Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Microrna-7-5p Expression And Biological Significance In Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Rikki A.M. Brown, Michael Phillips, Andrew J. Woo, Omar Kujan, Stephanie Flukes, Louise N. Winteringham, Larissa C. Dymond, Fiona Wheeler, Brianna Pollock, Dianne J. Beveridge, Elena Denisenko, Peter J. Leedman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent malignancy with poor clinical outcomes. microRNA-7-5p (miR-7-5p) has been described as both a tumour suppressor and an oncomiR depending on the tissue context, but its role in HNSCC remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the clinical significance and biological function of miR-7-5p in HNSCC by integrating data from multiple sources. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify studies analysing miRNA expression in human head and neck tissues. A meta-analysis of individual patient data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), ArrayExpress, and The Cancer Genome Atlas …

Validation Of A Mind Diet Screener In Older Adults, Desarae A. Dempsey, Puja Agarwal, Shane Fernandez, Jared R. Brosch, Sujuan Gao, Daniel O. Clark, Frederick W. Unverzagt, Liana G. Apostolova, David G. Clark, Martin R. Farlow, Sunu Mathew, Sophia Wang, Michelle Quirke, Yolanda Graham-Dotson, Colette Blach, Leyla Schimmel, Rima Kaddurah-Daouk, Andrew J. Saykin, Shannon L. Risacher

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Higher adherence to the Mediterranean-DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet has been associated with reduced Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. This study assessed the validity of a brief 15-item MIND diet screener compared to a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Methods: The validity of an adapted MIND diet screener relative to the VioScreen FFQ was evaluated in 92 older adults from the Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (IADRC). Correlation coefficients and tertile-based classification statistics were used, and FFQ nutrient profiles were examined across screener-based MIND diet tertiles. Results: MIND diet scores from the screener …

A Five-Country Comparison Of Midwifery Students' Confidence In Facilitating Normal Labor And Birth, Juliet Wood, Jalana Lazar, Barbara Baranowska, Clare Davison, Debora Dole, Cindy L. Farley, Jane Fry, Maria Healy, Felicity Agwu Kalu, Urszula Tataj-Puzyna, Emma Ritchie, Maria Wegrzynowska

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Midwifery students need confidence in recognizing and supporting normal birth, the backbone of the midwifery professional role. Developing this confidence in the face of decreasing rates of physiological birth worldwide is a critical challenge. Midwife researchers from Australia, England, Northern Ireland, Poland, and the USA investigated midwifery student confidence for supporting normal birth and explored enhancing and detracting factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was undertaken with 570 midwifery students at 8 academic midwifery programs across 5 countries The Student Confidence for Supporting Normal Birth Questionnaire with free text and Likert-type questions on a 1 (least influential) to 4 …

An Online Treatment Decision Aid For Men With Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Eligible For Active Surveillance And Their Partners Increases The Uptake Of Active Surveillance: The Navigate Randomised Controlled Trial, Penelope Schofield, Stephen Quinn, Natalie Richards, Alan White, Fiona White, Mark Frydenberg, Suzanne Chambers, Louisa G. Gordon, Robert Alexander Frank Gardiner, Declan G. Murphy, Matthew J. Roberts, John Yaxley, Nathan Lawrentschuk, Kevin Chu, Jeremy Millar, Jeremy Grummet, Ilona Juraskova

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and objective: Evidence suggests that curative treatment for low-risk prostate cancer (LRPC) has no survival benefits over active surveillance (AS); thus, treatment choice becomes a value-sensitive decision. Decision aids (DAs) have the potential to facilitate this process, yet no DA has been tailored to the Australian health care system or population. This study aims to evaluate the impact of an online DA (Navigate) on the uptake of AS, quality of life, and decision-making in Australia. Methods: This parallel-group, prospective, randomised controlled trial recruited men (from May 2017 to May 2021) from participating cancer centres, via self-referral, or via clinician …

Weight Loss Remains A Challenge For Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Patients: A Retrospective Case Series From Kenya, Zian Muikamba, Jaskirat Sokhi, Jasmit Shah, Sheila Marco, Juzar Hooker, Dilraj Sokhi

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a neurological condition characterized by elevated intracranial CSF pressure without demonstratable evident causes. The mechanisms leading to a particular predilection for women of childbearing age who are overweight and obese or who have recent rapid weight changes remain imprecisely described. If undiagnosed, it can progress to disabling irreversible visual loss. Weight loss is useful in addition to medical therapy in treating the condition. There is a rise of obesity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) but there is little published on IIH.

Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study at our tertiary regional referral neurology centre …

Engaging And Empowering Future Female Surgeons: Development Of The Medical Student Section Of The Society Of Women In Urology, Allison G. Booher, Sasha Vereecken, Erin Kim, Neharika Penmetcha, Alexandra Aponte, Eman N. Chaudhri, Meghana Noonavath, Ibukunoluwa Omole, Joanna Orzel, Leigh Martin

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: To describe a replicable model for a large-scale, cross-institutional, and student-driven initiative to promote gender equity within surgical fields.

Methods: To address the lack of a national infrastructure to support female medical students pursuing careers in Urology, a historically male-dominated specialty, the society of women in urology (SWIU) established its medical student section, called SWIUdents, as a student-led initiative to offer mentorship, education, and networking resources for future female urologists. In 2022, SWIUdents convened its first medical student leadership board, comprised of two co-chairs and four subcommittees focused on membership, program implementation, mentorship, and community relations. SWIUdents membership was …

Minimizing Travel Burden Of Gynecologic Cancer Surveillance Through A Unique Multidisciplinary Telehealth Program, Avni Shridhar, Suzanne Viator, Tara Castellano, Holly Provost, Navya Nair, Elizabeth Neupert, Amma Agyemang, Amelia Jernigan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: STEEL MAGNOLIAS (shared telehealth for multidisciplinary gynecologic cancer survivorship) is a novel gynecologic cancer surveillance care-delivery program in which rural patients see a close-by gynecologist in person with simultaneous virtual gynecologic oncology consultation. This study assesses feasibility of STEEL MAGNOLIAS by examining travel burden reduction, cancer outcomes, visit activities, guideline adherence, and patient satisfaction. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients with gynecologic cancer in remission under the STEEL MAGNOLIAS program in rural south Louisiana (March 2020-September 2023). Travel metrics, patient satisfaction, cancer outcomes, survival status, reasons for visit, and adherence to follow-up as per National Comprehensive Cancer Network …

Tonsillectomy/Adenoidectomy Post-Operative Management At Children’S Mercy Kansas, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways

No abstract provided.

The Rash After The Remedy, Elaine Chen, Nicholas Nelson

Abstracts, Posters, Presentations

No abstract provided.

To The Editor: In Response To "A Eulogy For The Primary Care Physician"., Leah Parker

Medical Education Articles

No abstract provided.

10-21-25 Bor Hsc Committee Notice Of Meeting, Patricia Serna

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

Publish 10-21-25 BOR HSC Committee Notice of Meeting

Topoimages: Incorporating Local Topology Encoding Into Deep Learning Models For Medical Image Classification, Pengfei Gu, Hongxiao Wang, Yejia Zhang, Huimin Li, Chaoli Wang, Danny Z. Chen

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Topological structures in image data, such as connected components and loops, play a crucial role in understanding image content (e.g., biomedical objects). Despite remarkable successes of numerous image processing methods that rely on appearance information, these methods often lack sensitivity to topological structures when used in general deep learning (DL) frameworks. In this paper, we introduce a new general approach, called TopoImages (for Topology Images), which computes a new representation of input images by encoding local topology of patches. In TopoImages, we leverage persistent homology (PH) to encode geometric and topological features inherent in image patches. Our main objective is …

Research On Users' Privacy Preferences For Digital Medical Health Information From The Perspective Of Sensitivity:Based On A Discrete Choice Experiment, Hongcan Zhu, Jili Chen, Kaidi Zheng, Xianchao Liu

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] This study investigates differences in digital medical-health information privacy preferences by measuring privacy sensitivity across diverse user groups in multiple contextual scenarios, analyzing variations both within user groups (across contexts) and between user groups (within the same context), thereby providing actionable insights for developing context-aware health information protection frameworks in digital healthcare services.

[Method/process] A model of users' sensitivity to digital medical health information was constructed based on contextual integrity theory, and an experimental study was conducted using a discrete choice experiment method. The model was verified and analyzed using a binary logistic regression model.

[Result/conclusion] The study shows …

Music Therapy: Treating Pain And Anxiety In The Perioperative Patient, Derek Bascom Rn

Nurse Residency

In perioperative patients, what is the effectiveness of music therapy in treating anxiety and pain compared to standard care without music therapy?

Birth Outcomes In The Hispanic Population In The United States: Trends, Variation, And Determinants (2011–2021), Yanchao Yang, Thinh Nguyen, Sota Fuji

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Infants born to mothers who self-identify as Hispanic account for a substantial and growing share of births in the United States, yet limited research has examined disparities in birth outcomes across Hispanic origin subgroups. This study aims to document trends and identify important factors associated with Cesarean section (C-section), low birthweight, and prematurity within the Hispanic population. We use data from the National Vital Statistics System (2011–2021), covering nearly all U.S. births. We compare outcomes across Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black mothers and further disaggregate by Hispanic origin (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central/South American, and Other/Unknown). We use logistic …

Low Vitamin D Diet Effects On Rna Expression In Kidney And Mammary Tissue Of Mus Musculus (Mice), Ibilola Fasogbon, Graham Read, Adriana Duraki, Larisa Nonn

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone whose active form binds to Vitamin D Receptors (VDR), triggering cancer-associated pathways involved in inducing apoptosis, inhibiting inflammation, improving immunity, and regulating cell proliferation. Ongoing studies have shown a significant correlation between Vitamin D deficiency and the development of aggressive prostate cancer. African American men are more likely to experience vitamin D deficiency, develop prostate cancer at a high rate, and have a higher mortality rate than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. African American women are also disproportionately burdened with aggressive breast cancer and have higher rates of vitamin D deficiency. Understanding how a low …

Human Transferrin Receptor Bispecific Trem2 Antibody Creation And Its Insightful Use In Alzheimer's Disease, Amelia Mclaren, June Javens-Wolfe

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, affecting an estimated 7.2 million seniors in the United States. AD can develop in the brain for twenty years or more before symptoms appear, such as memory loss, which could enable a diagnostic window for intervention. AD causes neurons to be damaged or destroyed due to the accumulation of amyloid-beta protein fragments and an abnormal form of tau protein. The protein Transmembrane Receptor Expressed by Myeloid Cells, TREM2, is essential in regulating the microglial response to amyloid-beta and tau accumulation in the AD brain. Microglia, the brain’s resident immune cell, has …

Adipose Tissue Estrogen Receptor-Alpha Overexpression Ameliorates High-Fat Diet–Induced Adipose Tissue Inflammation, Marion C. Hope, Christian A. Unger, M. Chase Kettering, Cassidy E. Socia, Ahmed K. Aladhami, Barton C. Rice, Darya S. Niamira, Ben P. Wiznitzer, Diego Altomare Ph.D., William E. Cotham, Reilly T. Enos

Faculty Publications

Context

We created an innovative mouse model that enables inducible overexpression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα), specifically in adipose tissue (Adipo-ERα↑). Objective

We aimed to investigate how elevated Adipo-ERα↑ influences the development of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in both male and female mice. Methods

Male and female Adipo-ERα↑ mice and littermate controls were fed a low-fat diet (LFD) or HFD for 13 weeks. Adipo-ERα↑ was induced at the initiation of dietary treatment. Body morphology and composition, hepatic lipid accumulation, glucose tolerance, fasting insulin concentrations, and adipose tissue mRNA profiling were assessed. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to determine circulating and adipose …

Propelling Aging-Related Initiatives In A Next-Gen Cooperative Extension System: Editors’ Introduction To The Jhse Special Issue On Aging, Erin L. Martinez, James S. Bates

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Volume 13, Number 2, James S. Bates, Donna J. Peterson Dr., Scott Cummings, Erin L. Martinez

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Community Partnerships To Address Social Determinants Of Health Among Older Adults, Cory Bolkan, Raven Weaver, Cheryl Eschbach, Erik Geissal, Breanne Wise-Swanson

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Focusing on social determinants of health (SDOH) among older adults is key to addressing health disparities, maintaining independence in their homes/communities, improving health outcomes, and avoiding high-cost institutional care. While primary care settings are equipped to meet older adults’ physical health needs, the network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) is designed to meet social needs (e.g., transportation, nutrition, caregiver support). Yet, cross-sector community partnerships between AAAs and primary care are rare. This article shares an evaluation of one such partnership, where SDOH screenings were routinely implemented in primary care, yielding social prescribing and direct referral to AAA’s support services. …

Unnoticed Early Pregnancy During Myomectomy With Favorable Outcome: Case Report, Ronak Mulji, Lusajo Mwagobele, Farhat Seif, Zainab Fidaali, Munawar Kaguta

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Introduction

Uterine fibroids are a common cause of infertility, and myomectomy remains a key surgical intervention to improve reproductive outcomes. However, the occurrence of an undetected pregnancy during myomectomy is rare and poses significant clinical risks.

Case Presentation

We report a 34-year-old woman, nulliparous with a history of secondary infertility and three first-trimester miscarriages. She had multiple fibroids and was managed for polycystic ovarian syndrome and hyperprolactinemia. Scheduled for abdominal myomectomy, the surgery proceeded uneventfully, with six fibroids removed and no breach of the endometrial cavity. Five weeks postoperatively, she presented with symptoms suggestive of early pregnancy. Ultrasound confirmed a …

Cervical Hpv 18 Detection Is Associated With High-Grade Cervical Dysplasia In Kenyan And Ugandan Women Living With Hiv, Miriam Nakalembe, Collins Mpamani, Jane Namugga, Carolyn Nakisige, Grace Banturaki, Phillip Tonui, Peter Itsura, Omenge Orango, Kapten Muthoka, Anthony Ngeresa

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Objectives Cervical cancer, caused by “high-risk” (HR) HPV, is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women living in Kenya and Uganda. Women living with HIV (WLWH) are at a high risk for HR-HPV infection. This longitudinal, observational cohort analysis was conducted to identify factors that are important among WLWH in prediction of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 or 3 (CIN2/3).

Methods Data of this analysis was based on a study of HPV natural history and cervical cancer among Kenyan and Ugandan WLWH. Demographic, behavioral and biological data were collected; HR-HPV DNA testing of cervical …

Cervical Hpv 18 Detection Is Associated With High-Grade Cervical Dysplasia In Kenyan And Ugandan Women Living With Hiv, Miriam Nakalembe, Collins Mpamani, Jane Namugga, Carolyn Nakisige, Grace Banturaki, Phillip Tonui, Peter Itsura, Elkanah Orang'o, Kapten Muthoka, Anthony Ngeresa

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Objectives Cervical cancer, caused by “high-risk” (HR) HPV, is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women living in Kenya and Uganda. Women living with HIV (WLWH) are at a high risk for HR-HPV infection. This longitudinal, observational cohort analysis was conducted to identify factors that are important among WLWH in prediction of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 or 3 (CIN2/3).

Methods Data of this analysis was based on a study of HPV natural history and cervical cancer among Kenyan and Ugandan WLWH. Demographic, behavioral and biological data were collected; HR-HPV DNA testing of cervical …

Perspective: Restoring Rest-The Critical Role Of Sleep In Foster Care Well-Being, Jill Mcleigh, Anna Wani, Likhita Shaik

Health Status, Outcomes, and Literacy and Healthcare Utilization

In 2023, approximately 400,000 children were in foster care in the United States, a population disproportionately affected by trauma, instability, and systemic inequities.1 These children face chronic disruptions in sleep—an essential physiological process that underpins physical development, learning, emotional regulation, and overall health.²⁻⁴ Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, are prevalent in this group and contribute to significant sleep disturbances through pathways of hyperarousal, stress dysregulation, and recurrent nightmares. 3,4 Understanding the interplay between foster care, social determinants of health (SDOH), and sleep health disparities highlights opportunities for targeted interventions to improve outcomes.

For questions about …

Nihil Scribo Quod Non Scriptum Prius, Daniel L. Orr Ii, Dds, Ms, Ph.D., Jd, Md

AADEJ - The Communicator

The Editor-in-Chief reflects on his tenure, citing the Latin phrase, "Nihil Scribo Quod Non Scriptum Prius," which suggests humility in editorship. He details organizational milestones, including the change from AADE to AADEJ in 2014 to formally recognize all dental writers. He notes that the AADEJ was founded on the controversy surrounding advertising in professional journals, underscoring the importance of judicious dissent in advancing ideas. Gratitude is expressed to mentors like Dan Jenkins and colleagues such as Denise Maihofer and Mali Schantz-Feld. His editorial philosophy, which fostered written "hybrid vigor," resulted in the AADEJ receiving two recent ICD Awards for volumes …

What Community Members With Chronic Illness Teach Future Healthcare Professionals In A Longitudinal Interprofessional Education Program: A Focus Group Study, Rachel White, Maria Brucato, Amber King, Anne B. Mitchell, Nethra S. Ankam

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Nearly 50% of Americans have at least one chronic illness. Preparing future healthcare providers for interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) and person-centred care through community-based interprofessional education (IPE) can improve outcomes for this growing population. Partial programme theories predict that patients' participation as teachers in health professions education contributes to students' development of patient-centredness. Role theory asserts that behaviours are shaped by assigned roles; therefore, community members with chronic illness who assume roles of health mentors in an IPE curriculum are predicted to teach students about their patient experiences. Yet, this teaching outcome and the lessons health mentors teach in …

Combined Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance And Ph Testing In Infants And Young Children-A Narrative Review, Rochelle Sequeira Gomes, Sheeja Abraham, Michael Favara, Amy J. Sloane, Zubair H. Aghai

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in infants and young children, and thediagnosis and characterization of the disease continues to evolve in recent times. The typicalsymptoms thought to be related to GERD in young children are often nonspecific andubiquitous, underscoring the need for diagnostic testing in patients who have severe symptomsor complications related to GERD. Combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pHtesting (MII-pH) is a diagnostic tool that can be used to study the frequency andseverity of gastroesophageal reflux. Compared to other diagnostic devices, MII-pH hasthe advantage of detecting both acidic and alkaline reflux events, as well as allows the study …

Smarter Disease Detection From Electronic Health Record Data: An End-To-End Ai-Augmented Pipeline For Computable Phenotyping, Dylan Owens

Statistical Science Theses and Dissertations

Electronic Health Records (EHR) contain a wealth of structured and unstructured patient data that can be leveraged for computable phenotyping, the process of algorithmically identifying patient cohorts with specific diseases or conditions. Traditional rule-based phenotyping approaches, while interpretable, often struggle with scalability, portability across institutions, and effective use of unstructured clinical narratives. Recent advances in large language models (LLMs) present new opportunities for synthesizing complex free-text information into concise, clinically meaningful representations. However, integrating LLMs into phenotyping workflows requires careful design to maintain transparency, interpretability, and measurable uncertainty—features essential for clinical adoption and downstream applications such as decision support.

We …

Factsheet: Taking Care Of Your Teeth Later In Life, Shawnda Schroeder

Indigenous Health Faculty Publications

More than 30% of North Dakota adults age 65 and older have lost six or more teeth which is nearly three times higher than the U.S. average (11.7%). Likewise, 17% of older adults in North Dakota report complete tooth loss compared to just 6% nationally. This factsheet shares the connection between oral health and overall health, and ways to take care of teeth later in life.