Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Ethical Considerations In The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Ferdinand Okafor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an ethical response to the ethical issues in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. The problems that underlie the discussion are misconception about autism and Autistics. The misconception about autism and Autistics lead to misinterpretation of the neurological functioning, cognition, and the behaviors of Autistics. Consequently, it influences the approach and model of care in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. Currently, the analytic approach and biomedical model of disease are applied in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of autism. The motive of the analytic approach and biomedical care is to cure autism. The consequence …

Efficient Development Of Density-Insensitive Near-Infrared Methods For In-Line Drug Content Monitoring In Continuous Powder Streams, Natasha L. Velez-Silva

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A well-defined action plan to respond effectively to sudden changes in product demand is critical for preventing drug shortages within the pharmaceutical industry. An effective way to increase the output of a continuous manufacturing (CM) process is through flow rate adjustments. However, robust analytical methods must be in place to ensure consistent analytical performance across varying flow rates. Existing approaches for mitigating the physical effects of flow rate on Near-Infrared (NIR) measurements are often burdensome. Thus, efficient robust modeling strategies that reduce the current calibration burden and ensure model insensitivity to the physical variations in CM systems are needed. In …

Muslim Spirituality As A Foundation In Bioethics For Patient Encounters In Health Care, Sara Rahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spirituality plays a major role in decision making for individuals with faith-based values. There is often hesitation to discuss the role of faith in healthcare as a core value and coping mechanism. The growing cultural diversity amongst patients and physicians has increased the need to understand eastern religious principles and incorporate them into bioethical guidance. Even as the 2nd largest religion in the world, Islam has not been sufficiently integrated into religious bioethics in western medicine. Muslim populations of patients and physicians are growing, increasing the need for better understanding of how Islamic principles impact healthcare delivery. Although Islamic law …

Design, Synthesis, And Characterization Of Multi-Targeting Pyrrolopyrimidine Antifolates As Potential Single Agent Chemotherapeutic Entities, Tejashree Magdum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In cancer chemotherapy, the currently marketed antifolates have two major disadvantages: dose-limiting toxicities to normal tissues and susceptibility to drug resistance. These are due to their major transport by the ubiquitously expressed transporter and mutagenesis in enzymes present in cancer cells. This thesis describes an introduction, background, and research progress in antimetabolites-antifolates designed to multi-target (a) one-carbon metabolism and de novo nucleotide synthesis pathway and (b) target overexpressed transporter in cancer cells for selective tumor-targeting.

Cancer cells transport folate through three transporters: ubiquitously expressed reduced folate carrier (RFC), limitedly expressed proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT), and folate receptors (FRs). The research …

Assembly Of Ppsu-Oligomers, Mariam Nesterov

Student Theses and Dissertations

The development of nanostructures for delivering multiple proteins to targeted antibodies has become a promising avenue in biotechnology, driven by advancements in synthetic polymers like poly(propylene sulfone), PPSU. However, the PPSU polymer faces a major limitation - its high insolubility. To address this challenge, this study investigates whether PPSU oligomers can enhance both the solubility and stability of lysozyme, a model protein that is cost-effective and widely accessible. Using dimer, trimer, tetramer, and hexamer configurations, we analyzed the interactions between PPSU oligomer and lysozyme under varying conditions. Our results show that the dimer and trimer are water soluble (no aggregate …

Addressing Over-The-Counter Proton Pump Inhibitor Overuse: Strategies For Pharmacists To Enhance Patient Care, Brenna Hissong, Giang Nguyen, Alexander Defranco, Layla Dials, Jordyn Linfield, Haley Brown, Joshua Honaker, Samantha Mccord, Alaina Kortokrax

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most commonly prescribed and widely used medications for the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. PPIs irreversibly inhibit the H+/K+-ATPase enzyme, effectively reducing gastric acid secretion and providing sustained relief for acid-related conditions. With the approval of over-the-counter (OTC) PPIs, the number of individuals taking these medications for prolonged periods of time without routine monitoring for the appropriateness of therapy has increased. The overuse of OTC PPIs can be attributed to a number of factors, including ease of access, perceived safety, inadequate understanding of OTC PPI treatment intervals, and a lack of awareness regarding …

Fda Approves Neffy®- First Nasal Spray For Anaphylaxis, Abigail Carter, Penlope Mazivanhanga, Haylee Whyde, Rileigh Rahrig, Ashley Jacob, Anna Spalvieri, Joshua Honaker, Samantha Mccord, Andrew Roecker

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Between 1.6 and 5.1% of the United States population have experienced anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.1 Anaphylaxis occurs when someone is exposed to an allergen, most commonly foods, medications, and insect venom. Epinephrine is the first-line agent for anaphylaxis treatment, and it is critical to administer this medication immediately after the onset of anaphylactic symptoms to prevent worsening that could lead to death. Epinephrine, more commonly known as EpiPen® or Auvi-Q®, has historically only been available as an intramuscular (IM) injection. Many people are afraid, anxious, or uneducated on how to properly give someone an IM injection, causing anaphylaxis treatment …

Fda Greenlights Early-Stage Trial For Investigational Long Covid Treatment: Phase Ii Evaluation Pending, Arin Wade, Maria Nguyen, Allie Honigford, Kennedy Kosikowski, Minhwan Yang, Rebecca Willier, Joshua Honaker, Samantha Mccord, Theresa Hempleman

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Long coronavirus disease (COVID) is a condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Long COVID manifests as persistent symptoms following acute COVID-19. These symptoms can include, but are not limited to, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and chronic inflammation often lasting for months and significantly impairing patients' quality of life. As the number of Long COVID cases continues to rise and major global health organizations begin to standardize Long COVID’s mechanisms and diagnosis, there is an increasing demand for effective treatments that can address its complex nature. While some therapies, such as metformin and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) have shown promise in …

Implementing A Transition Plan For Adolescents With Adhd Transitioning To Adult Care, Emily Anderson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Background: Annually in the United States approximately 750,000 children with special health care needs transition from pediatric to adult health care. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders and nearly two thirds of children who have symptoms of ADHD in childhood have symptoms that persist to adulthood (Inman et al., 2017). The Child Development Center at a large medical center in northern New Jersey, prior to this project, did not have a transition process or procedure in place to aid providers to successfully prepare adolescent patients with ADHD for transition to adult care. Transition …

Design And Investigation Of Small Molecule Drugs For Potential Treatment Of Cns Disorders, Flaviviral Infections, And Cancers, Viktoriya Mashinson

Theses & Dissertations

Chapter 1 discusses the development of antagonists against the dopamine 4 receptor (D4R) that is expressed in the motor, associative, and limbic subdivisions of the basal ganglia network and is involved in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Levodopa is the firstline drug for the management of PD symptoms but its long-term use often leads to development of levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). D4R antagonists have been shown to decrease the abnormal involuntary movement scores in mouse models of LID. Chapter 1 outlines the development and optimization of selective D4R antagonists for potential treatment of LID. During the investigation of our D4R antagonists we discovered …

Priorities To Care Within The Military Health System: A Mixed Methods Study On Military Spouse Access To Care During Covid-19 On Okinawa, Elayne L. Wilson

Theses & Dissertations

Military spouses in Okinawa experienced denial of care at military treatment facilities and off base Japanese healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over two years of travel restrictions further contributed to difficulties accessing healthcare while stationed on the island with their active-duty spouse. This study examined the implications of a priority-based access system through the TRICARE program implemented due to limited resources during COVID-19 and its impact on military spouses in a scarce medical resource environment. This concurrent mixed-methods research used a survey tool developed by Community First Hawaii to quantify access to healthcare and in-depth interviews to further explore …

Sparkled: Social Programming In Kids Affects Risk Of Latent Endothelial Disease, Rebecca Drakowski

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Social Health Programming (SHP) is a holistic intervention that can empower communities to address modifiable risk factors for poor cardiovascular health, including suboptimal nutrition or psychosocial stressors. SHP participation has been shown to increase dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, decrease perceived stress, and improve cardiovascular endurance. However, it is unknown how SHP participation during adolescence affects carotenoid serum levels, hair cortisol concentrations (biological marker of chronic stress), or vascular reactivity index (VRI; measure of subclinical cardiovascular health).

Methods: Adolescent girls and young adult women (12–29-year-old) were enrolled in this observational cohort study. Serum, hair, and saliva samples were …

A Comprehensive Usability And Economic Analysis Of Heat-Related Wearable Technologies: Applications To Occupational Health, Ryan T. Cannady

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to analyze the usability and economic considerations of real-time wearable technologies that are implemented in occupational settings to assess risk of heat stress and heat strain. The study population included current agriculture workers and Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Management (EM) contractors. We employed a mixed-methods approach to comprehensively analyze the usability and economic considerations of heat-related technologies. Specifically, our approach assessed three distinct aspects the applications of these technologies in occupational settings to comprehensively address our research objective: (1) worker perceptions of heat-related wearable technologies, (2) field-based assessment of these heat-related wearable technologies, …

Development Of A Streptococcus Mutans Biofilm Model On A Typodont Platform To Investigate Its Dynamics In Orthodontics, Hibah Chughtai

Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Biofilm formation plays a significant role in dental health, resulting in plaque accumulation, which can lead to caries and oral diseases. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is a key bacterium involved in this process. The goal of this study was to establish a protocol for the development of an S. mutans biofilm on dental typodont teeth to analyze the effects of orthodontic brackets on biofilm formation. Understanding these dynamics is critical for developing strategies to mitigate biofilm accumulation during orthodontic treatment. Methods: S. mutans biofilms were cultivated under three conditions: 96-well tissue culture plates, S. mutans inoculated non-bracketed …

Ccr5-Ligand Decorated Rilpivirine Lipid-Based Nanoparticles For Sustained Antiretroviral Responses, Milankumar Patel

Theses & Dissertations

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the standard remedy to improve the health-related quality of life of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, limited access to the viral reservoir has significantly hindered its effectiveness in fully eradicating HIV. Therefore, to improve HIV therapy, here we propose a C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5)-targeted theranostic lipid Based Nanoparticles (LBNPs) to noninvasively track and specifically deliver the antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to the viral reservoir. A multi-modular radioactive nanoprobe was synthesized and co-encapsulated with rilpivirine (RPV, an ARV) into the LBNP to achieve a theranostic LBNP that can be tracked by positron emission …

Biobehavioral Correlates Of Multidimensional Fatigue In Men With Prostate Cancer, Kristin Dickinson

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis project was to 1) examine trajectories of multidimensional cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in men with prostate cancer during and after radiation treatment completion, and 2) identify biobehavioral correlates (demographic, clinical, co-occurring symptoms, and biologic [inflammatory cytokines]) for the different CRF dimensions.

Data for this secondary analysis were obtained from a descriptive, longitudinal IRB-approved study investigating men with non-metastatic prostate cancer receiving radiation therapy (RT). Data were obtained from 68 participant medical records, self-report questionnaires, and blood samples. Data were collected at: baseline (T1), completion of RT (T2), 6 months (T3) and 2 years (T4) after completion …

Epidemiology Of Older Patients Presenting To Irish Emergency Departments: A Subgroup Analysis Of The Egers Dataset, Sean Croughan, Arina Kruis Dr, Kelly Ann Catherine Janssens Dr, Pro Mukerjee Dr, Denys Shchetkovskyy Dr, Áine Mitchell Dr, Mehmet Akif Karamercan Dr, Zerrin Defne Dundar Dr, Anna Slagman Dr, Effie Polyzogopoulou Dr, Sandor Somodi Dr, Andrea Fabbri Dr, Lars Peter Bjornsen Dr, Wilma Beetge, Said Laribi, Rebecca Ann Sealy, Visnja Nesek Adam, Comfort Adedokun Dr, Lucy Gibbons, Pamela O’Brien, Jessica Lynch Dr, Laura Kenny, Conor Deasy Dr, John Ryan Dr, David Menzies Dr, John Cronin Dr, Vijay Narayanan Dr, Nurali Noorani Dr, Waslet Bakhshi Dr, Ahmed Al Rasheed Ahmed Dr, Rosa Mcnamara Dr

Journal of Geriatric Emergency Medicine

Introduction

Within Emergency Medicine, older adults represent a distinct population with unique needs and challenges. There is a scarcity of epidemiologic data on the requirements of Ireland’s older population for, and their utilisation of, emergency care networks. We sought to assess this deficit utilising data from the recently published European Geriatric Emergency Departments Registry Study (EGERS) dataset.

Methodology

A prospective, cohort study of older adult patients (≥65) presenting to Irish Emergency Departments over a 7-day period. The dataset was originally collected as part of the EGERS study. The Irish subpopulation was extracted, analysed in further detail, and compared to the …

Pancreaticoduodenectomy In Trauma Patients With Grade Iv-V Duodenal Or Pancreatic Injuries: A Post Hoc Analysis Of An East Multicenter Trial, Rachel Leah Choron, Charoo Piplani, Julia Kuzinar, Amanda L. Teichman, Christopher Bargoud, Jason D. Sciarretta, Randi N. Smith, Dustin Hanos, Iman N. Afif, Jessica H. Beard, Navpreet Kaur Dhillon, Ashling Zhang, Mira Ghneim, Rebekah Devasahayam, Oliver Gunter, Alison A. Smith, Brandi Sun, Chloe S. Cao, Jessica K. Reynolds, Lauren A. Hilt, Daniel N. Holena, Grace Chang, Meghan Jonikas, Karla Echeverria-Rosario, Nathaniel S. Fung, Aaron Anderson, Caitlin A. Fitzgerald, Ryan Peter Dumas, Jeremy H. Levin, Christine T. Trankiem, Jaehee Yoon, Jacqueline Blank, Joshua P. Hazelton, Christopher J. Mclaughlin, Rami Al-Aref, Jordan Michael Kirsch, Daniel S. Howard, Dane R. Scantling, Kate Dellonte, Michael A. Vella, Brent Hopkins, Chloe Shell, Pascal Udekwu, Evan G. Wong, Bellal Joseph, Howard Lieberman, Walter A. Ramsey, Collin H. Stewart, Claudia Alvarez, John D. Berne, Jeffry Nahmias, Ivan Puente, Joe Patton, Ilya Rakitin, Lindsey Perea, Odessa Pulido, Hashim Ahmed, Jane Keating, Lisa M Kodadek, Jason Wade, Henry Reynold, Martin Schreiber, Andrew Benjamin, Abid Khan, Laura K. Mann, Caleb Mentzer, Vasileios Mousafeiris, Francesk Mulita, Shari Reid-Gruner, Erica Sais, Christopher W. Foote, Carlos H. Palacio, Dias Argandykov, Haytham Kaafarani, Michelle T. Bover Manderski, Lilamarie Moko, Mayur Narayan, Mark Seamon

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

INTRODUCTION: The utility of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for high-grade traumatic injuries remains unclear and data surrounding its use are limited. We hypothesized that PD does not result in improved outcomes when compared with non-PD surgical management of grade IV-V pancreaticoduodenal injuries.

METHODS: This is a retrospective, multicenter analysis from 35 level 1 trauma centers from January 2010 to December 2020. Included patients were ≥15 years of age with the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade IV-V duodenal and/or pancreatic injuries. The study compared operative repair strategy: PD versus non-PD.

RESULTS: The sample (n=95) was young (26 years), male (82%), …

Efficacy Of Probiotics For Treatment Of Acute Or Persistent Diarrhoea In Children From Birth Till 10 Years: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Anmol Minaz, Ridwa Alam, Uswa Jiwani, Khadija Vadsaria, Ahmad Khan, Aqsa Ishaq, Samar Sultan, Marium Mohsin, Ashraf Sharif, Yasir Bin Nisar, Jai K. Das, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Shabina Ariff

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: Numerous studies have investigated the efficacy of probiotics in treating acute and persistent diarrhoea. However, probiotics have not been established as a recommended management option for diarrhoeal illness by the World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of randomised controlled trials to assess the efficacy of probiotics for the management of acute and persistent diarrhoea in children.
Methods: A systematic search on PubMed, CINAHL, Wiley Cochrane Library, Scopus, Clinicaltrials.gov, and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) was performed. All studies published in the year 2000 and onwards that assessed the use of probiotics in the …

The Ethical Contributions Of Nudges To Healthcare, Ian Doherty

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

“The Ethical Contributions of Nudges to Healthcare” examines the ethical use, implications, and rationale for using nudges in healthcare. The use of nudges in healthcare are being empirically examined. This leaves much to be examined from the ethical perspective. To examine the ethical perspective, the dissertation lays out how nudges interact with and enhance the biomedical principles of autonomy and beneficence. The dissertation then turns to clinical ethics. Nudges, more specifically the framing effect, are paired with trust in the patient-physician relationship to discern how best to aid a patient in his or her medical decision-making. The dissertation then investigates …

The Ethics Of Involuntary Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Policies, Practice, And Ethical Oversight, Mariah Chobany

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a specialized field of medicine, psychiatry presents unique ethical challenges and dilemmas distinct from other medical disciplines. A particularly complex aspect of psychiatric care involves the involuntary treatment of patients who may be unable to make informed decisions about their care or participation in research due to the debilitating effects of their psychiatric condition. This presents a significant challenge for providers and researchers, particularly concerning capacity issues and the informed consent process. Despite the intricacies and complexities of ethical dilemmas in psychiatric treatment and research, there is a notable lack of comprehensive guidance in policies and practices on addressing …

Novel Digital Anomalies, Hippocampal Atrophy, And Mutations Expand The Genotypic And Phenotypic Spectra Of Cnksr2 In The Houge Type Of X-Linked Syndromic Intellectual Development Disorder (Mrxshg), Mohammad Reza Ghasemi, Sahand Tehrani Fateh, Afif Ben-Mahmoud, Vijay Gupta, Lara G. Stühn, Gaetan Lesca, Nicolas Chatron, Konrad Platzer, Patrick Edery, Hossein Sadeghi, Bertrand Isidor, Benjamin Cogné, Heidi L. Schulz, Ilona Krauspe-Stübecke, Radhakrishnan Periyasamy, Sheela Nampoothiri, Reza Mirfakhraie, Sahar Alijanpour, Steffen Syrbe, Ulrich Pfeifer, Stephanie Spranger, Kathrin Grundmann-Hauser, Tobias B. Haack, Maria T. Papadopoulou, Tayrine Da Silva Gonçalves, Eleni Panagiotakaki, Alexis Arzimanoglou, Seyed Hassan Tonekaboni, Yves Lacassie, Et Al

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The Houge type of X-linked syndromic intellectual developmental disorder (MRXSHG) encompasses a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by intellectual disability (ID), language/speech delay, attention issues, and epilepsy. These conditions arise from hemizygous or heterozygous deletions, along with point mutations, affecting CNKSR2, a gene located at Xp22.12. CNKSR2, also known as CNK2 or MAGUIN, functions as a synaptic scaffolding molecule within the neuronal postsynaptic density (PSD) of the central nervous system. It acts as a link connecting postsynaptic structural proteins, such as PSD95 and S-SCAM, by employing multiple functional domains crucial for synaptic signaling and protein–protein interactions. Predominantly expressed in dendrites, …

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Mediated Weight Loss And Diabetes Mellitus Benefits: A Narrative Review, Alan D. Kaye, Nathan Lien, Christopher Vuong, Matthew H. Schmitt, Yusra Soorya, Bushirat A. Abubakar, Luke Muiznieks, Noah Embry, Harish Siddaiah, Adam M. Kaye, Sahar Shekoohi, Giustino Varrassi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are chronic diseases with increasing prevalence, underscoring the urgent need for effective treatment and management strategies. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have emerged as an essential class of drugs for managing both obesity and T2DM, offering additional benefits for cardiovascular and kidney health. GLP-1 RAs work by targeting GLP-1 receptors, mimicking the effects of the natural hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood glucose levels, promote weight loss, and provide potential benefits for cardiovascular health. This narrative review evaluates the mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, and broader roles of GLP-1 RAs in promoting weight …

Influence Of Antibody–Drug Conjugate Cleavability, Drug-To-Antibody Ratio, And Free Payload Concentration On Systemic Toxicities: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Shou Ching Tang, Carrie Wynn, Tran Le, Martin Mccandless, Yunxi Zhang, Ritesh Patel, Nita Maihle, William Hillegass

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

While in theory antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) deliver high-dose chemotherapy directly to target cells, numerous side effects are observed in clinical practice. We sought to determine the effect of linker design (cleavable versus non-cleavable), drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR), and free payload concentration on systemic toxicity. Two systematic reviews were performed via PubMed search of clinical trials published between January 1998—July 2022. Eligible studies: (1) clinical trial for cancer therapy in adults, (2) ≥ 1 study arm included a single-agent ADC, (3) ADC used was commercially available/FDA-approved. Data was extracted and pooled using generalized linear mixed effects logistic models. 40 clinical trials …

Developing Naturalistic Precision Functional Mapping For High-Density Diffuse Optical Tomography, Aahana Bajracharya

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Advancements in non-invasive imaging have enabled extensive research into higher-order cognitive functions of the brain. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has provided valuable insights into brain networks underlying various cognitive processes. However, limitations such as confined environments and scanner noise pose challenges for fMRI to be broadly applicable across all demographics and experimental conditions, especially in speech and language studies. Because of this, there is a need for complementary techniques that can help understand the brain as it functions during everyday scenarios. High Density Diffuse Optical Tomography (HD-DOT) is an emerging functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based technique with comparative advantages over fMRI, …

Statins Decrease The Risk Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Zahid Ijaz Tarar, Umer Farooq, Faisal Inayat, Sanket D. Basida, Faisal Ibrahim, Mustafa Gandhi, Gul Nawaz, Arslan Afzal, Ammad J. Chaudhary, Faisal Kamal, Ahmad H. Ali, Yezaz A. Ghouri

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease with a significant risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent clinical evidence indicates the potential benefits of statins in cancer chemoprevention and therapeutics. However, it is still unclear if these drugs can lower the specific risk of HCC among patients with MASLD.

AIM: To investigate the impact of statin use on the risk of HCC development in patients with MASLD.

METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of all the studies was performed that measured the effect of statin use on HCC occurrence in patients with …

An Investigation Into The Current Knowledge And Consumption Frequencies Of Probiotic Products Amongst Uk-Based Athletes, Ella J. Myers

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Growing evidence supports the role of probiotics as modulators of the gut microbiome and subsequent beneficial effects on health, adaptations to exercise, and performance amongst athletes. Despite this, limited literature exists concerning athletes’ current understanding or consumption habits of such products. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the knowledge and consumption frequencies of probiotic products amongst UK-based recreational and competitive athletes using a three-part online questionnaire. A scoring system based on the number of correct responses to questions regarding probiotics was employed to assess athlete knowledge. Subsequent questions allowed for the collection of data regarding respondents’ current consumption habits …

The Weight Of Words: An Investigation On The Impact Of Stereotypical Body Language On Body Dissatisfaction, Hannah M. Brown

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Body image research is extensive, producing various tools to assess body dissatisfaction and related factors. Despite this, eating disorder rates remain high. This study investigates the relationship between self-schemas, the lexical frameworks of body-related words, and their impact on body shape dissatisfaction. Sociocultural pressures to conform to beauty standards make body image talk ubiquitous and influential. Previous studies primarily used explicit measures, like self-reports, which are subject to biases, whereas implicit measures reveal underlying cognitive mechanisms. This study employed the Stunkard Figure Scale to measure body dissatisfaction and the Body Appreciation Scale 2 to assess body appreciation, examining cognitive biases …

Family Care And Health Behavior: A Sociocultural Perspective On Ebola Virus Disease Transmission In Sierra Leone, Abubakarr Jalloh

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The 2013–2016 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa was the largest and deadliest in the four-decade history of the disease. This study examined the sociocultural context of EVD transmission during the outbreak, with a particular focus on a high-risk behavior—caring for sick relatives. Guided by a sociocultural perspective on health, it specifically explored the role of family-based caregiving practices in the transmission of EVD during an outbreak. Utilizing a qualitative collective case study, I interviewed three Ebola survivors in Makeni, Sierra Leone. Content analysis resulted in two themes: (1) family care and perceived EVD transmission and (2) how …

Irregular Assessment Times In Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trials, Andrea Apter, Frances K Barg, Sanjib Basu, Alex Federman, Winifred J Hamilton, Jerry A Krishnan, Tianjing Li, Russell Localio, Christine Pindle, Daniel O Scharfstein, Justin D Smith, Kaharu Sumino

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Deviation from protocolized assessment times is commonplace in pragmatic randomized clinical trials. Working with a stakeholder advisory board for a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute®-funded project on statistical methods for handling potential biases introduced by irregular assessment times, we identified reasons for off-schedule or missed assessments. We used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research 2.0 to organize our findings. We conjectured that timely completion of outcome assessments is a function of multiple determinants, only some related to participants' health status. We identified potential determinants that can be modified during the protocol design stage and can be reassessed and mitigated during trial …