Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Sleep Quality, Covariates And A Possible Intervention, Pranav S. Reddy, Mia Tarditi, Adarsh Gupta, Richard Jermyn, Venkat Venkataraman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Sleep is an essential biological process needed to maintain adequate physiologic function. Research has provided growing evidence that chronic failure to get enough sleep is associated with increased risk for obesity, depression, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Sleep deprivation is threatening the health of up to 45% of the world's population. Furthermore, sleep disorders were found to be associated with significantly higher rates of health care utilization and cost, accounting for $94.9 billion in costs each year in the United States. Earlier data from this project demonstrated a correlation between sleep quality and pain. METHODS: Patients were recruited …

The Impact Of Stress During Adolescence And The Prevalence Of Pediatric Obesity, Olatunbosun Olakunri, Venkat Venkataraman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Obesity is a chronic condition that can be attributed to myriad factors including socioeconomic status, biological risk factors, and various environmental factors. These factors can be considered stress factors, and exposure to various levels of stress can impact the development of stress within the pediatric patients. The purpose of this study is to assess the association between the environmental, mental, social, physical, and psychological stress adolescents are exposed to and how they contribute to the prevalence of pediatric obesity throughout the United States. Understanding these risk factors can help us as a community and most importantly as clinicians develop better …

The Effect Of The Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulator, Safit, On Acute Stress Reactivity In A Rat Model Of Abusive Head Trauma, Brielle Coe

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Effect Of Orexin 1 Receptor Knockdown In The Paraventricular Nucleus Of The Thalamus On Habituation To Repeated Stress, Jason Yan, Seema Bhatnagar

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Stress Hormone And Heart Rate Responses To Various Exercise Training Methods, Tomas Gomez Jr., Rebekah Schlatter, Megan Zamora, Marco Arriago, Sue Anne Chew, Murat Karabulut

Research Symposium

Background: Blood Flow Resistance (BFR) training has garnered attention for its ability to induce positive physiological adaptations with low-load resistance exercise. The present study aimed to examine the responses of catabolic hormones and heart rates (HR) to various BFR training protocols. This investigation seeks to provide insights into the stress levels induced by different protocols and identification behind the most effective protocol for optimal positive exercise-related adaptations.

Methods: Study population involved 10 healthy adult males (height: 175.0±5.0 cm, weight: 96.67±26.6 kg, age: 21.3±2.67 yr.) in a five-session investigation. Informed consent paperwork, pre-testing and anthropometric measurements served as session 1; sessions …

Proteomic Analysis Of Stress Associated Factor Overexpression In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Mohammad Shabir Hussain, Sophia Leslie, Amayrani Sanchez, Samantha Lopez, Kyle Doxtater, Manish Kumar Tripathi

Research Symposium

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes a substantial portion, accounting for 85% to 90% of liver cancers worldwide. Notably, within the Hispanic population, liver cancer mortality rates are notably higher, particularly evident in regions like the South Texas Rio Grande Valley (RGV), where nearly 90% of the populace is Latino/Hispanic. This region grapples with poverty affecting nearly 30% of its residents, coupled with elevated rates of obesity, diabetes, and low-income households, thereby fostering a prevalent environment of stress. Stress can profoundly impact cancer outcomes by compromising immune functionality and triggering inflammatory responses, potentially impairing surveillance against oncogenic triggers. The activation of …

Understanding Collegiate Aviation Pilot Mental Performance Studies And Future Research Opportunities, Debra Henneberry, Stephanie Brown, Flavio Coimbra, Julius Keller

National Training Aircraft Symposium (NTAS)

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (2022), fatigue is defined as “a condition characterized by increased discomfort with lessened capacity for work, reduced efficiency of accomplishment, loss of power or capacity to respond to stimulation, and is usually accompanied by a feeling of weariness and tiredness” (p. 2). Further outcomes of fatigue include tiredness, weakness, lack of energy, lethargy, depression, and lack of motivation (ICAO, 2016). Stress can release cortisol which can in turn cause sleep issues leading to fatigue (Harvard, 2021). In one study Mendonca, Keller, and Albelo (2023) found 69% (n = 192) percent of collegiate aviation pilots …

Sex Differences In Stress Reactivity, Brain Morphology, And Oxytocin In The Hypothalamus Of The Gray Short-Tailed Opossum (Monodelphis Domestica), Esperanza I. Zacarias, Daniela Rodriguez, Alexandra Chalons, Sasawan Heingraj, Nicole Altamirano, Joseph Rafac, John L. Vandeberg, Mario Gil

Research Colloquium

Understanding the effects of stress on behavior and cognition is important due to its impact on mental health and wellbeing (Schneiderman et al. 2005). Translational animal research can contribute to the development of new treatments that can improve therapeutic outcomes and our understanding of the neurobiology of stress. In the present study, we complement behavioral stress reactivity with immunohistochemical localization of oxytocin in the hypothalamus, a neuropeptide that regulates stress (Neumann & Slattery, 2016). Oxytocin has potential therapeutic use for mental health disorders (Neumann & Slattery, 2016), and the effects of oxytocin seem to be sexually dimorphic (Love, 2018). Using …

Stress-Induced Changes In Carf Expression Determine Growth Arrest, Apoptosis, Or Malignant Transformation In Cultured Human Cells: Molecular Evidence And Its Application, Mallika Khurana, Rajkumar Singh Kalra, Anupama Chaudhary, Amr Omar, Xiaoshuai Li, Sunil C. Kaul, Renu Wadhwa

Research Symposium

Background: CARF (Collaborator of ARF)/CDKN2AIP is an essential protein, first cloned as a binding partner of ARF. It was subsequently shown to interact with p53, HDM2 proteins and regulate growth arrest and apoptosis by its multimodal mechanism of action. Over-expression of CARF caused senescence like growth arrest of cells, its knock-down triggered apoptosis. Intriguingly, malignantly transformed cells showed high level of CARF expression. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that level of CARF expression may be a key determinant of cell proliferation fates; where an increase in its levels causes growth arrest/senescence, but beyond a threshold it activates carcinogenesis.

Methods: …

The Influence Of Nutrition On The Gut Microbiota And Psychiatric Disorders: A Review, Megha Bhagavan, Francis Jenney

Research Day

The symbiotic harboring of gut microorganisms within the gastrointestinal tract has a profound influence on host physiology, well-being, and disease pathology. More specifically, the gut bacteria are able to interact with dietary components from foods chosen by the host and consequently relay their beneficial or precarious effects locally and systemically. The gut bacteria have the capacity to maintain a healthy gut microbiome or perpetuate intestinal imbalance, known as gut dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis has both local effects in gastrointestinal pathologies, such as intestinal bowel syndrome (IBS) and intestinal bowel disorder (IBD), as well as systemic pathologies, such as type II diabetes, …

The Association Of Stress On College Student's Food Choices, Jaici Wright

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Background

College students experience school-related stress that may lead to coping mechanisms that manifest into poor food choices. The purpose of this current study is to explore what types of foods are eaten when college students are experiencing school-related stress.

Methods

A quantitative design was used. An online survey was sent out to 2,800 undergraduate students at a private Midwestern university. One hundred and twenty-six usable questionnaires were returned for data analysis. Two valid and reliable questionnaires were administered online; Perceived Stress Scale assessed stress levels and the NHANES Dietary Screener evaluated foods consumed over the past month. Using Spearman’s …

Exploring Factors Contributing To Compassion Fatigue In Emergency Departments And Possible Interventions, Neggin Assadi

Capstone Showcase

The ED is a fast paced, busy, and unpredictable environment. Increased exposures to death, suffering, and trauma can make the ED a stressful environment and makes providers more susceptible to a phenomenon called compassion fatigue (CF), a diminished ability to feel compassion towards those they are tasked to care for. Three main contributors to CF in the ED are a poor workplace environment, workplace aggression/violence, and traumatic events. Exploring what contributes to these stressors and proposing ways to reduce them can help ED providers combat CF.

Analyzing The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Mood Disorders In Patients, Alexa Golub, Joanna Petrides, Meagan Vermeulen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about restrictions on social interactions, altered work settings/job losses, decreased access to groceries and essentials, and more

With strict prevention measures and isolating quarantine experiences, it was anticipated that the lockdown would have psychological effects

Some contributing psychological stressors included duration of quarantine, fear of infection, boredom, lack of supplies, inadequate information, and finances

This study aimed to quantify and evaluate any change in mood disorder diagnoses since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

Increased Risk Of Mental Illness Due To Epigenetic Alteration Of The Nr3c1 Gene After Early Life Adversity., Erin Mccue

Thinking Matters Symposium

Early life adversity (ELA), such as malnutrition, abuse, and economic disparity, is an issue commonly seen in adolescents, a group already facing increased risk for stress-related disorders. This review of current literature reveals that gestational stress exposure, as well as variations in maternal care during postnatal development, cause latent effects on the epigenome, specifically impacting the glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) encoded by the NR3C1 gene. GRs bind to glucocorticoids to regulate the body’s neuroendocrine stress response. However, in those with a history of ELA, the number of GRs is reduced, generating dysregulation within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Rodent studies are utilized …

Comparison Of Alexithymia And Burnout Amid Perceived Stress Levels Of Nursing Students, Kamela Harmon

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Graduate level nursing students are exposed to overload and exhaustion due to academic and professional demands, increasing exposure to stressors resulting in elevated levels of perceived stress, burnout, and alexithymia. This quantitative research, utilizing an online methodology at a midwestern university, explored the prevalence of perceived stress, compassion satisfaction (CS), compassion fatigue (CF), burnout, and alexithymia among master’s level nursing students. The descriptive analysis utilized the Pearson correlation coefficient (Pearson r) by use of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The researcher discovered statistically significant negative correlations …

Assessment Of Strengths-Based Interventions On First-Year Medical Students, Linnette C. White

Scholar Week 2016 - present

In the quest for a doctoral degree many candidates fail to meet their milestone accomplishment. It is estimated that approximately 30% of individuals that pursue a doctoral degree will not finish. Medical school has been found to be a very intensive program to pursue for many who begin the journey. Despite its difficulty, 81.6 % to 84.3% of medical students achieve the status of medical practitioner within a three-to-four-year program. Despite the seemingly high completion rate, the achievement gap has future implications on physician shortages. The researcher conducted a quantitative study to determine the impact training first-year medical students using …

Insights From Healthcare Worker Parents On Parenting Stress During The Covid 19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Perspective, Michelle Clausen, Annalyn Velasquez, Min Jeong Jeon, Sherrie Flynt Wallington

GW Research Showcase 2021-2024

No abstract provided.

Communication And Self-Care In Times Of Stress, Elizabeth Marston, Sam Marion

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

The global pandemic of Covid-19 placed protecting physical health at the forefront of all of our minds. However, the mental and emotional impact of stress, quarantine, social distance, political and social turmoil, and virtual learning is enormous. This presentation will outline strategies for effectively managing stress while also understanding how to effectively communicate with students and parents who are struggling.

Defining Stress Among Oregon Corrections Professionals, Jessica T. Ballin

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Corrections professionals experience some of the highest levels of chronic stress compared to other occupations. This leads to poor mental and physical health, increased mortality, negative job performance, and increased economic costs, such as work-related injuries, sick leave, worker’s compensation claims and disability. Improving health and safety among this occupation requires identifying the factors contributing to stress and the associated economic impact. We assessed corrections professionals (n=296) working at six different Oregon Department of Corrections facilities near the Portland-area of varying security levels. Participants completed a cross-sectional survey, including demographics, work history and validated stress and occupational constructs. The outcome …

Stress Level And Burn-Out Among Prizren Mental Health Professionals, Herolind Fanaj, Valedete Alidema Serreqi, Shukrije Statovci

UBT International Conference

Work stress as well as burnout have been found in different occupations at different levels. Maslach Burnout Inventory Questionnaires and Self-Report Form of Job Satisfaction were used to investigate the level of stress and burn-out in mental health professionals in Prizren and at the same time their possible causes of stress and burn-out. Participants in the research were (N = 24, Mage = 41.19, SD = 8.03), respondents of both sexes, dominated by female respondents with 16 respondents or 66.7%. High stress level resulted in 66.7% of the sample; emotional exhaustion at 16.7%; depersonalization at 37.5%and 100% resulted in a …

The Efficacy Of A Self-Care Training Program For Cedarville University Nursing Students, Leah Vance Sr., Kimberlyn Wideman Sr., Kylee Metzger Sr.

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Problem: Cedarville university nursing students are likely to experience stressful work environments and traumatic events. Wentzel (2017) reports that nurses often encounter critical incidents. Exposure to critical incidents can affect the mental health of nurses and lead to secondary or vicarious trauma (Mayer, 2018). Students entering the nursing profession need to develop self-care practices to enhance productivity and maintain their emotional health as they provide care to patients (Boyle, 2011). The current study seeks to help Cedarville nursing students develop better self-care practices. Research Question: Does a self-care training program decrease the level of stress in Cedarville nursing students? Method:This …

Stress And Sleep Quality: Mediating Effects Of Social Support, Felisha L. Younkin, Elizabeth A. Axtell, Chelsea R. Anderton

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Stress is defined as the “nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it” (Kohn & Frazer, 1986). Stress is among the top five threats to academic performance among college students (Pettit & DeBarr, 2011). The purpose of the study was to investigate whether stress affects perceived sleep quality, as mediated by social support, and to determine whether stress levels vary based on academic major. Using ANOVA in SPSS 24, we tested three hypotheses: stress and sleep quality are negatively correlated, social support mediates the relationship between stress and sleep quality, and stress levels will vary by academic …