Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

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 …

Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary And Behavioral Healthcare (I2pbh) Initiative, John Ronnau, Deepu George, Maria Hernandez, Evan Garcia, Myrna Ruiz

Research Symposium

Purpose: The Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary and Behavioral Healthcare (I²PBH) initiative will train University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) mental health graduates to deliver high quality, evidence-based Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) services in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) – a high-need, high-demand, medically underserved Hispanic region along the US-Mexico border. Specifically, the I²PBH initiative will train 24 UTRGV mental health graduates annually to deliver high-quality Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) clinical services through the evidence based Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model. With a training emphasis on basic/advanced theory and clinical skills in the PCBH model, students …

Clinical Characteristics And Risk Factors For Mortality During The 'First Wave' Of Covid-19 In Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Luis G. Vargas Garcia, Francisco E. Díaz Cisneros, Antonio Gutiérrez Sierra, Juan Rosales Martínez, Manlio F. Lara Duck, Netzahualcoyotl Mayek Pérez

Research Symposium

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted public health in Mexico. As of February 2020, there have been at least four "waves" of contagion that resulted in 5.82 million positive cases and more than 325 thousand deaths. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital and population-based information was available, frequently with non-specific symptoms. Little was known about the risk factors for mortality in specific conditions. We described the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 in Reynosa, Tamaulipas during 2020 and identified the risk factors for mortality.

Methods: The COVID-19 cases registered from March to November 2020 in Reynosa were divided …

Complex Gynecology Clinic, Saul D. Rivas, Elissa Serapio, Tony Ogburn, John Ronnau, Alejandra Vega, Angela Tanguma, Andrea K. Contreras

Research Symposium

Purpose: The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Complex Gynecology Clinic aims to reduce the shortage of women’s primary care providers in rural and medically underserved communities. The Complex Gynecologic clinic provides high quality- evidence based care to women at low or no cost regardless of immigration status, socioeconomic status, educational attainment, and age who might otherwise be unable to receive much needed care in other sites in the RGV.

Description: Some of the services offered, via grant funding, include preventive services such as well women exams, cervical cancer screening, and family planning. As well as work up and treatment for …

Comparing Stroke Symptom Recognition And Intervention Times In The Rio Grande Valley, Joshua M. Ninan, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

This is a retrospective study that aims to evaluate the duration from onset of stroke-like symptoms to presentation to medical facilities for aid in the Rio Grande Valley. The main goal of the study is to understand the extent of pre-hospital delays with regards to the treatment of stroke in the RGV.

Utrgv Student Run Clinic: The Past, The Present, And The Future, Jessica Flores, Elizabeth Althaus, Uchechi Ehiemua, Elio Garcia Sosa, Lucinda Hinojosa, Andrew Kolodziej, Dikachi Osaji, Asma Syed, Chelsea Chang

Research Symposium

Purpose: The UTRGV SOM Student Run Clinic (SRC) is a student- led organization that provides free primary care and promotes health equity in the Rio Grande Valley. Through the SRC, barriers of access to healthcare and health promotion are targeted, especially by emphasizing health literacy and patient advocacy. The SRC benefits not only our patients but medical students who work in the clinic, learning about the unique needs and culture of the underserved community while gaining clinical experience.

Description: The SRC brings teams of volunteer medical students and physicians to Peñitas, TX to provide free primary healthcare to vulnerable populations, …

Quality Of Nutritional Care During Pregnancy: Folic Acid And Vitamin D Supplementation, Isabel Omaña-Guzmán, Monica Ancira-Moreno, Cecilia Pérez-Navarro, Sonia Hernández-Cordero, Soraya Burrola Méndez, Eric Monterrubio-Flores, Arturo Bautista Morales, Omar Acosta Ruiz, Constanza Bernat, Belén Sánchez,, Ariana Cajero

Research Symposium

Backgrounds: Folic acid (FA) and vitamin D supplementation is recommended during pregnancy. Quality nutritional care during pregnancy should include the supplementation of these vitamins. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the quality of nutritional care regarding supplementation during pregnancy in primary health care units in six states of Mexico (Estado de México, Oaxaca, Yucatán, Chihuahua, Veracruz and Chiapas).

Methods: A mixed study was conducted. An indicator (formed by two sub-indicators) to assess the quality of nutritional care focused on FA and vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy was developed and validated. To assess the quality of care, a …

Primary Care Behavioral Health Partnerships Advancing & Transforming Health Sciences (Pcbh Paths), Kristan Diaz-Rios, Deepu George, Maria Hernandez, Evan Garcia, Myrna Ruiz, Salvador Arellano Iii

Research Symposium

Purpose: Primary Care Behavioral Health Partnerships Advancing & Transforming Health Sciences (PCBH PATHS) is a workforce development pipeline project aimed at permanently augmenting UTRGV’s institutional capacity to address shortage of an Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) competent workforce locally, regionally and nationally. Our initiative, aligned with UTRGV strategic priorities and key initiatives, will integrate basic(model specific strategy and operational elements), mid-level (role identity and profession specific behavioral competencies specific to each health profession), and advanced (behavioral medicine clinical skills) applications of the evidence based PCBH model of delivery. A PCBH focused delivery system (clinical and educational), in which primary care providers …

Influence Of Age, Race, And Ethnicity On Pre-Hospital Stroke Time Intervals In The Rio Grande Valley., Elio E. Garcia Sosa

Research Symposium

Currently, stroke represents one of the leading causes of death in the USA. Despite recent advances in acute stroke management such as thrombolytic administration and/or endovascular intervention, many patients remain ineligible for these treatments due to delay in treatment. There has been a great emphasis by healthcare professionals on improving “door to needle” time with very encouraging results. Unfortunately, there still exists a gap in these delays, and that is the onset to hospital presentation interval. This study aims at evaluating the time interval from the onset of the symptoms to when the patient presents to the healthcare facility. The …

Obesity Management In Primary Care Medicine: A Review Of Obesity Perception And Barriers To Weight Loss, Asma Syed, Saima Siddiqui

Research Symposium

Background: This project addresses the obesity epidemic in America. According to the CDC, in 2018, the US obesity prevalence was 42.4%. Obesity is linked to many conditions including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Successfully treating obesity can decrease these leading causes of preventable and premature deaths. A proper understanding of the successes and failures of current obesity management in primary care medicine with the help of qualitative research through patient and provider interviews can elucidate the best practices to reduce the burden of disease in America.

Methods: A review of literature was conducted …

Mixed Method Approach Towards The Life Of University Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Raihan Khan, Andrew White, Tony Jehi

Department of Health Sciences - Faculty Scholarship

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the higher education system. This mixed-methods study aimed to assess COVID-19 fear, anxiety, and stress among Shenandoah Valley college students.

Methods

An online survey was fielded and completed by n=680 students. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 students.

Results

The mean participant age was 22.14±5.48 years, and primarily White (81.9%), women (80.4%), and undergraduate (78.0%) students. Approximately 41% were enrolled in health-related majors (41.4%). Women students had significantly higher anxiety, depression, and fear of contracting COVID-19 than men. Undergraduate students had significantly higher depression than graduate students. Qualitative analysis revealed several major themes: …

Community Mobility And Depressive Symptoms During The Covid-19 Pandemic In The United States, Roy H. Perlis, Kristin Lunz Trujillo, Alauna Safarpour, Alexi Quintana, Matthew D. Simonson, Jasper Perlis, Mauricio Santillana, Katherine Ognyanova, Matthew A. Baum, James N. Druckman, David Lazer

Political Science Faculty Publications

Importance Marked elevation in levels of depressive symptoms compared with historical norms have been described during the COVID-19 pandemic, and understanding the extent to which these are associated with diminished in-person social interaction could inform public health planning for future pandemics or other disasters.

Objective To describe the association between living in a US county with diminished mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic and self-reported depressive symptoms, while accounting for potential local and state-level confounding factors.

Design, Setting, and Participants This survey study used 18 waves of a nonprobability internet survey conducted in the United States between May 2020 and April …

Patient Specific Normalized Glandular Dose Range Estimate For Mammography, Lacey Medlock

LSU Master's Theses

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the United States. It is also the second leading cause of death by cancer among women in the United States. Early detection is key to preventing fatalities. There are over 39 million mammography screening procedures performed yearly [3]. We know that exposure to radiation, including in routine mammography, may induce secondary cancers [4]. Thus, it is important to be able to accurately estimate the dose delivered to a patient during breast cancer screening. The dose delivered to a patient is regulated in the US and in many other …

Suicide Ideation And Behavior And Atod Use Among Bisexual High School Students, Michael S. Dunn, John F. Yannessa

Public Health

Research has indicated that sexual minorities have higher prevalence rates for ATOD use and suicide ideation and behavior compared to heterosexual youth. Yet, most studies to date have combined gay, lesbian, and bisexuals into one category. This study sought to assess the uniqueness of bisexuality to assess the risk of ATOD use and suicide ideation and behavior among bisexual high school students. Data for this study were derived from the 2019 Centers for Disease Control’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Chi-square analysis was conducted to determine the prevalence of ATOD use and suicide ideation and behavior. Logistic regression was then …

A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial To Assess Antibiotic Pocket Irrigation On Tissue Expander Breast Reconstruction, Jennifer N Walker, Blake M Hanson, Tayler Hunter, Shelby R Simar, Jesus M Duran Ramirez, Chloe L P Obernuefemann, Rajiv P Parikh, Marissa M Tenenbaum, Julie A Margenthaler, Scott J Hultgren, Terence M Myckatyn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Bacterial infection is the most common complication following staged post-mastectomy breast reconstruction initiated with a tissue expander (TE). to limit bacterial infection, antibiotic irrigation of the surgical site is commonly performed despite little high-quality data to support this practice. We performed a prospective randomized control trial to compare the impact of saline irrigation alone to a triple antibiotic irrigation regimen (1 g cefazolin, 80 mg gentamicin, and 50,000 units of bacitracin in 500 mL of saline) for breast implant surgery. The microbiome in breasts with cancer (

Examining Cancer Patients' Perceptions Of The Impact Of Covid-19 On Teleoncology: Findings From 15 Nigerian Outpatient Cancer Clinics, Adedayo Joseph, Abdul R. Shour, Nwamaka N. Lasebikan, Mutiu A. Jimoh, Bolanle C. Adegboyega, Emmanuella Nwachukwu, Opeyemi Awofeso, Azeezat Ajose, Abiola Ibraheem, Omolara Aminat Fatiregun, Musa Ali-Gombe, Usman M. Aliyu, Abdallah Elsaid Kotkat, Olusegun Abayomi Biyi-Olutunde, Evaristus Oseiwe Oboh, Ismail H. Zubairu, Mohammad Rifat Haider, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., David Puthoff, Adedayo A. Onitilo

Faculty Publications

Purpose

To examine cancer patients' perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on teleoncology in Nigeria.

Methods

Data from a multicenter survey conducted at 15 outpatient clinics to 1,097 patients with cancer from April and July 2020 were analyzed. The study outcome was telemedicine, defined as patients who reported their routine follow-up visits were converted to virtual visits because of COVID-19 (coded yes/no). Covariates included patient age, ethnicity, marital status, income, cancer treatment, service disruption, and cancer diagnosis/type. Stata/SE.v.17 (StataCorp, College Station, TX) was used to perform chi-square and logistic regression analyses. P values ≤ .05 were considered statistically significant.

Results …

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Exploring Conformational Landscapes And Cryptic Binding Pockets In Distinct Functional States Of The Sars-Cov-2 Omicron Ba.1 And Ba.2 Trimers: Mutation-Induced Modulation Of Protein Dynamics And Network-Guided Prediction Of Variant-Specific Allosteric Binding Sites, Gennady M. Verkhivker, Mohammed Alshahrani, Grace Gupta

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

A significant body of experimental structures of SARS-CoV-2 spike trimers for the BA.1 and BA.2 variants revealed a considerable plasticity of the spike protein and the emergence of druggable binding pockets. Understanding the interplay of conformational dynamics changes induced by the Omicron variants and the identification of cryptic dynamic binding pockets in the S protein is of paramount importance as exploring broad-spectrum antiviral agents to combat the emerging variants is imperative. In the current study, we explore conformational landscapes and characterize the universe of binding pockets in multiple open and closed functional spike states of the BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron …

Assessing Perspectives Of A Global Health Area Of Concentration Within The Pharmd Curriculum, Jennifer Ko, Lauren Jonkman, Vidya Balakrishna Sharma, Emily Liu, Sharon E. Connor

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

While global health education in pharmacy expands, limited research has described the outcome of completing a global health area of concentration on career decisions, perceptions on cultural sensitivity, health disparity awareness, and global health competencies among pharmacists and students.

Methods

This mixed methods study enrolled 21 graduates and 17 student pharmacists who participated in a global health concentration at one school of pharmacy in the United States. Data sources included graduate interviews and surveys, student pharmacist focus groups, and global health competency self-assessments.

Results

Five themes emerged among graduates: (1) skills were applicable to diverse settings, (2) early exposure …

Tmem27 Suppresses Tumor Development By Promoting Ret Ubiquitination, Positioning, And Degradation, Qianjin Guo, Zi-Ming Cheng, Hector Gonzalez-Cantú, Matthew Rotondi, Gabriela Huelgas-Morales, Purushoth Ethiraj, Zhijun Qiu, Jonathan Lefkowitz, Wan Song, Bethany N Landry, Hector Lopez, Cynthia M Estrada-Zuniga, Shivi Goyal, Mohammad Aasif Khan, Timothy J Walker, Exing Wang, Faqian Li, Yanli Ding, Lois M Mulligan, Ricardo C T Aguiar, Patricia L M Dahia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The TMEM127 gene encodes a transmembrane protein of poorly known function that is mutated in pheochromocytomas, neural crest-derived tumors of adrenomedullary cells. Here, we report that, at single-nucleus resolution, TMEM127-mutant tumors share precursor cells and transcription regulatory elements with pheochromocytomas carrying mutations of the tyrosine kinase receptor RET. Additionally, TMEM127-mutant pheochromocytomas, human cells, and mouse knockout models of TMEM127 accumulate RET and increase its signaling. TMEM127 contributes to RET cellular positioning, trafficking, and lysosome-mediated degradation. Mechanistically, TMEM127 binds to RET and recruits the NEDD4 E3 ubiquitin ligase for RET ubiquitination and degradation via TMEM127 C-terminal PxxY motifs. Lastly, increased cell …

Revisiting The Master Food Volunteer Program: Examining How To Enhance Nutrition Education In The United States, Stacey Viera, Lindsey Haynes-Maslow

Journal of Extension

America’s diet-related illness crisis intersects with a lack of nutrition literacy, nutrition security, and systemic inequities. The Cooperative Extension Service’s (CES) national infrastructure could potentially provide equitable access to quality nutrition education in the US utilizing a Master Food Volunteer (MFV) model. This research brief examined preliminary evidence for the MFV model as a support for CES agents and paraprofessionals, and results show a paucity of evidence. Further research and a pilot program with pre-established measures for health-related knowledge and behaviors could elucidate the model’s potential to increase equitable access to evidence-based programming, nutrition, and implementation guidance.

Development And Evaluation Of Impact Statements For The Expanded Food And Nutrition Education Program (Efnep), Kylie Pybus, Ronald L. Gibbs Jr., Karen Franck, M. Catalina Aragón

Journal of Extension

Extension professionals often communicate program outcomes to external stakeholders using impact statements. We developed and evaluated four impact statements for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). We drafted the statements after conducting literature reviews for core content areas of EFNEP that include diet quality, food resource management, physical activity, and food safety. Subsequently, we evaluated the statements by facilitating expert panels made up of subject matter experts and communication professionals (n=14) from 12 Land-grant Universities. These impact statements aim to support EFNEP and other Extension professionals when communicating program value with key external stakeholders.

Building Strength Through Collaboration: What Faith Community Nurses Need To Know, Marcia A. Potter

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

This article is a practical guide and viewpoint narrative that offers definitions, justifications for, process steps, and a how-to checklist for Faith Community Nurses considering collaboration between multiple agencies outside of their own. The author offers simple guidelines and how-to advice on securing success, avoiding risks, and preventing costly misunderstandings between cooperating agencies when combining resources.

Oral Dosages Of The Nsaid Aspirin Decreased The Growth Rate Of Species Found In The Human Gut Microbiome Including Akkermansia Muciniphila, Bacteroides Fragilis, Clostridium Sordellii, And Clostridium Difficile, Wyatt H. Greenbaum, Garrett J. Greenbaum, Anna Spiezio

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Over past few decades, new insight has been revealed in the scientific community about the importance of the human gut microbiome relating to general health. It is known that imbalances in the species that reside in the human gut can cause organism-wide problems in humans. When prescribing or injecting oral medications, the thought of the downstream effects on the gut microbiome are not always considered. By exposing known healthy members of the gut; Akkermansia muciniphila, Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium sordellii, and Clostridium difficile to the Aspirin, this study attempted to provide insight into the effects of the drug on bacterial growth. …

Dispensing With Reductionism And Dualism: Biological Anthropological Perspectives Towards Understanding Disease, Epidemics, And Pandemics, Anne Grauer

Anthropology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

At no time in recent history has the topic of disease, epidemics and pandemics been more at the forefront of public conversation than it is now. Previously, the threat of epidemics such as Ebola, the 1918 influenza epidemic, and the plague, were commonly framed as “back then” or “over there.” Perhaps COVID ended the public's delusion. For biological anthropologists, however, the perspective has differed appreciably. Pandemics and epidemics are viewed as integral and repeated aspects of human existence, and the kindling to start an outbreak of gargantuan proportion has been delicately stacked for centuries (if not millennia). If the public …

Prevalence Of Post-Liver Transplant Complications And Nash-Related Cirrhosis In Postmenopausal Women, Natalia Salinas Parra, Michelle Schafer, Heather M. Ross, John Bruckbauer, Brian Yan, Sarah L. Chen, Adnan Khan Do, Danielle M. Tholey, Dina Halegoua-De Marzio

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Compared to premenopausal women, postmenopausal women are at greater risk of developing NAFLD and NASH, two common indications for liver transplantation (LT). We aim to determine the prevalence of NASH-related cirrhosis in postmenopausal women from a cohort of LT patients and investigate their post-LT complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chart review of 1200 LT patients from 2002-2020 was performed. Postmenopausal women were defined as women over 51 and compared to a control group of men over 51. Prevalence of LT indications was determined. Subgroup analysis assessed cardiovascular disease risk. BMI and ASCVD risk scores were calculated at the …

Religious Commitment And Intent To Die By Suicide During The Pandemic, Karen Mason, Melinda Moore, Jerry K. Palmer, Zihan Yang

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 10–34-year-olds in the U.S. It is vital to identify protective factors that promote resilience in a suicide crisis. Background: This study explored the contributions of religious commitment (RC) and religious service attendance to decreased suicide intent in 18–34-year-olds. Possible moderators were investigated, including church-based social support, pandemic-related faith struggles (PRFS), and moral objections to suicide. Methods: Participants completed an online survey reporting on RC, suicide intent, church-based social support, religious service attendance, PRFS, and moral objections to suicide. Results: In the convenience sample of 451 18–34-year-olds (M = 24.97; 47.23% female), …

Building On The Health Policy Analysis Triangle: Elucidation Of The Elements, Aysha Zahidie, Saima Asif, Meesha Iqbal

Community Health Sciences

The health policy triangle first presented in the 20th century by Walt and Gilson has been extensively used at local, national, regional, and international levels to assess health policies related to communicable and non-communicable diseases, physical and mental health, antenatal and postnatal care, and human resources, services, and systems. However, the framework lacks intricate details for the four pillars in the triangle viz: 'content,' 'context', 'actors', and 'processes. We propose a checklist of elements to be considered for each pillar; to ease and enhance the process of policy analyses for researchers and policymakers across the globe, including low- and middle-income …

The Social Determinants Of Health And Reentry: An Exploratory Study, Makayla Lewis, Brian Schaefer, Heather Ouellette

The Cardinal Edge

Being released from jail affects a person’s ability to secure basic needs such as health, housing, and employment. Compounding these barriers are issues related to returning to impoverished communities, complicated relationships with families and support systems, and minimal reentry opportunities within jails and upon release. This study explores how the Opportunity Network’s reentry workbook is working to address the social determinants of health and improve perceptions of successful reentry outcomes.