Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Designing And Pilot-Testing Smokefreesgm: A Text-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention For Sexual And Gender Minority Groups, Rebecca Klaff, Samuel Tundealao, Brittany Krenek, Irene Tamí-Maury

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Although the prevalence of smoking is significantly higher among sexual and gender minorities (SGM) than the general population, no text-based smoking cessation intervention has been specifically tailored to this group. The objective of this phase of our study was to develop SmokefreeSGM, an SGM-tailored text-based smoking cessation program, and pilot test its design to inform the refinement of the program.

METHODS: SmokefreeSGM was adapted from SmokefreeTXT, the National Cancer Institute's text-based smoking cessation program, to respond to the needs of SGM smokers. In addition to tailored text messages, SmokefreeSGM includes a new keyword, STRESS, to address the unique psychosocial …

Plasma Protein Biomarkers Of Healthy Dietary Patterns: Results From The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study And The Framingham Heart Study, Shutong Du, Jingsha Chen, Hyunju Kim, Maura E Walker, Alice H Lichtenstein, Nilanjan Chatterjee, Peter Ganz, Bing Yu, Ramachandran S Vasan, Josef Coresh, Casey M Rebholz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Molecular mechanisms underlying the benefits of healthy dietary patterns are poorly understood. Identifying protein biomarkers of dietary patterns can contribute to characterizing biological pathways influenced by food intake.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify protein biomarkers associated with four indexes of healthy dietary patterns: Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015); Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010); DASH diet; and alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED).

Methods: Analyses were conducted on 10,490 Black and White men and women aged 49-73 y from the ARIC study at visit 3 (1993-1995). Dietary intake data were collected using a food frequency questionnaire, and plasma proteins were quantified using …

Association Of The Gut Microbiome With Kidney Function And Damage In The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos (Hchs/Sol), Brandilyn A Peters, Qibin Qi, Mykhaylo Usyk, Martha L Daviglus, Jianwen Cai, Nora Franceschini, James P Lash, Marc D Gellman, Bing Yu, Eric Boerwinkle, Rob Knight, Robert D Burk, Robert C Kaplan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome is altered in chronic kidney disease (CKD), potentially contributing to CKD progression and co-morbidities, but population-based studies of the gut microbiome across a wide range of kidney function and damage are lacking.

METHODS: In the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, gut microbiome was assessed by shotgun sequencing of stool (

RESULTS: Higher eGFR was associated with overall gut microbiome composition, greater abundance of species from Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Eubacterium, and microbial functions related to synthesis of long-chain fatty acids and carbamoyl-phosphate. Higher UAC ratio and CKD were related to lower gut microbiome diversity and …

Application Of Implementation Mapping To Develop Strategies For Integrating The National Diabetes Prevention Program Into Primary Care Clinics, William B Perkison, Serena A Rodriguez, Fernanda Velasco-Huerta, Patenne D Mathews, Catherine Pulicken, Sidra S Beg, Natalia I Heredia, Pierre Fwelo, Grace E White, Belinda M Reininger, John W Mcwhorter, Roshanda Chenier, Maria E Fernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is considered one of the most prevalent and preventable chronic health conditions in the United States. Research has shown that evidence-based prevention measures and lifestyle changes can help lower the risk of developing diabetes. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is an evidence-based program recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; it is designed to reduce diabetes risk through intensive group counseling in nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral management. Factors known to influence this program's implementation, especially in primary care settings, have included limited awareness of the program, lack of standard clinical processes to facilitate …

Susceptible Windows Of Exposure To Fine Particulate Matter And Fetal Growth Trajectories In The Spanish Inma (Infancia Y Medio Ambiente) Birth Cohort, Wei-Jen Chen, Alison M Rector, Monica Guxens, Carmen Iniguez, Michael D Swartz, Elaine Symanski, Jesús Ibarluzea, Albert Ambros, Marisa Estarlich, Aitana Lertxundi, Isolina Riano-Galán, Jordi Sunyer, Ana Fernandez-Somoano, Suneet P Chauhan, Jennifer Ish, Kristina W Whitworth

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

While prior studies report associations between fine particulate matter (PM

Factors Associated With Hiv Testing And Treatment Among Young Black Msm And Trans Women In Three Jail Systems, Nicholas Antos, Rey Flores, Nina Harawa, Natascha Del Vecchio, Rodal Issema, Kayo Fujimoto, Aditya S Khanna, Angela Di Paola, John A Schneider, Anna L Hotton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) and transgender women (BTW) are disproportionately affected by incarceration and HIV. We assessed factors associated with HIV testing and viral suppression among 176 incarcerated BMSM and BTW in Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; and Houston, TX. In multivariable logistic regression, having a sexual orientation of bisexual, heterosexual, or other vs. gay or same-gender loving was associated with higher odds of testing in custody (aOR 8.97; 95% CI 1.95 - 41.24). Binge drinking (aOR 0.19; 95% CI 0.04 - 0.92) and being unemployed prior to incarceration (aOR 0.03; 95% CI 0.00 - 0.23) …

Examining Neighborhood-Level Hot And Cold Spots Of Food Insecurity In Relation To Social Vulnerability In Houston, Texas, Ryan Ramphul, Linda Highfield, Shreela Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Food insecurity is prevalent and associated with poor health outcomes, but little is known about its geographical nature. The aim of this study is to utilize geospatial modeling of individual-level food insecurity screening data ascertained in health care settings to test for neighborhood hot and cold spots of food insecurity in a large metropolitan area, and then compare these hot spot neighborhoods to cold spot neighborhoods in terms of the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index. In this cross-sectional secondary data analysis, we geocoded the home addresses of 6,749 unique participants screened for food insecurity at health care locations participating in CMS's …

Age-Induced Changes In Anti-Tumor Immunity Alter The Tumor Immune Infiltrate And Impact Response To Immuno-Oncology Treatments, Suzanne I Sitnikova, Jennifer A Walker, Laura B Prickett, Michelle Morrow, Viia E Valge-Archer, Matthew J Robinson, Robert W Wilkinson, Simon J Dovedi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Immuno-oncology (IO) research relies heavily on murine syngeneic tumor models. However, whilst the average age for a cancer diagnosis is 60 years or older, for practical purposes the majority of preclinical studies are conducted in young mice, despite the fact that ageing has been shown to have a significant impact on the immune response.

METHODS: Using aged (60-72 weeks old) mice bearing CT26 tumors, we investigated the impact of ageing on tumor growth as well as the immune composition of the tumor and peripheral lymphoid organs.

RESULTS: We found many differences in the immune cell composition of both the …

Effectiveness Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Versus Therapeutic Play For Hospitalized Children Diagnosed With Cancer: An Integrative Systematic Review, Dianne Kong

Theses and Dissertations

Psychotherapy provides essential coping mechanisms and strategies for children who are diagnosed with cancer, as they experience the extraordinary burden of physical, emotional, and mental strains. While many medical advancements have been made within the past few decades, progress related to psychotherapy for pediatric cancer patients has not been commensurate, evidenced by the limited current literature. Given the sparsity of relevant research, it is presently difficult to compare and evaluate the various psychotherapeutic interventions available for pediatric oncology patients. Additionally, there are significant challenges in providing psychotherapeutic care for patients and their families, including lack of consistency, disruption of care, …

The Use Of Dance And Movement For The Embodied Healing Of Interpersonal Trauma In Women And Girls: A Systematic Review, Catherine Xinyu Liang

Theses and Dissertations

Interpersonal trauma is a serious and devastating problem for women and girls from all walks of life. Research has shown that there are physiological consequences for experiencing trauma, and as such, treatment for trauma may need to target the body. Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) has been emerging in the current literature as one body-oriented treatment approach that is effective in helping women and girls heal from interpersonal trauma. This review examines how practitioners are currently using DMT for this population, what treatment outcomes have been observed, and what the racial/ethnic identities and international contexts are for survivors who have benefited from …

Application Of Third-Wave Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions In The Treatment Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Emily Hanna

Theses and Dissertations

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has a high comorbidity rate, with substantial risks for anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is considered the first-line psychotherapy treatment for OCD. While highly efficacious, not all patients achieve full remission with ERP, and given the chronicity of OCD and its sensitivity to stress-related events, many patients struggle with ongoing symptoms. A growing area of research has been the use of third-wave behavioral and cognitive therapies that potentially enhance patients’ willingness to engage with exposure-based treatment and provide strategies to cope with residual symptoms. This integrative systematic review summarizes and synthesizes …

Trust In Integrated Medical Care Using A Population-Based Normative Approach, Heather Summers

Theses and Dissertations

The role of integrated care partnerships in addressing health care and social needs to achieve whole person care is important as health care costs rise and quality of care outcomes are incentivized. Medicaid reform and 1115 Medicaid waiver programs are implemented statewide as innovative programs aimed at achieving cost savings and improved clinical quality of care outcomes. Understanding how cross sector partnerships can meet the needs of individuals through integrated care cross sectoral coordination between government, social services and managed care is needed. This research study examined the role of normative care values, vision, trust, shared care, and leadership. The …

Leveraging Cell-Substrate Adhesion And Cell Migratory Properties In Skeletal Muscle Constructs And Cancer Metastasis Assays, Lauren E. Mehanna

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) remains one of the few skeletal muscle injuries without a reliable and repeatable treatment. In large volume muscle injuries, muscle fibers as well as the surrounding connective tissue are damaged, preventing therapeutic muscle stem cells, called myogenic progenitor cells (MPCs), from reaching the injury site and initiating repair. There is a clinical need to rapidly fabricate in vitro muscle tissue constructs that mimic the native tissue organization, with aligned myotubes, for insertion and integration at the patient’s injury site. In this dissertation, we utilize the MPC’s natural propensity to close gaps across an injury site to …

The Wennberg Anthology, John E. Wennberg

Dartmouth Scholarship

In 1967, after finishing my postgraduate training at Johns Hopkins in internal medicine and epidemiology, I took a job at the University of Vermont in Burlington as Director of the Northern New England Regional Medical Program (RMP). The Vermont program was one of some fifty RMPs that blanketed the country as part of President Johnson’s Great Society program. The idea behind the RMP was that advances in biomedicine had so improved the outcomes of major killer diseases that it was critical to ensure that all Americans, not just those fortunate enough to live near an academic medical center, had access …

Ultrasound Guided Nerve Block In Cervicogenic Headache, Zeinab Adel Ghorab, Azza Elmongui, Ahmed Azab, Osama Elshafei

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Cervicogenic headache (CGH) has been considered as a common type of headache all over the world. There are a lot of therapeutic modalities for Cervicogenic headache either non-invasive or invasive strategies. Based on the original cause of pain, there are several approaches of local or regional anesthesia injections comprising nerve root injections, trigger point blocks, peripheral nerve blocks, or facet blocks Aim: To assess the efficacy of the ultrasound (US)-guided greater occipital nerve (GON ) block in Cervicogenic headache . Methods: The study was designed as a prospective interventional study that included 50 patients with Cervicogenic headache after fulfillment …

Value Of Optical Coherence Tomography And Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography In Relation To Disability Progression In Multiple Sclerosis Patients, Hossam Abd El-Nasser Kamal, Ahmed Effat Abbas Mohamed Saeid, Amgad Mahmoud El Nokrashy, Mohamed Galal El-Khateeb

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-angiography (OCT-A) permit quantification of retinal layer atrophy relevant to multiple sclerosis (MS) progression. Methods: We conducted this case-control study to assess of the changes in OCT and OCTA measures in relation to the duration of MS and the expanded disability status scale (EDSS). A total of 70 MS patients compared to 35 healthy controls were enrolled. Results: According to OCT findings, there was a significantly lower mean value of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) in the MS patients group compared to the control group with p1.5 exhibited …

Risk Of Aggressive Acid Suppression: Clostridium Difficile And Norovirus Coinfection, Sidratul Baizeed, Juan Manuel Potes, Tyler Green

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2023 clinical vignette poster

Clostridium Tertium Bacteremia In Immunocompetent Patient - Contamination Or True Pathogen?, Heath Donahue

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2023 clinical vignette poster

Checking Hormone Levels: A Differential For Female Fatigue, Makayla Hyde, Shaista Qureshi

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2023 clinical vignette poster

Naltrexone Use In Adolescents To Decrease Incidences Of Self-Harm, Pedram Maleknia, Janaki Nimmagadda

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2023 clinical vignette poster

Altered Mental Status And The Importance Of Thorough Discussion Of Past Medical History With Patient And Family, Pedram Maleknia, Kathryn Elizabeth Heaton, Roger D. Smalligan

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2023 clinical vignette poster

How To Recognize Argyria, Charles Wesley Minor, Chandler Stisher

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2023 clinical vignette poster

Application Of Pharmacogenetics In Pediatric Psychiatry, Bethany Langner, Gabrielle Willhelm, Janaki Nimmagadda

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2023 clinical vignette poster

The Blue Man-When Treating Ed Leads To A Trip To The Ed, Ryan Zaniewski, Sindhu Lakkur, Parekha Yedla

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2023 clinical vignette poster

Predictive Factors For Elective Surgery Cancellations And No-Shows, Caleb Hood, Sheridan Rose, Daniel Boyett

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2023 research poster

The Impact Of Potable Water Salinity On Human Health, Raafat Mandour

Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between salinity of drinking water and the formation of urinary stones. Compared with neighboring areas, the prevalence of urinary stones in the Aga area selected from the southern Dakahlia Governorate is significantly higher.

Materials and methods: A total of 87 volunteers were recruited between April 2019 and April 2020. Drinking water samples were collected from water sources used by clinically identified patients with urinary calculi and healthy people. The concentrations of the major and minor ions in the water samples were determined using other hydrochemical parameters.

Results: Water quality parameters in the …

Development Of Foot And Mouth Disease Vaccine Formulation In Egypt By Using Silver Nanoparticles As Immunogenic And Adjuvant, Rania Dweek, M. Eisa, M. El-Beskawey, Sabry El- Khodery, Abdelaziz A. Yassin, Mohamed Farghli, Hiam Fakhry, Samar Attwa

Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) combined with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

inactivated oil adjuvant vaccine on the immunological response of cattle.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized clinical trials.

PROCEDURES: AgNPs were prepared and added to the locally produced inactivated trivalent FMD vaccine used in

Egypt. Twenty-five cattle were classified into five groups (five/group). The first group was vaccinated with FMD

Trivalent inactivated oil adjuvant vaccine plus AgNPs (3 ml subcutaneously (S/C), the second group was vaccinated with

FMD trivalent inactivated vaccine (3 ml S/C). The third group was vaccinated with FMD trivalent inactivated vaccine plus AgNPs (2 …

Impactos Do Trabalho Em Hospitais Públicos, Lorena Em Fernandes, Carlos Eduardo Siqueira, Gabriella Barreto Soares, Francis Sodré

Gastón Institute Publications

This paper shows the result of a qualitative pilot study carried out with workers from public hospitals managed by private institutions, whose objective was to identify and analyze the main impacts of work on health professionals in these institutions, known as Social Health Organizations. The survey occurred in Espírito Santo, Brazil, in 2019. Workers who have a job in at least one of the participating institutions were individually interviewed. The analysis was based on grounded theory techniques, carried out with careful coding and comparative methodology, resulting in four empirical categories: “Admission”; “People management”; “Management and quality”; and “Health and quality …

Snail With The Right Heart (2021) By Maria Popova, Maughn Rollins Gregory

Picture Books

When a London scientist found a garden snail whose shell that spiraled left to right—opposite from others of its species—he sent it to the University of Nottingham for study. The snail’s internal organs were also arranged on the opposite side from other snails, including a heart on the right side of its body—a one-in-a-million condition known as situs inversus, which also occurs in humans. In explaining the snail’s story in terms of genetic evolution and biological reproduction, The Snail with the Right Heart also raises philosophical questions about the role of genetics, education, and personal choice in determining who …

Identification Of Proteins Involved In Cell Membrane Permeabilization By Nanosecond Electric Pulses (Nsep), Giedre Silkuniene, Uma Mangalanathan, Alessandra Rossi, Peter A. Mollica, Andrei G. Pakhomov, Olga N. Pakhomova

Bioelectrics Publications

The study was aimed at identifying endogenous proteins which assist or impede the permeabilized state in the cell membrane disrupted by nsEP (20 or 40 pulses, 300 ns width, 7 kV/cm). We employed a LentiArray CRISPR library to generate knockouts (KOs) of 316 genes encoding for membrane proteins in U937 human monocytes stably expressing Cas9 nuclease. The extent of membrane permeabilization by nsEP was measured by the uptake of Yo-Pro-1 (YP) dye and compared to sham-exposed KOs and control cells transduced with a non-targeting (scrambled) gRNA. Only two KOs, for SCNN1A and CLCA1 genes, showed a statistically significant reduction in …