Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Review Of Missing Data Elements For Client Enrollment In The Minority Aids Initiative For High-Risk Men Of Nj, Vrushank Shah

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The Minority AIDS Initiative study funded in NMI seeks to enhance healthcare outcomes for underserved individuals. Implementing outreach programs, the initiative provides healthcare and post-treatment follow-up to this demographic. The proposed project, a component of this study, concentrates on individuals with substance abuse disorder, specifically targeting those who have been onboarded but subsequently lost to follow-up. In the United States, approximately 20 million people are diagnosed with substance abuse disorder, yet in 2016, only 3.8 million received treatment. Within this cohort, between 20% and 70% of individuals undergoing residential substance abuse treatment disengage before completion. Various factors hinder the sustained …

Sex Differences In Outcomes Among Patients With High-Output Heart Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Tony Elias, Mena Elmalh, Priya Brahmbhatt, Kyrillos Girgis, Taha Syed, Michael Valderrama, Rafail Beshai

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❖ There is limited data specifically looking for sex differences in patients with high output heart failure (HOHF).

❖ We sought to examine the national inpatient sample database to describe in-hospital outcomes among female patients.

A Brief Overview Of Food Insecurity In Southern New Jersey, Lisa Ting Huang, Krisha Darji, Jariatou Diallo, Amin Abdul Khan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Atlantic County, located off the Jersey Shore, faces the highest level of food insecurity in New Jersey, with a rate of 11.2% as of 2021, surpassing the state's overall rate of 8.8%. This situation contributes to health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

The objective of this research is to understand and address the persistence of food insecurity in Atlantic County. Community stakeholders and local physicians were interviewed to identify barriers and disparities contributing to food insecurity.

Methods included a literature review using keywords like "food insecurity" and "southern New Jersey". Proposed interventions suggest collaboration with health centers …

Exploring Hypertension Prevalence Among Ill-Housed Individuals In Urban Environments, Lia Goldberg, Sameer Shah, Nikhila Archakam, Murod Khikmatov, Kesha Choksi, Anddee White

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This study explores the interrelations of hypertension, homelessness, and access to healthcare in urban ill-housed populations. It was found that conditions such as heart disease and diabetes significantly exacerbate hypertension, which remains highly prevalent due to the population's limited access to consistent medical care. Homelessness further complicates the management of hypertension due to unstable living conditions, making adherence to treatment and follow-up with healthcare providers challenging. Additionally, factors like higher rates of substance abuse and malnutrition among homeless populations contribute to worsening hypertension, which, if untreated, can lead to severe health crises including heart attacks and strokes.

The research underscores …

Pros, Cons, And The Barriers To Implementing A Universal Healthcare System In The United States, Arpun Shah

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The United States has the most expensive healthcare system in the world. Despite that, it also has worse health outcomes than that of several other countries. The United States is also the only wealthy/developed country without universal healthcare. Universal healthcare, also known as a single-payer healthcare system, refers to the concept that the government finances and governs healthcare for most, if not all residents of the country. The United States currently has a multi-payer system, which means that healthcare is financed through various sources such as the public and private sectors. Purpose: The purpose of this is …

Accessibility To Gender Affirming Treatments For Transgender Patients In New Jersey, Tara Young, Tara Pellegrino

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The literature clearly indicates that gender affirming treatments, such as gender reassignment surgery, counseling, exogenous hormones, and feminization/masculinization surgery, are highly effective and beneficial for transgender patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to assess the barriers to accessing gender affirming treatments in New Jersey.

Methods: This review utilized the PubMed database and Google searches to gather information. The search terms included LGBTQ healthcare, LGBTQ Medicaid, transgender treatment, transgender healthcare, top surgery New Jersey, New Jersey Medicare and Medicaid, and transgender Health Insurance in New Jersey.

Results: New Jersey State Medicaid covers both gender affirming surgery and …

What Is The Impact Of Marijuana Usage On Sexual Dysfunction Among Individual And How Do Factors Such As Frequency Of Use, Dosage, And Duration Of Marijuana Consumption Influence Sexual Function, Zachary A. Harris, Russell Levi, Saad Ahmed

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Sexual health is an integral piece of human vitality, encompassing a multitude of psychological & physiological factors. There has been an unprecedented amount of interest surrounding cannabis and its impact on sexual function in the past decade. The interplay between the acceptance of cannabis and its widespread use presents the need for research into the correlation between cannabis and sexual health outcomes. The primary components of cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have attracted scrutiny for their potential effects on sexual function. Anecdotal accounts suggest heightened sexual desire and pleasure, however there are conflicting reports raising concerns regarding performance issues …

Case Report: A Case Of Ttp In The Ed, Brian F. Lim, Andrew Caravello, James A. Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

We report a case of a 54-year-old female who presented with mild shortness of breath, lower chest discomfort, fatigue, and weakness ongoing for several days and was diagnosed with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). TTP is characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia due to either an inherited or immune-mediated reduction in von Willebrand Factor (VWF) cleaving protease ADAMTS13.

Patients presenting with non-specific symptoms is becoming increasingly common and initial bias could be to attribute symptoms to viral syndrome or upper respiratory tract infection. However, the differential for non-specific complaints is extensive and thorough review of labs and re-evaluations of patients …

Relationship Between Gut Microbiota And Dementia, Saad Ahmed, Zackary Harris, Russell David Levi

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This paper explores the complex relationship between gut microbiota, dietary habits, and dementia, focusing particularly on Alzheimer's disease (AD). Growing evidence suggests a significant link between the composition of gut bacteria, dietary choices, and susceptibility to dementia. Notably, individuals with dementia demonstrate a noticeable reduction in gut bacteria diversity, highlighting the crucial role of a balanced microbiome in maintaining cognitive health. Conversely, dietary preferences characterized by excessive consumption of processed foods and sugars are associated with an increased risk of dementia, emphasizing the critical influence of diet on shaping gut microbiota and subsequent neurocognitive outcomes. Importantly, dietary interventions featuring a …

Exploring Geriatric Self Management Of Type 2 Dm: A Systematic Review, Ahmed Gawash, David F. Lo, Kunal P. Shah, Jasmine Emanuel, Brandon Goodwin, Don D. Shamilov, Gaurav Kumar, Nathan Jean, Christian P. White

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This review explores diabetic self-management in geriatric individuals, focusing on positive attitudes and support from family/friends as crucial for self-care optimization. A comprehensive search in health databases was conducted, which involved screening 248 participants across eight qualitative research studies. Themes emphasizing the importance of listening to one’s body, acknowledging hidden issues, and recognizing the impact of various factors on diabetes self-care were established. A holistic approach to self management, emphasizing the significance of positive attitudes, cultural sensitivity, and individual values in healthcare practices is recommended. Embracing cultural diversity and addressing barriers can enhance self-management and quality of life for geriatric …

Cardiovascular Disease Prediction Modelling: A Machine Learning Approach, Usmaan Al-Shehab, Maduka Gunasinghe, Yousuf Elkhoga, Nimay Patel, Juliana Yang

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The objective of this project is to utilize the UCI Heart Disease dataset to identify physiological biomarkers that are highly correlated with heart disease incidence. A predictive model can then be developed using these biomarkers to estimate the likelihood of someone having or developing a heart-related condition. This study compares the efficacy of predicting cardiovascular disease as an outcome using three machine learning algorithms: Support Vector Machine, Gaussian Naive Bayes, and logistic regression. Support Vector Machine works by creating hyperplanes between data points to conduct classification. Gaussian Naive Bayes works by using the conditional probabilities of events to classify the …

End Of Life Symptom Management In The Emergency Department, Alice Chang, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

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The Emergency Department is at times the only place patients can turn to for symptom relief. In an aging population, this means that more patients are presenting to the ED towards the end of life (EOL). Emergency medicine (EM) prides itself as a specialty that handles disease-directed treatment for a variety of acute conditions. In contrast, palliative care (PC) is focused on improving the quality of life (QOL). It has become essential for EM physicians to care for patients who are not seeking life-sustaining measures, but instead quality of life interventions. Patients with serious illness, even hospice patients, present to …

The Correlation Between Traumatic Brain Injury And Incarceration Among Adult Males In The United States, Shadi Shams

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The United States has one of the largest growing prison populations in the world. A large amount of social and economic resources go towards the cost and maintenance of correctional facilities each year. Additionally, the current correctional programs are insufficient in assisting inmates with getting back to society; especially those with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who often remain undiagnosed and are usually treated unfairly in the prison system instead of receiving the appropriate help. Prior scholarly work has shown that patients in the post-TBI stage are more likely to enter the judicial system. In the recent population-based cohort study, the …

Is There A Role For Plant-Based “Meat” In Cardiovascular Disease Prevention?, Aziza Jadallah, Usmaan Al-Shehab, Adam Friedman

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Diet is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends following a whole-food, minimally processed diet emphasizing fruit and vegetables to reduce cardiovascular mortality. Recently, processed plant-based meat substitutes, such as Beyond Meat® and Impossible™ foods have become easily accessible to consumers and are advertised as a healthful addition to a plant-based diet. However, these products are highly processed and contain high amounts of saturated fat and sodium. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of processed plant-based meat diets on adverse cardiovascular events compared to animal-based meat diets and minimally processed healthful …

Correlation Of Chronic Conditions And Pain Scale With Varying Levels Of Obesity In The Geriatric Population, Shabbir Hossain, Adarsh Gupta D.O.

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The overall objective of this study was to establish whether obesity’s contribution to pain is stronger than vice versa – the medical debilities in elderly patients that contribute to obesity. In the process, this study will allow us to achieve whether different age samples with similar BMIs demonstrate the same level of medical complexities in geriatric patients. In summary, the purpose of this research study was to correlate a relationship between obesity and aging. We hypothesized that obesity will contribute to greater pain in the aging population, and that patients – regardless of their age groups in the aging population …