Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Implementation Of A Mental Health Wellness Toolkit For Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Mckenzie Lawson

Scholars Week

There is significant evidence that proves that Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists score exceptionally high on stress and anxiety scales. Research has demonstrated that high levels of anxiety and stress can lead to burnout and mental health concerns, including depression, fatigue, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation. A PICOT question was developed for this problem and is as follows: For first-year student registered nurse anesthetists starting clinicals in the operating room, how does participating in a wellness program where students are taught stress-reduction techniques affect their stress and resiliency scores one month and three months following the implementation of the program? This …

Exploring A Rare Association: Rheumatoid Arthritis With Pachymeningitis And Optic Neuritis., Muhammad Umer Riaz Gondal, Josette Graves, Aafreen Khan, Praveen Kowtha, Zainab Kiyani, Richard Lukose, Gregory Emkey, Pavani Pagolu

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Managing Hemodynamic Support In Mixed Serotonin Syndrome And Severe Bupropion Toxicity: A Case Report, Robert Nordell, Jennifer Jozefick

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of A Combined Aloe Vera And Chlorhexidine Gel On Plaque Index In Children With Cerebral Palsy. Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial), Anwar S. Sabti, Chaza N. Kouchaje, Mhd. Isam H. Agha

Arabian Journal of Pediatric Dentistry

Introduction: Background and aim of the research: Oral health and periodontal diseases constitute part of the oral problems in patients with cerebral palsy. Providing oral health care to these patients is extremely difficult due to some of their physical and physical disabilities. Given the existence of a link between oral health and physical health, it was necessary to think about In finding solutions to treat their gingivitis without exerting physical and mechanical effort on the part of the child and his family, and the fact that the use of oral rinses GEL is effective in alleviating gingivitis, it requires …

The Effect Of Sugar-Free Gum On The Salivary Ph Of Children After Consuming Sweetened Milk, Rouaa Zamzam, Nada Bshara

Arabian Journal of Pediatric Dentistry

Objectives: This study aimed to monitor the changes in saliva pH after consuming a package of sweetened and chocolate-flavored milk, then studying the saliva pH changes after consuming a sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol and sorbitol, in children with different additionally dental caries at the age of 3-5 years after conducting a laboratory study of milk to measure its acidity and the amount of added sugars and proteins to it. Materials and Methods: : A chemical analytical laboratory studied the pH and the amount of sugar and proteins added to milk (sweetened and chocolate flavored milk from (Hawa Al …

The Influence Of Buffered And Conventional Anesthetic Solutions On The Pain Level In Children During An Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block Injection: Randomized Clinical Trial, Rouaa M. Hassan, Chaza N. Kouchaje, Hanadi Al-Mattit

Arabian Journal of Pediatric Dentistry

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess pulse rate as a physiological pain assessment during inferior alveolar nerve block injection using buffered anesthetic solution (lidocaine 2% epinephrine 1/80,000 with sodium bicarbonate 8.4%) and conventional anesthetic solution (lidocaine 2% epinephrine 1/80,000) to treat bilateral mandibular primary molars.

Materials and Methods: Forty patients were included in the study sample to perform 80 inferior alveolar nerve block injections with split-mouth technique in patients aged 6-10 years with bilaterally infected mandibular primary molars. A fingertip oximeter was used to measure the pulse rate before and during anesthesia.

Results: The pulse difference …

Evaluation Of Marginal Leakage Of Self-Adhesive Flowable Composite On Anterior Primary Teeth: In Vitro Study, Amani M. Habbal, Chaza N. Kouchaje

Arabian Journal of Pediatric Dentistry

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the bonding of self-adhesive flowable composite in comparison with traditional flowable composite with a fifth-generation total-etch bonding system in primary anterior teeth, by studying microleakage after application of these materials in-vitro.

Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 32 extracted primary canine teeth. The sample was divided into two equal groups (n=16) according to the type of restoration applied: (Group 1): Traditional flowable composite resin was applied with a fifth-generation total-etch bonding system, (Group 2): Self-adhesive flowable composite resin was applied alone. A class v cavity was prepared on the facial/lingual surface …

Ai In Radiology: Bridging The Gap Between Technology And Patient Care, Jordan Watts, Jeffrey Larson, Kasi Gorli, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in healthcare, particularly within radiology, has grown rapidly, with 400 out of 520 FDA-approved AI algorithms explicitly designed for radiological applications as of 2023. AI has shown significant potential for enhancing healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes (AHA, 2023); however, understanding the barriers, facilitators, and implications of AI implementation in radiology remains fragmented across existing studies. This study investigates AI's impact on radiology in three critical areas: diagnostic accuracy, interpretation times, and clinical workflow efficiency. We synthesize key findings regarding AI's contributions to radiology practices through a comprehensive literature review of 29 articles published between 2015 …

Genomics Yields Biological And Phenotypic Insights Into Bipolar Disorder, Kevin S. O’Connell, Maria Koromina, Tracey Van Der Veen, Toni Boltz, Ney Alliey Rodriguez

School of Medicine Publications

Bipolar disorder is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease¹. Despite high heritability (60–80%), the majority of the underlying genetic determinants remain unknown². We analysed data from participants of European, East Asian, African American and Latino ancestries (n = 158,036 cases with bipolar disorder, 2.8 million controls), combining clinical, community and self-reported samples. We identified 298 genome-wide significant loci in the multi-ancestry meta-analysis, a fourfold increase over previous findings³, and identified an ancestry-specific association in the East Asian cohort. Integrating results from fine-mapping and other variant-to-gene mapping approaches identified 36 credible genes …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - March 27, 2025, Lindsay Hughes

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the Thursday, March 27, 2025 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter -- Watercooler.

Contents include:

• EDGE for Success kicks off with connection, reflection and leadership growth
• Student Affairs welcomes new program coordinator
• Internal medicine residents focus on wellness during annual retreat
• Study explores impact of academic coach training on the coaches 
• Menger selected for national leadership training program

Utilizing Chatgpt To Address Billing & Coding Gaps Among Rural Nurse Practitioners, Sarah A. Rosander, Laura Gray, David R. Phillippi

DNP Projects

Over 75% of new healthcare providers report feeling unprepared to manage billing and coding requirements. The challenge is in part a result of limited coverage of these topics in advanced practice curricula and the lack of free, accessible, and up-to-date coding resources. This quality improvement project explored the potential of ChatGPT as an innovative tool to support rural nurse practitioners in Tennessee with billing and coding challenges. Using the IHI Model for Improvement, two Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles were conducted to assess ChatGPT’s effectiveness as a billing and coding resource. The first cycle evaluated ChatGPT's accuracy in generating Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) …

Evaluating A Large Language Model’S Accuracy In Chest X-Ray Interpretation For Acute Thoracic Conditions, Adam M. Ostrovsky

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

BACKGROUND: The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has great ability to impact healthcare. Chest X-rays are essential for diagnosing acute thoracic conditions in the emergency department (ED), but interpretation delays due to radiologist availability can impact clinical decision-making. AI models, including deep learning algorithms, have been explored for diagnostic support, but the potential of large language models (LLMs) in emergency radiology remains largely unexamined.

METHODS: This study assessed ChatGPT's feasibility in interpreting chest X-rays for acute thoracic conditions commonly encountered in the ED. A subset of 1400 images from the NIH Chest X-ray dataset was analyzed, representing seven pathology …

An Assessment Of The Performance Of Different Chatbots On Shoulder And Elbow Questions, Mohamad Y. Fares, Tarishi Parmar, Peter Boufadel, Mohammad Daher, Jonathan Berg, Austin Witt, Brian W. Hill, John G. Horneff, Adam Z. Khan, Joseph A. Abboud

Rothman Institute Papers

Background/Objectives: The utility of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical education has recently garnered significant interest, with several studies exploring its applications across various educational domains; however, its role in orthopedic education, particularly in shoulder and elbow surgery, remains scarcely studied. This study aims to evaluate the performance of multiple AI models in answering shoulder- and elbow-related questions from the AAOS ResStudy question bank.

Methods: A total of 50 shoulder- and elbow-related questions from the AAOS ResStudy question bank were selected for the study. Questions were categorized according to anatomical location, topic, concept, and difficulty. Each question, along with the …

Introducing Kids To Cultural Cuisines, Maggie Mckay, Rachel Finn

Parent-ish Podcast

While it can be easy to lean on your tried and true, family-favorite recipes, introducing children to diverse cuisines is a wonderful way to expand their understanding of different cultures while also trying new foods. As parents, we have the unique opportunity to use food as a tool for education and connection. Rachel Finn, chef/educator at Children's Mercy Kansas City, discusses how to involve kids in the process and make discovering new cuisines fun and nutritious for the whole family!

Click here to stream the podcast episode.

Repositioning High-Risk Hospital Patients To Prevent Pressure Injuries​, Kylie Corrigan, Anna Kate Alexander, Amelia Oulton, Marit Turvold

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This project aims to develop both a digital and physical system to track patient repositioning in hospitals to prevent pressure injuries, a common issue for immobile patients. With 2.5 million hospital patients developing pressure injuries annually in the U.S., consistent repositioning every two hours is crucial to prevention. However, busy hospital environments often make this task challenging, leading to missed opportunities and increased incidences of pressure injuries. Current methods, which rely on manual tracking, are inefficient and contribute to the problem.

 The proposed solution is an automated tracking system integrated with the hospital's Electronic Health Records (EHR), which will alert …

Nurse Retention Through Mentorship, Leah Lodato, Campbell Wroblewski, Sarah Endre, Annika Eldred

SPARK Symposium Presentations

High turnover rates contribute to staff shortages, increased workload, burnout, and a decline in patient care quality. Nurse retention can be incredibly costly, and it is estimated to cost $56,300 per every RN who leaves their job. For the average hospital, this can equate to roughly $3.9 to $5.8 million in losses per year.” (2024 NSI National Healthcare Retention and RN Staffing Report). Our initiative focuses on implementing a structured mentorship program for new graduate nurses at Vanderbilt’s 6 East Med-Surg unit. By pairing new nurses with experienced mentors, the program aims to improve job satisfaction, provide professional …

Phytochemical Analysis And In Vivo Anticancer Effect Of Becium Grandiflorum: Isolation And Characterization Of A Promising Cytotoxic Diterpene, Christeen Fahim, Maha R. A. Abdollah, Rola Milad, Nehal Sabry, Noha Swilam

Pharmacy

Background:Becium grandiflorum is a fragrant perennial shrub of the Lamiaceae family. Objectives: The current study aimed to explore the cytotoxic potential of the nhexane fraction from Becium grandiflorum aerial parts and, further, isolate its major diterpene and conduct in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities along with its molecular mechanism and synergy with doxorubicin. Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract of Becium grandiflorum aerial parts was fractionated, and the n-hexane fraction was analyzed via GC-MS. The major isolated diterpene, 18-epoxy-pimara-8(14),15-diene (epoxy-pimaradiene), was quantified using UPLC-PDA. Cytotoxicity assays were conducted on HCT-116, MCF-7, MDA-MB- 231, and HepG2 cell lines. The synergistic effect with …

The Pulse - March 27, 2025, Unm Hsc Marketing & Communications

The Pulse

Weekly newsletter of the UNM Health Sciences Center.

Staff Education Program On Utilizing Non-Pharmacological Interventions To Manage Aggression Among Psychiatric Patients, Olivia Nguh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The staff education project aimed to address the gap in practice regarding the management of aggression in psychiatric patients at a local mental health clinic. Approximately 40% of the clinic’s patient population exhibited aggressive behaviors, including verbal threats, and physical altercations. However, nurses primarily relied on pharmacological interventions and physical restraints to manage these behaviors, which failed to address underlying causes, such as psychiatric conditions and environmental stressors. A review of the literature demonstrated strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions, with studies highlighting how structured training programs significantly reduced aggression, and improved patient and staff outcomes. The project …

Management Of Parkinson's Disease Psychosis: First-Line Antipsychotic Selection And Rationale For Continuing, Combining, Or Switching, Stuart H. Isaacson, Henry Nasrallah, Rajesh Pahwa, Gustavo Alva, Daniel Kremens, Stephen M. Stahl

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: The past decade has seen a paradigm shift in the evaluation and management of Parkinson's disease psychosis (PDP), with the first approval of an antipsychotic in the US in 2016. An evidence-based review by the Movement Disorder Society found pimavanserin and clozapine to be clinically useful, (low-dose) quetiapine to be possibly useful, and all other antipsychotics to be avoided due to motor worsening. Clozapine and quetiapine use can be limited by provoking Parkinson's disease (PD) nonmotor symptoms of somnolence and hypotension. Quetiapine may also be limited by its risk in cognitive impairment. Pimavanserin is not associated with these symptoms. …

Breastfeeding Is Associated With Reduction In Postpartum Depression In The United Arab Emirates: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study, Ala Al Rajabi, Hind Alkatheeri, Rafiq Hijazi, Lynne Kennedy

All Works

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a common mental health disorder affecting mothers. Breastfeeding may be protective against PPD. Global estimates of breastfeeding and PPD rates vary, especially for women living in Middle Eastern countries. The current study aims to assess breastfeeding and PPD prevalence and to identify factors associated with reduced PPD risk within the social and cultural contexts of the UAE. We used a purposive, convenience snowball sampling technique to recruit participants. Inclusion criteria were female ≥ 18 years, mother of a child ≤ three years, and resident of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Data was collected using an online survey distributed …

Maackia Amurensis Seed Lectin Structure And Sequence Comparison With Other M. Amurensis Lectins, Ashok R. Nayak, Cayla J. Holdcraft, Ariel C. Yin, Rachel E. Nicoletto, Caifeng Zhao, Haiyan Zheng, Dmitry Temiakov, Gary S. Goldberg

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Maackia amurensis lectins, including MASL, MAA, and MAL2, are widely utilized in biochemical and medicinal research. However, the structural and functional differences between these lectins have not been defined. Here, we present a high-resolution cryo-EM structure of MASL revealing that its tetrameric assembly is directed by two intersubunit disulfide bridges. These bridges, formed by C272 residues, are central to the dimer-of-dimers assembly of a MASL tetramer. This cryo-EM structure also identifies residues involved in stabilizing the dimer interface, multiple glycosylation sites, and calcium and manganese atoms in the sugar-binding pockets of MASL. Notably, our analysis reveals that Y250 in the …

Association Of Parental Oral Health Knowledge And Self-Efficacy With Early Childhood Caries And Oral Health Quality Of Life In Texas Schoolchildren, Shreela V Sharma, Jeanette E Deason, Mengxi Wang, Alejandra Garcia-Quintana, Ru-Jye Chuang, Kila Johnson, Shalisa Garner, Steven Kelder, Jose-Miguel Yamal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Improving children's oral health is a national priority. Parental knowledge and self-efficacy influence children's health behaviors; however, the relationship between parental oral health-related knowledge, self-efficacy, child oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL), and dental caries remains unclear, especially among low-income, ethnically diverse U.S. families. This study assesses the relationship between parental oral health-related knowledge, self-efficacy, child dental caries, and OHQoL. This cross-sectional seco ndary analysis uses baseline data from a school-based cluster-randomized controlled trial among children (kindergarten-second grade). Dental assessments were conducted using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) on site in schools at baseline (n = 34 …

Colorectal Cancer Screening And Correlating Gender Disparities, Kara Marr, Megan Janssen, Margaret Payne, Laura Reed Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Cne

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

In 2023, colorectal cancer (CRC) was the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, equating to approximately 50,000 total deaths (National Cancer Institute, 2024). Further, it is estimated that an additional 1.4 million Americans are living with CRC (National Cancer Institute, 2024). Early detection screening modalities remain imperative since the NIH has released a combined survival rate of 70% when utilized (National Cancer Institute, 2024). Different derivatives of CRC develop from pre-cancerous polyps and are often without signs or symptoms of disease progression; this asymptomatic period emphasizes the importance of early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer …

Effects Of Kefir Consumption On Perceived Athletic Performance And Recovery In Grappling Athletes, Dmitriy Chernov

Doctorate in Kinesiology

This study examines the influence of fermented product consumption, specifically kefir, on perceived performance and recovery among grappling athletes. Using a sample of 13 athletes divided into two groups—those with gastrointestinal issues (GIP) and those without (NGIP)— the study evaluated the effects of an 8-week dietary intervention incorporating kefir. Results revealed that athletes in the high-consumption group experienced significantly enhanced recovery success and perceived performance compared to their low-consumption counterparts. Athletes without gastrointestinal issues demonstrated superior outcomes, including better differentiation between training soreness and injury, highlighting the critical role of gut health in athletic perceived performance. These findings emphasize the …

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Loaded In Injectable Alginate Hydrogels Promote Liver Growth And Attenuate Liver Fibrosis In Cirrhotic Rats, Dominic Karl M Bolinas, Allan John R Barcena, Archana Mishra, Marvin R Bernardino, Vincent Lin, Francisco M Heralde, Gouthami Chintalapani, Natalie W Fowlkes, Steven Y Huang, Marites P Melancon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cirrhosis, a marker of severe liver diseases, limits future liver remnant (FLR) growth, preventing many cancer patients from undergoing surgery. While portal vein blockade (PVB) techniques are used to stimulate liver regeneration, 20-30% of patients still fail to achieve the required growth. Although mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy improves PVB, its efficacy is limited by poor cell retention. To address this, we utilized alginate hydrogels to deliver MSCs and improve their retention. MSCs were loaded in the hydrogel and injected intraportally in cirrhotic rats. Liver volume, weights, enzyme levels, and histology were monitored. Results showed that the hydrogel maintained 89.0 …

Navigating The Low Covid-19 Vaccination Rate Nexus: Biblical Interpretations & Practices Of Pentecostal Christians In Dmv, Patricia Mbah Nchamukong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The development and release of a vaccine during an epidemic is aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of infection, transmission, and spread of the disease. However, this does not always guarantee the acceptance of the vaccine by the entire population, as was the case with the COVID-19 vaccine. The low COVID-19 vaccine rate within the Black Pentecostal Christian community in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) is a public health concern. Some factors that might have influenced the decision of this population to accept or reject the vaccine have been linked to politics, anti-COVID-19 vaccine sentiments, and religion. The purpose …

Reducing Clinical Trial Eligibility Barriers For Patients With Mds: An Icmds Position Statement, Uma Borate, Kelly Pugh, Allyson Waller, Rina Li Welkie, Ying Huang, Jan Philipp Bewersdorf, Maximilian Stahl, Amy E Dezern, Uwe Platzbecker, Mikkael A Sekeres, Andrew H Wei, Rena J Buckstein, Gail J Roboz, Michael R Savona, Sanam Loghavi, Robert P Hasserjian, Pierre Fenaux, David A Sallman, Christopher S Hourigan, Matteo Giovanni Della Porta, Stephen Nimer, Richard F Little, Valeria Santini, Fabio Efficace, Justin Taylor, Guillermo Garcia-Manero, Olatoyosi Odenike, Tae Kon Kim, Stephanie Halene, Rami S Komrokji, Elizabeth A Griffiths, Peter L Greenberg, Mina L Xu, Zhuoer Xie, Rafael Bejar, Guillermo F Sanz, Mrinal M Patnaik, Maria Figueroa, Hetty E Carraway, Omar Abdel-Wahab, Daniel Starczynowski, Eric Padron, Jacqueline Boultwood, Steven Gore, Naval G Daver, Jane E Churpek, Ravindra Majeti, John M Bennett, Alan F List, Andrew M Brunner, Amer M Zeidan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Excessively restrictive inclusion and exclusion criteria in clinical trials are one of many barriers to clinical trial enrollment for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes/neoplasms (MDSs). Many organizations are developing efforts to increase clinical trial eligibility; yet, several recent publications focused on patients with MDS suggest that many patients with this disease may be excluded from clinical trials unnecessarily. Clinical trial eligibility should reflect the phase of the study and risks of the agent being studied. Phase 3 trials should be less restrictive than early-phase trials to represent the real-world population as closely as possible. We hypothesize that many clinical trials, particularly …

Independent Origins And Non-Parallel Selection Signatures Of Triclabendazole Resistance In Fasciola Hepatica, Young-Jun Choi, Bruce A Rosa, Martha V Fernandez-Baca, Rodrigo A Ore, John Martin, Pedro Ortiz, Cristian Hoban, Miguel M Cabada, Makedonka Mitreva

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Triclabendazole (TCBZ) is the primary treatment for fascioliasis, a global foodborne zoonosis caused by Fasciola hepatica. Widespread resistance to TCBZ (TCBZ-R) in livestock and a rapid rise in resistant human infections are significant concerns. To understand the genetic basis of TCBZ-R, we sequenced the genomes of 99 TCBZ-sensitive (TCBZ-S) and 210 TCBZ-R adult flukes from 146 bovine livers in Cusco, Peru. We identify genomic regions of high differentiation (F

Left Ventricular And Aortic Pressures Measured With Fluid-Filled And Solid-State Pressure Catheters: Similarities And Differences, Priscilla Machado, Ira Cohen, Brian Osler, Maureen E. Mcdonald, Cara Esposito, Marguerite Davis, David Fischman, Michael P. Savage, Praveen Mehrotra, Flemming Forsberg, Jaydev K. Dave

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Objective: To compare left ventricular (LV) and aortic (AO) pressures obtained using fluid-filled and high-fidelity solid-state pressure catheters in subjects undergoing left heart catheterization.

Materials and Methods: Twenty subjects scheduled for a left heart catheterization were enrolled and 18 subjects completed this IRB-approved study. LV and AO pressures were obtained using fluid-filled pressure catheter (standard-of-care) and high-fidelity solid-state pressure catheter synchronously. Pressure tracings were analyzed to measure LV systolic (LVSP), LV minimum-diastolic (LVMDP), LV end-diastolic (LVEDP), AO systolic (AOSP), and AO diastolic (AODP) pressures. Isovolumic contraction and relaxation rates (peak ± dp/dt) were derived from the pressure waveforms. Repeated measures …