Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Memory Impairments Due To Binge Ethanol Are Impacted By Age And Sex, Maria Alexis M. Bent

Theses and Dissertations

Ethanol is the most consumed drug among adolescents, which can cause long-term effects on memory and changes in gene and protein expression. While both adolescents and adults engage in binge drinking, the neurological and behavioral effects differ, with adolescents showing fewer adverse physiological effects but greater memory deficits than adults. Sex differences related to ethanol occur with women showing higher BEC than men and similar cognitive deficits despite fewer years of ethanol consumption. During adolescence the mPFC and dHPC undergo maturation development with both brain regions playing a role in spatial and recognition memory. Proteins critically involved in memory and …

Fetal Abdominal Obesity In Women With One Value Abnormality On Diagnostic Test For Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Wonjin Kim, Soo Kyung Park, Yoo Lee Kim

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Previous studies have shown that fetal abdominal obesity (FAO) was already observed at the time of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis and persisted until delivery despite management in older and/or obese women. In this study, we investigated whether fetuses of women with milder hyperglycemia than GDM have accelerated abdominal growth, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 7,569 singleton pregnant women who were universally screened using a 50-g glucose challenge test (GCT) and underwent a 3-h 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) if GCT result was ≥140mg/dL. GDM, one value abnormality (OVA), and normal glucose …

Is Preexisting Inflamed Jaw Marrow A “Hidden” Co-Morbidity Affecting Outcomes Of Covid-19 Infections? – Clinical Comparative Study, Johann Lechner, Robert E Mcmahon, Jerry E Bouquot, Florian Notter, Fabian Schick

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Exceedingly high levels of the chemokine CCL5/RANTES have been found in fatty degenerated osteonecrotic alveolar bone cavities (FDOJ) and aseptic ischemic osteolysis of the jaw (AIOJ) from toothless regions. Because CCL5/RANTES seems to have a prominent role in creating the COVID-19 “cytokine storm”, some researchers have used the monoclonal antibody Leronlimab to block the CCR5 on inflammatory cells.

Objective: Is preexisting FDOJ/AIOJ jaw marrow pathology a “hidden” co-morbidity affecting some COVID-19 infections? To what extent does the chronic CCL5/RANTES expression from preexisting FDOJ/AIOJ areas contribute to the progression of the acute cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients?

Methods: Authors report …

Acceptability Of Anal Human Papillomavirus Home Self-Sampling And Clinician Sampling Among Sexual And Gender Minority Individuals In Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Prevent Anal Cancer Self-Swab Study, Jenna Nitkowski, Anna R Giuliano, Tim Ridolfi, Elizabeth Chiao, Maria E Fernandez, Vanessa Schick, Michael D Swartz, Jennifer S Smith, Alan G Nyitray

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Anal cancer has disproportionately high incidence among sexual minority men. We compared acceptability of home versus clinic human papillomavirus (HPV) anal swabbing.

Methods: The Prevent Anal Cancer Self-Swab Study recruited sexual and gender minority individuals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Eligible participants were randomized to a home or clinic arm. Home participants received a mailed anal HPV self-sampling kit. Clinic participants attended a clinic appointment where a clinician collected an anal HPV swab. We examined acceptability (overall thoughts, comfort with method, pain, and future willingness to swab) of home versus clinic swabbing using postswab survey responses.

Results: A total of 191 …

Characteristics And Quality Of Life Of People Living With Comorbid Disorders In Substance Use Recovery Residences, Elizabeth O Obekpa, Sheryl A Mccurdy, Kathryn R Gallardo, Serena A Rodriguez, Cecilia Ganduglia Cazaban, H Shelton Brown, James J Yang, J Michael Wilkerson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality; however, research on physical and mental health comorbidities and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people taking medication for OUD (MOUD) and living in recovery residences is sparse. We investigated the prevalence of comorbidities and examined which EQ-5D-5L HRQoL dimensions are most affected by these comorbidities.

METHODS: Data were collected from 358 residents living in 14 Texas-based recovery residences from April 2021 to June 2023. The EQ-5D-5L descriptive system comprises five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression). Each dimension has five levels of perceived problems, dichotomized into …

A Randomized Controlled Study Of Auricular Point Acupressure To Manage Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy: Study Protocol, Nada Lukkahatai, Michael V Nguyen, Jingyu Zhang, Yu-Min Cho, Chitchanok Benjasirisan, Heijingzi Monica Jia, Claudia M Campbell, Jennifer Kawi, Hulin Wu, Hongyu Wang, Rupsikha Bora, Johannes Thrul, Constance M Johnson, Thomas J Smith

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIN) significantly impacts cancer patients, leading to functional disability, diminished quality of life, and increased healthcare costs amid the ongoing opioid crisis. Auricular point acupressure (APA), a non-invasive and non-pharmacological alternative, has shown potential for alleviating the pain, numbness, and tingling associated with CIN. This study aims to assess the efficacy of APA for CIN symptoms and physical function and to examine the mechanisms underlying APA's effects on CIN.

Methods: This is a three-arm randomized controlled clinical trial protocol. Patients aged 18 and older who are experiencing CIN are randomly assigned to one of the three groups: …

A Comparative Study Of Venezuelan Immigrants’ Pre- And Post-Migration Concerns For Their Children In The United States And Colombia, Aigerim Alpysbekova, Pablo Montero-Zamora, Mary H Soares, Carolina Scaramutti, Sumeyra Sahbaz, Maria Duque, Tara Bautista, Maria Fernanda Garcia, Christopher P Salas-Wright, Mildred M Maldonado-Molina, Melissa M Bates, Augusto Pérez-Gómez, Juliana Mejía Trujillo, Eric C Brown, Seth J Schwartz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Research suggests that forced migration may lead to cultural stress and psychological distress. However, little is known about immigrant parents' pre- and post-migration concerns for their children's welfare. The present study examined the concerns of Venezuelan parents who migrated to the United States versus those who migrated to Colombia, and whether post-migration concerns were related to cultural stressors, mental health, and cultural identity. A sample of 609 Venezuelan immigrants completed surveys and responded to an open-ended prompt asking about pre- and post-migration concerns for children's welfare. Lack of safety was the most common pre-migration concern for Venezuelans in the U.S., …

Exploratory Pilot Study To Characterize The Immune Landscapes Of Malignant Pleural Effusions And Their Corresponding Primary Tumors From Patients With Breast Carcinoma And Lung Adenocarcinoma, Caddie Laberiano-Fernandez, Qiong Gan, Sophia Mei Wang, Auriole Tamegnon, Ignacio Wistuba, Esther Yoon, Sinchita Roy-Chowdhuri, Edwin Roger Parra

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a frequent complication of advanced malignancies. In this pilot study, we characterized the immune landscapes of MPEs, compared them to their primary tumor (PT) samples from breast carcinoma (BC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LADC), and tested the utility of multiplexed image technology in cytological samples.

Materials and methods: We evaluated the immune contexture of 6 BC and 5 LADC MPEs and their PTs using 3 multiplex immunofluorescence panels. We explored the associations between sample characteristics and pleural effusion-free survival.

Results: No MPE samples had positive programmed death-ligand 1 expression in malignant cells, although 3 of …

Association Of Perceived Neighborhood Air Quality Problems With Attempt To Quit Cigarette Smoking: A Cross-Sectional Study In Texas, Monalisa Chandra, Joel Fokom Domgue, Robert Yu, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Cigarette smoking is the major preventable cause of premature deaths in the United States. Attempting to quit smoking is an important step toward smoking cessation. Although it has been studied extensively, limited information on the association between attempts to quit smoking and neighborhood air quality problems is available. Therefore, we examined the association between attempts to quit smoking in the past year and perceived neighborhood air quality problems among adult Texans who smoke.

Methods: In 2018, a cross-sectional multistage area probability design-based survey was administered to collect sociodemographic, behavioral, and health-related information from a representative sample of 2050 Texas …

Prevalence And Disparities In Receiving Medical Advice To Quit Tobacco Use In The Us Adult Population, Monalisa Chandra, Rajesh Talluri, Joel Fokom Domgue, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Evidence suggests that advice from health care professionals (HCP) increases the likelihood of quit attempts and successful quitting of tobacco use. However, previous studies primarily focussed on cigarette smoking and did not include all forms of tobacco products. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and disparities in receiving HCP's advice to quit tobacco use (combustible or noncombustible) in the US adult population.

Methods: Using the 2022 National Health Information Survey (NHIS) data, we examined 4,424 adults who reported (i) any tobacco product use within the past 12 months and (ii) having seen an HCP within the past 12 …

Transcriptomics Analysis Reveals Potential Mechanisms Underlying Mitochondrial Dysfunction And T Cell Exhaustion In Astronauts’ Blood Cells In Space, Maria Moreno-Villanueva, Luis E Jimenez-Chavez, Stephanie Krieger, Liang-Hao Ding, Ye Zhang, Adriana Babiak-Vazquez, Mark Berres, Sandra Splinter, Kristen E Pauken, Brian C Schaefer, Brian E Crucian, Honglu Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The impact of spaceflight on the immune system and mitochondria has been investigated for decades. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying spaceflight-induced immune dysregulations are still unclear.

Methods: In this study, blood from eleven crewmembers was collected before and during International Space Station (ISS) missions. Transcriptomic analysis was performed in isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using RNA-sequencing. Differentially expresses genes (DEG) in space were determined by comparing of the inflight to the preflight samples. Pathways and statistical analyses of these DEG were performed using the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) tool.

Results: In comparison to pre-flight, a total of 2030 …

Fitness Consequences Of Depressive Symptoms Vary Between Generations: Evidence From A Large Cohort Of Women Across The 20th Century, Christopher I Gurguis, Renée A Duckworth, Nicole M Bucaro, Consuelo Walss-Bass

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Depression has strong negative impacts on how individuals function, leading to the assumption that there is strong negative selection on this trait that should deplete genetic variation and decrease its prevalence in human populations. Yet, depressive symptoms remain common. While there has been a large body of work trying to resolve this paradox by mapping genetic variation of this complex trait, there have been few direct empirical tests of the core assumption that there is consistent negative selection on depression in human populations. Here, we use a unique long-term dataset from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that spans …

Gaze Transition Entropy As A Measure Of Attention Allocation In A Dynamic Workspace Involving Automation, Zixin Cui, Tetsuya Sato, Austin Jackson, Sampath Jayarathna, Makoto Itoh, Yusuke Yamani

Psychology Faculty Publications

Real-world work environments require operators to perform multiple tasks with continual support from an automated system. Eye movement is often used as a surrogate measure of operator attention, yet conventional summary measures such as percent dwell time do not capture dynamic transitions of attention in complex visual workspace. This study analyzed eye movement data collected in a controlled a MATB-II task environment using gaze transition entropy analysis. In the study, human subjects performed a compensatory tracking task, a system monitoring task, and a communication task concurrently. The results indicate that both gaze transition entropy and stationary gaze entropy, measures of …

Facilitating Thought Progression To Reduce Depressive Symptoms: Randomized Controlled Trial, Shai-Lee Yatziv, Paola Pedrelli, Shira Baror, Sydney Ann Decaro, Noam Shachar, Bar Sofer, Sunday Hull, Joshua Curtiss, Moshe Bar

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background:

The constant rise in the prevalence of major depressive disorder calls for new, effective, and accessible interventions that can rapidly and effectively reach a wide range of audiences. Recent developments in the digital health domain suggest that dedicated online platforms may potentially address this gap. Focusing on targeting ruminative thought, a major symptomatic hallmark of depression, in this study we hypothesized that delivering a digital health-based intervention designed to systematically facilitate thought progression would substantially alleviate depression.

Objective:

The study aims to investigate the efficacy of a novel digital intervention on the reduction of depressive symptoms. This intervention was …

Reliability And Minimal Detectable Change Of The Mx3 Hydration Testing System, Ian Winter, Josie Burdin, Patrick B. Wilson

Exercise Science Faculty Publications

Assessing hydration status outside of laboratories can be challenging given that most hydration measures are invasive, stationary, costly, or have questionable validity. This study investigated the within-day, test-retest reliability, and minimal detectable change (MDC) of the MX3 Hydration Testing System (MX3 Diagnostics), a relatively low cost, noninvasive, and portable method to measure saliva osmolality. Seventy-five adults (44 men, 31 women; 29.6±10.8 yr, 171.1±9.2 cm, 79.1±15.4 kg) presented two saliva samples approximately 3 to 5 minutes apart. Fluid intake was avoided for at least 5 minutes prior to sample collections. For each sample collection, a researcher used the MX3 to tap …

Athletic Trainer's Perceptions Of And Experiences With Professional Development Approaches For Enhancing Clinical Documentation, Sarah L. Nottingham, Tricia M. Kasamatsu, Julie M. Cavallario, Cailee E. Welch Bacon

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context

Little is known about how athletic trainers (ATs) learn clinical documentation, but previous studies have identified that ATs have a need for more educational resources specific to documentation.

Objective

To obtain ATs' perspectives on learning clinical documentation.

Design

Qualitative study.

Setting

Web-based audio interviews.

Patients or Other Participants

Twenty-nine ATs who completed 2 different continuing education (CE) clinical documentation modules. Participants averaged 36.2 ± 9.0 years of age and included 16 women and 13 men representing 21 US states and 8 clinical practice settings.

Data Collection and Analysis

Participants were recruited from a group of ATs who completed 1 …

An Objective Assessment Of Neuromotor Control Using A Smartphone App After Repeated Subconcussive Blast Exposure, Charlend K. Howard, Masahiro Yamada, Marcia Dovel, Rie Leverett, Alexander Hill, Kenneth A. Manlapaz, David O. Keyser, Rene S. Hernandez, Sheilah S. Rowe, Walter S. Carr, Michael S. Roy, Christopher K. Rhea

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Subconcussive blast exposure has been shown to alter neurological functioning. However, the extent to which neurological dysfunction persists after blast exposure is unknown. This longitudinal study examined the potential short- and long-term effects of repeated subconcussive blast exposure on neuromotor performance from heavy weapons training in military personnel. A total of 214 participants were assessed; 137 were exposed to repeated subconcussive blasts and 77 were not exposed to blasts (controls). Participants completed a short stepping-in-place task while an Android smartphone app placed on their thigh recorded movement kinematics. We showed acute suppression of neuromotor variability 6 h after subconcussive blast …

Teachers' Perception On Physical Activity Promotion In Kindergarten Children In China: A Qualitative Study Connecting Social Ecological Model, Yahan Liang, Fangyuan Ju, Yueran Hao, Jia Yang, Yang Liu

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Background

Globally, the majority of kindergarten-aged children face obesity issues and insufficient physical activity (PA) engagement. Regular PA participation can provide various health benefits, including obesity reduction, for kindergarten-aged children. However, limited studies have investigated the factors influencing kindergarten-aged children's PA engagement from the perspective of their teachers. This qualitative study aimed to identify factors that could help promote PA among kindergarten-aged children from teachers' perspectives, including facilitators, barriers, and teachers' recommendations.

Methods

Fifteen kindergarten teachers (age range: 28-50 years; mean age: 38.53 years) with teaching experience ranging from 2 to 31 years (mean: 16.27 years) were recruited from Shanghai …

A Brief But Comprehensive Three-Item Social Connectedness Screener For Use In Social Risk Assessment Tools, Nancy P Gordon, Matthiew C Stiefel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The 2014 IOM report "Capturing Social and Behavioral Domains and Measures in Electronic Health Records" described three subdomains of social relationships that affect patient health and well-being. However, most social risk screeners currently assess only one subdomain, frequency of social connections. We are proposing a three-item Brief Social Connectedness (SC) screener that additionally assesses risks in social/emotional support and loneliness/social isolation subdomains.

METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, we used data from a 2021 Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) social risk survey for 2244 members ages 35-85 years. The survey included three validated questions that covered the SC subdomains (frequencies …

Sudden Unexpected Intrapartum Death And Left Ventricular Noncompaction Involving The Right Ventricle, Giulia Ottaviani, Tobia Tomasello, Francesca Boggio, Letterio Runza, Alessandro Del Gobbo, L Maximilian Buja

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC), involving mainly the right ventricle, is a rare form of congenital heart disorder characterized by a developmental arrest in myocardial compaction, resulting in a spongy appearance of the myocardium, mainly of the right ventricle, rarely detected in fetuses. We report the case of a female fetus with a gestational age of 41+4 weeks who came to our attention for intrapartum sudden unexpected death, resulting in stillbirth. The ventricular walls, particularly the right ventricular wall, appeared thick, hypertrabeculated and spongy, leading to the diagnosis of LVNC involving mainly the right ventricle. The atrioventricular node and His bundle …

Association Between Serum Vitamin D Status And Uterine Leiomyomas: A Case-Control Study, Chukwuemeka Chukwubuikem Okoro, Okechukwu Christian Ikpeze, George Uchenna Eleje, Gerald Okanandu Udigwe, Chukwuemeka Okwudili Ezeama, Joseph Odirichukwu Ugboaja, Chukwunonso Isaiah Enechukwu, Osita Samuel Umeononihu, Chukwudi Anthony Ogabido, Charlotte Blanche Oguejiofor, Tobechi Kingsley Njoku, Richard Obinwanne Egeonu, Chigozie Geoffrey Okafor, Hillary Ikechukwu Obiagwu, Chukwudubem Chinagorom Onyejiaka, Afam Ben Obidike, Christian Ejike Onah, Ifeanyi Uzukwu, Amarachukwu Doris Okoro, Evaristus Chino Ezema, Adaobi Maryann Ibekwe, Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Uterine leiomyoma is a common gynecological condition that negatively affects women's quality of life. Vitamin D plays an important role in tumor development and progression. However, clinical studies comparing serum vitamin D levels between women with and without uterine leiomyomas are limited and inconclusive. This study aimed to compare serum vitamin D levels in women with and without uterine leiomyomas.

METHODS: This hospital-based case-control study included 150 women who visited a gynecological clinic. The cases included 75 women with uterine leiomyoma, whereas the controls included 75 age-and parity-matched participants without uterine leiomyoma. Serum vitamin D levels were measured in …

Development And Validation Of A Scale To Measure Person-Centered Care In Fetal Care Centers, Abigail Wilpers, Marney White, Mary T Austin, Mert Ozan Bahtiyar, Katie Francis, Stephen P Emery, Diane Wall, Lonnie Somers, Charlotte Wool

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Fetal care centers (FCCs) in the USA lack a standardized instrument to measure person-centered care. This study aimed to develop and validate the Person-Centered Care in Fetal Care Centers (PCC-FCC) Scale.

Methods: Initial items were developed based on literature and input from clinicians and former patients. A Delphi study involving 16 experts was conducted to validate the content and construct. Through three rounds of online questionnaires using open-ended questions and Likert scales, consensus on item clarity and relevancy was established. The resulting items were then piloted with former fetal care center patients via a web-based survey. The instrument's reliability …

Grief On Pain And Quality Of Life In Combat Veterans With Ptsd, Melba A Hernandez-Tejada, Madeleine Desrochers, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder (PCBD) comprises a set of grief symptoms that are often linked to other psychological conditions such as PTSD and depression, may be prevalent in Veterans with combat experience, and may also impact general health.

Objective: This study investigated the association between grief and sleep, pain, PTSD, and depression, among Veterans participating in a clinical trial for PCBD treatment.

Method: Data from 155 Veterans receiving treatments for PCBD were analysed to explore the association between PCBD and symptoms of sleep pain, PTSD, and depression. Veterans experiencing grief reported symptoms related to physical health, emotional problems, energy, …

Association Of Risk Factors And Comorbidities With Chronic Pain In The Elderly Population, Neil Mookerjee, Nicole Schmalbach, Gianna Antinori, Subhadra Thampi, Dylan Windle-Puente, Amy Gilligan, Ha Huy, Megha Andrews, Angela Sun, Roshni Gandhi, William Benedict, Austin Chang, Ben Sanders, Justin Nguyen, Maanika Reddy Keesara, Janet Aliev, Aneri Patel, Isaiah Hughes, Ian Millstein, Krystal Hunter, Satyajeet Roy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: Chronic pain disorders affect about 20% of adults in the United States, and it disproportionately affects individuals living in the neighborhoods of extreme socioeconomic disadvantage. In many instances, chronic pain has been noted to arise from an aggregation of multiple risk factors and events. Therefore, it is of importance to recognize the modifiable risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the comorbid medical conditions and risk factors associated with chronic pain disorders in patients aged 65 years and older.

METHODS: Our team retrospectively reviewed medical records of elderly patients (65 years and older) who were evaluated …

Barriers And Facilitators Of Digital Health Use For Self-Management Of Hypertensive Disorders By Black Pregnant Women, Morgan A Foreman, Angela Ross, Angela P H Burgess, Sahiti Myneni, Amy Franklin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Although digital health tools are increasingly common for managing health conditions, these applications are often developed without consideration of differences across user populations. A reproducible framework is needed to support tailoring applications to include cultural considerations, potentially leading to better adoption and more effective use. As a first step, this study captures a snapshot of Black women's barriers and facilitators in using digital health products for self-management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 Black pregnant women with HDP. We established a unique model for cultural tailoring with these experiences using Black feminist theory …

Combining Neuroimaging And Brain Stimulation To Test Alternative Causal Pathways For Nicotine Addiction In Schizophrenia, Xiaoming Du, Fow-Sen Choa, Joshua Chiappelli, Heather Bruce, Mark Kvarta, Ann Summerfelt, Yizhou Ma, William T Regenold, Kevin Walton, George F Wittenberg, Stephanie Hare, Si Gao, Andrew Van Der Vaart, Zhiwei Zhao, Shuo Chen, Peter Kochunov, L Elliot Hong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The smoking rate is high in patients with schizophrenia. Brain stimulation targeting conventional brain circuits associated with nicotine addiction has also yielded mixed results. We aimed to identify alternative circuitries associated with nicotine addiction in both the general population and schizophrenia, and then test whether modulation of such circuitries may alter nicotine addiction behaviors in schizophrenia. In Study I of 40 schizophrenia smokers and 51 non-psychiatric smokers, cross-sectional neuroimaging analysis identified resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) between the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) and multiple extended amygdala regions to be most robustly associated with nicotine addiction severity in healthy controls and …

Absolute Concentration Estimation Of Covid-19 Convalescent And Post-Vaccination Igg Antibodies, Melvin E Klegerman, Tao Peng, Ira Seferovich, Mohammad H Rahbar, Manouchehr Hessabi, Amirali Tahanan, Audrey Wanger, Carolyn Z Grimes, Luis Z Ostrosky-Zeichner, Kent Koster, Jeffrey D Cirillo, Dinuka Abeydeera, Steve De Lira, David D Mcpherson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Soon after commencement of the SARS-CoV-2 disease outbreak of 2019 (COVID-19), it became evident that the receptor-binding domain of the viral spike protein is the target of neutralizing antibodies that comprise a critical element of protective immunity to the virus. This study addresses the relative lack of information regarding actual antibody concentrations and binding affinities in convalescent plasma (CP) samples from COVID-19 patients and extends these analyses to post-vaccination (PV) samples to estimate protective IgG antibody (Ab) levels. A direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure IgG anti-spike protein (SP) antibodies (Abs) relative to human chimeric spike S1 …

Effect Of Pioglitazone On Inflammatory Response And Clinical Outcome In T2dm Patients With Covid-19: A Randomized Multicenter Double-Blind Clinical Trial, Khaled Baagar, Thamer Alessa, Mohamed Abu-Farha, Jehad Abubaker, Heba Alhumaidi, Jose Antonio Franco Ceruto, Mohammad Khair Hamad, Ali Omrani, Salma Abdelrahman, Muhammad Zaka-Ul Haq, Abdul Wajid Safi, Bassem Alhariri, Manish Barman, Alaaeldin Abdelmajid, Humberto Vidal Denis Cancio, Eman Elmekaty, Irina Al-Khairi, Preethi Cherian, Lina Jayyousi, Mohammed Ahmed, Mohammed Qaddoumi, Sulaiman Hajji, Ahmad Esmaeel, Ali Al-Andaleeb, Arshad Channanath, Sriraman Devarajan, Hamad Ali, Thangavel Alphonse Thanaraj, Salman Al-Sabah, Fahd Al-Mulla, Muhammad Abdul-Ghani, Amin Jayyousi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has emerged as a rapidly spreading contagious disease across the globe. Recent studies showed that people with diabetes mellitus, severe obesity, and cardiovascular disease are at higher risk of mortality from COVID-19. It has been suggested that the increased risk is due to the chronic inflammatory state associated with type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of pioglitazone, a strong insulin sensitizer with anti-inflammatory properties, in improving the clinical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes admitted with moderate-severe COVID-19.

Method: We enrolled 350 patients with type …

Evolution Of Whole Blood Trauma Resuscitation In Childbearing Age Females: Practice Patterns And Trends, Alexandra Mp Brito, Mark H Yazer, Jason L Sperry, James F Luther, Stephen R Wisniewski, Frances Guyette, Ernest E Moore, Bryan A Cotton, Laura Vincent, Erin Fox, Jeremy W Cannon, Nicholas Namias, Joseph P Minei, Lee Anne Ammons, Skye Clayton, Martin Schreiber

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The use of low titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) for resuscitation of patients with traumatic hemorrhage is becoming increasingly common. Practices regarding the administration of RhD-positive LTOWB to childbearing age females (CBAFs) vary between institutions due to concerns about RhD alloimmunization. This study examined practices related to LTOWB transfusion as they pertain to age and sex.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the Shock, Whole blood, and Assessment of TBI (traumatic brain injury) trial, a prospective, multicenter observational cohort study where outcomes following LTOWB transfusion were analyzed at seven level 1 trauma centers between 2018 and 2021, …

Perceptions Of The Addictiveness Of Low-Nicotine Cigarettes Versus Typical Cigarettes And Exposure To Tobacco Industry-Sponsored Corrective Campaign, Onyema Greg Chido-Amajuoyi, Dale S Mantey, Efehi Igbinomwanhia, Onyinye Omega-Njemnobi, Henry Onyeaka, Robert K Yu, Israel Agaku, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a regulatory plan to reduce the nicotine content of cigarettes. This study examines the association of exposure to industry-sponsored corrective statements on perceptions of the addictiveness of low-nicotine cigarettes relative to typical cigarettes within the general US population.

Methods: The study comprised 4975 US adult respondents of the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5, Cycle 3). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine associations between exposure to tobacco industry corrective messages and perceptions of the addictiveness of low-nicotine cigarettes relative to typical cigarettes.

Results: In the …