Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

What May Be Associated With Young Adult E-Cigarette Use? Examination Of Key Correlates, Diane J. Martinez, Monique M. Turner, Kathleen Roche, Kimberly Horn

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Given increasing rates of e-cigarette use among young adults, research is needed on the attitudes and beliefs that drive use among this age group. Tobacco control approaches used to prevent cigarette smoking may not work as effectively for preventing e-cigarette use. To address this research gap, the present study applied the Integrated Behavior Model (IBM) encompassing the affect heuristic theory to examine the individual-level determinants (i.e., attitude, perceived norm, personal agency, intention, and e-cigarette risk perception) of young adults' e-cigarette use. The 2013-2014 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Wave 1 baseline adult dataset consisted of 9,112 young …

Anatomical Knowledge Retention In Changing Curricula, Alexa Lean, Juliet Lee, Ellen Goldman, Gisela Butera, Kirsten Brown, Rosalyn Jurjus

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Traditionally anatomy is one of the first subjects taught in medical school. Practicing physicians have commented on medical students’ poor anatomical knowledge in surgically oriented clerkships. Literature also shows that correlating clinical and anatomical sciences throughout early medical education may improve anatomical knowledge retention. With major medical school curricular changes happening across the nation, more quantitative data confirming this correlation is needed.

The medical curriculum at the George Washington University School of Medicine recently underwent reorganization, transforming an earlier discipline-based curriculum to that of an integrated system-based one. In order to determine whether reorganization has an effect on anatomical knowledge …

Emergency Department Approach To Electrical Toothbrush Associated Hand Injury, A Unique Case Of Non-Oropharyngeal Injury., Hannah Robinson, Neal Sikka, Chimere Little, Ali Pourmand

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Puncture wounds are common injuries treated in the emergency department (ED). Prior studies have shown that toothbrushes are common reservoirs for oral flora, especially in regions near the head of the toothbrush near the bristles. ED providers must be aware of the danger associated with bacterial contamination of the associated wound and should be familiar with different pathogens and options for treatment. We present a unique case of a 30-year-old male with non-intraoral injury who presented to the ED after puncturing his left palm with the metal post of an electric toothbrush.

A Review Of Pain Control In Pediatric Cardiac Bypass Surgery, Pranathi Ari, Andrew T. Waberski, Nina Deutsch

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass receive high dose opioids for analgesia and to reduce the neurohormonal stress response. While opioids have excellent pharmacodynamics profiles adverse effects include: respiratory depression, bradycardia, nausea, vomiting, and tolerance. Additionally, opioids with short half-lives like fentanyl require several boluses to be administered during surgery causing fluctuating levels analgesia. Several strategies to advance pain control incorporate regional and neuraxial anesthetic techniques, however anticoagulation preclude its routine use. Alternatively using opioids with longer half-lives for analgesia may improve pain control and reduce adverse effects.

Objective: The objective of this study is to quantify postoperative …

Medical Resource Utilization Of Outpatient Care For Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1, Rabia Idrees, Michael Fisher, Rachel Hachen, Brian Callaghan, Robert A. Avery

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background:

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant syndrome with manifestations affecting the central nervous system, musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system, and cognitive/behavioral functions. Many of these manifestations persist throughout life and require medical/surgical interventions.

The resource utilization and economic burden of caring for children with NF1 is unknown. Prior research has inherent selection bias and does not accurately reflect the incidence/resource utilization of morbidities. In order to identify which disease manifestations are in the most need of improved clinical algorithms and novel therapeutics, the frequency/type of resources utilized (i.e., diagnostic imaging and specialty visits) must be determined.

The …

Stakeholders' Perceptions Of A Hospital Based Emergency Medicine Education & Training Program: A System Change, Kate Douglass, Jay Pandya, Michael Brennan, Kyle Yoder, Janice Blanchard, Natasha Powell, Zohray Talib

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Emergency Medicine (EM) is a new and developing specialty around the world. In India, one model for capacity building has been the development of partnerships between US academic institutions and private healthcare institutions for implementing post-graduate education and training in EM. Initiated in 2007, programs have grown both in number and scope and have continued to attract new students and partner institutions. This study was undertaken to better understand the impact of EM training programs on hospital systems.

Methods: A mixed-methods evaluation was undertaken at 5 program sites across India in the summer of 2016. Two researchers conducted onsite …

Removing Barriers To Care For The Underserved: Provider And Patient Perception Of Direct To Consumer Telemedicine, Robert M. Grell, Rachel Hatcliffe, Sean M. Gillen, Craig Sable, Vanessa Grant, Matthew Ledda, Mary Fuska, Shireen Atabaki

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Purpose of Study: Lack of access to pediatric subspecialty care is a major barrier to pediatric health for underserved populations in the Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland area. Lack of access to transportation, long office wait times, and missed school and work are barriers that prevent access to subspecialty care. Direct to consumer (DTC) telemedicine provides this service to our underserved population by bringing care into their own home through use of computers, tablets, and smart phones.

Methods Used: Structured interviews of parents and providers were performed prior to implementation of a subspecialty DTC telemedicine program for underserved children in …

Fungus Amungus -- A Common Disease State That Is Commonly Missed: A Survey Based Study, Ramsin Yadgar, Adam Friedman, Neal Bhatia

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Dermatophyte infections involving the skin, hair, or nails affect an estimated 25% of the world's population, and accounted for 51 million outpatient visits over a ten-year period (1995-2004) in the United States alone. Dermatomycosis is routinely managed by dermatologists, though given the diversity of clinical presentations, is sometimes misdiagnosed, which can result in inappropriate therapy, worsening of symptoms, and even result in additional skin and soft tissue infections.

Methods: An interactive survey of board-certified dermatologists was conducted at the 2016 Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic & Clinical Conference, during a seminar on superficial mycotic infections. The structure of the survey entailed …

Secondary Prevention At The Aswan Heart Centre, Amira Athanasios

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally, taking the lives of almost 18 million patients around the world each year. The overwhelming majority of cardiovascular deaths take place in low- to mid-income counties, suggesting that most cardiovascular deaths are preventable. In this study, current literature on secondary prevention of coronary artery disease was analyzed. Specific emphasis was given to preventative measures and successes in low income countries. Based on a literature review, a patient questionnaire to better understand patient adherence to preventative measures was created. This questionnaire focuses on patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy post acute myocardial infarct …

Mutations In Braf Are Associated With Higher Levels Of Immune Infiltrates In Microsatellite-Stable Colon Cancer, Jake Rubin, Eduard Porta Parto

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

While BRAF is among the most well-established oncogenes in human cancers, more recently it has garnered attention for its role in suppressing antitumor immunity, especially in melanoma. Because tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) density is strongly prognostic in colorectal cancer (CRC)⁷, we decided to investigate the connection between TIL density and the BRAF-activating V600E mutation in CRC.

We used ESTIMATE to quantify immune infiltrate in samples from the TCGA colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) dataset (n = 216). This is an algorithm that uses the gene-expression signature of 141 immune-related genes to infer the presence of immune cells in the tumor infiltrate. …

Healthcare Provider And Patient Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices (Kap) Regarding Zika Virus, Quinton Katler, Prachi Godiwala, Charles Macri, Beth Pineles, Aileen Chang, Homa Ahmadzia

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Introduction:

Zika virus emergence in the western hemisphere has prompted the critical need for tailored risk counseling. Our team created a KAP survey in order to assess provider and patient awareness of Zika virus symptoms, transmission, treatment, and current and future concerns in order to inform local risk counseling efforts.

Methods:

The cross-sectional survey was issued in Medical Faculty Associates (MFA) clinics and via online link to healthcare providers and community members. The REDCap Data Collection tool was used to capture responses with subsequent SAS data analysis.

Results:

A total of 172 responses were collected. Most respondents (97%) were aware …

A Medical Student Foray Into The Depths Of Public Health: An Exploratory Investigation Toward A Community Dashboard Characterizing The Experiences Of Frailty In Order To Guide Improvement, An Harmanli, Danielle Fahoome, Burton Masem, Ellen Massey, Beverly Lunsford, Joanne Lynn, Elizabeth Cobbs

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

While it is known that there are many shortcomings in the care of the elderly, their rate and impact on the community and the elderly themselves is not well understood. In exploring the possibilities for using existing data and available informants, a dashboard could be created that would enable a geographic community to understand the experience of living with disabilities in old age, to prioritize problems, and to test improvements.

The methods included a literature review to understand what and how easily information could be accessed, gathered, and presented. In regards to literature on data collection, CMS claims data, MDS, …

Development Of An Interleukin-4-Inducing Principle From Schistosoma Mansoni Eggs (Ipse)-Specific Pcr Assay As A Quantitative Predictor Of Schistosomiasis-Associated Morbidity, Dannah Farah, Evaristis Mbanefo, Michael H. Hsieh

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting between 200-500 million people worldwide. The two species causing most human cases of schistosomiasis are Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium. The gold standard for diagnosis is parasitological detection of parasite eggs in stool using the Kato-Katz method. Counting eggs shed in stool is labor-intensive and inaccurate. Interleukin-4- inducing principle from Schistosoma mansoni eggs (IPSE) is the most abundant secreted protein from schistosome eggs. We hypothesized that the mRNA transcripts of the IPSE protein may be found in the liver tissue and stool of experimentally infected animals, and that these transcripts can be specifically …

Performance Of Non-Invasive Tests To Predict Significant Liver Fibrosis In Patients With Morbid Obesity, Ahmed Bakhshwin, Patricia Latham

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) affects more than 90% of patients with morbid obesity (MO) and approximately 30% have significant liver fibrosis and/or cirrhosis. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis and cirrhosis; however, several non-invasive tests have been suggested to predict the presence or absence of significant liver fibrosis and to avoid liver biopsy in these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of these tests to predict significant liver fibrosis, specifically in patients with MO.

Methods:

Liver biopsies from patients with MO undergoing gastric bypass surgery were studied in …

Needs Assessment Of Pediatric Radiological Equipment And Cross-Cultural Investigation Into Parental Empowerment In Pediatric Radiology Program Development In The Kingdom Of Bhutan, Danielle Canter

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background:

Bhutan is a magnificent mountainous country hugged by India to the east and west and by China to the North and South. This peaceful nestled country faces challenges in combating non-communicable diseases due to the lack of radiological equipment necessary for early diagnosis. Prior to implementation of these medical devices, it is imperative to investigate the cultural attitudes, beliefs, and infrastructure, to ensure successful integration. Bhutan is beginning to implement a pediatric radiology program for the nation with the assistance of ABAH Foundation and RAD-AID International, both of whom partnered with graduate students at George Washington University School of …

Nutrition In Medical Education: Where Do We Stand And What Needs To Be Explored?, Rachel Flint, Kathleen Kline, Zhiyong Han, Mark S. Elliott, Natalie Nicolas, Rosalyn Jurjus

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Introduction:

Dietary interventions and nutrition care improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Despite status as a necessary topic in medical school education, many U.S. medical schools do not adequately prepare future physicians for everyday nutritional challenges in clinical practice. There is immense research behind the necessity of nutrition education but little concerning the methods of implementing this change. The purpose of this work was to review the current innovations of nutrition curriculum in the literature and discuss future directions for our medical school.

Method:

A systematic search of scientific literature databases was performed to examine existing literature about the …

Concussion Screening Evaluation: Bess Vs Sway, Zachariah Hatoum, Aidan Neustadtl, Jeremy Altman, Aurash Zarrinbakhsh, David Milzman

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Introduction: Rapid evaluation of concussion is important in the pre-hospital setting as an easy test. It is also useful in the ED, as too often little is done for concussed patients. The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) is the current gold standard for evaluating balance, one of the best predictors of concussion. SWAY, a new gyroscope based iPhone application, is being proposed as a more sensitive and more objective test than BESS. This study will compare Sway to BESS to determine if there is equal efficacy.
Method: 74 scholastic and collegiate athletes were administered baseline balance evaluations using Sway. …

Analysis Of Hiv-1 Quasispecies Sequences Generated By High Throughput Sequencing (Hts) Using Hive, Naila Gulzar, Bhavna Hora, Konstantinos Karagiannis, Krista Smith, Feng Gao, Raja Mazumder

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

The high level of genetic variability of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) is caused by the low fidelity of its replication machinery. This leads to evolution of swarm-like viral populations often described as quasispecies. High throughput sequencing (HTS) technology provides higher resolution over Sanger sequencing, enabling detection of low frequency variant genomes. However, quasispecies analysis is still a challenge due to the systematic noise, introduced by HTS technology. This leads to the increase in type I errors (also known as false positives) and the underlying genetic diversity, which can lead to mathematically insolvable type II errors (also known as …

Differential Mrna Expression In Ectopic Germinal Centers Of Myasthenia Gravis Thymus, Manjistha Sengupta, Bi-Dar Wang, Norman H. Lee, Gary Cutter, Linda L. Kusner, Henry J. Kaminski

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder resulting in weakness of voluntary muscles. It is caused by antibodies directed against proteins present at the post-synaptic surface of neuromuscular junction (NMJ). A characteristic pathology of patients with early onset MG is thymic hyperplasia with ectopic germinal centers (GC). However, mechanisms that trigger and maintain thymic hyperplasia are poorly characterized.

In order to determine the central mechanisms involved in the pathology, thymus samples from MG patients were assessed by histology and grouped based on appearance of GC compared to samples without them. We assessed the differential mRNA expression profiles between the …

Climate Change, Natural Disasters, And Suicide: A Systematic Review, Ans Irfan, Peter Lapuma

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background.
Natural disasters are projected to increase due to climate change. Mental health is not a well-researched area in public health, particularly as it relates to environmental health and in the aftermath of natural disasters. The suicide rate is approximately 13 per 100,000 people in the US, nationally. This already high suicide rate warrants researching this area mental health. Understanding the relation between natural disasters and suicide rates might help alleviate human suffering and potentially save lives in the future, in post-disaster settings. This research will further the knowledge of the association between natural disasters and suicide and provide foundation …

E-Cigarettes And Smoking Cessation Among Pregnant Women: Insights From A Secondary Analysis Of A Randomized Controlled Trial, Shawn Chiang, Lorien Abroms

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: The use of electronic cigarettes is a rapidly expanding phenomenon. Currently, there is a scarcity of data to help guide decisions regarding the potential harm and benefits of e-cigarettes. This study examines whether pregnant smokers who used e-cigarettes are more likely to quit smoking than those who had never used e-cigarettes.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Quit4Baby study, a text-message-based smoking cessation randomized controlled trial. The sample was comprised of 481 participants with complete follow-up data at 1 month follow-up. Linear and logistics regression models to control for confounds were conducted to evaluate the association between e-cigarette use …

Persistent Organic Pollutants And Mortality In The United States, Kristiann Fry, Melinda Power

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background/Objectives: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are environmentally and biologically persistent chemicals that include polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine (OC) pesticides. Currently, there is limited data on the association between exposure to POPs and the risk of mortality in the general US population. The objective of this study was to determine if higher exposure to POPs are associated with greater risk of all-cause, cancer, heart/cerebrovascular disease, or other-cause mortality in persons aged 60 years and older.

Methods: The analyses included participants aged 60 years and older from the 1999-2006 National Health and …

Victims Or Heroes? How Did Journalists Frame The Ebola Crisis In Liberia?, Tamah Kamlem, Nwanneamaka Ume, Skylar Lisse, Eme Udoh, Jialin Meng

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

The Ebola Virus Disease epidemic in West Africa in 2014 with over 11,000 deaths made headlines worldwide, causing fear and posing a challenge to traditional media, entrusted with the task of reporting about the spread of the disease. Individuals and communities rely on media to obtain health information, including decisions related to disease prevention and behavior to protect their health. Therefore, frames used by the media to report about health emergencies impact public perceptions. Mass media framing during crises has been associated with emotional and behavioral responses that are consistent with the thematic depiction of unfolding events. Moreover, message frames …

Undergraduate Research On General Aviation Hypoxia: A Student’S Perspective, Claire Schindler

Discovery Day - Prescott

During the fall academic term of 2016, an opportunity arose through the College of Aviation to serve as an undergraduate research assistant. Through discussion with faculty mentors, it was decided that a severely overlooked aspect of the aviation industry was survivors of hypoxia, especially in the less regulated general aviation community. The problem this study addresses is the uncertainty of the common circumstances that general aviation pilots find themselves in that create a hypoxic state, as well as whether or not that pilot reported the occurrence to the proper establishments. The results of this study showed not only those that …

Improving Tissue Integrity In Intensive Care Unit Patients, Stacie L. Hearell

Scholars Week

Throughout clinical experiences in western Kentucky intensive care units, it has been observed that critically ill patients are not receiving fully implemented skin care practice according to hospital and company policy. Patients are not turned completely to one side or the other due to size, mechanical intubation, and other medical devices that may be intimidating to staff. Alderen et al., (2011) states that “in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients, pressure ulcer risk is high and may result in negative patient outcomes and increased healthcare costs.” Gallant, Morin, St-Germain, and Dallaire (2010) state that “In practice, pressure ulcers are indicators of …

Sedation Selection: Minimizing The Occurrence Of Patient Complications, Casey Ceri

Scholars Week

Sedative Selection Practice Change to Minimize the Occurrence of Patient Complications

Murray State University/Baptist Health

Casey Ceri, SRNA, BSN

Anesthesia providers have long struggled to find the ideal anesthetic agent combination with the greatest benefit and least detrimental side effects. In the provision of quality anesthesia patient care, influential factors in anesthetic choice include the provider’s and the patient’s perspective as well as the procedure’s anesthetic requirements. Since many institutions do not impose any protocol regarding sedation selection, the provider’s personal experience and knowledge are increasingly the influential factors in anesthetic agent selection.

Dexmedetomidine was introduced in 1999, indicated for …

Clinical Simulation In Preparing Srnas For Complex Surgery, Mary Nguyen

Scholars Week

Clinical Simulation for SRNA Education and Preparation for Complex Surgical Cases

Mary Nguyen, BSN, RN

Baptist Health/Murray State University, Program of Nurse Anesthesia

Abstract

Complex surgeries, such as craniotomy, encompass numerous anesthetic considerations and risks. Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist’s (SRNA) have low familiarity and confidence from lack of experience due to low case availability. Resultant clinical errors pose serious safety risks to patients. Clinical simulation provides SRNAs with a safe, replicable learning environment to learn step-by-step anesthetic considerations and gain confidence. This project evaluates the efficacy of clinical simulation in SRNA comprehension, preparedness, and self-perception in craniotomy anesthesia.

A qualitative, …

Promotion Of Independent Crna Practice In Rural Areas, Kenneth Hinkle

Scholars Week

Promotion of Independent CRNA Practice in Rural Areas

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) provide the majority of anesthesia care in rural areas across the United States (Seibert, Alexander, & Lupien 2004). No federal mandate exists which states CRNAs must be supervised, yet some facilities require CRNAs to be supervised by anesthesiologists. CRNAs are equally safe in providing anesthesia care as physician anesthesiologists (Dulisse & Cromwell, 2010). Yet many policy makers and hospital administrators are unaware that regulations permit the safe, cost effective care of CRNAs. Indeed, many facilities are facing pressure to allow anesthesiologists to oversee practice, even in many …

Preventing Sepsis Mortality, Karli Tabers

Scholars Week

This research project explores recent evidence based research on preventing sepsis mortality in inpatient units. Sepsis mortality is an increasing problem in the state of Kentucky and demands immediate intervention. At Baptist Health Paducah, 44 deaths were related to sepsis in a 5-month period. Most deaths related to sepsis can be prevented. This research looks at how these deaths can be prevented and how nurses must change their practice to avoid further mortality from sepsis. This paper includes a literature review of recent research proving that sepsis mortality can be prevented by focusing on discharge teaching to all patients, implementing …

Matlab Micro-Symposium, Mathworks

Science Seminar Series

Join us to learn how your colleagues and peers are crossing boundaries and using MATLAB in their work in areas such as chemistry, biology, pharmacy and bioengineering!

We will have four faculty speakers who will share their MATLAB uses in teaching, projects and research.

This will be followed by a coffee break that includes:

• Poster session with faculty and student projects using MATLAB
• The opportunity to talk to the MathWorks team about the tools they provide – learn about what’s new and ask your questions here!
• An opportunity to network with your fellow Pacific colleagues from other departments!

MATLAB is …