Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Digital Speech Biomarkers Of Cognitive Functioning In Multilingual Kenyan Adults, Adolfo M. Garcia, Levi Muyela, Alejandro Sosa Welford, Matías Caccia, Anne Njoki Gitere, Anne Nyambura, Erick Muhando, Zul Merali, Chinedu Momoh, Karen Blackmon

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Digital speech biomarkers show promise as cost-effective and scalable diagnostic tools for cognitive decline and dementia in African research and healthcare settings. However, significant gaps remain in language-specific normative data, cross-linguistic validation, and standardized protocols for multilingual populations. Targeting cognitively unimpaired multilingual Kenyan adults, here we aim to validate speech timing features from natural language, against performance on standardized culture-sensitive neuropsychological measures.

Method: This study was funded by Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative and took place in an outpatient clinic at the Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants completed culturally adapted tests tapping on word list learning, visual memory, …

Longitudinal Implementation Of A Neurodevelopmental Screening Program For Children Born To Mothers Living With Hiv In Maternal–Child Clinics In Kenya: A Mixed Methods Study, Megan S. Mchenry, Eren Oyungu, Amina Abubakar, Ananda Roselyne Ombitsa, Micaela Gaviola, Cleophas Cherop, Beatrice Kaniaru, Carolyne Jerop, Alan Mcguire, Rachel C. Vreeman

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Children with perinatal HIV exposure are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental (ND) delays, yet little is known about ND screening implementation for this population.

Methods: This longitudinal study evaluated ND screening implementation at a health clinic in Kenya, from 9/2021 to 8/2023. Children aged 18-36 months with perinatal HIV exposure were screened using a 12-item general ND tool. Implementation outcomes—acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, and sustainability—were assessed through time-motion observations, clinic records, and semi-structured interviews with caregivers and staff.

Results: Of 507 eligible children, 405 (80%) were screened. Screening rates were consistent over 24 months, with average time …

Doing Drag: Exploring The Experiences Of Drag As An Occupation For Performers In California, Alicia Montes, Anna Ranario, Lilibeth Rosales, Eileen Spahle, Nathan Gelman, Laura Greiss Hess, Karen Mccarthy

Occupational Therapy | Faculty Scholarship

Background: Drag is a performative art where individuals explore identity, challenge societal norms, and foster community through exaggerated gendered performance. Drag in the United States is facing potential restrictions and remains underexplored in occupational science and occupational therapy literature.

Methods: This qualitative study explored the experiences of drag performers in California, applying an occupational perspective through the framework of form, function, and meaning. Five drag performers were interviewed. Reflective thematic analysis was used to interpret qualitative data.

Findings: Identity was the central theme, interconnected with form, belonging, non-belonging, meaning and motivation, and resistive occupation. Findings highlight drag …

Acuity-Based Staffing Tool: Improving Patient Outcomes And Nurse Wellbeing In A Local Critical Care Unit, Grace Watson, Rachel Nazha, Madeline Ruffin, Evvy Lewis

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This change project proposes implementation of the CAMEO (Complexity Assessment and Monitoring to Ensure Optimal Outcomes) acuity-based staffing tool in a local critical care unit to improve patient safety, nurse wellbeing, and organizational outcomes (Hurtig et al., 2021). Current staffing practices rely on floating nurses from other units during census fluctuations, creating skill mismatches, increased burnout, and risk for adverse events. Evidence links inadequate staffing with increased mortality, infections, length of stay, and nurse turnover, revealing the need for a more systematic approach (Elmdni, 2025). The CAMEO tool quantifies cognitive workload across 18 domains of care and aligns nurse expertise …

Predictors Of Increased Length Of Stay And Cost In Readmissions For Spinal Surgical Site Infections, Matthew Giammanco, Alex Zhang, Phillip Alexeev, Ryan Snowden

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Abstract:

Background

Surgical site infection (SSI) following spinal surgery remains a costly and morbid complication, frequently necessitating hospital readmission and operative management. While prior studies have characterized the overall economic burden of spinal SSI, the specific drivers of cost during SSI-related readmissions are poorly defined. The primary research question of this study was to identify clinical, operative, and microbiologic factors associated with increased hospital cost, length of stay, and financial margins during readmission for operative management of spinal SSI.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients readmitted for surgical management of spinal SSI at a single tertiary …

Use Of Preference Signals In Family Medicine Residency Recruitment, John E. Snellings, Hanwen Miao, Daniel L. Meyer, Miranda A. Moore

Department of Family and Community Medicine Faculty Publications

Background and Objectives: Increases in graduate medical education application volume led to the introduction of preference signaling—a tool within the Electronic Residency Application Service that allows applicants to signal their sincere interest to a limited number of programs. This study aims to evaluate how family medicine program directors used preference signals during the 2023–2024 recruitment season, the first year this tool was available to family medicine programs. Understanding program director perspectives on preference signal utility is crucial for determining the tool’s impact on the residency selection process.

Methods: Data were collected through the Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research …

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Enhances The Differentiation Capacity Of Hematopoietic Stem And Progenitor Cells Into Osteoclast Precursors, Hami Hemati, Madison B. Blanton, Jude Koura, Rupak Khadka, Kathleen A. Grant, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Chronic alcohol consumption (CAC) is associated with an enhanced risk of bone fracture, reduced bone density, and osteoporosis. In a rhesus macaque model of voluntary ethanol consumption, CAC induces functional, transcriptomic, and epigenomic changes in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and their resultant monocytes/macrophages, skewing them toward a hyper-inflammatory response. In the present study, those studies were extended to investigate alterations in osteoclast development, which, in postnatal life, differentiate from HSPCs and play a critical role in maintaining bone homeostasis. Spectral flow cytometry revealed a skewing of HSPCs toward granulocyte-monocyte progenitors in the CAC group, consistent with an increased …

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Reprograms Osteoclast Lineage Communications To Promote Osteoclastogenesis, Hami Hemati, Brianna M. Doratt, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Chronic alcohol consumption increases the risk of osteoporosis and fracture by disrupting bone remodeling, in part by enhancing osteoclastogenesis. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying this process remain incompletely defined. We analyzed scRNA-seq data from osteoclasts differentiated in vitro from bone marrow mononuclear cells obtained from macaques following 12 months of chronic ethanol or isocaloric control solution consumption. Module scoring, trajectory inference with generalized additive modeling (tradeSeq), and CellChat-based analyses of intercellular communication were applied to uncover ethanol-induced changes in metabolic reprogramming, lineage progression, and signaling network dynamics. Module scoring indicated metabolic reprogramming toward oxidative phosphorylation, with reduced glycolytic, migratory, and …

Alcohol Consumption Exacerbates High-Fat Diet- Mediated Disruptions In Myelopoiesis And Osteoclastogenesis In Mouse Models Of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Liver Diseases, Hami Hemati, Madison B. Blanton, Lauren Rutt, Nicholas Keiran, Rebecca Geron, Florence Lima, Rebecca L. Mccullough, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Objective: Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Alcohol-related Liver Disease (MetALD) exhibit systemic immune abnormalities. Given that such immune dysregulation is closely linked to the skeletal complications frequently observed in MASLD and MetALD, we sought to comprehensively characterize the bone marrow hematopoietic compartment and its link to osteoclastogenesis.

Methods: We utilized bone marrow from mouse models of MASLD (high-fat diet, HFD) and MetALD (high-fat diet plus ethanol, HFD+EtOH), followed by flow cytometric analysis to phenotype hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), as well as in vitro and in vivo assays to evaluate osteoclastogenesis.

Results: We found that …

Outbreak Preparedness And Response In A Globalized World: Are We Ready?, Francesca F. Norman, David Brett-Major, Chiara Sepulcri, Emmanuel Bottieau, Theresa Sepulveda, Federica Toscanini, Laura A. Nicolini, Jesse J. Waggoner, Sami Alcedo, Davidson H. Hamer, Ralph Huits, Michael Libman, Geosentinel Network, Tropnet Network, Kevin O'Laughlin

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Recent global epidemics and pandemics have highlighted the need for adequate diagnostic capacities to respond to emerging threats. Strengthening operational capacities can lead to improved preparation; investing in emergency response infrastructure may diminish progression of outbreaks and prevent escalation.

METHODS: An email-linked survey was sent January-March-2025 to two global infectious disease surveillance networks' (GeoSentinel and TropNet) participating clinics assessing capacity for Oropouche virus (OROV) diagnostic testing. Data on testing capacity for other arboviruses was also requested.

RESULTS: Responses were obtained for 58 GeoSentinel/TropNet sites (58/104, 55.8%): 50% responding sites (29/58) had OROV diagnostic testing available at a public reference …

Buprenorphine Utilization Following Removal Of Prior Authorization Requirements In The Kentucky Medicaid Population, Dustin K. Miracle, Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Svetla Slavova, Michelle R. Lofwall, Sharon L. Walsh, Jeffery Talbert, Patricia R. Freeman

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Purpose: To evaluate changes in buprenorphine dispensing for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) among Kentucky Medicaid enrollees following the removal of prior authorization (PA) requirements for the transmucosal buprenorphine combination product.

Methods: We analyzed Kentucky Medicaid claims from 1/1/2016 through 6/30/2023 to identify enrollees with OUD during each quarter (Q1/2017–Q2/2023), using a 12-month lookback window. Segmented regression analysis was used for statistical modeling of an interrupted time series (ITS) design to assess changes in the quarterly proportion of enrollees with OUD receiving buprenorphine for OUD treatment, focusing on the effect of PA removal. The effective date of the PA …

Contemporary Trends In High-Potency P2y12 Receptor Inhibitor Use Among Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Ayman R. Fath, Binish Qureshi, Amro Aglan, Osamah Altaee, Hend Mansoor, Ahmed Almomani, Karim Al-Azizi, Marwan Saad, Andrew M. Goldsweig, Hani Jneid, Islam Y. Elgendy

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Background: High‐potency P2Y12 receptor inhibitors (ticagrelor and prasugrel) reduce ischemic outcomes compared with clopidogrel among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study aims to examine contemporary trends and identify predictors of their use among patients with AMI undergoing PCI in the United States.   Methods: This observational study used electronic health records from >95 US‐based health care organizations. Adults with AMI who underwent PCI between 2016 and 2023 were included. The primary outcome was the prescription of high‐potency P2Y12 receptor inhibitors versus clopidogrel. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of P2Y12 inhibitor …

Contraceptive Method Provision Patterns Among Rural And Urban Kentucky Medicaid Enrollees, Dustin K. Miracle, Svetla Slavova, Jeffery Talbert, Daniela C. Moga, Patricia R. Freeman

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Purpose: To characterize contraceptive provision among the Kentucky Medicaid population and assess for rural−urban disparities.

Methods: Kentucky Medicaid claims from the calendar year 2019 were used to identify females at risk for unintended pregnancy (via a modified version of the criteria defined by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs). Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the impact of rural−urban residence on contraceptive outcomes, while adjusting for relevant covariates. Outcomes for the multinomial regression model were provision of a: (1) less effective method (i.e., condoms) or no contraceptive; (2) moderately effective method (oral, transdermal, …

The Dietary Burden Of Phosphorus And Aluminum In Ready-To-Eat Wheat Flour Tortillas Exceeds That Of Corn Tortillas: Implications For Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease, Kate Chander Chiang, Robert Yokel, Jason M. Unrine, Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh, Ajay Gupta

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Ready-to-eat, shelf-stable tortillas contain several phosphorus- and aluminum-containing additives that may increase the risk of adverse events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective: The present study aimed to measure the dietary aluminum and phosphorus burden in store-bought corn and wheat flour tortillas. Design: This cross-sectional study analyzed the elemental content of commercially available corn and wheat flour tortillas collected from 2019 to 2020.

Setting: Twenty-one elements were quantified by ICP-MS and ICP-OES from 14 corn and 13 wheat flour tortilla brands purchased from local supermarkets in Southern California in 2019–2020.

Statistical analyses performed: Multiple group comparisons were …

Altered Bile Acid Transport In Liver Disease, Sarah Cayton, Lindsay C. Czuba

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Bile acids, synthesized from cholesterol in the liver, are amphipathic molecules that play an integral role in lipid digestion and absorption, while also serving as systemic endocrine hormones. They continuously undergo enterohepatic circulation, where they interact with various transporter proteins. Dysregulated bile acid transport is associated with the pathogenesis of liver disease. This review summarizes the key findings relating to bile acid transport expression and activity in the pathogenesis of liver disease.

Methods: A review of the literature was performed using PubMed and relevant terms including, but not limited to, “bile acid transporters”, “liver disease”, and “bile acid uptake …

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Disrupts The Gut Microbial And Metabolic Landscapes, Madison B. Blanton, Ethan G. Napier, Katelyn E. Keen, Ethan V. Stuart, Isaac R. Cinco, Hami Hemati, Ronald C. Bruntz, Landon Wilson, Stephen Barnes, Rupak Khadka, Kathleen A. Grant, Ilhem Messaoudi

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) increases incidence of infections, organ damage, and cancers. Aberrant inflammation is likely a driver of these adverse outcomes. Indeed, chronic alcohol consumption (CAC) rewires macrophages/monocytes toward a hyper-inflammatory phenotype. Prior studies showed increased gut permeability and dysbiosis. Translocation of host- and microbial-derived metabolites could trigger the hyper-inflammatory responses generated by macrophages/monocytes. However, the exact changes in these metabolites remain poorly defined due to confounders that complicate clinical studies and the differences between human and rodent gut microbiomes.

Methods: Here, we utilized a non-human primate model of ethanol self-administration to characterize alcohol-induced alterations in gut microbes …

Optimized Nano-Bilosomes Loaded Ocular Insert As A Promising Approach For Boosting Voriconazole Ocular Bioavailability: In-Vitro, Microbiological, And In-Vivo Assessments, Eman Gomaa

Nanotechnology Research Centre

The eye possesses numerous physiological barriers that significantly limit the absorption of administered drugs, as only < 5 % get through. These barriers restrict drug bioavailability, often necessitating multiple dosing, which can lead to poor patient compliance. The study goal is to efficiently incorporate Voriconazole (VRC), a wide-spectrum antifungal candidate with a short half-life, into stable, biocompatible, non-irritating bile salt nanoparticles (Bilosomes, BLOs) to enhance its ocular delivery. Bilosomes were prepared by the ethanol injection method. Experimental (33) Box–Behnken Design (BBD) was employed; the amount of bile salt, cholesterol, and span-60 were chosen as independent variables, while entrapment efficiency (EE%), cumulative VRC release (Q8h), particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), and polydispersity index (PDI) were the dependent variables. The formula of optimization showed EE% (59.04 ± 1.88 %), cumulative release after 8 h (81.35 ± 0.69 %), PS (222.53 ± 2.04 nm), ZP (−72.53 ± 1.75 mV), and PDI (0.225 ± 0.03). It was chemically characterized using DSC and FTIR. Its spherical arrangement was confirmed using TEM. For ophthalmic application, the optimized formula was included in ocular inserts to extend ocular residence time while minimizing dosing frequency. The optimal VRC-loaded bilosomal ocular insert met the acceptable physicochemical criteria, was sterilized using UV radiation for conducting microbiological assay, in-vivo study, and pharmacokinetic analysis. For safety evaluation, an eye irritation study and histopathological examination were conducted. The results confirmed its effectiveness as evidenced by a significantly larger inhibition zone and 8.39-fold enhancement in VRC bioavailability compared to its suspension. These findings support the potential of bilosomes-loaded ocular insert as an effective ocular delivery of VRC.

Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome: Clinical Profile And Outcomes At A Tertiary Hospital In Kenya, Peninah Mwangi, Katherine Oyieke, Sam Gwer, Pauline Samia

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: Infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) is characterised by onset of epileptic spasms between 3 and 12 months, with or without typical hypsarrhythmia, and developmental stagnation or regression. There are limited data on the clinical profile and treatment outcomes of IESS in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective: To describe the clinical profile and treatment outcomes of infants diagnosed with and managed for IESS at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.

Methods: Records of children aged 3–24 months diagnosed with IESS between January 2012 and December 2021 were identified from the hospital information system using the terms “infantile spasm”, “epileptic spasms”, …

Curriculum In Pharmacoepidemiology Training Programs: A Cross-Sectional Study To Assess Educational Needs And Alignment With Core Competencies, Amie Goodin, Deborah Layton, Ryan Chung, Vicki Osborne, Chioma Ejekam, Xiaojuan Li, Xuerong Wen, Kristian B. Filion, Luciane Cruz Lopes, Daniela C. Moga

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Purpose: Pharmacoepidemiology is a key discipline for evidence-based decision-making, yet its educational programs have not been systematically assessed for alignment with international core competencies. Our objectives were to evaluate curricula alignment of pharmacoepidemiology training programs with ISPE-recommended core competency themes and identify key curriculum content development areas.

Methods: The ISPE Core Competencies Workgroup and ISPE leadership developed a curriculum and needs assessment survey, incorporating feedback from global members. The survey was electronically distributed to leaders of pharmacoepidemiology training programs (e.g., department chairs and program directors) using the ISPE contact database, followed by snowball sampling to enhance representation. Institutional respondent characteristics …

Delivering Safe Sleep And Breastfeeding Education To Pregnant And New Mothers Through Private Facebook Groups: Study Protocol For A 4-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial, Rebecca F. Carlin, Margaret G. Parker, Ann L. Kellams, Fern R. Hauck, Stephen Kerr, Benjamin T. Cornwell, Marc T. Kiviniemi, Nicole Geller, Katherine E. Boguszewski, Michael J. Corwin, Eve R. Colson, Rachel Y. Moon

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

Background: Annually, more than 3500 US infants die suddenly and unexpectedly. Many sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) are preventable with greater adherence to safe infant sleep guidelines. There are racial and economic disparities in guideline adherence and SUID rates. Education alone has proven ineffective at altering behavior for many parents, and social networks and social norms regarding infant care have been found to influence rates of unsafe sleep. Using the power of social networks to shape social norms by delivering education through moderated online social media groups provides a unique opportunity to influence these practices in large groups of parents. …

Feasibility Of Brief Behavioral Telehealth Interventions For Sleep And Pain In Adults With Chronic Musculoskeletal Orofacial Pain: An Idiographic Clinical Trial, Linda Sangalli, Gabriel Gilmore, Isabel Moreno-Hay, Lauren N. Whitehurst, Anna Alessandri-Bonetti, Ian Andres Boggero

Oral Health Science Faculty Publications

Objective: Brief behavioral interventions targeting pain (Physical Self-Regulation, PSR) or sleep (Brief Behavioral Intervention for Insomnia, BBTI) show promise for interdisciplinary management of chronic pain, though their feasibility with chronic musculoskeletal orofacial pain (MSK-OFP) populations remains underexplored. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of these interventions in a university-affiliated tertiary OFP clinic and explored clinical changes in pain, sleep, and other secondary outcomes.

Methods: Treatment-seeking participants (N=19) with chronic MSK-OFP and insomnia were randomized to three-session PSR or BBTI. At pre- and post-intervention, participants completed questionnaires (assessing pain intensity, insomnia symptomatology, sleep …

Expression Pattern Of The Hifα-Family In Equine Chorioallantois During Pregnancy And Placental Pathology, Yatta Boakari, Hossam El-Sheikh Ali, Gustavo Henrique Doná Rodrigues Almeida, Kirsten E. Scoggin, Claudia Barbosa Fernandes, Sophia Panelli Marchio, Mats H. T. Troedsson, Ana Claudia Oliveira Carreira

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Equine placental dysfunction impairs fetal growth and disrupts pregnancy outcomes. Despite many advances in diagnosis, the molecular pathophysiology of equine placentitis and premature placental separation remains poorly understood. However, the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-α) pathway is related to placental hypoxia, and its modulation in placental diseases has been shown in other species. Therefore, we hypothesized that in conditions marked by equine placental dysfunction, oxygen deprivation in the chorioallantois membrane triggers the activation of the HIF-α pathway, which is related to molecular alterations associated with placental insufficiency. Accordingly, we compared the expression of HIF1A, HIF2A, HIF3A, and HIF1AN genes in equine chorioallantois …

Bpa: Effects Of The "Plastic Era", Bianca G. Pietrangeli

Student Work

Infographic review of sources of BPA and its impacts on human health with a focus on osteoporosis.

Evaluating The Impact Of Proactive Rounding On Early Recognition And Rapid Response, Alicia Mcintosh

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: This quality improvement project evaluated the impact of a Rapid Response Team (RRT)-led proactive rounding model on the early recognition of clinical deterioration and selected patient outcomes.

Background: Delays in recognizing clinical deterioration contribute to preventable adverse events, highlighting the need for proactive strategies to support early identification and timely intervention. To address this need, the project was implemented on a 36-bed intermediate care unit at a community medical center in Southeast United States.

Methodology: Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework, the project used a six-week pre-post intervention in which an Advanced Practice Provider (APP) conducted proactive rounds on patients …

Blocking Interleukin 33 Reduces Joint, Systemic, And Lung Inflammatory Responses In The Combined Collagen-Induced Arthritis-Inhalant Endotoxin Exposure Model, Jill A. Poole, Jacob L. Larsen, Geoffrey M. Thiele, Todd A. Wyatt, Amy J. Nelson, Michael J. Duryee, Angela Gleason, Oliver W. Schanze, Aaron D. Schwab, John D. Dickinson, Deanna Mosley, Michael Lush, Han-Jun Wang, E. Suzanne Cohen, Bryant England, Ted R. Mikuls

Journal Articles: Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

Therapies capable of resolving rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated lung disease, particularly in the setting of environmental exposures, are lacking. This study sought to determine whether blocking interleukin (IL)-33 in a murine model of RA-associated lung disease induced by combined collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and repeated inhalant lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposures could be advantageous. Arthritis prone male DBA/1J mice received CIA (vs saline) injections (days 1 and 21) plus intranasal LPS (100 ng) or saline daily for 4 weeks and were subsequently treated with 5 doses of anti-IL-33 (10 mg/kg) or isotype over 11 days. Anti-IL-33 therapy significantly (P < .05) mitigated several CIA+LPS-induced effects. Anti-IL-33 reduced arthritis inflammatory score by 76% and serum acute phase reactant pentraxin-2 by 70% and reversed weight loss induced by CIA+LPS coexposure. Anti-IL-33 reduced CIA+LPS-induced antimalondialdehyde acetaldehyde but not anticitrullinated autoantibodies in serum and reduced serum levels of inflammatory mediators. Lung cell infiltrates induced by coexposure, including neutrophils, activated lung macrophages, transitional monocytes-macrophages, monocytic-like cells, and dendritic cells, were reduced with anti-IL-33. Anti-IL-33 also reduced CIA+LPS-induced lung levels of chemokines involved in monocyte-macrophage recruitment and fibrotic/repair mediators collagen deposition, IL-33 expression, inflammatory CC motif chemokine receptor 2

Perceived Barriers And Recommendations To Improve Well-Child Visits Among Medicaid Enrollees: An Explanatory Sequential, Mixed-Methods Study, Shawnda Schroeder, Keona Manuelito

Indigenous Health Faculty Publications

Despite the critical role of well-child visits (WCVs) in preventive care, many Medicaid-enrolled children miss these appointments, leading to gaps in early intervention and immunization. Existing research has largely focused on either quantitative analyses of visit rates and predictors or qualitative insights into patient and provider experiences. This study employs a mixed-methods, community-based approach to examine barriers to WCV attendance among Medicaid-enrolled families in North Dakota who missed all WCVs in 2021. Through administrative data analysis (n=64,364), surveys (n=1,294), and focus groups (n=40), findings reveal structural, economic, and cultural obstacles, including cost concerns, lack of Medicaid transparency, and logistical challenges. …

Associations Of Non-Motor Symptoms With Perceptual Speech Impairments In Parkinson’S Disease, Rui Liu, Ciara Leydon

Health Science Faculty Publications

Background:

Communication impairments are common, multifaceted, and progressive symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), and have deleterious impacts on individual wellbeing. Self-awareness of communication impairments and the rate and extent of decline in speech skills vary substantially across individuals and are challenging to predict. To address these, we aimed to (1) evaluate associations between non-motor symptoms (NMS) and speech impairment at year seven and (2) compare the progression of self-perceived and examiner-rated speech impairment ratings scores across a seven-year follow-up period.

Method:

The study included 417 PD participants from the Parkinson’s Progression Marker Initiative. NMS were assessed using validated instruments covering …

Molar–Incisor And Generalized Grade C Periodontitis: Distinct Microbiome–Immune Interactions Suggest Divergent Pathogenesis, Camila S. Stolf, Hélvis E. S. Paz, Murilo C. Paraluppi, Manuela Maria Viana Miguel, Mauro P. Santamaria, Mabelle F. Monteiro, Deyvid E. Amgarten, Raquel R. A. Franco, Luciana S. Branco-De-Almeida, Luciana M. Shaddox, Renato C. V. Casarin

Oral Health Practice Faculty Publications

Aim:

Molar-Incisor (PerioC-MIP) and Generalized (PerioC-G) Grade C Periodontitis could have distinctive etiopathogenesis behind their unique clinical patterns. Thus, this study aimed to distinguish these two phenotypes by analyzing the subgingival metagenomic profile and the inflammatory markers levels.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional comparative study, Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) and Subgingival Biofilm (SB) were collected from 18 PerioC-MIP North Americans and 14 periodontally healthy controls (HC) from the same location (HC-MIP) and 20 PerioC-G Brazilians and 20 controls (HC-G). From GCF, immunoenzymatic analysis was performed. SB functional and taxonomic bacterial content was determined using shotgun metagenomics sequencing.

Results:

Taxonomic results showed …

Guitar Amplifier Directivity, Rachel C. Edelman, Brian E. Anderson, Samuel D. Bellows, Timothy W. Leishman

Directivity

No abstract provided.

A Unified Finite Element Framework For Cardiac Growth And Remodeling In Mitral Regurgitation Incorporating Fiber Reorientation And Baroreflex, Mohammad Mehri, Jonathan F. Wenk

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Mitral regurgitation (MR) triggers complex cardiac remodeling responses that alter the structure and function of the left ventricle (LV). While several models have been developed to predict myocardial growth in MR, they often neglect key concurrent adaptive mechanisms that influence both the pattern and severity of LV dilation. This study presents a unified finite element framework to systematically evaluate the individual and combined contributions of fiber reorientation (FR) and baroreflex regulation to LV growth and remodeling, along with the effects of myocardial material property changes associated with the acute and chronic phases of MR. A healthy baseline model and multiple …