM) of Micromeria barbata (M.barbata) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Important functional groups were determined by analyzing the FTIR spectra of LM and SM. The phytochemical profiles were analyzed by GC-MS, and these characterized the chemicals according to retention periods and peak regions. The binding affinities of discovered compounds with the P. aeruginosa LasR and PqsD proteins were evaluated using molecular docking approach. Assays for biofilm formation, MIC, MBC, and agar well diffusion were used to assess the …

Arum Palaestinum Extracts: A Natural Solution For Root-Knot Nematode Control, Samaher Ghaith, Michel Afram, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs), Meloidogyne spp., have a destructive effect on a wide range of the crops. Arum palaestinum is a wild plant in levant that has a lot of different phytochemicals. The aim of this study is to evaluate the nematicidal potential of A. palaestinum extracts against RKN. The nematicidal efficiency of three types of extracts (aqueous, ethanolic and chloroform) of leaves, flowers and rhizomes of A. palaestinum on second stage juveniles (J2s) and hatching egg rate (RHI) of RKNs were evaluated in vitro using 6 concentrations of each extract (50mg/mL, 37.5mg/mL, 25mg/mL, 12.5mg/mL, 5mg/mL and 2.5mg/mL) and compared …

The Medical Check Up Result Data Collection System Function To Determine The Health Condition Of Workers At Pt. Pertamina Region Iii, Shonia Fitriananda, Mohammad Ridha

Jurnal Administrasi Bisnis Terapan

Activities carried out at PT. Pertamina (Persero) is very diverse. One of the activities is Medical Check Up under the auspices of Pertamedika, which is a health facility in PT. Pertamina (Persero) which is intended for workers to be checked for health every year with physical examination in the form of heart examination, blood tests, eye tests, and ultrasonography (USG). With the activities, it is inseparable from direct communication between the administration and workers to confirm each other about the needs and desires of workers who can be helped by the medical administration. The preparation of this academic paper task …

Hubungan Penggunaan Jenis Bahan Bakar Untuk Memasak Dengan Kejadian Ispa Pada Balita Di Provinsi Kalimantan Utara Tahun 2017, Maharani Karina Setiawan, Salwa Zalfa Elyanto, Aisyah Muthia Darajat, M. Nanda Putra Pratama Sm

Jurnal Nasional Kesehatan Lingkungan Global

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) in toddlers are certainly still a significant public health problem with environmental factors affecting them, such as air pollution from the burning of the fuels used, namely charcoal, wood and kerosene. This study aims to analyze the relationship between household fuel use and the incidence of ISPA in toddlers, especially in North Kalimantan Province (Kaltara) using data from the Indonesian Health Demographic Survey (SDKI) in 2017. The research design used a cross-sectional study, data analysis was carried out descriptively using a table then followed by chi square data analysis to determine the relationship between the variable …

State Policy & Politics Database (Sppd), Jennifer Karas Montez

Center For Aging and Policy Studies

The State Policy & Politics Database (SPPD) is a compilation of annual data on state policies and politics that are particularly relevant for population health. The SPPD includes several categories of policies, including labor and economic policies (e.g., minimum wage levels, right to work laws), social safety net policies (e.g., earned income tax credits, SNAP), behavior-related policies (e.g., tobacco taxes, opioid prescribing), as well as the political ideology of the states’ government and citizens. Most measures are available annually from 1980 to 2023 or 2024.

State Policy & Politics Database (Sppd), Jennifer Karas Montez

Center For Aging and Policy Studies

The State Policy & Politics Database (SPPD) is a compilation of annual data on state policies and politics that are particularly relevant for population health. The SPPD includes several categories of policies, including labor and economic policies (e.g., minimum wage levels, right to work laws), social safety net policies (e.g., earned income tax credits, SNAP), behavior-related policies (e.g., tobacco taxes, opioid prescribing), as well as the political ideology of the states’ government and citizens. Most measures are available annually from 1980 to 2023 or 2024.

Victimization In The Grain Tower: A Study Of The Effect Of Community Perceptions On Victimization Risk And Perceived Wellness In A Rural Environment, Morgan Steele, April Terry, Ziwei Qi, Troy Terry, Tamara Lynn

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Social science research has studied the role of neighborhood order in explaining perceptions of crime and official crime statistics for decades. When citizens perceive their neighborhood to be socially and/or physically disordered, community and interpersonal relationships diminish, mistrust increases, including negative perceptions of police legitimacy, and overall individual wellness decreases. However, little is known about these interactions within a college population—neighborhoods referred to as “studentification” and described as “student ghettos.” Using an online survey distributed to all students, faculty, and staff of a midwestern rural university, we sought to better understand the university population’s perceptions regarding social disorder, police legitimacy, …

Capturing The Benefits Of Partnering With Undergraduate Student Researchers To Conduct Interdisciplinary Scholarship Of Teaching And Learning (Sotl) Research, Becky Tugman, Julia Sherry, Claire Dancz, Jim Strickland

Land-Grant Press — Teaching Section

This publication explores the benefits of engaging undergraduate students as full partners in an interdisciplinary Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) research project. The interdisciplinary project provided valuable hands-on learning opportunities by involving students in every research phase—from design to data analysis. The collaboration enriched students' academic and professional skills and offered faculty valuable insights, underscoring the powerful impact of student-faculty partnerships in advancing research capabilities and shaping future pedagogical strategies.

Vol6iss3, Hca Healthcare

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine Covers

Cover for Volume 6 Issue 3 of the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine.

No. 43: Migration, Food Insecurity And Angolan Migrants In Namibia, Lawrence N. Kazembe, Ndeyapo Nickanor, Godfrey Tawodzera

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

This study examines the food security challenges faced by Angolan migrants in Namibia, focusing on the interplay between migration, livelihoods, and food insecurity. Drawing on survey data from households in Northern towns and the capital city of Namibia, the research reveals high levels of food insecurity among Angolan migrants, characterized by limited dietary diversity and a reliance on coping strategies such as consuming less preferred foods and reducing meal portions. The findings highlight the marginalization of migrants, who primarily work in the informal sector with low incomes, exacerbating their vulnerability. The COVID-19 pandemic further worsened food insecurity by disrupting livelihoods …

Nature-Based Solutions For Urban Stormwater Management, Nima Zafarmomen, Vidya Samadi, Susan Lunt

Forestry and Natural Resources

This paper explores Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for urban stormwater management, emphasizing their role in mitigating runoff, reducing flood risks, and improving water quality. Bioretention systems (BRS), green roofs, permeable pavements, and vegetated swales utilize natural processes such as infiltration, evapotranspiration, and filtration to manage stormwater while promoting urban resilience and supporting biodiversity effectively. The performance of these solutions depends on vegetation, soil, and climatic parameters, highlighting the need for context-specific design and implementation. While NbS present sustainable alternatives to conventional infrastructure, technical, economic, social, and institutional challenges require interdisciplinary collaboration and supportive policies to unlock their full potential.