Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Harm Reduction Without Supportive Policing: Experiences Of Drug Users In Nepal, Chandra Jha, Dennis Donovan

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

This study explored the impact of drug criminalization and policing on harm reduction efforts in Nepal. In contexts marked by widespread corruption, drug criminalization often exacerbates the mistreatment by law enforcement of people who use drugs (PWUD), creating substantial barriers to their accessing harm reduction services. Utilizing a constructivist framework and a modified grounded theory approach, we conducted in-depth interviews with 20 PWUD to examine their experiences with drug use, interactions with police, and the consequent effects on harm reduction efforts. Three key themes emerged: the exploitation of PWUD as a significant source of income for corrupt police officers, the …

Associations Between Social Determinants Of Health And Mental Health Disorders Among U.S. Population: A Cross-Sectional Study, S. Tanarsuwongkul

Faculty Publications

Aims

The impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on mental health is increasingly realized. A comprehensive study examining the associations of SDOH with mental health disorders has yet to be accomplished. This study evaluated the associations between five domains of SDOH and the SDOH summary score and mental health disorders in the United States.

Methods

We analyzed data from a diverse group of participants enrolled in the All of Us research programme, a research programme to gather data from one million people living in the United States, in a cross-sectional design. The primary exposure was SDOH based on Healthy …

Assessment Of Surgical Outcomes And Factors Affecting Vision After Cataract Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Prospective Study At Al-Zubair General Hospital, Basrah, Iraq, Maytham Neamah, Zainab Taher

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Cataract is the most common elective and ambulatory procedure globally, and its incidence continues to rise, leading to an increasing number of cataract surgeries aimed at eliminating the burden of cataract blindness in the aging population. Cataract surgery is safe, predictable, and cost-effective. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the surgical visual outcomes and factors influencing vision in patients who underwent cataract surgery in the Al-Zubair district, Basrah, Iraq. Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted on cataract surgeries of all ages performed at Al-Zubair General Hospital between October 2014 and November 2022. Data based on demographic characteristics, preoperative …

Versatility Of First Dorsal Metacarpal Artery Flap For Thumb Reconstruction, Abdulrahman Miran, Hemin Aladden, Gultan Taimur, Ahmed Abdulla, Rana Kamal Kamal

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Coverage of extensive defects of the thumb, with exposure of tendon and/or bone, presents challenging reconstructive problems. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the versatility, applicability, and patient satisfaction with the first dorsal metacarpal artery flap for thumb reconstruction. Methods: This prospective case series study was conducted over approximately four years (June 2017–September 2022) in the Plastic Surgery Department at Rizgary Teaching Hospital in Erbil. Twelve patients with complex soft tissue thumb defects exposing vital structures were included and treated with first dorsal metacarpal artery island flaps. Results: Twelve patients participated in the study. Their mean …

Generalized Anxiety Disorders Among The Adult Population In Basra During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Raya Habeeb Abdulimam, Elaf Mohemmed Saleh, Ikram M. Abbas

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Anxiety disorders encompass conditions characterized by excessive fear and anxiety, along with related behavioral disturbances. During epidemics, many individuals experience distress due to immediate health impacts and feelings of loneliness; however, others fear infection, death, or the loss of loved ones. The COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq, part of the global coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak, may have exacerbated anxiety disorders among patients and their families. Aim: This study aims to assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the adult population in Basra. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted using an online survey with a questionnaire available via …

Accuracy Of C-Reactive Protein (Crp) And Hematological Indices As A Screening Tool In Neonatal Bacterial Sepsis, Zainab Farhan, Kassim Rahi

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Early recognition of neonatal sepsis is challenging due to its subtle and nonspecific symptoms. Failure to recognize or delays in diagnosis can result in significant mortality and morbidity. Laboratory sepsis markers complement clinical signs and risk factors in diagnosing sepsis. The current approach for early recognition of sepsis combines clinical presentation, biomarkers, and blood culture. Aims: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of C-reactive protein and basic hematological indices, such as neutropenia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, in diagnosing sepsis, measuring the sensitivity of each test, and evaluating the outcomes of the studied sample. Methods: This study consisted of 90 …

Thyroid Function Test Evaluation In Prostate Cancer Patients In Khartoum State, Abdalla Ali

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Thyroid hormones (TH) are key regulators of essential cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and metabolism. They play an important role in the development of prostate cancer (PCa). Therefore, this study aimed to assess thyroid function tests among PCa patients in Khartoum State. Methods: The study comprised 100 male participants, including 50 PCa patients as a case study and 50 healthy men as the control group. Blood samples were collected for thyroid function test and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) using TosohTM device (China) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the device FortressTM. Results: Statistical analysis of the test results of …

Peritoneal Dialysis In Iraq: Past And The Modern Era, Ali Al Saedi, Yasir Sharba, Abdalmahdi Al_Sallami, Majid Al Matwari, Zainab Hussein

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: The peritoneal cavity, a region of the abdomen, receives dialysate, a cleansing solution, via a catheter tube. The dialysate removes waste from blood vessels in the peritoneum; subsequently, the fluid is removed from the body and disposed of. Benefits of chronic PD include reduced costs, home-based therapy, single access, a decreased need for highly skilled workers and large infrastructure. Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and outcomes of acute and chronic PD in the Iraqi population Methods: We have gathered data regarding every patient who received acute and chronic peritoneal dialysis in Iraq in period between 2016-2024 …

Nutritional Status In Iraqi Hemodialysis Patients, Nawaf Al-Neaimy, Ismael Ismael, Dalia Ali, Ali Al Saedi

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Malnutrition is a commonly encountered issue in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and significantly impacts disease progression and mortality. We aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of malnutrition among Iraqi patients on a regular hemodialysis (HD) program. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the level of malnutrition among hemodialysis patients across all Iraqi centers. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted across all Iraqi cities from January 1 to December 31, 2023, examined patients undergoing HD. A standardized questionnaire was utilized for data collection, which was centralized through governorate centers. Results: Using subjective global assessment (SGA), 3,639 patients (33.9%) …

Maternal Mortality In Basra From 2019-2021, Mayyada Abdul -Jaleel Salman, Halah Alabdullah, Nadeem Raheem Shiaa

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Maternal mortality is a crucial community health indicator. The World Health Organization defines maternal death as “the annual number of female deaths from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes) during pregnancy and labor or within 42 days following the termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and location of the pregnancy.” Aim: This study aims to calculate the maternal mortality ratio in Basra over three years, identify the causes of death, and describe the sociodemographic factors of deceased mothers. Methods: A registry-based, descriptive, and retrospective study conducted over three …

Awareness Of Health Matters Related To Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Women Attending Primary Health Care Centers In Basra: Awareness Of Health Matters Related To Pregnancy, Zainab Alfaaz

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Prenatal care is an effective health intervention for reducing the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality, the risk of which is significantly higher in Basra (or Iraq in general) due to ignorance compared to other regions who offer prenatal care. Aim: This study aimed to assess health awareness related to pregnancy among women visiting primary health care centers in Basra Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 100 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) attending three primary health care centers in Basra, selected by random sampling technique. Data analysis was performed utilize the statistical …

Evaluating The Outcome Of Different Reconstructive Surgical Options For The Management Of Shoulder Deformity Following Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Injury Due To Erb’S Palsy, Mohamedbakir Abbas Abdulzahra, Thamer A. Hamdan

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Obstetrical brachial plexus paralysis (OBPP) refers to an injury to all or part of the brachial plexus occurring at the time of delivery. Injuries associated with the upper brachial plexus are termed Erb’s palsy, while those associated with the lower brachial plexus are referred to as Klumpke palsy. Obstetrical brachial plexus injuries are often associated with large birth weight and shoulder dystocia. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of different secondary reconstructive surgical options for the treatment of OBPP Methods: This prospective study was conducted at Basra General Hospital from October 2022 to November 2023. Sixty-eight patients …

Outcome Of Newborns With Diabetic Mothers, Thakaa Zaki Ali, Jihad Kadhim

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that can affect pregnant women; if diabetic mothers are not well controlled, newborns may face higher risks of serious problems during pregnancy and at birth. Methods: This study was a cohort follow-up study that assessed the outcome of infants born to diabetic mothers (IDM). It involved two groups: a study group of 77 IDM (45 males and 32 females) born at Basra maternity and Children Hospital during the set six-month period (January 1 to June 30, 2018) and a control group of 137 infants born to non-diabetic mothers (69 males and 68 …

Significance Of Platelet Parameters In The Diagnosis Of Neonatal Sepsis, Sawsan Hussein, Farah Yassen Flayyih, Saja Mohammed Adil

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: The gold standard test for diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is blood culture, even though no single laboratory test has 100% sensitivity and specificity. The diagnosis of sepsis cannot be made with a single test or any particular combination of testing methods. Therefore, it's necessary to identify diagnostic indicators that are both practical and affordable for every healthcare facility, while also having adequate sensitivity and specificity. This study aims to evaluate the role of platelet indices in diagnosing neonatal sepsis. Methods: A prospective, case-control study was conducted over 12 months at the Al-Kadhymiah Pediatric Hospital in Baghdad. It involves comparing …

The Diagnostic Value Of Tumor Markers (Ca242, Ca19-9, Cea) In Patients With Adenocarcinoma Of The Stomach, Rafah Talib, Ahmed Alosfoor, Aida Rashid Mansour, Nahla Ghanim

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Gastric cancer is a significant health issue worldwide; it ranks fourth among cancers, following those of the lung, breast, and colon. Tumor markers can be utilized as screening and diagnostic tests for neoplastic diseases. Aim: This study aims to evaluate value and the efficacy of tumor markers (CA242, CA19-9, CEA) in patients with gastric carcinoma and to investigate the utility of single and combined tumor markers for the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma. Methods: The serum level of CA242, CA19-9, and CEA were measured in 40 patients with gastric carcinoma, using the ELISA technique, compared with 20 patients with benign …

Distribution Of Resistance Genes Among Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii Isolated From Different Clinical Specimens, Ghufran Rajab, Ahlam Kadhum

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Carbapenems are the drugs of choice for serious hospital-acquired infections and for patients in intensive care unit affected by multidrug-resistant microorganisms, particularly Acinetobacter baumannii. Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) poses a significant threat to public health. Aim: The study aims to focus the distribution of carbapenemase-encoding genes belonging to classes A and B (blaGES, blaKPC, and blaNDM) among CRAB isolated from various clinical specimens. Methods: A total of 55 bacterial isolates were collected from different clinical specimens and underwent identification using Chrom agar and the Vitek 2 compact (ID) system. The checkerboard technique, modified Hodge test, and Vitek 2 compact …

Knowledge Of Mothers About Neonatal Danger Signs Attending Children’S Welfare Teaching Hospital In Medical City Directorate, Baghdad, Iraq, Amna Amer, Faris Al-Lami

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: The first 28 days of life, known as the neonatal period, represent a critical time when infants are at the highest risk of mortality. Most neonatal deaths occur in low-income countries with inadequate healthcare systems. The World Health Organization has identified specific neonatal danger signs (NDSs) that indicate potential illness. Aim: This study aimed to assess Iraqi mothers’ understanding of neonatal risk signs in 2024 and identify factors influencing this knowledge. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study involved 400 mothers attending the Children’s Welfare Teaching Hospital in Baghdad from November 2023 to March 2024. Mothers who could identify at …

Inflammatory Markers Levels In Total Knee Arthroplasty: Inflammatory Markers Levels In Total Knee Arthroplasty, Vitorino Modesto Dos Santos, Andressa Plaça Tedeschi, Vitor Ruas Domingues Modesto

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

No abstract provided.

The Correlation Of Vitamin D3 With Biochemical Markers In Β-Thalassemia Major Patients, Wasen Alzubaidi, Mustafa Abd Almajeed Hussein, Rehab Abdulwehab Jaafer, Newal Khalil Al-Temimi

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: Vitamin D3 is essential for pediatric development and normal growth. Aim: This study aims to analyze the hematological characteristics of both β-thalassemia patients and controls; their liver and renal functions; and calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone levels and their correlation with vitamin D3. Methods: Ninety teenage subjects, comprising 45 patients with β-thalassemia major (selected from the Hereditary Blood Diseases Center in Basrah during their regular checkups) and 45 apparently healthy individuals selected from relatives and friends, aged between 12 to 15 years (42.2% males and 57.8% females) were included in a 2023 case-control study at the Hereditary Blood Diseases …

Electrostatic Force-Enabled Microneedle Patches That Exploit Photoredox Catalysis For Transdermal Phototherapy, Hang Zhang, Wen-Chuan Xie, Yuhang Yao, Zi-Yi Tang, Wen-Xiu Ni, Bingwu Wang, Song Gao, Jonathan L Sessler, Jun-Long Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Microneedle patches for topical administration of photodynamic therapy (PDT) sensitizers are attractive owing to their safety, selectivity, and noninvasiveness. However, low-efficiency photosensitizer delivery coupled with the limitations of the hypoxic tumor microenvironment remains challenging. To overcome these issues, we developed an effective microneedle patch based on intermolecular electrostatic interactions within a photosensitizer matrix containing a zinc-containing porphyrin analogue, ZnBP (w). This design improved the mechanical strength of the microneedle patch and enhanced the photosensitizer loading efficiency in aqueous environments. A key feature of the system is efficient electron transfer between ZnBP (w) and NADH upon photoirradiation. Electrostatic interactions between ZnBP …

A Case For Broadening Our View Of Mechanism In Developmental Biology, B Duygu Özpolat, Swathi Arur, Mansi Srivastava

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Developmental biologists can perform studies that describe a phenomenon (descriptive work) and/or explain how the phenomenon works (mechanistic work). There is a prevalent perception that molecular/genetic explanations achieved via perturbations of gene function are the primary means of advancing mechanistic knowledge. We believe this to be a limited perspective, one that does not effectively represent the breadth of work in our field. We surveyed a representative and diverse group of colleagues to share their views on what it takes to infer mechanism. Here, we briefly examine the factors that have shaped the dominant view of mechanism, summarize responses to the …

Active Learning Of Enhancers And Silencers In The Developing Neural Retina, Ryan Z Friedman, Avinash Ramu, Sara Lichtarge, Yawei Wu, Lloyd Tripp, Daniel Lyon, Connie A Myers, David M Granas, Maria Gause, Joseph C Corbo, Barak A Cohen, Michael A White

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Deep learning is a promising strategy for modeling cis-regulatory elements. However, models trained on genomic sequences often fail to explain why the same transcription factor can activate or repress transcription in different contexts. To address this limitation, we developed an active learning approach to train models that distinguish between enhancers and silencers composed of binding sites for the photoreceptor transcription factor cone-rod homeobox (CRX). After training the model on nearly all bound CRX sites from the genome, we coupled synthetic biology with uncertainty sampling to generate additional rounds of informative training data. This allowed us to iteratively train models on …

Dna Methylation Profile In Buffy Coat Identifies Methylation Differences Between Cirrhosis With And Without Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Hyeyeun Lim, Hashem B El-Serag, Michelle Luster, Megan L Grove, Jinyoung Byun, Yuri Jung, Younghun Han, Eric Boerwinkle, Christopher I Amos, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Cirrhosis is the precursor to most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Understanding the mechanisms leading to the transition from cirrhosis to HCC and identifying key biomarkers is crucial to developing effective screening strategies and reducing HCC-related mortality. DNA methylation is associated with gene inactivation and plays an important role in physiological and pathological processes; however, its role in cirrhosis progression to HCC is unknown.

Methods: We performed genome-wide DNA methylation profiling using Illumina Infinium MethylationEPI BeadChip in pre-diagnostic samples from 22 cirrhosis patients who subsequently developed HCC and 22 cirrhosis patients who remained HCC-free during an average 4-year follow-up. …

Foxr2 Targets Lhx6+/Dlx+ Neural Lineages To Drive Central Nervous System Neuroblastoma, Selin Jessa, Antonella De Cola, Bhavyaa Chandarana, Michael Mcnicholas, Steven Hébert, Adam Ptack, Damien Faury, Jessica W Tsai, Andrey Korshunov, Timothy N Phoenix, Benjamin Ellezam, David T W Jones, Michael D Taylor, Pratiti Bandopadhayay, Manav Pathania, Nada Jabado, Claudia L Kleinman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Central nervous system neuroblastoma with forkhead box R2 (FOXR2) activation (NB-FOXR2) is a high-grade tumor of the brain hemispheres and a newly identified molecular entity. Tumors express dual neuronal and glial markers, leading to frequent misdiagnoses, and limited information exists on the role of FOXR2 in their genesis. To identify their cellular origins, we profiled the transcriptomes of NB-FOXR2 tumors at the bulk and single-cell levels and integrated these profiles with large single-cell references of the normal brain. NB-FOXR2 tumors mapped to LHX6+/DLX+ lineages derived from the medial ganglionic eminence, a progenitor domain in the ventral telencephalon. In vivo prenatal …

Precision Fetal Cardiology Detects Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease Using Maternal Saliva Metabolome And Artificial Intelligence, Ray Bahado-Singh, Nadia Ashrafi, Amin Ibrahim, Buket Aydas, Ali Yilmaz, Perry Friedman, Stewart F Graham, Onur Turkoglu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) can lead to improved morbidity and mortality. However, the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, the sole prenatal screening tool, remains limited. Failed prenatal or early newborn detection of cyanotic CHD (CCHD) can have disastrous consequences. We therefore sought to use a Precision Fetal Cardiology based approach combining metabolomic profiling of maternal saliva and machine learning, a major branch of artificial intelligence (AI), for the prenatal detection of isolated, non-syndromic cyanotic CHD. Metabolomic analyses using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry identified 468 metabolites in the saliva. Six different AI platforms were utilized for the …

A Human Single-Neuron Dataset For Object Recognition, Runnan Cao, Peter Brunner, Nicholas J Brandmeir, Jon T Willie, Shuo Wang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Object recognition is fundamental to how we interact with and interpret the world around us. The human amygdala and hippocampus play a key role in object recognition, contributing to both the encoding and retrieval of visual information. Here, we recorded single-neuron activity from the human amygdala and hippocampus when neurosurgical epilepsy patients performed a one-back task using naturalistic object stimuli. We employed two sets of naturalistic object images from leading datasets extensively used in primate neural recordings and computer vision models: we recorded 1204 neurons using the ImageNet stimuli, which included broader object categories (10 different images per category for …

Dose–Response Of Tdcs Effects On Motor Learning And Cortical Excitability: A Preregistered Study, Gavin Hsu, Zhenous Hadi Jafari, Abdelrahman Ahmed, Dylan J. Edwards, Leonardo G. Cohen, Lucas C. Parra

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Multiple studies have demonstrated that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex (M1) can influence corticospinal excitability and motor skill acquisition. However, the evidence for these effects is inconsistent, and a common neural substrate for these effects has not been directly demonstrated. To address this, we hypothesized that higher tDCS intensities would produce more robust effects, and uncover their relationship. In this preregistered study, 120 participants engaged in a motor skill learning task while receiving tDCS with posterior-to-anterior currents through M1. We employed a double-blind, between-subjects design, with groups of 4 mA, 6 mA, or sham stimulation, …

Association Between Joint Exposure To Ambient Air Pollutants And Carotid Plaque: The Mediating Role Of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, Yunfei Li, Ze Han, Xiaoyu Zhao, Yueruijing Liu, Zhiyuan Wu, Jinqi Wang, Xia Li, Xiuhua Guo, Lixin Tao

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Research has shown that exposure to joint air pollution is related to atherosclerosis, but little evidence has been found for carotid plaques. Our objective is to assess the association between exposure to joint air pollutants and carotid plaque and explore the mediating role of cardiometabolic factors in this relationship. Methods: The Beijing Health Management Cohort (BMHC) study followed participants recruited from 2013 to 2014 until December 31, 2020. All participants underwent carotid ultrasound and were free of carotid plaque at baseline. A satellite-based land-use regression (LUR) model was applied to estimate air pollution exposure. The joint exposure to air …

The Effectiveness Of Verbal Instruction For Reducing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk, Kazuna Ichikawa, Hironobu Kuruma, Sian Knott

Asian Journal of Physical Therapy

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are serious for athletes because healing can take approximately 6–12 months. Some studies have suggested that verbal instruction can help reduce the incidence of ACL injuries. Verbal instruction is divided into two categories: internal focus (IF) verbal instruction and external focus (EF) verbal instruction; however, the optimal type of ACL instruction to prevent injury is unknown. No verbal instructions explicitly focus on the pelvis or trunk, even though proximal control or ACL injury prevention are considered significant. This study aimed to determine whether IF verbal instruction focused on proximal control of the trunk and …

Age-Related Balance Control Changes In Constrained-Speed Gait During A Concurrent Cognitive Task, Raymond Chong, Victoria Moore, Hope Brown Sampson, Heather Spears, Manh-Cuong Do

Asian Journal of Physical Therapy

Background: During walking, the center of mass (CoM) oscillates up and down in the sagittal plane. In the late-stance phase, as the CoM descends, its vertical velocity decreases before foot contact, indicating active neural balance control, which we refer to as CoM braking. Young adults tend to increase braking while maintaining step length and speed when performing a cognitive task, such as subtracting numbers. In contrast, older adults maintain consistent braking by reducing step length and speed. This study examined the effects of walking at constant self-selected, slower, or faster speeds on CoM braking and cognitive performance. Methods: Healthy young …