Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Demographic Characteristics As Moderators For The Association Between Cigarette Smoking And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Aregash Tewoldeberhan Kidane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditure in the United States. Several studies have been conducted that showed cigarette smoking is associated with an increased incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM); however, there is no published information in the literature on the moderating effects of gender/sex and race/ethnicity on this association. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to address this gap in the literature and examine the association between cigarette smoking and DM and the moderating effect of sex and race/ethnicity on the association between cigarette …

Outcome Of Vital Pulp Therapy Using Mta And Biodentine In Permanent First Molars With Or Without Pulpitis In Pediatric Patients, Daniel Nho Dmd, Ms, Susan Paurazas Dds, Ms, Mhsa, Mazin Askar Bds, Ms, Salwa Atwan Dds, Ms

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Purpose: This study evaluated the outcome of vital pulp therapy (VPT) in permanent first molar teeth using Biodentine (Septodont, Saint Maur des Fosses, France) or ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties, Johnson City, Tenn.) in pediatric patients. Methods: Permanent first molar teeth with or without a history of pulpitis from patients aged 7 to 14 years old were treated at the Graduate Endodontic Clinic from September 2007 to August 2022. A retrospective cohort clinical trial was conducted. VPT was performed on a total of 22 teeth. There were 13 teeth in the Biodentine (BD) group and nine teeth in the …

The Role Of The Basolateral Nuclear Complex & Central Nucleus Of The Amygdala In Fear-Conditioned Responses To External Stimuli And Anxiety Responses, Oluwaseyi A. Adelakun

Senior Theses

This thesis reviews the role of the amygdala, particularly the basolateral nuclear complex (BLA) and central nucleus (CeA), in fear-conditioned responses and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). By investigating the neurological and physiological mechanisms that influence the amygdala’s fear and anxiety responses, further connections can be made between this region and other notable brain regions, like the prefrontal cortex (PFC). We review both human and rodent models to explore the overlap between the two and explore various therapeutic interventions that regulate amygdalar activity and therefore mitigate anxiety symptoms. Key research into the patient SM, who lacks fear responses due to bilateral …

Perceptions Of Virtual Reality In Cardiac Pharmacy Education, Morgan E. Mendes

Senior Theses

Background: The reformation of how educational content is portrayed is not a new phenomenon. However, the world of pharmacy has been slow to adapt, particularly considering higher education’s declining attendance rates and less engaging lectures. XR can be a great addition to learners’ curriculum, particularly VR, with various applications including adjunctive pharmacotherapy, patient counseling, pharmacist training, and pharmacological modeling. Despite the various barriers VR integration faces, the benefits of VR necessitate its future implementation into our COP curriculum as an augmentative form of learning.

Methods: An independent study of 11 students at the UofSC COP was conducted in the Spring …

Stop Sucking Us Dry: Decreasing Unnecessary Blood Draws In The Intensive Care Unit, Danielle A Sultan Do, Danny Le Do, Robert P Briggs Do, Shawn M. Quinn Do, Jessica Boehmler Md, Bryan G. Kane Md, Amy Slenker Md

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Psychological Distress Among Ethnically Diverse Participants From Eastern And Southern Africa, Kester Tindi, Allan Kalungi, Eugene Kinyanda, Bizu Gelaye, Alicia Martin, Ronald Galiwango, Wilber Ssembajjwe, Fred Kirumira, Adele Pretorius, Lukoye Atwoli

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Importance: Psychological distress is characterized by anxiety and depressive symptoms. Although prior research has investigated the occurrence and factors associated with psychological distress in low- and middle-income countries, including those in Africa, these studies’ findings are not very generalizable and have focused on different kinds of population groups.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics (sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical) associated with psychological distress among African participants.

Design, setting and participants: This case-control study analyzed data of participants in the Neuropsychiatric Genetics in African Populations-Psychosis (NeuroGAP-Psychosis) study, which recruited from general outpatient clinics in Eastern (Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia) and Southern …

Application Of A Mepilex Border Dressing To Prevent Heel Pressure Injury, Melissa Sterlin

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

• Problem:

Heel pressure injuries (HPIs) are preventable, yet they can easily occur when policies specifically targeting heel protection are lacking. A quality improvement methodology was implemented on two intensive care units (ICUs) within an organization which involved revising existing policies to standardize practices and mitigate occurrences.

Aim of the Project:

To evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based protocol that utilizes Mepilex border dressings to prevent hospital-acquired HPIs in ICUs.

• Review of the Evidence:

Across various studies, common themes emerged, notably the utilization of prophylactic Mepilex foam dressings as effective interventions specifically targeted in the ICU.

• Project Design:

A protocol …

Reducing Patient Falls In A Behavioral Health Unit: Improvement Through Audit Implementation, Kristin Gardner

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Fall-related events are a significant source of harm, with more than 700,000 patients falling every year in U.S. hospitals. The project was implemented in a 41-bed acute inpatient adult behavioral health unit (BHU). Over the last eight quarters, the BHU experienced an average of 3.16 falls per 1,000 days, exceeding the benchmark's median of 2.53 total falls.

Aim of the Project: The primary aim of this project was to decrease overall falls in an acute inpatient behavioral health unit.

Review of the Evidence: A comprehensive literature review identified intervention prevention bundles, compliance auditing, and staff education as effective ways …

Reducing Falls Through Enhanced Staff Compliance With The Fall Bundle, Lester Lubuguin

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem:

Patient falls represent a critical issue that incurs significant health and economic burdens for both individuals and healthcare organizations. Annually, falls and fall-related injuries are responsible for nearly 3 million emergency room visits and 1 million hospitalizations, costing an estimated $50 billion. Evidence suggests that a multi-factorial approach—often referred to as a "fall bundle"—is effective in reducing the incidence of falls. However, staff non-compliance with this bundle can undermine its effectiveness.

Aim of the Project:

The project aimed to reduce the incidence of falls by enhancing staff compliance with fall prevention measures through audits and feedback conducted by designated …

Nursing Student Voices: A Qualitative Thematic Synthesis Of Education Elements Supporting Nursing Students' Clinical Learning During Placement, Robyn Cant, Colleen Ryan, Lynda Hughes, Christine Ossenberg, Simon Cooper

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: to report a thematic synthesis of students’ narratives in free text comments from a national quality survey of Australian nursing degree students’ clinical placements. Background: Nursing student evaluation surveys are submitted to the Australian National Placement Evaluation Centre. Students in 36 Australian nursing programs are included. Design: Thematic synthesis of nursing students’ narrative comments. Methods: Data were sourced from 10,226 surveys submitted between July and December 2023. From these, the 3640 free text comments were extracted and tabulated to form the sample for synthesis. Three authors conducted a thematic synthesis and all five authors agreed on the findings. Findings: …

Assessment And Management Of Vitamin Status In Children With Ckd Stages 2-5, On Dialysis And Post-Transplantation: Clinical Practice Points From The Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce., Caroline E. Anderson, Jetta Tuokkola, Leila Qizalbash, Matthew Harmer, Christina L. Nelms, Stella Stabouli, Barry Toole, Nonnie Polderman, An Desloovere, Jose Renken-Terhaerdt, Molly R Wong Vega, Evelien Snauwaert, Johan Vande Walle, Dieter Haffner, Fabio Paglialonga, Rukshana Shroff, Vanessa Shaw, Larry A. Greenbaum, Bradley A. Warady

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at risk for vitamin deficiency or excess. Vitamin status can be affected by diet, supplements, kidney function, medications, and dialysis. Little is known about vitamin requirements in CKD, leading to practice variation.The Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce (PRNT), an international team of pediatric kidney dietitians and pediatric nephrologists, was established to develop evidence-based clinical practice points (CPPs) to address challenges and to serve as a resource for nutritional care. Questions were formulated using PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes), and literature searches undertaken to explore clinical practice from assessment to management of vitamin status in …

Influenza C Virus In U.S. Children With Acute Respiratory Infection 2016-2019., Bethany K. Sederdahl, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Angela P. Campbell, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Jennifer E. Schuster, Joana Y. Lively, Samantha M. Olson, Julie A. Boom, Pedro A. Piedra, Natasha B. Halasa, Laura Stewart, Peter G. Szilagyi, G K Balasubramani, Theresa Sax, Judith M. Martin, Robert W. Hickey, Marian G. Michaels, John V. Williams, New Vaccine Surveillance Network

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Influenza C virus (ICV) is an orthomyxovirus related to influenza A and B, yet due to few commercial assays, epidemiologic studies may underestimate incidence of ICV infection and disease. We describe the epidemiology and characteristics of ICV within the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-led network that conducts population-based surveillance for pediatric acute respiratory illness (ARI). Nasal or/combined throat swabs were collected from emergency department (ED) or inpatient ARI cases, or healthy controls, between 12/05/2016-10/31/2019 and tested by molecular assays for ICV and other respiratory viruses. Parent surveys and chart review were used …

Participant Engagement And Preference Study For Clinical Outcomes Associated With Atrial Fibrillation: The Pearl-Af Study, Shelby D. Reed, Josephine L. Harrington, Daniel P. Morin, Samir F. Saba, Jay Alan Montgomery, Robert W. Harrison, Daniel R. Frisch, Thomas Viethen, Miriam Tamm, Jessica Xiao, Hardi Mundl, Rosa Coppolecchia, Jui-Chen Yang, Matthew J. Wallace, Juan Marcos Gonzalez, Manesh R. Patel

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Background: Quantifying patients’ preferences for health outcomes associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and its treatments offers a replicable approach to considering the patient perspective in regulatory decision-making. Objective: The authors conducted a preference survey to estimate the relative importance of AF-related events for use in clinical trial analyses to estimate net health benefits with anticoagulants. Methods: The survey included nontechnical descriptions of three severities of stroke, systemic embolism, myocardial infarction (MI) with or without subsequent heart failure (HF), major bleeding, clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding, and death. A best-worst scaling question format was used in which patients were shown 10 sets …

Substance Use Emergency Department Visits Among Youths With Chronic Conditions During Covid-19., Faith Summersett Williams, Isabella Zaniletti, Abbey R. Masonbrink, Robert Garofalo, Maria Rahmandar, Niranjan S. Karnik, Geri Donenberg, Lisa Kuhns

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

IMPORTANCE: Pediatric emergency department (ED) visits for substance use (SU) increased during COVID-19. Better understanding of trends associated with SU ED visits among youths with a chronic medical condition (CMC) is needed to target SU screening, prevention, and intervention efforts in this population.

OBJECTIVE: To describe trends in pediatric SU ED visits before and during COVID-19 among youths in the US with and without CMCs and by race and ethnicity.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this cohort study, data were obtained from 47 US children's hospital EDs in the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) between March 1, 2018, and March …

Law Library Blog (October 2024): Legal Beagle's Blog Archive, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Law Library Newsletters/Blog

No abstract provided.

Sex Differences In Active Avoidance And Neural Circuit Mechanisms In Contextual Fear Generalization, Carly Vincent

Theses and Dissertations

The current studies were aimed to investigate two behavioral hallmarks of anxiety and stress-related disorders, avoidance responses and the over-generalization of fear. In the first set of studies, active avoidance and extinction learning, that parallels exposure therapy in preclinical rodent models, were used. It is known that stress can influence aversive learning and extinction training, which can result in poor extinction retention. However, it is not well understood how the stress response is facilitating extinction resistance in active avoidance learning across sexes. Therefore, the first set of studies aimed to investigate the role of biological sex and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) …

Discovering Therapeutic Strategies In Colorectal Cancer Via Synthetic Lethal Genetic Screens On Patient-Derived Organoid Models, Sana Khalili

Theses and Dissertations

Precision medicine is a revolutionary approach of targeting genetic alterations that are present only in tumor cells to find vulnerabilities that can be targeted with therapy. Identifying genetic dependencies in human colon cancer could help identify effective treatment strategies. Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 dropout screens can reveal all genetic dependencies, some of which could be exploited as therapeutic targets using existing drugs.

In this dissertation, I comprehensively characterized genetic dependencies present in a colon cancer organoid avatar, and validated tumor-specific selectivity of select pharmacologic agents. I identified all somatic mutations, all expressed genes, and conducted a genome-wide CRISPR dropout screen to elucidate …

Factors Affecting The Transition From Pediatric To Adult Care Among Culturally Deaf Young Adults And Young Adults Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Anna Strickland Kell

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Adolescence to adulthood is marked by many transitions, including the transition from a pediatric to an adult medical home, also referred to as a health home. For young adults who are culturally Deaf, deaf, or hard of hearing, this transition may be complicated by population-specific needs related to language, literacy, and accessibility. Prior research with transition-age adolescents and young adults who are culturally Deaf, deaf, or hard of hearing has primarily focused on education or hearing health exclusively. The purpose of this research was to investigate the transition of health care from pediatric to adult services among culturally Deaf …

Mitochondrial Function In The Maternal Brain: A New Perspective On Gestational Stress And Pathology Of Postpartum Depression, Erin Rene Gorman-Sandler

Theses and Dissertations

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major psychiatric complication of childbirth, affecting up to 20% of mothers, yet remains understudied. Mitochondria, dynamic organelles crucial for cell homeostasis and energy production, share links with many of the proposed mechanisms underlying PPD pathology. Brain mitochondrial function is affected by stress, a major risk factor for development of PPD, and is linked to avoidance and social behaviors. Considering the importance of mitochondria in regulating brain function and behavior, we hypothesized that mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with behavioral alterations in a chronic stress-induced rat model of PPD. Chronic mild unpredictable (CMUS) stress during late gestation …

The Role Of The Physical Therapist In Managing Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic And Qualitative Perspectives, Garrett Matthew Hainline

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is an effective tool in the management of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). PA recommendations for people with T2D are to achieve at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity PA. This assists to maintain blood glucose control and reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors. Unfortunately, people with T2D are less likely than their normoglycemic peers to meet PA recommendations.

Veterans of the armed forces experience T2D at even greater levels than the general population, with prevalence at about 20%. In addition, T2D and pre-diabetes are elevated among younger veterans, including those of recent conflicts. Reducing rates …

Piezo Ion Channels: Force Sensors Of The Interoceptive Nervous System, Yasmeen M F Hamed, Britya Ghosh, Kara L Marshall

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Many organs are designed to move: the heart pumps each second, the gastrointestinal tract squeezes and churns to digest food, and we contract and relax skeletal muscles to move our bodies. Sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous system detect signals from bodily tissues, including the forces generated by these movements, to control physiology. The processing of these internal signals is called interoception, but this is a broad term that includes a wide variety of both chemical and mechanical sensory processes. Mechanical senses are understudied, but rapid progress has been made in the last decade, thanks in part to the discovery …

Author Correction: Oligodendroglial Fatty Acid Metabolism As A Central Nervous System Energy Reserve, Ebrahim Asadollahi, Andrea Trevisiol, Aiman S Saab, Zoe J Looser, Payam Dibaj, Reyhane Ebrahimi, Kathrin Kusch, Torben Ruhwedel, Wiebke Möbius, Olaf Jahn, Jun Yup Lee, Anthony S Don, Michelle-Amirah Khalil, Karsten Hiller, Myriam Baes, Bruno Weber, E Dale Abel, Andrea Ballabio, Brian Popko, Celia M Kassmann, Hannelore Ehrenreich, Johannes Hirrlinger, Klaus-Armin Nave

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Mirage: Confronting Historic Inequities In Maternal Care Deserts., Chynna Smith

Women’s Health Articles

No abstract provided.

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy In Pregnant And Postpartum Women, Madison G. Kaup

Senior Theses

This project had three main goals: 1) Explore how pregnancy and childbirth affect the female pelvic floor anatomy and physiology, 2) Examine current practices through a literature review and interviews conducted with pelvic floor physical therapists currently practicing in various clinical settings across the United States, and 3) Develop suggestions to mitigate the challenges currently faced in the field by patients and therapists.

The female pelvic floor undergoes extensive changes throughout pregnancy as its structures are targeted by laxity-inducing hormones and mechanical stress from the growing fetus. During childbirth, the system is stretched beyond its physiological limit, causing damage to …

The Dengue Vaccine Initiative: A Bibliometric Analysis Of Research Publications, Festus Mulakoli, Abednego Ongeso, Horatius Musembi

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Dengue fever has become a significant public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions and affects millions of people annually. Approximately 390 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected with dengue every year, of which 96 million develop dengue fever. Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in dengue cases, primarily in areas with tropical and subtropical climates. Vaccines have been developed to prevent or reduce the severity of the disease. This study reviews the number of publications on dengue vaccines and related topics worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the research output and create a narrative on global vaccine …

Integrated Safety And Efficacy Analyses Of Phase 3 Trials Of A Microbiome Therapeutic For Recurrent Cdi, Colleen S Kraft, Matthew Sims, Michael Silverman, Thomas J Louie, Paul Feuerstadt, Edward S Huang, Sahil Khanna, Charles S Berenson, Elaine E L Wang, Stuart H Cohen, Louis Korman, Christine Lee, Colleen R Kelly, Alberto Odio, Paul P Cook, Bret Lashner, Mayur Ramesh, Princy Kumar, Ananya De, Asli Memisoglu, David A Lombardi, Brooke R Hasson, Barbara H Mcgovern, Lisa Von Moltke, Darrell S Pardi, Ecospor Iii And Ecospor Iv Investigators

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) often occurs after standard-of-care antibiotics. VOWST oral spores (VOS, previously SER-109), an FDA-approved orally administered microbiome therapeutic, is indicated to prevent rCDI following antibiotics for rCDI.

OBJECTIVE, DESIGN, AND PATIENTS: To evaluate safety and efficacy of VOS from two phase 3 trials, (randomized, placebo-controlled [ECOSPOR III: NCT03183128] and open-label, single arm [ECOSPOR IV: NCT03183141]) of 349 adults with rCDI and prevalent comorbidities.

METHODS: VOS or placebo [ECOSPOR III only] (4 capsules once daily for 3 days). Integrated analysis of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) collected through week 8; serious TEAEs and TEAEs of special interest …

Technical Pitfalls For Fenestrated-Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair Following Petticoat, Aidin Baghbani-Oskouei, Emanuel R Tenorio, Marina Dias-Neto, Andrea Vacirca, Aleem K Mirza, Naveed Saqib, Bernardo C Mendes, Laura Ocasio, Thanila A Macedo, Gustavo S Oderich

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The Provisional Extension to Induce Complete Attachment Technique (PETTICOAT) uses a bare-metal stent to scaffold the true lumen in patients with acute or subacute aortic dissections. While it is designed to facilitate remodeling, some patients with chronic post-dissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) require repair. This study describes the technical pitfalls of fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair (FB-EVAR) in patients who underwent prior PETTICOAT repair.

Technique: We report 3 patients with extent II TAAAs who had prior bare-metal dissection stents treated by FB-EVAR. Two patients required maneuvers to reroute the aortic guidewire, which was initially placed in-between stent struts. This was …

Hospital Acquired Venous Thromboembolism In Children With Sickle Cell Disease, Shreya Agarwal, Kayla L Foster, Shaniqua J Anum, Mary C Shapiro, Hyojeong Han, Michael E Scheurer, Gladstone Airewele, Sarah E Sartain

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is well recognized as a hypercoagulablestate, however, it remains unclear whether a subgroup of children with SCD at higher risk of venous thromboembolic event (VTE) during hospitalization may benefit from thromboprophylaxis. Our objectives were to describe the clinical characteristics, outcomes and recurrence of hospital acquired VTE in patients with SCD younger than 21 years. This was a single center retrospective study. Data regarding demographics, reason for admission, location of VTE, risk factors like central venous catheter (CVC), intensive care unit (ICU) admission among others were extracted from electronic medical records over a 10-year study period (2011-2021). …

Circulating Blood Plasma Profiling Reveals Proteomic Signature And A Causal Role For Svep1 In Sudden Cardiac Death, Thuyvy Duong, Thomas R Austin, Jennifer A Brody, Ali Shojaie, Alexis Battle, Joel S Bader, Yun Soo Hong, Christie M Ballantyne, Josef Coresh, Robert E Gerszten, Russell P Tracy, Bruce M Psaty, Nona Sotoodehnia, Dan E Arking

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Publisher Correction: Detection Of Mosaic And Population-Level Structural Variants With Sniffles2, Moritz Smolka, Luis F Paulin, Christopher M Grochowski, Dominic W Horner, Medhat Mahmoud, Sairam Behera, Ester Kalef-Ezra, Mira Gandhi, Karl Hong, Davut Pehlivan, Sonja W Scholz, Claudia M B Carvalho, Christos Proukakis, Fritz J Sedlazeck

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This corrects the article "Detection of mosaic and population-level structural variants with Sniffles2" on page 1571.