Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Breaking The Chain: Evaluating The Links Between Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, And Suicide, Amanda Nicole Stover Mph

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Previous research has estimated that 20–30% of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) have a history of both suicide attempt and unintentional opioid overdose. In 2018, more than 1.9 million adults 18 years and older had an OUD; while 1.4 million adults attempted suicide that same year (SAMHSA, 2019). The key to understanding this relationship is examining behaviors that precede these potentially fatal behaviors. One such precursory behavior is self-injury. Self-injurious behaviors (SIB) are one of the most important risk factors for future suicide (Cavanagh et al.,2003). This study has three primary objectives. The first is to conduct a systematic …

Integrating Care: Evaluation Of A Hepatitis C Clinic Co-Located With Harm Reduction And Addiction Treatment Programs In A Rural Clinic, Susan Ruth Mckenrick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: West Virginia (WV) is second in the nation for cases of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) per capita – meaning more than 24,000 residents are living with HCV. Most new cases are in young persons who inject drugs (PWID). However, the no-call, no-show rate for HCV patients coming to clinics in Morgantown is about 50%, indicating the need to do a better job engaging them in care. Literature suggests that integrating HCV clinics with harm reduction and addiction treatment programs increases uptake of HCV treatment.

Objective: The overall objective was to establish an integrated HCV clinic where harm reduction …

The Effects Of Intrinsic Foot Muscle Strengthening On Foot Posture, Balance, And Agility In Ice Hockey Players, Rebecca Eve Veltrie

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Context: Research has shown that intrinsic foot muscle strengthening over a 4-week period is beneficial for improvements in dynamic postural control, function, stability and foot posture. Ice hockey is a sport that requires immense levels of balance, stability and performance on the lateral aspect of the skate. With research lacking on the impact of intrinsic foot muscle strengthening on ice hockey athletes’ balance, foot posture and performance, implementation of such a program may be beneficial for ice hockey players. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of foot intrinsic muscle strengthening versus a traditional …

Clear Aligner Therapy Vs. Traditional Brackets On Smile Arc, Sarah Elizabeth Larue

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: More so than ever, the public is becoming exceedingly aware of esthetics, and will evaluate their treatment outcome based upon the improvement to their smile and overall enhancement of their facial appearance. Smile arc is considered to be a key component of facial esthetics. Literature has demonstrated that orthodontic treatment mechanics utilizing traditional brackets and wires can cause flattening of the smile arc and that smiles with flatter arcs are judged to be less attractive. The aim of this study was to determine whether clear aligner therapy can help to preserve or improve the smile arc …

Hepatitis B In At-Risk Groups: Three Studies To Guide Education, Testing, And Vaccination Efforts In West Virginia, Stacy Tressler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: For over a decade, West Virginia’s (WV) rate of acute hepatitis B has been the highest in the United States (US). In 2017, WV’s rate was 11.7 per 100,000 population, almost 12 times higher than the national rate. The increase in acute hepatitis B cases is largely due to substance misuse, including injection drug use (IDU). Hepatitis B is a vaccine preventable disease yet many at-risk adults remain unvaccinated and susceptible to infection. The objectives of our studies are to 1) describe yearly changes in acute hepatitis B incidence in WV and assess county-level impact of the …

Adherence To A Home Exercise Programme Following A Clinical Programme For Non-Acute Non-Specific Low Back Pain: An Exploratory Study, Judith L'Heureux, Marie-France Coutu, Djamal Berbiche, Christian Larivière

Études primaires

Purpose:Lack of adherence to home exercise programmes is hypothesised to partially explain the modest clinical effects seen in patients with low back pain. This study explored the association between the main biopsychosocial factors and adherence using a theory-driven approach including the fear-avoidance model, the common-sense model and the working alliance concept.

Methods: A repeated measures design was used. During and after an eight-week clinical exercise programme, 48 participants with non-acute and disabling low back pain followed a home exercise programme. Questionnaires assessed home exercise adherence and biopsychosocial factors at baseline, after the eight-week clinical programme and at the six-month follow-up. …

Comparative Performance Of The Nanoscan And The Classic Smps In Determining N95 Filtering Facepiece Efficiency Against Nanoparticles, Clothilde Brochot, Fariborz Haghighat, Ali Bahloul

Études primaires

Nanoparticles are defined as particles with at least one dimension in the range of 1–100 nm. Due to the special properties of nanoparticles, they are used in many workplaces, thus leading to occupational exposure. Filtering facepieces (FFPs) are generally used in these workplaces to reduce the exposure. Many studies have measured FFP efficiency in laboratories using a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). The aim of this study was to determine whether a NanoScan could be used to measure FFP efficiency against nanoparticles in workplaces for one type of N95 FFP. The results showed that the NanoScan gave maximum penetration and …

On Site Comparison Of The Osha 42, Asset Ez4-Nco, Iso-Chek, Dan And Cip10 Methods For Measuring Toluene Diisocyanate (Tdi) At A Polyurethane Foam Factory, Simon Aubin, El Mekki Hamdi, Audrey Joly, Philippe Sarazin, Jacques Lesage, Livain Breau, Mark Spence, Sébastien Gagné

Études primaires

Because of the semi-volatile nature of diisocyanates (being airborne in both physical vapor and particulate phases), their high reactivity and low occupational exposure limits, diisocyanate exposure evaluation has been challenging for industrial hygienists and laboratories. The objective of this study was to compare the toluene diisocyanate (2,4 and 2,6 isomers, TDI) concentration measured by five methods in a flexible polyurethane foam factory using different collection or derivatization approaches. The methods used were: OSHA 42 modified (filter, 1-(2-pyridyl)piperazine) (OSHA), Asset EZ4-NCO (denuder and filter, dibutylamine) (Asset), Iso-Chek (double-filter, 9-(N-methylaminomethyl) anthracene and 1,2-methoxyphenylpiperazine), DAN (filter, 1,8-diaminonaphthalene), and CIP10 (centrifugation, 1,2-methoxyphenylpiperazine). Particle real-time …

On-Site Comparison Of The Osha 47, Asset Ez4-Nco, Iso-Chek, Dan, And Cip10 Methods For Measuring Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate (Mdi) At An Oriented-Strand Board (Osb) Factory, Simon Aubin, El Mekki Hamdi, Audrey Joly, Philippe Sarazin, Jacques Lesage, Livain Breau, Mark Spence, Sébastien Gagné

Études primaires

Diisocyanates are occupational contaminants and known sensitizers causing irritation (skin and respiratory tract) as well as occupational asthma. Because of their physicochemical properties (semi-volatile and high reactivity) and low occupational limits, diisocyanate exposure evaluation is still a challenge nowadays for industrial hygienists and laboratories. The objective of this study was to compare the methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) concentrations measured by five methods using different collection or derivatization approaches in an oriented-strand board (OSB) factory. The methods used were: OSHA 47 (filter, 1-(2-pyridyl)piperazine) (OSHA), Asset EZ4-NCO (denuder and filter, dibutylamine) (Asset), Iso-Chek (double-filter, 9-(N-methylaminomethyl) anthracene and 1,2-methoxyphenylpiperazine), DAN (filter, 1,8-diaminonaphthalene), and …

Qualitative Knowledge Of Filtering Facepiece Respirators For Filtration Performance Tests During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Clothilde Brochot, Mohamed Nejib Saidi, Ali Bahloul

Études primaires

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the pressure on health centers to obtain certified N95 filtering facepiece respirators (N95 FFRs) and the pressure on the FFRs production sector led to a diversification of FFRs’ supply chains, with the approval of several government authorities.

Objective: The main issue then becomes whether these purchased FFRs are as effective as the FFRs commonly used in the pre-COVID-19 period.

Methods: The most efficient way is to test these FFRs under normative conditions. The setup used here allows to measure the pressure drop Δp (mbar) and the filtration efficiency E (%) of FFRs with a constant …

Structural Remodelling Of The Lumbar Multifidus, Thoracolumbar Fascia And Lateral Abdominal Wall Perimuscular Connective Tissues: A Cross-Sectional And Comparative Ultrasound Study, Christian Larivière, Richard Preuss, Dany H. Gagnon, Hakim Mecheri, Sharon M. Henry

Études primaires

Introduction

With low back pain (LBP), remodelling of the lumbar soft tissues involves both trunk muscles and neighbouring passive connective tissues. The aim of the present study was to compare three quantitative measures of these tissues, using ultrasound imaging (USI), among healthy controls and individuals with LBP.

Methods

USI measures from 30 healthy subjects and 34 patients with non-acute LBP were compared between groups and sexes. The measures employed were (1) lumbar multifidus echogenicity (fatty/fibrosis infiltration) at three vertebral levels; (2) posterior layer thickness of the thoracolumbar fascia, and (3) thickness of the perimuscular tissues surrounding the external oblique, internal …

Three-Month Efficacy Of Three Knee Braces In The Treatment Of Medial Knee Osteoarthritis In A Randomized Crossover Trial, Xavier Robert-Lachaine, Yoann Dessery, Étienne L. Belzile, Sylvie Turmel, Philippe Corbeil

Études primaires

Immediate biomechanical and functional effects of knee braces are often reported, however, the duration and type of knee brace treatment for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) remain unclear. The objective was to evaluate usage, comfort, pain, and knee adduction moment (KAM) of three knee braces each worn 3 months by patients. Twenty-four patients with KOA were assigned in a randomized crossover trial a valgus three-point bending system brace (V3P-brace), an unloader brace with valgus and external rotation functions (VER-brace) and a stabilizing brace used after ligament injuries (ACL-brace). Functional questionnaires and gait assessment were carried out before and after each brace wear …

Validation Of A Low-Cost Inertial Motion Capture System For Whole-Body Motion Analysis, X. Robert-Lachaine, H. Mecheri, A. Muller, C. Larue, A. Plamondon

Études primaires

While some low-cost inertial motion capture (IMC) systems are now commercially available, generally, they have not been evaluated against gold standard optical motion capture (OMC). The objective was to validate the low-cost Neuron IMC system with OMC. Whole-body kinematics were recorded on five healthy subjects during manual handling of boxes for about 32 min while wearing 17 magnetic and inertial measurement units with Optotrak clusters serving as a reference. The kinematical model was calibrated anatomically for OMC and with poses for IMC. Local coordinate systems were aligned with angular velocities to dissociate differences due to technology or kinematical model. Descriptive …

Determining Effects Of The Paf-R And Anti-Hypertensive Drugs Mediated Microvesicle Particle Release In Modulating Anti-Tumor Response Of Lung Cancer, Andrew Stephen Forino

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer is one of the world’s leading causes of cancer-related deaths with poor prognosis, and difficult to treat malignancy. Several genetic, and environmental factors including cigarette smoking and hypertension have been linked as the common risk factors for lung cancer. To that end, multiple mechanisms have been proposed in regulating tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis, as well as the efficacy of cancer therapy in experimental lung cancer models. Importantly, studies including ours, have shown that exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating stimuli such as cigarette smoking, and cancer therapy produced oxidized lipids with platelet-activating factor (PAF) agonistic activity from …

Discovery And Characterization Of Pathways Involved In Fus And Tdp43-Induced Toxicity In Yeast, Weston Joseph Shaw

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

High-throughput genome-scale studies are becoming increasingly common as a means to discover genetic interactions. This methodology is particularly efficient when performed in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we (1) overexpress a large human gene library in yeast to assess how many of them are toxic, and (2) use the list of genes generated above to refine and analyze human genes previously identified to enhance toxicity of two ALS-associated proteins, FUS and TDP-43. By introducing each of 13,500 human genes into yeast, we demonstrated that the majority of these genes (about 97%) are not toxic to yeast when overexpressed. These …

Faculty Publications 2019, Lsu Health Sciences Center New Orleans

Historical Faculty Publications

This Faculty bibliography contains 841 publications.

Reducing Gaps In Knowledge About Electroconvulsive Therapy Among Mental Health Nurses, Janice L. Edmonson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This DNP study was conducted to identify knowledge gaps about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among mental health nurses and to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention on the knowledge and attitude of mental health nurses about the use of ECT at a psychiatric hospital. In this study, the researcher sought to build upon an existing knowledge base using principles of adult learning theory to enhance the therapeutic relationship of the nursing staff when caring for ECT patients. A sample of three-quarters (N = 119) of the mental health nursing staff employed by the psychiatric hospital consented to participate in …

Accuracy Of Blx And Blt Guided Implants In The Edentulous Maxilla: An In Vivo Study, Benjamin Andrew Kordusky

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objectives: To determine the accuracy of dental implants placed using a dual scan CBCT protocol with a SLA 3D printed mucosa supported surgical guide using a flapless surgical approach with regard to sleeve position, type of implant, and regional location in the maxillary arch.

Methods: Nine patients received 4 dental implants utilizing a fully guided, flapless approach with a mucosa supported SLA surgical guide with 3 fixation pins. Implants were immediately loaded using an attachment placed in an existing Maxillary complete denture. Accuracy of implant positions were evaluated by the Treatment Evaluation module of coDiagnostiX (DentalWings, Montreal, Canada). Statistical analysis …

Evaluation Of The Impact Of An Educational Intervention Focused On Adolescent Vaping Among Rural Middle School Students, Holly F. Fitzwater

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sixty deaths due to the use of electronic cigarettes or other vaping products have been reported to date. Vaping has become viewed as a safe alternative to traditional cigarette smoking, particularly in the adolescent population. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends education by primary care clinicians to prevent initiation of tobacco products among adolescents. In order to combat this health disparity in America’s youth, intervention by the nursing profession is necessary. An educational session and interactive game were implemented by a school-based family nurse practitioner in order to change the …

Changing Dynamics Of Opioid Overdoses In West Virginia And Impact Of Medication For Opioid Use Disorder And Recurrence Of Overdose On Reducing Mortality Among West Virginia Medicaid Beneficiaries, Zheng Dai

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background

With increasing number of opioid overdoses in West Virginia (WV) in recent years and limited number of people receiving treatment, the dissertation study aims to better understand fatal overdose problems in WV and the impact of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in preventing overdose deaths.

Method

WV drug-related deaths from 2005 to 2018 was used to describe the involvement of fentanyl and FAs. WV Medicaid claim data was analyzed to describe the recurrent opioid overdose and the changes in receipt of MOUD. Further, a Medicaid opioid overdose cohort was created to evaluate the effect of occurrence of recurrent …

Role Of Ciliary Proteins Adp Ribosylation Factor Like Gtpase 13b (Arl13b) And Bardet-Biedl Syndrome-8 (Bbs8) In Photoreceptor Outer Segment Morphogenesis, Maintenance, And Viability, Tanya L. Dilan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Photoreceptor neurons are modified primary cilia with an extended ciliary compartment known as the outer segment (OS). The mechanisms behind the elaboration of photoreceptor cilia, OS morphogenesis, and maintenance remain poorly understood. In this work, we focused on dissecting the role of two ciliary proteins, the small GTPase ADP-ribosylation factor-like GTPase 13B (ARL13B) and Bardet-Biedl Syndrome-8 (BBS8) in the context of photoreceptor biology. Both BBS8 and ARL13B are linked to defects in ciliogenesis (cilia development) and Retinitis Pigmentosa (vision loss). ARL13B is implicated in regulating ciliary length, and BBS8 is part of the Bardet-Biedl Syndrome complex (BBSome); the BBSome is …

Clincial Translational Science Research Of The Functional Role Of Large Conductance Potassium Channels In Selective Destruction Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Gina Sizemore

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

The preliminary background that puts this research into context is threefold; it is the aggressive nature of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), the complexity surrounding its pathology, and the significant lack of targeted treatment for this disease. To clarify the focus of my research, I have concentrated on identifying a targeted treatment for TNBC. In the process, I have identified cycles of reciprocity between treatment, clinical diagnosis, staging, and pathology that will be addressed in smaller papers. However, the weight of this work is in the discovery of a novel target for triple negative breast cancer. The value of …

Multimorbidity, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Use, And Healthcare Expenditures Among Older Patients With Late-Stage Melanoma, Pragya Rai

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

With decades of unchanged cancer care with no added survival benefit, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) changed the treatment landscape of late-stage melanoma in 2011. A key factor in determining the use of ICIs is the presence of pre-existing chronic conditions, which can influence the outcome. However, the prevalence of multimorbidity (defined as presence of two or more chronic conditions) among older patients with late-stage melanoma remains unknown. It also remains unknown if the presence of multimorbidity factors into the use of ICIs. Hospital-related factors associated with ICI use have been studied. Yet, patient-level factors, such as age, sex, marital status, …

Quality Improvement Of Substance Misuse Screening Of Older Adults In Primary Care Using Evidence-Based Training, Kelly Lopez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background

The largest increase in preventable overdose deaths from 1999-2017 occurred among adults 50 and older, yet substance misuse among older adults is often not screened for or recognized in primary care settings. This oversight has been attributed to many factors, including age-related biases, unrecognized psychosocial and physiological differences, stigmatization, and a rapidly growing geriatric population.

Objectives

A quality improvement program using evidence-based educational training was implemented in a primary care setting with the intention to expand care knowledge and ultimately improve screening practices of older adults, especially those suffering from substance misuse.

Design

This quality improvement (QI) project used …

Pulmonary Immune Responses To Respirable Elongate Mineral Particles Of Asbestiform And Non-Asbestiform Morphologies, Timur Khaliullin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Inhalation exposure to asbestiform elongate mineral particles (EMPs) may cause pulmonary fibrosis, lung and pleural cancer. At the same time, epidemiological evidence for non-asbestiform EMP pathogenicity is scarce, with little if any risk of cancer, but consistent findings of pneumoconiosis and increased mortality. Globally, conditions caused by asbestos exposures contribute most to the occupational cancer burden and are responsible for the increasing mortality for occupational respiratory diseases. Immunological components of the fiber-induced lesions are extremely understudied, partly due to the lack of comparable test articles. In this study I utilized respirable preparations of asbestiform and non-asbestiform riebeckite and tremolite to …

Obese Zucker Rats As A Reverse Translational Model Of Human Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, Mackenzie Shelby Newman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Heart failure is a lifelong disability that for over half of those affected leads to mortality within five years after initial diagnosis. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is one of the most reliable independent predictors of heart failure. Pathological LVH is irreversible, but early diagnosis is often missed due to its asymptomatic nature. Obese Zucker rats (OZR), which develop obesity due to dysfunctional leptin signaling, naturally exhibit a LVH that mimics the obese human condition. Animal models are necessary because human donor tissue is scarce. The central hypothesis is that genes and proteins that are differentially expressed during development of LVH, …

An Evidence-To-Practice Review On The Efficacy Of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, Matthew G. Moore, Aneika R. Daley, Zachary Winkelmann

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is the use of specially designed instruments that provide a mobilizing effect to soft tissue to help with decreasing pain and improving range of motion. Over the years, there has been an increase in the use of IASTM as well as an increase in research for its effects on soft-tissue injuries, range of motion (ROM), and pain management; however, the results have not been supported as a whole. Evidence for the positive outcomes from the use of IASTM, in conjunction with therapeutic exercise or other interventions, has been lacking in many studies. As a …

Evaluation Of Mitochondrial Dna Copy Number Estimation Techniques, Ryan J Longchamps, Christina A Castellani, Stephanie Y Yang, Charles E Newcomb, Jason A Sumpter, John Lane, Megan L Grove, Eliseo Guallar, Nathan Pankratz, Kent D Taylor, Jerome I Rotter, Eric Boerwinkle, Dan E Arking

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN), a measure of the number of mitochondrial genomes per cell, is a minimally invasive proxy measure for mitochondrial function and has been associated with several aging-related diseases. Although quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is the current gold standard method for measuring mtDNA-CN, mtDNA-CN can also be measured from genotyping microarray probe intensities and DNA sequencing read counts. to conduct a comprehensive examination on the performance of these methods, we use known mtDNA-CN correlates (age, sex, white blood cell count, Duffy locus genotype, incident cardiovascular disease) to evaluate mtDNA-CN calculated from qPCR, two microarray platforms, as well …

Documenting And Understanding Workplace Injuries Among Latino Day Laborers, Maria Eugenia Fernández-Esquer, Cecilia F Aguerre, Martha Ojeda, Louis D Brown, John S Atkinson, Jayson M Rhoton, Cristina Espinosa Da Silva, Pamela M Diamond

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Latino day laborers face substantial injuries at work. We present a comprehensive assessment of their injury experience and explore the predictors of selfreported injuries.

METHODS: Worker and injury characteristics were collected from 331 day laborers using an innnovative injury assessment tool. The odds of injury were estimated using a logistic regression.

RESULTS: Participants were foreign-born, Spanish monolingual, and employed in construction. Sixty-seven individuals reported 88 past-year injuries, mostly involving the upper or lower extremities. Injuries were caused by moving heavy objects, falling, or being struck an object. Of the documented injuries, 24% were not reported at work due to …

Individual And Community Social Determinants Of Health Associated With Diabetes Management In A Mexican American Population, Kehe Zhang, Belinda Reininger, Miryoung Lee, Qian Xiao, Cici Bauer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Diabetes is a major health burden in Mexican American populations, especially among those in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) in the border region of Texas. Understanding the roles that social determinants of health (SDOH) play in diabetes management programs, both at the individual and community level, may inform future intervention strategies.

Methods: This study performed a secondary data analysis on 1,568 individuals who participated in Salud y Vida (SyV), a local diabetes and chronic disease management program, between October 2013 and September 2018 recruited from a local clinic. The primary outcome was the reduction of hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) …