Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Mmrt: Multimut Recursive Tree For Predicting Functional Effects Of High-Order Protein Variants From Low-Order Variants, Bryce Forrest, Houssemeddine Derbel, Zhongming Zhao, Qian Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Protein sequences primarily determine their stability and functions. Mutations may occur at one, two, or three positions at the same time (low-order variants) or at multiple positions simultaneously (high-order variants), which affect protein functions. So far, low-order variants, such as single variants, double variants, and triple variants, have been well-studied through high-throughput experimental scanning techniques and computational prediction methods. However, research on high-order variants remains limited because of the difficulty of scanning an exponentially large number of potential variant combinations. Nonetheless, studying higher-order variants is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of complex diseases, advancing protein engineering, and driving precision medicine. …

Enhancing The Utility Of Polygenic Scores In Alzheimer’S Disease Through Systematic Curation And Annotation, Savannah Mwesigwa, Yulin Dai, Nitesh Enduru, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Polygenic Scores (PGSs) assess cumulative genetic risk variants that contribute to the association with complex diseases like Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The PGS Catalog is a valuable repository of PGSs of various complex diseases, but it lacks standardized annotations and harmonization, making the information difficult to integrate for a specific disease.

Methods: In this study, we curated 44 PGS datasets for AD from the PGS Catalog, categorized them into five methodological groups, and annotated 813,257 variants to nearby genes. We aligned the scores based on the "GWAS significant variants" (GWAS-SV) method with the GWAS Catalog and flagged redundant files and …

Investigating The Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health On Diagnostic Delays And Access To Antifibrotic Treatment In Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Rui Li, Qiuhao Lu, Andrew Wen, Jinlian Wang, Sunyang Fu, Xiaoyang Ruan, Liwei Wang, Hongfang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare disease that is challenging to diagnose. Patients with IPF often spend years awaiting a diagnosis after the onset of initial respiratory symptoms, and only a small percentage receive antifibrotic treatment. In this study, we examine the associations between social determinants of health (SDoH) and two critical factors: time to IPF diagnosis following the onset of initial respiratory symptoms, and whether the patient receives antifibrotic treatment. To approximate individual SDoH characteristics, we extract demographic-specific averages from zip code-level data using the American Community Survey (via the U.S. Census Bureau API). Two classification models are …

Lp-118 Is A Novel B-Cell Lymphoma 2 / Extra-Large Inhibitor That Demonstrates Efficacy In Models Of Venetoclaxresistant Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Janani Ravikrishnan, Daisy Y Diaz-Rohena, Elizabeth Muhowski, Xiaokui Mo, Tzung-Huei Lai, Shrilekha Misra, Charmelle D Williams, John Sanchez, Andrew Mitchell, Suresh Satpati, Elizabeth Perry, Tierney Kaufman, Chaomei Liu, Arletta Lozanski, Gerard Lozanski, Kerrya Rogers, Adam S Kittai, Seema A Bhat, Mary C Collins, Matthew S Davids, Nitin Jain, William G Wierda, Rosa Lapalombella, John C Byrd, Fenlai Tan, Yi Chen, Yu Chen, Yue Shen, Stephen P Anthony, Jennifer A Woyach, Deepa Sampath

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) respond well to initial treatment with the B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) inhibitor venetoclax. Upon relapse, they often retain sensitivity to BCL2 targeting, but durability of response remains a concern. We hypothesize that targeting both BCL2 and B-cell lymphoma-extra large (BCLXL) will be a successful strategy to treat CLL, including for patients who relapse on venetoclax. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a pre-clinical investigation of LP-118, a highly potent inhibitor of BCL2 with moderate BCLXL inhibition to minimize platelet toxicity. This study demonstrated that LP-118 induces efficient BAK activation, cytochrome C release, and apoptosis …

Optimal Timing Of Organs-At-Risk-Sparing Adaptive Radiation Therapy For Head-And-Neck Cancer Under Re-Planning Resource Constraints, Fatemeh Nosrat, Cem Dede, Lucas B Mccullum, Raul Garcia, Abdallah S R Mohamed, Jacob G Scott, James E Bates, Brigid A Mcdonald, Kareem A Wahid, Mohamed A Naser, Renjie He, Aysenur Karagoz, Amy C Moreno, Lisanne V Van Dijk, Kristy K Brock, Jolien Heukelom, Seyedmohammadhossein Hosseinian, Mehdi Hemmati, Andrew J Schaefer, Clifton D Fuller

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and purpose: Prior work on adaptive organ-at-risk (OAR)-sparing radiation therapy has typically reported outcomes based on fixed-number or fixed-interval re-planning, which represent one-size-fits-all approaches and do not account for the variable progression of individual patients' toxicities. The purpose of this study was to determine the personalized optimal timing of re-planning in adaptive OAR-sparing radiation therapy, considering limited re-planning resources, for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC).

Materials and methods: A novel Markov decision process (MDP) model was developed to determine optimal timing of re-planning based on the patient's expected toxicity, characterized by normal tissue complication probability (NTCP), for …

Zika Virus Modulates Arthropod Histone Methylation For Its Survival In Mosquito Cells, Telvin Harrell

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne human pathogen that causes mild febrile illness in adults and severe neurological complications and microcephaly in newborns. Studies have reported that ZIKV modulates methylation of human and viral RNA critical for its replication in vertebrate cells. In this study, we show that ZIKV modulates mosquito S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe)-synthase, an enzyme involved in the production of SAMe (methyl donor), and histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR followed by immunoblotting analysis showed increased amounts of SAMe synthase at both RNA and protein levels, respectively, in C6/36 mosquito cells infected with …

The Role Of Tgf-Beta Superfamily Members In Immune Homeostasis And Disease, Natalie Eva Nieuwenhuizen, Ioannis Eleftherianos, Piotr Jan Kraj, Maria Semitekolou

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

[Introduction] The Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily, encompassing molecules such as TGFs, activins, Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs), Growth/Differentiation Factor (GDFs) and Nodals, represents the largest family of growth and differentiation factors, playing crucial roles in developmental and physiological processes across animal species (1). These molecules are integral to tissue homeostasis and cell fate determination. Among them, TGF-beta is particularly noted for its regulatory influence on immune responses and tissue fibrosis (2, 3). Recent research has expanded our understanding of the immune functions of other superfamily members, including activin A and BMPs (4). These molecules signal through receptor complexes composed …

Switching To Tumescent Dissection In Mastectomy, Emna Bakillah, Ari Brooks, Seye Adekeye

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Introduction: Tumescent dissection (TUM) combines the use of crystalloid, local anesthetic, and epinephrine to create a bloodless plane to raise skin flaps. We aim to compare outcomes of TUM versus standard electrocautery dissection in mastectomies with and without reconstruction. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent mastectomy by a single surgeon between January 2016 and October 2020 utilizing the electronic medical record. The primary outcome was complication rate, and the secondary outcome was operative time. Chi-squared analysis and two-sample t-tests were used to examine outcomes. Results: Among 242 patients, 141 patients underwent TUM and 101 …

The Effect Of Need For Cognition & Need For Affect On Human Reliance And Artificial Intelligence Interactions, Aliyah Mcgowan

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Abstract

With the increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) automations in fields like medical diagnoses and mental health queries, there are concerns regarding an individual’s trust and reliance on the technology. Reliance on AI output may lead an individual to accept inaccurate or incorrect information without further analysis. Trust may influence reliance and trust formation may be a product of affective processing. This study investigated the relationship between Need for Affect (NFA), Need for Cognition (NFC), and trust and reliance on AI interactions. Participants were assessed on the NFA scale for willingness to approach or avoid emotional stimuli, the NFC …

Exploring Perceptions Of Occupational And Physical Therapy Faculty Of Entry-Level Graduate Programs Post Covid-19: A Mixed Methods Study, Chelsea S. Reji, Anne M. Moscony, Dianna Lunsford

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study aimed to explore graduate-level occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) faculty’s perspectives on their academic responsibilities, well-being, and the needs of students following the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers hypothesized that a decrease in job satisfaction and overall well-being would be evident, indicating burnout syndrome in the faculty participants. A mixed-methods approach was utilized. Potential participants were recruited from websites of graduate-level OT and PT programs via email. Participants were included if they were currently teaching in a graduate-level OT or PT program, teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, and working full-time. Data were collected through Google Forms from …

Exploring The Lived Experience Of Grief In Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Martina Bauer

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this phenomenological descriptive-interpretive study was to understand the lived experience of maintaining attention to one’s responsibilities while grieving among adults diagnosed with ADHD who have recently experienced bereavement in the United States. The population for this study included adults aged 18 and over who had experienced the loss of a loved one in the past 5 years and had a current diagnosis of ADHD. Participants were recruited using a sample of convenience via social media, email, and flyers, employing a snowball sampling technique. There were eight participants who met the inclusion criteria and participated in a semi-structured …

An Examination Of Harm During The Real-Life Experience, Michelle E. Balch

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The Real-Life Experience (RLE) has been described as a coercive and arbitrary requirement without evidence of validity or reliability. This can cause more harm than it prevents for a significant subset of transition-seeking transgender clients. For these reasons the RLE was dropped from the WPATH Standards of Care after version six. However, the RLE has been adopted by a number of health insurance companies as a measure of readiness to receive transition services. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and semi-structured interviews of five individuals were conducted to evaluate their perceptions of RLE and the meaning they attach to their broader …

Frozen: A Grounded Theory Of Transgenerational Trauma Cycles In The Evangelical Slavic Diaspora Of Former Soviet Union Refugees, Yulia Shtareva

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation builds on historical and scientific assertions that Former Soviet Union immigrants survived distinct political traumas, resulting in unique, culturally adaptive behaviors and beliefs. Using constructivist grounded theory, it examined how these behaviors manifest in the evangelical Slavic community (ESC) of former Soviet Union Refugees (FSURs) in the U.S. The researcher asserts that (a) adaptations are generationally preserved in the ESC through a “cycle of authoritarianism,” and (b) survival strategies became maladaptive in new social environments. Narratives from eight young adults raised in the ESC were analyzed alongside a literature review and lived experience. Findings show that coping strategies …

ปัจจัยคัดสรรที่สัมพันธ์กับพฤติกรรมการใช้สารเสพติดของผู้ใช้สารเสพติด หลายชนิดร่วมกันในภาคใต้ของประเทศไทย, เตชินี สิทธิอำนวย

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การวิจัยครั้งนี้เป็นการวิจัยเชิงบรรยาย มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษา 1) สถานการณ์และรูปแบบการใช้สารเสพติดร่วมของผู้ใช้สารเสพติดที่รับการบำบัดสารเสพติดในโรงพยาบาลรัฐบาลในเขต ภาคใต้ และ 2) เพื่อศึกษาความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างปัจจัยคัดสรร ได้แก่ อายุ เพศ อาชีพ ระดับการศึกษา สถานภาพสมรส อายุที่เริ่มใช้สารเสพติด ระยะเวลาการใช้สารเสพติด การดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ การสูบบุหรี่ ภาวะซึมเศร้า ความวิตกกังวลขณะปัจจุบัน การวิตกกังวลประจำบุคคล การเผชิญความเครียดด้านการมุ่งแก้สาเหตุปัญหา การเผชิญความเครียดด้านการจัดการกับอารมณ์ และสัมพันธภาพในครอบครัว กับพฤติกรรมการใช้สารเสพติดของผู้ใช้สารเสพติดหลายชนิดร่วมกันในภาคใต้ กลุ่มตัวอย่างเพื่อตอบวัตถุประสงค์วิจัยข้อ 1 คือ ผู้ใช้สารเสพติด จำนวน 111 คน และกลุ่มตัวอย่างเพื่อตอบวัตถุประสงค์วิจัยข้อ 2 คือ ผู้ใช้สารเสพติดหลายชนิดร่วมกัน จำนวน 211 คน ทั้งเพศชายและหญิง ที่มีอายุ 20 – 59 ปี ที่ได้รับการคัดเลือกตามเกณฑ์คุณสมบัติที่กำหนดไว้ ซึ่งเข้ารับการบำบัดรักษายาเสพติดแบบผู้ป่วยนอก โรงพยาบาลรัฐบาลในเขตภาคใต้ ได้แก่ โรงพยาบาลธัญญารักษ์สงขลา โรงพยาบาลมหาราช นครศรีธรรมราช โรงพยาบาลสิชล และโรงพยาบาลพระพรหม จังหวัดนครศรีธรรมราช เครื่องมือที่ใช้ในการวิจัยมี 5 ชุด คือ 1) แบบสอบถามข้อมูลส่วนบุคคล 2) แบบสอบถามพฤติกรรมการใช้สารเสพติด 3) แบบประเมินภาวะซึมเศร้า 9Q 4) แบบวัดความวิตกกังวล STAI 5) แบบวัดการเผชิญความเครียต และ 6) แบบสอบถามสัมพันธภาพในครอบครัว สถิติที่ใช้ในการวิเคราะห์ ข้อมูลได้แก่ การแจกแจงความถี่ ร้อยละ ส่วนเบี่ยงเบนมาตรฐาน สถิติไคสแคว์ และค่าสัมประสิทธิ์สหสัมพันธ์เพียร์สันผลการวิจัยพบว่า 1. จากผลการศึกษาสถานการณ์และรูปแบบการใช้สารเสพติดในภาคใต้ พบว่า ผู้ใช้สารเสพติดเพียงชนิดเดียวมีเพียง 23 คน (ร้อยละ 20.7) และผู้ใช้สารเสพติดส่วนใหญ่มีพฤติกรรมการใช้สารเสพติดหลายชนิดร่วมกัน 88 คน (ร้อยละ 79.3) จำแนกเป็นใช้สารเสพติดสองชนิดร่วมกัน 76 คน (ร้อยละ 68.5) และใช้สารเสพติดสามชนิดร่วมกัน …

Department Of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University: Historical And Personal Reflections, Richard A. Glennon

VCU University History Books

This book presents a historical account of Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Medicinal Chemistry, compiled and recollected in 2025 by Professor Emeritus Richard A. Glennon. Included are personal reflections alongside a historical overview of the department's origins and faculty, as well as newly developed programs and initiatives.

ผลของการฝึกการเพ่งความตั้งใจที่มีต่อความสามารถในการเคลื่อนที่เปลี่ยนทิศทางทางด้านข้าง ในนักกีฬารักบี้ฟุตบอลเพศหญิง, เอนด้า อลีนา ปรียอซูซีลอ

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การวิจัยเชิงทดลองฉบับนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาผลฉับพลันของ การเพ่งความตั้งใจแบบภายใน (internal focus) และการเพ่งความตั้งใจแบบภายนอก (external focus) ที่มีต่อความสามารถในการเคลื่อนที่เปลี่ยนทิศทางทางด้านข้าง (Side-step cutting: SSC) ตัวแปรทางชีวกลศาสตร์ และความเสี่ยงต่อการบาดเจ็บของเอ็นไขว้หน้าหัวเข่า (cutting Movement Assessment Score: CMAS) ในกลุ่มนักกีฬารักบี้ฟุตบอลเพศหญิง จำนวน 13 คน อายุระหว่าง 18–24 ปี โดยให้ผู้เข้าร่วมทำการเคลื่อนที่เปลี่ยนทิศทางด้วยขาข้างถนัดและขาข้างที่ไม่ถนัด ภายใต้เงื่อนไขการเพ่งความตั้งใจแบบภายใน การเพ่งความตั้งใจแบบภายนอก และเงื่อนไขควบคุม ใช้รูปแบบการถ่วงดุลลำดับ (counterbalance design) เพื่อกำหนดลำดับเงื่อนไขการทดสอบ โดยเว้นระยะห่าง 7 วันระหว่างแต่ละครั้ง วิเคราะห์ความแตกต่างทางสถิติของค่าเฉลี่ยของความสามารถในการเคลื่อนที่เปลี่ยนทิศทางชีวกลศาสตร์การเคลื่อนที่เปลี่ยนทิศทาง และความเสี่ยงในการเกิดการบาดเจ็บของเอ็นไขว้หน้าหัวเข่า ด้วยสถิติ paired-sample t-test และ one-way ANOVA with repeated measures ที่ระดับนัยสำคัญ .05 ผลการวิจัยพบว่า ผู้เข้าร่วมงานวิจัยสามารถเพ่งความตั้งใจไปยังตำแหน่งที่กำหนดได้อย่างถูกต้องตามเงื่อนไขการเพ่งความตั้งใจที่ได้รับ อย่างไรก็ตาม ไม่พบความแตกต่างอย่างมีนัยสำคัญทางสถิติของระยะทาง ความเร็ว และตัวแปรทาง ชีวกลศาสตร์ภายใต้เงื่อนไขการเพ่งความตั้งใจที่ต่างกัน ส่วนคะแนน CMAS ของขาข้างที่ไม่ถนัดภายใต้การเพ่งความตั้งใจแบบภายนอก (3.25±1.15) มีค่าต่ำที่สุด (p = 0.07) แสดงถึงคุณภาพการเคลื่อนไหวที่ดีและความเสี่ยงต่อการบาดเจ็บที่ลดลงสรุปผลการวิจัย การเพ่งความตั้งใจแบบภายนอกแม้ไม่ส่งผลต่อผลลัพธ์ด้านความสามารถในการเคลื่อนที่เปลี่ยนทิศทางและตัวแปรทางชีวกลศาสตร์โดยรวม แต่แสดงแนวโน้มที่ช่วยให้คุณภาพการเคลื่อนไหวของขาข้างที่ไม่ถนัดดีขึ้น โดยสะท้อนผ่านคะแนน CMAS ที่ต่ำกว่าเมื่อเทียบกับเงื่อนไขอื่น ชี้ให้เห็นว่าคำชี้แจงการเพ่งความตั้งใจแบบภายนอกอาจมีศักยภาพในการพัฒนารูปแบบการเคลื่อนไหวในขาข้างที่ไม่ถนัด ทั้งนี้ควรมีการศึกษาเพิ่มเติมด้วยการเพิ่มขนาดของกลุ่มตัวอย่างและศึกษาผลของการเพ่งความตั้งใจในระยะยาวเพื่อยืนยันผลลัพธ์ของการใช้คำชี้แจงการเพ่งความตั้งใจ

Contemporary Normative Values For Five Common Static Standing Tasks On Firm And Compliant Floor Surfaces In Children Two To Thirteen Years, Nancy Darr

Funded Scholarship

Background/Objectives: Static upright tasks, including standing unsupported (SU), eyes closed (SEC), feet together (SFT), tandem (TS), and single limb (SLS), are routinely examined in children and are included in many norm-referenced measures. Existing normative values for these standing tasks may not apply to contemporary children and have not been established across wide age ranges. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate developmental trajectories of and relationships between four static standing positions (SPs [SU, SFT, TS, SLS]) in children aged 2 through 13 years who are developing typically. The effects of altered sensory input, including floor surface (firm and …

Repositioning Antimalarial Drugs As Anticancer Agents: Focus On Tafenoquine, Chris Barton

Funded Scholarship

Due to the expensive and lengthy process of drug design and approval, drug repurposing (or repositioning) has become another option for identifying preexisting molecules that may be used for alternative purposes. Recently, some antimalarial compounds have been shown to display efficacy against cancer cell proliferation. In this study, we provide evidence to suggest that multiple preexisting antimalarial drugs can reduce the viability of human cancer cells in culture. Furthermore, we provide the first evidence that one antimalarial, Tafenoquine (LD50 = 9.6 μM in HCT116 cells), is capable of decreasing viability with an efficacy comparable to Etoposide (LD50 = 15.2 μM …

Tandem Virtue Development: Latent Growth Trajectories Of Welcoming Accountability, Patience, And Courage In Goal Pursuit, Robert J. Ridder, Hiroko Matsuo, Charlotte [email protected], Anne Jeffrey, Karen K. Melton, Perry L. Glanzer, Sarah A. Schnitker

Funded Scholarship

Informed by philosophical virtue theory, we tested developmental trajectories of welcoming accountability to other people in tandem with patience and courage. We sampled 870 US undergraduates pursuing personally-identified goals (N = 1,996 goals) across four timepoints in two years. Multi-level bivariate latent growth curve modeling disaggregated between-person patterns from within-person goal-level patterns for the three virtue measures. All three virtues’ slopes were nonsignificant, meaning virtues showed no uniform patterns of change for the sample. The slope of welcoming accountability was associated with the slopes of patience and courage so closely at the between-person level that a combined slope parameter was …

From Proposal To Podcast: Starting A Student-Driven Pharmacy Podcast In The Classroom, Jarett C. Worden, Jennifer Duck

Funded Scholarship

Background: Podcasts are a widely available and popular educational medium for healthcare providers, residents, students, and patients. Podcasts are convenient, accessible, and may be effective education tools for listeners. While some studies have attempted to measure the effectiveness of podcasting to enhance knowledge, there are few studies evaluating podcasts in pharmacy education. The purpose of this project was to provide students with the opportunity to create a podcast episode through an in-class, semester-long assignment and to evaluate student perceptions of knowledge, confidence, and professional identity.

Educational activity: Over the course of a semester-long elective class, students worked in groups to …

Community Health Worker-Delivered Tobacco Cessation In A Small Rural County, Ellen J. Hahn, Amanda Bucher, Amanda T. Wiggins, Kathy Rademacher, Whitney Beckett, Leeann Taylor, Audrey Darville, Jean Edward

BREATHE Faculty Publications

Purpose: We evaluated a Community Health Worker (CHW)-Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) model for delivering tailored tobacco treatment counseling and support in a rural, low-resourced county.

Methods: This was an exploratory, prospective study of people 18 years or older who used any tobacco product including e-cigarettes or vapes in the past 30 days. The CHW assessed tobacco use, secondhand smoke exposure, and quit history; and collected an expired breath carbon monoxide sample and a brief health history before providing 4–6 in-person or phone-based sessions involving tailored tobacco treatment counseling and support. The CHW connected participants to a prescriber at a federally …

Long-Term Safety And Effectiveness Of The Treo Stent Graft For The Endovascular Treatment Of Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, Matthew J. Eagleton, Michael C. Stoner, John Henretta, Maciej Dryjski, Jean M. Panneton, Apostolos Tassiopoulos, Manish Mehta, Benjamin Pearce, Mel J. Sharafuddin, Treo Investigators

Department Surgery Faculty Publications

Objective

Report on the long-term safety and effectiveness of the TREO stent graft in endovascular repair of AAA from a US investigational device clinical study.

Methods

Data from a multicenter, nonrandomized, prospective, US investigational device exemption pivotal study (NCT02009644) were used. From November 2013 to February 2016, 150 patients were enrolled at 29 US centers. Safety endpoints were defined as major adverse events (i.e., all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy, respiratory failure, paraplegia, bowel ischemia, and procedural blood loss of 1,000cc or greater). Effectiveness endpoints were defined as no aneurysm rupture, absence of sac increase …

Spectral Divergence Prioritizes Key Classes, Genes, And Pathways Shared Between Substance Use Disorders And Cardiovascular Disease, Everest Castaneda, Elissa Chesler, Erich J. Baker

Funded Scholarship

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are heterogeneous diseases with 

overlapping biological mechanisms and often present with co-occurring disease, 

such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Gene networks associated with SUDs 

also implicate additional biological pathways and may be used to stratify 

disease subtypes. Node and edge arrangements within gene networks impact 

comparisons between classes of disease, and connectivity metrics, such as 

those focused on degrees, betweenness, and centrality, do not yield sufficient 

discernment of disease network classification. Comparatively, the graph 

spectrum’s use of comprehensive information facilitates hypothesis testing 

and inter-disease clustering by using a larger range of graph characteristics. 

By adding a connectivity-based …

Influence Of Virtual Reality On Lower Extremity Joint Kinematics During Overground Walking, Hunter Derby, Nathan Conner, Adam C. Knight, Harish Chander

Funded Scholarship

The inability to regain balance following a trip-induced event is one of the leading causes of falls and fall-related injuries in older adults. Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to expose individuals to realistic environments with minimal injury risk compared to real-world exposures. The purpose of this study was to compare lower extremity joint kinematics during overground walking when exposed to real and virtually generated trip obstacles. A total of 14 healthy participants [7 male, 7 female; age: 23.46 ± 3.31 years; height: 173.85 ± 8.46 cm; mass: 82.19 ± 11.41 kg; shoe size (men’s): 9.03 ± 2.71 s] were …

Exploring Stress, Fatigue, Burnout, And Resilience Among Healthcare Personnel In Southeast Asia: A Scoping Review, Kelsey Trulik, Vijaya Arun Kumar, Wendy Wu, Muralidhar Varma, Mauli M. Patel, Kajol Manglani, Trini A. Mathew

Global Health Research Collaborative

This study aims to compare methods used to measure burnout, fatigue, stress, and resilience, as well as resilience-building interventions among healthcare personnel (HCP) in Southeast Asia. Even before COVID-19, HCP faced high levels of burnout and stress, exacerbated by the pandemic. Identifying effective resilience-building strategies is essential to supporting a healthier workforce. Studies published from January 2016 to December 2021 focusing on burnout, stress, fatigue, and resilience in HCP in Southeast Asia. A comprehensive literature search of seven databases (Jan 2016-Dec 2021), using terms related to resilience, HCP, and Southeastern Asian countries identified relevant English-language studies. COVIDENCE software was used …

Implementing And Evaluating A Pilot Interprofessional Training Program To Engage Health Care Teams In Cost Of Care Conversations, Jean Edward, Kimberly D. Northrip, Mary Kay Rayens, Julia Costich, Andrea Welker, Rachel O’Farrell, John A. D'Orazio

Nursing Faculty Publications

Introduction: This study evaluated the impact of Financial and Insurance Navigation Assistance-Training – a pilot interprofessional training program to facilitate cost of care (CoC) conversations and address health-harming social determinants of health in a pediatric hematology–oncology clinic.

Methods: A pre–post study design was used to evaluate the impact of Financial and Insurance Navigation Assistance-Training on an interprofessional health care team's (clinicians, social workers, financial navigator, and legal advocates) knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to CoC conversations and screening, referring, and collaborating with interprofessional team members. Data were collected …

Diet Quality Mediates The Relationship Between Chronic Stress And Inflammation In Patients With Metabolic Syndrome, Junghee Kang, Debra K. Moser, Terry A. Lennie, Misook L. Chung, D. Travis Thomas, Martha J. Biddle

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background 

Chronic stress is associated with promotion of inflammation and development of metabolic syndrome, as well as deterioration of diet quality. Inflammation can be modified by changes in dietary intake.

Objective 

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that diet quality mediates the relationship of chronic stress with inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Methods 

Participants with metabolic syndrome (n = 73, 62 ± 12 years old, 71% female) completed questionnaires on chronic stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10) and diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-2020). The Perceived Stress Scale-10 was dichotomized. The Healthy Eating Index-2020 score was used as …

Championing Reproductive And Perinatal Health With The Recovery Community: Improving Access To Healthcare And Health Promotion Resources To Support Recovery, Hartley C. Feld, Alex Elswick, Jeremy Byard, Whitney Beckett, Amanda Fallin-Bennett

Nursing Faculty Publications

Peer recovery support services are instrumental in the promotion of long-term recovery primarily by focusing on building the recovery capital of people with substance use disorders. Women may have specific health-related needs that are not generally part of recovery support staff training. Our team co-created a model by training people with lived experience as coaches to promote the health of women with SUD during the critical period of their reproductive years when mortality from overdose risk is high and can be compounded by issues surrounding pregnancy. We explored the outcomes of a small pilot test of this model to promote …

Evaluating Potential Determinants Of Health System Implementation Of A Virtual Oncology Financial And Legal Navigation Intervention To Address Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity, Jean Edward, Haafsah Fariduddin, Mackenzie Caldwell, Lori P Eisele, Joanna Doran, Monica Bryant, John A. D'Orazio, Anne E. Ray, Kimberly D. Northrip

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background

Integration of comprehensive oncology financial and legal navigation (OFLN) programs within health systems are needed to address cancer-related financial toxicity, however, implementation challenges exist.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess contextual factors that may influence implementation of a virtual OFLN intervention within a pediatric and adolescent and young adult oncology clinic and to inform necessary modifications to the proposed implementation strategies, pathways, and workflows.

Methods

We conducted 18 key informant interviews with healthcare team members, patients and caregivers. Data collection and analysis were guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to provide a structured …

Degree Of Rurality Moderates The Association Of Sedentary Time With Cognitive Function In Rural Patients With Cardiac Diseases And Depressive Symptoms, Chin-Yen Lin, Jia-Rong Wu, Geunyeong Cha, Junghee Kang, Martha J. Biddle, Misook L. Chung, Ashmita Thapa, Mary Kay Rayens, Linda Gibson-Young, Debra K. Moser

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Prolonged sedentary time has been linked to impaired cognitive outcomes. However, the impact of sedentary time on cognitive function at different degrees of rurality is not yet well understood in patients with cardiac diseases and depressive symptoms.

Purpose: To determine whether degree of rurality moderates the relationship between sedentary time and cognitive function.

Methods: This study includes 135 coronary heart disease or heart failure patients, primarily residing in rural Kentucky, including Appalachian areas, United States. Sedentary time was measured by the average daily sedentary time (in minutes) using accelerometry (ActiGraph). Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Blind. …