Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Factors Affecting Care Quality In South Dakota Nursing Homes, Brice Cowman, Debra S. Norris

Aesculapius Journal (Health Sciences & Medicine)

Research has shown that current healthcare infrastructure is unsuited to fulfill the needs of the quickly growing population of retired Americans, a large portion of whom will require some form of long term service or support. With this in mind, the purpose of this study is to determine how certain factors such as; the incidence of use of various classes of drugs, staffing measures and education of staff, local population, and facility size relate to the overall quality of care in South Dakota nursing homes. Population data was collected from the 2010 U.S. Census and specific nursing home data was …

An Initial Analysis Of Agricultural Trauma In South Dakota With An Emphasis On Work-Related Injuries, Jessica Simpkins, David Sturdevant, Gary Timmerman

Aesculapius Journal (Health Sciences & Medicine)

Background: Agricultural work involves unique occupational hazards, promptinga need for injury surveillance. The agricultural sector is one of the biggest entities supporting the economy and workforce of South Dakota, yet there is no formal surveillance system for agricultural injuries. This study seeks to establish the first report of trends in agricultural trauma in South Dakota with special attention to work-related injuries.

Methods: Data from the SD Trauma Registry from 2016-2018 was analyzed to identify agricultural traumatic events using specific ICD-9 and 10 codes. These events were further sorted to identify work-related injuries. A negative binomial regression was performed to help …

Pseudo-Methemoglobinemia Induced By Phenazopyridine, A Diagnostic Challenge, John W. Fanta, Susan E. Fanta

Aesculapius Journal (Health Sciences & Medicine)

A 58 y/o female presented to her clinician with perioral and nailbed cyanosis. She denied any cardiopulmonary symptoms. She had been taking phenazopyridine daily for dysuria over the past two weeks. Pulse oximetry showed a saturation of 84% on room air. Basic laboratory analysis was unrevealing, and blood gas was normal, but methemoglobin (MetHb) levels were markedly elevated on CO-oximetry. Phenazopyridine was stopped, methylene blue therapy was initiated, and the patient was admitted for observation. Despite this intervention her reported levels of MetHb remained high. The patient remained asymptomatic and a blood specimen sent to a larger healthcare system showed …

The Kinetics Of Influenza A (A/California/4/2009-H1n1) And B (B/Phuket/3073/2013 (Byam), B/Brisbane/60/2008 (Bvic)) Virus Infection In Ferrets, Demi L. Erickson

Honors Thesis

Influenza is a persistent threat to individual and global health. Seasonal influenza kills nearly 500,000 people globally each year. Influenza viruses have circulated within the human population, causing a significant disease burden. In order to create the most effective antiviral therapies, knowledge concerning all lineages of influenza must be studied accurately and thoroughly. The influenza virus itself is not always responsible for these mortalities, rather, the secondary bacterial infections associated with death. In order to protect the population and examine the secondary infections that arise, the kinetics of influenza must be studied entirely. To understand the kinetics, researchers are turning …

Whims (Washing Hands, Immunity Boost, Masking & Social Distancing), Srinivasan Ragothaman

Creative Work

This is a shot poem about preventing the spread of Covid-19. It pleads general public to wear masks, wash hands, social distance, and boost immunity. It is set to a popular tune in Hindi - Dil Ke Jharoke Mein.

Sex And Gender In Research On Healthcare Workers In Conflict Settings: A Scoping Review, Dana A. Halwani, Diana Mikati, Layal Hneiny

Faculty Publications

The occupational health literature has established that sex and gender are associated with all dimensions of the workplace. Sex and/or gender (sex/gender) factors play an important role in shaping the experiences, exposures, and health outcomes of male and female healthcare providers working in war and conflict settings. This study aims to (1) assess how sex/gender is considered in the occupational health literature on healthcare workers in conflict settings, and (2) identify the gaps in incorporating sex/gender concepts in this literature. A scoping review was carried out and nine electronic databases were searched using a comprehensive search strategy. Two reviewers screened …

Assisting Children With Velocardiofacial Syndrome Who Have Developmental Disabilities And Delays Associated With Speech, Communication, And Education, Mckenzie K. Holty

Honors Thesis

Children with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) have a variety of complex needs. Research shows that VCFS is characterized by a combination of medical problems, developmental delays, and learning disabilities, which vary from child to child. This syndrome also puts adolescents at a higher risk for developing psychiatric and psychotic disorders. The complexity of symptoms that can arise from VCFS can influence the ability of these children to communicate, socialize, and learn effectively. This literature review aims to discuss literature for caregivers, educators, and physicians to aid children effectively and understand their challenges relating to speech, communication, and education. This topic is …

The Class Of 2020, Srinivasan Ragothaman

Creative Work

The is a poem written in honor of the class of 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has robbed them of many fun activities in their final semester in college. The graduating seniors missed out on so many rites of passage such as march madness, commencement, award banquets, sports, labs, practice, face-to-face classes etc. for the last two months. Seniors are encouraged to have fortitude, practice patience, be grateful and show grit. The class of 2020 will conquer the world in due course. It is hoped that graduates will have imagination, will innovate and transform the world.

Identifying Determinants Of Target Specificity In Two Related Bacterial Peptide Toxins, Andrew D. Holmes

Honors Thesis

Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems were originally identified as two-component systems ensuring the stable inheritance of plasmids in bacterial populations. Recently, they have been identified on bacterial chromosomes where their functions remain mostly undefined. The par locus of E. faecalis plasmid pAD1 (par_pAD1) was the first TA system defined in a Gram-positive bacterium and a homolog encoded on the E. faecalis chromosome (par_EF0409) was later described. Related loci numbering in the hundreds have been identified throughout Gram-positive bacteria based on homology to the toxin of the system, Fst, and similarities in genetic organization and regulation. Despite …

Effect Of Sport-Specific Demands On Swimmer's Shoulder, Jordan A. Thielbar

Honors Thesis

Swimming is a unique sport in that the shoulders generate most of the propulsive force. Therefore, due to the large amounts of repetitive force, the shoulders generate during freestyle, swimmer’s shoulder is the most common injury among competitive swimmers. Freestyle biomechanics, muscular imbalances and posture all play a pertinent role in a swimmer’s risk for developing a shoulder injury during their swimming career. Swimmers typically develop large muscular imbalances between their dominant and nondominant shoulders due to several sport-specific demands including freestyle stroke mechanics, breathing, and body roll. These muscular imbalances alter a swimmer’s posture and freestyle biomechanics which eventually …

Influences Of Anti-Bd Bacteria On Amphibians And Their Microbiomes, Emme L. Schmidt

Honors Thesis

The fungal pathogen Batrochochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been threatening amphibian populations across the globe. Recent work has discovered that bacteria isolated from certain populations of amphibians protect hosts from this pathogen. This project focuses on the anti-fungal mechanisms of Serratia marcescens, a species of bacteria isolated from a Costa Rican frog that dramatically inhibited Bd in culture. Wild-type and recombinant S. marcescens was introduced to the microbiomes of a live amphibian host, Acris blanchardi (Blanchard’s Cricket Frog) and then challenged with Bd to examine the protective effects of this bacteria. The experiment includes recombinant S. marcescens with …

Life During A Pandemic, Srinivasan Ragothaman

Creative Work

This is a short poem (6 stanzas) about the current pandemic and the trials and tribulations people are going through. This describes the heroic efforts by the doctors, nurses, and other frontline warriors in tackling the virus related illnesses and pays a rich tribute to all heroes from every walk of life who are in the front fighting this disease. It hopes for a plan, a vaccine, and a cure soon. This poem also describes the switchover to remote instruction at a reginal University, student and faculty adjustments to the pandemic and pokes gentle fun at the opportunity to watch …

Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Literature Review And Comprehensive Treatment Analysis, Charlton Mechling

Honors Thesis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic and debilitating autoimmune disease. The varying levels of severity of rheumatoid arthritis make it notably unique. Rheumatoid arthritis is not strictly an inflammatory disease of the joints; it is an extensive disease with many extra-articular manifestations that complicate its treatment and management. In addition to being a disease that is internally driven by the body’s immune system, current research reveals the pervasive influence of environmental factors on the disease’s severity and activity. This literature review examines the pathophysiology of RA, its implications on the body, and current treatment options to ameliorate some of its …

The Victimization Of Native American Women In The United States: The Impact And Potential Underlying Factors, Kaci A. Clement

Honors Thesis

In recent decades, a topic of concern that has gained attention in the United States and throughout the world is violence against women. Surveys conducted nationally have found that there is a correlation between which racial group a woman identifies as and her likelihood to be victimized at some point in her life. American Indian/Alaskan Native women, in particular, are impacted by violence at disproportionate rates. However, definitive reasoning for the high rates of violence in these groups has not been fully investigated. There is a lack of surveillance and dissemination regarding this specific topic as well as other issues …

How Does Arch Height Factor Into Running-Related Injuries?, Taylor M. Brown

Honors Thesis

Running is popular and injuries associated with it are common. It is hypothesized that there are connections between running related injuries and their causes, some of which point to the biomechanics or arch type of the individual. The structure and function of the foot’s arch is unique across individuals and different effects related to its function during running have been shown to be important. How all these aspects are related to one another have been compiled and discussed, in hopes that increased research will result. There are suspected patterns between the injuries runners sustain and their arch type. The purpose …

Review Of Cerebral Palsy: The Various Intervention Techniques, Taylor Jo Schultz

Honors Thesis

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results from a disruption in the development in the infantile or fetal brain. It affects over 17 million people worldwide. The goal of this review paper is to provide an in-depth literature review behind the causes, diagnosis, associated disorders of CP as well as the treatment interventions that would lead to a comprehensive treatment plan for CP patients. There are many possible causes of CP, contrary to the popular belief that CP is only caused by hypoxia or ischemia at birth. Diagnosis requires determining the motor function, part(s) of the body affected, …

Bilingualism/Multilingualism To Protect Against Cognitive Decline In Alzheimer’S Disease And Other Forms Of Dementia: A Systematic Review, Kirsten L. May

Honors Thesis

Given a growing incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and lack of treatments, prevention is a popular topic in both research literature (Angevaren et al., 2008; Orrell & Sahakian, 1995) and in news articles (Iacono et al., 2009). A cognitive reserve is a skill that improves cognitive functioning in executive controls. Bilingualism is believed to be a practice that increases cognitive reserve, which could delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The purpose of this project was to analyze the possibility that bilingualism or multilingualism could create a cognitive reserve to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related diseases. This systematic …

History Of The South Dakota Human Services Center 1879-2019: Trials, Trends, And Tragedies To Transformation, Kate L. Katterhagen

Honors Thesis

The history of the South Dakota Human Services Center (HSC), located in Yankton, SD, spans 140 years, from the Dakota Territory days beginning in 1879 to the present. The trials, trends, and tragedies promoting transformation of the state psychiatric hospital are the focus of this thesis, with an emphasis on significant events that shaped the facility. This research examines the challenges and changes in public administration, treatment methods, and psychiatric medical practices. My research was accomplished through identification, retrieval, and review of archived materials, reports, published newspaper articles, and personal accounts. Societal, political, legal, medical, and historical perspectives frame my …

Biological And Social Links Between Eating Behavior And Stress Among College Students, Kailyn M. Mutsch

Honors Thesis

Stress and eating behaviors are known to be correlated in all ages but is primarily associated with young adults. This correlation can be attributed to both biological and social links. In this review, I detail the effects of stress on the brain in a biological manner and the areas of the brain associated with eating behavior. I will also discuss social factors that could contribute to the correlation between stress and eating behavior in college students. Stress is a major factor in optimal digestion and health. A majority of students report experiencing times of stress or feeling overwhelmed throughout their …

Time For A Change? Brain Activity And Behavioral Performance Reveal Different Dynamics At Short, Intermediate, And Long Delay Intervals During A Delay Discounting Task, Conrad A. Mohr-Eymer

Honors Thesis

In our day to day lives, the ability to make goal-oriented decisions plays a crucial role in both our work and social lives. Therefore, researchers have examined how factors such as a varying reward or delay may affect decision making. One’s performance when making intertemporal choices, decisions made between a smaller and sooner (SS) reward and a larger and later (LL) reward, are often examined to study these factors. Although time and reward magnitude are important dimensions when individuals make decisions during delay discounting, little is known about the relationship between time perception, reward magnitude, and underlying neural mechanisms. To …

Optimization Of Methods For Cross-Species Infection Of Cell Cultures With Wolbachia, Sarah J. Lane

Honors Thesis

The common intracellular endosymbiont genus of bacteria called Wolbachia is of interest due to the promise it shows for playing a role in disease control. Wolbachia have a number of widely variable effects on its many species of host insects. In combination with these roles, Wolbachia largely affects reproduction and development of its host species. It can lead to feminization and cytoplasmic incompatibility (Werren et al. 2008). Furthermore, this species is vertically transmitted which means that it passes from mother to offspring (Caragata et al., 2016). In combination with its effects on reproduction, which can allow Wolbachia to propagate through …

Dementia: Types, What They Are And How They Differ, Jessica N. Schnetzer

Honors Thesis

Dementia: types, what they are and how they differ centers on the known and unknown complexities of dementia. Dementia is a very complex cognitive disease that consumes the brain, an organ of which we know very little about. Even so, this common disorder is actively being researched and is the topic of special interest of this thesis research. Described are Alzheimer’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Huntington’s disease, Korsakoff’s syndrome, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s dementia, and Vascular dementia, focusing on what they are, their specific risks, diagnosis, treatment, and their differing progressions. Guidance of this study provided by thesis director …

Health Care And Plains Native Americans: Striving Towards A Culturally Competent Medical School Curriculum, Benjamin M. Jacobs

Honors Thesis

My honors thesis will explore the curriculum at the USD Sanford School of Medicine (SSOM). I plan to examine the curriculum for cultural competence and diversity education, specifically on Native (American Indian/Alaskan Native) peoples. My primary goal is to increase the educational importance the Sanford School of Medicine places on the culture of all groups, especially, Native peoples. My topic is important because diversity and inclusion are essential parts to creating a unified team. Furthermore, this topic is especially relevant here in South Dakota due to the number of Native peoples in the state. South Dakota has the fourth highest …

Managing Chronic Pain Through Advancements In Transcranial Brain Stimulation Technology Currently Used For Depression, Ashley N. Skinner

Honors Thesis

The purpose of this thesis is to bring attention to alternatives to using analgesics or painkillers and potentially addictive opioid analgesics. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been proven successful in treating medication-resistant depression. This literature review will look at the links between pain and depression and examine adaptations to TMS coils in hopes of being able to stimulate the regions of the brain that interpret pain. By looking at current advancements in TMS, we can work towards adapting TMS to stimulate deeper regions. The final section of this thesis will examine how making these alternatives more popular will impact pain …

The Effects Of Exercise On Mental Health, Xavier A. Pinex

Honors Thesis

Exercise is an extremely important aspect towards positive mental health. Multiple studies have been done previously that show one benefit or another that exercise has towards mental health, but previously there had been no attempt to summarize the findings of these studies. The benefits that exercise has to an individual’s mental health are numerous, but despite this exercise is an underutilized tool in the quest for better mental health. There are many variables that affect the benefits of exercise to an individual’s mental health and it is important to understand all these variables to understand how to properly exercise to …

Healing, Srinivasan Ragothaman

Creative Work

This is a poem reflecting on the current human conditions in the USA, India-China conflict, racism, and other human conflicts. It calls for healing and asks every one to follow the golden rule: treat others as you want them to treat you!

Evaluation Of Global Health Capacity Building Initiatives In Low-And Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review, Hady Naal, Maria El Koussa, Melissa El Hamouch, Layal Hneiny, Shadi Saeh

Faculty Publications

Background Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are in dire need to improve their health outcomes. Although Global Health Capacity Building (GHCB) initiatives are recommended approaches, they risk being ineffective in the absence of standardized evaluation methods. This study systematically reviews evaluation approaches for GHCB initiatives in LMICs. Methods We searched the Medline (OVID), PubMed, Scopus, and Embase.com databases for studies reporting evaluation of a GHCB initiative in a LMIC from January 1, 2009 until August 15, 2019. To differentiate them from intervention, prevention, and awareness initiatives, included articles reported at least one approach to evaluate their learning modality. We excluded …