Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Implementation Of Same Day Cervical Cancer And Chlamydia Screening In A University Clinic Setting, Amanda Rodriguez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Implementation of same day cervical cancer and chlamydia screening in a university clinic setting

PURPOSE The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a screening questionnaire in a university student health center to increase the rates of up-to-date cervical cancer and chlamydia screening.

BACKGROUND The project was implemented at a university-based student health center with a student population of 31,559 with 60.3% of the population being female.

METHODOLOGY A screening questionnaire regarding pap smear results and last chlamydia testing was developed for all female students age 18-65 to complete at check in for their appointments. Medical staff were …

Impact Of A Nurse Manager Development Program On Manager Competency And Intent To Leave, Yashamika Short

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE The purpose of this Quality Improvement Project is to create an evidence-based onboarding and orientation process for novice and assistant nurse managers that positively impacts nurse manager competency and intent to leave.

BACKGROUND Many organizations don’t provide formal leadership training for their nurse managers. Nurse managers are typically selected for their positions based on clinical expertise rather than leadership and management competency.

METHODOLOGY American Organization for Nursing Leadership Manager Competency Assessment tool and Dr. Nora Warshawsky Nurse Manager Intent to Leave Survey were utilized pre/post training. The framework has 3 domains: the science (managing the business), the art (leading …

Enhancing Medication Safety Through Standardized Protocols And Skills Competency Checklist: A Quality Improvement Project In Group Homes For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Mary Chilaka

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE

This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to enhance medication safety in group homes for individuals with intellectual disabilities by implementing standardized protocols and a skills competency checklist for Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAPs).

BACKGROUND

Medication errors in group homes often result from inconsistent training and oversight among UAPs. This project addressed these gaps by introducing structured training, a competency checklist, and workflow improvements to enhance adherence to best practices.

METHODOLOGY

Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, key interventions included bi-weekly training, hands-on shadowing, competency assessments, and "do not disturb" signage to minimize distractions. Data collection included pre- and post-training surveys, weekly …

Relationships Of Secondary Traumatic Stress, Compassion Fatigue, And Compassion Satisfaction Among Maternity Nurses Caring For Patients Who Succumbed To Maternal Mortality, Debra Joy Mendelson

Theses & Dissertations

Background:

Maternity nurses work where positive outcomes are the norm, leaving them more vulnerable to the adverse effects of dealing with death. Limited data indicate that caring for a maternity patient who dies may result in nurses developing secondary traumatic stress and associated compassion fatigue, which may affect their job performance. Research is warranted to promote a better understanding of nurses’ experiences, especially since the increase in maternal mortality has resulted in more nurses being exposed to maternal death.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to explore relationships between secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction of maternity …

Autoimmunities After Covid: An Interview With Cindy Patton, Cindy Patton, Travis Alexander, Nishant Shahani

English Faculty Publications

Taken collectively, Patton’s scholarship and activism has laid the foundation for insights in the health humanities, particularly AIDS studies, that consider the inextricable connections between epidemiology and ideology. Patton’s theorizations of stigma and discrimination patterns, her deconstruction of “truth” discourses subtending science, her critical re-evaluations of axioms associated with risk, safe sex, community, and knowledge production have been crucial interventions in the understanding of health and illness as cultural and discursive scripts. Among Patton’s most enduring contributions has been her theorization of how “African AIDS” was invented and circulated—that is, the notion of geographically bifurcated HIV pandemics split by the …

Mindfulness Meditation To Address Stress And Quality Of Work Life, Mari Eastland

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement the mindfulness intervention of the 3-minute breathing space (3MBS). The project was intended to decrease stress by 5% and increase professional quality of work life by 5% in healthcare workers.

BACKGROUND

The project was implemented in an outpatient center for rehabilitation and sports medicine in a rural community 60 miles outside of Houston, Texas.

METHODOLOGY

The Perceived Stress Scale and the Professional Quality of Life scale were used in a pre- and post-intervention format to track results. Daily usage of the 3MBS was tracked by participants on a physical …

N(Alpha)-Acetyltransferase 40-Mediated Histone Acetylation Plays An Important Role In Ecdysone Regulation Of Metamorphosis In The Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium Castaneum, Sharath Chandra Gaddelapati, Smitha George, Anilkumar Moola, Karthi Sengodan, Subba Reddy Palli

Entomology Faculty Publications

Histone acetylation, a crucial epigenetic modification, is governed by histone acetyltransferases (HATs), that regulate many biological processes. Functions of HATs in insects are not well understood. We identified 27 HATs and determined their functions using RNA interference (RNAi) in the model insect, Tribolium castaneum. Among HATs studied, N-alpha-acetyltransferase 40 (NAA40) knockdown caused a severe phenotype of arrested larval development. The steroid hormone, ecdysone induced NAA40 expression through its receptor, EcR (ecdysone receptor). Interestingly, ecdysone-induced NAA40 regulates EcR expression. NAA40 acetylates histone H4 protein, associated with the promoters of ecdysone response genes: EcR, E74, E75, and HR3, and causes an increase …

A Social Media Analysis Of Patient-Perceived Complications Following Periacetabular Osteotomy (Pao): A Retrospective Observational Study, Bretton Laboret, Ryan Bialaszewski, John M. Gaddis, Emily Middleton, Brittany Kendall, Katie Lynch, Adina Stewart, Joel Wells

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Social media is a popular resource for patients seeking medical information and sharing experiences. Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is an accepted treatment for symptomatic acetabular dysplasia with a low published complication profile in specialty centers. Little is known regarding patient reporting of complications on social media following PAO. The purpose of this study was to describe the patient-perceived complications of PAO posted on social media and analyze how additional factors (postoperative timeframe, concomitant surgery) correlate with these complication posts.

Methods: Facebook and Instagram were queried from 02/01/18-02/01/23; Twitter was searched over an extended range back to 02/01/11. Facebook posts (1054) …

P513: Project Give: Expanding Genetic Testing To Underserved Areas In The Rio Grande Valley Using An Ehr-Agnostic Tele-Engagement Platform, Blake Vuocolo, Roberta Sierra, Kent Carter, Keila Rodriguez, Lori Berry, Ana Hernandez, Humberto Hidalgo, Alberto Allegre, Sandy Magallan, Sarah Rodriguez

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction

Providing an accurate genetic diagnosis to children in a timely manner is crucial for providing appropriate medical interventions, counseling families about recurrence risks, and addressing the psychosocial and financial challenges that are known to be associated with diagnostic odysseys. Unfortunately, underserved and under resourced areas across the nation have poor access to genetic testing. There is a significant disparity in access to genomic healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) along the Texas-Mexico border, which has a population of about 1.4 million residents and no local full-time genetics provider. Over 94% of the population in the RGV is Hispanic, …

Trans-Ancestry Analysis Of Psychosis Biotypes: Shared Polygenic Risk And Unique Genomic Associations, Elliot S. Gershon, Ney Alliey-Rodriguez, Carol A. Tamminga, Matcheri S. Keshavan, Godfrey D. Pearlson, Sarah K. Keedy, David Parker, Rebekka Lencer, Scot Hill, Jeffrey R. Bishop

School of Medicine Publications

The Bipolar-Schizophrenia Network for Intermediate Phenotypes (B-SNIP) has categorized psychosis disorders (Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder and Bipolar Disorder) into three distinct Biotypes, based on neurobiological measurements in a multi-ancestry sample. Two recently developed post hoc ancestry adjustment methods of Polygenic Risk Scores (PRSs) generate Trans-Ancestry PRSs (TAPRSs), which allow for PRS analysis of multi-ancestry samples. Applied to schizophrenia PRS, we found the Khera TAPRS method to show superior portability and comparable prediction accuracy as compared with the Ge method. The three Biotypes of psychosis disorders had similar TAPRSs across ancestries. In genomic analysis of Biotypes, nine genes and isoforms showed significant …

Nanopore-Based Dna Long-Read Sequencing Analysis Of The Aged Human Brain, Paulino Ramirez, Wenyan Sun, Shiva Kazempour Dehkordi, Habil Zare, Bernard Fongang, Kevin F. Bieniek, Bess Frost

School of Medicine Publications

Aging disrupts cellular processes such as DNA repair and epigenetic control, leading to a gradual buildup of genomic alterations that can have detrimental effects in post-mitotic cells. Genomic alterations in regions of the genome that are rich in repetitive sequences, often termed "dark loci," are difficult to resolve using traditional sequencing approaches. New long-read technologies offer promising avenues for exploration of previously inaccessible regions of the genome. Using nanopore-based long-read whole-genome sequencing of DNA extracted from aged 18 human brains, we identify previously unreported structural variants and methylation patterns within repetitive DNA, focusing on transposable elements ("jumping genes") as crucial …

Cognitive, Behavioral, And Circadian Rhythm Interventions For Insomnia Alter Emotional Brain Responses, Jeanne Leerssen, Moji Aghajani, Tom Bresser, Lara Rösler, Anderson M. Winkler, Jessica C. Foster-Dingley, Eus J.W. Van Someren

School of Medicine Publications

Background

Methods

False Discovery Rate And Localizing Power, Anderson M. Winkler, Paul A. Taylor, Thomas E. Nichols, Chris Rorden

School of Medicine Publications

False discovery rate (FDR) is commonly used for correction for multiple testing in neuroimaging studies. However, when using two-tailed tests, making directional inferences about the results can lead to vastly inflated error rate, even approaching 100% in some cases. This happens because FDR only provides weak control over the error rate, meaning that the proportion of error is guaranteed only globally over all tests, not within subsets, such as among those in only one or another direction. Here we consider and evaluate different strategies for FDR control with two-tailed tests, using both synthetic and real imaging data. Approaches that separate …

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy; Understanding And Improving Outcomes-A Systematic Review, Shakirat Ganiyu, Taiwo Akeem Lawal, Sarah Petrie

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) presents a significant global health challenge, contributing substantially to maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite ongoing research efforts, the multifaceted nature of PPCM, encompassing genetic, environmental, and clinical factors, necessitates a comprehensive understanding to improve patient outcomes effectively.

Aims: This systematic review aims to synthesise current knowledge on PPCM aetiology, risk factors, diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, and prognostic indicators, highlighting recent advancements and potential avenues for future research and clinical management. By addressing key aspects such as genetic predispositions, environmental influences, diagnostic strategies, therapeutic modalities, and global disparities, this review seeks to provide insights that can inform …

Novel Method Of Isolating Nuclei Of Human Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells Reveals Substantial Developmental Changes In Gene Expression And H3k27ac Histone Modification, Alexey Kozlenkov, Ramu Vadukapuram, Ping Zhou, Peter Fam, Michael Wegner, Stella Dracheva

School of Medicine Publications

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) generate differentiated mature oligodendrocytes (MOs) during development. In adult brain, OPCs replenish MOs in adaptive plasticity, neurodegenerative disorders, and after trauma. The ability of OPCs to differentiate to MOs decreases with age and is compromised in disease. Here we explored the cell specific and age-dependent differences in gene expression and H3K27ac histone mark in these two cell types. H3K27ac is indicative of active promoters and enhancers. We developed a novel flow-cytometry-based approach to isolate OPC and MO nuclei from human postmortem brain and profiled gene expression and H3K27ac in adult and infant OPCs and MOs genome-wide. …

Hour Of Life At Enteral Feeding Initiation And Associated Clinical Morbidity In Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Infants, Melissa Thoene, Lauren Ridgway, Elizabeth Lyden, Ann Anderson-Berry

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Identifying nutritional interventions in extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants (<1000 >g) that are associated with favorable clinical outcomes is important. Delayed enteral feeding initiation (>3 days) has been associated with increased odds of developing morbidity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between hour of life at enteral feeding initiation and associated clinical outcomes.

METHODS: An IRB-approved retrospective chart review evaluated ELBW infants. Birth acuity was evaluated using CRIB II scoring and incidence of various morbidities (bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP)) and mortality was assessed …

Female Athletes With Better Psychological Readiness Are At Higher Risk For Second Acl Injury After Primary Acl Reconstruction, Ryan Zarzycki, Kathleen Cummer, Elanna Arhos, Matthew Failla, Jacob J. Capin, Angela H. Smith, Lynn Snyder-Mackler

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Approximately 1 in 4 athletes returning to sports will sustain a second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Psychological factors related to kinesiophobia, confidence, and psychological readiness are associated with second ACL injury; however, the evidence is conflicting.

Hypothesis: Athletes who sustain a second ACL injury (ie, graft rupture or contralateral ACL rupture) within 2 years of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) would have greater kinesiophobia, less confidence, and lower psychological readiness prior to return to sport (RTS) compared with athletes who do not sustain a second ACL injury.

Study Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective randomized trial.

Level …

Health Sciences Students’ Career Commitment, Mental Health, And Physical Activity During The Covid-19 Pandemic, David Wrucke, Marie K. Hoeger Bement, April L. Harkins, Sandra K. Hunter, Stacy Stolzman, Astrida S. Kaugars

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: To understand the biopsychosocial dimensions of university health sciences students’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants: Health sciences students (n = 297) from two universities in July and August 2020.

Methods: Participants completed a Web-based survey asking about depression, anxiety, physical activity, coronavirus threat, and career commitment.

Results: Moderate or severe depression and anxiety were reported by 28.6% and 31.3% of respondents, respectively. Depression and anxiety were positively correlated with perceived coronavirus threat and negatively correlated with career commitment and strenuous physical activity. A change in career commitment interests during the COVID-19 pandemic was reported by 11% of …

Midlife Health Crisis Of Former Competitive Athletes: Dissecting Their Experiences Via Qualitative Study, Jacob J. Capin, Taylor Wolf, Jena Heck Street, Carolyn S. Smith, Shannon L. Lennon, William B. Farquhar, Sandra K. Hunter, Linda B. Piacentine

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Sports participation confers many health benefits yet greatly increases injury risk. Long-term health outcomes in former athletes and transition to life after competitive sports are understudied. Ending a sport may pose physical and psychosocial challenges. The purpose was to determine the lived experiences of former competitive athletes and how their sports participation impacted their long-term health and well-being. Former college varsity athletes participated in semistructured interviews focusing on their experiences, including past and current health, the impact of injuries, activity, exercise, diet and transition to life after competitive sport. Thematic analysis was completed using a collaborative, iterative process. Thirty-one (16 …

Age-Related Development Of Bilateral Coordination Of The Upper Limbs In Children And Adolescents, Samuel Nemanich, Sheila M. Schindler-Ivens

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Bilateral coordination of the upper limbs (UL) is important for activities of daily living and physical activities. Motor coordination improves from childhood through adolescence. However, age-coordination trajectories for bilateral UL movements are not well-established, and it is unclear if bimanual coordination develops slower than unilateral coordination. In this study we examined age-related changes in UL coordination from childhood to late adolescence. Typically-developing children (N = 29, aged 7–17 years) performed unilateral and bilateral, antiphase cycling tasks with their ULs. Variations in cycling velocity and interlimb phase errors were computed as measures of coordination. Linear regression was used to examine …

The Effects Of Attentional Focus Instructions On Approach Jump Performance, Hanwen Liu, Scott Arnett, Dano Tolusso, Kaylee Woodard

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

Attentional focus has been shown to significantly influence motor learning and performance, with external focus instructions enhancing performance compared to internal focus instructions. Research has also demonstrated that novice performance is improved when instructed to focus on skill execution processes rather than outcomes. However, this effect remains untested in complex jumping skills crucial to numerous sports.

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the effect of internally and externally directed process and outcome focus instructions on approach jump height and approach speed in novice participants.

Methods

Twelve individuals aged 18 to 22 participated across three sessions: Familiarization, Test Session 1, …

Iuphar Review- Preclinical Models Of Neuropathic Pain: Evaluating Multifunctional Properties Of Natural Cannabinoid Receptors Ligands, Khalid Benamar

School of Medicine Publications

Neuropathic pain remains prevalent and challenging to manage and is often comorbid with depression and anxiety. The new approach that simultaneously targets neuropathic pain and the associated comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety, is timely and critical, given the high prevalence and severity of neuropathic pain and the lack of effective analgesics. In this review, we focus on the animal models of neuropathic pain that researchers have used to investigate the analgesic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) and Beta-Caryophyllene (BCP) individually and in combination while addressing the impact of these compounds on the major comorbidity (e.g., depression, anxiety) associated with neuropathic …

Editorial: Genome-Wide Molecular Mechanisms Of Substance Use Disorders, Ilya O. Blokhin, David M. Martinez-Garza, Dhruti Patel, Antoine B. Douaihy, Ihsan M. Salloum

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Annotated Bibliography On The Mechanism Starting And Sustaining Atherosclerosis, Dat H. Pham, Thach Nguyen, Hao Thuy Nguyen, Marco Zuin, Duc Khiem Ngo, Hadrian Tran, Nhat H. Pham, Thinh T. Nguyen, Chau Dang, Pham Tv Le

School of Medicine Publications

Background: In the past 30 years, there has been a significant rise in coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherosclerosis, primarily attributed to dietary changes toward cholesterol-rich fast foods. Traditional research methodologies focusing on molecular biology have been insufficient in fully understanding the initiation mechanisms of these conditions. This paper reviews the literature and defines the knowledge gap for the need for a new dynamic coronary angiographic technique.

Methods: Our approach involved a comprehensive review of fluid mechanics literature to identify gaps in current CAD research. This included analyzing major works from standard physiology textbooks, fluid mechanics reviews, and bioengineering …

Preliminary Results Of A Study Using Dynamic Angiography In Predicting Progression Or Regression Of Moderate Severity Lesions, Thach Nguyen, Marco Zuin, Pham Tv Le, Vinh Sieu Lam, Hien Q. Nguyen, Hung V. Dang, Huyen K. Huynh, Duc Khiem Ngo, Thinh T. Nguyen, Imran Mihas

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Many patients with stable angina (SA) having moderate 50% lesions could deteriorate or stay stable for a long time. No present techniques nor test could accurately predict the progression to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or stabilization of these moderate lesions. Based on the fluid dynamic methodology research, could turbulent flow further damage the plaque and rupture its cap? In contrast, could laminar flow delay the progression of the plaque and keep patients stable for a long period of time?

Methods: Patients with stable angina (SA) were admitted to the intermediate care unit and underwent coronary angiography. Patients were selected …

Human Cell Modeling Of Cdkl5-Deficiency Disorder With Patient-Derived Organoids And Hd-Mea, Alyssa Paynton

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) is an X-linked disorder that leads to severe cognitive impairments as well as infantile epilepsy. The only FDA approved therapy helps to reduce seizure frequency, however there are currently no cures approved. While murine models have proven useful in characterizing CDD, there are limitations due to differences in brain structure and development across species that may lead to the reported lack of spontaneous seizures in the mouse, a hallmark in humans affected by this disorder. By the utilization of patient-specific iPSCs generated into cerebral organoids, a more comprehensive and in-depth analysis into rare neurological disorders, such …

"They Are Expecting Us To Stay Strong": How Ambulance Personnel Navigate And Manage Their Emotions In A Rural Region Of Northern California, Tina M. Orton-Owens

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This research examines how emergency medical service (EMS) workers navigate and manage their calls in Humboldt County, a rural region of Northern California. The primary theoretical framework is drawn from Arlie Hochschild’s theory of Emotional Labor. This paper examines how emotional labor impacts EMS workers within a rural environment and with limited resources. I also look at how COVID-19 complicated EMS workers’ experiences. This paper is based on qualitative research where I conducted 13 mostly face-to-face interviews with EMS workers throughout the County between 2020 and 2022. Interviews consisted of 30 questions and interviews ranged in length from 1 to …

Examining The Efficacy Of Music-Applied Therapies On The Upper Extremity Of Post-Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Haley Galvis

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide, due to an interruption of blood flow to the brain, which ultimately results in necrotic cell death. This pathological cascade has ramifications in neurological motor, sensory, and behavior deficits. Recent research has used a therapeutic application of music as a vehicle to improve motor function of post-stroke patients. Music-supported therapy is a newer class of music therapy that works to improve motor function through a standardized program of keyboard and drum exercises, and it is continuing to be integrated into the field of rehabilitation.

This study aims to search areas …

Establishing Guidelines For Implementing Electronic Hand Hygiene Monitoring Systems, Olaoti Opaleye

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in hospitals threaten patient safety and quality of care, which leads to increased healthcare costs. Despite national and state-level progress in hand hygiene compliance (HHC), the 2022 CDC annual report on HAIs highlighted ongoing concerns for standard infection ratios (SIRs) and called for improved HHC to reduce HAIs. Many hospitals use trained observers to collate HHC data; their audits are limited and often skewed by the Hawthorne Effect (HE) and observer bias, resulting in inaccurate HHC data. This project aimed to create guidelines for implementing electronic hand hygiene monitoring systems (EHHMSs) to help hospital inpatient units adopt …

Does Heightened Perceptual Encoding In Blind Individuals Extend To Word Learning?, Lindsay N. Harris, Marissa Renee Bamberger

CISLL Publications

Past research reported blind participants tend to encode sensory details of encounters with stimuli they will later recall or recollect, whereas sighted individuals tend to abstract meaning from sensory information when encoding memories. Here we ask whether blind individuals’ use of perceptual in addition to semantic encoding extends to a task—word learning—whose purpose amounts to semantically encoding the word and definition. After studying the definitions of spoken or written words, blind braille readers (n = 23) and sighted print readers (n = 20) re-encountered each word and indicated whether it was previously presented in the same modality. Analyses …