Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

An Analysis Of The Environmental Account Of Obesity As A Form Of Financial Neo-Imperialism, Zahara Alzubaidi

The Cardinal Edge

Socioeconomic developments of the past half-century have created mass social concern over an “obesity epidemic.” This concern is given a sense of legitimacy by studies that warn of a totally obese America in only a few decades, and children being more likely than ever to be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. The “environmentalist account” of obesity asserts that factors like genetics, food availability, and social or political climate are the major determinants of an “obesogenic environment” – that is, an environment of obese adults likely to raise obese children. Some feminist thinkers argue that the environmentalist account is necessary to …

Autoimmunity And The Epigenome, Jeffrey S. Miller Jr

The Cardinal Edge

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of A Virtual Covid-19 Interprofessional Educational Module On Knowledge, Confidence, Attitude, And Practice Among Health And Allied Health Professions Students, Tsu-Yin Wu, Jenni L. Hoffman, Grigoris Argeros, Sarah Lally, Andrea Gossett Zakrajsek, Jillian Graves, Alice Jo Rainville, Olivia Ford, Angela Lukomski, Renuka Roche, John Sonnega, Joan E. Cowdery Phd

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to examine the effect of an innovative, online COVID-19 interprofessional educational module among health and allied health professions students.

Methods: This study utilized a pre- and posttest design with quantitative and qualitative data collected winter 2023 and spring/summer 2023 semesters, and consisted of health and allied health professions students (N=143) from three Midwestern, urban, public universities. Participants completed a pretest, then an IPE module on COVID-19, and a posttest immediately after the educational intervention, and another (the same) posttest one month later. Quantitative and qualitative data were subject to statistical …

How Speech-Language Pathologists Can Collaborate With A Well-Meaning Judiciary To Improve Jury Instructions, Lillian N. Stiegler, Rebecca L. Parker

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract

Purpose: Many U.S. adults are called upon to fulfill civic responsibilities through jury duty. Jury participation is a responsibility, but it is also a privilege that ensures the balance of power between government and citizens. Problems arise when jury instructions are presented using complex language that challenges the comprehension of laypersons with and without language and literacy differences, negatively influencing the juror’s participation experience and trial outcomes. In spite of plain language mandates and clear findings regarding the average literacy abilities of U.S. adults, much of the legal community persists in the use of difficult jury instructions.

Method: Academic …

Understanding A College Of Health And Human Service’S Needs Around Interprofessional Education, Research, And Practice: A Needs Assessment, Jenni L. Hoffman, Jillian Graves, Andrea Gossett Zakrajsek

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Introduction: A needs assessment can demonstrate when improvement is needed for an organization to function more optimally.

Methods: A college’s emerging interprofessional education center provided the impetus for the needs assessment in an effort to identify and respond effectively to faculty interprofessional education needs.

Results: Twenty-four health professions faculty from the college completed the needs assessment survey, which indicated their experiences with interprofessional education as well as their needs to enhance interprofessional education support at the university.

Discussion: The results of this needs assessment will drive the center’s strategic activities and indicate areas of future research in understanding faculty needs. …

Evaluating Trauma-Informed Design In A Mental Health Setting: A Community-Based Research Case Study, Marie Spence

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This case study utilized a community-based research framework to explore how the Trauma-Informed Design framework can be implemented in a mental health setting. This study focused on the site of Empower Therapy Practice, a private mental health practice in the Denver Metro Area, to engage clients and staff to participate in advisory boards and inform the interior design of a new office space. To explore the application of Trauma-Informed Design, participants engaged in a variety of research activities, including an evaluative questionnaire, Photovoice, and focus group. Advisory board members identified various aspects of Trauma-Informed Design which meaningfully translate to therapeutic …

The Impact Of Cumulative And Acute Loading On Achilles Tendon Health, Performance, And Reported Pain In Collegiate Gymnasts, Julio Serrano Samayoa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gymnasts are at a high risk of Achilles tendon (AT) injuries due to intense loads during takeoffs and landings. To better understand better the relationship between impact loading and its effects on tendon adaptation and athletic performance, this study uses Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) to track AT loading across a collegiate gymnastics season. This data were compared against physiological and athletic performance metrics, obtained through force plates and ultrasound imaging, to explore how mechanical load influences reported pain and athletic performance. Results varied, with cumulative impacts being correlated with improved jump height (Spearman 0.362, Pearson 0.348), while peak power and …

Executive Summary: Staff Education Project Staff Education To Enhance Nursing Competency Through Simulation Technology, Mollie Mae Ellington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Simulation-based training is a key component of nursing education, providing immersive, hands-on experiences that enhance clinical skills in a controlled environment. In the local organization, leadership determined there was an underutilization of advanced simulation equipment stemming from a lack of standardized training among staff. Thus, the purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to determine whether an educational intervention focused on simulation improved competency among nurses at a local health care organization. To measure competency, 15 items from the Nurse Professional Competence Scale were used. Fifty-eight individuals were invited to participate in the educational intervention, and a …

Hurricane Evacuation: Navigating Uncertainty During Covid 19 And With Existing Communication Scales, And Considering Public And Expert Perception Of Alternative Scales, Leilani D. Paxton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the effectiveness of current hurricane warning products and communication strategies, exploring factors influencing public perception of risk and decision-making during evacuations. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining survey data, focus group discussions, and interviews with meteorologists and emergency managers. The first paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hurricane risk perception and evacuation decisions. Findings indicate that while COVID-19 concerns played a role in some individuals' decisions, particularly those with pets or concerns about shelter conditions, the majority of participants evacuated for Hurricane Ian. The study highlights the importance of providing clear, consistent, and …

Cellular Signatures In Human Blood Track Bone Mineral Density In Postmenopausal Women, Kaichi Kaneko, Jefferson Tsai, Deniece Meñez, Brian Oh, Andrew Junwoo Suh, Seyeon Bae, Masataka Mizuno, Akio Umemoto, Eugenia G. Giannopoulou, Takayuki Fujii, Yaxia Zhang, Emily M. Stein, Richard S. Bockman, Kyung-Hyun Park-Min

Publications and Research

Osteoclasts are the sole bone-resorbing cells and are formed by the fusion of osteoclast precursor cells (OCPs) derived from myeloid lineage cells. Animal studies reveal that circulating OCPs (cOCPs) in blood travel to bone and fuse with bone-resident osteoclasts. However, the characteristics of human cOCPs and their association with bone diseases remain elusive. We have identified and characterized human cOCPs and found a positive association between cOCPs and osteoclast activity. Sorted cOCPs have a higher osteoclastogenic potential than other myeloid cells and effectively differentiate into osteoclasts. cOCPs exhibit distinct morphology and transcriptomic signatures. The frequency of cOCPs in the blood …

Editorial: Cardiogenic Shock: Basic And Clinical Consideration, Volume Ii, Umberto Di Dedda, Indranee Rajapreyar, J. Eduardo Rame, Clement Delmas, Paolo Meani

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Factors Related To Racial Trauma Distress Among Bipoc College Students, Miguel Castano, Richard Chang, Giezel Guevarra

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Racial trauma distress is when post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms occur due to repeated and cumulative experiences of racism and can negatively impacted Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Consensus in research findings strongly suggest that BIPOC students are more likely to experience racism on university campuses than non-BIPOC students. To mitigate some of these negative outcomes, existing research has shown that psychological safety, resilience, and intraminority solidarity are protective factors for BIPOC students experiencing race-related distress. However, little is known about the frequency of racial trauma distress among BIPOC college students and how these variables may protect against racial …

Executive Summary: Staff Education Project Staff Education Regarding Menopause Hormonal Use In A Women's Clinic, Patricia Leal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This DNP project entails staff education regarding menopause hormonal use in a women's clinic. The practice problem was the lack of staff confidence regarding hormone use in menopausal women. It is essential to address the practice problem within the context of nursing practice because it can potentially enhance positive social change by addressing the healthcare needs of an underserved demographic. The project aimed to develop and deliver an education program regarding the care of menopausal women for staff members in the women's clinic. The project question was whether staff education regarding menopause hormonal use could increase confidence among staff in …

Alternatives To Screen Time Given In Parenting Advice, Emma Romeo

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Screen time within the last decade is an area of rising interest, especially in a "Post-Covid" world. Despite a diversity of opinions being written and research being done on screen time, what is being presented as an alternative is lesser known. In this research, the aim is to identify types of activities that are presented to parents as alternatives' to screen time in parenting websites and blogs. This study uses qualitative content analysis of over 240 articles from 2019-2023 mentioning media use or screen time from two regularly consumed and popular parenting websites, Sheknows.com and Parents.com. The data so far …

Exploring Mental Health Providers' Willingness To Integrate Digital Applications For Gen-Z Students, Chanlinee Karawek

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Mental health services have expanded significantly throughout recent years, alongside the virtualization of said services since the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, digital mental health applications (DMHAs) are now widely available. Generation-Z college students are a demographic that both grew up with this technology and is associated with a high risk of mental illness development during their time in higher education. Integration of familiar technology and necessary mental health services could potentially help address their unique psychological needs. This study explores mental healthcare providers’ perspectives on incorporating DMHAs into their therapy services to Gen-Z college students. An anonymous survey was …

Maternal Substance Use And Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu) Admission Among Medicaid Beneficiaries: A State-Wide Audit, Vidhani Goel, Ana L. Reyes, Bertille Assoumou, Dodds P. Simangan, Farooq Abdulla, Megumi Akiyama, Deborah A. Kuhls, Kavita Batra

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Introduction: Mounting evidence suggested a strong association between maternal substance abuse and poor neonatal outcomes. This study aims to investigate an association between maternal substance abuse and NICU admissions and transitions in the LOC among newborns who were Medicaid beneficiaries.

Methods: A hybrid linkage approach was utilized to link two datasets (Birth Registry and Nevada Medicaid Claims) spanning 2015-2021 with nearly 85% linkage efficiency. The infant records were analyzed using univariate and bivariate statistical methods with significance level set at 5%.

Results: A total of 84,181 infant records were identified, of which 70,817 (84.1%) admitted to a single LOC during …

Improving Healthcare Utilization Models And Uncovering Health Behavior Patterns In Asian Americans Through Data Disaggregation, Luke Cho

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Although Asian Americans are made up of 20+ distinct ethnicities with unique health outcomes, previous healthcare research has treated them as a monolithic group, covering up many important disparities in health outcomes and healthcare utilization patterns. This study examines how disaggregating Asian American health data by ethnicity improves models analyzing healthcare utilization patterns, focusing on routine physicals, dental checkups, alternative medicine consultations, and preference for ethnic concordance.

Using data from the 2015 Asian American Quality of Life survey (2,609 adults in Austin, Texas), binomial generalized linear models (GLMs) analyzed the impact of income, age, gender, insurance status, and ethnicity on …

The Impact Of Intimate Partner Violence On Young Mother's Mental Health, Claudia Chavez, Clariana Vitória Ramos De Oliveira

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Intimate partner violence (IPV) rates are notably higher among adolescents who are pregnant or have experienced a pregnancy, with physical IPV reaching up to 62%, and psychological abuse being even more common. IPV has serious mental health consequences for adolescent mothers, leading to increased rates of depression and anxiety which can impair caregiving. IPV negatively affects children, increasing the risks of poor maternal bonding, and low birth weight. This study investigates how IPV contributes to adverse mental health outcomes in Brazilian adolescent mothers. A cross-sectional approach was used with data collected between August 2023 to 2024. The study participants were …

Investigating A Mediterranean Dietary Pattern With White Potatoes On Cardiometabolic Health In Adults With Pre-Diabetes From Diverse Racial And Ethnic Backgrounds, Sedona Gronna, Neda S. Akhavan, Sara K. Rosenkranz, Richard R. Rosenkranz

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

In the United States, one in three adults has pre-diabetes, and 80% are unaware that they are at risk of developing type-2 diabetes (T2D). Elevated blood glucose levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. African-American and Hispanic individuals are disproportionately affected by pre-diabetes and its complications, such as arterial stiffness and obesity, compared to Caucasians. Approximately 70% of those with pre-diabetes may develop T2D, therefore it is crucial to find effective ways to manage and reverse these conditions. Potatoes, which contain a good source of resistant starch, potassium, and other beneficial nutrients, might …

The Relationship Between Gender And Experienes Of Weight Stigma From Healthcare Providers, Isabella J. Aceituno, Shannon Sagert

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Healthcare providers are a common source of weight stigma, which is associated with lower physician trust, poorer patient outcomes, and the avoidance of healthcare services. Currently, there is a lack of consensus in research on whether women and men are equally likely to experience weight stigma from healthcare providers. The present study examined whether gender differences exist in weight stigma received from healthcare providers in childhood or adulthood, comfort seeking medical care, and healthcare avoidance. Adult participants (N = 196) reported the frequency at which they experienced stigmatizing experiences in healthcare environments in the past 12 months and during childhood …

"Screen Time" And The Perception Of It Among Different Social Classes, Jasmine Ayon

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

“Screen Time” and the subsequent demonization of it is a phenomenon that is not as analyzed through a social and comparative lens as much as psychological and health ones. To address this gap in research, we performed a content analysis on articles concerning families and “screen time” use that were published on two well-known parenting websites SheKnows and Parents.com from 2019 - 2022 (n = 220). In this paper, we address how these articles talk about screen time use among different social classes. In our analysis, we found what appears to be a double standard in the way screen time …

Association Between Polygenic Scores For Brain Structure And Alzheimer's Disease, Eunjae Lee, Faria Tavacoli, Tingwei Liu, Brittany Diaz Ruiz, Hayley Ho, Alice Lee, Jingchun Chen

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition and the most common type of dementia. Research has shown that volumetric changes in subcortical brain structures, which make up roughly 25% of the brain's total volume and affect many physiological functions. This research project aims to investigate the genetic association between brain structures and AD. GWAS data of eight different brain structures (ICV, accumbens, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen, and thalamus) were used to create polygenic scores (PGSs) in a discovery (cases/controls = 2,651/2,768) and replication dataset (cases/controls = 553/644). We utilized PRSice-2 software to generate PGSs and assess genetic correlations …

Mitochondrial Heteroplasmy Improves Risk Prediction For Myeloid Neoplasms, Yun Soo Hong, Sergiu Pasca, Wen Shi, Daniela Puiu, Nicole J Lake, Monkol Lek, Meng Ru, Megan L Grove, Anna Prizment, Corinne E Joshu, Elizabeth A Platz, Eliseo Guallar, Dan E Arking, Lukasz P Gondek

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential is the primary pathogenic risk factor for myeloid neoplasms, while heteroplasmy (mutations in a subset of cellular mitochondrial DNA) is another marker of clonal expansion associated with hematological malignancies. We explore how these two markers relate and influence myeloid neoplasms incidence, and their role in risk stratification. We find that heteroplasmy is more common in individuals with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential, particularly those with higher variant allele fractions, multiple mutations, or spliceosome machinery mutations. Individuals with both markers have a higher risk of myeloid neoplasms than those with either alone. Furthermore, heteroplasmic variants with …

Implementing Motivational Interviewing And Psycho-Education To Improve Medication Adherence Among Patients With Schizophrenia, Francis Ihejirika

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement staff education Doctor of Nursing practice (DNP) project was implemented to address the quality issue related to medication nonadherence in patients with schizophrenia. Medication nonadherence is a major health issue facing psychiatric patients, with studies showing high rates of nonadherence among patients with schizophrenia. Nonadherence to treatment heightens the risk of relapse, rehospitalization, suicide, and early death. This staff education project focused on increasing the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals about evidence-based strategies to improve medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia. Five nurses participated in the education program. The participants completed the pretest prior to participating …

Inferring Tumor Purity Using Multi-Omics Data Based On A Uniform Machine Learning Framework Motp, Qiqi Lu, Zhixian Liu, Xiaosheng Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Existing algorithms for assessing tumor purity are limited to a single omics data, such as gene expression, somatic copy number variations, somatic mutations, and DNA methylation. Here we proposed the machine learning Multi-omics Tumor Purity prediction (MoTP) algorithm to estimate tumor purity based on multiple types of omics data. MoTP utilizes the Bayesian Regularized Neural Networks as the prediction algorithm, and Consensus Tumor Purity Estimates as labels. We trained MoTP using multi-omics data (mRNA, microRNA, long non-coding RNA, and DNA methylation) across 21 TCGA solid cancer types. By testing MoTP in TCGA validation sets, TCGA test sets, and eight datasets …

Neuroprotective Effect Of L-Dopa-Induced Interleukin-13 On Striatonigral Degeneration In Cerebral Ischemia, Eunhae Jeon, Myeong-Seong Seo, Enkhmaa Lkhagva-Yondon, Yu-Ree Lim, Seung-Woo Kim, Yu Jeong Kang, Jun Seok Lee, Byoung Dae Lee, Rayul Wi, So-Yoon Won, Young Cheul Chung, Eun S Park, Eunhee Kim, Byung Kwan Jin, Myung-Shin Jeon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Levodopa (L-DOPA) treatment is a clinically effective strategy for improving motor function in patients with ischemic stroke. However, the mechanisms by which modulating the dopamine system relieves the pathology of the ischemic brain remain unclear. Emerging evidence from an experimental mouse model of ischemic stroke, established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), suggested that L-DOPA has the potential to modulate the inflammatory and immune response that occurs during a stroke. Here, we aimed to demonstrate the therapeutic effect of L-DOPA in regulating the systemic immune response and improving functional deficits in mice with ischemia. Transient MCAO led to progressive degeneration …

Clc-Kb Pore Mutation Disrupts Glycosylation And Triggers Distal Tubular Remodeling, Yogita Sharma, Robin Lo, Viktor N Tomilin, Kotdaji Ha, Holly Deremo, Aishwarya V Pareek, Wuxing Dong, Xiaohui Liao, Svetlana Lebedeva, Vivek Charu, Neeraja Kambham, Kerim Mutig, Oleh Pochynyuk, Vivek Bhalla

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mutations in the CLCNKB gene (1p36), encoding the basolateral chloride channel ClC-Kb, cause type 3 Bartter syndrome. We identified a family with a mixed Bartter/Gitelman phenotype and early-onset kidney failure and by employing a candidate gene approach, identified what we believe is a novel homozygous mutation (CLCNKB c.499G>T [p.Gly167Cys]) in exon 6 of CLCNKB in the index patient. We then validated these results with Sanger and whole-exome sequencing. Compared with wild-type ClC-Kb, the Gly167Cys mutant conducted less current and exhibited impaired complex N-linked glycosylation in vitro. We demonstrated that loss of Gly-167, rather than gain of a mutant Cys, …

Takeout Or Delivery? Reoperation Rates In Lower Extremity Long Bone Osteomyelitis Treated With Debridement And Local Antibiotic Delivery Systems, Nolan M. Reinhart, Jackson P. Tate, Jacob S. Budin, Julianna E. Winter, Olivia C. Lee, William F. Sherman

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis and treatment of osteomyelitis is essential to prevent potential complications including sepsis, extensive bone resection, amputation, and death. Despite current treatment strategies for management of osteomyelitis, recurrence rates reported in the literature are upwards of 25 %. Current evidence comparing the efficacy of differing surgical treatments of osteomyelitis is inconclusive. The purpose of this study is to compare rates of re-debridement and amputation in patients who receive either debridement alone or debridement with placement of local antibiotic delivery systems as initial treatment for lower extremity long bone osteomyelitis. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed to investigate …

A Proteogenomic Analysis Of Cervical Cancer Reveals Therapeutic And Biological Insights, Jing Yu, Xiuqi Gui, Yunhao Zou, Qian Liu, Zhicheng Yang, Jusheng An, Xuan Guo, Kaihua Wang, Jiaming Guo, Manni Huang, Shuhan Zhou, Jing Zuo, Yimin Chen, Lu Deng, Guangwen Yuan, Ning Li, Yan Song, Jia Jia, Jia Zeng, Yuxi Zhao, Xianming Liu, Xiaoxian Du, Yansheng Liu, Pei Wang, Bing Zhang, Li Ding, Ana I Robles, Henry Rodriguez, Hu Zhou, Zhen Shao, Lingying Wu, Daming Gao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Although the incidence of cervical cancer (CC) has been reduced in high-income countries due to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening strategies, it remains a significant public health issue that poses a threat to women's health in low-income countries. Here, we perform a comprehensive proteogenomic profiling of CC tumors obtained from 139 Chinese women. Integrated proteogenomic analysis links genetic aberrations to downstream pathogenesis-related pathways and reveals the landscape of HPV-associated multi-omic changes. EP300 is found to enhance the acetylation of FOSL2-K222, consequently accelerating the malignant proliferation of CC cells. Proteomic stratification identifies three patient subgroups with distinct features in prognosis, …

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Arenavirus Utilises Intercellular Connections For Cell To Cell Spread, Owen Byford, Amelia B Shaw, Hiu Nam Tse, Alex Moon-Walker, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Sean P J Whelan, Martin Stacey, Roger Hewson, Juan Fontana, John N Barr

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The Arenaviridae family of segmented RNA viruses contains nearly 70 species with several associated with fatal haemorrhagic fevers, including Lassa, Lujo and Junin viruses. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis arenavirus (LCMV) is associated with fatal neurologic disease in humans and additionally represents a tractable model for studying arenavirus biology. Within cultured cells, a high proportion of LCMV spread is between directly neighbouring cells, suggesting infectivity may pass through intercellular connections, bypassing the canonical extracellular route involving egress from the plasma membrane. Consistent with this, we visualized abundant actin- and tubulin-rich connections conjoining LCMV-infected and uninfected cells within cultures, resembling tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs). Within …