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2025

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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Prosodic Comparisons Between Speech And Music For Different Emotions, Reagan Brothers Dec 2025

Prosodic Comparisons Between Speech And Music For Different Emotions, Reagan Brothers

Honors Projects

This study compares the prosodic acoustic characteristics between different emotional expressions in speech and clarinet playing and evaluates the similarities in prosody between these two domains. The prosodic features analyzed include pitch, loudness, and duration, which are the psychoacoustic terms referring to fundamental frequency [fo], intensity, and rate of time. The American folksong “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” was both spoken and performed with three emotions: neutral, sad, and happy. The first comparison was how each prosodic characteristic compared across the three different emotions within each domain, and then prosody was compared across the two domains …


Staff Education On Burnout For Mental Healthcare Staff Mitigation Strategies For Psychiatric Outpatient Staff, Kadine Foreman-Westly Dec 2025

Staff Education On Burnout For Mental Healthcare Staff Mitigation Strategies For Psychiatric Outpatient Staff, Kadine Foreman-Westly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this project is to determine whether implementing a staff education program in a psychiatric clinical setting can improve healthcare staff knowledge of strategies to prevent burnout. The project addresses a critical practice problem: a lack of structured education programs specifically targeting burnout recognition and management among mental healthcare staff. Burnout not only negatively impacts staff well-being but also affects patient safety and the overall quality of care. This project was designed to fill this gap by providing an educational intervention, with effectiveness measured through pre- and post-intervention surveys assessing staff knowledge. This staff education project was strengthened …


Standardizing Syphilis Screening In Tennessee Correctional Facilities: A Policy Analysis, Erin Dernlan Dec 2025

Standardizing Syphilis Screening In Tennessee Correctional Facilities: A Policy Analysis, Erin Dernlan

DNP Projects

Background and Rationale

Congenital syphilis in Tennessee rose 227% from 2017-2021, despite being more than 90% preventable with timely diagnosis and treatment. Women of childbearing age entering correctional facilities represent a key intervention population due to disproportionally high rates of sexually transmitted infections, limited or absent prenatal care, and significant unmet health needs. Tennessee’s female incarceration rate is 57% higher than the national average, and nearly one-third of women tested at intake are positive for syphilis. Current intake practices rely heavily on self-report, assumed adequate health literacy, and lack standardized STI screening requirements, contributing to missed diagnoses and preventable infant …


Primary And Secondary Hyperaldosteronism, Joanna Lam Dec 2025

Primary And Secondary Hyperaldosteronism, Joanna Lam

Senior Honors Theses

Hyperaldosteronism is characterized by the excess production of aldosterone in the body. This disorder manifests in two subtypes: while primary hyperaldosteronism is due to the excess secretion of aldosterone from the adrenal glands, secondary hyperaldosteronism originates from imbalances elsewhere in the body. Here, recent literature will be reviewed to examine the etiology and effects of both subtypes of hyperaldosteronism across molecular, cellular, and organ levels. Current diagnostic and treatment options for both subtypes of this disorder will also be reviewed, as well as recent research examining the prevalence of hyperaldosteronism over varying demographics.


Standardizing Sepsis Care Across A Lifespan: A Multidisciplinary Approach To Reduce Variation, Vijayakrishnan Poondi Srinivasan, Jillian Gregory, Sarah Chang Dec 2025

Standardizing Sepsis Care Across A Lifespan: A Multidisciplinary Approach To Reduce Variation, Vijayakrishnan Poondi Srinivasan, Jillian Gregory, Sarah Chang

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition affecting patients of all ages and remains a leading cause of mortality, hospitalizations, and healthcare costs worldwide. In pediatrics, severe sepsis accounts for millions of deaths annually, with approximately 176,000 hospitalizations and an 8% mortality rate each year in the U.S. In adults, it contributes to 35% of in-hospital deaths and is the leading cause of readmissions. These data underscore the urgent need for timely recognition, standardized interventions, and consistent, evidence-based care across populations.


Exploring Mediated Psychosocial Effects On Dating Violence Perpetration And Victimization In The Me & You Building Healthy Relationships Program For Middle School Students, Mike Henson-Garcia, Elizabeth R Baumler, Christine M Markham, Robert C Addy, Ross Shegog, Belinda Hernandez, Paula Cuccaro, Jeffery Temple, Susan Tortolero Emery, Melissa F Peskin Dec 2025

Exploring Mediated Psychosocial Effects On Dating Violence Perpetration And Victimization In The Me & You Building Healthy Relationships Program For Middle School Students, Mike Henson-Garcia, Elizabeth R Baumler, Christine M Markham, Robert C Addy, Ross Shegog, Belinda Hernandez, Paula Cuccaro, Jeffery Temple, Susan Tortolero Emery, Melissa F Peskin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a prevalent and injurious public health threat affecting adolescent populations across the globe. In response, a plethora of interventions have been developed and implemented with various effects emerging from evaluation studies of these prevention initiatives. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether attitudes toward sexting, gender-based norms toward violence, and constructive conflict resolution skills mediate the main effects of a TDV intervention. Specifically, this study leverages data from the original efficacy trial of the


Imaging Reactive Oxygen Species With L-012 Reveals Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Angisha Basnet, Kaitlyn M Landreth, Michael Sestito, Kristen Ranson, Seth T Gammon, David Piwnica-Worms, Brian A Boone, Tracy W Liu Dec 2025

Imaging Reactive Oxygen Species With L-012 Reveals Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Angisha Basnet, Kaitlyn M Landreth, Michael Sestito, Kristen Ranson, Seth T Gammon, David Piwnica-Worms, Brian A Boone, Tracy W Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neutrophils, key effector cells of the innate immune system, combat pathogens through mechanisms including the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). While these responses are critical for host defense, prolonged elevation of ROS and dysregulated NETosis mediated by neutrophils have been implicated in autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and cancer. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly aggressive and inflammatory malignancy, an increase in neutrophils infiltrating the tumor microenvironment promotes cancer progression and metastasis through increased ROS production and NET release. Using bioluminescence imaging with the reporter L-012 and NET assays, we assessed …


Precise Diagnosis Of Small Invasive Pulmonary Nodules Driven By Single-Cell Immune Signatures In Peripheral Blood, Yang Xia, Yin Zhu, Sai Zhang, Mo Zhou, Jiaqi Zhou, Guanxin Xu, Baiqin Zhao, Guofei Zhang, Qiyuan Wang, Bin Wang, Zexin Chen, Hongyu Shi, Xiuning Le, Tony Mok, Wei Chen, Junqiang Fan, Weiwei Yin, Wen Li Dec 2025

Precise Diagnosis Of Small Invasive Pulmonary Nodules Driven By Single-Cell Immune Signatures In Peripheral Blood, Yang Xia, Yin Zhu, Sai Zhang, Mo Zhou, Jiaqi Zhou, Guanxin Xu, Baiqin Zhao, Guofei Zhang, Qiyuan Wang, Bin Wang, Zexin Chen, Hongyu Shi, Xiuning Le, Tony Mok, Wei Chen, Junqiang Fan, Weiwei Yin, Wen Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Early detection of lung cancer is crucial for improving patient outcomes. However, accurately diagnosing invasive pulmonary nodules and predicting tumor invasiveness remain major clinical challenges. Given the established role of immune dysfunction in cancer development, we hypothesize that peripheral immune profiling could provide a strategy for managing pulmonary nodules. In this multi-center, prospective study, we combine peripheral immune profiling via mass cytometry with machine learning algorithms to develop an integrated pulmonary nodule management platform. This platform accurately distinguishes invasive from non-invasive pulmonary nodules (AUC = 0.952), outperforming established clinical and radiomics-based models. Furthermore, it effectively predicts tumor invasiveness, differentiating minimally …


Intouch Week Of December 8, 2025, New York Medical College Dec 2025

Intouch Week Of December 8, 2025, New York Medical College

InTouch

No abstract provided.


A Rare Case Of Severe Disseminated Pyoderma Gangrenosum Of The Upper Body With Concurrent Nasopharyngeal And Inferior Orbital Wall Necrosis, Robert M. Branstetter, Isabel E. Baird, Mohammed S. Rais, Danielle N. Ledet, Megan N. Terrebonne Dec 2025

A Rare Case Of Severe Disseminated Pyoderma Gangrenosum Of The Upper Body With Concurrent Nasopharyngeal And Inferior Orbital Wall Necrosis, Robert M. Branstetter, Isabel E. Baird, Mohammed S. Rais, Danielle N. Ledet, Megan N. Terrebonne

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis usually linked to autoimmune or inflammatory bowel disease and typically affects the lower extremities. This case is notable for extensive upper-body, oropharyngeal, and nasal involvement in a patient without an underlying autoimmune disorder. A 56-year-old man with chronic cocaine use and stage IV renal cell carcinoma presented with rapidly progressive ulcerations of the face, neck, shoulders, and back, along with nasal septal collapse and oropharyngeal destruction. Prior biopsy demonstrated sterile neutrophilic inflammation without vasculitis, infection, or malignant infiltration, supporting PG as a diagnosis of exclusion. Imaging showed erosive sinonasal disease. He was …


Spike Timing Depended Plasticity Produces Unsupervised Learning Of Synergistic Muscle Feedback In A Synthetical Neural Network, Mark Allen Pupkiewicz Dec 2025

Spike Timing Depended Plasticity Produces Unsupervised Learning Of Synergistic Muscle Feedback In A Synthetical Neural Network, Mark Allen Pupkiewicz

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates how type Ia feedback from muscle spindles can be organized into groups representing agonistic muscle pairs through Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP). A single degree of freedom joint is actuated with four biologically modeled muscles forming two agonistic pairs. In order to emulate the sensory dynamics of biological muscle spindles, sensors in the model record the active length and velocity states of each muscle, the two primary factors eliciting type Ia afferent responses. In biological networks, synapses from Ia sensory neurons frequently activate interneurons representing agonistic muscle sources. This research investigates whether this organization can emerge in …


Healthy Living As A Critical Part Of Emergency Preparedness, Callahan K. Ward, April Litchford Dec 2025

Healthy Living As A Critical Part Of Emergency Preparedness, Callahan K. Ward, April Litchford

All Current Publications

This resource presents practical, health-focused actions that individuals and caregivers can take to strengthen resilience before, during, and after emergencies. By integrating long-term wellness habits and short-term readiness strategies, it supports a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to disaster preparedness, enhancing not only personal outcomes but also community-wide response capacity.


Liver Injury In A Preclinical Model Of Short Bowel Syndrome Is Associated With Impaired Autophagy, Daniel M Alligood, Alex Park, Kerry Swanson, Naima Pyarali, Evan Mayse, David M Alvarado, Xiuli Liu, Jae-Sung Kim, Nicholas O Davidson, Deborah C Rubin, Jun Guo, Brad W Warner Dec 2025

Liver Injury In A Preclinical Model Of Short Bowel Syndrome Is Associated With Impaired Autophagy, Daniel M Alligood, Alex Park, Kerry Swanson, Naima Pyarali, Evan Mayse, David M Alvarado, Xiuli Liu, Jae-Sung Kim, Nicholas O Davidson, Deborah C Rubin, Jun Guo, Brad W Warner

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Critical for cellular maintenance and repair, autophagy recycles damaged or redundant cellular components. Dysregulated autophagy is associated with progressive cellular injury in various liver pathologies. However, the role of autophagy in intestinal failure-associated liver disease has not previously been investigated. Using a preclinical murine model of short bowel syndrome, we explored the role of autophagy impairment at early and late time points. Regardless of sex, small bowel resected (SBR) mice demonstrated significant liver injury compared to sham controls, exhibiting elevated serum transaminases, altered liver histology, and increased mRNA expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress marker (Ddit3) and oxidative stress marker (Nqo1). …


Comprehensive Cmr Evaluation Including 4d Flow-Derived E/A Vorticity Ratio In Overweight Adults With And Without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Sungho Park, Erin K Englund, Takashi Fujiwara, Daniel Enge, Michal Schäfer, Jochen Gerstner Saucedo, Ethan W Clark, Layla A Abushamat, Rebecca L Scalzo, Brian Fonseca, Kendall S Hunter, Mary D Sammel, Judith G Regensteiner, Jane E B Reusch, Alex J Barker Dec 2025

Comprehensive Cmr Evaluation Including 4d Flow-Derived E/A Vorticity Ratio In Overweight Adults With And Without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Sungho Park, Erin K Englund, Takashi Fujiwara, Daniel Enge, Michal Schäfer, Jochen Gerstner Saucedo, Ethan W Clark, Layla A Abushamat, Rebecca L Scalzo, Brian Fonseca, Kendall S Hunter, Mary D Sammel, Judith G Regensteiner, Jane E B Reusch, Alex J Barker

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aims: This study aimed to assess the impacts of overweight and type 2 diabetes (T2D) on early hemodynamic and left ventricular (LV) changes using comprehensive cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in three age- and sex-similar groups: lean individuals (LI group), BMI-similar overweight controls without T2D (CWO group) and overweight individuals with uncomplicated T2D (T2D group).

Methods: Middle-aged participants included 13 in the LI group, 37 in the CWO group, and 28 in the T2D group. Baseline assessments included cardiac and vascular function measured by CMR, thoracic echocardiography, insulin sensitivity, clinical measures, and cardiorespiratory fitness. 4D flow CMR was used to …


Myocardial Lipin1 Protects The Heart Against Ischemic Injury By Preserving Lipid Homeostasis, Jiaxi Guo, Brian N. Finck, Et Al. Dec 2025

Myocardial Lipin1 Protects The Heart Against Ischemic Injury By Preserving Lipid Homeostasis, Jiaxi Guo, Brian N. Finck, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Impaired cardiac lipid metabolism has been reported to cause heart failure. Lipin1, a multifunctional protein, is a phosphatidate phosphatase that generates diacylglycerol from phosphatidic acid and a transcriptional cofactor that regulates lipid metabolism-related gene expression. Here, we investigated the roles of lipin1 in cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). The expression levels of lipin1 significantly decreased in cardiomyocytes of the human failing heart and murine ischemic myocardium. Cardiomyocyte-specific Lpin1 knockout (cKO) mice showed left ventricle enlargement and reduced fractional shortening after MI, compared with control mice. This was accompanied by elevated cardiac fibrosis, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and increased …


Exploring Outcomes For Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries Participating In A Day Treatment Program, Christina Kane, Alexa Chappell, Kristen Frack, Sarah Salluom, Brittany Meurs Dec 2025

Exploring Outcomes For Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries Participating In A Day Treatment Program, Christina Kane, Alexa Chappell, Kristen Frack, Sarah Salluom, Brittany Meurs

Occupational Therapy Annual Research Colloquium

Purpose: This study explored program outcomes of the Brooks Spinal Cord Injury & Related Disorders Day Treatment Program in Jacksonville, Florida. By examining secondary data, using both the Self-Reported Functional Measure (SRFM) and the Spinal Cord Independence Measure–III (SCIM-III), researchers determined the change between admission and discharge scores in both patient- and therapist-reported outcomes of self-care skills. This study also studied if a correlation existed between the SRFM (patient-reported) and SCIM-III (therapist-reported) outcomes.

Participants: Data from 49 participant records were collected in 2022-2023, with 42 participants data qualifying for this study.

Methods: Using secondary de-identified data, statistical analyses were conducted …


Occupational Participation Among Children With Neurodivergent And Related Conditions: A Mixed Methods Study, Shirish Lala, Darian Amacker, Anne Martens, Alexa Rodefeld, Danielle Toth, Elyssa Wider Dec 2025

Occupational Participation Among Children With Neurodivergent And Related Conditions: A Mixed Methods Study, Shirish Lala, Darian Amacker, Anne Martens, Alexa Rodefeld, Danielle Toth, Elyssa Wider

Occupational Therapy Annual Research Colloquium

Background: This study explored occupational engagement of children with neurodivergent and related conditions in home, school, and community settings. Children aged 6 to 16 years and their caregivers were recruited to investigate how occupational engagement differs across contexts.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach assessed quantitative data from 51 participants using a modified version of the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation. Qualitative data were collected from 6 semi-structured interviews. The Model of Human Occupation and its components of volition, habituation, and performance capacity, including environmental factors, informed the research process and methodology. Engagement among children with neurodivergent diagnoses is shaped by …


Sexuality And Sexual Activity Of Adults 21 To 35 Years With High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mariana D'Amico, Aisha N. Maldonado, Gina Fuentes, Andrea Meston Dec 2025

Sexuality And Sexual Activity Of Adults 21 To 35 Years With High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mariana D'Amico, Aisha N. Maldonado, Gina Fuentes, Andrea Meston

Occupational Therapy Annual Research Colloquium

Purpose

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report having less sexual experience and engaging in fewer social-sexual behaviors when compared to those without ASD. The purpose of this study is to discover how the quality of sexual education has impacted individuals with high-functioning ASD (HFASD) engagement in sexual activity.

Methods

This qualitative phenomenological study used semi-structured interview questions based on the purpose of the study and identified research questions. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants.

Results

Findings indicated that female adults with HFASD received inconsistent and incomplete sexual education impacting their sexual experiences, safety, and quality of life. All …


Initial Validation Of The Scale Of Occupational Disruption, Ricardo Carrasco, Abigail S. Aquino, Genesis Avalos-Medina, Desiree Thomas, Samira Osman Dec 2025

Initial Validation Of The Scale Of Occupational Disruption, Ricardo Carrasco, Abigail S. Aquino, Genesis Avalos-Medina, Desiree Thomas, Samira Osman

Occupational Therapy Annual Research Colloquium

Background

Occupations are meaningful activities that humans perform in daily
life. Individuals may experience a disruption in their occupations because of a life-
altering event. Currently, there are no instruments that measure the severity of
occupational disruption. Retrospective and current data were collected to
standardize and establish the reliability of the Scale of Occupational Disruption.

Methods

Social media flyer responses and retrospective data provided data for
232 participants who completed the scale through REDCap. Only 189 participants
qualified for inclusion due to incomplete responses.

Results

A Cronbach’s alpha revealed acceptable internal consistency reliability (a=0.87), meaning that items
measure the same …


Impact Of Interprofessional Collaboration On Nurses And Occupational Therapists In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Beverly Murphy, Marissa Casamento, Abigail Fleming, Anna Gomolski, Camryn Labrador Dec 2025

Impact Of Interprofessional Collaboration On Nurses And Occupational Therapists In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Beverly Murphy, Marissa Casamento, Abigail Fleming, Anna Gomolski, Camryn Labrador

Occupational Therapy Annual Research Colloquium

Purpose

This study explores the impact of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) between nurses and occupational therapists (OTs) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It investigates the process of collaboration and stakeholder perceptions of interprofessional teamwork. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of IPC in the NICU setting, specifically between nurses and OTs, and to identify barriers that might hinder optimal collaboration.

Methods

A single survey instrument was distributed via social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn) and completed by 47 participants (21 Nurses, 26 Occupational therapists). The survey, created using REDCap, included scaled items …


Perspectives Of Occupational Therapy-Led Caregiver Education On The Quality Of Life Of Caregivers Of Stroke Survivors, Yu Hsiang Liang-Paultre, Stefani Costanzo, Alaunte Major, Krisyadlee Mercado Lugo, Olivia Schrader Dec 2025

Perspectives Of Occupational Therapy-Led Caregiver Education On The Quality Of Life Of Caregivers Of Stroke Survivors, Yu Hsiang Liang-Paultre, Stefani Costanzo, Alaunte Major, Krisyadlee Mercado Lugo, Olivia Schrader

Occupational Therapy Annual Research Colloquium

Purpose

Occupational therapy plays a vital role in equipping caregivers with the knowledge and skills needed to support individuals recovering from a cerebrovascular accident. Caregiver training provided by occupational therapy practitioners helps families manage post-stroke care and reduce the risk of secondary complications. This study explored caregivers’ perspectives on occupational therapy-led education, focusing on the type, quality, and perceived effectiveness of training before discharge.

Methods

Originally designed as a mixed-methods study, the research was modified to a qualitative design after hurricanes affected recruitment. Using a phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with caregivers of individuals who had a cerebrovascular accident …


Stress Management And Working Mothers, Mariana D'Amico, Ashley Ndip Dec 2025

Stress Management And Working Mothers, Mariana D'Amico, Ashley Ndip

Occupational Therapy Annual Research Colloquium

Abstract

Purpose: Explore evidence-based interventions to manage stress for working mothers.

Method: A scoping review was undertaken to explore and synthesize the evidence supporting occupational therapy interventions for working mothers. Select keywords were used individually and combined in EBSCOhost, ProQuest, Scopus, CINHAL, Cochrane Library Systematic Reviews, PsycINFO, PubMed, PEDro.

Results: After reviewing the 14 identified articles, eight were removed for not meeting criteria, leaving six for synthesis. Four articles were at Level IV evidence, and two articles were qualitative. Social support extended family and mindfulness training were found to be helpful as reported by working mothers.

Conclusion: There …


Determinants Of Awareness And Acceptability Of Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) Among Men In Kenya, John Baptist Asiimwe, Lilian Nuwabaine, Isaac Alinda, Earnest Amwiine, Robert Kiza, Ibrahim Franklyn Kamara Dec 2025

Determinants Of Awareness And Acceptability Of Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) Among Men In Kenya, John Baptist Asiimwe, Lilian Nuwabaine, Isaac Alinda, Earnest Amwiine, Robert Kiza, Ibrahim Franklyn Kamara

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Abstract: Background Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is prioritised for men at heightened risk of HIV, examining the determinants of PrEP awareness and acceptability among men in the general population is essential for informing inclusive and effective HIV prevention strategies in Kenya.

Methods: We analyzed secondary data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), which comprised 14,402 men aged 18–54 years who were selected using a two-stage stratified sampling. Data were analysed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses using SPSS (version 29).

Results: Overall, 49.3% (95% CI: 47.4–51.2) of men were aware of PrEP. Among those who …


Epidemiology, Presentation, And Diagnosis Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Children And Adolescents, Bisher Alsabbagh, Whard Alsabbagh Dec 2025

Epidemiology, Presentation, And Diagnosis Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Children And Adolescents, Bisher Alsabbagh, Whard Alsabbagh

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in children and adolescents has increased substantially over recent decades, paralleling rising rates of pediatric obesity and metabolic risk. Youth-onset T2DM is characterized by significant insulin resistance accompanied by an inadequate compensatory insulin response, resulting in progressive hyperglycemia and early beta-cell dysfunction. Incidence varies widely among racial and ethnic groups, with the highest rates observed in non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander youth. Risk factors include obesity, family history, high-risk ethnicity, pubertal insulin resistance, prenatal metabolic exposures, and comorbid conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Clinical presentation ranges …


Improving Breastfeeding Confidence And Initiation Rates Through Flyer-Based Education In A Labor And Delivery Setting, Janet Rebollar-Trejo Dec 2025

Improving Breastfeeding Confidence And Initiation Rates Through Flyer-Based Education In A Labor And Delivery Setting, Janet Rebollar-Trejo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE

This quality improvement project aimed to increase breastfeeding initiation within one hour of birth among eligible mothers and improve maternal confidence during the first feed.

BACKGROUND

Breastfeeding provides significant benefits for infants and mothers; however, many mothers receive limited education prior to delivery, contributing to low initiation rates. Early labor breastfeeding education has been shown to improve knowledge, confidence, and initiation outcomes.

METHODOLOGY

A pre-post quality improvement design using the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework was implemented in a Level IV maternal care unit. The intervention included a standardized breastfeeding education flyer with graphics and a QR code video provided during early …


Endothelial-Derived Extracellular Vesicles During Exercise In Copd Patients, Samuel C Okpechi, Dorota Wyczechowska, Bennett Deboisblanc, Jessica L Johnson, Mohamed A Ghonim, Natalie Bauer, Hamid A Boulares, Matthew R Lammi Dec 2025

Endothelial-Derived Extracellular Vesicles During Exercise In Copd Patients, Samuel C Okpechi, Dorota Wyczechowska, Bennett Deboisblanc, Jessica L Johnson, Mohamed A Ghonim, Natalie Bauer, Hamid A Boulares, Matthew R Lammi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: There are no treatments directly targeting the pulmonary vasculature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and further characterization of the underlying endothelial cell (EC) abnormalities could be helpful in drug development. Methods: We investigated the influence of exercise and the prostacyclin analog iloprost on extracellular vesicles derived from ECs (eEVs) in 15 moderate–severe COPD patients who were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial of iloprost. Results: Active smokers had a profile consistent with inflammatory-derived EVs, while exacerbation-prone COPD subjects had a profile consistent with apoptosis-derived eEVs. There were no significant effects of iloprost on eEV levels. However, there …


The Importance Of A Pressure Injury Prevention Program In Acute Hospital Settings, Sarah Orial Dec 2025

The Importance Of A Pressure Injury Prevention Program In Acute Hospital Settings, Sarah Orial

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: The identified practice problem for this project was the lack of a standardized pressure injury prevention program in a 350-bed acute care hospital. The lack of a standard program could be leading to increased hospital-acquired pressure injuries. PICOT: In adult inpatients in a medical/surgical unit (P), does the implementation of a standard unit-based pressure injury prevention program (I) compared to the current practice (C) increase the percentage of nursing skin risk assessment documentation (O) over a 10-week period (T)?

Evidence: The literature supports the development of standard pressure injury prevention programs and continuing education to …


Validation Of The Evaluating Nursing And Curriculum For Transformation Tool For Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Curriculum Integration, Kendra M. Barrier, Mary Dioise Ramos Dec 2025

Validation Of The Evaluating Nursing And Curriculum For Transformation Tool For Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Curriculum Integration, Kendra M. Barrier, Mary Dioise Ramos

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) emphasizes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as a foundational element for professional nursing education, crucial for preparing students to care for diverse patient populations. The purpose was to develop and validate an instrument to measure the extent to which DEI elements are integrated throughout the nursing curriculum. Methods: The ENACT (Evaluating Nursing and Curriculum for Transformation) was developed through a comprehensive process involving several phases: tool development based on DEI elements, framing each element within the Nursing Process (ADPIE), preliminary evaluation, obtaining content validity index (CVI) from experts, renaming the tool …


Early Peripheral Blood Gene Expression Predicts 90-Day Outcomes Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Bodie Knepp, Garreck H Lenz, Frank R Sharp, Fernando Rodriguez, Huimahn Alex Choi, Aaron M Gusdon, Glen Jickling, Lara L Zimmermann, Ryan Martin, Jeffrey Vitt, Ben Waldau, Brandon J Cord, Alan Yee, Kwan Ng, Nerissa U Ko, Heather Hull, Bradley P Ander, Boryana Stamova Dec 2025

Early Peripheral Blood Gene Expression Predicts 90-Day Outcomes Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Bodie Knepp, Garreck H Lenz, Frank R Sharp, Fernando Rodriguez, Huimahn Alex Choi, Aaron M Gusdon, Glen Jickling, Lara L Zimmermann, Ryan Martin, Jeffrey Vitt, Ben Waldau, Brandon J Cord, Alan Yee, Kwan Ng, Nerissa U Ko, Heather Hull, Bradley P Ander, Boryana Stamova

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Previous clinical, radiological and machine learning studies have predicted 90-day outcomes following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The present study was designed to determine whether early changes in mRNA expression of immune, clotting and other genes expressed in peripheral blood can predict patient outcomes at 90 days after SAH and possibly provide insights into the molecular factors that promote good versus poor outcomes.

METHODS: Peripheral blood was drawn after SAH and from vascular risk factor controls (VRFC) and RNAseq performed to measure mRNA expression. A mixed effects regression model identified potential predictors and machine learning algorithms derived the best predictors of …


Bayesian Learning To Reduce Cardiac Risk Of Patients With Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Based On Personalized Radiation Therapy Prescription, Ruitao Lin, Mei Chen, Xiaodong Zhang, Tianlin Xu, Ting Xu, Rachel C Maguire, Kelsey L Corrigan, Efstratios Koutroumpakis, Joe Y Chang, Steven H Lin, Aileen B Chen, Quynh-Nhu Nguyen, Saumil J Gandhi, Matthew S Ning, Julianna Bronk, Stephen Chun, Ali Ajdari, Joshua S Niedzielski, Jinzhong Yang, Xinru Chen, Tinsu Pan, Qing H Meng, Anne S Tsao, Anita Deswal, Radhe Mohan, Zhongxing Liao Dec 2025

Bayesian Learning To Reduce Cardiac Risk Of Patients With Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Based On Personalized Radiation Therapy Prescription, Ruitao Lin, Mei Chen, Xiaodong Zhang, Tianlin Xu, Ting Xu, Rachel C Maguire, Kelsey L Corrigan, Efstratios Koutroumpakis, Joe Y Chang, Steven H Lin, Aileen B Chen, Quynh-Nhu Nguyen, Saumil J Gandhi, Matthew S Ning, Julianna Bronk, Stephen Chun, Ali Ajdari, Joshua S Niedzielski, Jinzhong Yang, Xinru Chen, Tinsu Pan, Qing H Meng, Anne S Tsao, Anita Deswal, Radhe Mohan, Zhongxing Liao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Radiation-induced heart damage is a significant concern in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that can have debilitating or life-threatening consequences. Current strategies focus on minimizing heart exposure, but individual susceptibility varies. Existing evidence also suggests that a uniform "one-size-fits-all" dosimetric constraint for the heart may not be optimal for all patients.

Methods and materials: We developed a prospective study using Bayesian continuous learning and adaptation to develop a framework for personalized adaptive radiation treatment (PART) to reduce cardiovascular adverse events among patients with locally advanced NSCLC. The trial includes a Bayesian personalized risk prediction model to …