Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Fit24, A Digital Health Intervention To Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk Among Hispanic Youth: Protocol For A Feasibility Pilot Study, Erica G Soltero, Callie Lopez, Salma M Musaad, Teresia M O'Connor, Debbe Thompson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Poor physical activity (PA) and sleep behaviors in Hispanic adolescents contributes to increased risk for type 2 diabetes. Commonly owned digital devices and services like smartphones and text-messaging are highly used among adolescents and are promising intervention tools for reaching this age group. Personal activity trackers assess activity and sleep, making them ideal tools for addressing these behaviors. We propose to examine the feasibility of a 12-week intervention that uses theoretically grounded text messages and a Fitbit device to improve PA and sleep among Hispanic adolescents with obesity, as compared to a wait-list control group with a Fitbit device …

Light Responses And Amacrine Cell Modulation Of Morphologically-Identified Retinal Ganglion Cells In The Mouse Retina, Ji-Jie Pang, Fan Gao, Samuel M Wu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

By analyzing light-evoked spike responses, cation currents (ΔIC) and chloride currents (ΔICl) of over 100 morphologically-identified retinal ganglion cells (GCs) in dark-adapted mouse retina, we found there are at least 14 functionally- and morphologically-distinct types of RGCs. These cells can be divided into 5 groups based on their patterns of spike response to whole field light steps (SRWFLS), a GC identification scheme commonly used in studies with extracellular recording techniques. We also found that all GCs in the mouse retina express strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors, and receive light-elicited chloride current (ΔICl) accompanied by a conductance increase from narrow-field, glycinergic amacrine cells. …

Commentary: Through Thick And Thin, Jonathan C Hong, Joseph S Coselli

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Commentary: There Is More Than One Way To Skin A Cat, Joseph S Coselli, Jonathan C Hong

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Pilot Clinical Trial Of Macimorelin To Assess Safety And Efficacy In Patients With Cancer Cachexia, Megan Herodes, Lindsey J Anderson, Samuel Shober, Ellen A Schur, Solomon A Graf, Nicola Ammer, Ramiro Salas, Marco Marcelli, Jose M Garcia

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Cancer cachexia is associated with reduced body weight, appetite and quality of life (QOL) with no approved treatments. Growth hormone secretagogues like macimorelin have potential to mitigate these effects.

METHODS: This pilot study assessed the safety and efficacy of macimorelin for 1 week. Efficacy was defined a priori as 1-week change in body weight (≥0.8 kg), plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 (≥50 ng/mL) or QOL (≥15%). Secondary outcomes included food intake, appetite, functional performance, energy expenditure and safety laboratory parameters. Patients with cancer cachexia were randomized to 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg macimorelin or placebo; outcomes were assessed non-parametrically.

RESULTS: …

Perspectives, Spring 2022, Volume 10, Number 1, Nova Southeastern University

Perspectives

"Perspectives" was the College of Health Care Sciences' official magazine that connects students, faculty and staff from CHCS’s academic programs all over the state of Florida.

Impacts Of Fda Approval And Medicare Restriction On Antiamyloid Therapies For Alzheimer’S Disease: Patient Outcomes, Healthcare Costs, And Drug Development, Rouen Brockmann, Joanna Nixon, Bryan L. Love Pharm D., Ismaeel Yunusa Ph. D.

Faculty Publications

In 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to aducanumab, an antiamyloid antibody for early-stage Alzheimer's disease, despite a lack of clear clinical evidence demonstrating the drug's cognitive benefits. The manufacturer initially priced the drug at a staggering $56,000 per year, a price that was later reduced to $28,200. Unfortunately, these costs do not include the additional expenses associated with monitoring the treatment. However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that they will only cover individuals enrolled in clinical trials and will limit coverage of future antiamyloid antibodies. This discrepancy between the FDA …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Some Disubstituted Cyclopentadienyl Rhenium Complexes As Potential Candidates In Semiconductive Materials, Chloe Vernon

Senior Honors Theses

Since 2000, when the Nobel Prize in Chemistry as awarded for conductive polymer research few studies have been performed concerning the conductive capabilities of discrete organometallic compounds. For this project, organometallic compounds were formed specifically with a transition metal included in the structure. Through oxidation and reduction reactions, the variation in the electrical conductivity could allow for an analysis of whether this unique structure would allow for tunability. The goal of this research was to begin with aromatic substituted fulvenes and perform various multistep synthesis processes, utilizing thallium salt intermediates, to produce several disubstituted cyclopentadienyl rhenium complexes. In this project, …

Where Do We Draw The Line? The Ethical Dilemma Involved In Genetic Engineering And Gene Therapy, Amber Schrag

Senior Honors Theses

Genetic engineering and gene therapy are greatly disputed in our time. With the advancement of technology, one has the power to manipulate genes in the body, which raises the questions: What is our role in this? Is there a limit to this power, or should there be? This paper reviews the uses of this technology and evaluates the ethics from a scientific and Biblical point of view. It is concluded that using gene therapy to help cure diseases is very beneficial in both the scientific and Biblical realm as it is restoring individuals back to health and wholeness.

Child Abuse From A Nursing Perspective: Assessment And Implications, Ashtyn Spring

Senior Honors Theses

Nurses experience the relationship dynamics between pediatric patients and their families firsthand. Being informed by the goals of holistic care, nurses should be assessing for unhealthy dynamics among pediatric patients and their caregivers so they can respond appropriately when a potential for abuse is present. Healthcare workers have the duty to provide safety and healing to their patients. Through the unique contact nurses have with patients, their training for accurate assessment skills, and their responsibility as healthcare workers, nurses are placed with the opportunity to help children out of abusive situations. Prompt identification of the potential for abuse can prevent …

Mandates, Mistrust, And Misconceptions: An Overview Of Vaccine Hesitancy, Evelyn Ryan

Senior Honors Theses

Vaccines are one of the most successful ways to prevent diseases and are considered one of the most influential achievements in the history of public health. While vaccines have many benefits, the number of parents that refuse vaccinations for their children is increasing. People are concerned about potential risks and health problems that are thought to result from vaccination. There are risks and contraindications involved with vaccines, but many reasons for vaccine hesitancy that are cited by the public are not founded on evidence-based data. When making vaccine decisions, it is essential that the public has accurate information and that …

Prevalence Of Sars-Cov-2 Antibodies In Liberty University Student Population, Emily Bonus

Senior Honors Theses

In 2020, the virus SARS-CoV-2 gained attention as it spread around the world. Its antibodies are poorly understood, and little research focuses on those with few COVID-19 complications yet large numbers of close contacts: university students. This longitudinal study recorded SARS-CoV-2 antibody presence in 107 undergraduate Liberty University students twice during early 2021. After extensive data cleaning and the application of various statistical tests and ANOVAs, the data seems to show that in the case of COVID-19 infections, SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibodies are immediately produced, and then IgG antibodies follow later. However, the COVID-19 vaccine causes the production of both IgM …

Pathogenesis And Therapeutics Of Huntington's Disease, Megan Bones

Senior Honors Theses

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare, incurable, inherited neurological disease that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. The mutant huntingtin gene contains 40 to 80 repeats of a CAG trinucleotide sequence. The pathogenesis of HD is multifaceted and includes pathways related to glutamine aggregation, mitochondrial and oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and DNA damage. Currently two drugs, tetrabenazine and deutetrabenazine, are FDA approved for the treatment of HD. Otherwise, medications given to HD patients include general antipsychotics, antidepressants, and mood-stabilizer drugs. Other treatment methods include speech and physical therapy. This research provides an understanding of the various …

Efficacy Of Kidney Reperfusion Treatments Relative To Function And Survival Rates After Transplantation, Mitchell Rohr

Senior Honors Theses

Donor kidneys are damaged upon circulatory death before being preserved with machine perfusion until transplantation. During machine perfusion, blood is pumped back into the vasculature of the kidney, causing damage called ischemic reperfusion injury. The two forms of machine perfusion are hypothermic machine perfusion and normothermic machine perfusion. Different methods of treatment can be used during either hypothermic machine perfusion or normothermic machine perfusion to prevent ischemic reperfusion injury. Each of the treatment methods that were reviewed showed potential for preventing ischemic reperfusion injury, with hypothermic treatments having higher average levels of feasibility than normothermic treatments. The effect of the …

Virtue Ethics In Nursing: A Review Of The Literature, Abigail Chu

Senior Honors Theses

Background

Human flourishing is at the heart of healthcare. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle proposes virtue ethics, the idea that humans find and fulfill their purpose through flourishing. Virtue ethics posits that an individual flourishes by forming habits that promote excellence (both moral excellence and excellence in skill) while modeling people who possess the ideal traits. Virtue ethics emphasizes eudaimonia or human flourishing as embodying the highest good and an overall state of wellbeing.

Purpose

The purpose of this integrative literature review is to examine how virtue ethics in nursing can promote human flourishing.

Methods

Twenty-nine articles were reviewed for …

Home Exercise Program Adherence In Physical Therapy: Application Of The Transtheoretical Model, Charis Brown

Senior Honors Theses

Home exercise programs (HEPs) are a foundational component of physical therapy (PT). However, the majority of patients are not compliant with their HEP; they lack the motivation and habits necessary to be compliant. The transtheoretical model (TTM) is a framework for understanding the decision-making of the individual and is a model of intentional change. When properly understood and applied, the TTM can improve a physical therapist’s ability to help patients to change their behavior and to become HEP compliant. This paper seeks to address patient exercise noncompliance by educating and instructing physical therapists in the application of the TTM, which …

Nurses' Preparedness For Disaster Response In Rural And Urban Primary Healthcare Settings In Tanzania, Kahabi Isangula, Mary Lyimo, Yudas Ndungile, Elisha Robert

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Nurses are often on the frontline of disaster management, providing care to patients with emerging physical, mental, and emotional turbulence, and acting as educators for health promotion and disaster prevention in both rural and urban contexts. However, the literature suggests that nurses are inadequately prepared for disaster response. This study examined preparedness for disaster response among nurses in rural and urban primary healthcare settings in Tanzania.

Methods: This qualitative descriptive study involved purposefully selected qualified nurses and nurse administrators working in rural (n=20) and urban (n=11) primary healthcare facilities in Tanzania. Telephone-based interviews were conducted to gather …

Implementing A Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring Process, Alecia Christensen

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Because of the prevalence of hypertension worldwide, it is prudent for all patients to have the knowledge and ability to self-monitor their blood pressure. Patients monitoring their own blood pressure and communicating the readings with healthcare providers facilitates a more comprehensive plan of care.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In adults 18-90 years old with primary hypertension (P), will a self-measured blood pressure monitoring that includes a monthly telehealth visit with a provider (I), compared to blood pressure monitoring at routine office visits (C), decrease patients' systolic blood pressure readings by five mmHg …

Analytics Monthly, Lehigh Valley Health Network

LVHN documents

No abstract provided.

Pharmacy Newsletter : April 2023, Pharmacy Department

Department of Pharmacy Archives

• Changes in Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Report
• TOX-TOK: Sulfonylurea Overdose
• Difference Between Parenteral Iron Products
• Drug-Drug Interactions Impacting the Treatment of HIV-TB Co-Infection
• Conversion Between Different Corticosteroid Preparations
• Use of Analgesics in Adult Patients with Cirrhosis

Use Of A Worksite Physical Activity To Improve Subjective Daytime Sleepiness Among Night Shift Healthcare Workers: A Quality Improvement Project, Marthe Sooh Nkongo

DNP Projects

Background and Significance: Shift work including work schedules beyond the typical "nine-to-five," causes the disruption of sleep-wake behaviors (Healy et al., 2021). The circadian misalignment is a potential pathway for the development of metabolic diseases, excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep deprivation, and declines in alertness and performance among night shift workers (James et al., 2017; McHugh et al., 2020; Parry et al., 2018). Emerging evidence suggests that physical activity synchronizes the sleep-wake cycles (Healy et al., 2021).

Purpose: This quality improvement project (QI) aimed to improve night-shift nurses ‘subjective daytime sleepiness by incorporating a 4-week worksite walking activity during working hours. …

Implementation Of A Daily Central Line Maintenance Audit Form In An Outpatient Infusion Center: A Quality Improvement Project, Sarah E. Christiana

DNP Projects

Significance and Background: Best evidence supports central venous access device (CVAD) dressing changes occur every 7 days or sooner, if indicated. At a community hospital in New England, patients receive outpatient antimicrobial therapy via CVADs. It is vital that nurses adequately maintain CVAD dressings according to evidence-based protocols to reduce the risk of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). CLABSIs, associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and health care costs, are largely preventable through proper CVAD maintenance. At the project site, a review identified that dressing changes were frequently changed beyond the 7-day parameter. Documentation and surveillance processes were identified as opportunities …

Pediatric Malaria With Respiratory Distress: Prognostic Significance Of Point-Of-Care Lactate, Catherine Mitran, Robert Opoka, Andrea Conroy, Sophie Namasopo, Kevin Kain, Michael Hawkes

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Respiratory distress (RD) in pediatric malaria portends a grave prognosis. Lactic acidosis is a biomarker of severe disease. We investigated whether lactate, measured at admission using a handheld device among children hospitalized with malaria and RD, was predictive of subsequent mortality. We performed a pooled analysis of Ugandan children under five years of age hospitalized with malaria and RD from three past studies. In total, 1324 children with malaria and RD (median age 1.4 years, 46% female) from 21 health facilities were included. Median lactate level at admission was 4.6 mmol/L (IQR 2.6–8.5) and 586 patients (44%) had hyperlactatemia (lactate …

Examining The Feasibility Of Telehealth Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Tf-Cbt) With Young People In Foster Care, Jill Mcleigh, Adrianna Martin, Laura Lamminen

Behavioral Health/Developmental Delay

Despite the high rate of trauma exposure among young people with child welfare involvement, various systematic and patient barriers exist that inhibit utilization of evidence-based trauma treatments. One strategy for alleviating barriers to such treatments is using telehealth. A few studies have found that the clinical outcomes of telehealth TF-CBT are comparable to those found from clinic-based, in-person treatment administration. Studies have yet to examine the feasibility of telehealth TF-CBT with young people in care. The current study sought to address this gap by examining outcomes for patients who received telehealth TF-CBT, along with factors that may have impacted successful …

Fitness Assessments Of Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Prospective Process Feasibility Study, Pamela J. Wright, Cynthia F. Corbett Phd, Rn, Faan, Robin M. Dawson Phd, Rn, Cpnp-Pc, Michael D. Wirth Msph, Phd, Face, Bernardine M. Pinto Phd, Fapa, Fsbm, Fabmr

Publications

Background: Fitness is a marker of physiological and mental health. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of processes to recruit women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) during the Covid pandemic and collect their health and fitness data. Additionally, the data was used to explore possible associations between anthropometrics, PCOS biomarkers, health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), and depressive symptoms with that of fitness and self-reported physical activity levels among women with PCOS. Methods: A convenience sample of women with PCOS (n = 15) were recruited via flyers and the snowball method. Participants completed surveys, anthropometrics, a dual energy …

Ketamine For Active-Duty Military And Veterans With Ptsd, Kristopher Flynt

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

The purpose of this research and systematic literature review is to compare the drug ketamine’s efficacy at treating post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans and active-duty military compared to approved Food and Drug Administration (FDA) options and combination medication/psychotherapy. In this review, three databases were searched including Pubmed, ClinicalKey, and PsycInfo from October 3 to January 9, 2023. Additionally, the Veterans Affairs (VA)/Department of Defense (DOD) Clinical Practice Guidelines was utilized. A variety of key and mesh terms were utilized when database searching. Chosen works for review included randomized control trials, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and retro-perspective studies. Sources that were excluded …

Platelet-Rich Plasma Vs Corticosteroids In Oa, Joshua Zetocha

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

- Millions of people around the world suffer from degenerative joint changes due to osteoarthritis (OA). - Traditional treatment includes corticosteroid intra-articular injections. - Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an alternative option for OA. - In all studies evaluated, PRP had no major side effects. - Patients saw a reduction in pain and improvement of functionality with both PRP and Corticosteroids. - PRP patients reported improvement that lasted longer than corticosteroid therapy. - More studies are needed on specific concentrations of PRP. - Results may vary depending on the joint being treated. - Price is a barrier for many as insurance …

The Impact Of A Human Trafficking Educational Module On Nurse Practitioner Students Awareness, Knowledge, And Confidence In Responding To Human Trafficking, Casey Elliott

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine if a human trafficking education module increased master level nursing students’ awareness, knowledge, and confidence in responding to human trafficking (HT) victims. Background: HT in the United States and worldwide is a growing problem. Millions of men, women, and children are victims of HT each year. Victims of human trafficking are often vulnerable due to several factors, including emotional problems, social instability, and economic difficulties. Studies have found up to 88% of victims of HT are seen by a healthcare provider during their captivity. Improving the awareness, knowledge, and confidence of …

The Relationship Among Emotional Intelligence, Coping Strategies, And Occupational Burnout For Child Protective Service Workers, Yvette Longoria

Dissertations

There are low retention rates of child protective service caseworkers and this impacts the quality of care of the families served. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence, coping strategies and occupational burnout for CPS caseworkers. In addition, examining the relationship between education type, education level, and caseload size as it relates to emotional intelligence, coping strategies, and occupational burnout among child protective caseworkers. The theoretical framework utilized was the Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping. A convenience sampling was used to collect participants employed as FBSS or CVS caseworkers at Texas Department of …

Effect Of Kinesiophobia On Return To Play Of Athletes At Bridgewater College, Jenna Mccaffrey

Honors Projects

Kinesiophobia is known as the fear of movement, injury, or re-injury. It is the primary psychological construct of the Fear Avoidance Model of Chronic Pain under the biopsychosocial model's umbrella. This study tested the effects of kinesiophobia on return to play of athletes at Bridgewater College. Results found that kinesiophobia had no impact on return to play of female athletes at Bridgewater College. Male athletes have a positive correlation between Return Concerns and kinesiophobia.