Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Types Of Bacteria Among Pediatric Oncology Patients In Basra, Ansam Saleh, Hussam Saleh, Hanan Makki

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Infectious agents are the main factor that causes children suffering from cancer to be more susceptibleto treatment failure. They complicate their course of therapy, thus shortening their lives. Aim: To find out the mostnotorious pathogen affecting pediatric malignancy in Basra Children Specialty Hospital to provide the bestantimicrobial therapy choice and map out the future empirical therapy. Methods: One hundred and ten pediatriconcology patients in the pediatric hemato-oncology unit aged 16 years and less were involved in this retrospectivestudy from March 1, 2021 to the end of February 2022. Different types of culture tests were taken in various stagesof malignancy …

Relationship Between Abo Blood Type And Clinical–Pathological Characteristics With Prostate Cancer Patients In Khartoum State, Khartoum, Sudan, Wafa Mobarak Ahmed Ali, Asim Alaaedin Osman, Gad Allah Modawe

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated the association between ABO blood group and prostate cancer (PC), as well as the various factors associated with PC, including age, family history, ethnicity, and certain viruses. Aim: To demonstrate the association between ABO blood groups and PC and to correlate it with the demographic and clinical features of our studied population. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted at the Radiation and Isotopes Center—Khartoum (RICK) in Khartoum state from April 2018 to April 2019. From a study population of 389 PC patients (RICK), a total of 101 were selected. Data was analyzed using …

Eleven-Year-Old Child With Covid-19 Induced Long Segment Transverse Myelitis, Basim A. Alhijaj, Zainab Adel, Ahmed A. Salim

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Transverse myelitis (TM) is a clinical syndrome characterized by sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunctions resulting from immune-mediated spinal cord injury. A possible association between COVID-19 and TM has been recognized. This paper examines the case of an eleven-year-old child who presented with paraplegia and urine retention and was evaluated carefully by a multidisciplinary team comprising a neurophysiologist, a pediatrician, and a neurologist. Sequentially, EMG, NCS, magnetic resonance T2 was conducted to reach the diagnosis of transverse myelitis. The patient was treated with bullous methylprednisolone for three days and showed steady and complete clinical and neurophysiological improvement.

Histological Study On The Effect Of Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) On Cerebral Hemisphere Of Adult And Aged Male Albino Rats, Zahraa Taboo, Eman Ghanim Sheet, Waleed Kasim

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

ABSTRACT _x000D_ Objectives: Sildenafil(Viagra) is a known as perfect medications for treatment in patients agony from impotence and pulmonary arterial raised blood pressure, it cause numerous effects on the nervous system by “nitrogen monoxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway”. The current paper is designed to examine the histostructural  variations that may happen in the brain of both adult and elderly male rats after long course duration of Sildenafil(Viagra) drug treatment.  Material and Methods: Forty white albino male  rats  were bought from the veterinary  animal house   of  Mosul University.  Twenty of them were  between the ages of 3-4 months  ( adult ) while …

Bacteriological Profile In Blood Culture Proven Neonatal Sepsis, Sawsan Ali Hussein

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Neonatal sepsis is a systemic infection caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. It results in significant morbidity and mortality, accounting for up to half of all newborn deaths in developing countries. Aim: Hence, this study aimed to determine the bacteriological profile of neonatal sepsis and assess its relationships with other demographic variables. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was carried out on 87 neonates with blood culture-proven neonatal sepsis. They were categorized according to the age of onset of symptoms as having early-onset sepsis and late-onset sepsis. The bacterial profile that resulted from their blood cultures was analyzed. Results: …

Serological Survey To Detect Antigens That Cross-React With Covid-19 Antibodies, Ahmed N. Mnahi, Abdulelah A. Almyah, Zuhair Al-Shaheen

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: COVID-19 first emerged in Wuhan City and has since spread worldwide, infecting over 600 million people. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an emergency in public health in January 2020 due to reports of new coronaviruses in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Aim: The study aims to screen bacterial antigens for cross-reactivity with COVID-19 antibodies using indirect ELISA and to detect cross-reactivity between vaccinated and unvaccinated healthy individuals and various bacterial types (Gammaproteobacteria, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacteria, in addition to Staphylococcus aureus) either sonicated or non-sonicated. Methods: ELISA is a method for detecting unknown samples …

Attitudes And Practices Related To Breast-Cancer Screening Among Female Doctors In The Province Of Babylon, Huda Abdulhameed Khadum, Qais Ismaeel Kadhem, Ihab Abdulameer Abbas

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Iraqi women. Lack of early detection and inadequate diagnostic and treatment facilities contribute to low survival rates in less developed countries such as Iraq. The WHO states that early screening and proper treatment can significantly reduce breast cancer mortality. Aim: This study aimed to assess the attitudes and practices related to breast-cancer screening among female doctors in the province of Babylon. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional method was used to survey 175 female doctors in Babylon from April to July 2021, using an adapted questionnaire. …

Giant Cell Tumor Of The Patella: A Case Report, Hadi Almaliki

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

The patella has a low incidence of tumors. Primary neoplasms of the patella account for less than 1% of all primary bone tumors of the lower extremity, the most frequent of them being the giant cell tumor of bone, the chondroblastoma, and the aneurysmal bone cyst. This paper reports the case of a 32-year-old woman with an active giant cell tumor of the patella, examining its clinical and radiological features and providing a brief review of the literature.

Tuberculosis As A Complication Of Bcg Immunotherapy In Bladder Cancer: Tuberculosis As A Complication Of Bcg, Vitorino Dos Santos, Lister Arruda Modesto Dos Santos

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Deepbiomarker2: Prediction Of Alcohol And Substance Use Disorder Risk In Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Patients Using Electronic Medical Records And Multiple Social Determinants Of Health, Oshin Miranda, Peihao Fan, Xiguang Qi, Haohan Wang, M Daniel Brannock, Thomas R Kosten, Neal David Ryan, Levent Kirisci, Lirong Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Prediction of high-risk events amongst patients with mental disorders is critical for personalized interventions. We developed DeepBiomarker2 by leveraging deep learning and natural language processing to analyze lab tests, medication use, diagnosis, social determinants of health (SDoH) parameters, and psychotherapy for outcome prediction. To increase the model's interpretability, we further refined our contribution analysis to identify key features by scaling with a factor from a reference feature. We applied DeepBiomarker2 to analyze the EMR data of 38,807 patients from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to determine their risk of developing alcohol and substance …

Brain Connectivity And Academic Skills In English Learners, Tehila Nugiel, Damion V Demeter, Mackenzie E Mitchell, Annacarolina Garza, Arturo E Hernandez, Jenifer Juranek, Jessica A Church

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

English learners (ELs) are a rapidly growing population in schools in the United States with limited experience and proficiency in English. To better understand the path for EL's academic success in school, it is important to understand how EL's brain systems are used for academic learning in English. We studied, in a cohort of Hispanic middle-schoolers (n = 45, 22F) with limited English proficiency and a wide range of reading and math abilities, brain network properties related to academic abilities. We applied a method for localizing brain regions of interest (ROIs) that are group-constrained, yet individually specific, to test how …

Exploring The Role Of Information And Communication Technologies In Allergic Rhinitis In Specialist Centers: Patient Perspectives On Usefulness, Value, And Impact On Healthcare, Ivan Cherrez Ojeda, Jean Bousquet, Zouina Sarfraz, Azza Sarfraz, Monica Rodriguez Gonzales, Anna Bedbrook, Nelson Rosario, Benjamin Zepeda Ortega, Guillermo Guidos, Ulbio Alcivar Molina

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction: Information and communication technologies (ICTs) improve patient-centered care and are routinely used in Allergic Rhinitis (AR), but patients' preferences and attitudes are unexplored. This study examines AR-related information preferences and ICT use by AR patients.
Methods: A survey-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Ecuador from July to September 2019 in seven centers of reference for allergic disease. Participants were 18 years or older, diagnosed with AR and had access to ICT and the Internet. Descriptive and binomial logistic regressions were performed. A value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: 217 patients were included. 47% (n …

Regulation Of Polysaccharide In Wu-Tou Decoction On Intestinal Microflora And Pharmacokinetics Of Small Molecular Compounds In Aia Rats, Di Yang, Xiaoxu Cheng, Meiling Fan, Dong Xie, Zhiqiang Liu, Fei Zheng, Yulin Dai, Zifeng Pi, Hao Yue

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Wu-tou decoction (WTD), a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It works by controlling intestinal flora and its metabolites, which in turn modulates the inflammatory response and intestinal barrier function. Small molecular compounds (SM) and polysaccharides (PS) were the primary constituents of WTD extract. In this work, a model of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats was established and treated with WTD, SM, and PS, respectively. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to examine the regulatory impact of the various groups on the disturbance of the gut flora induced by RA. Further, since PS cannot be …

Antibiotic Use, Obesity, And Preterm Birth Among Women In The United States, Mya Thuzar Win

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Pastoral Leaders’ Perception Of Obesity And Their Role Within Faith-Based Organizations, Darren D. Moore, Clinton E. Cooper, Charles Williams

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of pastoral leaders regarding obesity and health within faith-based organizations (FBOs). In this study, the authors focused on gaining additional insight regarding how pastoral leaders conceptualize and make sense of their roles in terms of health promotion within FBOs. Utilizing a qualitative research methodological approach, specifically Qualitative Description, authors administered a qualitative survey to 12 participants which yielded three emerging themes: (1) perceived scope, (2) understanding and use of resources, and (3) defining obesity through pastoral leaders’ perspectives. In the study, investigators discuss clinical implications and provide recommendations.

Akt Enhances The Vulnerability Of Cancer Cells To Vcp/P97 Inhibition-Mediated Paraptosis, Dong Min Lee, In Young Kim, Hong Jae Lee, Min Ji Seo, Mi-Young Cho, Hae In Lee, Gyesoon Yoon, Jae-Hoon Ji, Seok Soon Park, Seong-Yun Jeong, Eun Kyung Choi, Yong Hyeon Choi, Chae-Ok Yun, Mirae Yeo, Eunhee Kim, Kyeong Sook Choi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Valosin-containing protein (VCP)/p97, an AAA+ ATPase critical for maintaining proteostasis, emerges as a promising target for cancer therapy. This study reveals that targeting VCP selectively eliminates breast cancer cells while sparing non-transformed cells by inducing paraptosis, a non-apoptotic cell death mechanism characterized by endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria dilation. Intriguingly, oncogenic HRas sensitizes non-transformed cells to VCP inhibition-mediated paraptosis. The susceptibility of cancer cells to VCP inhibition is attributed to the non-attenuation and recovery of protein synthesis under proteotoxic stress. Mechanistically, mTORC2/Akt activation and eIF3d-dependent translation contribute to translational rebound and amplification of proteotoxic stress. Furthermore, the ATF4/DDIT4 axis augments VCP …

Meaningful Research In A Non-Thesis Master's Program: Description Of Nutritionday In A Combined Ms/Di Program, Rosa K. Hand

Faculty Scholarship

The nutritionDay research initiative, sponsored by the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) since 2006, is a global effort to describe nutrition risk and nutrition interventions in hospitals and nursing homes, with the goal that increased awareness of malnutrition will lead to improved patient care.1,2 The nutritionDay coordinating center provides standardized forms that investigators at participating hospitals use to collect data from both the health record and directly from the patient.1 NutritionDay has been a successful initiative, collecting and pooling data from almost 300,000 patients across 72 countries and leading to at least 40 publications.2,3 Participation in nutritionDay …

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis Of Cerebellar Astrocytes Across Developmental Stages And Brain Regions, Wookbong Kwon, Dong-Joo Choi, Kwanha Yu, Michael R Williamson, Sanjana Murali, Yeunjung Ko, Junsung Woo, Benjamin Deneen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cell type in the central nervous system, and they play a crucial role in normal brain function. While gliogenesis and glial differentiation occur during perinatal cerebellar development, the processes that occur during early postnatal development remain obscure. In this study, we conducted transcriptomic profiling of postnatal cerebellar astrocytes at postnatal days 1, 7, 14, and 28 (P1, P7, P14, and P28), identifying temporal-specific gene signatures at each specific time point. Comparing these profiles with region-specific astrocyte differentially expressed genes (DEGs) published for the cortex, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb revealed cerebellar-specific gene signature across these …

Post-Hospitalization Remote Monitoring For Patients With Heart Failure Or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease In An Accountable Care Organization, Samantha Harris, Kayla Paynter, Megan Guinn, Julie Fox, Nathan Moore, Thomas M Maddox, Patrick G Lyons

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Post-hospitalization remote patient monitoring (RPM) has potential to improve health outcomes for high-risk patients with chronic medical conditions. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which RPM for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with reductions in post-hospitalization mortality, hospital readmission, and ED visits within an Accountable Care Organization (ACO).

METHODS: Nonrandomized prospective study of patients in an ACO offered enrollment in RPM upon hospital discharge between February 2021 and December 2021. RPM comprised of vital sign monitoring equipment (blood pressure monitor, scale, pulse oximeter), tablet device …

“I’M Staying And You’Re Gonna Love Me”: Finding Authentic Freedom & Fostering Belonging As Black Female Early Faculty, Roszina D. Scott, Tinotenda Mupambo

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

The purpose of this reflection is to expand the knowledge on the retention of early Black female faculty by exploring their challenges and triumphs in dismantling Whiteness and developing an authentic sense of belonging in the academy. In higher education, Black women experience marginalization at the intersection of anti-black racism and sexism. Faculty of color experience racial microaggressions, excessive workloads and service expectations, and their expertise is seldom recognized. Despite these challenges, marginalized faculty authentically persist and find a sense of belonging within the ivory tower by building mentorship relationships, departmental DEI efforts, opportunities for innovation, and cultivating Black sisterhood. …

Whole Blood In Trauma, Jason P. Prevelige

Pacific Journal of Health

Abstract: Hemorrhage is a leading cause of death in trauma patients. Whole blood administration in trauma has gained a renewed interest in recent years, however the concept is not new at all, with its origins spanning over 100 years. Field experience in United States’ military conflicts has provided important data on the efficacy of whole blood in reducing mortality and amount of blood product administration. Civilian trials however have not necessarily shown similar results. The safety of whole blood however does not seem to be in question given the available data, and is an acceptable option for blood replacement in …

The Association Between Stress Levels And Body Mass Index Among University Students, Taqi Mohammed Jwad Taher, Mohanad Aljama, Hibt Allah Zeyad Tariq, Ahmed Jomah Salih, Firas Turki Rashed Sarray

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Upon reaching the university level, all students face a new learning environment, which may be a very stressful experience. If this situation is not handled properly, it can cause stress and other psychological problems, which can affect students' performance and result in unhealthy coping mechanisms like eating disorders. The objective of this research is to inspect the association between stress levels and variations in body mass index among students at Wasit University, in addition to other socio-demographic factors such as student gender, age group, marital status, and college they study. A self-administered questionnaire containing three components: The socio-demographic background, perceived …

Pharmacovigilance Data As A Trigger To Identify Antimicrobial Adverse Effects: A Study Using Reports From Basra Pharmacovigilance Centre, Sarah T Omran

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: pharmacovigilance is the science and activities that used to detect, evaluate, understand, and prevent drugs' adverse effects and to ensure that medicines are used safely and effectively. Antimicrobials considered as an important curable medicine for diseases; however, irrational medical prescribing may lead to differing types of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) Aim of Study: The study aims to summarize besides analyzing data from the pharmacovigilance center in Basrah concerning antibiotic use-related ADR. Method: This study is a retrospective cohort study of antibiotic used in 2022-2023. The study population consists of patients who received antibiotics during the study period. The outcome …

The Role Of Fixation On Antibodies Expression In Immunohistochmical Staining, Inas Abdulridha Taha, Ban Fadhil Al-Drobie, Kareem Makttoof Alghanim

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Objectives: To determine the impact of formalin fixation period and fixative concentration on the expression of immunohistochemical markers for accurate immunohistochemistry assessment, a systematic review of the literature was conducted. Methods: A systematic search of 15 papers was conducted to find information on how tissue fixation affected the examination of the expression of various immunohistchemical markers. Results: Effects of fixation on the staining of several immunohistchemical markers were described in fifteen papers. Nine articles examined the impact of various fixation intervals on the expression of markers. Six articles looked at the impact of varying formalin concentrations and fixation times. Conclusions: …

Coronavirus Update Spring 2024, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We are looking forward to welcoming our students back for the spring semester. As we prepare for a rewarding and fun few months, we want to remind you of our COVID protocols.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), levels of the virus are currently higher than they have been since the first Omicron wave. That said, severe outcomes are lower than in previous winters.

Comparison Of Two At-Home Sleep Monitoring Technologies, Raymond Chong, Alex Willis, Sonya Kakaiya, Casey Schambach, Carla Todd, Alex Young

Asian Journal of Physical Therapy

Background: Despite the importance of regular sleep patterns being well-known throughout society, a growing number of people claim to be sleep-deprived. There is a need to identify a simple and unobtrusive method in which people can accurately track their sleep to monitor changes and track how their sleep affects their daytime function. Methods: Here, we compared two at-home sleep monitors, the Zeo EEG headband system and the OURA physiological ring, in twenty-seven healthy young adults to determine their relative accuracy in classifying the various sleep stages. The two devices track sleep differently. The ring relies on hand movements and hemodynamic …

The Association Between Dietary Flavonoid Intake And Cardiovascular Health Indicators In Women Aged 45 To 65, Melissa Wedel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

The Challenges Of Implementing And Documenting Ottawa Ankle Rules In The Pediatric Emergency Department: A Retrospective Study, Emmalee M. Kugler, Michael Gillman, Olivia Toner

Cooper Rowan Medical Journal

INTRODUCTION
Acute ankle sprains account for nearly 2% of visits to the pediatric emergency department (PED). The Ottawa Ankle Rules (OAR) were developed as a safe and effective clinical decision-making tool for detecting the need for radiographs in adults with acute ankle pain. OAR state radiographs are required with at least one of the following:

1. Inability to bear weight immediately following the injury and for four steps in the ED 2. Bony tenderness at the posterior edge of the lateral or medial malleolus

OBJECTIVE
Few prospective cohort studies have attempted to assess OAR pediatric populations. This study investigates the …

Effect Of Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) And Maternal Resiliency On Early Childhood Outcomes On Vaccination Adherence And Emergency Department Visits, Leslie Abraham, Hsiao-Wei Banks, John P. Gaughan, Alla Kushnir

Cooper Rowan Medical Journal

Introduction: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occurred to an individual during ages 0-17 years. The 1998 Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) suggested higher ACE scores contributed to negative future health outcomes. The tool is now used to screen at-risk populations for the development of chronic health conditions. Protective factors, such as resilience, were later studied and found to offset the negative health impacts of traumatic childhood events. The 7Cs questionnaire was a tool developed to measure resilience in adolescents and demonstrated better health outcomes despite the presence of higher ACE scores. This pilot study evaluated whether higher …

Structural Basis For Nuclear Import Of Hepatitis B Virus (Hbv) Nucleocapsid Core, Ruoyu Yang, Ying-Hui Ko, Fenglin Li, Ravi K. Lokareddy, Chun-Feng David Hou, Christine Kim, Shelby Klein, Santiago Antolínez, Juan F. Marín, Carolina Pérez-Segura, Martin F. Jarrold, Adam Zlotnick, Jodi A. Hadden-Perilla, Gino Cingolani

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Nuclear import of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) nucleocapsid is essential for replication that occurs in the nucleus. The ~360-angstrom HBV capsid translocates to the nuclear pore complex (NPC) as an intact particle, hijacking human importins in a reaction stimulated by host kinases. This paper describes the mechanisms of HBV capsid recognition by importins. We found that importin α1 binds a nuclear localization signal (NLS) at the far end of the HBV coat protein Cp183 carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD). This NLS is exposed to the capsid surface through a pore at the icosahedral quasi-sixfold vertex. Phosphorylation at serine-155, serine-162, and serine-170 …