Digital Commons Network^™

Art Therapists’ Perspectives On Exploring Sexuality In Treatment Sessions, Daniel Blausey

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This study examined the relationships between U.S. based graduate-level art therapists’ (N = 174) personal and professional characteristics and their decisions to explore sexuality in sessions. A mixed-methods concurrent design generated quantitative and qualitative data through a one-time anonymous internet study centering on two clinical case vignettes. One vignette highlighted gender nonconformity, the other the sexualization of the therapist. Comparison of years of art therapy experience for two groups, those who interacted with one vignette before exiting and those who interacted with both found the group that rated both vignettes had more years of AT experience (M = …

Women's Empowerment In Apcnf: A Critical Examination Of Feminist Goals In Agroecology, Anvitha Ravipati

Student Scholarship

This paper delves into the critical issues surrounding agroecology, with a specific focus on the intersection of ecology, polity, society, and economy. In the context of the Anthropocene era, the global threat of climate change poses significant challenges such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and disruptions in food production. The paper highlights the predicted impacts of climate change on food security, particularly in the tropics, emphasizing the need for social and environmental justice in mitigation and adaptation efforts. Furthermore, it discusses the concept of political agroecology as a lens to address sociological and political aspects within the realm …

Exploring The Role Of Physical Health Interventions In The Management Of Mental Health Disorders: A Comparative Study Of Mental Health And Kinesiology Professionals' Perspectives, Vicki Hamill

Doctorate in Kinesiology

The study's purpose was to understand the factors that may influence the use of physical health interventions in the mental health treatment process. The lack of professional guidelines for kinesiology professionals has been linked to an implementation gap of evidenced based exercise prescription in the prevention of the physical health comorbidities associated with mental illness. These comorbidities are linked to a 15-20 year decrease in life expectancy, long-term disability, and increased healthcare costs. The Exercise in Mental Illness Questionnaire-Health Professional (EMIQ-HP) was used in the study to compare the mental health and kinesiology professional perspective in the domains of exercise …

A Rare Synchronous Existence Of Warthin’S Tumour And Oral Cancer: A Systematic Review, Gargi Sarode, Swapnagandha Mahindre, Vini Anand, Rahul, Namrata Sengupta, Shruti Singh, Sachin Sarode

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignancy, while Warthin's tumour (WT) is a benign salivary gland neoplasm, typically found in the parotid gland but rarely involving extra-parotid tissues. The synchronous occurrence of OSCC and extra-parotid WT is particularly unusual. Accurate identification of these pathologies is crucial, as their rare presentation can resemble metastasis in lymph nodes. This review systematically searched for case reports and series of synchronous WT and OSCC, including 13 papers having 17 cases. The quality of these cases was assessed using CARE guidelines. The findings described WT's histological features and location in patients with OSCC, …

Efficacy Of Hormonal And Non-Hormonal Vaginal Gel Preparations On The Female Sexual Satisfaction Index In Postmenopausal Women With Sexual Dysfunction Syndrome: A Prisma-Compliant Meta-Analysis, Ahmed Soliman, Hanaa Alrashidi, Mohamed A. Ghorab, Reem, Nihal Al Riyami, Ahmed Sa Ashour, Yasmine A. Mohammed, Ahmed H. Saad

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of vaginal gel preparations versus placebo in postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction syndrome. Searches of electronic databases from inception to January 2023 identified 8 trials (N = 672) that reported the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and compared hormonal (oestrogen, oxytocin) and/or non-hormonal (chamomile, fennel) interventions against placebo. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess studies' quality. The vaginal gel group had a significantly higher total FSFI endpoint score (mean difference [MD] = 6.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.79--9.55; P < 0.001) than placebo. Non-hormonal gels exhibited a greater FSFI total score (MD = 6.73, 95% CI: 4.7--8.76; P < 0.001) than hormonal gels (MD = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.87--3.64; P < 0.001), positively impacting all FSFI domains. These findings indicate that chamomile and fennel vaginal gels may improve the overall FSFI 6 domains score, reflecting enhancements in postmenopausal women's sexual activity and satisfaction.

Role Of Intratumoural Budding And Its Association With Tumour-Associated Macrophages In Preoperative Biopsies Of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Anju Devi, R Keerthika, Mala Narwal, Anjali

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Intratumoural budding (ITB) is an emerging entity in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and serves as a prime histopathological predictor of aggressive potential. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of ITB in OSCC due to its limited representation in the literature. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak, India, between 2017 and 2021. A total of 73 haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of various grades of OSCC were examined for ITB and tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), focusing on correlating these findings with clinicopathological parameters. …

Endobronchial Metastasis With Extension To The Left Atrium From Adenocarcinoma Of Gastric 3 Years After Total Gastrectomy, Behnam Shakerian, Mohammad H. Mandegar

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Endobronchial metastases extending to the heart from gastric cancer are rare. This case report describes a 69-year-old man who presented to a tertiary care hospital in Shahrekord, Iran, in 2022 with a history of cough and haemoptysis. He had previously undergone total gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric adenocarcinoma three years earlier. Imaging and pathological evaluation confirmed endobronchial metastasis with extension to the left atrium. The patient responded well to chemoradiotherapy, maintaining a good quality of life.

Clinicopathological Spectrum Of Myxoid Soft Tissue Tumours With Emphasis On Diagnostic Differentials, Sanjana Ahuja, Nisha Modi, Amit Kapur, Shivani, Kamal Malukani, Harshita Deep Sahu

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Myxoid soft tissue tumours (MSTTs) represent a complex group of mesenchymal neoplasms characterised by the production of an extracellular myxoid matrix, which often poses diagnostic challenges. This study aimed to identify the relative frequency, distribution and morphological spectrum of MSTT as well as to illustrate commonly encountered diagnostic difficulties. Methods: This retrospective study of the clinicopathological profiles of MSTT cases at Sri Aurobindo Medical College & Post Graduate Institute, Indore, India, was conducted from January 2020 to December 2023. Results: A total of 110 MSTT cases were included in this study. These cases accounted for 7.3% …

Improving Female Health At Various Life Stages: A Systematic Review Of The Impact Of Date Fruit Products, Elham Shirdel, Farinaz Rahimi, Masoumeh Abdi, Fatemeh, Fatemeh Alsadat Rahnemaei

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

This systematic review examines the effects of date fruit products on female health across different life stages. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the risk of bias tool. A total of 21 eligible studies were reviewed, demonstrating that date fruit consumption benefits puberty, reproductive health, and menopause. During puberty, date fruit intake was associated with improved hemoglobin levels in adolescent girls. In reproductive-age women, date fruits positively influenced fertility parameters and sexual function. Additionally, in menopause, they contributed to alleviating dyspareunia and supporting ovarian reserve maintenance. Providing women with proper nutrition and integrating date fruits into their …

Characteristics And Outcomes Of Cancer Patients Admitted To The Hospital With Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Anoud Al-Saleh, Dana Hassouneh, Sara Faqeer, Nour

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) poses a significant risk of complications in cancer patients. However, limited studies have evaluated hospitalised cancer patients with CAP. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients hospitalised with CAP. Methods: This retrospective study included adult cancer patients diagnosed with CAP admitted at the King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan, from January 2021 to August 2022, following the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines. Patient characteristics, microbiological cultures, length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) transfers and all-cause mortality were recorded. Early clinical stability was defined as temperature ≤37.8°C, heart …

Bridging Sky And Sea: Joint Strategies For Medical Evacuation In The Indo-Pacific, Mahdi Al-Husseini, Samuel J. Diehl, Samuel L. Fricks

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article contends that the US Army should coordinate agile and expeditious Joint medical evacuation operations in the Indo-Pacific and develop novel capabilities to do so effectively. There has been limited discussion among scholars and practitioners on modern maritime medical evacuation tactics and techniques inspired by history and informed by contemporary threats. This article introduces three new medical evacuation capabilities and makes six recommendations to advance a Joint maritime medical evacuation operating concept. It provides a framework for medical planners developing evacuation systems in maritime theaters and justifies how and why the US Army should play a substantial role in …

Little Island Pond (2022 Water Quality Report), Amanda Mcquaid, Bob Craycraft

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

2024 Llmp Weather Overview, Bob Craycraft, Amanda Mcquaid

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Merrymeeting River 2024 Water Quality Highlight Report, Bob Craycraft, Miranda Benson, Amanda Mcquaid

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Behavior Of Rio Sao Francisco Piranhas In Response To Changes In Space And Density, Ronald G. Oldfield, Josie E. Thal, Kristen E. Lukas

Faculty Scholarship

Previous observations of Rio Sao Francisco piranhas (Pygocentrus piraya) at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo revealed frequent aggressive interactions, which were associated with the injury and death of some individuals. Fishes are known to increase aggressive behavior when available space is limited. We compared the behavior of the piranhas longitudinally across three different space/density conditions: (1) in a group held in a small aquarium before the death of one individual, (2) in the same group after the death of one individual, (3) and in one individual of the group after it was later moved into a larger, multispecies aquarium. In the smaller …

Brief Of 76 Scholars Of Law, Business, Economics, And Medicine As Amici Curiae, Charles Duan

Amicus Briefs & Court Filings

No abstract provided.

Mpox In The Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Addressing A New Challenge To Regional Health Security, Salah Al Awaidy, Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq, Faryal Maslamani, Muna Al, Jameela Al Salman, Sk Md Mamunur Rahman Malik

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Vitamin D Status And Oxidative Stress In Children With Sickle Cell Anaemia In Sagamu, Nigeria, Ayobola A. Sonuga, Oyebola O. Sonuga, Olatunbosun O. Ogundeji, Sunday P.

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is characterised by nutritional deficiencies and oxidative stress. Vitamin D possesses antioxidant properties; however, its role in SCA within sub-Saharan Africa remains inadequately understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D status, oxidative stress and antioxidant levels in children with SCA, exploring its possible role in mitigating complications associated with oxidative stress in SCA. Methods: This study was conducted for a period of 9 months from November 2022 until July 2023 at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Nigeria. This case-control study involved 100 HbS genotype and 100 HbA genotype …

Nutritional Status, Social Determinants Of Health And Clinical Outcomes In Critically Ill Children, Yash Desai, Andrea Marroquín, Paola Hong-Zhu, Nicole Knebusch, Stephanie Vazquez, Marwa Mansour, Thomas P Fogarty, M Hossein Tcharmtchi, Fernando Stein, Jorge A Coss-Bu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Childhood malnutrition remains a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) are at a higher risk of worsening nutritional status with adverse clinical outcomes. The burden of malnutrition is strongly linked to various well-defined social determinants of health, including race, socioeconomic status, and geography, as these factors influence household food insecurity. This study aimed to analyze the interrelationships of nutritional status, social determinants of health, and health outcomes in critically ill children.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 6418 critically ill children admitted to PICU from January 2014 to December 2017. Demographic …

Attitudes And Barriers Toward Antiretroviral Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Among Infectious Disease Providers, Hongmei Wang, Cecilia M Torres, Thomas P Giordano, Bich N Dang, Dong Liang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Effective HIV treatment and prevention rely heavily on patient adherence to the prescribed regimen. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), which involves measuring medication concentrations in blood circulation, offers an objective method to evaluate toxic or ineffective drug levels. TDM is not routinely used in HIV treatment in clinical practice. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to survey infectious disease providers’ attitudes and barriers toward therapeutic drug monitoring for antiretroviral therapy in people living with HIV. Materials and

Methods: A 15-item online survey was distributed to infectious disease providers in the Greater Houston area, including physicians, pharmacists, and mid-level practitioners …

Adipose Progenitor Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Suppress Macrophage M1 Program To Alleviate Midlife Obesity, Qing Zhou, Jia Gao, Guorao Wu, Chenwei Wang, Yan Yang, Teng Huang, Yi Wang, Tiantian Yue, Zhichao Gao, Hao Xie, Fei Xiong, Ke Xiang, Tuying Yong, Wanguang Zhang, Tongtong Zhang, Wen Kong, Cai Chen, Shu Zhang, Qilin Yu, Xuemei Fan, Shiwei Liu, Yanjun Liu, Cong-Yi Wang

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Among different age groups, middle-aged individuals are particularly susceptible to obesity, with a 22% higher risk of all-cause mortality. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we identify adipose progenitor cells (APCs) in the white adipose tissue (WAT) of middle-aged subjects as potential causes of midlife obesity. Specifically, the extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from APCs display an impaired ability to mitigate the inflammaging of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) in middle-aged individuals. Mechanistically, these EVs, lacking miR-145-5p, fail to suppress the expression of L-selectin in ATMs, thereby facilitating their M1 program via the NF-κB signaling pathway. In contrast, EVs …

Prevalence And Determinants Of Preterm Birth Among Women Of Reproductive Age In Kenya: A Multilevel Analysis Of The 2022 Demographic Health Survey, Kobi V. Ajayi, Obasanjo Bolarinwa, Toluwani E. Adekunle, Oluwatobi Abel Alawode, Nanyangwe Siuluta, Sinegugu Shongwe, Edyta Mccallum

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Preterm birth (PTB) is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. It’s a major public health issue, with over 15 million cases globally each year. Sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, has a high share of PTB, but there’s limited research about it in Kenya. This study looked at how common PTB is in Kenya and what factors increase the risk. Using data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, the authors analysed 7,291 women aged 15–49. They used statistical methods to find patterns and identify factors linked to PTB. The study found that 7.14% of women in …

Prolonged Symptom Relief From Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (Aka Lightning Crotch) With Chiropractic Treatment For Low Back Pain, Camila Irizarry Porrata, Jessy Johnson, Venkateswara Gogineni, Eric Kirk

Aurora GME

No abstract provided.

Deciphering The Dark Cancer Phosphoproteome Using Machine-Learned Co-Regulation Of Phosphosites, Wen Jiang, Eric J Jaehnig, Yuxing Liao, Zhiao Shi, Tomer M Yaron-Barir, Jared L Johnson, Lewis C Cantley, Bing Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics offers a comprehensive view of protein phosphorylation, yet our limited knowledge about the regulation and function of most phosphosites hampers the extraction of meaningful biological insights. To address this challenge, we integrate machine learning with phosphoproteomic data from 1195 tumor specimens spanning 11 cancer types to construct CoPheeMap, a network that maps the co-regulation of 26,280 phosphosites. By incorporating network features from CoPheeMap into a second machine learning model, namely CoPheeKSA, we achieve superior performance in predicting kinase-substrate associations. CoPheeKSA uncovers 24,015 associations between 9399 phosphosites and 104 serine/threonine kinases, shedding light on many unannotated phosphosites and …

Evaluation And Surgical Management Of Pediatric Cutaneous Melanoma And Atypical Spitz And Non-Spitz Melanocytic Tumors (Melanocytomas): A Report From Children's Oncology Group, Michael R Sargen, Raymond L Barnhill, David E Elder, Susan M Swetter, Victor G Prieto, Jennifer S Ko, Armita Bahrami, Pedram Gerami, Arivarasan Karunamurthy, Alberto S Pappo, Lynn M Schuchter, Philip E Leboit, Iwei Yeh, John M Kirkwood, Melinda Jen, Ira J Dunkel, Megan M Durham, Emily R Christison-Lagay, Mary T Austin, Jennifer H Aldrink, Casey Mehrhoff, Elena B Hawryluk, Emily Y Chu, Klaus J Busam, Vernon Sondak, Jane Messina, Susana Puig, Andrew J Colebatch, Carrie C Coughlin, Kristen G Berrebi, Theodore W Laetsch, Sarah G Mitchell, Brittani Seynnaeve

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop recommendations for the diagnostic evaluation and surgical management of cutaneous melanoma (CM) and atypical Spitz tumors (AST) and non-Spitz melanocytic tumors (melanocytomas) in pediatric (age 0-10 years) and adolescent (age 11-18 years) patients.

Methods: A Children's Oncology Group-led panel with external, multidisciplinary CM specialists convened to develop recommendations on the basis of available data and expertise.

Results: Thirty-three experts from multiple specialties (cutaneous/medical/surgical oncology, dermatology, and dermatopathology) established recommendations with supporting data from 87 peer-reviewed publications.

Recommendations: (1) Excisional biopsies with 1-3 mm margins should be performed when feasible for clinically …

Sap30, A Novel Autophagy Regulatory Gene In Neuroblastoma, Anup S Pathania, Anjana Murugan, Areem Zahid, Haritha Chava, Don W Coulter, George A Calin, Kishore B Challagundla

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neuroblastoma (NB), a devastating pediatric cancer originating from neural crest cells crucial for nervous system development, poses a significant therapeutic challenge. Despite chemotherapy being the primary treatment, approximately 70% of high-risk NB cases develop resistance. Autophagy is vital for neuronal development, balance, and differentiation of neural stem cells into mature neurons. However, the intricate mechanisms governing autophagy and the pivotal genes orchestrating its regulation in NB remain largely elusive. In this study, we first identified Sin3A Associated Protein 30 (SAP30) as a novel regulator of autophagy in NB. Silencing SAP30 inhibits autophagy and disrupts starvation-induced physiological autophagy in NB cells. …

Assessing Vascular Biomarkers And Their Association With Hypertension In Paediatric Chronic Kidney Disease, Samira Z. Sayed, Engy R. Mohamed, Mohamed T. A. Ali, Lamia H., Mohamed H. Mahgoob

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the correlation between children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and endothelial dysfunction biomarkers, including asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), as well as blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. Methods: This case-control study included children who were divided into 2 groups: children with CKD at different stages and healthy controls. The study was performed from November 2021 to October 2022 at El-Minia University hospitals and the general outpatient paediatric clinic at Minia University, Minya, Egypt. Blood pressure measurements were taken, and levels of ADMA, Ang-2 and VEGF-A were …

Acute Self-Harm Ideation As Presenting Adverse Event Associated With Adalimumab Treatment Of Severe Scalp Psoriasis, Julian Cortes, Reid Oldenburg

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

We report a 34-year-old woman with severe scalp psoriasis presented to a dermatology clinic in San Diego, USA, in 2023. She developed acute self-harm ideations and major depressive symptoms shortly after initiating adalimumab treatment. The patient had a history of major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, all well-controlled with multiple medications. Following the administration of adalimumab, she experienced intrusive thoughts of self-harm and exacerbation of depressive symptoms, prompting immediate discontinuation of the drug. The patient's symptoms resolved completely 3 weeks after discontinuation. This case highlights the potential psychiatric risks associated with adalimumab therapy for psoriasis, especially in patients …

Do We Need To Add The Type Of Treatment Planning System, Dose Calculation Grid Size, And Ct Density Curve To Predictive Models?, Reza Reiazi, Surendra Prajapati, Leonardo Che Fru, Dongyeon Lee, Mohammad Salehpour

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Generalizability and domain dependency are critical challenges in developing predictive models for healthcare, particularly in medical diagnostics and radiation oncology. Predictive models designed to assess tumor recurrence rely on comprehensive and high-quality datasets, encompassing treatment planning parameters, imaging protocols, and patient-specific data. However, domain dependency, arising from variations in dose calculation algorithms, computed tomography (CT) density conversion curves, imaging modalities, and institutional protocols, can significantly undermine model reliability and clinical utility.

Methods: This study evaluated dose calculation differences in the head and neck cancer treatment plans of 19 patients using two treatment planning systems, Pinnacle 9.10 and RayStation 11, …

Dna Damage Response Signatures Are Associated With Frontline Chemotherapy Response And Routes Of Tumor Evolution In Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer, Benjamin B Morris, Simon Heeke, Yuanxin Xi, Lixia Diao, Qi Wang, Pedro Rocha, Edurne Arriola, Myung Chang Lee, Darren R Tyson, Kyle Concannon, Kavya Ramkumar, C Allison Stewart, Robert J Cardnell, Runsheng Wang, Vito Quaranta, Jing Wang, John V Heymach, Barzin Y Nabet, David S Shames, Carl M Gay, Lauren A Byers

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: A hallmark of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is its recalcitrance to therapy. While most SCLCs respond to frontline therapy, resistance inevitably develops. Identifying phenotypes potentiating chemoresistance and immune evasion is a crucial unmet need. Previous reports have linked upregulation of the DNA damage response (DDR) machinery to chemoresistance and immune evasion across cancers. However, it is unknown if SCLCs exhibit distinct DDR phenotypes.

Methods: To study SCLC DDR phenotypes, we developed a new DDR gene analysis method and applied it to SCLC clinical samples, in vitro, and in vivo model systems. We then investigated how DDR regulation is …