Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Calming The Body, Calming The Mind: A Pilot Study On The Use Of Zero Balancing To Reduce Anxiety, Misty L. Rhoads, Mary Murphy

Journal of Transformative Touch

Background: The predominance of anxiety is currently at record levels, and the need for non-pharmaceutical approaches to help alleviate and decrease the harmful effects of anxiety on an individual and collective level is necessary. This study explored how Zero Balancing supports individuals with anxiety to manage their physical, mental, and emotional health more effectively. Researchers hypothesized that Zero Balancing would lower the perceived severity of general anxiety and lower perceived anxiety symptoms.

Methods: To honor the holistic nature of bodywork and the participants' lived experiences, the researchers utilized a concurrent mixed-methods phenomenological research design. Each participant received one Zero Balancing …

Differing Radiation Exposure In Scrub Technicians And Rotating Staff In Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory: Occupation Matters, Nasir Rahman, Maleeha Javed, Ghufran Adnan, Maria Khan, Zeenat Nizar, Izat Shah

Section of Cardiology

Background: Radiation exposure is a significant hazard associated with invasive Cardiology, with most studies based on primary operator exposure. This prospective, observational study aimed to find out over lead radiation exposure as effective dose acquired by non-physician staff comprising scrub technicians and rotating staff in the cath laboratory. Effective dose (ED) measured per procedure via Raysafe i2®dosimeter badges worn by both rotating staff and scrub technicians over lead aprons along with dose area product (DAP), fluoroscopy time (FT) and procedure time (PT) in minutes was collected prospectively over forty-six invasive Cardiology procedures.
Results: This study shows that rotating staff acquire …

Analysis Of Us Food And Drug Administration New Drug And Biologic Approvals, Regulatory Pathways, And Review Times, 1980–2022, Enrique Seoane-Vazquez, Rosa Rodriguez-Monguio, John H. Powers Iii

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

U.S. laws enacted since 1983 have aimed to enhance the development and marketing of new pharmaceutical products. We thoroughly characterized all new molecular entities, therapeutic biologics, and gene and cell therapies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during the period 1980–2022 in the context of these laws and regulations. Throughout the study period, the FDA approved 1355 new pharmaceutical products. The median FDA review time decreased from 26.6 months prior to the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (1992), which authorized the FDA to collect fees from drug companies to 9.9 months after the Food and Drug Administration …

Sox On Tumors, A Comfort Or A Constraint?, Junqing Jiang, Yufei Wang, Mengyu Sun, Xiangyuan Luo, Zerui Zhang, Yijun Wang, Siwen Li, Dian Hu, Jiaqian Zhang, Zhangfan Wu, Xiaoping Chen, Bixiang Zhang, Xiao Xu, Shuai Wang, Shengjun Xu, Wenjie Huang, Limin Xia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The sex-determining region Y (SRY)-related high-mobility group (HMG) box (SOX) family, composed of 20 transcription factors, is a conserved family with a highly homologous HMG domain. Due to their crucial role in determining cell fate, the dysregulation of SOX family members is closely associated with tumorigenesis, including tumor invasion, metastasis, proliferation, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stemness and drug resistance. Despite considerable research to investigate the mechanisms and functions of the SOX family, confusion remains regarding aspects such as the role of the SOX family in tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and contradictory impacts the SOX family exerts on tumors. This review summarizes …

Functional Epas1/ Hif2a Missense Variant Is Associated With Hematocrit In Andean Highlanders, Elijah S Lawrence, Wanjun Gu, Ryan J Bohlender, Cecilia Anza-Ramirez, Amy M Cole, James J Yu, Hao Hu, Erica C Heinrich, Katie A O'Brien, Carlos A Vasquez, Quinn T Cowan, Patrick T Bruck, Kysha Mercader, Mona Alotaibi, Tao Long, James E Hall, Esteban A Moya, Marco A Bauk, Jennifer J Reeves, Mitchell C Kong, Rany M Salem, Gustavo Vizcardo-Galindo, Jose-Luis Macarlupu, Rómulo Figueroa-Mujíca, Daniela Bermudez, Noemi Corante, Eduardo Gaio, Keolu P Fox, Veikko Salomaa, Aki S Havulinna, Andrew J Murray, Atul Malhotra, Frank L Powel, Mohit Jain, Alexis C Komor, Gianpiero L Cavalleri, Chad D Huff, Francisco C Villafuerte, Tatum S Simonson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Hypoxia-inducible factor pathway genes are linked to adaptation in both human and nonhuman highland species. EPAS1, a notable target of hypoxia adaptation, is associated with relatively lower hemoglobin concentration in Tibetans. We provide evidence for an association between an adaptive EPAS1 variant (rs570553380) and the same phenotype of relatively low hematocrit in Andean highlanders. This Andean-specific missense variant is present at a modest frequency in Andeans and absent in other human populations and vertebrate species except the coelacanth. CRISPR-base-edited human cells with this variant exhibit shifts in hypoxia-regulated gene expression, while metabolomic analyses reveal both genotype and phenotype associations …

Perceptions Of Burden Among Informal Caregivers Of Older Adults In Assisted Living, Gösta H W Schlegel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Few studies have focused on the lived experiences of informal caregivers of residents of assisted living facilities (ALFs) and their perceptions of their caregiver burden, which can lead to decreased physical and mental health, decreased economic status, and negative effects on the care recipient’s wellbeing. A considerable knowledge and practice gap remains regarding how public health practitioners relate to informal caregiving. The purpose of this study was to understand what informal caregivers of ALF residents perceive as factors that affect their caregiver burden and the perceived impact caregiver burden has on the caregiver and their eldercare recipient. The social-ecological model …

Risk Factors For Non-Healing Wounds—A Single-Centre Study, Daniel Wolny, Ladislav Štěpánek, Dagmar Horáková, Janet Thomas, Jana Zapletalová, Mihir Sanjay Patel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Chronic wounds present a significant clinical, social, and economic challenge. This study aimed to objectify the risk factors of healing outcomes and the duration of chronic wounds from various etiologies. Methods: Patients treated for non-healing wounds at the surgical outpatient clinic of the Olomouc Military Hospital were involved. Data from patients treated between 8/2021 and 9/2023 were selected. Patients were mostly treated as outpatients, with microbiological follow-up indicated in cases of advanced signs of inflammation. Results: There were 149 patients who met our selection criteria (the mean age was 64.4 years). Predominant causes of wounds involved diabetes (30.9%), post-trauma …

Large Airway T Cells In Adults With Former Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Jing Gao, Petra Um-Bergström, Melvin Pourbazargan, Eva Berggren-Broström, Chuan X. Li, Heta Merikallio, Riitta Kaarteenaho, Nichole S. Reinke, Craig E. Wheelock, Erik Melén, Lindén Anders, Åsa M. Wheelock, Georgios Rassidakis, Cristian Ortiz-Villalon, Magnus C. Sköld

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) in infants born prematurely is a risk factor for chronic airway obstruction later in life. The distribution of T cell subtypes in the large airways is largely unknown.

Objective: To characterize cellular and T cell profiles in the large airways of young adults with a history of BPD.

Methods: Forty-three young adults born prematurely (preterm (n = 20), BPD (n = 23)) and 45 full-term-born (asthma (n = 23), healthy (n = 22)) underwent lung function measurements, and bronchoscopy with large airway bronchial wash (BW). T-cells subsets in BW were analyzed by immunocytochemistry.

Results: The proportions …

Dose Tapering And Discontinuation Of Biologic Dmards In Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Narrative Review (2023 Spartan Annual Meeting Proceedings), Haseeb Chaudhary, Ansaam Daoud, Marina Magrey

Faculty Scholarship

Purpose of Review: Limited data is available for tapering or discontinuation of biologic therapy in patients with axSpA who are in disease remission. The current review concentrates on published studies regarding dose tapering or withdrawal of biologics in axSpA. Recent Findings: Recent evidence in light of randomized controlled trials suggests that tapering of b-DMARDs is a feasible strategy to maintain remission or low disease activity in axSpA patients. TNF inhibitors were the studied biologics in most of these trials. The disease flare rates were comparable to those maintained on standard dose in most of these studies, although with variable tapering …

Srf-Deficient Astrocytes Provide Neuroprotection In Mouse Models Of Excitotoxicity And Neurodegeneration, Surya Chandra Rao Thumu, Monika Jain, Sumitha Soman, Soumen Das, Vijaya Verma, Arnab Nandi, David H Gutmann, Balaji Jayaprakash, Deepak Nair, James P Clement, Swananda Marathe, Narendrakumar Ramanan

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Reactive astrogliosis is a common pathological hallmark of CNS injury, infection, and neurodegeneration, where reactive astrocytes can be protective or detrimental to normal brain functions. Currently, the mechanisms regulating neuroprotective astrocytes and the extent of neuroprotection are poorly understood. Here, we report that conditional deletion of serum response factor (SRF) in adult astrocytes causes reactive-like hypertrophic astrocytes throughout the mouse brain. These

Comprehensive Landscape Of Braf Variant Classes, Clonalities, And Co-Mutations In Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Using Ctdna Profiling, Benny Johnson, Van Morris, Xuemei Wang, Arvind Dasari, Kanwal Raghav, John Paul Shen, Michael S Lee, Ryan Huey, Christine Parseghian, Jason Willis, Robert Wolff, Leylah M Drusbosky, Michael J Overman, Scott Kopetz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Although V600E accounts for the majority of the BRAF mutations in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), non-V600 BRAF variants have been shown in recent years to represent a distinct molecular subtype. This study provides a comprehensive profile of BRAF variants in mCRC using a large genomic database of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and analyzing clinical outcomes in a cohort of patients with atypical (non-V600) BRAF variants (aBRAF; class II, class III, unclassified). Overall, 1733 out of 14,742 mCRC patients in the ctDNA cohort had at least one BRAF variant. Patients with atypical BRAF variants tended to be younger and …

Investigating The Genetic Makeup Of The Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) In The United Arab Emirates Population Through Next-Generation Sequencing, Nour A. D. Marzouka, Halima Alnaqbi, Amira Al-Aamri, Guan Tay, Habiba Alsafar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules are central to immune response and have associations with the phenotypes of various diseases and induced drug toxicity. Further, the role of HLA molecules in presenting antigens significantly affects the transplantation outcome. The objective of this study was to examine the extent of the diversity of HLA alleles in the population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using Next-Generation Sequencing methodologies and encompassing a larger cohort of individuals. A cohort of 570 unrelated healthy citizens of the UAE volunteered to provide samples for Whole Genome Sequencing and Whole Exome Sequencing. The definition of the …

Design, Synthesis, X-Ray Crystallography, And Biological Activities Of Covalent, Non-Peptidic Inhibitors Of Sars-Cov-2 Main Protease, Md Ashraf-Uz-Zaman, Teck Khiang Chua, Xin Li, Yuan Yao, Bala Krishna Moku, Chandra Bhushan Mishra, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Pedro A Piedra, Yongcheng Song

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has infected billions of people worldwide with flu-like symptoms since its emergence in 2019. It has caused deaths of several million people. The viral main protease (Mpro) is essential for SARS-CoV-2 replication and therefore a drug target. Several series of covalent inhibitors of Mpro were designed and synthesized. Structure-activity relationship studies show that 1) several chloroacetamide- and epoxide-based compounds targeting Cys145 are potent inhibitors with IC50 values as low as 0.49 μM, and 2) Cys44 of Mpro is not nucleophilic for covalent inhibitor design. High resolution X-ray studies revealed the protein-inhibitor interactions and mechanisms of inhibition. …

Survivorship Care For Women Living With Ovarian Cancer: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Elizabeth Kvale, Farya Phillips, Samiran Ghosh, Jayanthi Lea, Claire Hoppenot, Anthony Costales, Jan Sunde, Hoda Badr, Eberechi Nwogu-Onyemkpa, Nimrah Saleem, Rikki Ward, Bijal Balasubramanian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer ranks 12th in cancer incidence among women in the United States and 5th among causes of cancer-related death. The typical treatment of ovarian cancer focuses on disease management, with little attention given to the survivorship needs of the patient. Qualitative work alludes to a gap in survivorship care; yet, evidence is lacking to support the delivery of survivorship care for individuals living with ovarian cancer. We developed the POSTCare survivorship platform with input from survivors of ovarian cancer and care partners as a means of delivering patient-centered survivorship care. This process is framed by the chronic care …

Development And Validation Of Parent-Reported Gastrointestinal Health Scale In Mecp2 Duplication Syndrome, Davut Pehlivan, Sukru Aras, Daniel G Glaze, Muharrem Ak, Bernhard Suter, Kathleen J Motil

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to develop a validated patient-reported Gastrointestinal Health Scale (GHS) specific to MECP2 Duplication Syndrome (MDS) to be used in clinical trials.

METHODS: MDS parents completed a Gastrointestinal Health Questionnaire (GHQ) to investigate the most relevant and important items associated with gastrointestinal problems in MECP2-related disorders. Item reduction was executed according to EORTC guidelines. We performed reliability and validity studies for the finalized scale.

RESULTS: A total of 106 surveys were eligible for item reduction and validation processes. The initial 55 items were reduced to 38 items based on parent responses, expert opinion, and initial confirmatory factor analysis …

Agreement Among High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Assays And Non-Invasive Testing, Clinical Outcomes, And Quality-Of-Care Outcomes Based On The 2020 European Society Of Cardiology Guidelines, Júlia Karády, Thomas Mayrhofer, James L Januzzi, James E Udelson, Jerome L Fleg, Bela Merkely, Michael T Lu, William F Peacock, John T Nagurney, Wolfgang Koenig, Maros Ferencik, Udo Hoffmann

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

AIMS: Quality-of-care and safety of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) would benefit if management was independent of which high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assay was used for risk stratification. We aimed to determine the concordance of hs-cTn assays to risk-stratify patients with suspected ACS according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2020 Guidelines.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Blood samples were obtained at arrival and at 2 h from patients with suspected ACS using four hs-cTn assays. The patients were classified into rule-out/observe/rule-in strata based on the ESC 2020 Guidelines. Concordance was determined among the assays for rule-out/observe/rule-in strata. The …

Gain: An Integrative Tool Utilizing Generative Adversarial Neural Networks For Augmented Gene Expression Analysis, Michael R Waters, Matthew Inkman, Kay Jayachandran, Roman M Kowalchuk, Clifford Robinson, Julie K Schwarz, S Joshua Swamidass, Obi L Griffith, Jeffrey J Szymanski, Jin Zhang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Big genomic data and artificial intelligence (AI) are ushering in an era of precision medicine, providing opportunities to study previously under-represented subtypes and rare diseases rather than categorize them as variances. However, clinical researchers face challenges in accessing such novel technologies as well as reliable methods to study small datasets or subcohorts with unique phenotypes. To address this need, we developed an integrative approach, GAiN, to capture patterns of gene expression from small datasets on the basis of an ensemble of generative adversarial networks (GANs) while leveraging big population data. Where conventional biostatistical methods fail, GAiN reliably discovers differentially expressed …

Detection And Relative Quantitation Of Changes In Gene Expression Of Hippo Proteins In Doxorubicin-Exposed Human Cells By Rt-Qpcr, Lillian Fleisher, Tricia Domingo, Christopher So, Stephen Lee

Annual Research Symposium

The HIPPO signaling pathway plays a key role in cell proliferation and tumor suppression. It consists of serine/threonine kinase cascades, including MST1/2, LATS1/2, YAP, and TAZ. When the HIPPO pathway is activated, gene expression is altered. Dysfunction of the activity of this cascade may contribute to cancer development and chemoresistance. FAT4 is an intracellular protein that may regulate the HIPPO signaling. The purpose of this study is to determine the relative changes of mRNA of the HIPPO pathway members and FAT4 in doxorubicin-treated and vehicle-treated in vitro cell lines.

Dentofacial Effects Of Radiotherapy On Pediatric Population With Retinoblastoma, Kristi Truong

Annual Research Symposium

This literature review investigates the dentofacial consequences of radiotherapy in young patients with retinoblastoma by referencing current research. In addition, the management and rehabilitation of the dentofacial abnormalities, highlighting orthodontic, surgical, and prosthetic approaches, is examined. By understanding the changes of dentofacial development due to retinoblastoma treatment, effective management techniques can be implemented to resolve significant issues, relating to dental and skeletal relationship and facial appearance.

Referral Patterns Of Neonatal Healthcare Professionals For Cleft Lip And Palate Patients, Alyssa Morrow

Annual Research Symposium

Cleft Lip and Palate patients are some of the most vulnerable and complex orthodontic patients. They face a myriad of health challenges including psychological, nutritional, auditory, speech, airway, skeletal, and dental. Ideal comprehensive treatment for CLP patients is provided via multidisciplinary teams of healthcare providers. However, there is currently limited access to proper multidisciplinary care for CLP patients in the US, partly due to lack of education regarding available resources. For the most effective treatment and optimal outcomes, it is essential that coordinated care starts at birth and that parental education begins as soon as CLP is detected in utero. …

A Pilot Study On Implementing An Interprofessional Education Model For Developing Rehabilitative Science Student Core Competencies, Maureen Ellen Johnson, Norman Cadiz Belleza, Mohan Ganesan

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Inclusion of interprofessional education (IPE) in academia is required by education accreditation agencies for occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) in the United States. Limited information is available on models of IPE to guide faculty. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the feasibility of implementing a recently designed IPE model with OT and PT graduate students. This IPE model aligned Interprofessional Education Collaborative core competency domains with novel learning activities, such as an escape room, simulated medical chart, and two simulations.

Methods: Data were retrieved from 52 auto-enrolled students (n=14 OT) and (n=38 PT) …

Quantifying Community-Based Pharmacy Student Operational And Clinical Rotation (Ippe) Activities., Kenneth Kunke, Phillip Lawrence, C. Leiana Oswald, Erin Johanson, Michelle Hon

Annual Research Symposium

The purpose of this study is to identify and describe trends in the quantity and proportion of operational and clinical activities performed by students on introductory (IPPE) rotations.

Visibility Of Entry-Level Doctor Of Physical Therapy Program's Mission, Vision, And Value Statement And Alignment With Professional Values, Matthew Vraa, Coral Crew-Noble, Orquidia Frausto, Rada Kerimova

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction. This study aimed to assess the accessibility and alignment of core statements (mission, vision, and values) in entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs across the United States with the core beliefs of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Method. Two independent reviewers searched publicly available resources for the core statements of 271 Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited DPT programs. The statements were cross-referenced against APTA Standards of Practice and Core Values. Descriptive statistical analysis assessed the public availability of program statements and their alignment with APTA core beliefs.

Results. Among the programs, 95.6% had …

Impact Of Equine Interaction During Psychotherapy On Anxiety And Depression For Residential Treatment Program Patients Experiencing Substance Withdrawal, Molly M. Friend, Molly C. Nicodemus, Clay Cavinder, Caleb Lemley, Pauline Prince, Katherine A. Cagle-Holtcamp, Rebecca M. Swanson

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

As incidences of substance use disorders (SUD) increase in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need for more effective treatment approaches. Further, treatment approaches currently available struggle to retain patients during the period of substance withdrawal in early treatment due to patients’ withdrawal symptoms including increased feelings of anxiety and depression. Withdrawal symptoms have been linked to dysregulated cortisol concentrations present in this period. Psychotherapy incorporating equine interaction (PIE) has emerged in other populations as a treatment that decreases cortisol concentrations and improves treatment retention. The present study investigated the impact of 4 weeks of PIE on …

Pets In Practice: A Practical Guide To The Introduction Of Dogs To Mental Health Work Settings Derived From The Direct Experiences Of Staff, Tatiana (Tia) Urgasova, Donna Sloss, Mary Lavelle

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the introduction of dogs in mental health workplace settings: specifically, exploring staff perspectives on the acceptability of dogs in mental health teams; the impact of the dogs on themselves directly, their patients, and their team; and the challenges of implementing dogs in mental health settings. This qualitative study design used semi-structured interviews. Twelve participants were interviewed; six from a Crisis Assessment and Treatment team, five from a Recovery College team, and one from the Inpatient and Outreach Psychiatric Service. Interviews were transcribed and six key themes were identified: facilitating staff well-being, improving …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - February 8, 2024, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the February 8, 2024 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter - Watercooler.

Contents Include:

• New members, officers selected for Gold Humanism Honor Society
• Meet a Med Student: Brandon Schonour
• Distinguished Scientists Seminar to focus on nerves and cancer
• GHHS announces Solidarity Week events

A Survey Of Barriers And Facilitators To The Adoption Of Buprenorphine Prescribing After Implementation Of A New Jersey-Wide Incentivized Data-2000 Waiver Training Program., Amesika N Nyaku, Erin A Zerbo, Clement Chen, Nicole Milano, Barbara Johnston, Randall Chadwick, Stephanie Marcello, Kaitlan Baston, Rachel Haroz, Stephen Crystal

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Opioid-involved overdose deaths continue to rise in the US, despite availability of highly effective treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD), in part due to the insufficient number of treatment providers. Barriers include the need for providers to gain expertise and confidence in providing MOUD to their patients who need these treatments. To mitigate this barrier, New Jersey sponsored a buprenorphine training program with financial incentives for participation, which met the then existing requirement for the DATA-2000 waiver. In a 2019 follow-up survey, participants reported on barriers and facilitators to subsequent buprenorphine prescribing.

METHODS: Participants in the training program completed …

Empowering Nurses Through Education To Reduce Patient Falls In An Acute Care Setting, Ericka Ophelia Evans Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient falls are a significant concern in acute health care institutions, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Nurses play a vital role in patient safety and empowering them with the necessary knowledge and skills is crucial to mitigate the risk of falls. The aim of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to develop and implement an evidence-based staff education program that would improve nurses’ knowledge of fall prevention strategies. To obtain evidence for the project, a comprehensive review of the literature on patient falls, educational interventions, and best practices and guidelines for fall prevention programs …

Correction To: Should We Use Rifampicin In Periprosthetic Joint Infections Caused By Staphylococci When The Implant Has Been Exchanged? A Multicenter Observational Cohort Study, Tobias Siegfried Kramer, Alex Soriano, Sarah Tedeschi, Antonia Chen, Pierre Tattevin, Eric Senneville, Joan Gomez-Junyent, Victoria Birlutiu, Sabine Petersdorf, Vicens Diaz De Brito, Ignacio Sancho Gonzalez, Katherine Belden, Marjan Wouthuyzen-Bakker

Division of Infectious Diseases and Environmental Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

02-08-2024 Hsc Committee Minutes, Helen Maestas

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

02-08-2024 HSC Committee Minutes