Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Health Literacy, Health Perception, And Influencing Factors Among Immigrants, Canan Birimoglu Okuyan, Ebru Deveci, Fatma Karasu

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Individuals living in rural areas face several healthcare disadvantages, including limited access to medical facilities and specialists during emergencies. This study examines healthy lifestyle behaviors, health perceptions, and influencing factors among immigrants in a rural region of southern Türkiye.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved immigrants registered at a family health center. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Perception of Health Scale, and the Health Literacy Scale.

Results: Statistically significant differences in THLS-32 scores were found based on participants’ occupation, marital status, and education level (p < 0.05). A moderately positive correlation was observed between health literacy and health perception scores (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Research on the relationship between …

Impact Of Pandemic-Driven Parental Fear On Childhood Immunization Rates: Examining Attitudes Toward Vaccination During Crisis Periods In Türkiye, Özüm Erkin, İlknur Göl

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of parents’ fear of coronavirus on their attitudes towards the vaccination of their children.

Methods: The study was conducted with 2,350 parents who were selected by using the snowball sampling method. The questionnaire included a personal information form, the Public Attitude towards Vaccination Scale – Health Belief Model, and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale.

Results: The scores of the study group from the sub-dimensions of the Public Attitude towards Vaccination Scale Health Belief Model were as follows: 17.39 ± 2.92 perceived susceptibility, 16.74 ± 3.19 perceived severity, 21.10 ± …

Assessing Healthcare Students’ Self-Efficacy In Disaster Response: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Aydın Şenol, Abdülkerim Adıyaman, Canan Birimoglu Okuyan

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Assessing healthcare students’ self-efficacy in disaster response is crucial for preparing them to effectively manage real-world disaster situations. This study aimed to assess the self-efficacy status of healthcare students in disaster response.

Methods: The data for this cross-sectional analysis were gathered from 498 healthcare students between November 18, 2023, and February 14, 2024, using an individual diagnostic form and the disaster-response self-efficacy (DRSE) scale. This scale is used to assess an individual’s self-efficacy in responding effectively to disasters, including on-site rescue competency, disaster psychological nursing competency, disaster role quality, and adaptation competency.

Results: The mean age …

Cross-Cultural Adaptation And Expert Opinion Of Revised Trauma Quality Of Life Questionnaire (Rt-Qol): Malay Language Version, Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, Shamsinar Ibrahim, Malina Zulkifli, Azimatun Noor Aizuddin, Hanizah Mohd Yusoff

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study examines the cross-cultural adaptation and expert validation of the Revised Trauma Quality of Life (RT-QOL) questionnaire, translating it from English to Malay.

Methods: The study employed Beaton’s adaptation guidelines and Takasaki’s framework for expert opinions, involving 51 road traffic injury patients recruited from the Emergency and Trauma Department (ED) of a public hospital in Kedah, Malaysia, from March to June 2022. Participants were contacted via telephone 30 days after their hospital visit regarding their involvement in the study. Three independent experts, comprising academicians in healthcare and emergency department clinicians, reviewed and reconciled the RT-QOL Malay …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Motivation Regarding Exclusive Breastfeeding Between Medical And Nonmedical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study, Melviana Lubis, Meisyah Putri Rozi

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding provides substantial health benefits; however, disparities in knowledge and support persist. This study aimed to compare knowledge levels, attitudes, and motivation levels regarding exclusive breastfeeding between female medical and nonmedical students.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara and involved 314 students from the 2023 cohort. A validated questionnaire was used to assess knowledge levels (16 items), attitude (IIFAS, 16 items), and motivation (15 items). Data were analyzed using the chi-square test, odds ratio (OR), and Spearman’s correlation.

Results: Medical students demonstrated significantly higher levels of knowledge (OR = 3.50; …

Fatigue Level Associated With Quality Of Life For Prostate Cancer Patients: Results From The All Of Us Research Program, Hui-Yi Lin, Masuma Mannan, Yu-Wen Chiu, Ya-Hsin Li, Rajasree P. Chowdry, Tung-Sung Tseng

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Prostate cancer (PCa) patients frequently experience extended survivorship, highlighting the importance of quality of life (QoL) in cancer care. QoL has been shown to influence survival and PCa progression. For PCa patients, fatigue is a common issue due to cancer itself or its treatments. However, many QoL studies on PCa patients are limited by small sample sizes in clinic settings and often overlook the impact of fatigue and health-related behaviors. To fill this gap, this study aims to evaluate fatigue associated with QoL and related health measures among PCa patients. METHODS: This study used the All of Us cohort …

Prevalence Of Peri-Implantitis And Assessment Of Oral Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Patients With Dental Implants At Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Esther Li-Ching Ang, Zurairah Berahim, Normastura Abd Rahman, Akram Hassan, Siti Lailatul Akmar Zainuddin

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Patient-reported outcomes about peri-implantitis are lacking among the Asian population, impacting decision-making in dental implant therapy. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of peri-implantitis among Malaysian adults, and its impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Methods: Randomly selected 105 participants (adults aged 18 and above) having 265 implants were examined and diagnosed as with or without peri-implantitis (PI). Clinical examinations, including peri-implant probing depth, bleeding, and suppuration on probing with radiographic bone loss, were used to determine peri-implant status. OHRQoL of all participants were recorded using the short version of the Malaysian Oral Health Impact Profile …

Evaluation Of Dentistry Students' Perceptions And Attitudes Towards Artificial Intelligence In Kazakhstan, Yasin Yasa, Kubeisin Altynbekov, Nazgul Onaibekova

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: Artificial intelligence’s (AI) potential to analyze medical data and improve patient outcomes is driving its rapid integration into healthcare systems. This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding Kazakhstani dental students’ attitudes toward AI in dentistry. Methods: A survey with 213 participants assessed dental students’ views on AI in dentistry at two Kazakhstani universities. A self-administered questionnaire (22 items) via Google Forms was used to gather data on demographics, baseline knowledge (information sources, understanding of AI principles, and familiarity with dental AI applications), and attitudes/perceptions. Frequency analyses and chi-square tests (p < 0.05) explored the responses. Results: The survey included 213 dental students (mean …

Synthesis And Partial Characterization Of Chitosan Phosphorylation From Marine Cuttlefish Sepia Aculeata (Orbingy, 1848) And Its Antimicrobial Potentials Against Oral Pathogens, Yathin Reddy Putta, Annathai Pitchai, Pasiyappazham Ramasamy

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objectives: This study investigated the synthesis and partial characterization of phosphorylated chitosan extracted from the cuttlebone of Sepia aculeata (Orbingy, 1848) and evaluated its antimicrobial potential against oral pathogens. Methods: The synthesis of phosphorylated chitosan from Sepia aculeata cuttlebone involved several steps: cleaning, deproteinization, demineralization to extract chitin, deacetylation to produce chitosan, and phosphorylation to introduce phosphate groups. Phosphorylation enhances the properties of chitosan, making it a promising candidate for oral health applications. Phosphorylated chitosan was purified and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to confirm structural changes. This process enhances …

Changes In Craniofacial Morphology Of Class Iii Malocclusion Treated Using Facemask Or Active Skeletonized Sutural Distractor Appliance, Wael Ahmed Bayomy Mohamed, Rozita Hassan, Norma Ab Rahman, Shaifulizan Ab Rahman, Norkhafizah Saddki

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: This research compared the effectiveness of the Active Skeletonized Sutural Distractor (ASSD) and the face mask (FM) in treating adolescent Class III malocclusion and assessed the stability of the mini screw utilized in the ASSD appliance. Methods: A total of 68 adolescents with Class III malocclusion were divided into either one of two treatment groups (ASSD or FM) for a maximum period of six months of therapy. Lateral cephalometric radiographs and impressions were taken for comparative purposes. The 3M® intra-oral elastic (USA) was attached to the mini-implant, and the mini-screw mobility was evaluated monthly using a force gauge …

Evaluation Of Mandibular Condyle And Coronoid Process Anomalies Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography, Rümeysa Şendişçi Gök, Bilay Stevanovic Sancar, Sevcihan Günen Yılmaz

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of condylar and coronoid process anomalies, their types, and their relationship to sex. Method: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were retrospectively analyzed for the presence and types of abnormalities in the condylar and coronoid processes. Statistical analysis of measurement data was performed using SPSS version 22. Medical histories of the individuals were obtained from their digital dental records. Results: CBCT images of 400 individuals were included in the study. Condylar anomalies were observed in 9.5% of cases, while coronoid anomalies were found in 7.5%. All condylar anomalies were more …

Different Effects Between Trigeminal Sensory And Vagal Visceral Input On Salivary Gland Blood Flow, Ratna Ramadhani, Toshiya Sato, Hisayoshi Ishii

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the different effects of trigeminal sensory and vagal-visceral inputs on blood flow (BF) in the submandibular gland (SMG). Methods: Ten to eleven-week-old Wistar rats were anesthetized with urethane (1.0 g/kg) and artificially ventilated. The femoral artery was cannulated for systemic arterial blood pressure (SABP) measurement. The cervical sympathetic trunk (CST) on both sides and the cervical vagus nerve (CVN) on the right side were cut before the stimulation of the left abdominal vagus nerve (AVN). The CVN and lingual nerve (LN) were stimulated after cutting the CST and CVN. AVN, …

Exploring Research Trends In Endocrown Restorations: A Bibliometric Analysis Using Scopus Database, Nor Faharina Abdul Hamid, Nora Sakina Mohd Noor, Nor Azlida Mohd Nor

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objectives: This study evaluates the scientific outcomes of endocrown research in terms of publication patterns, prominent publishing authors and countries, highly cited articles, and high-impact keywords using bibliometric analysis. Methods: A search was conducted in the Elsevier Scopus database for articles related to endocrowns using the query TS = “endocrown” OR “endo-crown” OR “endo crown*”. Analysis and visualization of the relevant literature and their publication data were performed using MS Excel, VOSviewer, and Biblioshiny. Results: Endocrown research has shown a steady annual growth of 15.23% since 1999, indicating a growing interest and focus in this area. Brazil was ranked among …

Microstructural And Elemental Characterization Of Hydrated Carbonated Hydroxyapatite As Pulp Capping Agent: An In Vitro Study, S.Swathi Priyadharshini, Chinnasamy Ragavendran, J. Ramana Ramya, Anand Sherwood

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Understanding the microstructural and elemental composition of pulp capping materials is crucial for predicting their biocompatibility and effectiveness in promoting pulp healing. Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the microstructural and elemental properties of carbonated hydroxyapatite as a dental pulp-capping material. Methods: Carbonated hydroxyapatite was synthesized using the precipitation method. MTA and Apacal ART were obtained from commercial sources. The materials were prepared into disk-shaped specimens, hydrated in deionized water at 37°C for 14 days, and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Results: SEM images revealed that MTA exhibited smooth, plate-like crystalline structures surrounded by …

Compound Odontoma In A Child With Orthodontic Management Of An Impacted Maxillary Central Incisor: A Case Report, Sonika Achalli, Murali Patla, Jagadish Chandra, Ishika Sinha, Joseph Sebastian

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Odontomes are the most common type of odontogenic tumors. Odontomes are of two major types i.e, complex and compound odontoma. They are usually asymptomatic and, hence, are seen as accidental findings on a radiograph. They may be associated with an unerupted or delayed eruption of a permanent tooth. Usually, odontomes are diagnosed at an early age. This case report provides a case of compound odontoma causing impaction of the right maxillary central incisor with its clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features and its management. Case report: Here, a 13-year-old patient reported with unerupted maxillary central incisor on the right side. Clinical …

Does Periodontal Treatment During Pregnancy Reduce The Incidence Of Preterm Birth Rates?: A Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Ashraf Elzer, Raga A. Elzahaf, Hameda Asrafel, Khalid Sassi, Mohamed Jedeh

Journal of Dentistry Indonesia

Objective: To find out if scaling and root planing for periodontal disease during pregnancy lowers the incidence of preterm births. Methods: This is a meta-analysis study design; searches were conducted in the PubMed database and on Google Scholar between January 2000 and December 2023. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were considered. The studies will be examined to determine the relationship between non-surgical periodontal treatment and preterm birth rates among pregnant women. Results: Only 14 trials were included out of 194 articles identified. The overall result indicated a statistically significant reduction in preterm birth rate when we use the random …

Baccalaureate Nursing Students’ Beliefs About Peer Feedback In The Nursing Skill Lab: Value, Quality, And Importance, Danielle Elizabeth Fleming

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Peer feedback is an instructional method used in nursing education to support student success in the nursing program and professional practice. While a large body of evidence supports the merits of peer feedback as an instructional method, there is limited research on its use in nursing students, especially within the skill lab. The purpose of this study, guided by the feedback intervention theory, was to examine nursing students’ beliefs about peer feedback in the nursing skill lab and how those beliefs change over time. Archival data from the Beliefs About Peer Feedback Questionnaire (BPFQ) from a public midwestern university was …

New Performance Measurement Framework For Realizing Patient-Centered Clinical Decision Support: Qualitative Development Study, Prashila Dullabh, Courtney Zott, Nicole Gauthreaux, James Swiger, Edwin Lomotan, Dean F Sittig

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Patient-centered clinical decision support (PC CDS) exists on a continuum that reflects the degree to which its knowledge base, data, delivery, and use focus on patient needs and experiences. A new focus on value-based, whole-person care has resulted in broader development of PC CDS technologies, yet there is limited information on how to measure their performance and effectiveness. To address these gaps, there is a need for more measurement guidance to assess PC CDS interventions.

Objective: This paper presents a new framework that incorporates patient-centered principles into traditional health IT and clinical decision support (CDS) evaluation frameworks to create …

Chemotherapy-Free Treatment With Radiotherapy And Immunotherapy For Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, M Zeeshan Ozair, Balazs Halmos, Angelica D'Aiello, Jaewon Yun, Andrea R Filippi, Andreas Rimner, Steven H Lin, Charles B Simone, Nitin Ohri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by immunotherapy is a standard treatment for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC), yet many patients are ineligible due to treatment-related toxicity or poor functional status. Chemotherapy-free approaches using radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy may offer a safer and equally effective alternative in select patient populations.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and relevant conference proceedings focusing on trials between 2000 and 2024. Studies investigating chemotherapy-free regimens combining RT and immunotherapy in LA-NSCLC were analyzed, with emphasis on clinical outcomes, biomarker use, treatment sequencing, radiation dose/fractionation, and safety.

Results: Multiple …

Clinicians’ Perspectives Concerning Treatment Initiation And Escalation Strategies For Digital Ulcers In Patients With Systemic Sclerosis, Giulia Campanaro, Giulia Bandini, Alessia Alunno, Stefano Di Donato, Begonya Alcacer-Pitarch, Ilaria Galetti, Barbara Ruaro, Silvia Bellando Randone, Alberto Moggi Pignone, Marco Matucci-Cerinic, Zsuzsanna H Mcmahan, Michael Hughes

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Digital ulcers (DUs) are a major cause of pain and disability in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and remain a major treatment challenge. Our aim was to explore clinicians' perspectives towards treatment initiation and escalation, akin to a 'Treat to Target' (T2T) strategy.

Methods: SSc clinicians were invited to participate in an online survey.

Results: A total of 173 responses (75% rheumatologists) were obtained from 33 countries. When initiating a change in oral drug therapy for SSc-DUs, most (80%) respondents would consider adding new medication to existing treatment, and 50% would increase existing treatment dose. Time to assess the impact …

Development Of A Reference Standard To Assign Bacterial Versus Viral Infection Etiology Using An All-Inclusive Methodology For Comparison Of Novel Diagnostic Tool Performance, Coburn Allen, J Kate Deanehan, Yaniv Dotan, Matthew A Eisenberg, Andrew M Fine, Jonathan Isenberg, Ann Kane, Dani Kirshner, Todd W Lyons, Yasmin Maor, Ami Neuberger, Daniel G Ostermayer, Sharona Paz, Oded Scheuerman, Shachaf Shiber, Victoria A Statler, Michal Stein, Renata Yakubov, Shirly Yanai, Roy Navon, Lior Kellerman, Tanya M Gottlieb, Eran Eden

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Diagnostic test evaluation requires a reference standard. We describe an approach for creating a reference standard for acute infection using unrestricted adjudication and apply it to compare biomarker tools.

Methods: Adults and children with suspected acute infection enrolled in three prospective studies at emergency departments and urgent cares were included. Adjudicators, blinded to C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and MeMed BV (MMBV), labeled each case (bacterial/viral/non-infectious/indeterminate). Initial adjudication involved 3 adjudicators. Reference standard cohorts were defined: Microbiologically confirmed (3/3 adjudicators concur with high confidence and a concordant microbiological finding), unanimous (3/3 adjudicators concur with high confidence), suspected (3/3 adjudicators concur with …

Neurotransmitter Power Plays: The Synaptic Communication Nexus Shaping Brain Cancer, Jayanta Mondal, Jason T Huse

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Gliomas and brain metastases are notorious for their dismal prognosis and low survival rates, a challenge exacerbated by our incomplete grasp of the complex dynamics that govern brain cancers. Recently, a groundbreaking paradigm shift has emerged, highlighting the crucial role of synaptic communication between neurons and brain tumor cells in reshaping neuronal signaling to favor tumor growth. This review delves into the pivotal interplay of synaptic mechanisms, focusing on excitatory glutamatergic and inhibitory GABAergic pathways. Glutamatergic synapses utilize glutamate to propagate excitatory signals, while GABAergic synapses employ gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to inhibit neuronal firing. Glutamatergic signaling can be broadly classified …

Use Of Natural Language Processing To Identify Patients With Inflammatory Breast Cancer Across A Health-Care System, Ramez Kouzy, Megumi Kai, Huong T Le-Petross, Sadia Saleem, Wendy A Woodward

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Early identification and referral of inflammatory breast cancer remains challenging within large health-care systems, limiting access to specialized care. We developed and evaluated an artificial intelligence-driven platform integrating natural language processing (NLP) with electronic health records to systematically identify potential inflammatory breast cancer patients across 5 campuses. Our platform analyzed 8 623 494 clinical notes, implementing a sequential review process: NLP screening followed by human validation and multidisciplinary confirmation. Initial NLP screening achieved 55.4% positive predictive value, improving to 78.4% with human-in-the-loop review. Notably, among 255 confirmed patients with inflammatory breast cancer, our system demonstrated 92.2% sensitivity, identifying 57 patients …

Bilateral Germ Cell Tumor Of The Testis: Biological And Clinical Implications For A Stem Versus Genetic Origin Of Cancers, Jamaal C Jackson, Darren Sanchez, Aron Y Joon, Marcos R Estecio, Andrew C Johns, Amishi Y Shah, Matthew Campbell, John F Ward, Louis L Pisters, Charles C Guo, Miao Zhang, Niki M Zacharias, Shi-Ming Tu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Germ cell tumors of the testis (GCTs) provide an ideal tumor model to investigate the cellular versus genetic origin of cancers. In this single institutional study, we evaluated 38 patients with bilateral GCT, including tumors that occurred simultaneously (synchronous) and those occurring at different times (metachronous). For nine of these patients, DNA was isolated from the right and left GCT to determine the genomic and epigenetic differences between tissues using whole-exome sequencing (WES) and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). We found that seminomas and non-seminomas are molecularly distinct based on DNA methylation and not due to synchronous or metachronous disease. …

Cognitive Outcomes In Prostate Cancer Treatment: Insights From The Odenza Trial And Future Considerations, Bryan J Neth, Jeffrey S Wefel, Kevin T Nead

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Trends In Medicare Payments Within The First Year Of Cervical Cancer Diagnosis, 2010–2019, Mohammad A Karim, Ning Zhang, Hui Zhao, Ya-Chen Tina Shih, Lakshmi S M Kodali, Sharon H Giordano, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Assessing Medicare payment trends for cervical cancer care is important to mitigate the financial impact on Medicare. This multiyear cross-sectional study included 65 years and older cervical cancer patients in SEER registries diagnosed between 2010 and 2019 who had continuous Part A and B Medicare coverage at least 6 months before diagnosis and at least within the first year of diagnosis and were not enrolled in any Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) in this duration. The main outcomes were trends in total and service-specific mean monthly Medicare payments within the first year of a cervical cancer diagnosis. This study included 2147 …

Network-Based Clustering Unveils Interconnected Landscapes Of Genomic And Clinical Features Across Myeloid Malignancies, Fritz Bayer, Marco Roncador, Giusi Moffa, Kiyomi Morita, Koichi Takahashi, Niko Beerenwinkel, Jack Kuipers

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Myeloid malignancies exhibit considerable heterogeneity with overlapping clinical and genetic features among subtypes. We present a data-driven approach that integrates mutational features and clinical covariates at diagnosis within networks of their probabilistic relationships, enabling the discovery of patient subgroups. A key strength is its ability to include presumed causal directions in the edges linking clinical and mutational features, and account for them aptly in the clustering. In a cohort of 1323 patients, we identify subgroups that outperform established risk classifications in prognostic accuracy. Our approach generalises well to unseen cohorts with classification based on our subgroups similarly offering advantages in …

Myth Of The Pentad: Approaching Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Nidhi Patel, Md, Meera Jain, Natasha Edwin, Md

Providence Pharmacy PGY2 Program at Providence Medical Group 2025

Introduction: •Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy that leads to microthrombi formation. •Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by a low platelet count due to both increased platelet destruction and impaired platelet production. •Though both involving thrombocytopenia, prompt recognition of TTP is critical, as it has a high mortality rate if left untreated Case Presentation: •42-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who was started on tocilizumab three months prior to presentation •Platelet counts dropped to 30,000 (Figure 1). Her rheumatologist presumed that it was ITP and treated her with steroids •Presented to outside emergency …

Endocarditis Prophylaxis In Vulnerable Valve; Antibiotic Stewardship Or Suboptimal Care?, Zachary Taylor, Andrea Roast, Michael Layoun

Providence Portland Medical Center Internal Medicine 2025

Introduction Infective endocarditis (IE) is a relatively uncommon disease with an annual incidence of 5 per 100,000 people in the U.S.. Dental procedures are an exceptionally rare cause of IE. Amidst a global emphasis on antibiotic stewardship, U.S. and European guidelines only recommend antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures in high-risk groups. Having a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) confers an 11-fold risk of endocarditis compared to the general public, and yet, is not classified as high-risk per AHA/IDSA guidelines. We present a patient with BAV who developed IE following a noninvasive dental procedure and review whether patients with BAV are under-classified …

The Effects Of Prescribed Medications On Depressive Symptoms And Neurocognitive Performance In People With Hiv, Asante R Kamkwalala, Avery Matthews, Ankita Garg, Upal Roy, Qing Ma, Maile Karris, Erin Sundermann, Ronald J Ellis, Patricia K Riggs, Mattia Trunfio, Jennifer Blanchard, David J Moore, Leah H Rubin, Scott L Letendre

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Alterations in brain function and structure, such as depression and neurocognitive impairment, continue to occur in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PWH) taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). The lifespan of PWH has improved but the healthspan remains worse than people without HIV, in part because of aging-related diseases. As a result, polypharmacy is common and increases the risk of drug-drug interactions and adverse reactions.

Methods: This cross-sectional project investigated the relationship between 7 medication-related metrics (including anticholinergic burden), depressive symptoms, and neurocognitive performance in 491 PWH at a single center in the United States. All participants were taking …