Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Unveiling Social Media Content Related To Adhd Treatment: Machine Learning Study Using X'S Posts Over 15 Years, Alba Gómez-Prieto, Alejandra Mercado-Rodriguez, Juan Pablo Chart-Pascual, Cesar I Fernandez-Lazaro, Francisco J Lara-Abelenda, María Montero-Torres, Claudia Aymerich, Javier Quintero, Melchor Alvarez-Mon, Ana Gonzalez-Pinto, Cesar A Soutullo, Miguel Angel Alvarez-Mon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Decorin Evokes A Pro-Lysosomal Pathway In Lymphatic Endothelial Cells, Gabriel J. Pascal, Dipon K. Mondal, Sadie Kim, Christopher Xie, Devanarayanan Siva Sankar, Jörn Dengjel, Renato V. Iozzo

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

The lymphatic system is critical to the body's immune and circulatory system, and lymphangiogenesis, the development of new lymphatic vessels from pre-existing ones, is a significant process capitalized upon by cancer during tumorigenesis. Decorin is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan which we have previously shown to be anti-tumorigenic and a suppressor of lymphangiogenesis. We have also shown that decorin exercises its anticancer properties through its ability to evoke autophagy. Through a comprehensive and unbiased proteomic analysis, we explored the implications of decorin exposure on protein expression within mouse lymphatic endothelial cells. We discovered that decorin enriches several protein pathways, notably proteasomal …

Oral Tranexamic Acid Use For Melasma Is Not Associated With Thromboembolism: Findings From A Multicenter Propensity Score–Matched Electronic Health Record Cohort, Tyler Hernandez, Kayla Penny, Nicholas Culotta

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Hawthorn (Crataegus Spp.): Unlocking Its Potential For Health And Environmental Sustainability – A Comprehensive Review, Abdelhak Maghchiche

Journal of Bioresource Management

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), traditionally regarded as an important medicinal plant and frequently cited in the literature, presents significant potential for sustainable development and medical biotechnology. This review looks at several areas of Hawthorn that can be explored in response to current healthcare and environmental sustainability issues. Bioactive compounds from hawthorn, including active compounds primarily comprised of flavonoids, procyanidins, and triterpenoids, are responsible for potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardio-protective, and antimicrobial activities, potentially providing a source of potent therapeutic alternatives. Moreover, hawthorn has a well-documented record as a source of cardiovascular benefits to address arterial hypertension, congestive heart failure, and arrhythmias. In …

Study On The Beneficial Effects Of Garlic, Tribulus Terrestris, And Vitamin E Supplementation On Semen Quality, Fertility, And Hatchability Of Desi Male Chicken, Iqrar Uddin Lashari, Muhammad Mohsen Rahimoon, Qudratullah Kalwar, Zafar Ali Khoso, Barkat Ali Jataoi, Majid Hussain Soomro, Hidayatullah Soomro

Journal of Bioresource Management

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with garlic, Tribulus terrestris, and vitamin E on semen quality parameters in desi male chickens maintained under local farming conditions in Sindh, Pakistan. A total of twenty-four non-descriptive desi chickens (8 males and 16 females, aged 19–20 weeks) were allocated to four dietary groups for 42 days: G1 (basal diet with 150 g/kg garlic), G2 (basal diet with Tribulus terrestris at 1 capsule/liter of water), G3 (basal diet with vitamin E at 1 capsule/liter of water), and G4 (control with basal breeding ration only). Semen samples collected from treated males were analyzed …

Effect Of Dietary Supplementation Of Symbiotic, Prebiotics And Probiotics On Conformation Of Teats In Rabbits, Saqib Kakar, Allah Bux Kachiwal, Saeed Ahmed Soomro, Akeel Ahmed Memon

Journal of Bioresource Management

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics, and symbiotics on the reproductive and physiological performance of New Zealand White rabbits, emphasizing teat conformation. Forty-eight rabbits were divided into four groups: control (a), prebiotics (b), probiotics (c), and symbiotics (d). During the first parity, teat conformation varied across dietary treatments, with group d (symbiotic supplementation) generally exhibiting superior teat morphology. Horizontal teat length was highest in group a (4.38±0.35) and lowest in group d (4.02±0.43). The rear teat distance from the floor was longest in group d (1.71±0.25) and shortest in group a (1.41±0.50), with a similar …

Permanent Visual Impairment Following A Behçet’S Disease Flare While On Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Receptor Antagonist Therapy: A Case Report, Fawad A. Khan, Alaa Malik, Evan Nelson, Kian Fahimdanesh, Karmveer Kaur, Jasmine Elison, Mohamed Sayed

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Behçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic, relapsing, systemic vasculitis that can involve both arteries and veins. Ocular involvement, including non-granulomatous panuveitis and occlusive retinal vasculitis, is common and a significant cause of morbidity. Erenumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor approved for migraine prevention Although it is generally well tolerated, recent concerns have emerged regarding its vasoconstrictive potential in patients with underlying vascular disorders. Case presentation: We report a case of a 44-year-old woman with a history of BD, well-managed with azathioprine and methotrexate, who developed painless, bilateral subacute visual loss eleven days after …

Observational Activation Of Anterior Cingulate Cortical Neurons Coordinates Hippocampal Replay In Social Learning, Xiang Mou, Daoyun Ji

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Social learning enables a subject to make decisions by observing the actions of another. How neural circuits acquire relevant information during observation to guide subsequent behavior is unknown. Utilizing an observational spatial working memory task, we show that neurons in the rat anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) associated with spatial trajectories during self-running in a maze are reactivated when observing another rat running the same maze. The observation-induced ACC activities are reduced in error trials and are correlated with activities of hippocampal place cells representing the same trajectories. The ACC activities during observation also predict subsequent hippocampal place cell activities during …

Enhancing Stemm Education Through Advanced Technologies And Collaborative Programs, Zhongcheng Shi, Michael Nguyen, Yuan Yao, Debra D Murray, Rayne H Rouce, Veronica Ajewole, Huan Xie, Shixia Huang

Faculty and Staff Publications

Integrating advanced technologies into STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) education is essential for preparing a future-ready, diverse scientific workforce capable of addressing complex global challenges. This paper presents three interconnected programs-BRITE (Biotechnology Research Incubator for Teachers), ASPIRATION (AI-guided Scientist-Mentored Primary Literature Adaptation for STEMM Education), and C-REP (Cancer Research Education Program)-developed through collaborations with Advanced Technology Cores and multi-institutional participation, involving mentors ranging from core directors to graduate and medical students. While initially supported by internal funding, two of these initiatives have since secured NIH grant support. These initiatives provide immersive, hands-on training in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, flow …

Cookie-Pro: Covalent Inhibitor Binding Kinetics Profiling On The Proteome Scale, Hanfeng Lin, Bin Yang, Lang Ding, Yen-Yu Yang, Matthew V Holt, Sung Yun Jung, Bing Zhang, Meng C Wang, Jin Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Covalent inhibitors are an emerging class of therapeutics, but methods to comprehensively profile their binding kinetics and selectivity across the proteome have been limited. Here we introduce COOKIE-Pro (COvalent Occupancy KInetic Enrichment via Proteomics), an unbiased method for quantifying irreversible covalent inhibitor binding kinetics on a proteome-wide scale. COOKIE-Pro uses a two-step incubation process with mass spectrometry-based proteomics to determine kinact and KI values for covalent inhibitors against both on-target and off-target proteins. We validated COOKIE-Pro using BTK inhibitors spebrutinib and ibrutinib, accurately reproducing known kinetic parameters and identifying both expected and unreported off-targets. The method revealed that …

Social Disparities, Delirium Occurrence, And Related Outcomes Among Hospitalized Older Adults, Alan P Pan, Kathryn Agarwal, Thomas Potter, Karim Borei, Sara Nowakowski, Courtenay R Bruce, George E Taffet, Farhaan S Vahidy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Underlying socio-economic and health burden may variably impact delirium presentation among older adults. We characterized differences in patient factors related to social marginalization and studied their effects on delirium occurrence and hospital outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a 7-year retrospective analysis of older adults (aged ≥ 70 years) who systematically underwent screening for delirium at an 8-hospital healthcare system. Our primary exposure included patient characteristics related to demographics and social marginalization. Multivariable logistic regression models were built to identify factors associated with increased odds of delirium occurrence, either (1) present-on-admission (D-POA) or (2) hospital-acquired (HAD). Secondary outcomes included hospital length …

Clinically Significant Neuroimaging Findings Among Pediatric Patients Presenting To The Emergency Department With Symptoms Of Psychosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study, Jennifer A Hoffmann, Tapan K Parikh, Doug Lorenz, Michael P Goldman, Emily M Powers, Shilpa J Patel, Ilana S Lavina, Theodore W Heyming, Jasmin T England, Mohsen Saidinejad, Ilene Claudius, Pallavi Ghosh, Daniel J Shapiro, Tricia B Swan, Kamali L Bouvay, Eileen Murtagh Kurowski, Nadine M Smith, Justin R Davis, Alexander B Moxam, Eli J Muhrer, Rohit P Shenoi, Elyse N Portillo, Ron L Kaplan, Neil G Uspal, Robert M Lapus, Andrea T Vo, Daniel B Fenster, Danielle B Barrocas, Deborah R Liu, Pradip P Chaudhari, Rachel Cafferty, Stephen B Freedman, Jerri A Rose, Megan F Evers, Ashley M Metcalf, Fareed Saleh, Jennifer Dunnick, Raymond D Pitetti, Yashas R Nathani, Muhammad Waseem, Todd A Florin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The clinical utility of diagnostic neuroimaging for pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) for psychosis remains unclear. We sought to estimate the prevalence of and characteristics associated with clinically significant neuroimaging findings among pediatric patients presenting to the ED with symptoms of psychosis who had neuroimaging performed.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included visits by patients 5 to < 18 years old presenting with symptoms of psychosis to 28 EDs affiliated with the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Collaborative Research Committee from 2016 to 2019 and had neuroimaging performed. We estimated the rate of clinically significant neuroimaging findings, defined as those resulting in further testing, treatment, or medical admission, overall and by imaging modality. Multivariable logistic regression models examined presenting features associated with clinically significant findings.

Results: Clinically significant neuroimaging findings were identified in 5.4% (95% CI 4.2%, 6.9%) of 1118 ED visits (54% male, median [IQR] 14 [11-16] years old). Clinically significant findings occurred in 4.9% (34/699) of head computed tomography scans and 7.5% …

Engineered Exosomes With Krasg12d Specific Sirna In Pancreatic Cancer: A Phase I Study With Immunological Correlates, Valerie S Kalluri, Brandon G Smaglo, Krishnan K Mahadevan, Michelle L Kirtley, Kathleen M Mcandrews, Mayela Mendt, Sujuan Yang, Ana S Maldonado, Hikaru Sugimoto, Maria E Salvatierra, Luisa M Solis Soto, Cara Haymaker, Rick Finch, Mihai Gagea, Adam C Fluty, Steven J Ludtke, J Jack Lee, Abhinav K Jain, Gauri Varadhachary, Rachna T Shroff, Anirban Maitra, Elizabeth Shpall, Shubham Pant, Raghu Kalluri

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Oncogenic KRAS is amongst the key genetic drivers for initiation and maintenance of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here, we show that engineered exosomes with KrasG12D specific siRNA (iExoKrasG12D) reveal a biodistribution in pancreas with negligible toxicity in preclinical studies in mice and Rhesus macaques. Clinical testing of iExoKrasG12D in the iEXPLORE (iExoKrasG12D in Pancreatic Cancer) Phase I study employed a non-randomized single-arm classical 3 + 3 dose escalation design (Phase Ia), followed by an accelerated titration design (Phase Ib) (NCT03608631). The primary outcomes included safety, tolerability and target engagement, and the secondary outcomes aimed to assess disease control. …

Strongyloides Seropositivity Among Children Utilizing A Mobile Clinic, Lynda Aririguzo, Aditi Gupta, Norma Castillo, Cassandra Duran, Eva H Clark, Ankona Banerjee, Sanghamitra Misra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Experts recommend screening for or presumptively treating strongyloidiasis in foreign-born immigrant children, though prevalence is unknown. Health care providers encounter barriers to following this recommendation. We aimed to describe Strongyloides seropositivity and risk factors among pediatric patients on a mobile clinic. Participants completed a written survey and provided blood for absolute eosinophil count (AEC) and Strongyloides IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). From October 2022 to June 2023, 206 patients participated; 201 (97.6%) were born outside the United States; 97.1% (n = 200) were Hispanic. Most (68.9%) arrived less than 1 year before study enrollment. Four (1.9%) and 3 (1.5%) had …

Cyp1b1 Mediates Cigarette Smoke-Induced Lipid Accumulation In Alveolar Type 2 Cells, Yin Zhu, Siddhika Gamare, Francesca Polverino, Caroline A Owen, Payaningal R Somanath, Xiaoyun Wang, Duo Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Alterations in lipid profiles have been shown in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of cytochrome P450 family-1 subfamily B member 1 (CYP1B1) in cigarette smoke (CS)-induced lipid accumulation in alveolar type II epithelial (AT2) cells. We observed a steady increase in CYP1B1 protein levels in AT2 cells from COPD patients. Additionally, CS exposure induced CYP1B1 expression in AT2 cells of murine lungs. In vitro, treatment with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) not only upregulated CYP1B1 expression but also triggered lipid accumulation in AT2-like …

Development Of A Leucine-Rich Repeat-Containing Protein 15-Targeted Radio-Immunotheranostic Approach To Deplete Pro-Tumorigenic Mechanisms And Immunotherapy Resistance, Claire M Storey, Abbie Hasson, Diane Abou, Daniel Thorek, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Leucine-rich repeat containing 15 (LRRC15) has emerged as an attractive biomarker and target for cancer therapy. Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) induces the expression of this plasma membrane protein specifically in aggressive and treatment resistant tumor cells derived from mesenchymal stem cells, with minimal expression observed in non-neoplastic tissues. We have developed a humanized monoclonal antibody, DUNP19, that specifically binds with high affinity to a phylogenetically conserved LRRC15 epitope and is rapidly internalized upon LRRC15 binding. In multiple subcutaneous and orthotopic tumor xenograft mouse models, Lutetium-177 labeled DUNP19 ([

The Critical Human Pathogen Acinetobacter Baumannii Exhibits Light-Regulated Circadian Rhythms, Valentín Permingeat, Bárbara Edith Perez Mora, María Laura Migliori, Natalia Arana, Julia Fernández, María Belén Allasia, Melisa Luciana Lamberti, Gisela Di Venanzio, Ramiro Esteban Rodriguez, Mario Federico Feldman, Diego Andrés Golombek, María Alejandra Mussi

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Acinetobacter baumannii is recognized as the paradigm of multidrug-resistant superbug, topping the WHO priority list of critical human pathogens. Interestingly, it senses and responds to blue light, which modulates global aspects of its physiology, including pathogenicity. We hypothesized that light could serve as a signal to synchronize the bacterial physiology to the host's behavior and/or to the environment. At environmental temperatures, light regulation is mainly governed by the photoreceptor BlsA. In this work, we identified the existence of daily rhythms in blsA promoter activity displaying a robust response to light, as well as endogenous circadian rhythms in A. baumannii. In …

Improving Data-Driven Gated (Ddg) Pet And Ct Registration In Thoracic Lesions: A Comparison Of Ai Registration And Ddg Ct, Tinsu Pan, M Allan Thomas, Yang Lu, Dershan Luo

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Misregistration between CT and PET can result in mis-localization and inaccurate quantification of the tracer uptake in PET. Data-driven gated (DDG) CT can correct registration and quantification but requires a radiation dose of 1.3 mSv and 1 min of acquisition time. AI registration (AIR) does not require an additional CT and has been validated to improve registration and reduce the 'banana' misregistration artifacts around the diaphragm. We aimed to compare a validated AIR and DDG CT in registration and quantification of avid thoracic lesions misregistered in DDG PET scans.

METHODS: Thirty PET/CT patient data (23 with

RESULTS: DDG CT …

Development Of A Career Awareness Board Game Based On Augmented Reality For Generation Z Students, Caraka Putra Bhakti, Difa Ardiyanti, Agus Ria Kumara, Muhammad Alfarizqi Nizamuddin Ghiffari

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

The purpose of this research is to develop an augmented reality-based career awareness board game for Generation Z students. The current development of the era demands that Generation Z have a good career. In reality, currently, there are still many Generation Z students in schools who do not have the skills, competencies, and awareness to have an optimal career. One important thing that Generation Z students need to have is career awareness. Having career awareness will help someone recognise their career needs based on their competencies, talents, and interests. Developing career awareness can be achieved through guidance and counselling services. …

Plastic Makes Perfect: An Analysis Of Plastic Surgery As Rehabilitation In Early To Late 20th Century Prison Populations, Jack West

The Ozark Historical Review

As early as 1910, journalists from around the United States reported on the cause-and- effect relationship between a criminal’s physical appearance, their offenses, and the plastic surgeons willing to help them. These surgeons were interested in changing the physical “causes” of criminality to sever the mental roots of crime, inferiority, and anti-social attitude. This paper examines the use of plastic surgery programs as reform in prison through the lens of popular newspaper and journal articles and argues that public perception and reaction revealed in these articles shaped the prison program’s journey from its underground beginning to its eventual demise.

Sickle Cell Disease: A Story Of Injustice And Neglect, Nosakhare Edogun, Rosalyn Marar, Jasmine R. Marcelin

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

N/A

A Case Of Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease In Texas, United States, Divya Chandramohan, Moyosore Awabajo-Otesanya, Deepak Chandramohan, James C. Saca

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) commonly presents with lymphadenopathy, with a third of cases presenting with fevers. It is seen in young female patients of Asian descent, with Taiwan accounting for most of the reported cases. It is imperative to consider KFD in an individual presenting with fever and lymphadenopathy. While it might not be common in the United States, there is an increasing number of cases being reported. Histologic features in KFD are unique, and a lymph node biopsy determines the diagnosis. We outline a case of KFD in the United States and describe histologic details that resulted in the diagnosis.

Urology Resident Associate: A Promising Alternative For The Unmatched Urology Applicant, Jayson Kemble, Grace Handleman, Chad A. Lagrange, Christopher M. Deibert

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Background. Demand for urology residency spots frequently outstrips supply, with unmatched urology applicants having limited options while waiting for reapplication. We aim to demonstrate our experience with a year-long Urology Resident Associate (URA) position, which merges the role of junior resident and APP with the mission to reduce resident workload and further the training of an unmatched urology applicant.

Methods. A year-long, non-Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited URA position was created at our institution in 2023 and filled by an unmatched applicant to our program. The URA was given all the roles and responsibilities of a …

Improving Resident Orientation To Anesthesiology Subspecialties Using A Structured “Passport”, Ky Raymond, Adam Jackson, Angela Mcelrath, Kathryne Corrigan, Ivan Barannikov, Kayla Knuf, Kelly Ivins-O'Keefe

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Background. On an initial pediatric, cardiothoracic, or obstetric anesthesiology rotation, a resident faces new knowledge and procedural expectations. Lack of guidance to direct learning may lead residents to feel unprepared. The optimal way to prepare residents is unknown. This initiative included the introduction of a structured “passport” for each subspecialty specifying the knowledge and procedural goals of an introductory rotation. This intervention aimed to improve resident and attending perceptions of resident readiness on these anesthesiology subspecialty rotations, as measured using pre- and post-initiative surveys of residents and attendings.

Methods. This initiative occurred at a large anesthesiology residency with 53 residents …

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake Among U.S. Medical Residents In High-Exposure-Risk Specialties – A National Study, Madison Oxford, Christina Stetter, Arpit Dave

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Background. HPV vaccination is not required for the United States (U.S.) medical residents, despite their potentially high risk of iatrogenic exposure to the virus. We aim to evaluate vaccination status, patterns of HPV vaccine uptake, and perceived risk of iatrogenic infection among residents in high-exposure-risk specialties.

Methods. In spring 2023, an anonymous online survey was distributed via program directors and coordinators of all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited Obstetrics & Gynecology, Family Medicine, Otolaryngology, and Dermatology training programs to assess residents’ vaccination status, HPV exposure, and HPV vaccine knowledge.

Results. Responses from 537 residents at programs located in …

Associations Between Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness And Cerebral Small Vessel Disease, Alexa E. Nichols, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Jorge Igor Zwir, Andrew Tsin, Lorena Flores-Hernandez, Eron G. Manusov, Gladys E. Maestre, Amin Ibrahim, Tori Sayers, Jesus Melgarejo

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a major vascular contributor to cognitive impairment and dementia. CSVD affects the deep and subcortical cerebral white matter.^1,2 The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and cerebral white matter share a common embryological origin, with RNFL ganglion cell axons structurally analogous to cerebral white matter tracts.^3,4 This connection creates an opportunity to investigate whether structural changes in the RNFL reflect pathological changes in the cerebral white matter.^3,5,6 While most studies examining the relationship between RNFL and CSVD focus on specific comorbidities (e.g., patients with stroke or with cognitive impairment)^2,6,7,8, …

Evaluation Of Vitamin D Status And Its Interrelationships With Different Variables In An Iraqi Cohort Of Kidney Transplant Recipients, Hussein Yousif Sinjari

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Recent studies have observed that vitamin D insufficiency is quite common among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and has several deleterious effects. Objective: This study aimed to assess vitamin D (VD) status and investigate its relationships with various health variables in KTRs in Erbil, Iraq. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study enrolled 130 consecutive KTRs; their mean age was 39.2 + 11.3 years, and 56.9% were men. Demographic data, comorbidities, and baseline clinical and laboratory characteristics were obtained, recorded, and analyzed. The value of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] > 30 ng/mL was considered sufficient, values of 15-30 ng/mL were insufficient, and a value …

The Relationship Between Evening Screen Time Use And Objectively Measured Sleep Outcomes In Us College Students, Donya Sedaghat

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

High amounts of nightly screen time have been thought to negatively affect sleep outcomes (sleep duration, quality, and latency). There is a lack of evidence exploring if this pattern exists in U.S. college students. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between evening screen time use and objectively measured sleep outcomes in U.S. college students. College students (N = 29) junior or senior standing in a Health Sciences major were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Participants wore accelerometers on their non-dominant wrist for 24hr/day for 7 days to capture sleep (duration, efficiency, awakenings, timing). Participants …

Enhancing Methods For Research On Cannabis: A Workshop Report, Jonathan Samet, Jessica Barrington-Trimis, Lisa Bero, Ashley Brooks-Russell, Meghan Buran, Julia Dilley, Darin Erickson, Marilyn Huestis, Kent Hutchison, Thomas Jeanne, Michael Kosnett, David Kroll, Stephen Lankenau, Richard Miech, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, Paula Riggs, Neeloofar Soleimanpour, Steven Teutsch, Gregory Tung, George Sam Wang

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

AIMS: Progressive legalization of medical and recreational cannabis markets at the state-level has led to rapid growth of medical and recreational cannabis markets and to product diversification with emerging products having high concentrations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Research on these products is still limited and the evidence available for policy formulation is diminished by methodological limitations.

METHODS: As a step towards addressing these limitations, the Colorado School of Public Health convened a multidisciplinary workshop that addressed four areas of cannabis research: epidemiological, clinical, surveillance, and policy. Workshop participants provided recommendations in each area to advance research on cannabis to make it more …

Quality Improvement Project Improving Fall Risk Protocol Compliance Through A Structured Fall Prevention Program In A Skilled Nursing Facility, Lakeesha Jenkins

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Falls remain a persistent patient-safety threat in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). At a Dallas–Fort Worth SNF, a needs assessment identified rising unassisted falls and inconsistent protocol adherence. This quality improvement (QI) project examined whether a structured, evidence-based bundle could improve staff knowledge and fall-prevention processes and reduce falls over four weeks. Guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and implemented with Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles, the pre–post design engaged direct-care staff (registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants; n = 20). The intervention included standardized risk screening with the Morse Fall Scale (MFS), targeted staff education, high-risk visual identifiers, and post-fall huddles. …