Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Creating A Culture Of Transformational Leadership Through Implementation Of A Nursing Leadership Development Program, Gina Freeman Yost

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nurse leaders are responsible for influencing frontline nurses in the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care amid resource constraints and competing priorities. A growing body of evidence indicates that relation-based leadership styles, such as transformational leadership, improve quality and safety within the healthcare environment and positively impact patient, staff, and organizational outcomes. While a transformational leadership style has been proven to successfully drive all organization members to work together toward the organization’s vision, most organizations do not assess leadership style or provide formal training to promote growth in this important leadership facet. This scholarly project aimed to close the gap in …

Dependence Of Mitochondrial Calcium Signalling And Dynamics On The Disaggregase, Clpb, Donato D'Angelo, Víctor H. Sánchez-Vázquez, Benjamín Cartes-Saavedra, Denis Vecellio Reane, Ryan R. Cupo, Hilda Delgado De La Herran, Giorgia Ghirardo, James Shorter, Ron A. Wevers, Saskia B. Wortmann, Fabiana Perocchi, Rosario Rizzuto, Anna Raffaello, György Hajnóczky

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Cells utilize protein disaggregases to avoid abnormal protein aggregation that causes many diseases. Among these, caseinolytic peptidase B protein homolog (CLPB) is localized in the mitochondrial intermembrane space and linked to human disease. Upon CLPB loss, MICU1 and MICU2, regulators of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex (mtCU), and OPA1, a main mediator of mitochondrial fusion, become insoluble but the functional outcome remains unclear. In this work we demonstrate that CLPB is required to maintain mitochondrial calcium signalling and fusion dynamics. CLPB loss results in altered mtCU composition, interfering with mitochondrial calcium uptake independently of cytosolic calcium and mitochondrial membrane potential. …

Ppdpf: Preventing Kidney Disease Through Nad+, Shin-Ichiro Imai

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Researchers have discovered PPDPF, a critical cellular factor that controls NAD

Islet Single-Cell Transcriptomic Profiling During Obesity-Induced Beta Cell Expansion In Female Mice, Peter M Masschelin, Scott A Ochsner, Sean M Hartig, Neil J Mckenna, Aaron R Cox

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Targeting beta cell proliferation is an appealing approach to restore glucose control in type 1 diabetes. However, the underlying mechanisms of beta cell proliferation remain incompletely understood, limiting identification of new therapeutic targets. Obesity is a naturally occurring process that potently induces human and rodent beta cell replication, representing an ideal model to study mechanisms of beta cell proliferation. We showed previously acute whole-body

Protocol For Unlocking Alternative Polyadenylation Insights From Bulk Rna-Seq Data With Polyaminer-Bulk, Venkata Jonnakuti, Sriya Jonnakuti, Hari Krishna Yalamanchili

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

PolyAMiner-Bulk, a deep-learning-based algorithm to decode alternative polyadenylation (APA) dynamics from bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data, enables scientists to identify and quantify APA events from processed bulk RNA-seq data. The protocol allows researchers to explore differential APA usage between two conditions and gain a better understanding of post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. The major steps involve input data preparation, executing PolyAMiner-Bulk, and interpreting the results. A basic familiarity with pre-processing bulk RNA-seq data and command-line tools is suggested.

For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Jonnakuti et al.¹

Antimicrobial Performance Of A Novel Drug-Eluting Bioenvelope, Zerelda Esquer Garrigos, Sunil Kapur, Michelle Leroux Williams, M Rizwan Sohail

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Neighborhood Disadvantage And Inequities In Access To Preemptive And Living Kidney Transplantation, Brandon M Fairless, Oluwatunmise A Fawole, Duc T Nguyen, Ankona Banerjee, Kenneth J Nobleza, Abiodun O Oluyomi, Omar Rosales, Jayna M Dave, Elizabeth A Onugha

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Key Points:

1. Pediatric patients residing in low-resource neighborhoods experienced lower rates of preemptive and living donor kidney transplantation.

2. Household-level factors (single-parent, non-English primary language, and receiving government assistance) may also affect the type of transplant received.

3. Area Deprivation Index scores offer an objective way to quantify neighborhood-level disadvantage and can enhance pretransplant screening.

Background: Living donor kidney transplant (LDKT) generally results in better outcomes than deceased donor kidney transplant (DDKT). Preemptive kidney transplant (KT) allows patients to bypass undergoing maintenance dialysis and is associated with improved patient and graft survival. Studies in the US pediatric population have shown racial-ethnic disparities …

Digital Gait Biomarkers In Parkinson's Disease: Susceptibility/Risk, Progression, Response To Exercise, And Prognosis, Martina Mancini, Gammon M Earhart, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

This narrative review examines the utility of gait digital biomarkers in Parkinson's disease (PD) research and clinical trials across four contexts: disease susceptibility/risk, disease progression, response to exercise, and fall prediction. The review of the literature to date suggests that upper body characteristics of gait (e.g., arm swing, trunk motion) may indicate susceptibility/risk of PD, while pace aspects (e.g., gait speed, stride length) are informative for tracking disease progression, exercise response, and fall likelihood. Dynamic stability aspects (e.g., trunk regularity, double-support time) worsen with disease progression but can improve with exercise. Gait variability emerges as a sensitive biomarker across all …

Shuffle, Dereck Daschke

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Shuffle (2025), directed by Benjamin Flaherty.

Arrest The Midwife, Dereck Daschke

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Arrest the Midwife (2025), directed by Elaine Epstein.

A Saudi Heart Association Position Statement On The Use Of Doacs In Patients With Arterial And Venous Thrombosis, Waleed Alhabeeb, Adel Tash, Ahmed Aljedai, Ayman Morsy, Feras Khaliel, Iman Alhazmi, Mohammed Alsheef, Mohammed Arafah, Owayed Alshammeri, Saeed Alahmari

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have emerged as non-inferior and effective alternatives to traditional anticoagulants in managing thromboembolic risks associated with various cardiovascular conditions. This position statement by the Saudi Heart Association (SHA) aims to provide guidance on the use of DOACs in the context of cardiovascular disease, particularly patients with arterial and venous thrombosis.

Methods: A multidisciplinary panel of experts reviewed current evidence and international guidelines on DOACs, considering the local healthcare context in Saudi Arabia. The statement addresses the initiation, maintenance, interruption, and re-initiation of DOAC therapy across different patient populations.

Results: DOACs are effective alternatives to traditional …

Longitudinal Changes In Aerodigestive Responses To Varying Nipple Properties In Infant Pigs, François D H Gould, Christopher Mayerl, Khaled Adjerid, Jessica Reibel, Nichole Charles, Chloe Edmonds, Rebecca Z German

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Coordination of respiration and swallowing is critical for survival in infant mammals and changes throughout infant maturation. Infants show sensorimotor feeding responses to changes in physical properties of nipples. Commercial nipples are promoted as improving aerodigestive coordination. However, it is unknown how nipple properties influence coordination of respiration and swallowing. Furthermore, how infant-nipple interactions change throughout maturation is not well understood. We designed and manufactured four silicone nipples of the same shape that varied in two parameters: nipple opening diameter and nipple stiffness. We used our validated infant pig model to test the impact of nipple parameters on aerodigestive coordination …

Grounded In Touch: The Science Behind Anxiety Relief And Human Connection, Misty Rhoads Ph.D. Czb, Mary Murphy M.A., Lmt, Czb, Mary L. Behrens Pt, Czb, Rhonda Salvo Pt, Czb, Sarah-Elizabeth Anderson Lmt, Czb, Clare Gowen Pt, Czb, Dawn Humbles Lsh, Czb, Veronica Quarry Pt, Czb, Deborah Rosene Ph.D., Czb, Wendy Tribelhorn Lmt, Czb, Jared Urcheck L.Ac, Czb, Deanna Waggy Otr, Czb

Journal of Transformative Touch

Background: Anxiety disorders are among the most pervasive mental health challenges worldwide, affecting individuals across all demographics and socioeconomic backgrounds. As a leading contributor to disability and diminished quality of life, anxiety continues to rise in prevalence, exacerbated by global crises and societal stressors. This study explored how Zero Balancing (ZB) supports individuals with anxiety. Researchers hypothesized that ZB would lower the perceived severity of general anxiety and reduce perceived anxiety symptoms.

Methods: A concurrent mixed-methods phenomenological research design was utilized to honor the holistic nature of bodywork and explore participants' lived experiences. This national study involved 320 ZB sessions …

Bridging The Gaps In Nutritional Development: A Literature Review On Toddler Nutrition Interventions, Stephanie L. Branstine

Master of Nutrition and Dietetics

Optimal nutrition in early childhood is essential for achievement of developmental milestones all of which encompass established benchmarks of physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. The field of early childhood nutrition is dedicated to devising strategies that ensure young children receive the necessary nutrients for their ideal development. Despite advancements in areas such as the availability of diverse food options on the market, educational programs for young parents, and nutrition-focused school initiatives, nutritional deficiencies remain a significant challenge. These deficiencies hinder the ability of toddlers to thrive both physically and mentally, impacting their overall growth and developmental potential.

Recent research has …

A Descriptive Case Study: Exploring The Impact Of Practicing The Role Of The Registered Nurse Throughout A Simulation Curriculum From Graduates Of A Midwest Associate Degree Nursing Program, Mindy J. Ritter

Sabbatical Projects

The researcher sought to learn the impact of participating in a repetitive, immersive, high-fidelity simulation curriculum on graduates' nursing practice.

The literature has highlighted the gaps in graduates’ practice readiness and transition to practice. This gap is coupled with the decreased opportunities for students in the clinical setting, increased patient acuity, and rapid acceleration in the use of technology in healthcare organizations. The implementation of simulation pedagogy can help bridge these gaps; however, its implementation, frequency, and curricular integration vary across nursing academia.

This qualitative descriptive case study explored the perceptions of graduates from a midwest associate degree nursing program …

The Impact Of Cannabinoids On Reproductive Function, Daniel Hardy

Physiology and Pharmacology Publications

In brief: This review article summarizes the effects of pre- or peri-conceptual exposure to cannabinoids on female and male reproductive function, along with pregnancy outcomes from 2014 to 2024. In particular, it addresses the gaps in knowledge regarding the specific contributions of the major constituents of cannabis, THC and CBD, on reproduction. Abstract: With increased use of cannabis worldwide, especially in our young adult population, there is a great impetus to understand the impact of cannabis and its constituents (i.e. THC and CBD) on pregnancy, fetal outcomes and male and female reproductive function. This review assessed the current evidence (2014–2024) …

The Pulse - March 20, 2025, Unm Hsc Marketing & Communications

The Pulse

Weekly newsletter of the UNM Health Sciences Center.

Anti-Maa Antibodies Increase Disease Severity In A Mouse Model Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, William P. Mcguire Iii, Michael J. Duryee, Rizwan Ahmad, Punita Dhawan, Amar B. Singh, Geoffrey M. Thiele

EMET Projects

No abstract provided.

Using The 5ms Framework To Advance Aging-Responsive Care For Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction, Abigail Latimer, Debra K. Moser, Jia-Rong Wu, Kim K. Birtcher, Malachy J. Clancy, Jennifer D. Portz, Joanna Paladino, Daniel D. Matlock, Christopher E. Knoepke

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Complexity of care is the inevitable consequence of an aging population and is particularly true in instances where patients are managing chronic conditions such as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). HFrEF itself is complex, with an undulating course of illness, increased risk of sudden cardiac death, and myriad accompanying treatment considerations. Generalist management of HFrEF among older patients is further complicated by competing comorbidities, potential for financial toxicity, potential for mental health symptoms, and risk of care with does not align with goals and preferences. The 5Ms (multicomplexity, mind, mobility, medications, and matters most) is a holistic conceptualization …

Art Therapists’ Perspectives On Exploring Sexuality In Treatment Sessions, Daniel Blausey

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This study examined the relationships between U.S. based graduate-level art therapists’ (N = 174) personal and professional characteristics and their decisions to explore sexuality in sessions. A mixed-methods concurrent design generated quantitative and qualitative data through a one-time anonymous internet study centering on two clinical case vignettes. One vignette highlighted gender nonconformity, the other the sexualization of the therapist. Comparison of years of art therapy experience for two groups, those who interacted with one vignette before exiting and those who interacted with both found the group that rated both vignettes had more years of AT experience (M = …

Exploring The Role Of Physical Health Interventions In The Management Of Mental Health Disorders: A Comparative Study Of Mental Health And Kinesiology Professionals' Perspectives, Vicki Hamill

Doctorate in Kinesiology

The study's purpose was to understand the factors that may influence the use of physical health interventions in the mental health treatment process. The lack of professional guidelines for kinesiology professionals has been linked to an implementation gap of evidenced based exercise prescription in the prevention of the physical health comorbidities associated with mental illness. These comorbidities are linked to a 15-20 year decrease in life expectancy, long-term disability, and increased healthcare costs. The Exercise in Mental Illness Questionnaire-Health Professional (EMIQ-HP) was used in the study to compare the mental health and kinesiology professional perspective in the domains of exercise …

A Rare Synchronous Existence Of Warthin’S Tumour And Oral Cancer: A Systematic Review, Gargi Sarode, Swapnagandha Mahindre, Vini Anand, Rahul, Namrata Sengupta, Shruti Singh, Sachin Sarode

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignancy, while Warthin's tumour (WT) is a benign salivary gland neoplasm, typically found in the parotid gland but rarely involving extra-parotid tissues. The synchronous occurrence of OSCC and extra-parotid WT is particularly unusual. Accurate identification of these pathologies is crucial, as their rare presentation can resemble metastasis in lymph nodes. This review systematically searched for case reports and series of synchronous WT and OSCC, including 13 papers having 17 cases. The quality of these cases was assessed using CARE guidelines. The findings described WT's histological features and location in patients with OSCC, …

Efficacy Of Hormonal And Non-Hormonal Vaginal Gel Preparations On The Female Sexual Satisfaction Index In Postmenopausal Women With Sexual Dysfunction Syndrome: A Prisma-Compliant Meta-Analysis, Ahmed Soliman, Hanaa Alrashidi, Mohamed A. Ghorab, Reem, Nihal Al Riyami, Ahmed Sa Ashour, Yasmine A. Mohammed, Ahmed H. Saad

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of vaginal gel preparations versus placebo in postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction syndrome. Searches of electronic databases from inception to January 2023 identified 8 trials (N = 672) that reported the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and compared hormonal (oestrogen, oxytocin) and/or non-hormonal (chamomile, fennel) interventions against placebo. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess studies' quality. The vaginal gel group had a significantly higher total FSFI endpoint score (mean difference [MD] = 6.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.79--9.55; P < 0.001) than placebo. Non-hormonal gels exhibited a greater FSFI total score (MD = 6.73, 95% CI: 4.7--8.76; P < 0.001) than hormonal gels (MD = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.87--3.64; P < 0.001), positively impacting all FSFI domains. These findings indicate that chamomile and fennel vaginal gels may improve the overall FSFI 6 domains score, reflecting enhancements in postmenopausal women's sexual activity and satisfaction.

Vision-Related Quality Of Life Among Glaucoma Patients In Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Amani Abu-Shaheen, Mohsen Ayyash, Essam A. Alfayyad, Isamme, Doaa Dahan, Abdusalam Torjoman, Sadique Zameer, Humariya Heena

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the impact of glaucoma severity and socioeconomic factors on perceived vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) among glaucoma patients in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study included adult glaucoma patients attending the ophthalmology outpatient clinics at King Fahad Medical City and King Saud University Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from May 2022 to May 2023. The validated Arabic translation of the 39-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-39) was used to measure VRQoL. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to examine the factors associated with VRQoL. Results: A total of …

Role Of Intratumoural Budding And Its Association With Tumour-Associated Macrophages In Preoperative Biopsies Of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Anju Devi, R Keerthika, Mala Narwal, Anjali

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Intratumoural budding (ITB) is an emerging entity in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and serves as a prime histopathological predictor of aggressive potential. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of ITB in OSCC due to its limited representation in the literature. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak, India, between 2017 and 2021. A total of 73 haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of various grades of OSCC were examined for ITB and tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), focusing on correlating these findings with clinicopathological parameters. …

Schwannoma Of The Appendix Mimicking A Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Case Report, Zaid Al-Ishaq, Alonood Al-Sulaimani, Badriya S. Alrahbi, Fathiya, Khalid Al Baimani, Jawa Z. Muhammad, Adil Aljarrah

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) represents 5-10% of newly diagnosed breast cancer cases, referred to as de novo stage IV MBC. Distinguishing a distant lesion in breast cancer patients can be challenging. Therefore, obtaining a histopathological confirmation of a metastasis is advisable, as a suspicious metastatic lesion may be benign or exhibit different immunohistochemistry compared to the primary site. We report a 55-year-old female patient who presented to a tertiary care hospital in Muscat, Oman in 2019. The patient was undergoing staging scans for newly diagnosed breast cancer, where radiological findings suggested appendix metastasis. However, subsequent laparoscopic appendicectomy revealed an appendicular …

Endobronchial Metastasis With Extension To The Left Atrium From Adenocarcinoma Of Gastric 3 Years After Total Gastrectomy, Behnam Shakerian, Mohammad H. Mandegar

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Endobronchial metastases extending to the heart from gastric cancer are rare. This case report describes a 69-year-old man who presented to a tertiary care hospital in Shahrekord, Iran, in 2022 with a history of cough and haemoptysis. He had previously undergone total gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric adenocarcinoma three years earlier. Imaging and pathological evaluation confirmed endobronchial metastasis with extension to the left atrium. The patient responded well to chemoradiotherapy, maintaining a good quality of life.

Clinicopathological Spectrum Of Myxoid Soft Tissue Tumours With Emphasis On Diagnostic Differentials, Sanjana Ahuja, Nisha Modi, Amit Kapur, Shivani, Kamal Malukani, Harshita Deep Sahu

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Myxoid soft tissue tumours (MSTTs) represent a complex group of mesenchymal neoplasms characterised by the production of an extracellular myxoid matrix, which often poses diagnostic challenges. This study aimed to identify the relative frequency, distribution and morphological spectrum of MSTT as well as to illustrate commonly encountered diagnostic difficulties. Methods: This retrospective study of the clinicopathological profiles of MSTT cases at Sri Aurobindo Medical College & Post Graduate Institute, Indore, India, was conducted from January 2020 to December 2023. Results: A total of 110 MSTT cases were included in this study. These cases accounted for 7.3% …

Improving Female Health At Various Life Stages: A Systematic Review Of The Impact Of Date Fruit Products, Elham Shirdel, Farinaz Rahimi, Masoumeh Abdi, Fatemeh, Fatemeh Alsadat Rahnemaei

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

This systematic review examines the effects of date fruit products on female health across different life stages. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the risk of bias tool. A total of 21 eligible studies were reviewed, demonstrating that date fruit consumption benefits puberty, reproductive health, and menopause. During puberty, date fruit intake was associated with improved hemoglobin levels in adolescent girls. In reproductive-age women, date fruits positively influenced fertility parameters and sexual function. Additionally, in menopause, they contributed to alleviating dyspareunia and supporting ovarian reserve maintenance. Providing women with proper nutrition and integrating date fruits into their …

Diagnostic Accuracy Of Abdominal Ultrasonographic Sliding Sign In The Evaluation Of Severe Intra-Abdominal Adhesions Involving The Uterus In Women Undergoing Repeat Caesarean Delivery: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Amira M. Taha, Wesam A. Moawad, Sara A.A. Alhejazi, Tala J., Youstina A. Sabri, Mohamed Abd-Elgawad, Juan L. Alcazar, Nihal Al Riyami, Ayatallah Khafagy, Yasmine A. Mohammed, Ahmed H. Saad

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

This review aimed to assess diagnostic accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography (TAS) sliding sign in diagnosing severe intra-abdominal adhesions with repeated Caesarean delivery (CD). PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus were searched for published studies until October 2022. Studies evaluating the sliding sign as a predictor of intra-abdominal adhesions after repeat CD were included. STATA and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis for meta-analysis was used. A total of 7 studies (1,318 patients) were included. For identifying severe intra-abdominal adhesions, sliding sign on TAS had a combined sensitivity (64%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 55-71%), specificity (93%, 95% CI: 89-96%), positive likelihood ratio (9.5, …