Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Community And Academic Synergy For Cancer Survivorship Care Delivery Enhancement (Project Cascade): A Study Protocol For A Pragmatic, Stepped-Wedge, Cluster-Randomized Trial In Texas Primary Care Community Health Centers, Mary-Louise E Millett, Lauren Q Malthaner, Katharine Mccallister, Derek W Craig, Rebecca Eary, Melissa A Valerio-Shewmaker, L Aubree Shay, Suja S Rajan, Hilary Y Ma, Samiran Ghosh, Benjamin F Crabtree, Simon J Craddock Lee, Bijal A Balasubramanian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: In the United States, over 18 million individuals are living with cancer. The majority of these cancer survivors also manage other chronic conditions and receive care from multiple specialists, including oncology, cardiology, and primary care clinicians. However, it remains unclear who holds primarily responsibility for coordinating their care across specialties. Because of its generalist nature, primary care is uniquely suited to deliver whole-person and coordinated care for all conditions for cancer survivors. However, primary care teams experience many challenges delivering high-quality survivorship care. While integrating care for all conditions including cancer is a core principle of high-quality primary care, …

Collagen Type Ii-Targeting Lentiviral Gene Therapy For Mucopolysaccharidosis Iva, Betul Celik, Sampurna Saikia, Shaukat Khan, Krishna Sai Musini, Shunji Tomatsu

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS IVA) is caused by pathogenic variations in the GALNS gene, leading to the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in tissues and causing progressive skeletal lesions. While conventional lentiviral vectors (LVs) provide long-term stable expression, they do not deliver therapeutic levels to bone and cartilage. We hypothesized that engineering the LV envelope with a collagen type II-targeting peptide (WYRGRL) increases the binding affinity of the LVs for bone and cartilage. These modified vectors carrying the CBh and COL2A1 promoters delivered the GALNS gene to MPS IVA newborn mice via intravenous (IV) or intraarticular (IA) administration. The peptide-modified LVs exhibited markedly increased …

Loss Of The Maternal Effect Gene Nlrp2 Impairs Embryonic And Extra-Embryonic Development, Revealing A Novel Genetic Cause Of Congenital Anomalies†, Momal Sharif, Zahra Anvar, Imen Chakchouk, Sara H El-Dessouky, Roni Zemet, Eric C Kao, Wessam E Sharaf-Eldin, Ying-Wooi Wan, Zhandong Liu, Pengfei Liu, Michael Jochum, Ignatia B Van Den Veyver

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Maternal-effect genes (MEGs) play a crucial role in early mammalian development, and their dysfunction can lead to severe embryonic and extra-embryonic abnormalities. NLRP2, a MEG that encodes a subcortical maternal complex (SCMC) protein, has been implicated in preimplantation development, but its role after implantation remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated the developmental consequences of maternal Nlrp2 loss-of-function in a maternal knockout (KO) mouse model at embryonic day 11.5. Embryos derived from Nlrp2-KO females have abnormal yolk sac vasculature, increased embryonic resorption, craniofacial abnormalities, neural tube defects, and congenital heart defects. Placental architecture is disrupted with an altered junctional zone …

Context Matching Is Not Reasoning When Performing Generalized Clinical Evaluation Of Generative Language Models, Andrew Wen, Qiuhao Lu, Yu-Neng Chuang, Guanchu Wang, Jiayi Yuan, Jiamu Zhang, Liwei Wang, Sunyang Fu, Kurt D Miller, Heling Jia, Steven D Bedrick, William R Hersh, Kirk E Roberts, Xia Hu, Hongfang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Current discussion surrounding the clinical capabilities of generative language models(GLMs) predominantly centers around multiple-choice question-answer(MCQA) benchmarks derived from clinical licensing examinations. While accepted for human examinees, characteristics unique to GLMs bring into question the validity of such benchmarks. Here, we validate five benchmarks using eight GLMs, ablating for parameter size and reasoning capabilities, validating via prompt permutation three key assumptions that underpin the generalizability of MCQA-based assessments: that knowledge is applied, not memorized, that semantic consistency will lead to consistent answers, and that situations with no answers can be recognized. While large models are more resilient to our perturbations compared …

Context Matching Is Not Reasoning When Performing Generalized Clinical Evaluation Of Generative Language Models, Andrew Wen, Qiuhao Lu, Yu-Neng Chuang, Guanchu Wang, Jiayi Yuan, Jiamu Zhang, Liwei Wang, Sunyang Fu, Kurt D Miller, Heling Jia, Steven D Bedrick, William R Hersh, Kirk E Roberts, Xia Hu, Hongfang Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Current discussion surrounding the clinical capabilities of generative language models(GLMs) predominantly centers around multiple-choice question-answer(MCQA) benchmarks derived from clinical licensing examinations. While accepted for human examinees, characteristics unique to GLMs bring into question the validity of such benchmarks. Here, we validate five benchmarks using eight GLMs, ablating for parameter size and reasoning capabilities, validating via prompt permutation three key assumptions that underpin the generalizability of MCQA-based assessments: that knowledge is applied, not memorized, that semantic consistency will lead to consistent answers, and that situations with no answers can be recognized. While large models are more resilient to our perturbations compared …

Standardizing Assessment Of Clinical Performance In Physical Therapy: From Good Intentions To Shared Standards, Arvie Vitente, Carmina Rafael, Rolando Lazaro

Rehabilitation Sciences Department Faculty Articles

Clinical education is the crucible in which physical therapy students integrate knowledge, skills, and professional judgment into safe, ethical, and person-centered practice. Yet globally, the assessment of clinical performance remains highly variable, shaped by disparate tools, rubrics, and levels of assessor preparation. While several countries have adopted nationally standardized approaches to clinical assessment, many contexts—including the Philippines—continue to rely on locally developed or institution-specific systems, resulting in inconsistent expectations, inequitable student experiences, and limited capacity for benchmarking, research, and quality improvement. This editorial argues that good intentions alone are insufficient and that the profession must move toward shared, trustworthy standards …

Biomechanics Of The Ribs During Respiration At The Costotransverse Joint: An In-Vivo Retrospective Pilot Study, Michael Maninang, Greg Almeter, Erik Pearson, Arvie Vitente

Rehabilitation Sciences Department Faculty Articles

Introduction: Scarce in‑vivo data describe how ribs move at the costotransverse joints during quiet breathing—knowledge critical to thoracic biomechanics and pain mechanisms. This pilot study uses four‑dimensional computed tomography (4D‑CT) to quantify, for the first time, the three‑dimensional magnitude and direction of rib motion at these joints throughout quiet respiration.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive pilot study analyzed ten 4D‑CT scans obtained from patients undergoing thoracic imaging prior to radiation therapy. End‑expiration and end‑inspiration phases were aligned with a demons deformable‑registration algorithm. For each costotransverse joint, the three‑dimensional displacement vector, its absolute magnitude, and its components along the lateral–medial (L–M), …

Tumor Biology And Access To Care And Metastatic Breast Cancer Outcomes, Matthew R. Dunn, Sarah C. Van Alsten, Marc A. Emerson, Katherine Reeder-Hayes, Terry Hyslop, Melissa A. Troester

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: To understand how access to care influences metastatic breast cancer burden (MBC) while accounting for molecular tumor characteristics, and identify interventions to reduce metastatic disease burden.

METHODS: The Carolina Breast Cancer Study is a population-based cohort with invasive breast cancer (diagnosed 2008-2013). Both de novo metastasis (stage IV at diagnosis) and distant recurrence were evaluated (12 years of follow-up. Tumor data were from medical records, pathology reports, and RNA expression data. Social variables and access to care were from participant surveys. Generalized linear models were used to estimate associations of biological and access characteristics with MBC; Cox models were …

Seroprevalence And Risk Determinants Of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection In Pregnant Women In Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Tajul Haram, Kamran Khan

Journal of Bioresource Management

Toxoplasma gondii is a globally important zoonotic parasite, and maternal infection during pregnancy may cause miscarriage, congenital anomalies, or severe neonatal complications. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 367 pregnant women attending hospitals in District Dir Upper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii and associated risk factors. Blood samples were analyzed using Immunochromatographic Test (ICT) for initial screening, and positive cases were confirmed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Overall, 34.6 % (127/367) of women tested positive. While no significant differences were observed across age groups, gestational trimesters, or abortion history, higher prevalence was noted in women …

Teach-Back Techniques In Telehealth: A Review And Insights For Future Directions, Faith A. Albertson, Waka Alnakhi, Shanikque Barksdale, Shannon Stark Taylor, Shaniece Criss, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D., Karen A. Kemper, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Wanda Thompson, Phyllis Macgilvray, Nabil Natafgi

Publications

Background and objectives: The rapid expansion of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges in patient-provider communication due to the absence of in-person interactions and visual cues. Teach-back, a method where patients repeat information to confirm understanding, is a promising tool for improving communication in virtual care. This review evaluates the effectiveness of teach-back techniques in telehealth settings.

Methods: A search of four databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed) was conducted, yielding 10 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The article inclusion/exclusion criteria consisted of the following: (1) telehealth services topic; (2) direction provision related to teach-back; and (3) …

Managing The Uncertainty Of "Precision" While Navigating Goals Of Care: A Framework For Collaborative Interpretation Of Complex Genomic Testing Results In Critically-Ill Neonates, Donnamaria E. Cortezzo, Katharine Press Callahan, Bimal P. Chaudhari, Elliott M. Weiss, Monica Hsiung Wojcik, Krishna Acharya, Amy B. Schlegel, Kevin M. Sullivan, Jessica T. Fry

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Each year, many neonates are born with genetic diagnoses that carry a range of prognoses. As the types and availability of genetic testing have expanded, neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have served as "launching points" for their clinical application. Broad genetic testing has both improved diagnostic precision and expanded uncertainty. Genetic information may be explicitly uncertain, as in the case of a variant of unknown significance (VUS). But it is also frequently uncertain whether/how the information relates to a patient's phenotype or what it may mean for a child's future. Even without ambiguity in the diagnosis or prognosis, the significance …

Sex Differences In The Association Of Vascular Risk And Apoe Genotype With Cognitive Decline And Dementia: Evidence From A U.S. Longitudinal Study, Longjian Liu, Jintong Hou, Saishi Cui, Xiaopeng Zhao, Zuolu Liu, J. Craig Longenecker, Nathalie S May, Jin Jun Luo, Rose Ann Dimaria-Ghalili, Howard J. Eisen

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Sex differences in the association between vascular factors and cognitive outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations of blood pressure metrics (hypertension, systolic blood pressure [SBP), pulse pressure, ankle and brachial pressures, and ankle to brachial pressure index [ABI]) with the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

METHODS: We conducted a population-based longitudinal analysis using data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study (begun in 1987-1989) in the United States. We analyzed a total of 12,268 participants aged 45-64 years who had validated exposure measurements, cognitive function tests (first administrated 1990-1992), and followed up for incidence …

Detection Of The Linac Jaw Face Angle Misalignment Using High Energy Electron Beam Symmetry, Song Gao, Andres Cibrian, Jared Ohrt, Peter Balter

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: To demonstrate the usage of a high energy electron beam symmetry measured at different collimator angles to detect jaws face angle misalignments on Varian TrueBeam linear accelerators (linac) during acceptance and commissioning processes.

Methods: During the linac acceptance, all beams were steered to a symmetric shape with the gantry and collimator at 0°. We noted that the symmetries of higher energies electrons (e.g., 16 MeV, 20 MeV) changed over 2% when measured with the collimator at 90° and/or 270° for two linacs commissioned within 5-months of each other. Misaligned applicators were ruled out as the cause of this issue. …

The Impact Of Targeting Traf2 And Nck-Interacting Protein Kinase On Antitumor Effect And Tumor Immune Environment In C-Myc-High Sclc, Azusa Tanimoto, Kavya Ramkumar, C Allison Stewart, Bingnan Zhang, Kyle Concannon, Robert J Cardnell, Li Shen, Qi Wang, Jing Wang, Carl M Gay, Lauren Averett Byers

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation contributes to tumorigenesis and chemo-resistance in SCLC, yet clinical attempts to target this pathway have been unsuccessful. TRAF2 and NCK-interacting protein kinase (TNIK), an essential nuclear activator of Wnt/β-catenin target genes, has not yet been validated as a viable therapeutic target in SCLC. Here, we validated that TNIK inhibition is a promising approach for personalized anticancer therapy in SCLC.

Methods: We correlated the IC50 values of a TNIK inhibitor, NCB-0846, with proteomic profiling (reverse phase protein array) data across 28 SCLC cell lines. Cytokine array analysis was performed to quantify changes in 105 cytokines after …

Anti-Saccade Error Rates Are Associated With Somatic Depressive Symptoms In Cocaine Use Disorder, Constanza De Dios, Heather E Webber, Margaret C Wardle, Jin H Yoon, Michelle A Patriquin, Jessica N Vincent, Joy M Schmitz, Scott D Lane

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Inhibitory control deficits are associated with cocaine use disorder (CUD) development and maintenance. Additionally, drug use and inhibitory control can be negatively affected by depressive symptoms, including somatic factors like sleep disturbance and fatigue.

Aim: The current study assessed the relationship between inhibitory control and depressive symptoms among individuals initiating CUD treatment. We examined associations among anti-saccade response inhibition performance, total scores on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and individual BDI-II items.

Methods: N = 101 patients enrolled in a clinical trial for CUD completed drug-specific anti-saccade and depression (BDI-II) measures prior to treatment. Generalized linear models tested the …

Distinct Populations Of Lung Capillary Endothelial Cells And Their Functional Significance, Joel James, Dan Yi, Zhiyu Dai, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The role of the lung's microcirculation and capillary endothelial cells in normal physiology and the pathobiology of pulmonary diseases is obviously vital. The recent discovery of molecularly distinct aerocytes and general capillary (gCaps) endothelial cells by single-cell transcriptomics (scRNAseq) advanced the field in understanding microcirculatory milieu and cellular communications. However, increasing evidence from different groups indicated the possibility of a more heterogeneous nature of lung capillaries. Therefore, we investigated enriched lung endothelial cells by scRNAseq and identified five novel populations of gCaps with distinct molecular signatures and roles. Our analysis suggests that two major populations of gCaps that express Scn7a(Na

Hospital–Medicare Advantage Vertical Integration And Cardiopulmonary Care In Integrated Hospitals, Geronimo Bejarano, Meehir N. Dixit, Alexander P. Philips, Karen E. Joynt Maddox, Meredith B. Rosenthal, Amal Trivedi, David J. Meyers

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Pengaruh Video Edukasi Unsafe Action Terhadap Tingkat Pengetahuan Dan Perilaku Pekerja Weaving Di Pt X, Ajay Abdiel Ferrall, Maria Paskanita Widjanarti, Jihan Faradisha

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

The textile industry is one of the leading sectors in Indonesia, playing a crucial role in providing employment and driving economic growth. However, this industry also carries significant potential for occupational safety and health hazards, particularly due to unsafe actions. Observations at PT X revealed that workers' level of knowledge and behavior regarding unsafe actions remained low. This study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the effectiveness of an educational video intervention on unsafe actions on workers' knowledge and behavior. This quantitative research employed a quasi-experimental design using a non-equivalent control group model. The study was carried out at …

Efektivitas Pemberian Buah Pisang Raja Untuk Menurunkan Kelelahan Kerja Pada Operator Sewing Umkm Garmen X Karanganyar, Virginia Bernardine Gavra Prachristma Sujudi, Tyas Lilia Wardani, Rizqy Kartika Sari

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

Work fatigue is a common problem that can reduce productivity and increase the risk of workplace accidents. At UMKM Garmen X Karanganyar, the lack of supplementary food intake causes energy deficits and fatigue among workers. This condition underlies the research to analyze the effectiveness of giving banana raja (Musa paradisiaca L.) as an additional snack in reducing work fatigue among sewing operators at UMKM Garmen X Karanganyar. The research was conducted using a true experimental method with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. 42 sewing operators were selected from 47 workers using simple random sampling, divided into …

Incidental Cardiac Metastasis In Breast Carcinoma, Yaomin Chen, Haibo Wang, Zhiyan Fu, Ellen Elizabeth Connor

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background and Clinical Significance: Metastatic breast cancer is a major global health burden, with common metastatic sites including the bones, lungs, liver, and brain. Cardiac metastasis is rare and often clinically silent, leading to underdiagnosis. Recognizing cardiac involvement, even when asymptomatic, is important for understanding the full extent of disease and ensuring optimal patient care. Case Presentation: We report the case of a woman with advanced breast carcinoma who showed no clinical or imaging evidence of cardiac involvement throughout the course of her illness. Following her death from progressive metastatic disease, an autopsy revealed metastatic carcinoma infiltrating the myocardium and …

Evaluating The Effect Of Ethnicity And Amyloid On Gait Speed In The Healthy Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities Study, Alexandra M. Reed, Andrew Hooyman, Edward Ofori, Sydney Y. Schaefer

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Many novel Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers have been studied in non-Hispanic White populations, despite Hispanic/Latino adults being 1.5 times more likely to develop AD and receiving a later diagnosis. Equitable, accessible assessments are needed to identify individuals at risk earlier. While cognitive screening monitors early AD signs, neuropsychological tests are often inequitable across ethnicity, race, and other social determinants of health. However, we have shown that performance-based motor assessments may be less susceptible to demographic factors than memory tests, and may be more equitable for screening older adults. Gait speed has been linked to elevated amyloid in non-Hispanic White …

Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Improved Understanding And Advances In Management, Amit Syal, Chris T. Derk

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Interstitial lung disease (ILD), a common manifestation of systemic sclerosis (SSc), has the highest organ-specific morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc). Recent advances in diagnostics-including artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and biomarkers such as Krebs van den Lungen (KL)-6-have enabled earlier detection and monitoring of disease progression. Therapeutically, the approval of antifibrotics like nintedanib (NINT) and immunomodulators such as tocilizumab (Toci) has significantly expanded treatment options. Updated international guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), American Thoracic Society (ATS), and European league against Rheumatism (EULAR) now …

Impact Of Physical Activity On Sleep In Adults Recovering From Substance Use Disorders: A Protocol For An N-Of-1 Observational Study, Sascha Thal, Cele Richardson, Joanne Mcveigh, Craig Thompson, Phoebe Wan, Bingyan Pang, Hugh Riddell, Stephen Bright, James Clarke, Bronwyn Myers

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction Sleep impairments are prevalent among individuals recovering from substance use disorders (SUDs) and are associated with poorer treatment outcomes and increased relapse risk. Physical activity (PA) is known to enhance sleep in general populations, but its day-to-day effects on sleep during SUD recovery remain underexplored, especially across different recovery stages. Methods and Analysis In this observational n-of-1 study, we aim to examine within-person associations between daily PA and sleep quality in three groups of individuals at varying stages of substance use recovery (early treatment, continuing care and long-term recovery). A substudy will validate the agreement between two wearable sleepmonitoring …

Braingenebot: A Gpt-Engineered, User-Driven Genetic Data Exploration With Polygenic Risk Scores Ranking In Alzheimer’S Disease, Guan Ou, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background

Polygenic risk scores (PGSs) aggregate the effects of multiple genetic variants to attribute to disease susceptibility, and have been applied to numerous complex diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, as omics and phenotypic data grow exponentially, reconciling findings across studies with differing ancestral backgrounds, study designs, and statistical methodologies remains a pressing issue. Efficiently extracting biologically relevant insights from this expanding body of data is equally challenging, especially for diseases driven by complex interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

Method

To address these challenges, we introduce BrainGeneBot, an AI‐driven chatbot framework that automates genetic data analysis and bridges …

Evaluasi Keselamatan Alat Permainan Edukatif (Ape) Dan Penataan Area Bermain Outdoor Di Dua Taman Kanak-Kanak, Auri Willyado, Novrikasari Novrikasari, Mona Lestari, Dina Waldani, Desheila Andarini

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

Educational Play Equipment (APE) is one of the facilities provided by Early Childhood Education (PAUD) institutions to support the learning process through play. This study aims to assess the compliance of APE and the arrangement of outdoor play areas with the 2018 Guidelines for Managing PAUD Classroom Space, SNI 9169:2023, the Ministry of Education and Culture’s 2021 Safe APE Guidelines for Early Childhood, and Ministerial Regulation No. 3 of 2022. The study employs a qualitative design with a descriptive approach through facility observations, interviews with teaching staff, and a review of school documents. The data analysis process includes data reduction, …

Efektivitas Dan Keberterimaan Madcom Noise Protection Sebagai Alat Pelindung Pendengaran Berbasis Perlindungan Ganda, Ahmad Athif Wahyu Ramadhan, Yamtana Yamtana, Naris Dyah Prasetyawati, Sigid Sudaryanto

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

Industrial environments often generate high noise levels due to the continuous operation of machinery and production equipment. Persistent exposure to workplace noise exceeding the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 430 million people worldwide require rehabilitation for hearing impairment, with 109.4 million of these cases occurring in Southeast and Central Asia. As a critical component of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) management, noise control is often implemented using Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs). This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an earplug-earmuff combination, developed as Madcom Noise Protection, …

Benign Small Bowel Pneumatosis Intestinalis: Report Of A Rare Adverse Effect Of Tirzepatide, Kenneth Newcomer, Hani Soudah, Michael Beal, Thoi H Ngo

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Real-World Outcomes Of Talimogene Laherparepvec As Salvage Therapy For Advanced Melanoma, Melissa M Yamada, Smitha Chandrasekhar, Ted A Gooley, Rita E Chen, Coley Doolittle-Amieva, George Ansstas, Shailender Bhatia, Evan T Hall, Paul T Nghiem, Song Y Park, David Y Chen

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is an oncolytic herpes simplex virus therapy approved for treatment of unresectable and metastatic melanoma. However, real-world use often occurs in heavily pretreated patients, where evidence of effectiveness remains limited. This study evaluates treatment responses and clinical factors influencing T-VEC outcomes in patients with diverse treatment histories.

METHODS: We analyzed patients with metastatic melanoma treated with T-VEC between 2015 and 2024. Objective responses (OR), complete response (CR) and partial response were assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression models. Durability of responses, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier estimates.

RESULTS: Among …

Pm2.5 And Respiratory Symptoms Among Primary Schoolchildren In Bangkok, Thailand: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Monrudee Chokprajakchad, Dongruethai Buadong, Lawan Singhasai, Chayannan Jaide

Journal of Health Research

Background: Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been linked to adverse respiratory health in children. However, limited studies in Bangkok have examined the combined influence of environmental exposure and health perceptions. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between PM2.5 concentrations and respiratory symptoms among primary schoolchildren aged 7—12 years in Bangkok, across districts categorized by differing levels of air pollution.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 388 primary schoolchildren in Bangkok, recruited through cluster sampling from districts classified into three PM2.5 pollution zones based on data from the Pollution Control Department. Respiratory symptoms were …

Prediction Of Lung Vital Capacity Value From Thoracoabdominal Expansion In Young Adults, Aung Myo Htun, Aung Aung Nwe, Chatchaya Jaimanee, Thiwaphon Chatprem, Saowanee Nakmaroeng, Chatchai Phimphasak

Journal of Health Research

Background: Vital capacity (VC) is a fundamental indicator of pulmonary health, but its routine assessment often depends on spirometry devices that may be unavailable (i.e. because of access, cost) in many clinical or community settings. In contrast, lower costal (LC) and upper abdominal (AB) expansions are simple, equipment-free methods commonly used in physiotherapy.

Method: This cross-sectional study was aimed at developing prediction equations for VC using LC or upper AB expansion alongside demographic and anthropometric variables. The study involved 116 healthy nonsmokers (53 male and 63 female individuals) aged 18–39 years. VC was measured via spirometry using a …