Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Serum Factors In Primary Podocytopathies, Edward J. Filippone, John L. Farber

Division of Nephrology Faculty Papers

Primary podocytopathies, including minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), are caused by a circulating factor or factors injurious to the podocyte. An immunologic origin seems likely based on responsiveness to corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents, including calcineurin inhibitors targeting T-cells and rituximab targeting B-cells. Potential non-antibody-mediated circulating factors have been identified, including cardiotrophin-like cytokine 1, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, and angiopoietin-like 4, among others. More recent research supports a primary antibody pathogenesis, with anti-nephrin antibodies found in a significant percentage of cases. Such antibodies also predict recurrence after transplantation. Other potential antigenic targets besides nephrin include …

Microtia, Peng You, Yi-Chun Liu, Caitlin Symonette

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

The Evaluation Of Variants Within Eight Collagen Genes Col1a1, Col1a2, Col3a1, Col5a1, Col11a1, Col15a1, Col22a1, And Col27a1 And A Risk Of Non-Contact Knee Ligament Rupture In Elite Handball Players: A Case-Control Study, Katarzyna Krawczak-Wójcik, Andrzej Mastalerz, Aleksandra Bojarczuk, Monika Johne, Alison V. September, Aleksandra Garbacz, Katarzyna Komar, Ewelina Maculewicz

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: Knee ligament ruptures are common injuries among athletes. While most previous studies examined single collagen gene polymorphisms, few have investigated haplotype-level associations across multiple genes, particularly in elite handball players. Materials and methods: This case-control study analyzed variants in eight collagen genes (COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL11A1, COL15A1, COL22A1, and COL27A1) in 103 elite Polish handball players with non-contact knee ligament rupture and 226 matched controls. Results: The COL22A1 rs11784270 CC genotype was associated with an increased risk (OR = 2.88, p = 0.01), with the strongest effect in the …

Scaling Symmetry Of The Hodgkin-Huxley Mathematical Model, Vladimir Valerievich Galanin

Progress in Scale Modeling, an International Journal

A computational method based on the application of a scaling transformation to the Hodgkin-Huxley mathematical model of the biological neuron and its generalizations to the case of various neural systems is proposed. The method makes it possible: 1) to obtain invariants of the scaling transformation of the Hodgkin-Huxley model; 2) to find self-similarity regions corresponding to the modes of neural activity; 3) to determine the conditions for the similarity of models of various types of biological neurons; 4) to reduce the order of the system of differential equations of the Hodgkin-Huxley model for neural systems with synchronous activity. The capabilities …

Acute Care Of Patients With Moderate Respiratory Distress: Recommendations From An American College Of Emergency Physicians Expert Panel., Christopher W Baugh, Jim F Neuenschwander, Jesslyn Lenox, Jennifer Hoh, Kara Ward, Sara Muramoto, John Casey, Antonio Anzueto, Hajirah Ishaq, Jared Mount, Peter M Deblieux

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

INTRODUCTION: Patients with respiratory distress are frequently encountered in the emergency department (ED). Efforts to assess, initiate treatments, and stabilize these patients require a systematic and rapid response. Emergency physicians need a comprehensive and efficient approach for evaluating, treating, and managing patients presenting to the ED with moderate respiratory distress.

METHODS: The American College of Emergency Physicians convened an expert panel of academic and community emergency physicians, critical care specialists, respiratory therapists, hospitalists, and pharmacists to develop and subsequently disseminate consensus recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients with moderate respiratory distress presenting to the ED.

RESULTS: A digital …

The Association Between Glp-1 Receptor Agonist Use And Gastroparesis In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Scoping Review, Daniela Lizbeth Avilez, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Poster Category:  Non-sponsored

Level of Evidence:  Level V

Introduction:  GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), widely used for glycemic control and weight management in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), slow gastric motility.

Reports of “gastroparesis” in GLP-1 RA users raise the question whether this reflects reversible pharmacologic effects or true diabetic autonomic neuropathy. This distinction matters for podiatric physicians, as gastroparesis indicates systemic autonomic dysfunction that parallels peripheral neuropathy, impaired wound healing, and heightened foot ulcer risk. Most prior studies rely on symptoms rather than validated gastric emptying (GE) measures.

Aim:  To evaluate the association between GLP-1 RA use and gastroparesis …

When To Tap: Complex Febrile Seizure With Atypical Course As Early Presentation Of Hsv-1 Meningoencephalitis, Isabella Comsa, Sindhu H. Manjunath, Elise Gross, Rawad Obeid, Graham Krasan

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Introduction: Febrile seizures have a prevalence of 2-5% among children ages 6-60 months. Less than 1% of complex febrile seizures without meningeal signs are associated with bacterial or viral meningitis. Current literature supports limiting routine lumbar puncture in this population. We present a case of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) encephalitis presenting with complex febrile seizure, who progressed to cerebritis requiring decompressive craniectomy, and discuss indications for further diagnostic evaluation.

Case Description: 2-year-old male with a history of simple febrile seizure presenting with a 10 minute tonic-clonic seizure with right-sided gaze deviation. He had tactile fever and low energy at home …

Comparison Of Authentic Urine N-Ethylpentedrone Metabolites To Predicted In Silico And In Vitro Human Hepatocyte Metabolism, Gloria Daziani, Omayema Taoussi, Diletta Berardinelli, Giulia Bambagiotti, Marilyn A. Huestis, Francesco P. Busardò, Jeremy Carlier

Institute of Emerging Health Professions Faculty Papers

Synthetic cathinones are the second most common class of substances belonging to the category of new psychoactive substances (NPS). N-ethylpentedrone (NEPD) self-administration was reported, making it important to elucidate its metabolic pathway to improve its detection. NEPD is often taken together with other substances; confidently identifying its intake is important for accurate toxicological analysis and understanding its toxicity. NEPD metabolism was studied following incubation with human hepatocytes and analysis by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry paired with Compound Discoverer software (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Prediction of possible metabolites was performed with the online software GLORYx. In vivo NEPD metabolism was evaluated by …

Outcomes Of The Modified Cabrol Technique In Aortic Root Replacement: Early And Midterm Experience, Nayeem Nasher, Joshua R. Chen, Purab Kothari, Colin King, Jacqueline Mcgee, Vishal Shah, Saarah Khairi, Konstadinos A. Plestis

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: The modified Cabrol technique has been associated with excellent graft patency. However, prior studies were limited to patients largely on long-term anticoagulation. We sought to analyze outcomes in patients primarily managed without mechanical prostheses.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent aortic root replacement by a single surgeon from 2014 to 2024. Patients who underwent reimplantation of one or both coronary ostia using the modified Cabrol technique with separate interposition grafts were identified. Baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes were reported. Predictors of mortality were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards, and overall survival was reported using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS: …

Quality Improvement Project Simulation Orientation For Nursing Faculty, Emily Harvey

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Many nursing faculty are expected to teach using SIM without adequate preparation, which can limit competence in SIM-based teaching. A university-level school of nursing identified this gap and initiated a quality improvement project to strengthen faculty readiness through a structured online orientation. The intervention used the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Essentials in Clinical SIMs Across the Health Professions and was guided by Benner’s Novice to Expert Model, Lewin’s Change Theory, and the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest quantitative design was conducted with nursing faculty participants. The Facilitator Competency Rubric (FCR) assessed competence across five domains: preparation, prebriefing, facilitation, debriefing, …

Growth Plate Skeletal Stem Cells And Their Actions Within The Stem Cell Niche, Natalie Kiat-Amnuay Cheng, Shion Orikasa, Noriaki Ono

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The growth plate is a specialized cartilage structure near the ends of long bones that orchestrates longitudinal bone growth during fetal and postnatal stages. Within this region reside a dynamic population of growth plate skeletal stem cells (gpSSCs), primarily located in the resting zone, which possess self-renewal and multilineage differentiation capacity. Recent advances in cell-lineage tracing, single-cell transcriptomics, and in vivo functional studies have revealed distinct subpopulations of gpSSCs, which are defined by markers such as parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), CD73, axis inhibition protein 2 (Axin2), forkhead box protein A2 (FoxA2), and apolipoprotein E (ApoE). These stem cells interact intricately …

Early-Life Exposure To Organic Chemical Pollutants As Assessed In Primary Teeth And Cardiometabolic Risk In Mexican American Children: A Pilot Study, Vidya S. Farook, Feroz Akhtar, Rector Arya, Alice Yau, Srinivas Mummidi, Juan Lopez Alvarenga, Alvaro Diaz-Badillo, Roy G. Resendez, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Early-life exposure to organic chemicals (OCs) may influence childhood obesity and associated cardiometabolic risk. These conditions have been shown to disproportionately affect minority populations such as Mexican Americans (MAs). However, information on the impact of organic chemicals on cardiometabolic risk in MA children is limited. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to assess the extent to which exposure to organic chemicals influences cardiometabolic traits (CMTs) in MA children. We recalled 25 children from a previous study and collected 25 primary teeth from them. Chemical analyses of the teeth were performed using established protocols. Target analytes included acetaminophen (APAP); 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), …

Airway Abnormalities In Children Operated For Congenital Heart Disease: Clinical Characteristics And Risk Factors From A Case-Control Study, Fatma Al Kindi, Rand Al Harthy, Saif A. Thani, Hamood Al Kindi, Hussain Mohsin

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital defect, with airway abnormalities (AAs) representing significant comorbidities that contribute to increased morbidity and clinical complexity. This study aimed to identify the most common AAs, associated risk factors, and clinical outcomes in children with CHD. Methods: This case-control study included children aged under 13 years with CHD who underwent cardiothoracic surgery between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2018 at the National Genetic Centre in Oman. Cases were children with concurrent AAs, while controls were age- and gender-matched children with CHD but without AAs. Results: The prevalence …

Developing Pico, Research Questions And Protocols, Sandra Y. Desjardins

Library Class: Lunch & Learn

Whether you're a student, a physician, or a faculty member, every great research project starts with a clear plan. This session will walk you through the essential steps of turning a research idea into a structured plan using the PICO framework. We'll cover how to develop focused research questions and discuss the value of using established protocols to ensure your work is sound and reproducible.

Come learn the foundational skills needed for successful research in a welcoming and practical "Lunch & Learn" environment.

Effectiveness Of An Adapted Physical Activity Program On Anxiety, Depression, And Self-Esteem On A Heterogenous Sample: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Mathilde Plard, Claire El Jor, Rebecca Shankland, Quentin Hallez

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

In recent decades, numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Adapted Physical Activity (APA) interventions in improving the mental health of individuals. However, a limitation of these studies is their predominant focus on homogeneous groups, characterized by similar diseases or disorders and characteristics. Thus, effects associated with these groups may largely account for the observed benefits, rather than the physical activity itself. This study aimed to investigate the impact of an eight-week APA intervention on anxiety, depression, and self-esteem in a heterogeneous group of participants with diverse health conditions and ages. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group …

Chri Research Operations Summit Building Bridges Across Chri, Tina Freese Decker, Paula Schuiteman-Bishop, Surender Rajasekaran, Matthew Sims

Website/Multimedia Contributions

The CHRI Research Operations Summit is the premier event for all research team members and leaders across CHRI. Our theme of Building Bridges highlights our commitment to strengthening connections, fostering collaboration, and unifying our efforts across all regions.

Evolving Management In Pediatric Appendicitis: A 14-Year Review Of Ketorolac, Opioid Use, And Imaging Trends, Sahithi Pemmasani, Ryan T. Davis, Margaret Menoch, Nathan M. Novotny

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Background: Acute appendicitis is a common pediatric emergency requiring timely diagnosis and effective pain management. This study evaluates trends in ketorolac use, opioid prescribing, and imaging modalities in pediatric appendicitis cases, addressing concerns about ketorolac’s role in diagnostic accuracy and opioid reduction.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 2,294 pediatric emergency department (ED) visits for suspected appendicitis from 2010 to 2023 was conducted. Data included administration of ketorolac, opioids, and non-opioid analgesics, as well as imaging use (ultrasound [US] vs. computed tomography [CT]). Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation and chi-square tests.

Results: Ketorolac use increased significantly from 1.5% in 2010 to …

Staff Education To Increase Nursing Staff Knowledge On Handoff Tool Kit For Medication Reconciliation, Mode Hilaire

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to enhance medication safety by implementing a structured staff education initiative focused on standardized handoff communication using a medication reconciliation tool kit. Medication errors during transitions of care contribute to adverse drug events and patient harm. A lack of consistency in handoff processes was identified as a critical gap in practice. The practice-focused question guiding this project was: In an inpatient hospital setting, how does implementation of a standardized handoff tool kit affect nursing staff knowledge and communication practices related to medication reconciliation? The purpose was to educate nurses on utilizing a …

Neutrophil Degranulation Is Increased At Seven Days After Human Intracerebral Hemorrhage, But Not At 72 H, And Correlates With Decreased Mir-3613 And Mir-3690, Kyle B Walsh, Miranda C Marion, Dengfeng Li, Hannah C Ainsworth, Amy Zinnia, Xiang Zhang, Stacie L Demel, Brady Williamson, David J Roh, Robert Campbell, Frederik Denorme, Daniel Woo, Carl D Langefeld

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The molecular mechanisms of inflammatory pathophysiology after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are not well established. We report mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq in the peripheral blood of ICH patients with three serial samples during the first week after the stroke. METHODS: Twenty-seven ICH patients were enrolled via 24/7 screening and peripheral blood sampled at <  24 h (baseline), 72 h (+/-12 h), and 7 days (+/- 2 days) from last known normal. mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq were assessed for differential expression (DE) between the time point comparisons. Pathways identified via enrichment analysis (STRING, Reactome, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis) were tested via paired t-test and principal component analysis (PCA). Correlations between miRNA/mRNA pairs were computed. RESULTS: For DE mRNA at 72 h vs. baseline, the main enriched pathways pertained to neuronal function and synaptic transmission; prominent neuron-related genes from these pathways are also implicated in platelet activation. For 7 days vs. baseline, neutrophil degranulation and ribosomal biogenesis were the most enriched pathways; PCA also suggested neutrophil degranulation was the pathway most significantly different at 7 days vs. baseline compared with 72 h vs. baseline (p = 0.02). miR-3613 and miR-3690 had decreased expression at 7 days and were the miRNA most correlated with DE genes from the neutrophil degranulation pathway. CONCLUSION: Neutrophil degranulation was the prominent enriched pathway at 7 days after ICH and correlated with decreased miR-3613 and miR-3690. Further research is warranted of neutrophils in post-ICH inflammatory pathophysiology and functional validation studies of miR-3613 and miR-3690 as potential regulators of neutrophil degranulation after ICH.

Evaluating Trending Topics Published In The Journal Of Foot And Ankle Surgery, Sarah Weisbrodt, Asad Mustafa, Demian Rodriguez, Naohiro Shibuya

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Introduction: As the field of podiatry advances, it is valuable to identify the areas of research that receive the greatest focus. Evaluating popular topics published in podiatric medicine and surgery peer-reviewed journals helps us consider current trends in procedures, surgeon preferences, and current interest in our profession.

Aim: To evaluate current trends in podiatric medicine and surgery through compiling topics published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery (JFAS) and their frequency.

Methods: JFAS was selected for our analysis as it has the highest impact factor out of the indexed journals in our profession. We used Scopus to identify …

Quality Improvement Project Enhancing Provider Education On Phq-9 Depression Screening To Improve Compliance, Obianuju Okafor

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide; however, screening in primary care remains inconsistent. Even though the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a validated screening tool, its use is often limited by insufficient provider training. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate the impact of structured provider education on PHQ-9 screening practices, with the purpose of improving provider knowledge, confidence, and adherence to screening guidelines in a primary care setting. Guided by Donabedian's Model of Quality Care and Lewin's Change Theory and implemented using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, the project used a one-group pre/post design at an outpatient …

Lysosomal Lrrc8 Complex Impacts Lysosomal Ph, Morphology, And Systemic Glucose Metabolism, Ashutosh Kumar, Yonghui Zhao, Litao Xie, Rahul Chadda, John D Tranter, Ryan T Mikami, Nihil Abraham, Juan Hong, Ethan Feng, David R Rawnsley, Haiyan Liu, Gretchen Meyer, Abhinav Diwan, Rajan Sah, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The lysosome integrates anabolic signaling and nutrient sensing to regulate intracellular growth pathways. The leucine-rich repeat-containing 8 (LRRC8) channel complex forms a lysosomal anion channel and regulates PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling, skeletal muscle differentiation, growth, and systemic glucose metabolism. Here, we define the endogenous LRRC8 subunits localized to a subset of lysosomes in differentiated myotubes. We show that LRRC8A affects leucine-stimulated mTOR; lysosome size; number; pH; expression of lysosomal proteins LAMP2, P62, and LC3B; and lysosomal function. Mutating an LRRC8A lysosomal targeting dileucine motif sequence (LRRC8A-L706A;L707A) in myotubes recapitulates the abnormal AKT signaling and altered lysosomal morphology and pH observed in LRRC8A …

Aggrebots: Configuring Ciliabots Through Guided, Modular Tissue Aggregation, Dhruv Bhattaram, Kian Golestan, Xuanshuo Zhang, Shihong Yang, Zhuowei Gong, Steven L Brody, Amjad Horani, Victoria A Webster-Wood, Amir Barati Farimani, Xi Ren

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Ciliated biobots (CiliaBots) are engineered tissues capable of self-actuated propulsion via exterior motile cilia. While correlations have been observed between CiliaBot motility and morphology, direct control of morphological features to deliver desired motility outcomes remains unexplored. Here, we describe the engineering of aggregated CiliaBots (AggreBots) to augment control over CiliaBot structural parameters and, consequently, motility patterns through guided, modular aggregation of human airway epithelial spheroids [referred to as CiliaBot building blocks (CBBs)]. Multi-CBB aggregation generated rod-, triangle-, and diamond-shaped AggreBots, altering tissue geometry without sacrificing surface cilia density or inter-CBB boundary fidelity. The further introduction of

Bedside Small-Bowel Challenge Vs. Fluoroscopic Series For Sbo: A Cost Effectiveness Analysis, Aravinda Krishna Ganapathy, Liam Cunningham, M Hunter Lanier, Selasi Nakhaima, Madelyn Thiel, Daniel Hoffman, Obeid Ilahi, David H Ballard, Vincent M Mellnick

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) accounts for 12-16% of surgical hospital admissions and can lead to complications such as bowel ischemia. Traditional management requires transporting patients to the Radiology Department (RD) for a fluoroscopic small bowel series, occupying resources and time. This study evaluates the efficacy and efficiency of the Small Bowel Challenge Exam, a bedside alternative.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 85 SBO patients from January 2018 to December 2023 at an academic tertiary care facility, comparing the traditional fluoroscopic series (37 patients) to the bedside Small Bowel Challenge Exam (48 patients). Key metrics analyzed included hospital …

A Protein-Proximity Screen Reveals Ebola Virus Co-Opts The Mrna Decapping Complex Through The Scaffold Protein Edc4, Callie J Donahue, Aditi S Kesari, Naveen Thakur, Ling Wang, Sarah Hulsey Stubbs, Caroline G Williams, Sandhya Bharti Sharma, Cara D Kirby, Daisy W Leung, Uma K Aryal, Christopher F Basler, Douglas J Lacount, Robert A Davey

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The interaction of host and Ebola virus (EBOV) proteins is required for establishing infection. In this study, we use proximity-dependent biotinylation to identify cellular proteins that bind to EBOV proteins encoded by six of the seven viral genes. Hits are computationally mapped onto a human protein-protein interactome and annotated with viral proteins, confirming known EBOV-host protein interactions and revealing previously undescribed interactions and processes. This approach efficiently arranges proteins into functional complexes associated with single viral proteins. Focused characterization of interactions between EBOV VP35 and the mRNA decapping complex shows that VP35 binds the scaffold protein EDC4 through the C-terminal …

Genetic Susceptibility To Oral And Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases Based On Dental And Heart Score Studies, Mariana Bezamat, Dylan J Baxter, Nandita Mukhopadhyay, Anum Saeed, Lei Liu, Lisa De Las Fuentes, Betsy Foxman, John R Shaffer, Daniel W Mcneil, Steven E Reis, Mary L Marazita

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Periodontal disease and dental caries are two oral conditions that have been associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, it is unclear if one of the key mechanisms involved in this association could be a shared genetic susceptibility. The goal of this study was to explore whether there is an intersection of genetic loci among individuals with comprehensive oral examinations and subclinical ASCVD screenings. We leveraged data from oral and medical examinations obtained from the Dental and Heart Strategies Concentrating on Risk Evaluation (Dental/Heart SCORE) projects. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) were performed independently in 552 participants (aged 45-75 years). The …

Rethinking Pain Relief After Surgery: What We Can Learn From Knee Replacements, Asim Trimzi

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

This paper offers a clear, evidence-based look at how we can reduce opioid use after knee replacement surgery without sacrificing pain relief. This review focuses specifically on total knee arthroplasty (TKA)-one of the most commonly performed and most painful surgeries-and asks whether opioids are truly necessary. By analyzing results from 21 clinical trials, the paper shows that non-opioid medications like NSAIDs and gabapentinoids can provide similar pain control with fewer side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, constipation, and sedation. Lower risk of long-term use is an added benefit. A recent RCT found that after knee/shoulder arthroscopy, 72% of patients in …

Screw Diameter And Healing Outcomes In Jones Fractures: A Scoping Review, Merlin Sajeev, Jessica Sima, Srilalitha Lanka, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Introduction: Jones fractures occur at the metaphyseal–diaphyseal junction of the fifth metatarsal and are prone to delayed or nonunion due to limited perfusion and high mechanical stress. Intramedullary (IM) screw fixation is the standard operative treatment, yielding higher union rates than conservative management. There is no clear consensus on the influence of screw size on healing outcomes.

Aim: To examine the impact of IM screw diameter on union rates in Jones fracture fixation.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using Google Scholar and PubMed with the search term: “"Screw" AND "Diameter" AND "Union" AND "Jones Fractures"”. Articles published between 2015 …

Native Hawaiian Culturally Appropriate Substance Use Disorders Formative Program Evaluation, Kelly J. Penn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance use disorders (SUDs) disproportionately affects Native Hawaiians, yet conventional treatments often overlook the cultural, spiritual, and relational foundations of well-being for Native Hawaiians. This gap represents a human services problem, as it perpetuates health disparities, limits recovery, and slows social change within Native Hawaiian communities. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to identify culturally relevant components for an SUD treatment program tailored to Native Hawaiians. The research question guiding this study was, what are culturally appropriate components for a SUD program for Native Hawaiians. The Nā Pou Kihi framework grounded the exploration of Indigenous approaches to …

Opportunities And Barriers To Engaging Caregivers In Firearm Suicide Prevention: Findings From Focus Groups With Caregivers Of Veterans., Katherine Macwilliams, John Marmion, Dee Blascyk, Sharon Urbina, Rachel Moyers, Gala True

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Firearms are involved in more than 70% of U.S. Veteran suicides. Caregivers, defined as family members or concerned significant others, can play an important role in firearm suicide prevention through initiating conversations about secure firearm storage with Veterans. Our objective was to explore caregivers' experiences with lethal means safety (LMS) conversations and identify perceived barriers to caregivers discussing LMS with healthcare providers and with Veterans. Methods: We conducted focus groups with 32 caregivers with experience caring for a Veteran at risk for suicide. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: We identified three primary themes: 1) caregivers recognize …