Digital Commons Network^™

A Nationwide Study: Prevalence Of Rheumatoid Factor And Anti- Citrullinated Peptide Positivity And Their Contribution To Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis, Hasan Satiş, Abdulsamet Erden, Emre Bi̇lgi̇n, Gi̇zem Ayan, Berkan Armağan, Duygu Tecer, Alper Sari, Umut Kalyoncu, Murat Çağlayan, Mustafa Mahi̇r Ülgü, Mustafa Okan Ayvali, Nai̇m Ata, Şuayi̇p Bi̇ri̇nci̇

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

AbstractAim: Rheumatoid factor (RF) and Anti Citrullinated Peptide (anti-CCP) is specific for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis. However they could be positive in other disease and even healthy populations. It was aimed to investigate the prevalence of positive RF and anti-CCP antibodies in persons admitted to hospital for any reason and on a national scale.Material and Method: The National Electronic Health Database, which contains the clinical records of over eighty million people, is used to design this multi-center, retrospective cohort study. The subjects included in the study were divided into age groups in 10-year periods. RA cases were identified by using …

Role Of Ct-Based Body Composition Parameters In The Course Of Covid-19, Elçi̇n Aydin, Begüm Ergi̇n, Ezgi̇ Güvel Verdi̇, Özge Coşkun, Şükrü Şahi̇n, Ali̇ Haydar Baykan, Hi̇lal Şahi̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: A significant correlation is observed between the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and body composition parameters including visceral fat quantification, muscle mass, and hepatic attenuation. The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between the extent of lung involvement and various computed tomography (CT) parameters, as well as laboratory findings in COVID-19 patients.Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 72 adult patients with laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection who underwent two consecutive thorax CT scans at least 2 weeks apart. The patients were divided into two groups, as progressive and nonprogressive, …

Moving Beyond Wastewater: Perspectives On Environmental Surveillance Of Infectious Diseases For Public Health Action In Low-Resource Settings., Jeseth Delgado Vela, Sarah E. Philo, Joe Brown, Mami Taniuchi, Molly Cantrell, Alexandra Kossik, Maya Ramaswamy, Sitara Sr Ajjampur, Fatma Z. Guerfali, Rochelle H. Holm, John Scott Meschke, Maria Catherine B. Otero, Amy J. Pickering, Mahbubur Rahman, Alexander G. Shaw, Abhilasha Shrestha, Kwanrawee Sirikanchana, Vivi Maketa Tevuzula, Rolf U. Halden, Alexandria B. Boehm, Kyle Bibby

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Marijuana Legalization And Opioid Use Disorder In Ontario, Canada, From 2015 To 2021, Luke Ome Agada

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examined the trends in opioid-related hospitalizations and deaths in Ontario, Canada, from 2015, to 2021, with a particular focus on the periods before and after cannabis legalization. The social problem addressed was the ongoing opioid crisis, exacerbated by rising opioid-related health issues. Grounded in the harm reduction theory, this research explored whether cannabis legalization could serve as a substitute to mitigate opioid use disorder. Data were extracted from the Discharge Database, Emergency Department Database, National Ambulatory Care Reporting System, and Hospital Morbidity Database. Analysis using the generalized estimation equation (GEE) method revealed a significant increase in opioid-related hospitalizations, …

Hyoscine-N-Butylbromide In Treating Abdominal Pain Caused By Gastroenteritis: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo Controlled Study, Çağdaş Yildirim, Gül Pamukçu Günaydin

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aimHyoscine-N-Butylbromide (HBB) is an anticholinergic agent widely used to treat pain caused by spasms in the gastrointestinal and urogenital systems. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of HBB with placebo in treating abdominal cramping pain caused by acute gastroenteritis in the Emergency Department (ED).Materials and methodsThis was a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial conducted in a single-center academic ED, from September to November 2021. Patients aged 18-65 years with acute gastroenteritis symptoms included in the study. The study compared the efficacy of intravenous HBB (20 mg) with placebo. The primary outcome was the absolute change in …

Iridoid Glucosides Against Staphylococcus Aureus Infection And Inhibit Inflammation On Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells, Yanfang Zhang, Ping Xu

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Staphylococcus aureus can cause diseases in humans and livestock, destroy the body barrier, exacerbate inflammation, and seriously threaten human health and animal husbandry development. Iridoid glucosides isolated from Rehmannia glutinosa, is an important Chinese tradition medicine widely used in various diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the iridoid glucosides was effective against S. aureus infection, and inhibits inflammation on bovine mammary epithelial cells. The antibacterial potential was determined using the in vitro broth microdilution assay against S. aureus. Then, the antibiofilm activity was tested by BCA protein assay, electric conductivity assay and scanning electron …

Molecular Detection And Characterization Of Histomonas Meleagridis In Fighting Cocks Thailand, Piyanan Taweethavonsawat, Mangsatabam Norjit Singh, Sawang Kesdangsakonwut, Wanarit Jitsamai, Chongtham Sonia, Cherdpong Phupolpan

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Histomoniasis caused by the protozoa Histomonas meleagridis is a disease of gallinaceous birds which is of special importance to the poultry industry. The turkey is highly susceptible and results in high mortality. However, the disease is less severe in chickens but sometimes leads to mortality especially in those reared in the free-range system. During the present study, four dead fighting cocks were presented to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Livestock Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University for post-mortem examination. Based on history and pathological changes, it was preliminarily diagnosed as histomoniasis. The affected livers and caeca samples were collected …

Safety Of Kidney Transplantation From Donors With Hiv, Christine M Durand, Allan Massie, Sander Florman, Tao Liang, Meenakshi M Rana, Rachel Friedman-Moraco, Alexander Gilbert, Peter Stock, Sapna A Mehta, Shikha Mehta, Valentina Stosor, Marcus R Pereira, Michele I Morris, Jonathan Hand, Saima Aslam, Maricar Malinis, Ghady Haidar, Catherine B Small, Carlos A Q Santos, Joanna Schaenman, John Baddley, David Wojciechowski, Emily A Blumberg, Karthik Ranganna, Oluwafisayo Adebiyi, Nahel Elias, Jose A Castillo-Lugo, Emmanouil Giorgakis, Senu Apewokin, Diane Brown, Darin Ostrander, Yolanda Eby, Niraj Desai, Fizza Naqvi, Serena Bagnasco, Natasha Watson, Erica Brittain, Jonah Odim, Andrew D Redd, Aaron A R Tobian, Dorry L Segev

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Kidney transplantation from donors with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to recipients with HIV is an emerging practice. It has been performed since 2016 under the U.S. congressional HIV Organ Policy Equity Act and is currently approved for research only. The Department of Health and Human Services is considering expanding the procedure to clinical practice, but data are limited to small case series that did not include donors without HIV as controls.

Methods: In an observational study conducted at 26 U.S. centers, we compared transplantation of kidneys from deceased donors with HIV and donors without HIV to recipients with HIV. …

Advanced Principal Component Analysis Of Various Risk Factors Of Hepatitis B Prevalence In Nigeria., Nureni O. Adeboye, Olumide S. Adesina, Habeeb A. Afolabi, Timothy A. Ogunleye

Tanzania Journal of Science

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an infectious disease globally estimated to have caused between 500,000 to 1.2 million deaths annually. HBV prevalence is still high in Nigeria. Thus, this research aimed to identify factors germane to the widespread of HBV infection in an apparent clinical survey. The methods of analysis used were frequency, percentage and Principal component analysis (PCA). This was achieved through hospital record extracts of consultant hepatologists and the dimensionality reduction of the acquired data while retaining essential factors that are germane to the prevalence of HBV infection. The findings revealed that out of seventeen components evaluated in …

Exploring The Mediating Effects Of Beliefs Toward Mental Illness On The Relationship Between Religiosity And Self-Stigma Of Seeking Help, Grace-Ann Gibby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is well-known that mental health concerns are common worldwide. Despite the increased research and strategic programs designed to improve mental healthcare systems, there are still persistent gaps in the accessibility and utilization of these services globally. The struggle to improve mental healthcare is even more difficult in developing countries. As a developing country, Bahamian society has insufficiently addressed mental healthcare. Mental health concerns have been categorized as a number one priority for The Bahamas, and a strong effort for the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health is highly recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2017). Statistics show …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Biofilm Formation In Helicobacter Pylori, Kartika Afrida Fauzia, Wiwin Is Effendi, Ricky Indra Alfaray, Hoda M Malaty, Yoshio Yamaoka, Muhammad Mifthussurur

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Biofilm formation in

METHODS: We conducted a literature review analysis of the published articles on the

RESULTS: The results showed that biofilm formation starts as adhesion and progresses through micro-colonies, maturation, and dispersion in a planktonic form. Moreover, specific genes modulate each phase of biofilm formation. Few studies have shown that mechanisms, such as quorum sensing and diffusible signal factors, enhance coordination among bacteria when switching from biofilm to planktonic states. Different protein expressions were also observed between planktonic and biofilm strains, and the biofilm architecture was supported by exopolysaccharides, extracellular DNA, and outer membrane vesicles.

CONCLUSIONS: This infrastructure …

Developing Resiliency Body Armor Through Psychological And Spiritual Means: How U.S. States' Icac Personnel Cope With Secondary Traumatic Stress, Jameson Lee Denagel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Global online child sex abuse and exploitation is rising due to the immense accessibility of the internet, and it takes specially trained and devoted investigators to combat the problem. However, combating these heinous crimes can create traumatic events for investigators, resulting in secondary traumatic stress. This quantitative correlative study examined the psychological and spiritual coping strategies to develop a resiliency body armor concerning Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force personnel (ICAC-TF) working on child sexual exploitation investigations. The theoretical framework combined the concepts of Resiliency Theory, psychology body armor, and spiritual body armor to create resiliency body armor. The study …

Multi-Criteria Analysis Of Municipal Solid Wastes Treatment Scenarios: The Case Of Arusha City, Tanzania, Edwin N. Richard

Tanzania Journal of Science

Selection of the most effective municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment option is crucial for sustainable MSW management, but it remains a challenge in most cities of developing countries. More often, the decision-makers make the selection of the treatment options without economic (ECs), and environmental (ENCs) cost evaluations. Consequently, the selected technologies fail to suit the local conditions of the concerned areas and they become a high burden activity to manage. Therefore, this study aimed to use the multi-criteria analysis approach based on the ELECTRE method to analyse the most effective MSW treatment option in terms of ECs and ENCs costs …

A Feline Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Sclerosing Fibroplasia In A Scottish Fold Cat: A Case Report, Rattanin Chiewcharnvalijkit, Weerapat Chawanlawuthi, Kittara Chanmongkolpanit, Tanit Kasantikul, Nlin Arya, Sirintra Sirivisoot, Sirima Chatrungruengkul, Duangtip Chatchaisak

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

A 2-year-old intact female Scottish fold cat was presented to the Prasu-Arthorn Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, for a right nephrectomy because a renal mass was suspected. During the physical examination, the animal had an intra-abdominal mass with abdominal discomfort. No history of vomiting and diarrhea was reported. The blood chemistry and hematology revealed a markedly low albumin/globulin ratio and mild anemia with normal leukogram. The abdominal ultrasonographic examination and CT scan revealed an intestinal mass at the ileocecocolic junction. The mass was surgically excised, and jejuno-colic anastomosis was performed. Grossly, the mass was firm, very well …

Monocyte And Macrophage Functions In Oncogenic Viral Infections, Juliana Echevarria-Lima, Ramona Moles

Cell and Molecular Biology Publications

Monocytes and macrophages are part of innate immunity and constitute the first line of defense against pathogens. Bone marrow-derived monocytes circulate in the bloodstream for one to three days and then typically migrate into tissues, where they differentiate into macrophages. Circulatory monocytes represent 5% of the nucleated cells in normal adult blood. Following differentiation, macrophages are distributed into various tissues and organs to take residence and maintain body homeostasis. Emerging evidence has highlighted the critical role of monocytes/macrophages in oncogenic viral infections, mainly their crucial functions in viral persistence and disease progression. These findings open opportunities to target innate immunity …

Determining The Prognostic Value Of Complete Blood Count Subgroup Parameters In Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia, Emily L. Matthews, Thomas J. Dilworth

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Serum cytokine alterations are associated with increased Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) mortality. Unfortunately, clinical use of these cytokines is uncommon due to limited availability and high cost. Complete blood count (CBC) with differential reflects the host immune response, and CBC subgroup parameters may have prognostic value in SAB. We sought to determine the association between CBC subgroup parameters on the day of index blood culture and 30-day all-cause mortality in SAB patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of adult SAB patients with infectious diseases consultation to evaluate the discriminatory capacity of CBC subgroup parameters in predicting SAB mortality. …

Molecular Detection And Genomic Characterization Of Samak Micromys Paramyxovirus-1 And -2 In Micromys Minutus, Republic Of Korea, Augustine Natasha, Sarah E Pye, Carolina B López, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The discovery of viruses in small mammalian populations, particularly rodents, has expanded the family Paramyxoviridae. The overlap in habitats between rodents and humans increases the risk of zoonotic events, underscoring the importance of active surveillance. Rodent species, such as Apodemus agrarius, are natural hosts for Paramyxoviridae in the Republic of Korea (ROK). However, it is unknown whether Paramyxoviridae is present in Micromys minutus, another common rodent.

METHOD: Here, we screened M. minutus collected from the Gangwon Province in the ROK for paramyxoviruses using nested polymerase chain reaction and confirm positive samples by next-generation metagenomic sequencing. Complete paramyxovirus genomes were …

Electric Potential Energy Optimized 3d Radial Sampling Trajectories For Mri, Christopher Huynh, Datta Singh Goolaub, Christopher K Macgowan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

A novel method for creating “golden” 3D center-out radial MRI sampling trajectories was developed and analyzed. This method, called ELECTRO (ELECTRic potential energy Optimized), uses repulsive forces to minimize electric potential energy. An objective function , the electric potential energies of all subsets of consecutive readouts in a 3D radial trajectory, and its reduced form were minimized using a multi-stage optimization strategy. A metric called normalized mean nearest neighbor angular distance (NMNA) was proposed for describing distributions of points on a sphere. ELECTRO and other relevant golden trajectories were compared in silico using NMNA and point spread function analysis. Consecutive …

Essays On Information Technology In Healthcare, Gleb Zavadskiy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Information technologies (IT) and information systems (IS) have profound significance across various sectors of society, including healthcare, business, education, government, and beyond. First, IT facilitates instant communication globally through email, messaging apps, video conferencing, and social media, revolutionizing how individuals and organizations interact, collaborate, and share information (Hacker et al. 2020; Tang and Hew 2020).

Secondly, the Internet and digital libraries provide worldwide access to vast amounts of information, what makes knowledge and education available to everyone, empowering individuals to learn and stay informed on diverse topics (Haleem et al. 2022). Another aspect of IT systems in various industries is …

Lessons Learned From The Conduct Of Inpatient Clinical Trials In A Pandemic, Jane A. O'Halloran, Jeremy R. Beitler, Lucy K. Chung, Mamta K. Jain, Akram Khan, Lisa H. Merck, Ahmad Mourad, Minn A. Oh, Shweta Sharma, Tammy Yokum, Seema U. Nayak

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

The Negative Predictive Value Of Blactx-M On Bcid2 For Ceftriaxone Resistance In E. Coli And K. Pneumoniae Group Was 97% And 94%, Respectively. Creation Of A Genotypic Antibiogram Led To Updated Local Guidance For Clinicians To Utilize For Empiric Treatment Of Enterobacterales Bloodstream Infections Identified Via Rapid Diagnostics., Shawnalyn W. Sunagawa, Jeremy Tigh, Yolande A. Chan, Ashlyn Okada, Scott J. Bergman, Trevor C. Van Schooneveld, Paul D. Fey, Jonathan H. Ryder

Open Access Articles Funded by the University of Nebraska Open Access Publishing Agreements or the former UNO Open Access Fund

The negative predictive value of blaCTX-M on BCID2 for ceftriaxone resistance in E. coli and K. pneumoniae group was 97% and 94%, respectively. Creation of a genotypic antibiogram led to updated local guidance for clinicians to utilize for empiric treatment of Enterobacterales bloodstream infections identified via rapid diagnostics.

Cervical Osteomyelitis In The Setting Of Multiple Comorbidities: A Complex Anatomical Approach. Illustrative Case, Jack A. Leoni, Michelle E. Veillon-Bradshaw, Kaleb J. Derouen, John M. Wilson, Wesley M. Shoap

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO), also known as spinal osteomyelitis or spondylodiscitis, is a rather rare yet serious disease comprising 3%–5% of all osteomyelitis cases, with only 3%–6% of this subset affecting the cervical spine. Risk factors include an advanced age, diabetes, immunosuppression, and intravenous (IV) drug use. The incidence of VO has increased over recent decades, with high-risk patients experiencing higher mortality rates. Treatment guidelines for VO are not standardized and rely on physician preference, often starting with IV antibiotics and progressing to surgery, if necessary. OBSERVATIONS A 54-year-old female with tracheostomy-dependent obesity hypoventilation syndrome, hypertension, and morbid obesity presented …

Long-Term Human Immune Reconstitution, T-Cell Development, And Immune Reactivity In Mice Lacking The Murine Major Histocompatibility Complex: Validation With Cellular And Gene Expression Profiles., Milita Darguzyte, Philipp Antczak, Daniel Bachurski, Patrick Hoelker, Nima Abedpour, Rahil Gholamipoorfard, Hans A Schlößer, Kerstin Wennhold, Martin Thelen, Maria A Garcia-Marquez, Johannes Koenig, Andreas Schneider, Tobias Braun, Frank Klawonn, Michael Damrat, Masudur Rahman, Jan-Malte Kleid, Sebastian J Theobald, Eugen Bauer, Constantin Von Kaisenberg, Steven R Talbot, Leonard D. Shultz, Brian Soper, Renata Stripecke

Faculty Research 2024

Background: Humanized mice transplanted with CD34+ hematopoietic cells (HPCs) are broadly used to study human immune responses and infections in vivo and for testing therapies pre-clinically. However, until now, it was not clear whether interactions between the mouse major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) and/or the human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) were necessary for human T-cell development and immune reactivity. Methods: We evaluated the long-term (20- week) human hematopoiesis and human T-cell development in NOD Scid Gamma (NSG) mice lacking the expression of MHC class I and II (NSG-DKO). Triplicate experiments were performed with HPCs obtained from three donors, and humanization was confirmed …

The Price Of Prevention: Spain And Italy's Approach To National Prep, Jon Burkart

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

While recent advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART) continue to improve the outlook for people living with HIV (PLHIV), new infections remain a concern for health authorities around the world. A clinically proven intervention holds the potential to dramatically reduce new infections: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a once-daily pill for high-risk populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM), that substantially reduces HIV infection risk. However—much like rates of new infection—public provision of PrEP varies considerably among OECD countries. This case study thus seeks to answer the question: What might explain the disparate timeline of adopting public reimbursement for PrEP …

Improving Volunteers' Safety During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Dr. Laquetta Postell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The onset of COVID-19 presented multiple challenges to both governmental and nongovernmental organizations. The selected study site is a nonprofit organization located in a major Southern US City. This organization shelters homeless men. The organization depended on volunteers' assistance in offering short-term and long-term solutions to provide clothing, cleaning, and shelter for homeless men. The organization was facing new challenges due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, the complexities of the social, political, and economic challenges for volunteers during the pandemic were well explored. The nonprofit organization’s challenges were examined and recommendations to help the organization …

Long Covid Among Undocumented Latino Immigrant Populations In The Emergency Department., Karen P. Reyes, Zubaid Rafique, Brian Chinnock, Vijaya Arun Kumar, Michael Gottlieb, Kristin L. Rising, Robert M. Rodriguez

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Although many investigators have examined post–COVID-19 condition (long COVID) and its effects in the general population, to our knowledge, no studies have investigated its effect on one of the largest underserved US populations: undocumented Latino immigrants.¹ This group comprises 7% of the US population and has high rates of uninsurance, limited access to primary care, and language barriers when seeking health care.^2-4 Anti-immigrant political rhetoric and immigrants’ fear of discovery of their undocumented status when accessing health care make evaluation of this population more challenging.⁵ We leveraged emergency departments (EDs) as the primary health care …

Climate Changes And Their Psychological And Social Repercussions Among A Sample Of Residents Of Akkar Governorate, Layal Al Rifai

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

The study aimed to know the psychological and social repercussions of climate change among a sample of residents of Akkar Governorate in northern Lebanon in light of the variables of gender, economic status, and age group. The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach using the questionnaire as a tool for collecting data and information. The sample numbered 380 individuals, distributed according to the variables of gender, economic status, and age group, and they were chosen randomly. The sample members, residents of Akkar Governorate, feel a moderate degree of environmental anxiety and the psychological repercussions of environmental changes. The results showed …

Racial Residential Segregation And Covid-19 Health Outcomes: Evidence From The State Of Georgia, Palak Patel, Simon Medcalfe, Catherine P. Slade

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

ABSTRACT

Background:

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH), the state of Georgia reported 563,658 cumulative COVID-19 cases and 9,845 total deaths in 2020. Decades of research on racial disparities in health outcomes suggest we should not be surprised with the disproportionate number of cases, hospital visits, and deaths of non-white and Black Georgia residents. Racial disparities in health are often defined by a Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) model. One understudied SDOH is racial residential segregation. In this study we explore the relationship between racial residential segregation and COVID-19 health outcomes. Our paper addresses critical challenges for …

Rethinking Our Future: Describing And Enhancing The Impacts Of Dissemination And Implementation Science For Cancer Prevention And Control, Vianca C. Soulette, Karen M. Emmons, Douglas A. Luke, Peg Allen, Bobbi J. Carothers, Ross C. Brownson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

[Discussions] Vol. 16 Iss. 1

Discussions

No abstract provided.