Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Improvements Upon Reprocessing Of Orthopedic Single-Use Instruments, Alyssa P. Nguyen

Master's Projects and Capstones

Internal Medline data for Hospital A, a level I academic trauma center, identified a quality gap due to improper segregation and underutilization of orthopedic single-use device reprocessing bins. The baseline reprocessing rate of 4% for orthopedic products results in missed sustainability opportunities, financial strain, and increased regulated waste. A proposed quality improvement intervention implemented updated communication strategies, visual management tools, and education modules to reinforce current reprocessing workflows and close knowledge gaps. Outcome measures include the percentage of SUDs collected for reprocessing, survey results on reprocessing awareness, and potential financial savings in Appendix I. Early data showed a 10% year-to-year …

The Hemostatic Properties Of Green Plasma, David J. Sun

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Multiomic And Single-Cell Analysis Of Tumors And Their Immune Microenvironment For Personalized Cancer Therapy, Kartik Singhal

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Precision oncology aims to match cancer treatment to the biology of an individual patient’s tumor. However, tumors that share a diagnosis can differ in their molecular features, cellular composition, clinical course, and response to therapy, making it difficult to determine which treatment will benefit an individual patient. This dissertation integrates genomic, transcriptomic, and single-cell multiomic computational analysis to characterize tumors across their somatic alterations, transcriptional cell states, microenvironment, and the immune response they elicit.

The first study describes a rare case of donor-derived follicular lymphoma following kidney transplantation. Genomic profiling showed that the donor and recipient tumors shared 31 somatic …

Assessment Of The Best Practices Of Pose Estimation And Machine Learning Use For Clinical Gait Analysis, Micah B. Stull

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gap: Assessing Barriers To Patch Testing Across Diverse Skin Tones, Ritesh V. Soule

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices (Kap) Of Parents Regarding The Prevention And Control Of Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia In Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study, Omnia Soliman

Theses and Dissertations

Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) remains a major public health challenge in Egypt, where its persistently high and rising prevalence carries substantial consequences for child growth, cognitive development, immunity, and long-term health outcomes. Globally, approximately 40% of children aged 6–59 months are affected by anemia (World Health Organization, 2025), and Egypt mirrors this burden, with national data showing a worsening trend in recent years. In Egypt, national strategies have traditionally focused on biomedical interventions such as iron supplementation and food fortification, while less attention has been directed toward behavioral and household-level determinants, particularly parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related …

A Novel Acoustic Emission Technology For Assessing Osseointegration In Bone-Anchored Implants, Ethan Snyder

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Proactive Recognition Of Patient Violence Risk: Enhancing Emergency Department Staff Awareness Through Structured Education, Lindsey Frasure

Doctoral Projects

Background: Workplace violence is a significant concern in emergency departments (EDs), where early recognition of behavioral and situational warning signs may help prevent escalation. However, warning signs may be missed, misinterpreted, or recognized too late.

Purpose: This project evaluated a structured educational intervention designed to improve ED staff knowledge of early warning signs and risk factors associated with patient violence. Lewin’s Change Theory guided the project.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-/post-intervention design was conducted with 10 ED staff members. Participants completed baseline assessments of knowledge and confidence, received structured education on violence risk factors and early warning signs, and completed post-intervention …

Mixed-Reality Visualization In Revision Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Comparative Study, William C. Smoot

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Routine But Rarely Needed: Blood Type And Antibody Screen Testing In Pediatric Surgical Patients, Avery N. Sinnathamby

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Investigating Patient Reported Outcomes (Pros) Of Long Covid, Luke A. Sims

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Non-Medical Determinants Of Health In Thoracic Aortic Disease: A Montalcino Aortic Consortium Study, Alberta S. Simmons

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Centering Community Voices: Protocol For Qualitative Inquiry In A Produce Prescription And Chatbot Intervention, Yesmeena Mahmoud Shmaitelly

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Understanding Patient Reported Outcome Measures And Perceptions In Trauma, Jerome D. Scott

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Associations Between Trpm4 Gene Variants And Intracranial Pressure Dynamics Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Emily H. Saweris

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Beyond Shelter: Exploring The Potential Impacts Of Rental Assistance On Self-Reliance And Well-Being For Venezuelan Migrants In Colombia, Lindsay Stark, Juan Pablo Franco, Arturo Harker Roa, Neema Mosha, Deanna Barch, Ned Meerdink, Ilana Seff

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Urban refugees in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often face housing insecurity, undermining their ability to achieve self-reliance and well-being. Few studies have evaluated the impact of housing interventions in these contexts. This study offers preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of a 9-month rental assistance program targeting female-headed Venezuelan migrant households in Colombia. Using pre-post data from 517 participants, we assessed changes over time in household-level self-reliance, domains of self-reliance, subjective well-being and perceived agency. We also employed ordinary least squares regression and fixed-effects models to estimate changes in self-reliance and the relationship between self-reliance, psychosocial and housing outcomes. Our …

Assessing The Potential Risk Factors For Major Surgical Complications In Operative Fixation Of Patients With Pelvic Ring Disruptions, Benjamin Roberts

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Concurrent Gastroschisis And Biliary Atresia: Surgical And Supportive Management, Joseph M. Pydyn

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Effects Of Tunicamycin In Trophoblast Stem Cell Differentiation, Kay Chi Pua

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Nature-Based Therapy In The Uae: Leveraging Ecosystems To Alleviate Depression And Anxiety, Aya Abdul Karim Al-Taani, Mahmoud Mohammad Al-Gharaibeh, Ahmed A. Al-Taani

All Works

This review synthesizes current evidence on the relationship between natural ecosystems and mental health outcomes with a particular focus on arid and rapidly urbanizing contexts such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It introduces the Multi-Ecosystem Therapeutic Framework for Arid Urban Environments, which moves beyond generalized "nature exposure" models by systematically linking distinct environmental systems to mental health outcomes through identifiable psychological, physiological and social mechanisms. The framework is structured around three interconnected components: ecosystem types (urban green spaces, desert landscapes, mountain environments and blue spaces), mediating mechanisms (including psychological restoration, stress reduction, physical activity and social interaction) and mental …

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Task-Specific Training For Improving Walking And Balance In Chronic Stroke: A Double-Blind, Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial, Ashraf N.H. Gerges, Jeric Uy, Lewis Ingram, Susan Hillier, Joanne Bouckley, Ellana Welsby, Ines Serrada, Taya Hamilton, Saran Chamberlain, Brenton Hordacre

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) paired with task-specific training has shown promise for improving upper-limb motor recovery after stroke but its effects on gait and balance remain unclear. This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of taVNS paired with task-specific training and explored preliminary effects on walking and balance outcomes in adults with chronic stroke.

Methods: A double-blinded, sham-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate active versus sham taVNS paired with task-specific training (15 one-hour sessions over six weeks). Feasibility metrics included recruitment, participant experience, adverse events (AEs), and blinding effectiveness. Clinical outcomes (walking speed, endurance, gait parameters, and …

Acute Effects Of Accentuated Eccentric Loading On Mean Concentric Velocity During Resistance Training: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jiahao Yang, Tsuyoshi Nagatani, Paul Comfort, Kristina L. Kendall, G. Gregory Haff

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) may acutely enhance the concentric (CON) barbell velocity after the additional eccentric (ECC) load is removed, however there are inconsistent results regarding the effectiveness of this practice within the scientific literature. Objective: The aims of the present study were to: (1) examine the acute effects of applying AEL, only on the first repetition of a set, on mean barbell velocity during the CON phase of the first 3 repetitions of the set and (2) investigate the influence of the magnitude of ECC load, loading differential and exercise selection on the acute effects of AEL. Methods: …

Progression Of Non-Radiographic To Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Risk Model Based On A Chinese Cohort Study, Rui Ying Deng, Xiaojia Xu, Jian Hua Peng, Feng Cai Shen, Yao Gong, Dan Min Wang, Hong Jin Liang, Shu Xin Huang, Zhao Peng Chen, Wen Long Wu, Ze Xin Zheng, Ling Lin, Zhi Duo Hou

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To evaluate the progression from non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) to radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) in a Chinese cohort, identify associated risk factors in both clinical and imaging arms, and enable risk stratification based on these factors. Methods: Overall, 572 patients with nr-axSpA were enrolled with a median follow-up of 5 years. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were conducted to identify potential risk factors associated with the progression from nr-axSpA to r-axSpA in both clinical and imaging arms. A risk-scoring system was then developed by assigning each independent predictor a weight based on its regression coefficient. Patients were subsequently categorized …

Women’S Empowerment And Child Stunting In Peru: A Nationally Representative Analysis, Marisella Chumán-Sánchez, Brando Ortiz-Saavedra, Leonardo J. Uribe-Cavero, Anita P. Llamo-Vilcherrez, Joshua W. Moxey, Carlos J. Toro-Huamanchumo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Child stunting remains a persistent public health challenge in Peru. Although women’s empowerment has been linked to improved child health, evidence on its domain-specific relationship with stunting remains limited. The objective of this study was to assess the association between women’s empowerment, across attitudes towards violence, social independence, and decision-making, and child stunting in Peru.

Methods: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study using nationally representative data from the 2021 Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES), including 16,650 mother-child pairs. Analyses of women’s empowerment were conducted in a sub-sample with complete SWPER data (n = 12,696). Stunting was defined as …

Psychosocial, Mental, And Suboptimal Health Measures Are Not Affected By Provision Of Abdominal Aortic Calcification Imaging Results: A 12-Week Rct, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Catherine P. Bondonno, Jack Dalla Via, Marc Sim, Abadi K. Gebre, James Dimmock, John T. Schousboe, Richard J. Woodman, Kun Zhu, Pawel Szulc, Ben Jackson, Wei Wang, Markus P. Schlaich, Douglas P. Kiel, Wai H. Lim, Amanda Devine, Moira Sim, Robin M. Daly, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Joshua R. Lewis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: The provision of abdominal aortic calcification imaging results can elicit cardiovascular disease risk–reducing behaviors. However, its impact on psychosocial, mental, and suboptimal health measures is less clear.

Methods: Secondary analyses of a previously reported 12-week, single-blind RCT including 240 community-dwelling older Australian males and females were conducted. Participants were provided with abdominal aortic calcification imaging results and cardiovascular disease risk–reducing educational resources (abdominal aortic calcification+education, n =121) or education alone (control+education, n =119). Psychosocial distress, mental health score, and suboptimal health status were estimated using validated questionnaires. Linear mixed models were used to compare changes between groups across 12 …

Secondary Outcomes Of The Early Collaborative Intervention Eaci On Salivary Cortisol Co Regulation In Preterm Infants And Mothers, Evalotte Mörelius, Charlotte Sahlén Helmer, Thomas Abrahamsson, Elvar Theodorsson, Ulrika Birberg Thornberg

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Early Collaborative Intervention (EACI) aims to strengthen early parent–infant relationships among moderate to late preterm infants in neonatal intensive care. This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether EACI influences mother–infant salivary cortisol co-regulation in mother–infant dyads, as well as infant cortisol reactivity and breast milk exposure during early infancy. Secondary outcomes were assessed in 54 dyads in the intervention group and 41 in the standard care group at one and four months’ corrected age. Salivary cortisol was collected before and after a bath at one month and a still-face procedure at four months. Significant mother–infant salivary cortisol co-regulation was observed …

Slushies Before School: Exploring How Nearby Food Outlets Impact The Eating Behaviours Of Secondary Students In Perth, Western Australia, Sharonna Mossenson, Klug, Joelie Mandzufas, Jacinta Francis, Siobhan Hickling, Lukar Thornton, Gina Trapp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The external school food environment, comprising food outlets and marketing near schools, shapes what young people eat. Yet little is known about how Australian adolescents perceive and navigate these environments. Focus groups were conducted with 31 school students (Years 7–12) from Perth, Western Australia, to explore their experiences of the external school food environment and its influence on their food-related behaviours. Transcripts were thematically analysed and six themes were identified. Accessibility emphasised proximity, transport links, opening hours and speed of service, with older students using outlets as social spaces. Availability of slushies, energy drinks, snacks and fast-food meal deals influenced …

Cardiovascular Disease And Fracture Risk In People With Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Matched Case–Control Study, Aksayan Arunanthy Mahalingasivam, Annika Vestergaard Kvist, Joop P. Van Den Bergh, Cassandra Smith, Joshua R. Lewis, Peter Vestergaard, Nicklas Højgaard Hessellund Rasmussen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

To examine, among people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), whether cardiovascular disease (CVD) phenotypes and cardiovascular medications are associated with any fracture as the primary outcome and major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) as a secondary outcome. Nationwide registry-based matched case–control study in Denmark (2013–2021) among people with T2D. Cases were individuals with T2D who sustained an incident fracture (n = 12,390), and controls were fracture-free individuals with T2D matched 1:3 by age, sex, T2D onset date, and weighted Charlson Comorbidity Index (n = 37,170). The exposures were overall CVD, prespecified clinical CVD phenotypes (acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, heart failure, atrial …

Anaemia In Pregnancy In Rural New South Wales: A Retrospective Study Of Prevalence, Risk Factors, And Guideline Adherence, Yuanwei Zhang, Esther Adama, Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To determine the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy in rural New South Wales (NSW) and assess the alignment of screening and treatment practices with the 2020 Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines (APCG).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study at the Regional Hospital using records from 301 women who gave birth between 1st January and 4th September 2024. Data were sourced from eMaternity and PowerChart systems, focusing on haemoglobin and ferritin levels, demographic factors, iron deficiency risk factors, and birth outcomes.

Results: Iron deficiency was identified in 61.8% of women, with 6.0% diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). These rates were lower …

Effects Of Lower Limb Joint Manipulation On Squat Strength And Ankle Range Of Motion: A Sham-Controlled Double-Blind Randomised Cross-Over Trial, Reneigh Morley-Hart, Barrett Losco, Alasdair R. Dempsey, G. Gregory Haff, Sasha L. Aspinall

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The back squat is a commonly prescribed exercise for developing lower body strength. The ability to squat can be affected by reduced ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DF-ROM), leading to limited squat depth and dysfunctional compensatory movement patterns.

Objective: To investigate the effect of high-velocity low-amplitude lower limb manipulations on 1 repetition maximum (1RM) back squat strength, sagittal plane ankle kinematics during a squat, and active DF-ROM in individuals with asymptomatic deficits in DF-ROM.

Methods: Twenty-six enrolled; Twenty-four analysed resistance-trained participants with asymptomatic deficits in DF-ROM participated in this double-blind randomised sham-controlled cross-over trial. Interventions involved high-velocity low-amplitude joint …