Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Dietary Intake And Quality Among Stroke Survivors: Nhanes 1999-2018, Erika R Zoellner, Mindy A Patterson, Anjail Z Sharrief, Sean I Savitz, Wesley J Tucker, Derek C Miketinas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Nutrition is an important modifiable risk factor for prevention and treatment of stroke. However, examination of nutrient intake and diet quality in stroke survivors is limited.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate usual nutrient intake and diet quality in US adults with and without a history of self-reported stroke.

Methods: Using US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018, we analyzed demographics, health history, and dietary intake data in 1626 individuals with a history of stroke matched for age, gender, and survey cycle to respective controls (n=1621) with no history of stroke. A minimum of …

Discoverpath: A Knowledge Refinement And Retrieval System For Interdisciplinarity On Biomedical Research, Yu-Neng Chuang, Guanchu Wang, Chia-Yuan Chang, Kwei-Herng Lai, Daochen Zha, Ruixiang Tang, Fan Yang, Alfredo Costilla Reyes, Kaixiong Zhou, Xiaoqian Jiang, Xia Hu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The exponential growth in scholarly publications necessitates advanced tools for efficient article retrieval, especially in interdisciplinary fields where diverse terminologies are used to describe similar research. Traditional keyword-based search engines often fall short in assisting users who may not be familiar with specific terminologies. To address this, we present a knowledge graph based paper search engine for biomedical research to enhance the user experience in discovering relevant queries and articles. The system, dubbed DiscoverPath, employs Named Entity Recognition (NER) and part-of-speech (POS) tagging to extract terminologies and relationships from article abstracts to create a KG. To reduce information overload, DiscoverPath …

Addressing Cervical Cancer Disparities In Texas: Expansion Of A Community-Based Prevention Initiative For Medically Underserved Populations, Samantha H. Batman, Melissa L. Varon, Maria Daheri, Tony Ogburn, Saul D. Rivas, Laura Guerra, Paul Toscano, Monica Gasca, Lori Campos, Savanah Foster

School of Medicine Publications

Although cervical cancer is preventable, significant disparities exist in access to screening and prevention services. In medically underserved areas (MUAs) of Texas, these rates are 55% higher compared to the remainder of the US. In 2019, we expanded a multicomponent, comprehensive program to improve cervical cancer prevention in partnership with 13 clinics and mobile vans in MUAs of Texas. Our multicomponent intervention program consists of community education and patient navigation coupled with a training/mentoring program for local medical providers to perform diagnostic procedures and treatment for patients with abnormal screening results. Hands-on training courses to learn these skills are coupled …

Feminization Of Sri Lankan Doctors And Key Specialties: 2000 To 2020, Dileep De Silva, Pamila Adikari, Mihiri S. Rubasinghe, Udeni L. Seneviratne

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

The study focused on the feminization of Sri Lankan generalist doctors in all major and selected minor specialties between 2000 and 2020. The study analyzed all relevant documents by exploring Sri Lanka's male-to-female doctor and specialist ratio over 20 years. This was determined by analyzing state medical faculty records from 1990 to 2020. For better clarity, the researchers analyzed the gender ratio changes in every five-year block from 1990 to 2020. Focus groups filled PGIM's gender data fields. Five-year medical students surged from 43% to 63% between 1990 and 2020. Linear trend analysis predicts 68% of female medical students by …

Sensitive Intervention Policy Recommendations To Reduce Stunting Rates Based On Spatial Analysis Of Sanitary Factors In Dki Jakarta Province 2021, Septiria Irawati, Ema Hermawati

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of stunting in children under five and the percentage of proper sanitation, as well as recommendations for priority areas for stunting control interventions in the Province of the Special Capital Region of Jakarta in 2021. This study used a descriptive approach to present an overview of the percentage of sanitation and prevalence of stunting in children under five by sub-district in 38 districts in DKI Jakarta. Data is displayed as a map to show distribution areas based on high, medium, and low categories. An overlay was made between the distribution …

Assessment Of The Offline Setup Correction Protocol And Thermoplastic Mask Use For Head And Neck Cancer Radiotherapy: A Single Institution Experience, Furahini Yoram, Nazima Dharsee, Khamza Maunda, Jumaa D. Kisukari, Geofrey F. Soko

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study assessed the efficiency of offline setup correction protocol and the use of a thermoplastic mask for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy at Ocean Road Cancer Institute. A prospective study was conducted from April to August 2021 to verify 62 patients’ treatment setup using an offline setup correction protocol while immobilized with a thermoplastic mask. Megavoltage images were matched with digitally reconstructed radiographs obtained during CT simulation to determine the gross set-up deviations. Box plots were used to show the deviations on three consecutive days of the first week and a successive weekly …

Health Policy Reform Through Strengthening Indonesia's Health Resilience System, Wahyu Sulistiadi

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

The National Health System in Indonesia is developing and being discussed more seriously after entering the COVID-19 pandemic. With a national health system and several existing tools, Indonesia needed more time to be ready to face the challenges of that time. Upstream health policies should be optimized to mobilize resources and increase the nation's efforts to build a national resilience system. This paper was built using selected policy documents up-to-date and reliable literature. By reviewing empirical evidence, the author believes and shows the role of strengthening health policies in building a robust national health resilience system. Indonesia has several policies …

The Effects Of Vaccination Against Covid-19 Incidence: Is The Current Age-Priorities Appropriate?, Dian Ip Nugrahari, Nurhanifah Hamdah

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

Age is an independent risk factor for COVID-19. Thus, the government of Indonesia prioritizes the elderly and adults with significant comorbidities for COVID-19 vaccination. To discover whether this policy is still appropriate, we evaluated the effects of vaccination against the COVID-19 incidence and infection risk.It was a retrospective cohort study of the NAR COVID-19 and Dashboard KPCPEN COVID-19 of the Depok City Health Department. The tests used to analyze the data were the chi-square and logistic regression tests. We discovered that there was a 92.7% total reduction in the COVID-19 infection rate with vaccination. The infection risk for COVID-19 in …

Policy Implementation Analysis Of Spm Health Sector For Hypertension Sufferers In South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia In 2022, Anggi Asri Rusliana Dewi, Dumilah Ayuningtyas

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor that causes disability throughout the world and among those who are not aware of their health condition, it is often referred to as the silent killer . The prevalence rate of hypertension in Indonesia is quite high. Based on Riskesdas (2018), South Kalimantan Province shows the highest prevalence of hypertension, but the percentage of hypertension sufferers who receive health services is still low. Banjarbaru City has the lowest percentage, namely 11.3% of the target of 100%. Health services for hypertension sufferers are included in the Minimum Service Standards (SPM) for the Health Sector …

Deleterious Heteroplasmic Mitochondrial Mutations Are Associated With An Increased Risk Of Overall And Cancer-Specific Mortality, Yun Soo Hong, Stephanie L Battle, Wen Shi, Daniela Puiu, Vamsee Pillalamarri, Jiaqi Xie, Nathan Pankratz, Nicole J Lake, Monkol Lek, Jerome I Rotter, Stephen S Rich, Charles Kooperberg, Alex P Reiner, Paul L Auer, Nancy Heard-Costa, Chunyu Liu, Meng Lai, Joanne M Murabito, Daniel Levy, Megan L Grove, Alvaro Alonso, Richard Gibbs, Shannon Dugan-Perez, Lukasz P Gondek, Eliseo Guallar, Dan E Arking

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mitochondria carry their own circular genome and disruption of the mitochondrial genome is associated with various aging-related diseases. Unlike the nuclear genome, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can be present at 1000 s to 10,000 s copies in somatic cells and variants may exist in a state of heteroplasmy, where only a fraction of the DNA molecules harbors a particular variant. We quantify mtDNA heteroplasmy in 194,871 participants in the UK Biobank and find that heteroplasmy is associated with a 1.5-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality. Additionally, we functionally characterize mtDNA single nucleotide variants (SNVs) using a constraint-based score, mitochondrial local constraint …

Quality Improvement Project To Increase Hepatitis C Virus Screening For Ambulatory Gme Internal Medicine Clinic Patients, Nghia Nguyen, Karrar Al Gburi, Arturo Suplee, Jarrad Mcadams, Serag Fares, Carol Soler, Ans Albustamy, Jorge Alejandro Bernal, Sumandeep Brar, J. Paredes

Research Symposium

Background: In 2020, CDC established new guideline expanding Hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening to all adults aged 18 to 79 years. Our QI project objective is to enhance HCV screening amongst the UTRGV-DHR IM department by establishing suitable reminders and educational sessions.

Methods: We reviewed HCV screening status of all adult patients 18 to 79 years old from June 1^st 2020 to December 1^st 2020. We then provided one lecture on the new screening recommendation from CDC 2020 guideline. We also encouraged residents to educate patients on the importance of HCV screening, and to identify and overcome barriers …

Project: Center For Diabetes And Metabolism [Centro De Diabetes Y Metabolismo: Cedimet], A Collaborative Dream Comes True, Claudia Munguia-Cisneros, Edith Cantu, Carlos Ramirez-Pfeiffer, Adriana L. Perales-Torres, Esperanza M. Garcia-Oropeza, Estrella Y. Martinez-Lopez, Alvaro Diaz-Badillo, Joselin Hernandez-Ruiz, Alberto O. Chavez-Velazquez, Lucia M. Perez-Navarro, Beatriz Tapia, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Reynosa urban area has 690,000 inhabitants (384,000 adults >20 years old), 35% moved from other states. The use of cell phones is in 81%, personal computer or laptop with 29%. The prevalence of overweight is 39%, obesity 36%, and T2D 13%. The expected adult population with T2D is 49,900 individuals. The are 5 clinics prepared to attend T2D, and few with specialized personnel.

The CeDiMet is a collaborative clinic involving health personnel and researchers from the Universidad Mexico Americana del Norte, Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas, Hospital General de Mexico “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and the …

Proactively Preventing Medical Errors: A Student-Led Approach To Patient Safety In Pre-Clinical Curriculum, Sahar Panjwani, Daniel Nwosuocha, Nelson D. Gonzalez, Ayleen Godreau

Research Symposium

Introduction: Preventable medical errors are currently the third leading cause of death in the United States following heart disease and cancer (1). This study was designed to assess the change in knowledge from earlier education of medical students during pre-clinical years.

Methods: Patient safety trainings have been conducted for two years for interested first and second-year medical students and responses are assessed through a pre-test, immediate post-test, 3-month post-test, and 6-month post-test. The survey assesses student knowledge on aspects of patient safety and has Likert scale questions assessing if the training influenced students’ desire to learn about patient safety. …

Pharmacoeconomics Of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treatment With Targeted Therapies Guided By Companion Molecular Diagnostics, Luis E. Fernández-Garza, Hector Sánchez-Ibarra, Daniela Treviño-Sáenz, Hugo A. Barrera-Saldaña

Research Symposium

Background: To guide the treatment with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), the FDA recommends prior companion molecular diagnosis (CMDx). It initially recommended screening for mutations in exon 2 of the KRAS gene, and most recently to extend to screening to exons 2, 3, and 4 of KRAS and 2, 3, and 4 of NRAS genes; furthermore, to evaluate the BRAF exon 15 mutation status (including V600E). To date, no studies have been done to compare the cost-benefit of these different CMDXs.

Methods: We have compared the cost of treatment without …

Malignant Colorectal Cancer In The Rio Grande Valley: A Demographical Study, Kevin M. Camstra, Vijian Dhevan

Research Symposium

Background: There is abundant demographical data available that provides an excellent general statistical overview of colorectal cancer (CRC) within the Hispanic population in South Texas. Much is known about the overarching trends regarding incidence, prevalence, mortality and screening rates among this specific population as compared to other racial and ethnic groups at the state and national levels. Despite our understanding of these broad trends, few studies have taken a step inward to provide a closer demographical analysis of a CRC population here in the Rio Grande Valley. In this study, we narrow the scope and take a closer look …

Learners Engaging With Hispanic Communities To Address Covid19 Inequities By Developing A Cultural Competence Guide For Public Health Messaging, Madeline Elaine Huff, Molly Chapman, Chasity Collier, Giuiseppe Fonseca Badillo, Shuchita Jhaveri, Ayesha Khan, Sabrina R. Orta, Zuni Ortega, Lina Pedraza Sanchez, Maria Pesantez Borja, Rosalind Reyes, Daniela Santos Cantu, Chelsea H. Chang

Research Symposium

Introduction: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) has the highest rates of obesity and diabetes nationwide which have compounded the impact of COVID-19. We propose addressing underlying mistrust and systemic racism through a resident-and-student-learner-led, community-engaged, educational public health campaign targeting the Hispanic community in the RGV.

Methods: Twelve students were provided interdisciplinary leadership skills in a community-engaged public messaging campaign covering issues of COVID-19 inequities. Learners used these skills to engage with clinic community partners in qualitative interviews regarding the patient population to guide the creation of a culturally competent public health messaging rubric for the Hispanic community.

Results: Pre-intervention survey …

Expanding Health Professional Education In The Rio Grande Valley During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sabrina R. Orta, Samantha G. Alvarado, Shuchita Jhaveri

Research Symposium

Purpose: The COVID-19 Pandemic has prompted innovation in health professional education, such that learners are able to recognize and mitigate healthcare disparities in the outcomes of vulnerable populations. The objective of our project was to increase education on preventing, preparing for, and responding to COVID-19 and other locally prevalent infectious diseases that disproportionately affect RGV communities.

Description: This project had 3 goals: (1) provide learners with virtual patient-interaction simulations (2) provide interactive training modules on the identification, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases affecting South TX and strategies to increase child vaccinations, and (3) provide learners an opportunity to coordinate …

Epidemiological Algorithm And Early Molecular Testing To Prevent Covid-19 Outbreaks In A Mexican Oncologic Center, Moises González-Escamilla, Diana C. Peréz-Ibave, Carlos H. Burciaga-Flores, Vanessa N. Ortiz-Murillo, Genaro A. Ramírez-Correa, Patricia Rodríguez-Niño, Rafael Piñeiro-Retif, Hazyadee F. Rodríguez-Gutiérrez, Orlando D. Solis-Coronado, Juan F. González-Guerrero, Oscar Vidal-Gutiérrez, María Lourdes Garza-Rodríguez

Research Symposium

Introduction: Prevention strategies and detection of latent COVID-19 infections in oncology staff and oncologic patients are essential to prevent outbreaks in a cancer center. In this study, we used two statistical predictive models in oncology staff and patients from the radiotherapy area to prevent outbreaks and detect COVID-19 cases.

Methods: Staff and patients answered a questionnaire (electronic and paper surveys, respectively) with clinical and epidemiological information. The data was collected through two online survey tools: Real-Time Tracking (R-Track) and Summary of Factors (S-Facts). According to the algorithm's models, cut-off values were established. SARS-CoV-2 qRT-PCR tests confirmed the algorithm's positive individuals. …

Childhood Cancer Survival In The Highly Vulnerable Population Of South Texas: Persistent Challenges For Adolescents And Hispanic Ethnicity, Shenghui Wu, Y. N. Liu, M. Williams, C. Aguilar, A. G. Ramirez, R. Mesa, G. E. Tomlinson

Research Symposium

Background: This study examines childhood cancer survival rates and prognostic factors related to survival in the majority Hispanic population of South Texas (STX), whereas most other population studies in childhood cancer survival focus on populations with relatively few Hispanics.

Methods: The population-based cohort study used Texas Cancer Registry data (1995-2017) to examine survival and prognostic factors.

Results: The 5-year relative survival rate for STX cancer patients diagnosed at 0–19 years was 80.3% for all races/ethnicity. Hispanics had statistically significant lower 5-year relative survival rates than non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) for male and female together diagnosed at age ≥ 5 years. When …

Characterization Of Oral Cavity And Oropharyngeal Cancer In The Texas Rio Grande Valley, Jared A. Sperling, Rachel Giese

Research Symposium

Background: Cancers of the oral cavity (OC) and oropharynx (OP) account for 3% of cancers diagnosed in the United States each year. A primary cause of death among the Hispanic population in the United States is cancer, accounting for 20% of annual mortality. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a medically-underserved area of South Texas with a large Hispanic population facing health disparities. In this study, we examine the incidence and mortality of OC and OP cancer in the RGV.

Methods: CDC population-level incidence and mortality rate per 100,000 of OC/OP cancer among patients in the RGV counties of Hidalgo …

Awareness Of Genetic Testing For High-Risk Cancer Among Different Racial Groups In The United States, Okechukwu C. Erinne, Modupe O. Onigbogi

Research Symposium

Background: Genetic testing for high-risk cancer can provide information on personal risk of developing cancer, as well as diagnosis, prognosis and treatment once cancer has been detected.

Methods: Data for this study were obtained from the Health Information National Trends (HINTS 5, Cycle 4), conducted among U.S. adults (age ≥ 18 years) from February 24 to June 20, 2020. An equal probability sample of addresses were stratified, and an adult was selected from each household. Data analysis was conducted 3,865 respondents who completed the survey. The primary outcome was awareness of genetic testing for high-risk cancer (GTHC). We …

The Impact Of Virtual Learning On Health Literacy: Lessons From A Virtual Townhall Held By The Lamar University Recovery And Resilience Academy, Margot Gage Witvliet, Chiung-Fang Chang

Research Symposium

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the entire world. This caused universities and addiction recovery programs to get creative on how to reach community needs. Many professors found themselves teaching online for the first time. Apps for mental health and addiction recovery programs grew exponentially. Information on how adequate virtual programs perform are mixed. We investigate the extent to which a virtual program can increase health literacy. To accomplish this, the professors of the sociology program launched the Recovery and Resilience Academy (RnR Academy). The aim of RnR Academy is to serve as an outreach and educational center for the …

The Role Of Community Pharmacists In The Provision Of Medication For Opioid Use Disorder Treatment In Rio Grande Valley, Tamara Al Rawwad, Ammar Kawaleet, Lydia Aguilera, Adrian Sandoval

Research Symposium

Background: The misuse of opioids, including prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl, has reached epidemic proportions in the US, resulting in more than 68,000 overdose deaths in 2020, and a total of $78.5 billion a year of economic burden. In response to this crisis, the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released a strategic plan to combat opioid abuse and misuse, recommending a multidisciplinary approach, including the inclusion of pharmacists in the efforts. The aim of this study is to examine pharmacists’ perception of their role in the provision of medication for opioid use disorders (MOUD) in addition to …

Characterization Of Prostate Cancer In Transgender Women, Simita Gaglani, Rajveer Purohit, Ashutosh Tewari, Dara Lundon, Natasha Kyprianou

Research Symposium

Background: The risk of developing prostate cancer (PC) in transgender women is unknown. Many patients are unaware that the prostate is not removed during male-to-female surgical transition. It is unclear what the exposure of estrogens and androgen blockers in these transgender patients has on the prostate. Our aim was to examine and characterize the different presentations of PC in published cases and augment this with an additional case series from one institute.

Methods: A retrospective review of prospectively maintained medical records was performed identifying features of PC diagnoses in transgender women. These included age, duration of feminizing hormone therapy, PSA …

Validity-Reliability Of The E-Healthy Diet Literacy Scale In Turkish Adults, Sevil Karahan Yılmaz, Gunay Eskici, Osman Emir Sarac

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: This study aims to establish the validity-reliability of the Turkish version of adult e-Healthy Diet Literacy Scale and to determine its relationship with the Health Literacy Instrument Scale (short-form), the Digital Healthy Diet Literacy Scale, and participants’ characteristics. Material and Methods: Drawing on a methodological and descriptive design, this research was performed in two steps. It was conducted with 240 participants in the first step and 879 participants in the second step. The participants filled out the eHealthy Diet Literacy Scale, Health Literacy Instrument Scale (short-form), and Digital Healthy Diet Literacy Scale. The questionnaire form was sent to the …

Misinformation, Trust, And Use Of Ivermectin And Hydroxychloroquine For Covid-19, Roy H. Perlis, Kristin Lunz Trujillo, Jon Green, Alauna Safarpour, James N. Druckman, Mauricio Santillana, Katherine Ognyanova, David Lazer

Political Science Faculty Publications

Importance The COVID-19 pandemic has been notable for the widespread dissemination of misinformation regarding the virus and appropriate treatment.

Objective To quantify the prevalence of non–evidence-based treatment for COVID-19 in the US and the association between such treatment and endorsement of misinformation as well as lack of trust in physicians and scientists.

Design, Setting, and Participants This single-wave, population-based, nonprobability internet survey study was conducted between December 22, 2022, and January 16, 2023, in US residents 18 years or older who reported prior COVID-19 infection.

Main Outcome and Measure Self-reported use of ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine, endorsing false statements related to …

The Fortify Resilience Initiative, Nausheen Jamal, Deepu George, Maria Hernandez, Evan Garcia, Myrna Ruiz, Salvador Arellano Iii

Research Symposium

Purpose: The Fortify Resilience Initiative focuses on building and sustaining a culture of wellbeing for Residents and Fellows (R/Fs) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Medicine’s (SOM) Graduate Medical Education (GME) residency and fellowship programs. In order to address the multitude of threats to physician wellness and to mitigate the silent, but pernicious effects of burnout on these physician learners serving in the RGV, this Initiative from the Office of GME will strengthen existing wellbeing pathways while expanding additional solutions that will work to sustain wellbeing. Utilizing a combination of prevention, promotion, and intervention strategies …

Implementation Of A Training Module On Alcohol Prevention For Promotoras On A Border Community In The Rio Grande Valley., Noe Garza, J Escareno, Alvaro Diaz-Badillo, Ihsan Salloum

Research Symposium

Background: Complications due to unhealthy alcohol use are widely spread, and there is a significant unmet need for prevention and treatment in the community. The South Texas-Mexico border region consists of over ninety percent of Hispanics and suffers from a significant shortage of physicians. Alcohol-related problems are highly unrecognized and untreated in this large Hispanic population due to the shortage of healthcare providers, low education levels, and limited trust in the health care system. Prevention efforts should be designed to prevent or reduce the risk of developing alcohol addiction.

Methods: The proposed module focuses on enhancing the Promotoras or Community …

Critical Reflection In Practice: Generating Knowledge From The Interactions With Promotores For Engagement In Neurocognitive Disorders, Noe Garza, Ney Alliey-Rodriguez, Rosa V. Pirela, Gladys E. Maestre

Research Symposium

Background: Colonias are underserved areas along the Texas-Mexico border, with high incidences of neurocognitive disorders, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our goal is to build capacity to reduce risk, facilitate treatment for affected individuals, and provide caregiver support. Our aim was to construct an approach that was reflective and would reveal the rich and diverse ways in which people make meaning of their experiences and interactions with scientists, faculty, staff and students.

Methods: We examined our work with local community health workers. (CHWs), promotores in Spanish, to establish contact with, engage, mobilize, and educate the Hispanic communities of the Lower …

Trusted Sources Of Health Information During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Michael Machiorlatti, Candace Robledo, Cliff Clark

Research Symposium

Background: As the role of media has evolved with display and consumption of health information, the need to decipher the quality of the information has become exceedingly important. This became more important during the covid-19 pandemic, when information was being formulated and released nearly real-time. Prior to the pandemic, government agencies, health professionals and authorities were generally trusted sources of information. Additionally, information passed more casually through family and acquaintances was also something people tended to rely upon. This paper explores the self-reported trustworthiness of different health information sources during the pandemic and also seeks to rank the importance from …