Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Major Depressive Disorder, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with major depressive disorder.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with inflammatory bowel disease.

Functional Neurological Disorder, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with functional neurological disorder.

Bridging The Gap: Human Trafficking Education Improves Nursing Students’ Knowledge And Confidence, Stephanie P. Arceneaux, Sharon Boudreaux

LHC Group • Myers School of Nursing

Background: Human trafficking (HT) is a global, national, and local public health concern, yet victims often go unidentified due to limited provider education and a lack of screening protocols. This quality improvement project implemented an asynchronous online HT education module for senior nursing students to enhance knowledge and confidence in identifying victims through recognition of red flags and use of screening questions. Method: The module addressed HT indicators, screening tools, screening questions, and available resources. Pre- and posttests using the PROTECT instrument assessed perceived knowledge, actual knowledge, and confidence. Results: Postintervention scores showed statistically significant improvement (p < .001) in knowledge and confidence. Only 10.67% of participants had prior HT training, and 52% preferred online, asynchronous learning. Conclusion: HT education …

Preadmission Screening And Resident Review (Pasrr): An Initiative To Reduce Inpatient Length Of Stay, Tatiana Jaggars Bsn, Rn

Patient Care Services / Nursing

No abstract provided.

Could Peri-Coronary Fat Thickness Predict Severity Of Pulmonary Covid 19 And Post Covid-19 Pulmonary Scarring?, Basma A El-Ged, Dalia Fahmy, Mohamed Hamoda, Mohamed Tohlob, Heba M Abou El-Atta

Mansoura Medical Journal

Objective: to study the correlation between peri-coronary fat thickness (PCFT) and clinical disease severity in patients with proved COVID-19, as well as post COVID-19 scarring.

Patients and methods: This retrospective comparative study included 202 patients with pulmonary COVID-19 who were referred for Chest High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT). Patients were further classified into Group A who had non-severe covid 19 disease and group B who had severe and critical disease according to WHO criteria. CT severity score (CSS), Total fibrosis score (TFS) and peri coronary fat thickness (PCFT) were evaluated and compared for both groups in the CT scans of …

Chinese Athletes’ And Parents’ Motivations For U.S. Collegiate Sports Participation, Wenting Sun, Russell D. Ravert, Simran Kaur Sethi

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

To gain an understanding of international student recruitment and retention in collegiate athletics, this study examines the motivations and decision-making processes of Chinese high school athletes and their parents in pursuing U.S. collegiate sport opportunities. Using the push–pull framework and an ecological perspective, it explores how individual aspirations, family priorities, institutional resources, and national policies shape transnational mobility. Semistructured focus group discussions with 10 athletes and eight parents revealed six key motivational themes and highlighted the influence of recent collegiate sport-related policy changes in China. The findings suggest that while both groups value U.S. sport pathways, athletes and parents may …

Clinical And Biochemical Effects Of Intra-Articular Autologous Conditioned Serum And Triamcinolone In An Equine Model Of Synovitis, Ana Velloso Alvarez, Anne Wooldridge, Fred Caldwell, Sandra Zetterström, Bruno C. Menarim, Taylor J. Towns, Emily C. Graff, Lindsey Boone

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Synovitis is a key contributor to the development of OA, and early modulation of the synovial environment may help limit downstream cartilage damage. This study compared the clinical and biochemical effects of intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and autologous conditioned serum (ACS) in an equine model of IL-1β–induced synovitis. Six healthy adult horses were used in a crossover design involving five groups: PBS (negative control), IL-1β (positive control), IL-1β + ACS, IL-1β + TA, and an exploratory ACS-alone group administered post hoc to isolate its effects without IL-1β interference. Both TA and ACS mitigated inflammation through distinct profiles. TA was superior …

Caught In The Midwife’S Hands: A Black Feminist Exploration Of Reproductive Health And Justice In Massachusetts, Nina Bakum

Gender, Sexuality, and Intersectionality Studies Honors Papers

No abstract provided.

Embodied Aging: Older Adults’ Gendered Participation In Physical And Recreational Activity In Assisted Living, Gavin Anderson

Self-Designed Majors Honors Papers

This study examines how older adults interpret their experiences with physical and recreational activity in assisted living, and how these interpretations influence how they engage in their everyday social and physical contexts. In the fall of 2025, eleven older adults—nine women and two men—living in an assisted living facility in a coastal city in Southeastern Connecticut participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews. The facility provides both short-term post-acute care and long-term residential care, offering structured opportunities for physical and recreational engagement.

Past research demonstrates that participation in physical and recreational activity provides substantial benefits for older adults; yet, the lived experience …

Exploring Dominican University Nursing Students’ Perceptions Of Economic Barriers To Accessing Essential Women’S Health Products, Annabelle E. Burke

Nursing | Senior Theses

Period poverty is defined as inconsistent or inadequate access to feminine hygiene products, and it has been shown to negatively impact physical and mental health, academic performance, and dignity across diverse populations. Existing research highlights financial strain, social stigma, and insufficient support as key barriers to menstrual equity among individuals experiencing homelessness, adolescents living in low-resource environments, low-income women, and general undergraduate students (Brinkley & Niebuhr, 2023; Dave et al., 2022; Gruer et al., 2021; Lahme et al., 2018; Parkinson et al., 2024; Gilchrist et al., 2024). However, no studies have examined these issues amongst Dominican University nursing students who …

Paternal Involvement And Bonding In Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Evaluating Daily Caregiving, Emotional Well-Being, And Father-Infant Connection, Ava G. Kinyon

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Premature birth and serious neonatal conditions frequently require infants to obtain care in the NICU, producing psychological and emotional obstacles for families. Despite the fact that skin-to-skin contact has been extensively researched for its strengths in encouraging stability and bonding, there persists restricted importance and understanding on paternal participation in routine caregiving tasks such as feeding, diapering, temperature checks, and swaddling. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate paternal participation in daily NICU caregiving tasks to address gaps in comprehending how these experiences impact bonding and emotional well-being among fathers of hospitalized infants. Methods: This study will employ a quasi-experimental …

Unm Pathology, Pathfinder Winter 2026, Unm Department Of Pathology

Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Child Poverty And Nutritional Health In Rural And Non-Rural Ohio Counties, Viraj Chegu, Macy Puthoff

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Child poverty is an ongoing issue in the United States, placing children at a risk of nutritional deficits. While community interventions and reduced price school lunch programs have improved food insecurity outcomes for children, there is limited knowledge of how these programs can alleviate potential health problems in rural versus urban areas. Thus, this project aims to compare various variables such as food environment index, food insecurity, and enrollment in reduced price school lunch among counties in Ohio of different poverty levels as well as whether the counties are rural or nonrural. Methods: Factors such as food insecurity, food environment …

Childhood Factors That Affect Adult Obesity In Ohio And Mississippi, Rhea Lal, Danielle Wolford

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Over 40% of adults in the United States struggle with obesity. While several social determinants of health have been tied to obesity, only limited research on the effect of childhood education, food environments, and physical activity resources on a state-wide level has been conducted. It is imperative that we identify connections between obesity, associated comorbidities, education, and SDoH as these will inform improvements in national social structures and healthcare systems. States Ohio (OH) and Mississippi (MS) differ in high school completion rates, food access, and exercise opportunities yet both states continue to experience rising adult obesity rates. This study analyzed …

Investigation Of Educational And Social Factors Affecting Health Outcomes In The United States, Maxx Cadmus, Saiprashanthi Thota

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Although increasing levels of educational attainment has been linked to stronger health outcomes in the United States, the mechanism behind this relationship and quantifiable relationship warrants further investigation. It is hypothesized that increasing level of educational achievement leads to improved job placement, higher wages, and improved health literacy, which directly contribute towards stronger health outcomes. The objective of this study was to further investigate the link between education and health outcomes through a variety of social and environmental parameters as reported in the County Health Rankings (CHR) dataset. Healthy counties were categorized as those that received a ranking of 5 …

Summary Of: Clinician Experiences And Comfort With Providing Harm Reduction Resources To People Who Use Drugs, Amanda Cahn, Melissa Calica, Erin Mooz, Malia Haddock, Wendy Craig, Tania D. Strout

Northern New England Clinical & Translational Research

Drug overdose deaths continue to rise in the United States, including in Maine, which has high rates of overdose mortality, viral hepatitis, and a recent HIV outbreak among people who use drugs. Harm reduction strategies such as naloxone distribution, safer use supplies, and linkage to syringe service programs are well established in research and improve patient safety and engagement. Despite strong evidence, clinical adoption remains inconsistent.

Study found @ "Clinician Experiences and Comfort with Providing Harm Reduction Resour" by Amanda Cahn, Melissa Calica et al.

Proteome-Based Identification And Validation Of Nxpe3 In Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, Najia Tabassum, Yamna Khurshid, Basir Syed, Aftab Ahmad, Sadia Muhammad, Rehan Imad, Talat Mirza

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (cALL) tends to metastasize to central nervous system. Treatment with antileukemic agents against CNS leukaemia is an essential component for cure in ALL. Hence, it is essential to identify biomarkers for CNS infiltration. Proteomics, supported by mass spectrometry, is the platform for exploring biomarkers in various biological samples, contributing to translational research. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the plasma proteome profile of children across different risk groups of cALL. Neurexophilin and PC-esterase family, member 3 (NXPE3), was validated. The protein-protein interactions (PPI) of NXPE3 were evaluated with bioinformatics analyses. Methods: Plasma …

From Silos To Systems: A Conceptual Framework For Workforce Aligned Oral Health Education, Meghan Bastin

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

In the current U.S. educational system, becoming a dentist follows a few prescriptive pathways.  Learners typically complete an undergraduate degree before entering time-intensive doctoral training.  This results in only 3-4 years of direct professional education embedded within an eight -year process, while learners accumulate significant financial investment in their education.  With the average cost of graduate-level dental education alone exceeding $300,000 and new federal borrowing limits likely to further constrain access, there is an opportunity to explore alternative ways of structuring oral health education.

This poster presents a conceptual, system-level framework that explores a perspective in which oral health education …

Noncognitive Predictors Of Academic Performance In Undergraduate Allied Health Professionals Students, Keleigh Pershina, Michael Mehall, Alexandra Hollo

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

Undergraduate students in allied health professions face substantial academic, clinical, and personal demands that may affect academic performance and attainment of professional goals. Noncognitive factors such as stress, coping, and burnout have been identified as important contributors to academic outcomes in health professions education; however, empirical work examining these variables has yielded conflicting results. To identify potential student supports specific to undergraduate students within a land grant, rural serving institution in Appalachia, we conducted a survey to ask how personal factors such as burnout, stress, depression, and coping skills would predict academic success. A sample of 19 students complete a …

The Impact Of Home Birth Integration On Maternal-Neonatal Outcomes And Patient Satisfaction: An Integrative Review, Mary E. Hillaker, Jennifer K. Jacobitz

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Home birth is a safe option for low-risk populations. As awareness of home birth increases, so do the families choosing home birth. Governing bodies recommend well integrated maternal health systems, yet the impact of level of integration on perinatal outcomes and patient satisfaction has not been specifically examined. The purpose of this integrative review is to identify the impact home birth integration has on maternal and neonatal outcomes, patient satisfaction, and how communities can improve their integration level.
Methods: A keyword search of current literature was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus databases. An additional hand search of 2 …

Dosage Considerations For Aspirin Therapy To Prevent Preeclampsia In Pregnancy, Melissa S. Haraway

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Preeclampsia remains the leading cause of maternal and neonatal mortality worldwide despite extensive and ongoing research on the subject. The use of aspirin therapy to reduce preeclampsia in pregnancy is widely researched and accepted into practice, however, optimal dosing is still debated. The purpose of this review is to identify which dosage of aspirin therapy offers the most effective reduction in preeclampsia without increasing the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.
Methods: The following databases were searched using the framework methodology by Whittemore and Knafl: CINAHL, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, ProQuest, and Citations. The search criteria limited articles to five years old …

Prolonged Qt Interval In Hiv-1 Infected Humanized Mice Treated Chronically With Dolutegravir/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine, Ali Namvaran, Julian V. Garcia, Mahendran Ramasamy, Kayla Nguyen, Farzaneh Tavakkoli Ghazani, Bryan T. Hackfort, Prasanta Dash, Reagan E. Fisher, Benson J. Edagwa, Santhi Gorantla, Keshoer R. Bidasee

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

The REPRIEVE Trial recently reported high rates of sudden cardiac death (SCD) middle-aged people living with HIV-1 infection (PWH) using the WHO/NIH-recommended two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)/one integrase strand inhibitor (INSTI) regimen to manage HIV-1 viremia. To date, clinically relevant animal models to delineate underlying causes for this remain limited. Here, we assessed if HIV-1-infected NOD.Cg-Prkdc^scidIl2rg^tm1Wjl/SzJ humanized mice (Hu-mice) treated with the WHO/NIH-recommended antiretroviral regimen, dolutegravir (DTG, INSTI)/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF, NRTIs)/emtricitabine (FTC, NRTIs), can recapitulate abnormalities in the ECG and subclinical structural heart disease that serve as harbingers of SCD in middle-aged PWH. …

Winter 2026, Humayun Islam

PMI Newsletter

No abstract provided.

A Descriptive Study Of Cancer Care Experiences And Burden Of Rural South Dakotans, Sarah Mollman, Teddi Dowling, Patricia Woolridge, Jamie Hillmer, James Odom, Marie Bakitas, Hossein Moradi Rekabdarkolaee, Brandon Varilek

Journal Articles: College of Nursing

BACKGROUND: American Indian (AI) persons with advanced cancer (PwAC) in South Dakota have seen increased rates of cancer incidence and mortality compared to national rates. These inequities are driven by social determinants of health. Providing early palliative care is highly important for rural PwAC but is sparsely available in rural South Dakota.

OBJECTIVE: To explore cancer care experiences and patient symptoms and caregiver burden among AI and rural PwAC, and their family caregivers (FCGs), to understand the barriers and opportunities for adapting an early palliative care intervention.

DESIGN: Descriptive study design reporting on the qualitative and quantitative data collected.

METHODS: …

The Association Of Social Determinants Of Health On Mortality Among Adults With End-Stage Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Prince Agyapong, Lauren Longacre, Patti Brooks, Hossein Moradi Rekabdarkolaee, Surachat Ngorsuraches, Aine O'Connor, Semhar Michael, Brandon Varilek

Journal Articles: College of Nursing

RATIONALE/OBJECTIVE:: Synthesize evidence from published studies on end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) mortality and determine associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and ESKD mortality.

STUDY DESIGN:: This PRISMA-guided study examined all published research across four electronic databases.

STUDY POPULATIONS:: Adults with ESKD living in the United States.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR STUDIES:: Clinical trials, observational, cross-sectional, and prospective/retrospective cohort studies were considered if one or more of the five domains of SDOH were present in the analysis.

EXTRACTION/ANALYSIS:: Extraction was performed independently by two reviewers using a standardized form that captured study purpose and design, outcomes, SDOH domain, setting, participant characteristics, …

State-Level Variations In School Physical Activity Policies And Their Impact On Student Physical Activity In Arkansas And Oklahoma, Sydney K. Crees, Erin Howie Hickey

2026 Honors Symposium

Regular physical activity is critical for children's health and development, yet most U.S. children fall short of recommended daily activity levels. Schools represent a key opportunity to address this gap through PE and recess, though state policies governing these vary widely. This cross-sectional study compared school-based physical activity in Arkansas and Oklahoma, two states with distinct policies. Arkansas mandates 40 minutes of daily recess and 40 minutes of PE per week, while Oklahoma requires 60 minutes of weekly PE and 60 minutes of additional weekly physical activity but does not mandate recess. Surveys were distributed to principals and PE teachers …

Nanocomposite Mediated Delivery Of 5-Fluorouracil Using Silver Nanoparticles To Promote Wound Healing, Kamal Nath Kasi

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Chronic wounds, particularly in diabetic patients, remain a significant clinical challenge due to the complex interaction of persistent infection, chronic inflammation, and impaired cellular regeneration. Conventional drug therapies often fail to achieve effective treatment due to rapid drug degradation, poor targeting, and localized toxicity. This study explores a nanotechnology-based approach by developing and evaluating 5-FU loaded AgNP (AgNP–5FU) as a controlled drug delivery system. AgNP (AgNP) were synthesized and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, particle size, and zeta potential analysis, while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis suggested possible interaction between 5-FU and the …

Development And In Vitro Characterization Of 5-Fluorouracil–Loaded Plga Nanoparticles For Controlled Drug Delivery, Kavya Yandapalli

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a progressive metabolic disorder characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and chronic inflammation. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems offer a promising strategy to enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. The objective of this study is to formulate and characterize 5-FU–loaded PLGA nanoparticles and evaluate their in vitro performance. 5-FU–loaded PLGA nanoparticles were prepared using the double emulsion solvent evaporation method. The nanoparticles were characterized by particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and SEM. Drug encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity and in vitro drug release studies were conducted. The formulated nanoparticles exhibited sizes within the …

Comparative Machine Learning Models For Disease Risk Prediction, Mercy Mawusi Agbley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Accurate prediction of disease outcomes is crucial for improving clinical decision-making and enabling early intervention. This study compares the performance of various statistical and machine learning models for clinical risk prediction using two healthcare datasets: diabetic retinopathy and heart disease. The models assessed include Logistic Regression, LASSO, k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Neural Networks, Random Forests, Gradient Boosting Machines (GBM), and a stacked ensemble model. Prior to modeling, datasets were split into train and test sets. Standardization was applied to numeric features whilst categorical features were one-hot encoded. These transformations were later applied to the test set. Principal …