Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

1st Place Contest Entry: Effectiveness Of Intravesical Bcg In The Treatment Of Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: An Umbrella Review, Gerald Obinna Ozota

Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Library Research Prize

This is Gerald Obinna Ozota's submission for the 2025 Eric M. Scandrett Graduate Research Prize, which won first place. It contains their essay on using library resources, their bibliography, and a summary of their research project on conducting a systematic literature search to identify all relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the effectiveness of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) on Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (NIMBC).

Gerald is a student in the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences program at Chapman University. Their faculty mentor is Dr. Lawrence Brown.

Study Of Proportion Of Cardiac Involvement Secondary To Dengue Infection In Pediatric Population Admitted In A Tertiary Hospital- A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study, Neha Bhongale, Qudsiya Ansari, Ravindra Chittal

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background- Dengue is one of the most important mosquito-borne illnesses worldwide. Cardiac manifestations of dengue illness can range from asymptomatic bradycardia to life-threatening myocarditis. There is an overall paucity of published Indian studies of clear demonstration of cardiac manifestations secondary to dengue in the pediatric population. Aim- To study the proportion of patients with cardiac involvement secondary to dengue viral infection in the pediatric age group based on clinical manifestations of cardiac enzymes (CKMB, Troponin I) and ECG (electrocardiography), in a tertiary center. Methodology- This study is undertaken to find out the proportion of patients with cardiac manifestations secondary to …

Clostridioides (Clostridium) Difficile Infection In Hospitalized Adult Patients In Cambodia, Lengsea Eng, Deirdre A. Collins, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Sotharith Bory, Youdaline Theng, Pisey Vann, Sreyhuoch Meng, Setha Limsreng, Archie C.A. Clements, Thomas V. Riley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Despite high levels of global concern, little is known about the epidemiology of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) in Cambodia. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors for CDI, and molecular types of C. difficile in hospitalized adults at Calmette Hospital, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Stool samples were collected from 263 hospitalized adults between June and September 2022 and tested for C. difficile using direct and enrichment cultures. PCR toxin genes tcdA, tcdB, cdtA, and cdtB, and amplification of the 16s–23s rRNA intergenic spacer region for ribotyping, were performed on all C. difficile isolates. C. difficile was isolated …

Training The Brain For Better Aging, Abby Martin

Honors Projects

Aging is associated with natural changes in brain function, but certain interventions can help sustain cognitive health and mitigate risks of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. This presentation explores the significance of brain fitness as a non-pharmacological approach to enhancing cognitive function. It covers the normal aging process of the brain, key indicators of abnormal aging, and the impact of Alzheimer’s disease, including genetic predispositions and current treatment limitations. Emphasis is placed on brain training exercises, such as puzzles, board games, video games, and nostalgia-based activities, which have been shown to improve memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, the role …

Analysis Of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Cards Toxin In The Air-Liquid Interface Bronchial Culture Model, Alexandria Hernandez

Posters - 2025

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pathogen that can cause severe respiratory infection that can rarely be life threating. There are currently no vaccines against M. pneumoniae, and the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains of M. pneumoniae is on the rise.1 During infection, M. pneumoniae produces a toxin called Community Acquired Respiratory Distress Syndrome (CARDS) toxin, which plays a role in establishing infection. Analysis of the crystal structure of CARDS toxin protein reveals three protein domains: D1, D2,and D3.

After entering a cell, CARDS toxin traffics by a retrograde process to the ER of the cell, where it undergoes processing.4 Our current studies …

Streamlining The Journey Of Research Into Clinical Practice: Making Your Patients And Practice Flourish Evaluation And Treatment Of Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis Of The Spine: Ao Spine Knowledge Forum Trauma And Infection, Sebastian F. Bigdon, Emiliano Vialle, Charlotte Dandurand, Julian Scherer, Gaston Camino-Willhuber, Andrei F. Joaquim, Harvinder S. Chhabra, Mohammad El-Sharkawi, Richard Bransford, Charles G. Fisher, Klaus J. Schnake, Gregory D. Schroeder

Rothman Institute Papers

Study DesignLiterature Review with clinical recommendations.ObjectiveTo highlight impactful studies on pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS), identified by the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Trauma and Infection, with recommendations for their integration into clinical practice.MethodsFive influential studies on PS that have the potential to shape current practice in spinal infections were selected and reviewed. Each study was chosen for its contribution to a critical phase in PS management: diagnosis, imaging, surgical vs conservative treatment, and antibiotic duration. Recommendations were graded as strong or conditional following the GRADE methodology.ResultsFive studies were highlighted. Article 1: Pluemer et al introduced the Spinal Infection Treatment Evaluation (SITE) Score, …

Evaluation Of Angiogenesis In An Ex-Ovo Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (Cam) Assay To Study The Mmp9 Gene In Pediatric Cancer Cell Lines, Franchesca Tinacba, Kahlie Hernandez, Terry Jo Shackleford

Posters - 2025

Model organisms are widely utilized in cancer research due to their ability to allow researchers to study biological processes that occur within cancer progression. One model organism that is used is the Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) assays. Chicken embryos are a sufficient model that are used to study processes such as angiogenesis, tumor growth, and drug effects. What makes these models useful is due to the cost efficiency, accessibility, and the increased speed the blood vessels can grow. Despite the results, it can be difficult to image the results or monitor the CAM assay. That is why Ex-ovo CAM assays have …

Investigating The Drug Response Of Pdac Cells To Pan-Kras Inhibitor, Jalyn De La Fuente, Yi Xu, Jun Liu, Angel Dominquez, Ava Sanchez, Pei Wang

Posters - 2025

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an exocrine pancreatic cancer. It is one of the most lethal types of cancer and is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 20401 . One major challenge in treating PDAC is drug resistance and the lack of effective treatments. Oncogenic KRAS mutation and loss of function mutation in tumor suppressor genes including P16, TP53, and SMAD4 are found in most PDAC patients. It is unclear whether the different driver mutations can affect the tumor responses to chemo- and targeted therapy. Gemcitabine, a chemotherapy drug, is a cytotoxic agent that has …

Larotrectinib Compared With Real-World Non-Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase Inhibitor Therapies In Patients With Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase Fusion Cancer, Marcia S. Brose, C. Benedikt Westphalen, Xiaoyun Pan, Vadim Bernard-Gauthier, Milena Kurtinecz, Helen Guo, Virginie Aris, Neil R. Brett, Abdelali Majdi, Vivek Subbiah, Nathan A. Pennell, Kenneth L. Kehl, Alexander Drilon

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase gene fusions are oncogenic drivers of various solid tumors. Larotrectinib is a highly selective tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitor approved for patients with TRK fusion cancer on the basis of single-arm trials. This study was a matched comparative effectiveness study of larotrectinib in clinical trials versus standard of care (SOC) in the real-world (RW) setting.

METHODS: Adult patients with advanced/metastatic TRK fusion non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, thyroid cancer, or salivary gland carcinoma were included. Deduplicated data from RW patients were from US and ex-US data sources. Patients in the larotrectinib …

Vpac Receptor Positivity In Comparison With Mp-Mri In The Diagnosis Of Prostate Cancer: A Preliminary Study, Nishant Setya, Shridhar Ghagane, Rajendra Nerli, Ashwin Bokare, Mathew Thakur, Leonard Gomella

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Objective: The study aimed to prospectively evaluate the feasibility of diagnosing PCa using voided urine samples and by targeting the genomic VPAC (vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide) receptors in comparison with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) in male patients (≥40 years of age) with lower urinary tract symptoms and having a serum PSA of >4 but < 15 ng/ml.

Patients and methods: Male patients attending urological services ≥40 years old, with lower urinary tract symptoms and serum PSA levels of >4 but < 15 ng/ml formed the study group. Voided urine samples were collected to target VPAC receptors on malignant cells. All patients underwent mp-MRI. A 12-core transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy was performed in all, and the results were compared for the diagnosis of PCa.

Results: A total of 61 patients with a median age of 65.33 ± 8.11 years and with a …

Proposed Evaluation Of Nonpharmacological Treatments And Therapies For Paclitaxel Based Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (Cipn), Mackenzie Lesczcynski

D.U.Quark

Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) is a common complication in breast cancer patients receiving Paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent (1). CIPN symptoms range from numbness to extreme pain and sensitivity in bodily extremities, forcing chemotherapy to be halted (2). The mechanism of this side effect is not well understood and there is no standard pharmacological treatment available to improve effects. Nonpharmacological treatments have been attempted on small patient cohorts, but there are no conclusive findings (3). Due to this, we believe that a comprehensive murine model must be developed in order to assess nonpharmacological treatment efficacy and potential molecular targets for pharmacological …

The Impact Of Provider Communication On Treatment Adherence In Patients With Hypertension And Diabetes, Trey Carlson

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Current research cites effective provider communication as an important factor in improving treatment adherence and the health outcomes of patients. This study examines the effect of provider communication on treatment adherence in patients with chronic illnesses with a specific focus on hypertension and diabetes. Provider communication was measured using patient satisfaction surveys and treatment compliance was measured as the percentage of hypertensive and diabetic patients with a blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg and hemoglobin A1C levels below 9%. A one-way MANOVA revealed that provider communication had no significant impact on the combined treatment compliance variables for hypertension and diabetes (Wilk’s …

Death Becomes Us: The Consumptive Body In Nineteenth-Century Gothic Literature, Jennifer Marie Mcmahon

All NMU Master's Theses

This thesis examines the impacts of nineteenth-century tuberculosis epidemics on gothic literature published between 1842 and 1872. In this period of time, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the United States and in Europe, killing an estimated one in seven people. Using theoretical lenses of psychoanalysis and material ecocriticism, this project considers borders between material bodies—specifically those between bacterial agents and humans—to be illusory and socially constructed. The first chapter focuses on the ways in which representations of tuberculosis, and its associated entanglement with the environment, appear in the work of two authors from the United States: Edgar …

The Epidemiology Of Sports And Recreation Related Toe Fractures In The United States, Dogerno Norceide, Gabriel I. Onor, Oluwatomi Akingbola, William Justice, Nana F. Amponsah, Abimbola Okulaja, Ifeanyichukwu Onor, Michael Okoronkwo, Chibuikem Nwizu, David Pedowitz

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the toes are among the most frequently diagnosed lower extremity fractures. In sports, toe fractures may present after diverse mechanisms of injury, varying severity, and varying implications for management. This study aimed to discern trends in toe fractures presenting to US emergency departments (EDs) particularly in association with sports and recreational activities. An additional aim of the study was to identify if rates of toe fracture presentation significantly decreased during the year 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We queried the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database to identify toe fractures presented to …

Advancing Pandemic Response: Integrated Strategies For Testing, Prediction, And Bias Mitigation, Tianshu Gu

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The COVID-19 pandemic, along with prior outbreaks such as SARS and Ebola, has revealed critical gaps in global pandemic preparedness, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches to infectious disease management. This dissertation addresses three key areas of pandemic response: developing scalable screening strategies, constructing reliable predictive models, and mitigating demographic biases in artificial intelligence (AI) models used for healthcare decision-making.

The first study introduces a global screening strategy designed to optimize resource use and increase testing capacity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where resources are limited. This study leverages pooled testing methods, where multiple samples are combined into …

Physiological Indicators Of Social Anxiety In Preschoolers With The Fragile X Premutation, Olivia Cyburt

Senior Theses

The Fragile X premutation (FXpm) is a common genetic disorder often characterized by psychiatric impairments, including anxiety. It results from a trinucleotide repeat expansion (CGG) of 55-200 repeats on the FMR1 gene. Despite its association with psychiatric symptoms, there is limited research regarding the relationship between FXpm and anxiety, particularly social anxiety. Early detection of social anxiety is essential for timely intervention, yet it remains challenging to identify in young individuals with FXpm due to limited research. The present study aimed to bridge this gap by examining social anxiety in preschoolers with the FXpm, utilizing both a physiological and behavioral …

Demographic Variations In Long Qt Syndrome: Analyzing The Impact Of Gender, Ethnicity, And Environmental Factors On Prevalence And Risk, Heidi Bosch

Senior Honors Theses

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an arrhythmic condition characterized by delayed repolarization of cardiomyocytes, identified by prolonged QT interval on an electrocardiogram (ECG). LQTS can be caused by congenital mutations of ion channels or acquired through conditions, medications, and environmental factors. Prolongation of the QT interval can trigger deadly arrhythmia including torsade de pointes (TdP). LQTS has been named the top cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) for young individuals with anatomically normal hearts. The incidence of LQTS has been reported to be between 1:2000 and 1:2500. The demographic differences in LQTS prevalence have not been thoroughly researched. The incidence …

Preferences And Willingness For Starting Daily, On-Demand, And Long-Acting Injectable Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Transfeminine Persons In The Us, 2022-2023, Duygu Islek, Travis Sanchez, Stefan Baral, Carolyn Brown, Joanna A. Caldwell, Jennifer L. Glick, Danielle Friedman Nestadt, Jeb Jones, Iaah L. Lucas, Supriya Sarkar, Annemiek De Ruiter, Patrick S. Sullivan, Mariah Valentine-Graves, Savannah Winter, Vani Vannappagari

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background There remains limited information concerning US transfeminine persons preferences across varying PrEP options. We examined PrEP option willingness, preferences, and associated factors among a US nationwide sample of transfeminine persons. Methods Sexually active transfeminine persons age 15 + were recruited online between June 2022-October 2023 through social media advertisements. Transfeminine persons not diagnosed with HIV were asked about willingness to initiate, and ranked preference, of three PrEP options- daily oral (DO), on-demand, and long-acting injectable (LA-PrEP). Log-binomial models were used to examine PrEP modality willingness and associated sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. Results Among 2657 transfeminine persons not currently using …

Low-Cost Dermatoscope With Early Melanoma Detection, Diego Pensado, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Brianna Valadez

Posters - 2025

Melanoma arises from melanocytes, the cells that produce the pigment melanin. Melanoma can affect anyone, though some individuals face higher risk.

● While it makes up a smaller fraction of skin cancer cases, it can become life-threatening quickly if not detected early.

● Regular self-examinations and professional checks are essential for timely intervention.

● Excessive sun exposure, lighter skin, family history, and having numerous moles increase susceptibility to melanoma.

Emergence Of Transferable Daptomycin Resistance In Gram-Positive Bacteria, Tessa Marciniak, Lukas Kirchner, Silver A. Wolf, Birgit Walther, Thorsten Bischler, Justin Nyasinga, R Gunturu, Torsten Semmler, Tom Gräfenhan, Andrew Whitelaw

Pathology, East Africa

Daptomycin (DAP) is a last-resort antibiotic to treat infections by multiresistant Gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. DAP resistance and clinical treatment failure has been associated with adaptive chromosomal mutations, but so far not with transmissible resistance traits. Here we report for the first time an acquired DAP-R determinant (named drc) that we detected in a livestock-associated Mammaliicoccus sciuri isolate. drc consists of a two-gene operon (drcAB) that is controlled by an adjacent two-component system (drcRS). The DrcAB proteins, which mediate DAP inactivation, are similar to BceAB-like antimicrobial peptide transporters of Gram-positives, but are distinct from …

Long Term Results Of Venetoclax Combined With Flag-Ida Induction And Consolidation For Newly Diagnosed And Relapsed Or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Courtney D Dinardo, Wei-Ying Jen, Koichi Takahashi, Tapan M Kadia, Sanam Loghavi, Naval G Daver, Lianchun Xiao, Patrick K Reville, Ghayas C Issa, Nicholas J Short, Koji Sasaki, Sa A Wang, Jillian K Mullin, Sherry Pierce, Corey Bradley, Gautam Borthakur, Abhishek Maiti, Yesid Alvarado, Naveen Pemmaraju, Alessandra Ferrajoli, Mahesh Swaminathan, Maro Ohanian, Hussein A Abbas, Danielle Hammond, Jan Burger, Fadi Haddad, Guillermo Montalban-Bravo, Kelly Chien, Lucia Masarova, Musa Yilmaz, Nitin Jain, Michael Andreeff, Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Steven Kornblau, Farhad Ravandi, Elias Jabbour, Marina Y Konopleva, Hagop M Kantarjian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Intensive chemotherapy remains the standard for newly diagnosed (ND) acute myeloid leukemia (AML); however, relapse risk remains high. Additionally, most patients with relapsed/refractory (RR) AML have poor outcomes. We report the long-term experience of 138 patients, 77 ND and 61 RR, treated with FLAG-IDA in combination with venetoclax. In the ND cohort, the overall response rate (ORR) was 97%, with a composite complete remission (CRc) rate of 95% and undetectable measurable residual disease (MRD) status by flow cytometry in 90%. The 3-year OS and EFS rates were 66 and 64%, respectively. Outcomes were similar across European LeukemiaNet (ELN) 2022 risk …

Machine Learning Predicts Non-Preferred And Preferred Vertebrate Hosts Of Tsetse Flies (Glossina Spp.) Based On Skin Volatile Emission Profiles, Olabimpe Y. Orubuloye, David P. Tchouassi, Abdullahi A. Yusuf, Christian W.W. Pirk, Daniel K. Masiga, Edward Kariuki, Baldwyn Torto

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Tsetse fly vectors of African trypanosomosis preferentially feed on certain vertebrates largely determined by olfactory cues they emit. Previously, we established that three skin-derived ketones including 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, acetophenone and geranyl acetone accounted for avoidance of zebra by tsetse flies. Here, we tested the hypothesis that these three ketones serve as biomarkers for tsetse flies to distinguish between non-preferred- and preferred-vertebrate hosts. We used coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to analyze and compare the skin volatile emissions of two non-preferred- (waterbuck and zebra) and four preferred- (buffalo, donkey, horse, warthog) vertebrate hosts in two wildlife parks in Kenya. We detected a total …

A Preliminary Analysis Of Transaminitis Observed In Oxandrolone Versus Testosterone Therapy In Major Burn Injury, Alexandra Dewitt, Athena Hoppe, Anastasiya Ivanko, Victoria Miles

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

57th Annual Meeting of the American Burn Association, ABA 2025, April 8 - 11, 2025, Phoenix, AZ

Developing And Validating Brain Tumor Organoid Models To Evaluate Novel Therapeutics In Vitro, Dev P. Patel

Senior Theses

Glioblastoma (GBM), a World Health Organization Grade IV brain tumor, remains one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant malignancies. It is characterized by rapid proliferation, deep infiltration, and a high level of genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity. Despite advancements in medical technology and neuro-oncology, GBM remains one of the most treatment-resistant cancers with a median survival rate of only nine months post-diagnosis and less than 5% of patients surviving beyond 5 years of diagnosis. The standard treatment constitutes maximum surgical resection followed by chemotherapy and radiation. These therapeutic strategies are blocked by significant challenges like the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and intratumoral …

Postoperative Intraocular Lens Tilt From Preoperative Full Crystalline Lens Geometry Using Machine Learning, Eduardo Martinez-Enriquez, Gonzalo Velarde-Rodríguez, Nicolás Alejandre-Alba, Derick Ansah, Sindhu Kishore, Álvaro De La Peña, Ramya Natarajan, Pravin Vaddavalli, Yue Zhao, Joseph O Okudolo, Dylan B Mcbee, Ugur Celik, Mujdat Cetin, Jen-Li Dong, Yuli Lim, Li Wang, Douglas Donald Koch, Scott Macrae, Susana Marcos

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In cataract surgery, the opacified crystalline lens is replaced by an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), requiring precise preoperative selection of parameters to optimize postoperative visual quality. Three-dimensional customized eye models, which can be constructed using quantitative data from anterior segment optical coherence tomography, provide a robust platform for virtual surgery. These models enable simulations and predictions of the optical outcomes for specific patients and selected IOLs. A critical step in building these models is estimating the IOL's tilt and position preoperatively based on the available preoperative geometrical information (ocular parameters). In this study, we present a machine learning model that, …

Endothelial Micu1 Protects Against Vascular Inflammation And Atherosclerosis By Inhibiting Mitochondrial Calcium Uptake, Lu Sun, Ruixue Leng, Monan Liu, Meiming Su, Qingze He, Zhidan Zhang, Zhenghong Liu, Zhihua Wang, Hui Jiang, Li Wang, Shuai Guo, Yiming Xu, Yuqing Huo, Clint L Miller, Maciej Banach, Yu Huang, Paul C Evans, Jaroslav Pelisek, Giovanni G Camici, Bradford C Berk, Stefan Offermanns, Junbo Ge, Suowen Xu, Jianping Weng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mitochondrial dysfunction fuels vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Mitochondrial calcium uptake 1 (MICU1) maintains mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis. However, the role of MICU1 in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis remains unknown. Here, we report that endothelial MICU1 prevents vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis by maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. We observed that vascular inflammation was aggravated in endothelial cell–specific Micu1 knockout mice (Micu1ECKO) and attenuated in endothelial cell–specific Micu1 transgenic mice (Micu1ECTg). Furthermore, hypercholesterolemic Micu1ECKO mice also showed accelerated development of atherosclerosis, while Micu1ECTg mice were protected against atherosclerosis. Mechanistically, MICU1 depletion increased mitochondrial Ca2+ influx, thereby decreasing the expression …

Disease Activity Criteria Impact Dosing Interval Assignment In Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Trials, Marco A Zarbin, Christina Y Weng, Nikolas J S London, Adrian Hock Chuan Koh, Roberto Gallego-Pinazo, Varun Chaudhary, Audrey Souverain, Ivaylo Stoilov, Philippe Margaron

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Haemato-Urological Profile And Asymptomatic Urinary Tract Infection In Ghanaian Steady-State Sickle Cell Disease Patients: A Case-Control Study, Stephen Twumasi, Richard Owusu Ansah, Samuel Essien-Baidoo, Laud Anthony W. Basing, Alexander Yaw Debrah, Enoch Odame Anto, Allwell Adofo Ayirebi, Rebecca Asiamah-Broni, Waldemer Attivor, Eric Twum Ameyaw, Gabriel Addai Manu, Edward Afriyie, Thomas Kwabena Gyampomah, Joseph Nkrumah Opoku, Prince Kwadwo Amoafo, Samuel Kelvin Owusu, Vincent Akwai, Matthew Talmang, Amos Mensah, Isaac Kusi-Amponsah, Angela Opoku, Lilian Antwi Boateng

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and Aims: Due to the reduction in immunity caused by auto-splenectomy and the consequent opsonic antibody shortage, patients with SCD are more susceptible to encapsulated organism infections, especially asymptomatic urinary tract infection (ASM-UTI). This study investigated the prevalence of ASM-UTI and compared urine and hematology parameters among SCD patients in Ghana to their healthy counterparts. Methods: In this study, 104 SCD participants (cases) and 80 non-SCD (HbAA) controls were recruited. Participants' information was thoroughly documented using a well-structured questionnaire and patient case records. To achieve the study's aims, a mid-stream urine in a cleaned dry aseptic urine capped container …

The Relationship Between Visceral Fat Accumulation And Risk Of Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity: The Roles Of Accelerated Biological Aging, Tianyu Zhu, Yixing Tian, Jinqi Wang, Zhiyuan Wu, Wenhan Xie, Haotian Liu, Xia Li, Lixin Tao, Xiuhua Guo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To investigate the association between visceral fat accumulation and the risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) and the potential roles of accelerated biological aging in this relationship. Methods: Using data from the UK Biobank, a nationwide cohort study was conducted using the available baseline body roundness index (BRI) measurement. Biological aging was assessed using the Klemera–Doubal method for biological age and the phenotypic age algorithms. The association between the BRI and CMM was estimated using the Cox proportional hazards regression model, while the roles of biological aging were examined through interaction and mediation analyses. Results: During a median follow-up of …

Evaluating Asthma Education: A Comparison Of Whatsapp-Based Digital Interventions And Traditional Techniques, Rama Parthasarathy, Jayakumar Rajagopal, Sona Primuha Sugumaran, Sharon Angelin Johnson, Sai Shyam Kumar Nappa Selvam, Karthikeyan Ramaraju

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background and Aims: Asthma is a chronic lung disease affecting people of all age group, which is characterized by inflammation and muscle tightening around the airway. Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath are the symptoms. The main complication faced by asthma patient is poor medication adherence; to overcome this patient counseling was performed. In this patient education was given through both digital and direct approaches. It is important to find out whether the above-mentioned approaches improve medication adherence. This research specifically investigates whether digital approaches through WhatsApp can directly improve asthma control compared to traditional methods. Methods: A prospective …