Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Development Of Hardiness Questionnaire A Psychometric Study On High School Students In Lebanon, Helga Alaeddine

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

With the emergence of Positive Psychology in 1980, research moved from examining the effect of negative stressors to focusing on the exploration of positive variables that enhance an individual’s ability to face such stressors without the negative impact on their physical and mental health. Further, recent research seeks to study the personality traits which can alleviate the adverse effects of stressful life events. Psychologists have observed that crises and stress often lead to more hardy individuals compared to those who have not been through similar experiences or faced similar stress. Psychological hardiness is, therefore, one of the most prominent variables …

Caregiver Burden, Coping Mechanisms And Catharsis: An Exploratory Study, Triveni Goswami Vernal

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Adopting a qualitative approach, with narrative analysis, an attempt will be made to understand the experience of ‘Caregiver Burden’ amongst 5-7 primary caregivers of children with Autism, in India. An attempt will also be made to capture their coping mechanisms and cathartic behaviours, to reduce stress. To this end, a Caregiver Burden Inventory and an Open Ended questionnaire, touching upon the main issues, will be used. The study also aims to perceive how autonomy as a personality trait can play a significant role in empowering oneself as a caregiver and subsequently have noteworthy consequences on the coping mechanisms and cathartic …

Current Practices Of Community Pharmacists In Counseling Patients On Smoking Cessation In Beirut:A Questionnaire – Based Study, Mohamed Issa, Maya Elsolh, Lama Soubra

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Despite various strategies and efforts exerted in the form of awareness campaigns, health conferences, targeted advertisements and laws, the prevalence of smoking is alarmingly increasing for both genders in Lebanon. Because of the ease of accessibility, community pharmacists are ideally positioned to help their patients quit smoking. The current study aims to assess the Lebanese pharmacists’ practices in counseling their patients on smoking cessation. A cross-sectional study targeting community pharmacists in Beirut was conducted during June 2017 to September 2017. The adopted questionnaire was designed based on the WHO approved 5A’s toolkit program for delivering brief tobacco interventions in primary …

Does Durkheim's Theory Hold Any Truths For Modern Day Self-Immolation? A Review On The Literature, Mohsen Rezaeian

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Durkheim categorized suicide into four types as “egoistic”, “anomic”, “fatalistic”, and “altruistic”. He further hypothesized that the last two types i.e. “fatalistic” and “altruistic” are assigned to the then traditional society. However, in the present article and through literature review I will discuss that in modern society and especially within some low and middle income countries, self-immolation on its first and second most prevalent patterns i.e. to protest at micro and macro levels, respectively could be considered as a social self-sacrifice phenomenon. Therefore, it may well categorize as the altruistic type of suicide based on Durkheim’s theory.

Suicide And Culture, Mehmet Eskin

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

The rates of suicidal ideation, attempts and mortality present a large intersocietal variation. This variation is usually attributed to the role of culture, but the issue is still poorly understood. How does culture contribute to the intersocietal or cross-cultural variation of suicidal behavior? How culture might be involved in the onset, maintenance and aggravation of suicidal tendencies? In this paper, I will be discussing possible mechanisms of culture for the onset, maintenance and aggravation of suicidal propensities. Specifically, I will be examining the role of religion, individualistic-collectivistic value orientations, self-construal and survival versus self-expression values for their relevance to suicidal …

Natural Narcotics: Phytochemical Content Analysis And Their Social Hazards, Kareem Raafat

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Narcotics can cause a wide range of adverse effects. The analysis of the narcotics phytochemical content utilizing rapid and efficient techniques have become of imminent need. The use of illegal drugs has been a long-standing problem in the world, a problem that has taken on a particular urgency in the last 30 years. The aim of the study is to develop comprehensive rapid technique in the field of phytochemical content analysis of narcotics, and to illustrate the role of the new narcotics on many psychological, physiological and social hazards, and giving recommendations on how to find solutions to these problems. …

Diabetes And Depression: Relation To Glycemic Control, Hala Ahmadieh

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide highly prevalent chronic metabolic disorder, characterized by hyperglycemia, and is associated with significant complications, including the microvascular complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy and the macrovascular complications such as cardiovascular, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease, thus leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Patients with diabetes were found to be 1.4-3 times more likely to suffer from comorbid depression when compared to non-diabetics, and depression in diabetes is usually persistent and/or recurrent. Depression was found to be increased among patients with type I and type II diabetes mellitus, which have higher glycosylated hemoglobin. Association …

The Factor Structure Of Mental Health: Explanatory & Confirmatory Factor Structure Of Psychological Distress And Psychological Well-Being Measures, Badr El Ansari

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Psychological distress (PD) is usually based on the level of anxiety and depressive symptoms while psychological well-being (PW) is usually conceptualized as some combination of positive affective states such as happiness, optimism, satisfaction with life, and hope. This paper addresses the question of whether psychological distress and psychological well-being are the opposite poles of the same axis of mental health or independent constructs that should be measured on two independent axes. Methods: The sample consisted of (510) Kuwait University students, (240) males with a mean age of (24.08 ±5.10) and (270) females, with a mean age of (21.68 ±2.70), (f=46.77, …

Maternal Well-Being Therapy In Treating Depression In Johor City Of Malaysia, Akeel Khan, Deviga Marappan, Adibah Abdul Latif

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Maternal depression during pregnancy appears to be the most common and complicated psychological disorder in the world. Although maternal depression can be treated medically, consumption of antidepressant drugs could leave some kind of negative side effects on mother’s body and the baby in the womb. Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to determine the effectiveness of Maternal Well-being Therapy (MWT) in treating women with maternal depression. It is a qualitative study adapting case study research design. From the state of Johor city of Malaysia, four pregnant women who has scored 12 or more with suicidal thoughts symptoms on …

A Cuticular Romance, Anne F. Liu

Journal of Wellness

No abstract provided.

Books: The Original And Final Refuge For Mental Wellness, Kyle Christopher Miller

Journal of Wellness

An appreciation for literature and how reading fights to stay relevant in the fast moving era of technology.

What's Happening: January 27, 2020, Maine Medical Center

What's Happening

No abstract provided.

Optimal Bait Density For Delivery Of Acute Toxicants To Vertebrate Pests, Kim M. Pepin, Nathan P. Snow, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Oral baiting is a fundamental method for delivering toxicants to pest species. Planning baiting strategies is challenging because bait-consumption rates depend on dynamic processes including space use and demographics of the target species. To determine cost-effective strategies for optimizing baiting, we developed a spatially explicit model of population dynamics using field-based measures of wild-pig (Sus scrofa) space use, bait consumption, and mortality probabilities. The most cost-effective baiting strategy depended strongly on the population reduction objective and initial density. A wide range of baiting strategies were cost-effective when the objective was 80% population reduction. In contrast, only a narrow range of …

Synthesis And Preliminary Ex Vivo Testing Of Sirna Targeting Tcrb: A Proposed Therapy For The Treatment Of Autoimmunity, Nicholas J. Magazine

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

Background:

As of 2018, the United States National Institutes of Health estimate that over half a billion people worldwide are affected by autoimmune disorders. Though these conditions are prevalent, treatment options remain relatively poor, relying primarily on various forms of immunosuppression which carry potentially severe side effects and often lose effectiveness overtime. Given this, new forms of therapy are needed. We propose small-interfering RNA (siRNA) for hypervariable regions of the T-cell receptor β-chain gene (TCRb) as a highly targeted, novel means of therapy for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.

Objectives:

To develop methods to produce siRNA targeting …

A Feasibility Study Of Lavender Aromatherapy In An Awake Craniotomy Environment, Kailah Cathey, Nichole Gunyon, Nancy Chung, Nancy Conway, Diane Ames, Maharaj Singh, Amin B. Kassam, Richard A. Rovin

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Integrative medicine interventions are needed for awake craniotomies, as many patients experience anxiety. Lavender aromatherapy significantly reduces anxiety or pain in a variety of surgical procedures. This feasibility study used lavender aromatherapy during awake craniotomies to determine the number of patients who would consent and complete the study, the technicality of lavender aromatherapy use, and acceptance by operating room (OR) staff.

Methods: We approached 40 consecutive patients (≥18 years old). Exclusion criteria were pulmonary issues or sensitivity to lavender. Outcome measures in consented patients were enrollment and completion rates, anxiety and pain as measured by the Visual Analog Scale …

Anxiety-Related Issues In Cancer Survivorship, Maresi A. Berry-Stoelzle, Anna C. Mark, Peter Kim, Jeanette M. Daly

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine patient opinions about anxiety in cancer survivorship, particularly the role of the primary care provider in management of anxiety related to the trajectory of long-term cancer survivorship.

Methods: Respondents to a mass email (N = 22,000) were invited to participate in 1 of 3 institutional review board-approved focus group meetings. Inclusion criteria were being an adult patient older than 25 years of age, having any type of cancer diagnosis, and being at least 18 months from treatment. The following specific issues were discussed: role of the primary care provider …

Listening To The Patient: A Typology Of Contextual Red Flags In Disease Management Encounters, Amy E. Binns-Calvey, Gunjan Sharma, Naomi Ashley, Brendan Kelly, Frances M. Weaver, Saul J. Weiner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Patients send clues, often unwittingly, when they are grappling with a life challenge that complicates their care. For instance, a patient may lose control of a previously well-managed chronic condition or start missing appointments. When explored, these clues help clinicians uncover the life circumstance impacting the individual’s ability to manage their health and health care. Such clues are termed “contextual red flags.” Effective care requires recognizing them, asking about them, and customizing the care plan where feasible. We sought to develop a typology of contextual red flags by analyzing audio recordings along with the medical records of encounters between …

In Gratitude Of 2019 Jpcrr Peer Reviewers

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews gratefully acknowledges the contributions of its submission reviewers from the previous year. Peer review is an essential component to publishing high-quality scientific literature. The editors thank these individuals for their generous volunteerism.

Fenugreek Counters The Effects Of High Fat Diet On Gut Microbiota In Mice: Links To Metabolic Benefit, Annadora J. Bruce-Keller, Allison J. Richard, Sun-Ok Fernandez-Kim, David M. Ribnicky, J Michael Salbaum, Susan Newman Phd, Rn, Crrn, Faan, Richard Carmouche, Jacqueline M. Stephens

Publications

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual herbaceous plant and a staple of traditional health remedies for metabolic conditions including high cholesterol and diabetes. While the mechanisms of the beneficial actions of fenugreek remain unknown, a role for intestinal microbiota in metabolic homeostasis is likely. To determine if fenugreek utilizes intestinal bacteria to offset the adverse effects of high fat diets, C57BL/6J mice were fed control/low fat (CD) or high fat (HFD) diets each supplemented with or without 2% (w/w) fenugreek for 16 weeks. The effects of fenugreek and HFD on gut microbiota were comprehensively mapped and then statistically assessed in …

Brodifacoum Residues In Fish Three Years After An Island-Wide Rat Eradication Attempt In The Tropical Pacific, Shane R. Siers, Aaron B. Shiels, Steven F. Volker, Kristen Rex, William C. Pitt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive rats are known to threaten natural resources and human health and safety. Island-wide rat eradication attempts have been increasing in number and scale during the past several decades, as has the frequency of eradication success. The most common method to remove all rats from an island is to broadcast anticoagulant rodenticide bait into every rat’s home range on the island. Broadcast of toxicants can put humans and other nontarget species in marine and terrestrial environments at risk of exposure. The persistence of anticoagulant residues is somewhat unknown, particularly in marine environments. Three years after ~ 18,000 kg of 25 …

Lavender Aromatherapy: Ready For Prime-Time Office Use?, Dennis J. Baumgardner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

The editor-in-chief of Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews comments on the perioperative use of lavender aromatherapy and its potential to relieve pain and anxiety during minor primary care office procedures.

Surgeons’ Views On Shared Decision-Making, Suraj Kannan, Jayhyun Seo, Kevin R. Riggs, Gail Geller, Emily F. Boss, Zackary D. Berger

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Shared decision-making (SDM) has a significant role in surgical encounters, where decisions are influenced by both clinician and patient preferences. Herein, we sought to explore surgeons’ practices and beliefs about SDM.

Methods: We performed a qualitative study consisting of semi-structured individual interviews with 18 surgeons from private practice and academic surgery practices in Baltimore, Maryland. We purposively sampled participants to maximize diversity of practice type (academic vs private), surgical specialty, gender, and experience level. Interview topics included benefits and challenges to patient involvement in decision-making, communicating uncertainty to patients, and use of decision aids. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. …

Enhancing Immunization Rates In Two Urban Academic Primary Care Clinics: A Before And After Assessment, Zeeshan Yacoob, Christopher Cook, Fabiana Kotovicz, Jessica J.F. Kram, Marianne Klumph, Marisa Stanley, Paul Hunter, Dennis J. Baumgardner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Immunization rates in many cities in the United States remain suboptimal compared to Healthy People 2020 Goals and are lower than national averages. This study aimed to determine whether a lecture-based educational intervention targeted at nurses and medical assistants would improve vaccination rates.

Methods: We conducted a quality improvement study in two urban academic family medicine clinics serving a predominantly Medicaid patient population as well as a sizable proportion of refugees. The intervention consisted of 3 lectures that were delivered to clinic nurses and medical assistants. Vaccinations in 1689 patients — 872 in the 3-month preintervention period, 817 in …

Cryptococcal Antigen Testing In An Integrated Medical System: Eastern Wisconsin, Marianne Klumph, Brian Hoeynck, Dennis J. Baumgardner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Cryptococcosis is a serious environmentally acquired endemic fungal infection commonly associated with immunocompromised hosts. Little is known regarding frequency or distribution in Wisconsin. We explored the geodemographic and clinical features of patients tested with cryptococcal antigen tests (CrAg) — previously shown to be >90% sensitive and >90% specific — within a large health care system located in eastern Wisconsin. To examine this, we retrospectively analyzed 1465 CrAg tests on 1211 unique patients (female: 50.2%; white race: 73.9%; mean age: 53.7 ± 16.5 years). At least one CrAg result was positive in 23 of 1211 patients (1.9%). From these, 21 of …

Week Of January 27, 2020, New York Medical College

InTouch

• NYMC Days of Giving Set for March 24 and 25
• Center for Disaster Medicine Hosts Training for White Plains Hospital
• SHSP Dean's Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series Features Leading Health Education Specialist
• Middle States Self-Study is Underway

Functional Significance Of Endothelial Sigma-1 Receptors In Vascular Reactivity And Barrier Function, Zeinab Y. Motawe

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The sigma-1 receptor (σ1) is a single 25 kD polypeptide that acts as a chaperone protein residing primarily in the endoplasmic reticulum Its interaction with mitochondria at the mitochondria-associated ER membrane domain is well-documented. Following activation, σ1 binds to the inositol trisphosphate receptor (Hayashi & Su), and modulates intracellular calcium homeostasis. Also, the activated σ1 modulates plasma membrane receptors and ion channel functions, and may regulate cellular excitability. Further, σ1 affects trafficking of lipids and proteins essential for neurotransmission, cell growth and motility. Activation of σ1 provides neuroprotection and cardio-protection in various models. Examples of neuroprotection include but not limited …

Extended Prophylactic Antibiotics For Mastectomy With Immediate Breast Reconstruction: A Meta-Analysis, Yang Hai, Weelic Chong, Melissa Lazar

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Background: The risk of surgical site infection (SSI) for breast surgery in patients without additional risk factors is low, below 5%. Evidence shows the risk of SSI is significantly elevated in patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction (IBR). However, there is no consensus regarding the use of extended antibiotic prophylaxis. We aim to determine the effect of extended antibiotic prophylaxis on the incidence of SSI after IBR.

Methods: PubMed and Scopus were searched by 2 independent reviewers. Data abstracted included types of study, basic characteristics, detailed antibiotic prophylaxis information, SSI event, and other secondary outcomes. We calculated the risk ratio (RR) …

The Mitochondrial Hsp90 Paralog Trap1 Forms An Oxphos-Regulated Tetramer And Is Involved In Mitochondrial Metabolic Homeostasis, Abhinav Joshi, Li Dai, Yanxin Liu, Jungsoon Lee, Nastaran Mohammadi Ghahhari, Gregory Segala, Kristin Beebe, Lisa M Jenkins, Gaelyn C Lyons, Lilia Bernasconi, Francis T F Tsai, David A Agard, Len Neckers, Didier Picard

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The molecular chaperone TRAP1, the mitochondrial isoform of cytosolic HSP90, remains poorly understood with respect to its pivotal role in the regulation of mitochondrial metabolism. Most studies have found it to be an inhibitor of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and an inducer of the Warburg phenotype of cancer cells. However, others have reported the opposite, and there is no consensus on the relevant TRAP1 interactors. This calls for a more comprehensive analysis of the TRAP1 interactome and of how TRAP1 and mitochondrial metabolism mutually affect each other.

RESULTS: We show that the disruption of the gene for TRAP1 in …

Reviewer Acknowledgments For 2019, F. Douglas Scutchfield Md, Erin N. Haynes, Erin Bouldin, Robert M. Shapiro Ii, Tim Marema, Charlotte S. Seidman

Journal of Appalachian Health

The Editorial Team extends a heart-felt “thank you” to those who have given their time and expertise in the past year to participate in this process with the Journal of Appalachian Health. We know that you have many competing pressures on your time, and that you are not financially compensated for the time you spend reviewing manuscripts. We hope that there are other forms of compensation that make the sacrifice worth the effort.

A Healthy Attitude: Rural Leaders In Tn County Organize To Address Well-Being In Appalachia, Tim Marema, Erin Bouldin

Journal of Appalachian Health

When it came to formal philanthropy, Grundy County was not on the map. That changed with the 2012 establishment of South Cumberland Community Fund, which serves the plateau portions of Grundy, Franklin, and Marion counties.