Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Falling Out Of Balance: How Chemical Disequilibrium In Thebrain Leads To Alcohol Addiction, Zack Ruighaver

Osmosis Magazine

This article will explain how imbalances in two neurotransmitter systems in the brain –namely, glutamate and GABA – account for alcoholism at the molecular level.

Does Adhd Make You Smoke? Exploring Emerging Theories, Sam Chanenson

Osmosis Magazine

Here’s a troubling statistic: children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are 2.5 times more likely than their non-ADHD peers to develop substance use disorder (SUD) and nicotine dependency. What’s more, people with ADHD are generally more likely to start smoking earlier in life, smoke more per day, and experience more significant withdrawal symptoms.

Letter From The Editor, Sam Chanenson

Osmosis Magazine

Letter from Sam Chanenson, Editor in Chief, Osmosis Science Magazine.

Osmosis Magazine - Science Magazine

Osmosis Magazine

• Explore the latest stories in STEM.
• Discover cutting-edge innovations shaping today & tomorrow
• Faculty Interview & UR Research Highlights

The Way To A Mother’S Heart: A Risk Assessment Tool For The Early Detection Of Peripartum Cardiomyopathies, Leighton Terrell

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Abstract

Background

Peripartum cardiomyopathies are a rare, but deadly occurrence among pregnant and postpartum women. Maternal mortality rates have risen over the last few years proving a large problem with the focus on maternal health.

Objective

The objective of this intervention was to aid providers in diagnosing peripartum cardiomyopathies early before detrimental damage could be done to the hearts of these women.

Methods

In this quality improvement project, the need for a peripartum cardiomyopathy risk assessment survey among patients in small, rural area of Western Kentucky was determined.

Results

Using the 22 surveys that were collected, 36.4% of patients were …

Interventional Education Program Improves Family Nurse Practitioner Students' Knowledge Of Heart Disease Prevention Practices: Lead With The Heart Dnp Project, Ava Hatfield-Lomache

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Heart disease is a major clinical problem in the U.S. today, and it continues to be costly to American lives, healthcare expenditures, and the U.S. economy. Heart disease prevention is key to affecting positive change. The Doctor of Nursing Practice project was designed to create awareness and an education-based platform for heart disease prevention. The heart disease interventional educational program was delivered to students enrolled in a university’s family nurse practitioner program. The project included a pre-test survey, a podcast series, a post-test survey, and a handout. The project focused on heart disease prevention methods, causes, and disease processes associated …

Evaluation Of The Adjunctive Effect Of Photodynamic Therapy For The Treatment Of Residual Periodontal Pockets: A Systematic Review, Shankargouda Patil, Charles Miller, Ryan Moffat, Kade Janes, Brooklyn Janes, Peter M. Loomer, Frank W. Licari

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Adjunctive use of photodynamic therapy in combination with scaling and root planing for periodontal maintenance offers an alternative to antibiotic therapy, potentially mitigating the risk of antibiotic resistance and its genotoxic or mutagenic effects. This systematic review analyzed studies, as of January 2023, that included the effects of a single application of photodynamic therapy in residual periodontal pockets with the probing depth and clinical attachment level as the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, as well as the US National Institutes of Health and WHO Clinical Trials Registry, were searched for eligible …

The Art Of Resiliency: Patient Stories Of Maternal Mental Health Experiences, Sara Santarossa, Becca Austin, Molly A. Bell, Samantha C. Henry, Ashley Inclima, Hailey Maddox, Tara G. Smith, Leah Copeland, Dana Murphy, Ashley Redding, Amy Loree

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

As part of a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Eugene Washington Engagement Award aimed at improving capacity to address maternal mental health in research, this collection of stories describes experiences from six unique patient perspectives. Using motherhood as a common thread, these six stories weave together the patients’ challenges and barriers juxtaposed with their hopes and dreams. Exploring such topics as infant loss, expectations versus the reality of the postpartum experience, grief, loss of identity, loss of physical or emotional safety, advocacy, and perseverance through challenging maternal mental health experiences, these tales of resiliency leverage the voices and lived experiences of …

Advancing A Patient- And Carer-Centered Approach For The Clinical Development Of New Therapeutics For Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Insights From A Qualitative Study, Sonya Abraham, Silvia Amaro, Ellyn Getz, Sylvia Herget, Gregory J. Kato

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is characterized by a high rate of fatality and high risk of secondary brain injury. More treatment options are needed to improve outcomes. There are very few reports in the medical literature involving patient experience of aSAH, which is known for its unexpected onset and profound medical impact. Improved understanding of this patient experience would help make future clinical research more patient centered. To this end, we convened an advisory board consisting of aSAH patients and care partners in the United States. Participants emphasized the critical role that care partners play during hospitalization and in accessing …

Childhood Trauma Affects Romantic Relationships In Adulthood, Rhianna Vranka

D.U.Quark

Childhood trauma is when a child experiences sexual, emotional, or physical abuse or neglect. Trauma’s causes aren’t limited to just those factors and can result from a variety of experiences. Childhood trauma makes children more vulnerable to developing issues in adulthood because they are at a critical point in their development. There is insignificant knowledge on why childhood trauma affects romantic relationships in adulthood. Knowledge of warning signs and accurate diagnosis is essential to prevent violence stemming from the psychological effects exhibited by those with childhood trauma in relationships. More research is required to understand how to treat the psychological …

Bridging The Gap Between Knowledge And Practices Pertaining To Naloxone Use: A Single-Institution Experience In North Carolina, Michael S. Argenyi, Gisele Bailey, Christopher J. Mclouth, Erin Barnes, Candice J. Mcneil

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Naloxone is a life-saving medication for opioid overdose, which claims many lives annually. This study investigated provider attitudes about, beliefs about, and barriers to naloxone use to inform an increase in provider prescription of naloxone. The survey took place at a large Southern tertiary health center. An adapted REDCap survey utilizing validated questions was distributed via institutional e-mail listservs. The results (N = 181) were analyzed using descriptive and chi-square statistics. While 90.9% of the providers had heard of the strategy of prescribing naloxone to prevent overdose, only 72.1% of providers would have considered prescribing naloxone. Providers reported implementing treatment …

The Use Of Person-Centered Language In Scientific Research Articles Focused On Psychosis, Zach Monahan, Tanner Stone, Vinay Swami, Kelly Dunn, Micah Hartwell

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Societal stigma of psychosis leads to delayed treatment for individuals experiencing early symptoms, for fear of being labeled “crazy” or “psychotic.” Delayed treatment can worsen the prognosis of individuals with psychosis. Proper adherence to person-centered language (PCL) guidelines can curb the widely held stigmatized preconceptions about psychotic conditions.

Methods: Our meta-epidemiological analysis began with a systematic search of literature in PubMed discussing psychosis from 2020-2022. From the 14,522 results, we randomly selected 500 articles in journals with at least 20 articles on psychosis (n = 9,775), of which 241 articles met the inclusion criteria. These papers were screened for …

Phytochemistry, Antioxidant And Cytotoxic Activities Of Hibiscus (Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis) Extract On Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cells, Ade Arsianti, Isma Zahira Suhaima, Steven Gill, Ajeng Megawati Fajrin, Lince Dameria Nadapdap, Norma Nur Azizah, Hiroki Tanimoto, Shun Hirota

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women with a very high mortality rate. This cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of breast cells. Treatments for this malignancy are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, however those methods can cause adverse effects and quite expensive. Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are also used to support those main treatments, one of them is herbal medicine. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is known to have various phytochemical components with antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, and analgesic activities. This study is aimed to determine the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis extract towards …

Is Love A “Pathological Condition Of The Soul”? Joyce Carol Oates's Beasts And Rape: A Love Story, Nicolas P. Boileau

Bearing Witness: Joyce Carol Oates Studies

This paper seeks to address the question of Oates’s relation to feminist and gender theories by looking at two novellas published consecutively, Beasts and Rape: A Love Story in the beginning of the 2000s. The short texts share a common storyline based on rape, which is far from uncommon in Oates’s fiction. However, I argue that there is something very specific in these two novellas in the way Oates chooses to handle the testimony of the rape, both overtly and covertly, both in graphic details and in repressed forms of expression, giving way to a reflection on women’s vulnerable position …

Sex Differences In Exercise And Sleep Among University Faculty And Staff Members, Jorge O. Vazquez, David A. Tobar, Faith Yingling, K Todd Keylock

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 6: Issue 1, Article 4, 2025. There has been minimal research examining the exercise and sleeping patterns of university faculty and staff members and what role these factors play in overall health. The information gathered in this study was used to analyze how faculty and staff can adapt their behaviors to improve health and well-being. To explore sex differences in exercise and sleep in faculty and staff at a university in the Midwest, the study performed secondary analyses on data collected from the 2022 American College Health Association’s National Faculty and Staff Health …

Application For Prediction Of Heart Failure; The Next Step In Machine Learning For Healthcare, Amy Adyanthaya, Dawn Bowerman, Rachel Liercke, Robert Slater

SMU Data Science Review

Heart failure (HF) is a serious medical condition affecting approximately 6.7 million U.S. adults and is expected to impact 8.5 million Americans by 2030 [1]. Heart failure is a complicated clinical ailment and characterizes the final course of numerous heart diseases [2]. This paper introduces a machine-learning-based application that utilizes Support Vector Machine (SVM), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), and XGBoost models, implemented through the Python Flask framework, to predict HF risk using clinical data. The results indicate high model performance, with precision and recall metrics underscoring the application’s reliability in identifying at-risk patients. By providing real-time, accessible insights, this tool aims …

Investigating The Spatial Distribution Of Food Insecurity And Its Associated Factors Across Mississippi Counties, Elizabeth C. Swindell, Riley Morgan, Dylan Barker, Ruaa Al Juboori

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Mississippi has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the United States, with many counties experiencing significant disparities in access to healthy food. Therefore, understanding the spatial distribution of these disparities is essential for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the spatial distribution of food insecurity and its associated social and health factors across Mississippi counties to identify areas in need of intervention.

Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted using publicly available datasets to examine food insecurity and its associated factors at the county level. Pearson correlations and bivariate Moran’s I were used to …

Quadratus Lumborum Block For Total Abdominal Hysterectomy: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial, Nada Pejcic, Marija Kutlesic, Ivan Velickovic, Vladimir Milic, Slavisa Kovacevic, Radmilo Jankovic, Dejan Mitic, Radomir Mitic, Nenad Zornic

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is an interfascial block recommended for multimodal pain therapy after cesarean section in patients who cannot receive intrathecal morphine. We wanted to investigate whether QLB contributes to better analgesia after total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH). The study was registered on the website ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number NCT05765318).

Materials and methods: Patients scheduled for TAH were randomized into two groups of 30 members each. The treatment group received QLB, while the control group did not undergo any block. The primary outcome was the amount of morphine during the first 12 postoperative h. Secondary outcomes included the total …

A Comparison Of Turp, Holep, And Rfa For Nonneurogenic Luts In Men, Turgay Ebi̇loğlu, Özgür Çinar, Selçuk Sarikaya, Adem Emrah Coğuplugi̇l, Bahadir Topuz, Cengi̇z Kara, Selahatti̇n Bedi̇r

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The effect of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for nonneurogenic male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is well known. However, recent advancements have come into use, so studies have been done to compare these new techniques to the gold standard TURP technique. The aim of this study was to compare the results of TURP, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in men.

Materials and methods: The patients who had the TURP procedure were defined as group 1 (G1), those who had HoLEP were in group 2 (G2), and those who had RFA were …

Comparison Of Total Oxidative State, Total Antioxidative State , Serum Paraoxonase Activity, And Thiol Levels Before And After 6 Months Of Treatment In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Who Have Been Recently Started On New Therapy Agents, Emel Başar, Hasan Bayindir, Hati̇ce Ferhan Kömürcü, Ebru Bi̇lge Di̇ri̇k, Ömer Anlar, Özcan Erel

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The objective of this study was to establish the oxidative stress determiners as a total oxidative state (TOS), total antioxidative state (TAS), paraoxonase (PON) activity, oxidative stress index (OSI), and thiol/disulfide levels before and after 6 months of immunomodulator therapy in patients who were diagnosed according to the revised McDonald Criteria.

Materials and methods: Thirty-nine patients were included in our study who were diagnosed according to the revised McDonald Criteria, approved to participate in the study, and had been treated in the neurology inpatient clinic or presented in the neurology outpatient clinic of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Atatürk Training …

Can Mac-2 Binding Protein Glycosylation Isomer Serve As A Biomarker For Predicting Pulmonary Arterial Pressure And Pulmonary Hypertension In Systemic Sclerosis?, Ridvan Mercan, Di̇lara Bulut Gökten, Sonat Pinar Kara, Nesli̇han Meli̇k Üzüm, Savaş Güzel

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: This study aimed to explore the role of Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) serum levels as a biomarker that could contribute to understanding organ involvement and the overall disease process in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Materials and methods: The cross-sectional study examined 108 patients with SSc. Seventy-two people were included in the control group. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, laboratory and radiological findings, pulmonary function tests and echocardiography results, and presence of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) based on echocardiographic evaluation were recorded. Venous blood samples of 5 mL were collected from individuals. Human M2BPGi levels in the samples …

Cytopathological Evaluation Of Pericardial Effusions: 192 Cases In A Tertiary-Level Healthcare Centre, Ayşegül Aksoy Altinboğa, Nur Kivrak

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: There are many different benign and malignant etiologies of pericardial effusions (PEs), which can compress the heart and large vessels emerging from the heart and cause significant clinical findings. The aim of this study was to cytologically examine the underlying diseases causing PEs and to conduct detailed evaluations of underlying cancers in cases of malignant PE, both within the whole study population and according to sex.

Materials and methods: All PE samples obtained between 2019 and 2024 were reevaluated and categorized as nondiagnostic, negative for malignancy (NFM), atypia of undetermined significance (AUS), suspicious for malignancy (SFM), or malignant according …

Differentiation Of Multinodular And Vacuolating Neuronal Tumor And Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor Based On Mri, Burcu Gül, Bora Korkmazer, Ahmet Kürşat Karaman, Esra Koçhan Kizilkiliç, Mahmut Esat Aykan, Çi̇ğdem Özkara, Ni̇l Çomunoğlu, Ci̇han İşler, Serdar Arslan, Osman Kizilkiliç

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: To compare the MRI findings and clinical features of multinodular and vacuolating neuronal tumor (MVNT) and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNET), and reveal the distinguishing features of these tumors from each other.

Materials and methods: Patients with a suspected magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based diagnosis of MVNT between 2018 and 2022 were collected from the hospital database. In addition, patients diagnosed with DNET on histopathological examination and who had MRIs in the same time period were included in the study. The MRI findings and clinical features were evaluated for each patient.

Results: There were 21 patients in the MVNT group and …

Comparison Of The Effectiveness Of Different Scoring Systems And Biochemical Markers Indetermining The Severity And Complications Of Acute Pancreatitis, Ahmet Ali̇ Aktaş, Deni̇z Siğirli, Pinar Taşar, Sadik Ayhan Kiliçturgay

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background and study aim: The aim of the study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of different scoring systems and inflammatorymarkers in predicting the severity, local complications, pancreatic necrosis, and mortality of acute pancreatitis (AP).

Materials and methods: The data of 357 patients whom the severity of pancreatitis was classified according to the Revised AtlantaClassification System diagnosed with AP were retrospectively examined. Also The APACHE II, BISAP, mCTSI, and Ranson scores ofall patients were calculated. After determining the cut-off values for scoring systems and inflammatory markers with ROC analysis,comparison for AP severity, local complication, necrosis, and mortality.

Results: In the study, …

Evaluation Of Clinical Features And Treatment Modality Of Pediatric Patients With Steven Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: A Single-Center Experience, Funda Ayteki̇n Güveni̇r, Vi̇ldan Seli̇n Çayhan, Selman Kürşat Balci, Ragip Dere, Hati̇ce Irmak Çeli̇k, Serhat Emeksi̇z, Ahmet Selmanoğlu, Zeynep Şengül Emeksi̇z, Emrah Şenel, Emi̇ne Di̇bek Misirlioğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are rare but life-threatening severe cutaneous drug hypersensitivity reactions. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical features of pediatric patients diagnosed with SJS, TEN or SJS/TEN overlap and to examine treatment modalities.

Materials and methods: Patients aged 0–18 years who were followed up with SJS, TEN or SJS/TEN overlap at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital between August 2019 and January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Twelve patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Five of the patients had SJS, four had SJS/TEN overlap, and …

The Impact Of Parenting Style, Temperament And Character On Problematic Internet And Smartphone Use Among Non-Clinical Female Adolescents, Sadetti̇n Burak Açikel, Nur Çeti̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: It is known that various temperament and character dimensions, and parenting styles could be associated with problematic internet and smartphone use. This study aimed to examine the association between temperament, character, and parenting styles and problematic smartphone and internet use in nonclinical female teenagers.

Materials and methods: 244 nonclinical female adolescent were included the study. Young’s Internet Addiction Test Short Form, Smartphone Addiction Scale, Junior Temperament and Character Inventory and Parenting Style Scale were used for collecting data.

Results: Problematic smartphone use was significantly negatively correlated with cooperativeness character type, strictness/supervision, and acceptance/involvement subscales of the parenting style scale. …

Comparative Vasorelaxant Effects Of Atorvastatin And Rosuvastatin In Rat Aorta:Investigating The Role Of Perivascular Adipose Tissue, Deni̇z Kaleli̇ Durman, Meryem Aras, Gülsüm Ruveyda Aktaş, Bi̇rsel Sönmez Uydeş Doğan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Statins are known to display pleiotropic effects on the vascular system, beyond their lipid-lowering properties. Studieson isolated vascular preparations have demonstrated their acute relaxant effects on vascular tone. Considering the increased evidence inregard to the contribution of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in the regulation of vascular homeostasis, we aimed to investigate thepossible modulatory role of PVAT in the vascular effects of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin in isolated rat aorta.

Materials and methods: Thoracic aortas isolated from young male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: rings with intact PVAT(+) and rings without PVAT (-), and then mounted in an isolated …

The Effects Of Liraglutide On Expressions Of Insulin Secretion And Beta Cell Survive Associated Gpcr Genes In Pancreatic Beta Cells, Meli̇kenur Türkol, Türker Bi̇lgen

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Liraglutide as a long-acting glucagon-like peptide drug has anti-hyperglycemic and antiobesity effects. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are well- known drug target molecules that conduct critical signaling pathways related with diseases. Research has confirmed the role of many GPCRs genes in the regulation of pancreatic beta cell functions and insulin secretion. Liraglutide dependent expressional changes in GPCR genes may let us determine new drug targets.

Materials and methods: Therefore, we investigated the changes in expression of GPR75, GPR56, GLP1R, M3R, and CB1R genes, which are the GPCR family members, in response to liraglutide treatment in the NIT-1 mouse pancreatic beta …

Epstein Barr Virus Associated Venous Thromboembolism, Yeli̇z Çi̇çek, Ali̇ Mert

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Antithrombotic Therapy Improves Icu Mortality Of Septic Patients With Peripheral Vascular Disease In Shebin Elkom Teaching Hospital, Talal Ibrahim Mostafa Hagag, Mohamed Abdelsamie Abdelkhalek Elbahat, Shimaa Mohamed Wahed Kalama Dr

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background One of the main reasons critically ill patients suffer from severe illness and pass away, especially those who already have peripheral vascular disease (PVD), is sepsis. Sepsis's hypercoagulable condition exacerbates microvascular thrombosis, resulting in organ damage and unfavorable clinical outcomes. Antithrombotic treatment options, such as anticoagulants, antiplatelet medications, or a combination of these, have the potential to improve sepsis patients' prognosis. Objective In this study, septic patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) who were admitted to Shebin Elkom Teaching Hospital are examined for the effects of antithrombotic therapy on ICU mortality and clinical outcomes. Methods 112 septic ICU patients …