Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Mediation By Fatalism Of The Association Between Symptom Burden And Self-Care Management In Patients With Heart Failure, Ashmita Thapa, Misook L. Chung, Jia-Rong Wu, Abigail Latimer, Terry A. Lennie, Gia Mudd-Martin, Chin-Yen Lin, Jessica Harman Thompson, Junghee Kang, Debra K. Moser

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Background: Clinicians and researchers often assume that symptom burden is associated with self-care management (SCM) in patients with heart failure (HF). However, that association is often not borne out in simple regression analyses and may be because another variable mediates the association. Fatalism is an appropriate candidate for mediation and is the belief that circumstances are predetermined without opportunity for control by individuals.

Objective: Our objective was to determine whether fatalism mediated the relationship of symptom burden with SCM among adults with HF.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis (N = 95) from a clinical trial. We used Self-care of …

Bundle For Quantifying Vaginal Blood Loss After Childbirth, Mariana Torreglosa Ruiz, Nayara Freitas Azevedo, Cynthya Viana De Resende, Maria Paula Custódio Silva, Divanice Contim, Luciano Marques Dos Santos, Monika Wernet, Ana Linares

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Objective: To construct and validate the content of a bundle to quantify vaginal blood loss after childbirth.

Methods: This is a methodological study developed from February to August 2022, divided into bibliographic survey, instrument construction and content validity, by 14 experts. The instrument for validity consisted of 11 items selected from a systematic review. For each item in the bundle, a Likert scale was applied, and to check agreement among experts, the Concordance Index was calculated. Items with agreement above 80% were considered valid. Content validity was carried out in a single round of assessment.

Results: The final version of …

Mediators Of The Association Between Cognitive Function And Self-Care Behaviors In Patients Hospitalized With An Exacerbation Of Heart Failure, Jia-Rong Wu, Chin-Yen Lin, Abigail Latimer, Muna Hassan Hammash, Debra K. Moser

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) must engage in self-care, yet their self-care is often poor. Cognitive function commonly is impaired in HF and is associated with poor self-care. Heart failure knowledge and self-care confidence also are needed to preform self-care. Few investigators have examined mediators of the association of cognitive function with self-care.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether HF knowledge and self-care confidence mediated the association of cognitive function with self-care maintenance and management among patients with HF.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study of 164 patients with HF. Cognitive function was assessed …

The Impact Of Language Status On Bilingual Language And Literacy Development, Ashley Ippolito

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated narrative and literacy differences between monolingual and bilingual children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and examined caregivers' perspectives on their language and literacy development. This mixed methods project involved semi-structured ethnographic interviews and case histories for caregiver measures, and it included a narrative production task and a literacy skills assessment for child measures. There were two participant groups: monolingual children with a DLD in kindergarten to sixth grade (Group 1) and bilingual children (English + additional language) with a DLD (Group 2). Thematic analysis of caregiver interviews revealed that monolingual families engaged in storytelling and reading activities …

Impact Of A Culturally-Grounded And Interprofessional Approach To Managing Latino/Hispanic Patients At Risk For Or Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study, Jahnavi Yalamanchili

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Background: Despite significant progress in diabetes research, there remain significant health disparities between Hispanic/Latino patients in the United States, particularly those with lower socioeconomic status, compared to non-Hispanic white patients. Previous studies have identified potential reasons behind these disparities, including the need for a multifaceted approach that addresses social determinants of health (SDOH) faced by patients. Social cognitive theory (SCT) stipulates that interventions that promote self-management by improving knowledge, self-efficacy, and problem-solving skills can be successful in improving health outcomes. However, there is a paucity of studies that have evaluated an interprofessional approach to providing culturally relevant care, in particular …

Impact Of Drug-Polymer Interactions On Stability In Simvastatin-Based Amorphous Solid Dispersions, Charina Lampa

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to investigate the drug-polymer interactions between simvastatin (SIM) and three polymers [PVP-VA, HPMC-AS, and Soluplus® (SOL)] in amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) prepared by hot melt extrusion (HME), and to understand the implications on physical stability. ASDs are of significant interest within the pharmaceutical industry for improving drug bioavailability. However, the amorphous nature of a drug in an ASD presents physical stability challenges. Utilizing novel applications of accessible tools such as ATR-FTIR or DSC aid in understanding the mechanisms of stabilization which are critical to the rational design of ASDs. ASDs were prepared using HME and were characterized …

Medical Expenditures And The Measurement Of Poverty In The United States, Luke Petach, David K. Wyant

Funded Scholarship

Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) we estimate the fraction of the US population that is health poor. A person is health poor if their income prior to paying health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket healthcare costs is above the poverty line, but their income net-of-premiums and out-of-pocket healthcare costs is below the poverty line. Because resources used to finance health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs are (A) lexicographically preferred and (B) cannot be used to maintain an individual’s standard of living, they should be excluded from official poverty estimates. Approximately 1% to 2% of the US population …

Navigating The Layers Of Concern For Safe Dry Needling Of The Rectus Abdominis: A Cadaveric Study, Ryan C. Mcconnell, Christi L. Williams

Funded Scholarship

Objectives: To assess needle placement accuracy in the rectus abdominis (RA) muscle during dry needling (DN) without entering the peritoneum.

Methods: Two physical therapists performed DN on a cadaver, making 10 attempts each to needle the RA without entering the peritoneum. Techniques followed two common DN approaches. Ultrasound verified needle depth and safety.

Results: Seventy percent of attempts were recorded as safe needle placement, while 30% were unsafe. Accurate RA needle placement without peritoneal entry occurred in 55% of attempts.

Discussion/Conclusion: Inadvertent peritoneal needle placement during RA DN poses risks regardless of experience. Ultrasound guidance may enhance safety and precision …

Primary Care Providers’ Experiences Treating Opioid Use Disorder Using Telehealth In The Height Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sarah Alexandra Marshall, Lachan E. Siebenmorgen, Katherine Youngen, Tyrone F. Borders, Nickolas Zaller

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a rapid shift in healthcare delivery towards telehealth services, impacting patient care, including opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. Regulatory changes eliminated the in-person evaluation requirement for buprenorphine treatment, encouraging adoption of telehealth. This study focused on understanding experiences of primary care providers in predominantly rural areas who used telehealth for OUD treatment during the pandemic. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 primary care providers. Participants practiced in 13 rural and 9 urban counties in Kentucky and Arkansas. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: The pandemic significantly impacted healthcare delivery. While telehealth was …

Champions To Enhance Implementation Of Clinical And Community-Based Interventions In Cancer: A Scoping Review, Joseph Astorino Nicola, M. Muska Nataliansyah, Maria A. Lopez‑Olivo, Adebola Adegboyega, Kelly A. Hirko, Lou‑Anne R. Chichester, Nora L. Nock, Pamela Ginex, Shannon M. Christy, Paul Levett

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background Champions are integral across research in cancer, yet studies exploring their roles are limited and have produced mixed results. The current review examines and synthesizes descriptions of how champions emerged and the types of activities they most often performed. By examining evidence from across the translational research continuum, this scoping review aims to characterize the role of champions and strategies that facilitate their involvement in the implementation of cancer care interventions in both clinical and community‑based settings.

Methods This scoping review was designed and implemented in compliance with PRISMA‑ScR. The review focused on peer‑reviewed articles in English‑language journals. We …

Measurement Of The Local Static Mechanical Pressure Of Earplugs, Luiz G.C. Melo, Ahmed S. Dalaq, Franck Sgard, Olivier Doutres, Laurianne Legroux, Eric Wagnac

Études primaires

Earplugs are used in various critical industrial sectors, such as construction, aviation, military and defense, transportation, and healthcare. However, they present inherent drawbacks, notably discomfort that can lead to inconsistent and incorrect use, thereby leaving a significant proportion of workers vulnerable to irreversible hearing damage, ranging from tinnitus to deafness. This discomfort is closely linked to a physical parameter known as static mechanical pressure (SMP), representing the pressure exerted by earplugs on the earcanal walls. Determining the SMP is crucial for developing earplugs that prioritize comfort. However, experimental studies in this area are scarce and there is no experimental set-up …

Comparative Evaluation Of Different Spinal Stability Metrics, Amir Hossein Eskandari, Farshid Ghezelbash, Aboulfazl Shirazi-Adl, Christian Larivière

Études primaires

Direct in vivo measurements of spinal stability are not possible, leaving computational estimations (such as dynamic time series and structural analyses) as the feasible option. However, differences between different stability assessment approaches and metrics remain unclear. To explore this, we asked 32 participants to perform 35 cycles of repetitive lifts with and without load (4/2.6 kg for males/females). EMG signals and 3D kinematics were collected via 12 surface electrodes and 17 inertial sensors, and three dynamical stability measures were computed: short and long temporal and conventional maximum Lyapunov exponents (LyE) and maximum Floquet multipliers (FM). A dynamic subject-specific EMG-assisted musculoskeletal …

Addressing Sexual Health Concerns Across Settings, Abigail Jeske

Graduate Student Scholarship

Sexuality can affect many areas of people’s lives; not addressing it in therapy is a disservice to patients. There is a clear need for occupational therapy intervention in this domain, and it is well within occupational therapy’s scope of practice. Yet, many occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) exclude addressing sexuality and sexual health in everyday practice. This study aimed to understand better the reasons for not addressing this topic with patients. The mixed methods approach consisted of an online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Respondents were OTPs currently practicing in various practice settings. The questionnaire was completed by 31 OTPs and the …

Exploration Of Educator Training Requirements And Curriculum Standards And How These Could Impact The Development Of Children Aged 3 – 4 Years In Daycare Centers: A Qualitative Study, Katie Conley, Melissa Learish, Ayric Fetty

Graduate Student Scholarship

Daycare teachers, in general, are responsible for the support and education of children as they develop skills and achieve milestones. This study aimed to investigate what training and education related to developmental delays are provided to daycare teachers, the actions taken by teachers or directors to identify developmental delays, and how daycare curricula are developed and personalized for individual needs. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with daycare teachers who taught three and four-year-olds as well as site directors at three different facilities in Morgantown, West Virginia. Responses were transcribed and coded into six themes. Results indicate teachers have limited training and …

Ai And Ml-Based Risk Assessment Of Chemicals: Predicting Carcinogenic Risk From Chemical-Induced Genomic Instability, Ajay Vikram Singh, Preeti Bhardwaj, Peter Laux, Prachi Pradeep, Madleen Busse, Andreas Luch, Akihiko Hirose, Christopher J. Osgood, Michael W. Stacey

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Chemical risk assessment plays a pivotal role in safeguarding public health and environmental safety by evaluating the potential hazards and risks associated with chemical exposures. In recent years, the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and omics technologies has revolutionized the field of chemical risk assessment, offering new insights into toxicity mechanisms, predictive modeling, and risk management strategies. This perspective review explores the synergistic potential of AI/ML and omics in deciphering clastogen-induced genomic instability for carcinogenic risk prediction. We provide an overview of key findings, challenges, and opportunities in integrating AI/ML and omics technologies for chemical risk assessment, …

A Pilot Study Of Intraoperative Application Of Cooled Radiofrequency To Reduce Post-Operative Pain Following Total Knee Arthroplasty, Jonathan Liew, Lucy J. Salmon, Rajat Mittal, Leo Pinczewski

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a successful treatment for end stage knee osteoarthritis (OA), but can be associated with significant pain in the early post-operative period. Cooled radiofrequency ablation (CRFA) has reported to reduce knee OA pain by targeting the periarticular nerves. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the effectiveness of intra-operative CRFA for reducing pain and opiate use after TKA.

Methods: This was a non randomised prospective study with control group. Participants were sequentially recruited preoperatively and underwent TKA, with CRFA to 6 targeted sites prior to cementing of implants, and were compared to controls …

Vulnerability To Environmental And Climatic Health Provocations Among Women And Men Hospitalized With Chronic Heart Disease: Insights From The Resilience Trial Cohort, Simon Stewart, Sheila Patel, Terase Lancefield, Thalys Rodrigues, Nicholas Doumtsis, Ashleigh Jess, Emily-Rose Vaughan-Fowler, Yih Kai Chan, Jay Ramchand, Paul Yates, Jason Kwong, Christine Mcdonald, Louise Burrell

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Aims: We aimed to recruit a representative cohort of women and men with multi-morbid chronic heart disease as part of a trial testing an innovative, nurse-co-ordinated, multi-faceted intervention to lower rehospitalization and death by addressing areas of vulnerability to external challenges to their health.
Methods and results: The prospective, randomized open, blinded end-point RESILIENCE Trial recruited 203 hospital inpatients (mean age 75.7 ± 10.2 years) of whom 51% were women and 94% had combined coronary artery disease, heart failure, and/or atrial fibrillation. Levels of concurrent multi-morbidity were high (mean Charlson Index of Comorbidity Score 6.5 ± 2.7), and 8.9% had …

Cross-Sectional And Longitudinal Associations Between Treatment For Herpes Virus Infection And The Dispensing Of Antidementia Medicines: An Analysis Of The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database, Stephanie Tan, Erin Kelty, Amy Page, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Frank Sanfilippo, Osvaldo P. Almeida

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Evidence from previous observational studies suggest that infection by herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) increase the risk of dementia.

Objective :To investigate if older adults exposed to HSV treatment have lower risk of dementia than the rest of the population.

Methods: We used the 10% Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) database from 2013 to 2022 to ascertain the cross-sectional, time-series and longitudinal association between exposure to HSV treatment and the dispensing of antidementia medicines. Participants were men and women aged 60 years or older. We used Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) codes to identify medicines dispensed …

Supply Of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir And Molnupiravir For Patients With Covid-19 In The First Eight Months Since Listing On The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme: A Retrospective Observational Study, Derrick Lopez, Douglas Pritchard, Frank Sanfilippo, Erin Kelty, Amy Page, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Osvaldo P. Almeida, David Preen

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives: To compare the supply of molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in relation to patient characteristics and other co-prescribed medicines and to estimate the number of patients without contraindications to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir who were treated with molnupiravir.

Study design, setting: Retrospective observational study of patients identified in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 10 % sample dataset who were supplied with either molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir between May and December 2022. We supplemented the PBS dataset with aggregated counts from published literature to determine prevalence of clinical contraindications to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Main outcome measures: We used multivariable Poisson regression to estimate risk ratios (RR) of receiving …

Improved Risk Prediction In Human Papillomavirus-Associated Endocervical Adenocarcinoma Through Assessment Of Binary Silva Pattern-Based Classification: An International Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study Led By The International Society Of Gynecological Pathologists (Isgyp), Aime Powell, Anjelica Hodgson, Paul Cohen, T. Joseph Rabban, Kay Park, W. Glenn Mccluggage, C Blake Gilks, Naveena Singh, Esther Oliva

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Endocervical adenocarcinomas (EACs) are a group of malignant neoplasms associated with diverse pathogenesis, morphology, and clinical behavior. As a component of the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists International Endocervical Adenocarcinoma Project, a large international retrospective cohort of EACs was generated in an effort to study potential clinicopathological features with prognostic significance that may guide treatment in these patients. In this study, we endeavored to develop a robust human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated EAC prognostic model for surgically treated International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IA2 to IB3 adenocarcinomas incorporating patient age, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) status, FIGO stage, and pattern …

Editorial: 2022 In Review: Vector Biology, David P. Tchouassi, Janet Midega, Baldwyn Torto

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This editorial summarizes collections on the Research Topic “2022 in Review: Vector Biology’’ that focus on entomologic surveillance insights related to mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, and sandfly-borne leishmaniasis. Specifically, the editorial discusses the entomologic drivers of dengue virus transmission, host-feeding relationships among various mosquito vectors, sample efficiency of malaria vectors using a suite of trapping techniques and improving sandfly surveillance using odor-baited trapping strategies. The research article by Kamau et al. assessed variation in the biological attributes of adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes by estimating critical parameters of vectorial capacity (vectors abundance, human blood feeding rates, survival) that …

Usp22 Overexpression Fails To Augment Tumor Formatiaon In Mmtv-Erbb2 Mice But Loss Of Function Impacts Mmtv Promoter Activity, Xianghong Kuang, Andrew Salinger, Fernando Benavides, William J Muller, Sharon Y R Dent, Evangelia Koutelou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 22 (USP22), a component of the Spt-Ada-Gcn5 Acetyltransferase (SAGA) histone modifying complex, is overexpressed in multiple human cancers, but how USP22 impacts tumorigenesis is not clear. We reported previously that Usp22 loss in mice impacts execution of several signaling pathways driven by growth factor receptors such as erythroblastic oncogene B b2 (ERBB2). To determine whether changes in USP22 expression affects ERBB2-driven tumorigenesis, we introduced conditional overexpression or deletion alleles of Usp22 into mice bearing the Mouse mammary tumor virus-Neu-Ires-Cre (MMTV-NIC) transgene, which drives both rat ERBB2/NEU expression and Cre recombinase activity from the MMTV promoter resulting …

The Effect Of Creatine Nitrate And Caffeine Individually Or Combined On Exercise Performance And Cognitive Function: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial, Gina Mabrey, Majid S. Koozehchian, Andrew T. Newton, Alireza Naderi, Scott C. Forbes, Monoem Haddad

Research, Publications & Creative Work

This study examined the effect of creatine nitrate and caffeine alone and combined on exercise performance and cognitive function in resistance-trained athletes. In a double-blind, randomized crossover trial, twelve resistance-trained male athletes were supplemented with 7 days of creatine nitrate (5 g/day), caffeine (400 mg/day), and a combination of creatine nitrate and caffeine. The study involved twelve resistance-trained male athletes who initially provided a blood sample for comprehensive safety analysis, including tests for key enzymes and a lipid profile, and then performed standardized resistance exercises—bench and leg press at 70% 1RM—and a Wingate anaerobic power test. Cognitive function and cardiovascular …

Belzutifan, Hif-2Α Inhibitor, And Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma With Somatic Von-Hippel-Lindau Loss-Of-Function Mutation, Kok Hoe Chan, Ningjing Li, Ran Lador, Mark Amsbaugh, Anneliese Gonzalez, Putao Cen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Von-Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene, acting as a tumor suppressor, plays a crucial role in the tumorigenesis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Approximately 90% of individuals with advanced ccRCC exhibit somatic mutations in the VHL gene. Belzutifan, orally administered small-molecule inhibitor of hypoxia-induced factor-2α, has demonstrated promising efficacy in solid tumors associated with germline loss-of-function mutations in VHL, including ccRCC. However, its impact on cases with somatic or sporadic VHL mutations remains unclear. Here, we present 2 cases where belzutifan monotherapy was employed in patients with advanced ccRCC and somatic loss-of-function mutations in VHL. Both patients exhibited a swift …

Editorial: Emerging Anti-Cancer Compounds And Immunomodulators For Pancreatic Cancer Treatment, Kathleen E Delgiorno, Stephen Safe, Jennifer M Bailey-Lundberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Novel Perspectives - How To Teach An Old Dog New Tricks, Tamar Tadmor, Jan Burger

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Outcomes For Patients With Head And Neck Sarcoma Treated Curatively With Radiation Therapy And Surgery, Alison K Yoder, Ahsan Farooqi, Devarati Mitra, J Andrew Livingston, Dejka M Araujo, Erich M Sturgis, Ryan Goepfert, Andrew J Bishop, B Ashleigh Guadagnolo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) of the head and neck (H&N) are rare malignancies that are challenging to manage. We sought to describe the outcomes of patients treated with curative intent using combined surgery and radiation therapy (RT) for H&N STS.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: We performed a single-institution retrospective review of patients with nonmetastatic STS of the H&N who were treated from 1968 to 2020. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate disease-specific survival (DSS) and local control (LC). Multivariable analyses (MVAs) were conducted using Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS: One hundred ninety-two patients had a median follow-up of 82 …

First-In-Human Phase 1 Study Of The Arginase Inhibitor Incb001158 Alone Or Combined With Pembrolizumab In Patients With Advanced Or Metastatic Solid Tumours, Aung Naing, Kyriakos P Papadopoulos, Michael J Pishvaian, Osama Rahma, Glenn J Hanna, Elena Garralda, Omar Saavedra, Sven Gogov, Howard Kallender, Lulu Cheng, Michael Smith, Xuejun Chen, Emil Kuriakose, Todd Bauer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: The arginase inhibitor INCB001158 was evaluated for safety (primary endpoint) in locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours; pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and efficacy were also assessed.

Methods and analysis: In this non-randomised, open-label, three-part phase 1 study, INCB001158 was orally administered two times per day as monotherapy or in combination with intravenous pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks. Dose expansion was conducted in tumour-type cohorts (with or without prior anti-PD-1/PD-L1 (programmed death protein 1/programmed death ligand 1) therapy).

Results: A total of 107 patients received INCB001158 50-150 mg two times per day as monotherapy, and 153 patients, including 6 with moderate …

Tumor Treating Fields (Ttfields) For Spinal Metastasis–The Case For Bone Removal And Spinal Implants As Waveguides To Enhance Field Strength At The Target, Claudio E Tatsui, Kristen W Carlson, Chirag B Patel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

An Online Module To Promote Self-Care And Resiliency In Nursing Students, Karen Higgins, Janice Hawkins, Beth Tremblay, Lynn Wiles

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Because the demands of nursing education can impact the physical and mental health of nursing students, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s revised Essentials require inclusion of self-care and resilience education in nursing curricula. This article describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a self-care module in a new online undergraduate course. Using the REST mnemonic (relationships, exercise, soul, and transformative thinking), students developed personalized self-care plans for the semester. End-of-course evaluations revealed an increase in self-care activities. The most used activities were exercise, humor, intentional rest, and healthy eating.