Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Major Depressive Disorder And Driving Behavior Among Older Adults, Ganesh M Babulal, Ling Chen, Jean-Francois Trani, David C Brown, David B Carr, Beau M Ances, Eric J Lenze, Drives Project

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: Depression and antidepressant use are independently associated with crash risk among older drivers. However, it is unclear what factors impact daily driving that increase safety risk for drivers with depression.

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in naturalistic driving behavior and safety between older adults with and without major depressive disorder (MDD).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted among older adults (≥65 years) from the Driving Real-World In-Vehicle Evaluation System Project collected from July 1, 2021, to December 30, 2023. The sample included 85 participants with MDD and 310 participants without. Neurological, clinical, mood, and neuropsychological …

Alcohol Use Disorder Polygenic Score Compared With Family History And Adh1b, Dongbing Lai, Michael Zhang, Marco Abreu, Tae-Hwi Schwantes-An, Grace Chan, Danielle M Dick, Chella Kamarajan, Weipeng Kuang, John I Nurnberger, Martin H Plawecki, John Rice, Marc Schuckit, Bernice Porjesz, Yunlong Liu, Tatiana Foroud

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: Identification of individuals at high risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and subsequent application of prevention and intervention programs has been reported to decrease the incidence of AUD. The polygenic score (PGS), which measures an individual's genetic liability to a disease, can potentially be used to evaluate AUD risk.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the estimability and generalizability of the PGS, compared with family history and ADH1B, in evaluating the risk of AUD among populations of European ancestry.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This genetic association study was conducted between October 1, 2023, and May 21, 2024. A 2-stage design was used. …

Heterozygous Btnl8 Variants In Individuals With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (Mis-C), Evangelos Bellos, Erica G Schmitt, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare condition following SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with intestinal manifestations. Genetic predisposition, including inborn errors of the OAS-RNAseL pathway, has been reported. We sequenced 154 MIS-C patients and utilized a novel statistical framework of gene burden analysis, "burdenMC," which identified an enrichment for rare predicted-deleterious variants in BTNL8 (OR = 4.2, 95% CI: 3.5-5.3, P < 10-6). BTNL8 encodes an intestinal epithelial regulator of Vγ4+γδ T cells implicated in regulating gut homeostasis. Enrichment was exclusive to MIS-C, being absent in patients with COVID-19 or bacterial disease. Using an available functional test for BTNL8, rare variants from a larger cohort of MIS-C patients (n = 835) were tested which identified eight variants in 18 patients (2.2%) with impaired engagement of Vγ4+γδ T cells. Most of these variants were in the B30.2 domain of BTNL8 implicated in sensing epithelial cell status. These findings were associated with altered intestinal permeability, suggesting a possible link between disrupted gut homeostasis and MIS-C-associated enteropathy triggered by SARS-CoV-2.

Teaching Matters In Formula Preparation-A Measure Of Equity And Nutritional Safety, Matthew D. Di Guglielmo

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Artificial Intelligence-Driven Prediction And Validation Of Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability And Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion Profiles In Natural Product Research Laboratory Compounds, Jai-Sing Yang, Eddie Tc Huang, Ken Yk Liao, Da-Tian Bau, Shih-Chang Tsai, Chao-Jung Chen, Kuan-Wen Chen, Ting-Yuan Liu, Yu-Jen Chiu, Fuu-Jen Tsai

BioMedicine

Introduction: Our previous research demonstrated that a large language model (LLM) based on the transformer architecture, specifically the MegaMolBART encoder with an XGBoost classifier, effectively predicts the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of compounds. However, the permeability coefficients of compounds that can traverse this barrier remain unclear. Additionally, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) characteristics of substances obtained from the Natural Product Research Laboratory (NPRL) at China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) have not yet been determined.

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the pharmacokinetic ADME properties and BBB permeability coefficients of NPRL compounds.

Materials and Methods: A …

Juxtaposition Of Bone Age And Sexual Maturity Rating Of The Taiwanese Population, Wen-Li Lu, Chung-Hsing Wang, Yi-Chun Lin, Fuu-Jen Tsai

BioMedicine

Background Bone age (BA) and sexual maturity rating (SMR) are the imperative measures in assessing adolescent growth and development. However, studies indigenous to the Taiwanese population with regard to the association of SMR and BA in adolescence is scarce. This study attempts to utilize the AI-assessed BA results to establish a relationship between BA and SMR of the Taiwanese population in regard to the initiation of puberty. Materials and methods The electronic medical records with examinations of bone age assessed between January 1st 2019 and December 31st 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Records of the same individuals were retained only the …

Artificial Intelligence (Ai)-Powered Bibliometric Analysis Of Global Trends In Mesenchymal Stem Cells (Mscs)-Derived Exosome Research: 2014-2023, Shih-Chang Tsai, Bing-Han Wan, Fuu-Jen Tsai, Jai-Sing Yang

BioMedicine

Introduction: In recent years, significant progress has been made in regenerative medicine, specifically in using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) due to their regenerative and differentiating abilities. An exciting development in this area is the utilization of exosomes derived from MSCs, which have shown promise in tissue restoration, immune system modulation, and cancer treatment.

Objectives: This study aims to analyze global research trends and the academic impact of MSCs-derived exosomes from 2014 to 2023, providing a comprehensive overview of this emerging field.

Materials and Methods: The Web of Science database selected 948 relevant publications from 2014 to 2023. Artificial intelligence …

Application Of Machine Learning To Identify Risk Factors For Outpatient Opioid Prescriptions Following Spine Surgery, Alexander Bouterse, Andrew Cabrera, Adam Jameel, David Chung, Olumide Danisa

BioMedicine

Introduction: Spine surgery is a common source of narcotic prescriptions and carries potential for long-term opioid dependence. As prescription opioids play a role in nearly 25% of all opioid overdose deaths in the United States, mitigating risk for prolonged postoperative opioid utilization is crucial for spine surgeons.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to employ six ML algorithms to identify clinical variables predictive of increased opioid utilization across spinal surgeries, including anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), posterior thoracolumbar fusion (PTLF), and lumbar laminectomy.

Methods: A query of the author’s institutional database identified adult patients undergoing …

Advanced Whole Transcriptome Sequencing And Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (Ai/Ml) In Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-Like Inflammation Of Human Keratinocytes, Lii-Tzu Wu, Shih-Chang Tsai, Tsung‑Jung Ho, Hao-Ping Chen, Yu-Jen Chiu, Yan-Ru Peng, Ting-Yuan Liu, Yu‑Ning Juan, Jai-Sing Yang, Fuu-Jen Tsai

BioMedicine

Introduction: Although the HaCaT keratinocyte model has been used in previous research to study the effects of anti-psoriatic agents, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of imiquimod (IMQ)-induced proliferation and signal transduction in psoriasis-like keratinocytes.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms and pathways associated with psoriasis-like inflammation caused by IMQ in human keratinocytes.

Materials and Methods: HaCaT cells were exposed to different concentrations of IMQ to induce inflammation similar to that observed in psoriasis. Cell viability was evaluated using the MTT assay and cell morphology was examined using phase-contrast …

Machine Learning-Guided Differential Gene Expression Analysis Identifies A Highly-Connected Seven-Gene Cluster In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Hany Ghazal, El-Sayed A. El-Absawy, Waleed Ead, Mohamed E. Hasan

BioMedicine

Background: One of the most challenging cancers is triple-negative breast cancer, which is subdivided into many molecular subtypes. Due to the high degree of heterogeneity, the role of precision medicine remains challenging. With the use of machine learning (ML)-guided gene selection, the differential gene expression analysis can be optimized, and eventually, the process of precision medicine can see great advancement through biomarker discovery.

Purpose: Enhancing precision medicine in the oncology field by identification of the most representative differentially-expressed genes to be used as biomarkers or as novel drug targets.

Methods: By utilizing data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository …

Integrating Natural Product Research Laboratory With Artificial Intelligence: Advancements And Breakthroughs In Traditional Medicine, Jai-Sing Yang, Shih-Chang Tsai, Yuan-Man Hsu, Da-Tian Bau, Chia-Wen Tsai, Wen-Shin Chang, Sheng-Chu Kuo, Sheng-Chu Kuo, Chien-Chih Yu, Yu-Jen Chiu, Fuu-Jen Tsai

BioMedicine

The Natural Product Research Laboratory (NPRL) of China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) was established in collaboration with CMUH and Professor Kuo-Hsiung Lee from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The laboratory collection features over 6,000 natural products worldwide, including pure compounds and semi-synthetic derivatives. This is the most comprehensive and fully operational natural product database in Taiwan. This review article explores the history and development of the NPRL of CMUH. We then provide an overview of the recent applications and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in new drug discovery. Finally, we examine advanced powerful AI-tools and related software …

The Impact Of Judo Training On The Development Of Cognitive Functions - A Systematic Review, Jakub Biedrzycki, Radosław Laskowski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

A careful review of research was conducted to evaluate the impact of martial arts training on cognitive development in people of various ages. The analyzed research from the areas of psychology and physiology suggested that physical activity may have a positive impact on cognitive functions. Judo, as a form of martial art, not only offers physical benefits, but can also impact the cognitive function of practitioners. The purpose of this review is to examine the available scientific research on the effects of judo on various aspects of cognitive function, including memory, concentration, problem-solving ability, and other related mental functions. Therefore, …

The Role Of Epigenetic Aberrations In The Cold Tumor Phenotype And Inflammatory Signaling In High-Risk Neuroblastoma, Pamela Morgan Watson

Alternative Theses and Dissertations (AETDs)

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a highly aggressive, heterogeneous disease that arises from the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and originates from neural crest cells (NCCs) (1). NB is the most common extracranial cancer in pediatric accounts for 15% of pediatric cancer deaths (2). This high mortality rate is the result of the metastatic, immune evasive, and treatment resistant characteristics of the disease (3). It has been proposed that NB arises from blocks in differentiation during development, resulting in a mixture of two distinct cell types within the tumor: mesenchymal and adrenergic (Figure 1.1) (4,5). The adrenergic cell type is more differentiated, and …

The Nurse Faculty Compassion Instrument: A Methodological Study, Nancy Pritchard

Dissertations

As nursing shortages rise, nursing faculty have the important responsibility of increasing the number of nursing school graduates that enter the nursing profession. Unfortunately, attrition and retention continue to prevent nursing students from graduating on time or at all. Nursing faculty compassion has been identified as one important factor that could decrease nursing student attrition and increase nursing student retention and program completion. Compassion is a concept built upon the constructs of forming connections, empathetic behaviors, student suffering and faculty recognition of needs, and alleviation of suffering. No existing instruments measure all of these constructs. Some existing tools that measure …

A Scoping Review Of The Prevalence Of Polypharmacy In Dementia Patients In Correlation To Increased Falls And Hospitalizations, Julie Ward, Travis Adelman, Erica Barber, Elizabeth Upton

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative condition characterized by cognitive decline and behavioral changes, which often necessitates polypharmacy to manage symptoms. There is a negative trade off to polypharmacy in that it increases the risks of falls and hospitalizations. Dementia patients are at an increased risk of falls and hospitalization, making it valuable to examine admission records to identify potentially modifiable risk factors. One of the most prevalent modifiable risk factors is polypharmacy in geriatric populations. Polypharmacy has become prevalent in older adults, not just in dementia. In 2013 a 3-year prospective cohort study of 1,742,336 people >65 years old looked …

Effectiveness Of Lavender Supplementation In Treating The Most Common Mental Health Conditions In Primary Care Settings: A Narrative Review, Taylor Irwin, Heather Justice, Kara Roman, Sophie Tajadod, Carilyn Ellis, Kristy Asbell, Jason Brumitt

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

Primary care providers (PCPs) are increasingly challenged to meet the rising demand for psychiatric care in the United States (U.S.). 1,2 More patients are seeking mental health care from their PCP than ever before. The number of visits for mental health concerns increased by 50% from 11% of all visits in 2006 to approximately 16% of all visits in 2018. 1 Many patients are opting to seek treatment exclusively from PCPs rather than from psychiatric providers. 1 Several factors contribute to this trend, including a shortage of mental health care providers, limited insurance coverage for psychiatric services, and potential reluctance …

Glp-1 Agonists On Reducing The Risk Of Developing Dementia In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Alli Guerrero, Emmiline Chou, Erika Mccarthy, Heather Justice, Jason Brumitt

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and dementia share a similar pathogenesis of insulin resistance, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress.¹ Individuals diagnosed with T2DM are at an increased risk of experiencing accelerated cognitive decline, attributed to the underlying disease process, furthermore increasing the likelihood of developing dementia.¹ According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dementia was the second leading cause of death, with over 250,000 deaths associated with Alzheimer’s disease alone.² Currently, there are only two classes of drugs available for the symptomatic treatment of dementia: N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist and cholinesterase inhibitors.²However, no …

Deliberate Cold Exposure As Augmentation For Diabetic Management, Joel Graham, Michael Graham, Patrick Clyde, Michael Racine, Jason Brumitt

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

CE has received attention during the past decade as a modality to decrease inflammation, improve mood, increase mental resiliency, and to facilitate physical exercise recovery. This “treatment” has been in use for centuries having been mentioned in ancient Greek texts. CE is also a common cultural practice of Nordic countries, with its traditional uses centering on the therapeutic effects improved health and recovery. These effects are predominantly moderated through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) by changes in skin temperature, which subsequently induces the release of catecholamines to conserve body heat and prevent the onset of hypothermia. The …

Analyzing The Efficacy Of Dupilumab On Skin Clearance In Pediatric Patients With Atopic Dermatitis, Naomy Procopoi, Jason Brumitt

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

Severe atopic dermatitis significantly impairs the quality of life for infants and young children, along with their family members and caregivers. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin. It is characterized by pruritic, erythematous, and xerotic skin. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in the pediatric population is much greater than in adults; it is estimated that approximately 15-20% of children worldwide are affected by this condition. Although the majority of these children achieve spontaneous remission in adulthood, mild to moderate disease may often be debilitating and lead to a lower quality of life.

Previously, the only approved …

Review Of Depression Management In Cardiovascular Disease, Kelsey Pangelinan, Kristy Asbell, Erika Mccarthy

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

Introduction

Depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are closely interrelated, with depressive symptoms significantly more common in patients with heart disease than in the general population. Several studies have shown that between one-fifth to one-third of patients with severe acute coronary disease exhibit depressive signs, while around 10% meet the standards for major depressive disorder. This heightened occurrence of depression among ACS patients correlates with unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes, an amplified probability of recurrent heart events, and escalating healthcare costs.¹ Despite its acknowledged sway on cardiovascular health, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated in this group. According to the World Health …

The Effect Of Gratitude On The Mental Health Of Healthcare Workers As Measured By Burnout And Depression, Haley S. Fujimori, Erika Mccarthy, Erika Barber, Jay Jamieson, Jason Brumitt

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

Practicing gratitude has been shown to have a positive effect on both the mental and physical health of the general population and, thus, has been proposed as a means to improve the mental health of HCWs.Practicing gratitude can be defined as appreciating the things one has in life. Self-reflecting on things one is grateful for, listing good things that occurred throughout one’s day, journaling work events one is grateful for, and writing letters to thank someone are ways in which gratitude may be practiced. Existing research suggests that practicing gratitude is associated with improved sleep, blood pressure, and glycemic control, …

The Effect Of Aerobic Exercise On Reducing Drug Craving And Preventing Recurrence Of Methamphetamine Use Disorder, Sydney Skutt, Carilyn Ellis, Daniel Sanders, Jason Brumitt

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

Methamphetamine (MA) is a derivative of amphetamine that is highly addictive and toxic. It is classified as a Schedule II stimulant under the Controlled Substances Act and has limited medical use for treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and high potential for abuse as a recreational drug. Prior to the 2000s, methamphetamine was derived from ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in cold medicine, which became controlled in 2005 to combat the methamphetamine epidemic. Current methamphetamine is derived from phenyl-2-propanone, a chemical whose use is regulated for other uses, such as racing fuel, gold mining, perfume, and photography, fundamentally changing …

Re: Proteomic Exploration Of Potential Blood Biomarkers In Haemophilic Arthropathy, Quang D La, David F Lo, Don D Shamilov

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

We wish to convey our reflections on the scholarly article titled “Proteomic exploration of potential blood biomarkers in haemophilic arthropathy” [1]. This investigation elucidates significant results concerning the plasma proteome of individuals afflicted with hemophilic arthropathy (HA) across a spectrum of severities, accentuating pivotal variations in protein expression correlated with disease severity and emphasizing the intricate nature of HA pathophysiology.

Assistive Technologies For Internet Navigation: A Review Of Screen Reader Solutions For The Blind And Visually Impaired, Juan Nino, Sherezada Ochoa, Jocelyne Kiss, Geoffreyjen Edwards, Ernesto Morales, James Hutson, Frédérique Poncet, Walter Wittich

Faculty Scholarship

The internet is a critical resource for individuals with visual impairments (VI), including those with low vision or blindness, enabling access to information and fostering independent participation in society. However, despite advancements in screen reader software, challenges persist in navigating complex and dynamic web content. This narrative review evaluates Assistive Technologies (AT), which enhance internet navigation for VI screen reader users, focusing on design strategies and usability outcomes. A systematic search across the ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, JSTOR, and ScienceDirect identified 698 studies, of which 33 met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 502 participants. Key themes were extracted from bibliographic …

Thoughts From The Frontline - December 2024, Tennessee Center For Nursing Advancement, East Tennessee State University

Thoughts from the Frontline Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Advocating For Occupational Therapy Intervention With In-House Athletics, Jatia Littles, Cynthia Haynes

Fall 2024 OTD Capstone Symposium

Occupational therapists (OT) have the opportunity to work with athletes by outsourcing through orthopedic centers with professional leagues such as the National Football League (NFL) (Jobs in Sports, 2022) but rarely do you see OTs within the sports complex working in-house. Although many studies go into great detail on the benefits of occupational therapy during the rehabilitation process, there are only a limited number of studies that explore occupational therapy intervention in athletics (Andreas et al., 2021). This project designed and implemented an occupational therapy-focused advocacy project that involves informing interprofessional sports faculty on the benefits of OTs being a …

Relationship Of Stress, Family, And Social Support, And Job Satisfaction To Burnout Among Family Nurse Practitioners Employed In Primary Care Clinics In Mississippi, Laura-Jean Scott Brooks

Dissertations

In the realm of healthcare, burnout is the invisible monster that has infiltrated every facet of the industry with grossly visible results. From provider turnover to patient errors, burnout has lifelong effects on the healthcare provider and patient care. This researcher seeks to study variables and the relationship to burnout among Family Nurse Practitioners who practice in primary care in Mississippi. The Review of the Literature demonstrated a lack of findings in burnout among family nurse practitioners. Most of the literature reviewed focused on burnout among registered nurses. The guiding hypothesis of the research study was that social and family …

Delinquency And Inadvertent Neglect As Byproducts Of Work-Addicted Parents, Shelley Sasser

Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

Over the past decade, discussions of work addiction throughout academic literature have increased substantially. However, the relationship between childhood outcomes and parental work addiction has yet to be explored. In this study, I set out to identify functions of parent-child relationships and comparisons of situational outcomes stemming from work addiction in relation to social determinants such as income, ethnicity, and gender, along with resulting stratification. The degree to which children benefit from features of lifestyles typically associated with high household incomes, such as financial security, health care benefits, access to educational resources, and neighborhood socioeconomic advantage, wherein parental work-addiction might …

Short-Term And One-Week Follow-Up Of Dry Needling Effects On Shoulder Range Of Motion And Strength With Asymptomatic Individuals, Mark Hecimovich

Master of Science in Kinesiology

Dry needling, a subcutaneous treatment intervention using fine filiform needles, is growing in popularity amongst manual therapists and is used in treating myofascial trigger points, pain, range of motion, and strength, albeit with limited research. This research aimed to measure the effect of dry needling on the shoulder, its impact on external rotation, and abduction range of motion and strength with an asymptomatic cohort of individuals. It is hypothesized that dry needling on a cohort of healthy individuals will not influence both range of motion and strength.

This study consisted of a convenience sample of 20 university students aged 20 …

Emergency Room Treatment And Outcomes Of Patients Experiencing A Mental Health Crisis: A Scoping Review, Tyson Greener, Heather Rollins, Kevin Vandenheuvel, Carilyn Ellis

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

During the past decade, emergency rooms (ER) across the country have become inundated with patients seeking treatment for behavioral health-related concerns. It was found in the United States in 2011 that one in four patients presenting to the emergency room did so with a mental health disorder. Patients present with a range of behavioral health concerns, including depression/anxiety, suicidal ideation, psychosis, substance use disorder, and suicidal attempts. It has been found that 1 in every five patients presenting to the ER with a mental health concern will return within 6 months. Within the same study, over 4 years, 44.8% (4796) …