Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Comparison Of Existing Methods For Algorithmic Classification Of Dementia In The Health And Retirement Study, Kan Z. Gianattasio, Qiong Wu, M Maria Glymour, Melinda C. Power

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Dementia ascertainment is difficult and costly, hindering the use of large, representative studies such as the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to monitor trends or disparities in dementia. To address this issue, multiple groups of researchers have developed algorithms to classify dementia status in HRS participants using data from HRS and the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS), an HRS sub-study that systematically ascertained dementia status. However, the relative performance of each algorithm has not been systematically evaluated.

Objective: To compare the performance of five existing algorithms, overall and by sociodemographic subgroups.

Methods: We created two standardized datasets: (a) …

Systematic Literature Review Of Indoor School Exposure To Pm2.5 In Children, Brittany Wagner, Ami Zota

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that puts a strain on lung function and breathing. It is the leading cause of school absenteeism and hospitalization for American children. Genetics play a major role in allergy related disease development such as asthma, but environmental exposures are proving to be a potential contributor to childhood asthma. Despite the sufficient data regarding air pollution, there is a huge knowledge gap regarding indoor air quality and its relationship with health outcomes such as asthma. Many of the studies available only look at outdoor air pollution levels, while children spend the majority of their time …

An Assessment Of Cultural Perceptions And Recognition Of Ebola Virus Disease, And Its Correlation With Traditional Burial Practice In Rural Guinea, Chulwoo Park, Amira Roess, Sally Lahm, Mamadou Kally Bah, Mohamed Campel Camara, John Sandberg

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background:

In the midst of the unprecedented Ebola outbreak in West Africa during 2014-2016, the humanitarian response to control the disease was hampered in part because there was a limited understanding of local traditional rituals or indigenous medicine (ethnomedicine) on the part of the responders. The Ebola outbreak claimed 11,310 lives, more than all other outbreaks combined. West African burial funeral ceremonies and surrounding rituals may have hindered interventions that included the forceful removal of the sick or dead from the community.

Objective:

Our objective was to understand transmission associated with traditional burial practices in rural Guinea. Through the lens …

Who Is Saying What About Inflammatory Bowel Disease On Twitter?, Ali Khan, Anna Silverman, Anthony Rowe, Samantha Rowe, Matt Tick, Steve Testa, Keri Dodds, Bedoor Alabbas, Marie L. Borum

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: With about 330 million active users and its growing media attention globally, Twitter is a powerful tool for conveying information to the general population. There is limited data on the utilization of Twitter for disseminating medical information. This study evaluated messages on Twitter regarding Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Methods: Social Feed Manager (SFM; version 1.10.0; GW University, 2017), a software that mines social media platforms, was used to extract information regarding IBD-related tweets and their accounts over a 10-day period. We queried Twitter for terms related to IBD and categorized messages by geographic origin, type of user, and message …

Legionnaire's Disease Presenting With Severe Rhabdomyolysis And Acute Renal Failure: A Case Report, Benjamin Plotz, Victoria K. Shanmugam

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Legionnaire's disease is caused by Legionella species, and is a recognized but rare cause of rhabdomyolysis. Legionella species live in water, and exposure to inoculated water systems leads to transmission of the disease, and commonly causes pneumonia in infected individuals. While the mechanism of muscle destruction legionella infection causes is not fully understood, the prevailing theory is that rhabdomyolysis is linked to an endotoxin released by the bacteria into the blood stream. Massive muscle necrosis manifests as limb weakness, muscle pain, swelling, and gross pigmenturia due to the release of electrolytes, myoglobin, and other sarcoplasmic proteins into the bloodstream. A …

Disparities In Diabetes Rates And Quality Of Care Within Immigrants In The Usa, Anyun Chatterjee, Martin Blanco, George Gray

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Immigrants to the USA present an interesting opportunity to test the classical public health question of the impact of place on a health outcome. Diabetes is a prevalent disease in the USA which is slated to rise in rate in the future. Currently, 9.4% of the country is diabetic, and another 28% of the country is prediabetic. We posed the question - is this impact felt disproportionately by immigrants as they live in the US for a decade or more? Our preliminary literature search indicated that this has not been studied extensively, although the impact of American fast food on …

Tumor Surveillance Using Liquid Biome In Pediatric High Grade Gliomas, Erin Bonner, Eshini Panditharatna, Madhuri Kambhampati, Stefaan Van Gool, Wilfried Stuecker, Roger J. Packer, Javad Nazarian

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Immunotherapy is currently being used to treat pediatric brain cancer, though its efficacy in treating patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), the deadliest pediatric brain tumor, has not been evaluated. MRI is the gold standard for monitoring tumor response to therapy, but is limited by pseudoresponse and psuedoprogression: post-treatment, immune cells infiltrate the primary tumor causing transient tumor enlargement, which falsely resembles tumor progression on MRI. Thus, it is critical to develop more accurate approaches to monitor tumor response to immunotherapy. Here, we use a liquid biopsy platform we have already established to monitor tumor response to therapy, to …

Physical Activity Across The Lifespan And Liver Cancer Incidence In The Nih-Aarp Diet And Health Study Cohort., Hannah Arem, Erikka Loftfield, Pedro F Saint-Maurice, Neal D Freedman, Charles E Matthews

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

While liver cancer rates in the United States are increasing, 5-year survival is only 17.6%, underscoring the importance of prevention. Physical activity has been associated with lower risk of developing liver cancer, but most studies assess physical activity only at a single point in time, often in midlife. We utilized physical activity data from 296,661 men and women in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study cohort to test whether physical activity patterns over the life course could elucidate the importance of timing of physical activity on liver cancer risk. We used group modeling of longitudinal data to create physical activity …

Effects Of A Formal Educational Class On The Quality Of Life In Patients Diagnosed With Hypothyroidism, Tahimina Popal, Dnp, Bsn, Msn, Fnp-C

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Hypothyroidism is a chronic disease that requires self-care skills such as healthy diet, exercise, and a daily medication regimen where timing of food intake is essential. Adequate education is essential for patients with hypothyroidism to be able to manage their disease, and to live with the best quality of life possible. Many studies have been conducted to assess the perceived health status of patients with hypothyroidism, but few have examined the effects of a formal educational program on the quality of life.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine if a formal hypothyroidism educational class will improve …

Cross Talk Between Serum Kisspeptin-Leptin During Assisted Reproduction Techniques, Rehana Rehman, Zehra Jamil, Aqsa Khalid, Syeda Sadia Fatima

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background & Objective: Leptin facilitates onset of puberty by impact on hypothalamic Kisspeptin, gonadotropin releasing hormone, follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormone. The link of peripheral Leptin-Kisspeptin in regulating the ovarian and endometrial tissue in relation to adiposity is unknown. Therefore, we wanted to identify Kisspeptin-Leptin association with body mass index (BMI) and success of assisted reproductive treatments (ART) in infertile females.
Methods: A cross sectional study was carried from August 2014 till May 2016 after receiving ethical approval at Australian Concept Infertility Medical Centre, and Aga Khan University. The study group comprised of females with an age range …

Evaluation Of The Carestarttm Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6pd) Rapid Diagnostic Test At Community And Health Center Level, Cambodia, Bertha Nyagaya-Wojnarski, Dnp, Fnp-Bc, Mph

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Primaquine (PQ) is the only FDA-approved drug for radical cure of Plasmodium vivax (P.v) malaria, but treatment can result in life-threatening hemolysis if given to a glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase deficient (G6PDd) patient. Therefore, the G6PD status of the patient with P.v must be known prior to prescribing PQ. However, patient G6PD status in rural malaria endemic settings is generally unknown, illuminating the need for reliable point of care G6PD diagnostic tests as a prerequisite to safely administer PQ. To increase community PQ access in Cambodia, performance of CareStartTM G6PD rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) needs to be evaluated in healthcare …

Pilot Study Of Anxiety, Depression, And Quality Of Life In Patients With The Diagnosis Of Metastatic Uveal Melanoma, Regine Nshimiyimana, Dnp, Bpharm, Fnp-Bc, Agacnp-Bc, Ocn, Aocnp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Awareness of a patient’s anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) in those with metastatic uveal melanoma (MUM) can influence care that meets patients’ bio-psychosocial-spiritual needs.

Objectives: To measure the level of anxiety, depression, and QOL in patients with MUM and explore differences by gender, age range, time to metastatic disease, and duration of illness since metastasis.

Methods: We used a descriptive-comparative survey design. Over three months, a convenience sample of 70 patients with MUM aged ≥ 18 years, treated at a Mid-Atlantic hospital were invited to complete a combined survey of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and …

Outcomes Of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation For Gata2 And Dock8 Immunodeficiencies: Demographics And Transplantation Variables, Kristen M. Cole, Dnp, Msn, Rn, Bmtcn, Ocn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background/Purpose: GATA2 and Dedicator-of-Cytokinesis-8 (DOCK8) deficiencies are two recently described genetic immunodeficiency diseases for which allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) represents the only definitive therapy. The patient characteristics and HSCT variables that relate to the outcomes in these two diseases following HSCT remain unclear. Therefore, we described these variables in these two patient populations and explored their relationships with HSCT outcomes.

Methods: Data were obtained from retrospective chart reviews of all patients with GATA2 deficiency and DOCK8 deficiency who underwent HSCT on clinical research protocols at the National Cancer Institute. The outcomes included overall and disease-free survival status, graftversus-host …

A Retrospective Study: Diagnosis And Treatment Of Depression In Breast Cancer Patients, Cheryl Ann Thaxton, Dnp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: One issue related to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment is the risk of depression.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine ethnic differences and commonalties in the method of diagnosis and treatment of depression for female breast cancer patients.

Specific Aims: The study aims to examine the method of diagnosis and treatment of depression in Caucasian, Latino, and African American breast cancer patients.

Questions/Hypothesis: 1. Does the method of diagnosis and treatment of depression differ based on ethnicity? Hypothesis: Method of diagnosis and treatment will differ for Minorities as compared to Caucasians; 2. What percentage of patients …

Variables Related To Colon Cancer Screening Rates Among Male Veterans, Patricia D. Dotson, Dnp, Msn, Aprn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background/Problem: The Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends colon cancer screening colonoscopy beginning at age 50 years and every 10 years thereafter. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in meeting the colorectal cancer (CRC) screening recommendations between male Veterans and non-Veterans and identifying any association among Veterans social economic status (SES).

Methods: A descriptive-comparative design was used to address the study question, aims and hypotheses, using the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. A national representative sample of 20,360 Veterans and 36,183 non-Veterans between 50-74 years, were included in analysis. The associations between …

In Vitro Assay Development As An Alternative To The Use Of Laboratory Animals For Measuring Clostridium Perfingens Type C Toxoid, Lauren M. Wilmes

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Clostridium perfringens type C produces beta toxin, which is a primary virulence determinate that can cause necrotic enteritis in neonatal animals. Vaccines directed against C. perfringens toxins have shown to be efficacious in preventing disease. However, the production of a commercial vaccine requires not only an efficacious antigen, but also testing methods for quantifying antigens and potency on final product. This research was undertaken to fulfill a need for the reduction in small animal usage to produce and deliver vaccines. The current testing methods are performed in vivo according to the Code of Federal Regulations number 9 (9CFR) United …

Differences In Preventable Cardiovascular-Related Versus Unavoidable Occupational Causes Of Firefighter Fatalities On Duty, Amy Goad, Dnp, Ms, Np-C

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Firefighters across the United States face high fatality rates in the line of duty of which many are likely related to preventable cardiovascular risk factors.

Objectives: To assess differences in firefighter cardiovascular-related versus unavoidable occupational-related fatalities by career status, age, smoking, obesity, and hypertension.

Methods: We used an exploratory, comparative secondary data analysis design. We extracted data from a national database of deceased firefighters over 14 years. Variables extracted were career status, age, smoking, obesity, and hypertension as well as the reason for death while on duty (i.e., cardiovascular-related or unavoidable occupational-related death). Data were analyzed using Chi-Square to …

Evaluating The Impact Of A Standardized Education Class On A Person Diagnosed With Chronic Kidney Disease, Stage Iv, Nancy K. Uhland, Dnp, Msn, Rn, Fnp-C

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a complex, progressive, and costly disease impacting more than 26 million Americans. Providing effective education is necessary so the patient may actively participate in managing the disease process, but the effectiveness of the delivery of education to the patient with CKD is not well-known.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized education class on the basic kidney knowledge of persons diagnosed with CKD, stage IV.

Method: This pilot study, using a one-group pre and post-test design, was conducted in an outpatient nephrology clinic located in Washington, D.C. The study participants, recruited using census …

Effects Of An Online Diabetes Self-Management Educational Class On Perceived Self-Efficacy In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Samantha L. Sugarman, Dnp, Ba, Bsn, Msn, Fnp-C

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Diabetes is a complex, chronic disease that, without adequate glycemic control, may result in avoidable complications. Without proper diabetes self-management education, achieving good glycemic control is difficult. Furthermore, lacking self-efficacy to perform such tasks may prevent even the most educated patients from achieving good glycemic control. Studies have shown that live diabetes education has improved self-efficacy in patients with diabetes, but few look at the effects of a lecture-style educational format in an online approach.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine if an online, lecture-style diabetes self-management educational class will improve self-efficacy among patients with type …

Chemiluminescent Agents For In Vivo Imaging, Jian Cao

Chemistry Theses and Dissertations

Chemiluminescence is the light production directly from a highly exothermic chemical reaction by generating electronically excited species, and the light will be generated upon relaxation to the ground state. We utilize this light as the readout to construct imaging agents for reactive species. Chemiluminescence as an imaging modality has many advantages compared with current widely used imaging modalities, such as fluorescence and bioluminescence. The main advantages are the elimination of extraneous light excitation or genetic modification, which are required for fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging. Therefore, chemiluminescence as a imaging modality holds great potential for in vivo imaging.

In this dissertation, …

Microbial Co-Infection Alters Macrophage Polarization, Phagosomal Escape, And Microbial Killing, Nikita H. Trivedi, Jieh-Juen Yu, Chiung-Yu Hung, Richard P. Doelger, Christopher S. Navara, Lisa Y. Armitige, Janakiram Seshu, Anthony P. Sinai, James P. Chambers, M. Neal Guentzel, Bernard P. Arulanandam

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Macrophages are important innate immune cells that respond to microbial insults. In response to multi-bacterial infection, the macrophage activation state may change upon exposure to nascent mediators, which results in different bacterial killing mechanism(s). In this study, we utilized two respiratory bacterial pathogens, Mycobacterium bovis (Bacillus Calmette Guẻrin, BCG) and Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS) with different phagocyte evasion mechanisms, as model microbes to assess the influence of initial bacterial infection on the macrophage response to secondary infection. Non-activated (M0) macrophages or activated M2-polarized cells (J774 cells transfected with the mouse IL-4 gene) were first infected with BCG for …

Rural And Urban Injection Drug Use In Puerto Rico: Network Implications For Human Immunodeficiency Virus And Hepatitis C Virus Infection, Courtney Thrash, Melissa L. Welch-Lazoritz, G. Robin Gauthier, Bilal Khan, Roberto Abadie, Kirk Dombrowski, Sandra Miranda De Leon, Yadira Rolon Colon

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Understanding the short- and long-term transmission dynamics of blood-borne illnesses in network contexts represents an important public health priority for people who inject drugs and the general population that surrounds them. The purpose of this article is to compare the risk networks of urban and rural people who inject drugs in Puerto Rico. In the current study, network characteristics are drawn from the sampling “trees” used to recruit participants to the study. We found that injection frequency is the only factor significantly related to clustering behavior among both urban and rural people who inject drugs.

Concepts In Animal Parasitology: References Style Guide, Sue Ann Gardner, Scott Lyell Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

References style guide for authors of the Concepts in Animal Parasitology free, online textbook.

Concepts In Animal Parasitology: Instructions For Authors, Sue Ann Gardner, Scott Lyell Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

Instructions for authors for the Concepts in Animal Parasitology free, online textbook.

Concepts In Animal Parasitology: Manuscript Preparation Guidelines, Paul Royster, Sue Ann Gardner, Scott Lyell Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

Zea Books manuscript preparation guidelines for authors of the Concept in Animal Parasitology free, online textbook.

Concepts In Animal Parasitology: Template For Authors For Parts 2-4 (Endoparasites) And Part 5 (Ectoparasites), Sue Ann Gardner, Scott Lyell Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

Support material for authors of the open educational resource, Concepts in Animal Parasitology, Parts 2-4 (Endoparasites) and Part 5 (Ectoparasites).

Pediatric Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus: Examining The Upward Trend, Allison Foering

Senior Honors Theses

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in pediatric onset of type II diabetes. This paper will examine elements contributing to this trend. Type II diabetes will be discussed, including related pathophysiology, manifestations, diagnosis, and complications, with differentiation between adult and pediatric onset. Possible prevention and treatment methods appropriate for pediatric patients will also be discussed, along with possible outcomes in pediatric patients that could result from this disease. Overall, this paper will provide insight on the causes of this growing trend, and ways to improve the risks imposed on pediatric patients.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance To Evaluate Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation In Children And Young Adults, Cesar Gonzalez De Alba, Fernando Molina Berganza, John Brownlee, Muhammad Khan, Dilachew Adebo

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Experience with cardiac magnetic resonance to evaluate coronary arteries in children and young adult patients is limited. Because noninvasive imaging has advantages over coronary angiography, we compared the effectiveness of these techniques in patients who were being considered for percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation.

We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 26 patients (mean age, 12.53 ± 4.85 yr; range, 5–25 yr), all of whom had previous right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery homografts. We studied T2-prepared whole-heart images for coronary anatomy, velocity-encoded cine images for ventricular morphology, and function- and time-resolved magnetic resonance angiographic findings. Cardiac catheterization studies included coronary angiography, balloon compression testing, …

Public Hospitals Matter, Herbert L Fred

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Recent events in this country pose major concerns. Police shoot unarmed blacks, gun-wielding malcontents ambush policemen, white supremacists march, gays are murdered, gender inequality pervades our workforce, and sexual harassment and abuse are surfacing in many segments of our society. In reaction, various social movements have sprung up, including Black Lives Matter, White Lives Matter, Blue Lives (policemen) Matter, Gay Lives Matter, Girls for Gender Equity (GGE), #MeToo, and Time's Up. To that list, I add another battle cry: Public Hospitals Matter.

Murmur Associated With Diastolic Paradoxical Jet Flow In A 43-Year-Old Man With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Michiyo Yamano, Tatsuya Kawasaki, Hirokazu Shiraishi, Tadaaki Kamitani, Takatomo Shima, Takashi Nakamura, Satoaki Matoba

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

A diastolic paradoxical jet flow, often seen in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is a unique flow from the apex toward the base of the left ventricle during isovolumic relaxation. To date, this phenomenon appears to have been noninvasively detected only on echocardiograms. We report the case of a 43-year-old man with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and a diastolic paradoxical jet flow, in whom cardiac auscultation revealed a soft S4, a systolic ejection murmur, and a low-pitched early diastolic murmur immediately after S2 at the apex. On comparing his echocardiographic findings with those on phonocardiograms and apexcardiograms, we confirmed that the unusual murmur …