Digital Commons Network^™

Volatile Pyrethroid Spatial Repellents For Preventing Mosquito Bites: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Ingrid Chen, Sarah L. Miller, Daniel Msellemu, Aidi G. Lugenge, Johnson Kyeba Swai, Nicole Achee, Marta Andrés, Christopher S. Bibbs, Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap, J. Derek Charlwood, Greg Devine, Noel Elman, Ulrike Fillinger, Carmen Flores-Mendoza, Seth Gibson, Nicodem Govella, Steven Gowelo, Sebastian Horstmann, Hitoshi Kawada, Daniel Kline, Aaron Lloyd, Neil F. Lobo, Marta F. Maia, Arnold Mmbando, Mara Moreno-Gómez, Amy C. Morrison, Winifrida Mponzi, Emmanuel P. Mwanga, Margaret Njoroge

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Volatile pyrethroid spatial repellents (VPSRs) can prevent mosquito-borne diseases including malaria and dengue fever, but the use of varied evaluation methods has resulted in a lack of clarity regarding their protective efficacy (PE) against contact with mosquitoes. This systematic review and meta-analysis consolidates the entomological evidence base on the PE of VPSRs against Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex mosquitoes and different test methods used. Methods: We identified studies completed between January 2000 and September 2023 by searching through databases, conference abstracts, and personal correspondences. Included studies were semi-field or field studies that measured the PE of VPSRs using human landing …

Using Large Language Models To Investigate The Origin Of Chronic Wasting Disease, G. Kent Webb

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This use case reports on the impressive output, hallucinations, instability, and limitations of three Large Language Models (LLMs): ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok. The LLMs were prompted in an investigative sequence and responses checked. The collected information supports the common theory that chronic wasting disease (CWD) in North America originated in 1967 at a research facility in Fort Collins, Colorado, where deer were reported to have been exposed to sheep with a similar disease - scrapie. Findings include that: no sheep with scrapie were detected in the area around Fort Collins prior to 1967; domestic sheep reportedly exposed to scrapie were …

Diminished Long-Term Vaccine Antibody Persistence In Perinatally Youth Living With Hiv On Cart, German A Contreras, Morouge M Alramadhan, Gloria P Heresi, Abel Castro, James R Murphy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Curing The Peasant's Disease : Frank Oldt’S Work And Research On Hookworm Disease In South China, 1905-1926, Jiaying Fu

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

While current scholarship on “hygienic modernity” in China focuses on the construction of urban health systems and institutional infrastructures, this study proposes an alternative analytical lens by foregrounding the domain of agricultural health. It aims to investigate how early twentieth-century medical researchers uncovered public health models grounded in China’s agrarian conditions. Taking the case of Frank Oldt (1879–1976), a medical missionary living in Guangdong between 1905 and 1926, this research examines how he identified, interpreted, and sought to mitigate the problem of hookworm disease—a parasitic condition intricately linked to China’s farming practices and rural environmental conditions.

Specifically, this thesis aims …

Antimicrobial Resistance Of Clostridioides (Clostridium) Difficile In Cambodia, Lengsea Eng, Papanin Putsathit, Su Chen Lim, Jessica M. Chisholm, Deirdre A. Collins, Archie C.A. Clements, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Thomas V. Riley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a major topic of interest in infectious disease management. We studied AMR in Clostridioides difficile isolated in Cambodia. Methods: Agar dilution susceptibility testing was performed according to the CLSI guidelines to determine minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 10 antimicrobials for 192 isolates of C. difficile from four populations in Cambodia: hospitalised adults, hospitalised children, children from an outpatient department (OPD), and healthy adolescents in the community. Results: Using the CLSI MIC breakpoints for anaerobes and EUCAST breakpoints for C. difficile, all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, metronidazole, fidaxomicin, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and none were resistant …

Restricted Social Engagement Is Associated With Depressive Symptoms In Older Chinese Adults: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study, Zheng Guo, Yulu Zheng, Yahong Zhu, Huacheng Wang, Jian Geng, Hengrui Liu, Piyong Ma, Lois Balmer, Xingang Li

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and Aims: Social isolation has been linked to depressive symptoms in older adults. Previous studies have shown that greater engagement in social activities is associated with better mental health. However, it remains unclear whether restricted social engagement is related to poorer mental health outcomes. This study examined the association between reduced social activities/networking and the presence of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older Chinese adults. Methods: During the COVID-19 pandemic, people chose to minimize going out to reduce the risk of infection, creating a natural setting that mimicked a passive intervention of restricted social engagement for community-based individuals. Data were …

Penicillin Adverse Drug Reaction (Historical), Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways

No abstract provided.

Public Support For And Reactive Behavior Toward Technological Risk Interventions: An Extension Of Secondary Risk Theory, Hye Kyung Kim, Rui Gu, Fiona Goh, Sonny Rosenthal, Shirley S. Ho

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Project Wolbachia is a dengue control initiative in Singapore. Guided by Secondary Risk Theory, this study examined how primary (dengue) and secondary (Wolbachia) threat and coping appraisals shape public support and reactive behavior toward the project. A nationally representative survey of 1,000 Singaporeans showed that support was positively linked to the perceived primary risk, the efficacy of the project and the government, while negatively related to the perceived secondary risk. Reactive behavior was positively associated with perceptions of both primary and secondary risk. Media attention and trust in the government indirectly influenced support and behavior moderated by knowledge.

Rezafungin Versus Caspofungin For The Treatment Of Candidemia And Invasive Candidiasis: Results From The Double-Blind, Randomized, Phase 3 Restore Trial Including The China Extension Study, George R Thompson, Haihui Huang, Sizhou Feng, Yunsong Yu, Alex Soriano, Oliver A Cornely, Bart Jan Kullberg, Peter G Pappas, Marin Kollef, Jose A Vazquez, Patrick M Honore, Laura Cox, Matteo Bassetti

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Rezafungin is approved for use in adults with candidemia and/or invasive candidiasis (IC) based on data from the ReSTORE trial (NCT03667690), which demonstrated noninferior efficacy to caspofungin. For regulatory purposes, an additional cohort of patients from China was recruited to ReSTORE. Here, we compared rezafungin and caspofungin in patients with candidemia and/or IC through analysis of the ReSTORE global data plus the China extension study.

METHODS: Adults with candidemia/IC were randomized (1:1) to receive weekly rezafungin (400/200 mg) or daily caspofungin (70/50 mg) for ≤28 days. Noninferiority was concluded for primary efficacy endpoints if the upper bound of the …

Death Penalty For Drug Offenders In Southeast Asia: Weakening Of Resistance To Change?, Wing Cheong Chan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Although the global movement towards abolition of the death penalty has been supported by an increasing number of countries in the world, the number of persons executed for drug offences actually increased in the last few years. Known executions for drug offences now account for more than 40 per cent of all global executions. Most such executions take place in Asia. Of the 34 countries in the world that still retain the death penalty for drug offenders, all nine of those identified as “high application states” (China, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Vietnam) are found …

Comparative Outcomes Following Candida Bloodstream Infection In Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices, Armaghan-E-Rehman Mansoor, Gayathri Krishnan, Julio C Zuniga-Moya, Benjamin Papadopoulus, Andrej Spec, Ige George

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Candida bloodstream infections (BSI) carry a high risk of adverse outcomes. Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly used to manage end-stage heart failure; however, they carry a risk of infection. This study evaluates the impact of LVAD presence on outcomes in patients with

METHODS: A total of 1233 patients with

RESULTS: Patients with

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with

Optimal Head-Of-Bed Positioning Before Thrombectomy In Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Anne W Alexandrov, Anne J Shearin, Pitchaiah Mandava, Gabriel Torrealba-Acosta, Cheran Elangovan, Balaji Krishnaiah, Katherine Nearing, Elizabeth Robinson, Cara Guthrie-Chu, Matthew Holzmann, Bryan Fill, Dharti R Trivedi, Alicia Richardson, Sandy Middleton, Barbara B Brewer, David S Liebeskind, Nitin Goyal, James C Grotta, Andrei V Alexandrov

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Small studies show that 0° head positioning of patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke improves penumbral blood flow and clinical stability. Understanding whether 0° head position maintains clinical stability would allow for optimal patient positioning before thrombectomy.

Objective: To determine superiority of 0° over 30° head positioning at maintaining clinical stability in patients with LVO before thrombectomy.

Design, setting, and participants: This was a prospective randomized clinical trial with blinding to study enrollment/end points conducted from May 2018 to November 2023. There were 3 planned interim analyses, and the study was conducted at certified thrombectomy hospitals in the …

A Fascination With Gastrointestinal Viruses, Mary Kolb Estes

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

My arrival into this world came quickly, according to my mother, and it feels like my life has mirrored that rapid beginning. I have enjoyed a rich, varied, and stimulating life and career that have gone through several phases. I credit genetics, my family, technological advances, and many environmental factors for shaping my career. Being a virologist allowed me to be curious and creative and to make several unexpected discoveries. This has been a fun and rewarding journey, but it wasn't always easy. I am not accustomed to talking about myself, but I am happy to share some scientific achievements …

Intracranial Rhizomucor Pusillus Mucormycosis In An Adolescent Triggering A Stroke Alert: A Case Report And A Systematic Review Of Pediatric Cases, Rima El Atrache, Melissa Mizerik, Joaquin Francisco Ruiz Lopez, Eric Engstrom, Karla Patricia Salazar, Mikael C Guzman-Karlsson, Daniel Davila-Williams, Sonali Sen, Kristen S Fisher, Jennifer C Erklauer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mucormycosis is a rare, life-threatening opportunistic infection primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. The available literature on Rhizomucor pusillus (R pusillus) infections of the central nervous system (CNS) in children is very limited. We present the case of an immunocompromised adolescent with intracranial mucormycosis due to R pusillus manifesting with stroke-like symptoms. This case highlights this rare condition's diagnostic complexity and management challenges. We include a review of the available literature on pediatric R pusillus CNS infections to increase awareness among health care providers.

Postoperative Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome In A Patient Following Right Knee Fracture Repair: A Case Report, Nicole Nyamongo, James Garritano, Daniel Rosen, Theodore Rosen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but life-threatening multisystem disorder most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus. It is characterized by the acute onset of high fever, hypotension, a diffuse macular rash, and multiorgan involvement. We report the case of a male in his late 30s who sustained a patellar fracture with associated retinacular injury following trauma and subsequently underwent open reduction and internal fixation. Several days after discharge, he developed fever, chills, hypotension, and a pruritic, erythematous rash. He was readmitted and initially evaluated by the orthopedic service, which did not recommend additional imaging or surgical intervention, as …

Evaluation Of A Novel Tc-24 Recombinant Antigen Elisa For Serologic Detection Of Trypanosoma Cruzi Infection In Dogs: A Pilot Study, Rojelio Mejia, Guilherme G Verocai, Ilana A Mosley, Ashley B Saunders, Bin Zhan, Lindsey Vongthavaravat, Rachel E Busselman, Sarah A Hamer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a significant challenge for canine health, with limited diagnostic tools. This study assessed the performance of a novel Tc-24 recombinant antigen ELISA compared to three commercial diagnostic tests on 70 serum samples from kennel dogs in Texas. The Tc-24 ELISA demonstrated high sensitivity (87.5%) and specificity (91.2%) compared to Indirect Fluorescent Antibody (IFA) testing, with significant differences in Tc-24 optical density (OD) between positives and negatives (0.607 vs. 0.089, p < 0.001). When compared to Chagas Stat-Pak (SP), Tc-24 ELISA showed sensitivity and specificity values of 82.1% and 86.7%, respectively (p < 0.001). For Chagas Detect Plus (IB), the assay achieved a sensitivity of 80.0% and specificity of 93.1% (p < 0.001). Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant associations between Tc-24 OD and SP (r = 1.0, p = 0.0167), IB (r = 0.9, p = 0.0833) and IFA (r = 0.6273, p = 0.044). Elevated immunochromatographic values in commercial kits (SP or IB) correlated with Tc-24 OD (1.17 vs. 0.039, p < 0.001), achieving 100% sensitivity and 95.8% specificity based on positive results from commercial kits. These findings suggest that Tc-24 ELISA is a reliable and accurate serological tool for diagnosing T. cruzi infection in dogs, with the potential to enhance diagnostic capabilities in veterinary medicine.

Microbiome Signatures And Inflammatory Biomarkers In Culture-Negative Neonatal Sepsis, Morcos Hanna, Shixia Huang, Matthew Ross, Anaid Reyes, Dimuthu Perera, Anil Surathu, Sara Javornik Cregeen, Joseph Hagan, Mohan Pammi

Faculty and Staff Publications

Overuse of antibiotics is a concern in 'culture-negative sepsis' but it is unclear whether this is due to infection with viruses, fungi or other microbes that are not easily cultured, or whether it results from inflammatory processes. In a prospective study, we enrolled 50 preterm neonates with culture-positive sepsis (CP), culture-negative sepsis (CN), and asymptomatic preterm controls (CO). The microbiome of stool, skin, and blood, including bacterial, viral and fungal components and serum cytokine profiles were evaluated. The microbiome alpha or beta diversity did not differ between CN and CO groups. A MaAsLin analysis revealed increased relative abundances of specific …

Characterization Of A Mouse Model Of Osteoarticular Infection Using Clinical Isolates Of Staphylococcus Aureus, Philip M Roper, Jessica Beetner, Jennifer L Davis, Christine Shao, Jason Zhang, Linda Cox, Nitin Kumar Pokhrel, James E Cassat, Javier Rangel-Moreno, Gowrishankar Muthukrishnan, Deborah J Veis

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Osteoarticular infection, most commonly due to

Identifying Care Gaps Along The Hiv Treatment Failure Cascade: A Multistate Analysis Of Viral Load Monitoring, Re-Suppression, And Regimen Switches In Zambia, Kombatende Sikombe, Noelle Le Tourneau, Brian Rice, Jake M. Pry, Sandra Simbeza, Laura K. Beres, Anjali Sharma, Njekwa Mukamba, Alison Wringe, James R. Hargreaves, Jacob Mutale, Carolyn Bolton Moore, Izukanji Sikazwe, Elvin Geng, Aaloke Mody

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Timely response to treatment failure is critical for improved outcomes and viral re-suppression among people living with HIV, but care gaps along the treatment failure cascade can occur due to delays by both clients (e.g., retention and adherence) and health systems (e.g., fidelity to viral load [VL] monitoring guidelines). We used multistate analysis to identify drivers of implementation gaps in the treatment failure cascade, including time to HIV VL monitoring, re-suppression, and regimen switches, in Zambia.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: We used national electronic HIV health records to identify adults on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for more than 6 months who …

Potential Biological Hazards In Health Clinics: Key Strategies For Enhancing Worker Safety In Malaysia, Subki Ahmad, Normah Awang, Ermie Abdull Hamid, Anuar Ithnin, Nurul Farahana Kamaludin, Noraizah Muhd Nor

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Biological hazards in health clinics may lead to acute or chronic health issues for healthcare workers. This study aims to identify potential biological hazards within health clinics, with a focus on the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare workers, in order to improve their safety.

Methods: Samples from environmental surfaces were collected and cultured to identify bacterial pathogens. A cross-sectional study involving 203 healthcare workers was conducted using a questionnaire derived from CDC-adapted guidelines. Descriptive analysis and multivariate regression were used to assess KAP.

Results: Bacterial growth was observed in all clinics. The Kruskal-Wallis Test …

Choked: How Decades Of Failures To Address Air Pollution And Housing Shortages Exacerbated Mortality In Pittsburgh During The Influenza Pandemic Of 1918, Virginia Montanez

Graduate Masters Theses

Pittsburgh experienced the highest death rate of all major U.S. cities during the 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic. This record mortality was not due to inadequate, absent, or ignored nonpharmaceutical interventions and mandates. Instead, for decades prior, city officials prioritized industry at the expense of the collective health of the laboring class. They were especially egregious in permitting industrial smoke pollution and overcrowded housing to persist in immigrant-heavy working-class wards, leaving residents susceptible to respiratory disease incidence and mortality. As a result, Pittsburgh’s annual influenza and pneumonia death rates were drastically the worst in the nation to such an extent that …

Design And Development Of A Standalone Digital Holographic Microscope Employing Phase-Driven Reconstruction And Classification For Biomedical Imaging And Optical Diagnostics, Charlotte Kyeremah

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Access to advanced biomedical imaging technologies remains a significant challenge in resource-limited settings, especially for early disease detection and monitoring of diseases such as malaria, HIV, and other blood-borne diseases. Although point-of-care (POC) devices have gained popularity in global health, many rely on antibody-based tests, lateral flow strips, or optical readouts that often lack quantitative capabilities, sensitivity to early infections, or versatility in different diagnostic targets. In addition, these systems are typically dependent on disposable reagents or manual interpretation, which limits their effectiveness in remote areas. Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) presents a promising alternative as a label-free imaging method capable …

Effectiveness Of Resin-Infiltration In Masking White Spot Lesions And Enamel Defects, Color Stability And Inhibition Of Caries Progression: A Systematic Review, Amaradri Sravya, Chandrappa Vinay, Kadidal Uloopi, Peddi Ravigna, Penmatsa Chaitanya, Spandana Cheeli

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: The study aims to demonstrate the efficacy of resin-infiltration in masking white spot lesions and enamel defects, color stability, and caries progression inhibition in primary and permanent teeth. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane library, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched from 2018 to 2022 and only randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT’s) were included. The studies were analyzed regarding the clinical efficacy of resin-infiltration in masking white spot lesions and enamel defects, color stability, and inhibition of caries progression. Results: Of the 14 articles identified, 5 RCTs were included. The quality of the studies was assessed …

Atypical Dengue Fever Presentation With Severe Leukopenia: A Case Report From An Endemic Border Region, Elias Arellano Villanueva, Alhasan Asaad, Jose E. Campo Maldonado

School of Medicine Publications

Dengue virus infection is increasingly recognized in South Texas, particularly in areas bordering Mexico. Although many cases are mild and self-limiting, dengue can present with atypical features, including hematological abnormalities and bleeding, even in the absence of plasma leakage. A 22-year-old Hispanic woman presented to a hospital in South Texas with hematemesis, fever, and gastrointestinal symptoms following travel to northeastern Mexico (Monterrey, Nuevo Leon). Initial laboratory workup revealed severe leukopenia and neutropenia, mild thrombocytopenia, and elevated liver enzymes, but no evidence of plasma leakage. A bone marrow biopsy was performed due to persistent cytopenias, revealing a reactive process consistent with …

Bacterial Identification And Antibiotic Sensitivity Profiles From Captive Birds At Taipei Zoo, Younjung Chang, I-Li Liu, Jane-Fang Yu, Lih-Chiann Wang

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Bacterial infections are common in zoo birds. They may be caused by pathogenic bacteria or opportunistic bacteria due to trauma or stress-induced immune compromise. Improper use of antibiotics contributes to the development of resistant bacteria, making treatment complicated or ineffective. However, comprehensive clinical investigations into bacterial prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility in zoo-captive birds remain limited. This study identified the bacterial species present in captive diseased birds at the zoo and conducted a 12-year analysis of their antibiotic susceptibility profiles. The specimens from 48 birds at Taipei Zoo from 2006 to 2017 were submitted to a commercial reference laboratory for bacterial …

Hubungan Karakteristik Kontak Erat Dengan Pengetahuan, Sikap, Dan Perilaku Pencegahan Tuberkulosis: Studi Potong Lintang Di Puskesmas Kenarilang, Alor, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Hanif Abadi, Ezra Maraben Lily

Jurnal Epidemiologi Kesehatan Indonesia

Indonesia ranks second globally in the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases, accounting for 10% of all global cases. In the working area of Kenarilang Public Health Center, 951 confirmed TB cases were recorded as of October 2024. Close contacts of TB patients are at high risk of infection and may become new sources of transmission if not properly managed. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among close contacts play a crucial role in TB prevention, aligning with the target of TB elimination by 2030. This study aims to determine the relationship between the characteristics of close contacts and their KAP levels …

Determinan Ketidakpatuhan Kunjungan Pengambilan Obat Antiretroviral Pasien Hiv/Aids Di Kabupaten Bekasi Tahun 2023-2024, Intan Ully Athalia Sihombing, Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, Helda Helda, Helwiah Umniyati, Irva Zulviya Hasyim

Jurnal Epidemiologi Kesehatan Indonesia

Non-adherence to scheduled antiretroviral (ARV) medication pickup can reduce treatment effectiveness, increase the risk of drug resistance, and contribute to poor HIV infection control. This study aimed to identify factors associated with missed ARV pickup appointments among people living with HIV/AIDS in Bekasi District. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from HIV/AIDS patients undergoing ARV therapy in 2023–2024. Data were analyzed descriptively (univariate), using Chi-square tests (bivariate), and log-binomial regression (multivariate). Among 811 patients, 341 (42%) were recorded as non-adherent to their medication pickup schedule. The results showed that having an unsuppressed viral load (>50 copies/ml) …

Advancing Multiplex Sirs Models: Dual Dynamics Of Disease And Behavior, Brody Cates

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

Water Pollution In Yogyakarta 1926–1942, Nur Aini Setiawati, Edy Supratno, Santi Muji Utami, Krisnanda Theo Primaditya

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

Water pollution in Yogyakarta has a long history dating back to the colonial era in 1926. Therefore, the main issue addressed in this writing is why water pollution occurred in Yogyakarta from 1926 to 1942. Basically, there are two factors influencing water pollution, namely natural factors and human factors. Using a historical research method, this study aims to examine water pollution in the Yogyakarta region, so that the government and the community can seek solutions. The sources used include collections from Algemeen Handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indie, De Locomotief, De Nieuwe Vorstenlanden, De Preanger Bode, and contemporary newspapers. The research findings …

Nurse-Led Advocacy For Hiv And Hepatitis C: A Socioecological Approach Across Israel And The Philippines, Wedad M. Ashkar, James Montegrico

Global Advocacy

Background: HIV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) remain global public health challenges, with millions of people still undiagnosed or untreated. Nurses play a critical role in combating stigma and leading advocacy interventions in diverse cultural contexts. In Israel and the Philippines, nurses are addressing infectious disease care using multi-level strategies informed by local epidemiology and global health goals.

Purpose: This project aimed to identify, implement, and evaluate nurse-led advocacy strategies to reduce stigma and improve education, community engagement, and policy development around HIV and HCV in both Israel and the Philippines.

Methods: A socioecological model guided the development of …