Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

What’S Next For Tobacco Control Efforts? Health Equity Related Lessons Learned From A National Qualitative Study On Tobacco Control And Prevention, Courtney A. Parks, Hollyanne E. Fricke, Alethea Chiappone, Jennie L. Hill, Amy L. Yaroch

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Context: Despite gains in the tobacco prevention and control movement, tobacco products remain a threat, with specific populations at greater risk.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to examine the role that leaders in the tobacco prevention and control movement have played in progress achieved to date and identify recommendations for the future using a health equity framework. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role that leading organizations in the tobacco prevention and control movement have played in progress achieved to date, identify future recommendations within the context of current public health priorities (e.g., obesity prevention), …

Implicit Bias Against Bipoc Patients In Clinical Settings: A Qualitative Review, Raisa Kabir, Sayeda Tazim Zaidi

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) from stigmatized and marginalized communities face implicit bias in medicine. Implicit biases are unconscious attitudes and internalized discrimination developed through repeated practices based on stereotypes from a foundation of systematic racism. In clinical settings, it impacts individuals’ healthcare experience and treatment outcomes. This study aimed to characterize and address implicit bias among healthcare providers toward BIPOC patients in clinical settings. A literature search in MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, PsyArticles, PsycINFO from EBSCO databases was conducted to include all peer-reviewed studies (2012-2021) about implicit bias toward BIPOC. Most healthcare providers have some form of implicit bias-positive …

The State Of Mental Health In The Mountain West, Olivia K. Cheche, Kristian Thymianos, Katie M. Gilbertson, Kelliann Beavers, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet explores mental health rankings of Mountain West states from Mental Health America’s (MHA) 2022 report, The State of Mental Health in America. This study offers a snapshot of U.S. mental health based on data across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. MHA is the nation’s leading community based mental health nonprofit, founded in 1909, and “dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all.” This report is a companion to MHA’s interactive data available through its website.

Sources Of Information That Introduced Exercise Science Students To Their Major, Erin Vanderbunt, Doug Brtek

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 3: Issue 1, Article 3, 2022. This study examined the most influential sources of information that first introduced exercise science undergraduate students to their current major and sought to determine if any differences existed between demographic variables. An electronic questionnaire ranking the level of influence of 27 potential sources of information was completed by 131 exercise science students at a regional, midwestern university. Personal experience with the major, health care professionals in the major, and friend or family member in the major were among the highest non-college related sources, while college introductory courses …

Trends And Age-Related Characteristics Of Substance Use In The Hospitalized Homeless Population, Sung-Youn Chun, Ji W. Yoo, Hyeki Park, Jinwook Hwang, Pearl C. Kim, Seong Park, Jay J. Shen

School of Medicine Faculty Research

We aimed to examine trends and characteristics of substance use (opioid, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin) among hospitalized homeless patients in comparison with other hospitalized patients in 3 states. This was a cross-sectional study, based on the 2007 to 2015 State Inpatient Data of Arizona, Florida, and Washington (n= 32,162,939). Use of opioid, cocaine, marijuana, heroin, respectively, was identified by the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision. Multi-level multivariable regressions were performed to estimate relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Dependent variables were the use of substances (opioid, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin), respectively. The main independent variable was homeless …

Patient Digital Health Technologies To Support Primary Care Across Clinical Contexts: Survey Of Primary Care Providers, Behavioral Health Consultants, And Nurses, Oleg Zaslavsky, Frances Chu, Brenna N. Renn

Psychology Faculty Research

Background: The acceptance of digital health technologies to support patient care for various clinical conditions among primary care providers and staff has not been explored. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the extent of potential differences between major groups of providers and staff in primary care, including behavioral health consultants (BHCs; eg, psychologists, social workers, and counselors), primary care providers (PCPs; eg, physicians and nurse practitioners), and nurses (registered nurses and licensed practical nurses) in the acceptance of various health technologies (ie, mobile apps, wearables, live video, phone, email, instant chats, text messages, social media, and patient …

Association Between Shift Rotation And 30-Year Framingham Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease Among Male Workers In A Medium-Sized Manufacturing Factory, An-Yi Hung, Lung-Chang Chien, Ro-Ting Lin

Epidemiology & Biostatistics Faculty Research

Rotating shift work is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study compared the CVD risk score in 129 male line workers aged 22–49 years on different shifts in a medium-sized metal production factory from 2017 to 2020. We classified workers into four groups: permanent day shift, weekly rotation involving five consecutive nights, weekly rotation involving 3–4 consecutive nights, and monthly rotation involving two consecutive nights. We used the Framingham Risk Score to estimate the 30-yr risks of general and hard CVD (CVD risk estimates). We investigated the differences in CVD risk estimates between different groups using …

Healthy Ageing And Intellectual Disability Study: Summary Of Findings And The Protocol For The 10-Year Follow-Up Study, Marleen J. De Leeuw, Alyt Oppewal, Roy G. Elbers, Mireille W. E. J. Knulst, Marco C. Van Maurik, Marjoleine C. Van Bruggen, Thessa I.M. Hilgenkamp, Patrick J.E. Bindels, Dederike A.M. Maes-Festen

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Introduction The Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disability (HA-ID) study is a prospective multicentre cohort study in the Netherlands that started in 2008, including 1050 older adults (aged ≥50) with intellectual disabilities (ID). The study is designed to learn more about the health and health risks of this group as they age. Compared with the amount of research in the general population, epidemiological research into the health of older adults with ID is still in its infancy. Longitudinal data about the health of this vulnerable and relatively unhealthy group are needed so that policy and care can be prioritised and for …

A Theoretical Framework For Addressing Fear Of Falling Avoidance Behavior In Parkinson’S Disease, Merrill R. Landers, Maria H. Nilsson

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Postural instability in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with several downstream consequences that ultimately lead to a greater risk of falling. Among the prominent downstream consequences is fear of falling (FOF), which is both common and problematic in PD. It can lead to a vicious cycle of FOF avoidance behavior that results in more sedentary behavior, physical deconditioning, and weakening of already impaired balance systems. This, in turn, may make the person with PD more susceptible to a future fall even with benign daily tasks. While FOF activity avoidance can be adaptive (appropriate), it can also be maladaptive (inappropriate or …

Angular Momentum In Skilled Kicking Pullover Performed By Elementary School Children, Yutaka Shimizu, Saburo Nishimura, Shoichi Matsushita

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 3: Issue 1, Article 2, 2022. This study aimed to clarify the differences in body positions and the role of the swing leg, support leg, and head-arm-trunk segment in generating and maintaining angular momentum of the whole body about a horizontal bar as well as how to improve the skill level of successful kicking pullover attempts. Two-dimensional kinematic parameters of successful kicking pullover attempts and body composition indices of 26 fifth-grade elementary school children were collected. Their techniques were classified into excellent and good groups based on the subjective evaluation of three evaluators. …

Velocity-Based Training: Current Concepts And Future Directions, Toby Brooks, Wil Fleming, Larry Munger, Katie Munger

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology 3(1): Article 1, 2022. Velocity-based training (VBT) is a current approach to resistance training that relies on measured bar, implement, and/or athlete speed to formulate and adjust training for both long-term programming and daily training sessions. Relying on a number of available tools of varying levels of accuracy, VBT can help the strength and conditioning specialist and/or the rehabilitation professional to not only better predict strength and power over time, but also to adjust training loads in order to maximize training response in a given session. While the appeal and price points of available …

Explaining Correlates Of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Minority Women In The United States, Manoj Sharma, Kavita Batra, Christopher Johansen, Siddharth Raich

Social and Behavioral Health Faculty Research

Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of death among women. While overall cervical cancer rates have decreased over the last few decades, minority women continue to be disproportionately affected compared to White women. Given the paucity of theory-based interventions to promote Pap smear tests among minority women, this cross-sectional study attempts to examine the correlates of cervical cancer screening by Pap test using the Multi-theory Model (MTM) as a theoretical paradigm among minority women in the United States (U.S.). Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was done for testing the construct validity of the survey instrument. Data were analyzed through …

Covid-19 Vaccination Rates In Nevada Counties, December 2021, Kristian Thymianos, Olivia K. Cheche, William E. Brown Jr., Caitlin J. Saladino

Health

This fact sheet presents vaccination rates in Nevada counties as originally reported by the Data Strategy and Execution Workgroup in the Joint Coordination Cell, under the White House COVID-19 Team in the December 30th “COVID-19 Community Profile Report.” Data on one-dose and full vaccination rates are presented.

Do People With Low Back Pain Walk Differently? A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jo Armour Smith, Heidi Stabbert, Jennifer J. Bagwell, Hsiang-Ling Teng, Vernie Wade, Szu-Ping Lee

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Background

The biomechanics of the trunk and lower limbs during walking and running gait are frequently assessed in individuals with low back pain (LBP). Despite substantial research, it is still unclear whether consistent and generalizable changes in walking or running gait occur in association with LBP. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify whether there are differences in biomechanics during walking and running gait in individuals with acute and persistent LBP compared with back-healthy controls.

Methods

A search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO in June 2019 and was repeated in December 2020. Studies were included …

Brain And Spinal Cord Adaptations Associated With Patellofemoral Pain: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Kai-Yu Ho, Jing Nong Liang, Savanna Budge, Austin Madriaga, Kara Meske, Derrick Nguyenton

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Objective: To evaluate the evidence for altered cortical and spinal cord functions in individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP).

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of databases to appraise and analyze the studies published prior to December 10, 2021 that examined spinal reflex excitability measured using Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) amplitudes, corticospinal excitability measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-elicited motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes, motor threshold (MT), or stimulus-response (SR) curves, cortical reorganization assessed using TMS cortical mapping or structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or functional changes of the brain assessed using functional MRI (fMRI) in individuals with PFP.

Results: Eight studies …

Diabetes: Risk Factor And Translational Therapeutic Implications For Alzheimer's Disease, Jeffrey Cummings, Andrew Ortiz, Janelle Castellino, Jefferson Kinney

Integrated Health Sciences Faculty Research

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) commonly co-occur. T2DM increases the risk for AD by approximately twofold. Animal models provide one means of interrogating the relationship of T2DM to AD and investigating brain insulin resistance in the pathophysiology of AD. Animal models show that persistent hyperglycaemia results in chronic low-grade inflammation that may contribute to the development of neuroinflammation and accelerate the pathobiology of AD. Epidemiological studies suggest that patients with T2DM who received treatment with specific anti-diabetic agents have a decreased risk for the occurrence of AD and all-cause dementia. Agents such as metformin ameliorate T2DM …

Literature Review Of Omicron: A Grim Reality Amidst Covid-19, Suraj Arora, Vishakha Grover, Priyanka Saluja, Youssef Abdullah Algarni, Shahabe Abullais Saquib, Shaik Mohammed Asif, Kavita Batra, Mohammed Y. Alshahrani, Gotam Das, Rajni Jain, Anchal Ohri

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first emerged in Wuhan city in December 2019, and became a grave global concern due to its highly infectious nature. The Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus-2, with its predecessors (i.e., MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV) belong to the family of Coronaviridae. Reportedly, COVID-19 has infected 344,710,576 people around the globe and killed nearly 5,598,511 persons in the short span of two years. On November 24, 2021, B.1.1.529 strain, later named Omicron, was classified as a Variant of Concern (VOC). SARS-CoV-2 has continuously undergone a series of unprecedented mutations and evolved to exhibit varying characteristics. These mutations have largely occurred …

Subthreshold Vibration Influences Standing Balance But Has Unclear Impact On Somatosensation In Persons With Transtibial Amputations, Zachary S. Meade, Aaron D. Likens, Jenny A. Kent, Kota Z. Takahashi, Shane R. Wurdeman, Adam L. Jacobsen, Manuel E. Hernandez, Nick Stergiou

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Stochastic resonance has been successfully used to improve human movement when using subthreshold vibration. Recent work has shown promise in improving mobility in individuals with unilateral lower limb amputations. Furthering this work, we present an investigation of two different signal structures in the use of stochastic resonance to improve mobility in individuals with unilateral lower limb amputations. Cutaneous somatosensation and standing balance measures using spatial and temporal analysis were assessed. There were no differences in the somatosensation measures, but differences in the temporal characteristics of the standing measures were seen with the various vibration structures when compared to no vibration, …

Women's Safety In Nevada, Tsion Mekonnen, Aika Dietz

Research Briefs

43.8% of Nevadan women experience domestic violence in their lifetime (2020).

Perspectives Of Orthodontists Of The Diagnosis, Prevention, And Management Of White Spot Lesions: A Qualitative Study, Salwa Taibah, Neamat Hassan Abubakr Hassan, Hassan Ziada

Dental Medicine Faculty Research

Aims: Several factors influence the development of white spot lesions (WSLs), and one of these is fixed orthodontic appliances. This study aims to evaluate the awareness, preventive strategies, and management of WSLs among a group of Orthodontists. Materials and Methods: A qualitative methodology was applied; four focus groups made up a purposive sample from Orthodontists with various training backgrounds while working within the same healthcare services. Results: Three main themes emerged: awareness and ability to diagnose WSLs, perceived influences on the development of WSLs, and prevention and management strategies and barriers to care delivery. All focus groups agreed that there …

Factors Associated With Opioid Overdose After An Initial Opioid Prescription, Scott G. Weiner, Sanae El Ibrahimi, Michelle A. Hendricks, Sara E. Hallvik, Christi Hildebran, Michael A. Fischer, Roger D. Weiss, Edward W. Boyer, Peter W. Kreiner, Dagan A. Wright, Diana P. Flores, Grant A. Ritter

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Importance: The opioid epidemic continues to be a public health crisis in the US. Objective: To assess the patient factors and early time-varying prescription-related factors associated with opioid-related fatal or nonfatal overdose. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study evaluated opioid-naive adult patients in Oregon using data from the Oregon Comprehensive Opioid Risk Registry, which links all payer claims data to other health data sets in the state of Oregon. The observational, population-based sample filled a first (index) opioid prescription in 2015 and was followed up until December 31, 2018. Data analyses were performed from March 1, 2020, to June …

Gestational Exposure To Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers And Social Skills And Problem Behaviors In Adolescents: The Home Study, Kim Hartley, Melinda C. Macdougall, Brandon Terrizzi, Yingying Xu, Kim M. Cecil, Aimin Chen, Joseph M. Braun, Bruce P. Lanphear, Nicholas C. Newman, Ann M. Vuong, Andreas Sjödin, Kimberly Yolton

Epidemiology & Biostatistics Faculty Research

Background: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent environmental pollutants used as flame retardants. Gestational PBDE exposure has been associated with a variety of behavior problems in children, but little is known about its impact into adolescence, particularly on social skills, which are important for achieving social competence, establishing identity, and forming lasting relationships. Objective: We investigated associations between gestational exposure to PBDEs and social skills and problem behaviors in early adolescence in a longitudinal pregnancy and birth cohort in Cincinnati, Ohio (recruited 2003–2006). Methods: We measured maternal serum concentrations of five PBDE congeners during gestation. At age 12, we measured …

Patient Engagement In Cosmetic Designing Of Prostheses: Current Practice And Potential Outcome Benefits, Szu-Ping Lee, Cailin Mitchell, Kenneth Repayo, Matthew Tillitt, Collin Weber, Lung-Chang Chien, Chris Doerger

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Background: Making a prosthesis for an individual with limb loss is a highly personalized process. A currently unexplored area is whether there are tangible benefits in greater patient engagement during the cosmetic designing of their prostheses. We examined the current clinical practice of engaging patients in prosthetic cosmetic designing and identified factors associated with patient outcomes.

Methods: One hundred and four prosthetists and 28 prosthesis users were surveyed in this cross-sectional study. The question- naires covered aspects of prosthetic prescription and fabrication, users’ perceived level of engagement, and self-reported outcomes.

Regression analyses were used to examine the associations between patients’ …

Ten-Year Trends Of Utilizing Palliative Care And Palliative Procedures In Patients With Gastric Cancer In The United States From 2009 To 2018 - A Nationwide Database Study, Moon Kyung Joo, Ji Won Yoo, Zahra Mojtahedi, Pearl Kim, Jinwook Hwang, Ja Seol Koo, Hee Taik Kang, Jay J. Shen

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Objectives: Little is known about the current status and the changing trends of hospitalization and palliative care consultation of patients with gastric cancer in the United States. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changing trend in the number of hospitalization, palliative care consultation, and palliative procedures in the US during a recent 10-year period using a nationwide database. Methods: This was a retrospective study that analyzed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database of 2009–2018. Patients aged more than 18 years who were diagnosed with a gastric cancer using International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and 10 codes were …

Mechanisms Of Memory Updating: State Dependency Vs. Reconsolidation, Christopher Kiley, Colleen M. Parks

Psychology Faculty Research

Reactivating a memory trace has been argued to put it in a fragile state where it must undergo a stabilization process known as reconsolidation. During this process, memories are thought to be susceptible to interference and can be updated with new information. In the spatial context paradigm, memory updating has been shown to occur when new information is presented in the same spatial context as old information, an effect attributed to a reconsolidation process. However, the integration concept holds that memory change can only occur when reactivation and test states are the same, similar to a state-dependent effect. Thus, in …

Dental Pulp Stem Cell Heterogeneity: Finding Superior Quality “Needles” In A Dental Pulpal “Haystack” For Regenerative Medicine-Based Applications, Zi Y. Kok, Nadia Y.A. Alaidaroos, Amr Alraies, John S. Colombo, Lindsay C. Davies, Rachel J. Waddington, Alastair J. Sloan, Ryan Moseley

Dental Medicine Faculty Research

Human dental pulp stem/stromal cells (hDPSCs) derived from the permanent secondary dentition are recognised to possess certain advantageous traits, which support their potential use as a viable source of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) for regenerative medicine-based applications. However, the well-established heterogeneous nature of hDPSC subpopulations, coupled with their limited numbers within dental pulp tissues, has impeded our understanding of hDPSC biology and the translation of sufficient quantities of these cells from laboratory research, through successful therapy development and clinical applications. This article reviews our current understanding of hDPSC biology and the evidence underpinning the molecular basis of their heterogeneity, which …

Online Teaching Of Program Planning & Evaluation, Manoj Sharma

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Program Planning & Evaluation (PBH 440-1001) offered by the School of Public Health at University of Nevada, Las Vegas was taught asynchronously online by Manoj Sharma to undergraduate students (primarily from public health) in Spring 2021 (n=34). This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to systematically develop, implement, and evaluate health-related programs, services, and interventions. The specific teaching techniques that were used in teaching this course were organizing the entire course in Canvas and making it available from day 1, recording all lectures beforehand in Panopto, utilizing cases studies in modules, embedding journal articles …

Mobile Health App For Adolescents: Motion Sensor Data And Deep Learning Technique To Examine The Relationship Between Obesity And Walking Patterns, Sungchul Lee, Eunmin Hwang, Yanghee Kim, Fatih Demir, Hyunhwa Lee, Joshua J. Mosher, Eunyoung Jang, Kiho Lim

Nursing Faculty Research

With the prevalence of obesity in adolescents, and its long-term influence on their overall health, there is a large body of research exploring better ways to reduce the rate of obesity. A traditional way of maintaining an adequate body mass index (BMI), calculated by measuring the weight and height of an individual, is no longer enough, and we are in need of a better health care tool. Therefore, the current research proposes an easier method that offers instant and real-time feedback to the users from the data collected from the motion sensors of a smartphone. The study utilized the mHealth …

The Resilience Of Middle-Aged And Older Men Who Have Sex With Men To Hiv/Aids: Southern Nevada Stakeholder Perspectives In The 21st Century, Renato M. Liboro, Sherry Bell, Brandon Ranuschio, Jenna Despres, Trinity Puno, Aruna Sedere, Nadia Sheik Yosef, Esmeralda Villalobos, Janelle Wackens, Lianne Barnes

Psychology Faculty Research

This community report presents the findings and analysis of a survey that was part of the quantitative stage of a mixed-method Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) project dedicated to examine the perspectives and lived experiences of racially and ethnically diverse, middle-aged and older men who have sex with men in Southern Nevada on factors that build and promote their resilience to HIV/AIDS. The CBPR project was conducted in collaboration with community partners such as the LGBTQIA+ Community Center of Southern Nevada, Southern Nevada Health District’s Ryan White Program, Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada, and numerous other agencies from Clark County …

Common Features In Compulsive Sexual Behavior, Substance Use Disorders, Personality, Temperament And Attachment—A Narrative Review, Yaniv Efrati, Shane W. Kraus, Gal Kaplan

Psychology Faculty Research

Do addictions share common traits of an “addictive personality” or do different addictions have distinct personality profiles? This narrative review examines the differences in the associations between substance use disorder (SUD) and compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD), on the one hand, and personality traits, attachment dispositions, and temperament, on the other hand. We found that both people with a SUD and people with CSBD tended to be more spontaneous, careless, and less reliable, to place self-interest above getting along with others, to show emotional instability and experience negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, and/or depression, to be less able to …