Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Biomarkers For Heart Failure Prediction And Prevention, Prasanti Alekhya Kotta, Vijay Nambi, Biykem Bozkurt

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Heart failure (HF) is a global pandemic affecting over 64 million people worldwide. Its prevalence is on an upward trajectory, with associated increasing healthcare expenditure. Organizations including the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have identified HF prevention as an important focus. Recently, the ACC/AHA/Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) Guidelines on heart failure were updated with a new Class IIa, Level of Evidence B recommendation for biomarker-based screening in patients at risk of developing heart failure. In this review, we evaluate the studies that have assessed the various roles and contributions of biomarkers in …

Preconception Counseling In A Patient With A Mechanical Aortic Valve And Recent Ischemic Stroke, Kristen E Wong, Alan C Braverman, Tsuyoshi Kaneko, Alan Zajarias, Amanda K Verma

2020-Current year OA Pubs

A 31-year-old woman with a mechanical aortic valve for congenital aortic stenosis presented to the cardiology clinic for preconception counseling. After experiencing an acute stroke 4 weeks prior, she was subsequently discovered to have prosthetic valve thrombosis requiring replacement of the aortic valve. We discuss her clinical course and preconception considerations.

Docking For Ep4r Antagonists Active Against Inflammatory Pain, Stefan Gahbauer, Tao Che, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The lipid prostaglandin E

Design And Structural Validation Of Peptide-Drug Conjugate Ligands Of The Kappa-Opioid Receptor, Edin Muratspahić, Jianming Han, Balazs R Varga, Kevin Appourchaux, Susruta Majumdar, Tao Che, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Despite the increasing number of GPCR structures and recent advances in peptide design, the development of efficient technologies allowing rational design of high-affinity peptide ligands for single GPCRs remains an unmet challenge. Here, we develop a computational approach for designing conjugates of lariat-shaped macrocyclized peptides and a small molecule opioid ligand. We demonstrate its feasibility by discovering chemical scaffolds for the kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) with desired pharmacological activities. The designed De Novo Cyclic Peptide (DNCP)-β-naloxamine (NalA) exhibit in vitro potent mixed KOR agonism/mu-opioid receptor (MOR) antagonism, nanomolar binding affinity, selectivity, and efficacy bias at KOR. Proof-of-concept in vivo efficacy studies …

The Evaluation Of Collaborative Disease Prevention And Control Measures For Border Health Between Thailand And Myanmar, Laos, And Cambodia, Orathai Srithongtham, Aomthip Polbupha, Taweewun Srisookkum, Orathai Katkhaw, Thossaphong Buraman

Journal of Health Research

Background: Collaborative disease prevention and control measures for border health between Thailand and three neighboring countries (Myanmar; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), also known as Laos; Cambodia) were implemented in 2016 - 2017.

Methods: Summative evaluation and a mixed-method design aimed to evaluate the measures for border health between Thailand and three neighboring countries. The participants were public health personnel from provincial, district, and sub-district levels. Data were collected by questionnaire and interview guide. Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics; and qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis.

Results: The overall collaboration for border health of Thailand …

Predicting Factors Of Health-Related Quality Of Life Among End-Stage Renal Disease Patients Receiving Hemodialysis At A Tertiary Level Hospital In Nepal., Jyoti Gahatraj, Poolsuk Janepanish Visudtibhan, Tiraporn Junda, Nipaporn Butsing

Journal of Health Research

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) puts tremendous burdens upon affected patients and their support persons in Nepal. The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Nepalese persons with hemodialysis-dependent ESRD is not well understood. This study aimed to examine HRQoL and its predicting factors among persons undergoing hemodialysis in Nepal.

Methods: A purposive sampling was applied to recruit 106 persons with ESRD receiving hemodialysis at a tertiary hospital in Nepal between October and December 2021. The structured questionnaires included personal information, the World Health Organization Quality of Life instruments (WHOQOL-BREF), the fatigue assessment scale (FAS), the Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS), …

The Effects Of Cigarette Price Incentive And Regulatory Policies In Taiwan, Che-Ning Yang, Yi-Fan Lin

Journal of Health Research

Background: Price affects the demand for cigarettes, but its direct impact on smoking behaviors remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of cigarette price increases and non-pricing tobacco control policies on adult smoking behaviors in Taiwan, using data from national annual survey during 2004~2015 with 166,325 valid respondents.

Methods: We established mixed-effects models of logistic regression for each of the three dependent variables, “smoking,” “quit attempts,” and “cessation maintenance,” to characterize smoking behaviors. Socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors were also included in the models.

Results: Non-pricing tobacco control policies had no significant effects on smoking behaviors. Conversely, cigarette price …

Development And Implementation Of A Unique, Tailored School Lunch Training Program For Teachers And Their Stakeholders At Public Primary Schools In Thailand, Kantanit Chammari, Arisa Keeratichamroen, Kitti Sranacharoenpong, Punnee Ponprachanuvut, Nuttarat Srisangwan, Piyanit Churak, Panrawee Praditsorn

Journal of Health Research

Background: Although teachers responsible for the school lunch program were trained by the Ministry of Education (MOE) staff, they were not equipped with the basic knowledge of nutrition for children. This study aimed to develop and implement a unique, tailored school lunch training program for teachers and their stakeholders.

Methods: The training program was developed using the “Design for Learning (D4L) model.” Public primary schools run by the government from all regions of Thailand were selected. Target persons included principals, health teachers, nutrition teachers, cooks, and local staff from the MOE. All participants participated in a 5-day training course. …

Anxiety And Depression In Palliative Care Cancer Patients In Vietnam: Baseline Data From A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Multidisciplinary Palliative Care Versus Standard Care, Quynh Xuan Nguyen Truong, The Ngoc Ha Than, Duong Le Dai, Khoa Duy Duong Duong, Bumi Herman, Surasak Taneepanichskul

Journal of Health Research

Background: Understanding anxiety and depression is important to managing cancer patients’ distress in palliative care and improving their quality of life. We aim to describe depression and anxiety rates among cancer patients referred to palliative care and identity factors associated with these symptoms.

Method: We analyzed the baseline data from an experimental study of comprehensive palliative care in Vietnam. This study included patients with stage 3 or 4 cancer diseases, during their first hospitalization for an inpatient palliative care service. A cut-off of above 8 points for each subscale on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used …

The Same Threat, Differential Vulnerability: Invariances In Antecedents To Covid-19 Pandemic Preventive Behavior Among Malaysian And Filipino Undergraduates, Ian Phil Canlas, Mageswary Karpudewan

Journal of Health Research

Background: The differential approach made by various national governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic triggered differences in the number of recorded daily cases and deaths. This prompted the researchers to explore the interaction of and invariances in values, beliefs, and norms on COVID-19 pandemic preventive behavior among Malaysian and Filipino undergraduates.

Method: The study followed the survey research methods using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire whose items were adapted from literature, data were collected from 143 Malaysian and 157 Filipino undergraduates from two state universities between November and December 2020. Data were analyzed through partial least squares-structural equation modeling …

Healthcare Access Among Low-Income Latinx Communities: A Culturally Sensitive And Intersectional Approach, Gabriela Meza

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Various factors, including immigration status, language barriers, age, and socioeconomic status, influence healthcare service utilization among the Latinx population. This study seeks to assess whether culturally sensitive care addressing intersectional factors enhances health access and outcomes in low-income Latinx communities (Purpose). The research proposes a longitudinal quasi-experimental study involving 400 Latinx participants aged 18 and above in low-income urban Los Angeles neighborhoods. A control group of 200 participants and an intervention group of 200 will be established, with the latter receiving culturally sensitive interventions when seeking care during the study. A pre-study survey will collect demographic information, health history, healthcare …

Effects Of Dimerization On The Deacylase Activities Of Human Sirt2., Jie Yang, Nathan I Nicely, Brian P Weiser

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Human sirtuin isoform 2 (SIRT2) is an NAD+-dependent enzyme that functions as a lysine deacetylase and defatty-acylase. Here, we report that SIRT2 readily dimerizes in solution and in cells and that dimerization affects its ability to remove different acyl modifications from substrates. Dimerization of recombinant SIRT2 was revealed with analytical size exclusion chromatography and chemical cross-linking. Dimerized SIRT2 dissociates into monomers upon binding long fatty acylated substrates (decanoyl-, dodecanoyl-, and myristoyl-lysine). However, we did not observe dissociation of dimeric SIRT2 in the presence of acetyl-lysine. Analysis of X-ray crystal structures led us to discover a SIRT2 double mutant (Q142A/E340A) that …

5th Annual Occupational Therapy Program Research Conference, Kelly L. Taylor Ms, Otr/L, Cbis

Student Scholarship & Creative Works

Occupational Therapy Program RESEARCH CONFERENCE

5TH OT COHORT | CLASS OF 2024

OT Program Student Presentations Graduate Students from the Class of 2024

Polisci 3210f: Feasibility Of A National Disability Insurance Plan (Ndip) In Canada, Twana Hassan, Aditi Priya, Dylan Poole, Samantha Rubin, Ethan Chen

Community Engaged Learning Final Projects

This research report presents an overview of the feasibility and reliability of a National Disability Insurance Plan (NDIP) in Canada. Several Global North countries are leading the way in disability legislation and disability funding in comparison to Canada's inaction on the matter. A National Disability Insurance Plan in Canada will have social and economic benefits for everyone in Canada. The report concluded that Canada is capable of implementing a NDIP and doing so is the right choice.

Overcoming Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety: Practical Approaches In The Classroom, Sarah Day

Honors Projects

Foreign language speaking anxiety is a prevalent issue impacting language learners' confidence, participation, and overall language acquisition. With personal experiences as a language learner, a Spanish teacher in the United States, and an English teacher in Spain, I have observed how foreign language speaking anxiety affects learners from various demographics. Using a combined approach of personal observations, experiences as a language learner and teacher, and secondary research this project aims to address the primary sources of foreign language speaking anxiety among high school students and how both students and teachers can work to lessen the negative effects of foreign language …

Addressing Resource Constraints For Alzheimer’S Dementia Patients And Caregivers In The Global South: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Zaheen Rashed '24

Student Research

There are two main focuses of this paper: to address the care that AD patients in countries with few healthcare resources receive and to explore the experiences of familial caregivers who care for these patients. This thesis will investigate issues including access to the education required to administer informed care, who is ultimately responsible for caring for AD patients in countries with few health facilities, and the lack of resources that is apparent in countries that do not have AD specialists or clinics. This paper will pinpoint the root issue in treating AD patients globally to serve as the first …

Correction Of Spinal Sagittal Alignment After Posterior Lumbar Decompression: Does Severity Of Central Canal Stenosis Matter?, Delano Trenchfield, Yunsoo Lee, Mark J. Lambrechts, Nicholas D'Antonio, Jeremy Heard, John Paulik, Sydney Somers, Jeffrey Rihn, Mark Kurd, David Kaye, Jose Canseco, Alan Hilibrand, Alex Vaccaro, Christopher K Kepler, Gregory Schroeder

Rothman Institute Papers

STUDY DESIGN: This study adopted a retrospective study design.

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to investigate the impact of central canal stenosis severity on surgical outcomes and lumbar sagittal correction after lumbar decompression.

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Studies have evaluated sagittal correction in patients with central canal stenosis after lumbar decompression and the association of stenosis severity with worse preoperative sagittal alignment. However, none have evaluated the impact of spinal stenosis severity on sagittal correction.

METHODS: Patients undergoing posterior lumbar decompression (PLD) of ≤4 levels were divided into severe and non-severe central canal stenosis groups based on the Lee magnetic resonance imaging …

Moral Distress As A Predictive Variable Of Perceived Job Retention In Senior Nursing Students, Rebekah L. Barber

Honors College Theses

New Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduate nurses are leaving careers within inpatient healthcare facilities presumably because of moral distress related to the anticipated workload of registered nurses (RN). BSN curriculums are responsible for providing practical education through clinical instruction; however, many students experience inconsistencies in best practice recommendations. The inconsistencies predominantly originate between didactic nursing instruction and clinical learning within inpatient healthcare facilities. Using a cross-sectional descriptive research design, this thesis utilized the validated Moral Distress Scale-Revised (MDS-R), a 21-item instrument that assesses the frequency and intensity of moral distress experienced by healthcare workers. Student responses to the …

Antiseizure Effects Of Peganum Harmala L. And Lavandula Angustifolia, Zahra Rahimian, Seyedhassan Sadrian, Mina Shahisavandi, Hadi Aligholi, Mohammad M. Zarshenas, Alireza Abyar, Zahra Zeraatpisheh, Ali A. Asadi-Pooya

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Peganum harmala L. and Lavandula angustifolia are two traditional herbs with probable antiseizure effects. This study evaluated the effects of these two herbal extracts on pentylenetetrazol- (PTZ-) induced seizures in mice. We prepared hydroalcoholic extracts using P. harmala seeds and the aerial parts of L. angustifolia and then randomly divided 190 mice into 19 groups. Normal saline (10 mg/kg), diazepam (2 mg/kg), P. harmala (2.5, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg/kg), and L. angustifolia (200, 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally (IP) administrated 30 min before an IP administration of PTZ (90 mg/kg). Animals were observed for …

Inhibition Of Neurogenic Inflammatory Pathways Associated With The Reduction In Discogenic Back Pain, Jose A. Canseco, Hannah A. Levy, Brian A. Karamian, Olivia Blaber, Michael Chang, Neil Patel, John G. Curran, Alan S. Hilibrand, Gregory D. Schroeder, Alex R. Vaccaro, Dessislava Z. Markova, David E. Surrey, Christopher K. Kepler

Rothman Institute Papers

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether the initiation of anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP inhibitor) medication therapy for migraines was also associated with improvements in back/neck pain, mobility, and function in a patient population with comorbid degenerative spinal disease and migraine.

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: CGRP upregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and nerve growth factor in spinal spondylotic disease, which results in disc degeneration and sensitization of nociceptive neurons. Although CGRP inhibitors can quell neurogenic inflammation in migraines, their off-site efficacy as a therapeutic target for discogenic back/neck pain …

A Credentialing Protocol Education To Enhance Nurse Float Pool Competency, Dalton J. Skipper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Expression Of The Vesicular Gaba Transporter Within Neuromedin S+ Neurons Sustains Behavioral Circadian Rhythms, Ivana L. Bussi, Alexandra F. Neitz, Raymond E. A. Sanchez, Leandro P. Casiraghi, Michael Moldavan, Divya Kunda, Charles N. Allen, Jennifer A. Evans, Horacio O. De La Iglesia

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is the site of a central circadian clock that orchestrates overt rhythms of physiology and behavior. Circadian timekeeping requires intercellular communication among SCN neurons, and multiple signaling pathways contribute to SCN network coupling. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is produced by virtually all SCN neurons, and previous work demonstrates that this transmitter regulates coupling in the adult SCN but is not essential for the nucleus to sustain overt circadian rhythms. Here, we show that the deletion of the gene that codes for the GABA vesicular transporter Vgat from neuromedin-S (NMS)⁺ neurons—a subset of neurons …

Deep Learning-Enabled Breast Cancer Endocrine Response Determination From H&E Staining Based On Esr1 Signaling Activity, Chun Wai Ng, Kwong-Kwok Wong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Estrogen receptor (ER) positivity by immunohistochemistry has long been a main selection criterium for breast cancer patients to be treated with endocrine therapy. However, ER positivity might not directly correlate with activated ER signaling activity, which is a better predictor for endocrine therapy responsiveness. In this study, we investigated if a deep learning method using whole-slide H&E-stained images could predict ER signaling activity. First, ER signaling activity score was determined using RNAseq data available from each of the 1082 breast cancer samples in the TCGA Pan-Cancer dataset based on the Hallmark Estrogen Response Early gene set from the Molecular Signature …

Association Between Viral Infections And Glioma Risk: A Two-Sample Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Analysis, Sheng Zhong, Wenzhuo Yang, Zhiyun Zhang, Yangyiran Xie, Lin Pan, Jiaxin Ren, Fei Ren, Yifan Li, Haoqun Xie, Hongyu Chen, Davy Deng, Jie Lu, Hui Li, Bo Wu, Youqi Chen, Fei Peng, Vinay K Puduvalli, Ke Sai, Yunqian Li, Ye Cheng, Yonggao Mou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Glioma is one of the leading types of brain tumor, but few etiologic factors of primary glioma have been identified. Previous observational research has shown an association between viral infection and glioma risk. In this study, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the direction and magnitude of the causal relationship between viral infection and glioma.

Methods: We conducted a two-sample bidirectional MR analysis using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. Summary statistics data of glioma were collected from the largest meta-analysis GWAS, involving 12,488 cases and 18,169 controls. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with exposures were used as instrumental …

Patient And Physician Perspectives On Treatments For Low-Risk Prostate Cancer: A Qualitative Study, Alice Guan, Eduardo J Santiago-Rodríguez, Benjamin I Chung, Janet K Shim, Laura Allen, Mei-Chin Kuo, Kathie Lau, Zinnia Loya, James D Brooks, Iona Cheng, Mindy C Derouen, Dominick L Frosch, Todd Golden, John T Leppert, Daphne Y Lichtensztajn, Qian Lu, Debora Oh, Weiva Sieh, Michelle Wadhwa, Matthew R Cooperberg, Peter R Carroll, Scarlett L Gomez, Salma Shariff-Marco

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Patients diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) are confronted with a difficult decision regarding whether to undergo definitive treatment or to pursue an active surveillance protocol. This is potentially further complicated by the possibility that patients and physicians may place different value on factors that influence this decision. We conducted a qualitative investigation to better understand patient and physician perceptions of factors influencing treatment decisions for low-risk PCa.

METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 43 racially and ethnically diverse patients diagnosed with low-risk PCa, who were identified through a population-based cancer registry, and 15 physicians who were selected to …

The Public Performativity Of Trust, Lynette Hammond Gerido

Faculty Scholarship

Building trust between academic medical centers and certain communities they depend on in the research process is hard, particularly when those communities consist of minoritized or historically marginalized populations. Some believe that engagement activities like the creation of advisory boards, town halls, or a research workforce that looks more like community members will establish or reestablish trust between academic medical centers and racialized communities. However, without systematic approaches to dismantle racism, those well-intended actions become public performativity, and trust building will fail. In this essay, we draw upon foundational ethical principles of trust, distrust, and trust building; apply the concept …

Fostering Udl-Informed Library Instruction Practices Developed From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Niki Fullmer, Katie Strand

Library Faculty Research

Purpose: This case study explores how universal design for learning (UDL)-informed online instruction modules developed during COVID-19 can better support student information literacy outcomes. This study will also examine how hybrid learning lends itself to UDL and may resolve some of the issues within library instruction.

Design/methodology/approach: This case study explores how a team of librarians at Utah State University developed three UDL-informed modules to support library instruction and hybrid learning during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was sent to composition instructors to understand how they utilized the three new UDL-informed modules and if the modules helped …

A Literature Review On Thermogenesis As A Prospective Obesity Treatment, Kellyn Sheppard

Senior Honors Theses

The disease of obesity has quickly escalated from an epidemic to a worldwide pandemic in the last few decades, and viable treatment methods are being investigated with urgency. One such treatment method is increased induction of the thermogenesis pathway that is active in brown adipose tissue. This pathway is typically activated in mammals when they are exposed to cold temperatures for extended periods of time but can also be induced exogenously. Thermogenesis is a metabolically inefficient process that occurs in the mitochondria of a cell, meaning it uses substrate energy without generating ATP. The inefficiency of this process allows excess …

Exploring The Uncommon: A Case Report On Localized Peritonitis Caused By Ingested Toothpick, Narmeen Asif, Salva Shariq, Abdul Rehman Alvi

Department of Surgery Docs

Introduction: Bowel perforation is a serious emergency. Occasionally, sharp objects like toothpicks can get stuck in narrow parts of the small intestine, potentially resulting in impaction, obstruction, or perforation.
Presentation of case: A 20-year-old male arrived at our hospital's emergency department with sudden, severe abdominal pain persisting for 24 h. On examination, his abdomen showed tenderness, and bowel sounds were reduced. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) indicated possible small intestine inflammation due to a foreign object and a diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a hyperemic terminal ileum.
Discussion: This case involves ileal perforation from an unnoticed toothpick ingestion. Detecting foreign object perforations is …

Wildland Fires Worsened Population Exposure To Pm25 Pollution In The Contiguous United States, Danlu Zhang, Wenhao Wang, Yuzhi Xi, Jianzhao Bi, Yun Hang, Qingyang Zhu, Qiang Pu, Howard Chang, Yang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

As wildland fires become more frequent and intense, fire smoke has significantly worsened the ambient air quality, posing greater health risks. to better understand the impact of wildfire smoke on air quality, we developed a modeling system to estimate daily PM