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Menstrual Hygiene Screening Needs Assessment In South Dakota, Mariah Shafer, Denyelle Kenyon

Scholarship Pathways Program

Menstrual Hygiene Screening Needs Assessment In South Dakota

Mariah M. Shafer, MD | DenYelle Kenyon Ph.D. Assoc Dean, Community Health and Engagement, MPH Program Director.

 Introduction: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is essential to women’s reproductive health; literature demonstrates there are mental, social, and economic consequences to inadequate MHM in rural and developing countries. Emerging studies show that US women who are impoverished, experiencing homelessness, or incarcerated also face poor MHM. To understand implications of poor MHM in South Dakota, a largely rural state, a thorough gynecologic health history is essential; this needs assessment explores the scope of MHM questions asked …

Brief Review : Listening Closely--Stethoscopes, Hygiene Gaps, And The Unfinished Work Of Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention, James Espinosa, Swet Patel, Robin Lahr, Sergey Medlenov, Russell Mordecai, James Lee, Alan Lucerna, Henry Schuitema

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a persistent patient safety challenge. While hand hygiene has received sustained institutional focus, stethoscope hygiene remains inconsistently addressed despite longstanding evidence of contamination. Stethoscopes function as portable, patient-to-patient devices that may serve as under-recognized fomites in emergency and inpatient settings. Prior pilot work demonstrated that clinicians were unable to reliably distinguish between disposable and standard stethoscopes, and that perceived acoustic degradation from a diaphragm barrier was minimal. These findings suggest that acoustic concerns may not represent a primary barrier to hygiene-enhancing strategies. This brief review examines the literature surrounding stethoscope contamination and cleaning behavior, frames the …

Proof-Of-Concept Development And Preclinical Evaluation Of A Microarray Patch Platform For Codelivery Of Multiple Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies For Hiv Prevention, M. Melissa Peet, Vivek Agrahari, Parbeen Singh, Lam Luong Hoai Nguyen, Louise A. Ouattara, Eun Sung Yang, Carolina Herrera, Amarendra Pegu, Theodore C. Pierson, Thanh D. Nguyen, Gustavo F. Doncel

CONRAD Publications

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) are advancing as a preventative or treatment option for HIV infection, but currently must be administered parenterally, typically as a large injection or infusion, an invasive method of delivery, especially for the pediatric population. Here, we present proof-of-concept data on a minimally invasive microneedle (MN) patch platform codelivering three bnAbs, PGT121, VRC07-523LS, and PGDM1400LS, from separate MN patch units or pixels. Each 1 cm² patch pixel, fabricated via solvent casting, contained similar to 2 mg of one bnAb. In ex vivo porcine skin tests, the MNs effectively penetrated the skin. When tested in vitro in PBS …

Analysis Of Demand And Supply Of Radiotherapy Services At Dr.M.Djamil General Hospital Padang, Viola Shinta Dewi, Catur Suharinto, Zarni Zamzahar, Yulhaini Yulhaini

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

Around 10 million cases of cancer are discovered in the world per year, and it will continue to increase. Half of cancer cases require radiotherapy as treatment therapy. Dr. M. Djamil General Hospital, Padang, in 2021, has only 1 Cobalt radiotherapy. This study aimed to analyze the demand and supply of radiotherapy services at Dr. M. Djamil General Hospital, Padang. This descriptive study was conducted at Dr. M. Djamil General Hospital, Padang from May to December 2022. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis to describe the variables studied. This study reported that 241 patients were registered and received radiotherapy services. …

Implementation Factors For Wearable Fall Injury Mitigation Technology: A Framework For Technology Adoption, Richard G. Stefanacci, Rebecca J. Tarbert, Nicole Hemenover

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: To identify implementation factors influencing the adoption of wearable fall injury mitigation technology in long-term care (LTC) settings and develop a practical framework for technology implementation success.

DESIGN: Mixed-methods assessment of a multicenter evaluation examining organizational, staff, and resident factors affecting technology adoption.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Ten LTC facilities implementing the Tango Belt, a wearable airbag device for hip protection during falls. Analysis included 134 intervention participants (mean age 87.3 years, 76% female, 93% with fall history in past year) and comprehensive stakeholder feedback from staff, leadership, residents, and families.

METHODS: Quantitative measures included device adherence rates, training attendance, …

The Science Of Sound: Studying The Cognitive, Emotional, And Physiological Effects Of Frequency, Genre, And Music, Jett Yarborough

Senior Honors Theses

Music influences emotion, physiology, and cognition, yet little is known about how the frequency it is tuned to affects these influences. Prior research has shown that music tuned to 432 Hz can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep. My colleagues and I conducted two studies to investigate this. Our research found that music tuned to 432 Hz promotes a significant increase in memory retention and induces a state of focus and relaxation. These results suggest that shifting from the standard tuning frequency of 440 Hz to 432 Hz could have a profoundly positive impact on our daily lives. …

Establishment Of An Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval Program: The Effect On Trauma And Non-Trauma Patient Populations, Katelyn Gill, Hector Ferral, Alexandra H. Fairchild, Bahri Üstünsöz, Dan F. Laney Iv, John Hunt, Jonathan E. Schoen, Alan Marr, Patrick Greiffenstein, Lance Stuke, Alison A. Smith

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effect of establishing an inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) retrieval program (IVCFRP) on the IVCF retrieval rates in trauma and non-trauma patients. METHODS: This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective study. IVCF retrieval in trauma and non-trauma patients was compared before and after the establishment of an IVCFRP in a single Level I Trauma Center. The IVCFRP at our institution was established in April 2020. All patients who underwent IVCF placement between January 2016 and March 2020 were compared with patients who had an IVCF placed between April 2020 and June 2024. A …

Enhancing Cataract Surgery Outcomes: Optimal Use Of Pre- And Post-Operative Eye Drops, Keith Skolnick M.D., Anu Valiaveedu

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Many preoperative and postoperative cataract patients struggle with comprehending the use of prescription medication as directed. Language barriers and low health literacy levels are major factors contributing to improper use of prescriptions. To increase patients comprehension, the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute employed an educational intervention consisting of a live presentation and an instructional video. Results found that 44% of patients were hesitant to ask questions to clinical staff, 32% felt overwhelmed, and nearly 70% lacked confidence in using their prescribed eye drops. Following the intervention, 91% of patients reported increased confidence in their medications, and most indicated that the video …

Comparison Between Pipeline Embolization Device (Ped) Versus Flow Redirection Endoluminal Device (Fred) For Intracranial Aneurysms: A Comprehensive Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Seyed Maroufi, Mohammad Fallahi, Muhammad Waqas, Othman Bin-Alamer, Manisha Koneru, Joanna Roy, Jane Khalife, Hamza Shaikh, Daniel Tonetti

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: The performance of the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) and relatively newer double-layered Flow Re-Direction Endoluminal Device (FRED) have been studied for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, but direct comparisons between PED and FRED are limited. The current systematic review aims at comparing the efficacy and safety of PED and FRED.

METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched, and related records were identified. A meta-analysis of double-arm studies comparing PED and FRED was conducted on angiographic and clinical outcomes, retreatment rates, and …

Carbon Footprint Of Inhaled Anesthetics – Do The Risks Outweigh The Benefits?, Liam Kerrick, Joseph Moschella

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Global warming presents many challenges to the healthcare system. Not only does the increasing global temperature have detrimental health effects itself, but the healthcare sector is also a huge contributor to global warming. One big contributor to global warming is the use of inhaled anesthetics, which possess global warming potentials up to 2,000 times greater than carbon dioxide. Recent proposals, such as a prospective ban of desflurane in 2026 by the European Commission, demonstrate the need to reevaluate many of the common practices within anesthesiology. This review looks to investigate the environmental impact, cost, and clinical efficacy of various anesthetic …

Safety And Efficacy Of Different Stent Strategies In Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Network Meta-Analysis, Waqas Ullah, Harigopal Sandhyavenu, Syeda Ramsha Zaidi, Mileydis Alonso, Muhammad Atif Khan, Irfan Ullah, Farah Yasmin, Aravind Reddy Polam, Salman Zahid, Arnav Kumar, Ewout Steyerberg, Mohammed Murtaza, Chadi Alraiesm, Jeffrey Rade

Jefferson Health - Northeast Papers (formerly Aria Health Papers)

BACKGROUND: The utility of polymer-permanent, polymer-absorbable, and polymer-free drug-eluting stents (DES) in the context of different eluting drugs in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains controversial.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of different DES strategies in post-PCI patients.

METHODS: Digital databases were searched to select all randomized control trials. Different combinations of DES were directly compared with permanent-polymer sirolimus-eluting stents. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events; a composite of cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and target vessel revascularization. A network meta-analysis was performed to determine the net relative risk (RR) and …

The Impact Of Teleophthalmology On Underserved Populations: A Review Of Literature, Rutu H. Vyas, Marietta Kaloyan, Brian Leung, Isha Gondi, Yinwen Wang, Sherli Chenthittayil

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (Aabr) Diagnostic Test Compared To Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emission Screening (Teoae) For Universal Newborn Hearing Screenings (Unhs) In High-Risk Neonates, Teresa Anthony, Troy Quast, Sarah Warren

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Purpose: Comorbidities and ototoxic medications increase risk of hearing loss (HL) in infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU; 6 per 1000 births) compared to well-babies (1.7 per 1000 births). For newborn hearing screening (NBHS), transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) testing is more efficient and less costly. Automated auditory brainstem response (aABR) testing yields higher sensitivity and specificity. This study will identify if aABR is cost-effective compared with TEOAE for NBHS in high-risk neonates.

Methodology: Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from a healthcare system perspective. Prevalence and outcomes data for aABR, TEOAE, and auditory brainstem response (ABR) were obtained …

Treatment Of Large Intracranial Aneurysms Using The Woven Endobridge (Web): A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis, Basel Musmar, Hamza Salim, Nimer Adeeb, Assala Aslan, Bahaa Aljeradat, Jose Diestro, Rachel Mclellan, Oktay Algin, Sherief Ghozy, Mahmoud Dibas, Sovann Lay, Adrien Guenego, Leonardo Renieri, Nicole Cancelliere, Joseph Carnevale, Guillaume Saliou, Panagiotis Mastorakos, Kareem El Naamani, Eimad Shotar, Kevin Premat, Markus Möhlenbruch, Michael Kral, Justin Vranic, Charlotte Chung, Mohamed Salem, Ivan Lylyk, Paul Foreman, Jay Vachhani, Hamza Shaikh, Vedran Župančić, Muhammad Hafeez, Joshua Catapano, Muhammad Waqas, Vincent Tutino, Mohamed Ibrahim, Marwa Mohammed, M. Ozgur Ozates, Giyas Ayberk, James Rabinov, Yifan Ren, Clemens Schirmer, Mariangela Piano, Anna Kühn, Caterina Michelozzi, Stéphanie Elens, Robert Starke, Ameer Hassan, Mark Ogilvie, Anh Nguyen, Jesse Jones, Waleed Brinjikji, Marie Nawka, Marios Psychogios, Christian Ulfert, Julian Spears, Brian Jankowitz, Jan-Karl Burkhardt, Ricardo Domingo, Thien Huynh, Juan Carlos Martinez-Gutierrez, Muhammed Essibayi, Sunil Sheth, Gary Spiegel, Rabih Tawk, Boris Lubicz, Pietro Panni, Ajit Puri, Guglielmo Pero, Erez Nossek, Eytan Raz, Monika Killer-Oberfalzer, Christoph Griessenauer, Hamed Asadi, Adnan Siddiqui, Allan Brook, David Altschul, Andrew Ducruet, Felipe Albuquerque, Robert Regenhardt, Christopher Stapleton, Peter Kan, Vladimir Kalousek, Pedro Lylyk, Srikanth Boddu, Jared Knopman, Mohammad A Aziz-Sultan, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Frédéric Clarençon, Nicola Limbucci, Hugo Cuellar-Saenz, Pascal Jabbour, Vitor Pereira, Aman Patel, Adam Dmytriw

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device is primarily used for treating wide-neck intracranial bifurcation aneurysms under 10 mm. Limited data exists on its efficacy for large aneurysms. We aim to assess angiographic and clinical outcomes of the WEB device in treating large versus small aneurysms. We conducted a retrospective review of the WorldWide WEB Consortium database, from 2011 to 2022, across 30 academic institutions globally. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to compare small and large aneurysms on baseline characteristics. A total of 898 patients were included. There was no significant difference observed in clinical presentations, smoking status, pretreatment mRS, presence …

Polymer-Based Drug-Eluting Stent Treatment Extends The Time To Reintervention For Patients With Symptomatic Femoropopliteal Artery Disease: Clinical Evidence And Potential Economic Value, William Gray, Yoshimitsu Soga, Masahiko Fujihara, Osamu Iida, Anvar Babaev, Daizo Kawasaki, Thomas Zeller, David O'Connor, Michael Jaff, Anna Chavez, Stefan Müller-Hülsbeck

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Aim: Use long-term follow-up data from the IMPERIAL study to determine whether drug-eluting polymer-based nitinol stent treatment can delay the time to repeat intervention for femoropopliteal artery disease and how such a delay may result in cost savings in a value-based episode of care. Patients & methods: The IMPERIAL randomized controlled trial was an international study of a paclitaxel-eluting polymer-coated stent (Eluvia, Boston Scientific, MA, USA) versus a polymer-free paclitaxel-coated stent (Zilver PTX, Cook Corporation, IN, USA) for treating lesions of the femoropopliteal arterial segment. Study patients (n = 465) had symptomatic lower limb ischemia. Safety and efficacy assessments were …

The Effect Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Sanitation Practices And Anxiety In The General Population, Leah Cliatt, Joanna Petrides

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Illness anxiety and fear of contracting coronavirus increased considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic. The media, being in lockdown, and cyberchondria had the largest impact on the population’s anxiety surrounding illness. While this kind of reaction to illness is expected during the pandemic, there is limited data on post-pandemic illness anxiety levels in the general population. Patients’ perception of disease impacts medicine at every level; medical professionals need to understand the concerns and fears of their patients in order to treat the post-pandemic patient. We hypothesized that sanitation practices and anxiety surrounding illness have not returned to baseline pre-COVID-19 …

Use Of Point-Of-Care Ultrasound In The Diagnosis Of Postpartum Cardiomyopathy, Muhammad Noman, Frank A. Wheeler, James A. Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Postpartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), also known as peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare form of heart failure (HF) that occurs in the late stages of pregnancy or in the early postpartum period. For it to be classified as PPCM, it must occur in the absence of another identifiable cause for HF and have left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction with an LV ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 45%. Here we present the case of a 46-year-old female G3P2 presented 5 days postpartum cesarean section delivery in acute respiratory distress where point of care ultrasound was used for assessment of the lungs to visualize …

Effects Of Ultrasonic Use On Hearing Loss In Dental Hygienists: A Matched Pairs Design Study, Jessica Suedbeck, Emily A. Ludwig, James Blando, Nathan Michalak

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: Dental professionals are exposed to hazardous noise levels on a daily basis in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to compare the hearing status of dental hygienists who utilize ultrasonic scalers in the workplace compared to age-matched control participants (non-dental hygienists) who were not exposed to ultrasonic noise.

Methods: A convenience sample of nineteen dental hygienists (experimental) and nineteen non-dental hygienists (control) was recruited for this study. A matched pairs design was utilized; participants in each group were matched based on age and gender to eliminate confounding variables. The testing procedure consisted of an audiologist performing a …

The Effectiveness Of Disinfection Protocols In Medical School Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Labs., Harrison A. Patrizio, Riley Phyu, Thomas Boyle, Todd Schachter

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

CONTEXT: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare-associated infections have taken center stage. Healthcare has adjusted workflows to accommodate for more robust disinfecting regiments to help protect the community. This has resulted in the need for medical institutions to reevaluate the current disinfection protocols down to the student level. The osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) laboratory provides an optimal avenue for assessing the effectiveness of medical students' ability to clean examination tables. With OMM laboratories having a high level of interaction, adequate disinfection is important for the health and safety of students and teaching faculties.

OBJECTIVES: This study will evaluate the …

Isolated Temazepam Overdose: A Unique Case Of An Unresponsive Female, Eric Doane

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Cases of acute overdose presenting to the emergency department pose a great challenge given that history can sometimes be limited or at times be inaccurate. While naloxone is routinely given in the field to help reduce opiate’s sedating effects, the routine use of flumazenil has not been routinely adopted in cases of benzodiazepine overdose. This is because, unlike naloxone, there are many medications that act on the GABA receptor, and flumazenil is only specific for binding to the benzodiazepine/GABA receptor. This can lead to an unmasking of other medications that may be co-ingested that also effect the GABA receptor leading …

Purple Urine Bag Syndrome (Pubs) In A Patient With A Chronic Indwelling Foley, Kelsey Murray, Kishan B. Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Purple urine bag syndrome (PUBS) is a rare medical condition characterized by the appearance of purple discoloration in the urine collection bag of patients who use catheters for urinary drainage. PUBS is primarily seen in elderly, female, and institutionalized patients who have chronic indwelling catheters. The discoloration occurs due to the presence of certain bacteria that produce pigments, which react with the plastic materials of the catheter and urine collection bag, leading to the formation of a purple color. In addition to the aesthetic concerns, PUBS may also indicate an underlying urinary tract infection or other medical conditions that require …

The Effectiveness Of Cleaning Protocols In Medical School Omm Labs By Medical Students, Harrison Patrizio, Riley Phyu, Thomas Boyle, Todd Schachter

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfection in healthcare has taken center stage. Healthcare has adjusted workflows to accommodate for more robust cleaning regimens to help protect the community. This has resulted in the need for medical institutions to reevaluate the current cleaning protocols down to the student level. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) lab provides an optimal avenue for assessing medical student’s examination table cleaning effectiveness. With OMM labs being an activity with a high level of interaction, the quality of examination table cleaning is important for the health and safety of students and teaching faculties. Our study highlights that …

The Effectiveness Of Examination Table Cleaning Protocols In Osteopathic Family Medicine Offices, Riley Phyu, Harrison A. Patrizio, Thomas Boyle, Todd Schachter

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Contaminated environmental surfaces are responsible for acquisition of healthcare associated infections. In 2002 there were approximately 1.7 million healthcare associated infections, resulting in about 99,000 annual deaths. Appropriate disinfection of environmentally contaminated surfaces are required to reduce transmission of pathogens. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence is being used in hospital settings to audit the cleanliness in the hospital settings. However, there is a paucity of literature in different healthcare settings outside of hospital settings. This may unintentionally result in a more relaxed cleaning protocol in outpatient settings.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of disinfecting protocol in osteopathic family medicine offices using …

Human Airway Mucociliary Tissue Cultures Chronically Exposed To E-Cigarette Vapors Exhibit Altered Cell Populations And Increased Secretion Of Immunomodulatory Cytokines, Vanessa Pizutelli, Vincent Manna, Shannon Dwyer, Salvatore Caradonna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Vape-pens or electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are handheld battery powered devices that use a vape-liquid to produce a vapor that is inhaled by the user. The active ingredients in commercial vape-liquids are commonly nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol or cannabidiol. A consequence of the rise in e-cigarette usage was the 2019 emergence of a vaping-induced respiratory disease denoted ‘e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury’ (EVALI). One of the suspected causes of EVALI is Vitamin E Acetate (VEA), which was found to be a diluent in certain illicit tetrahydrocannabinol vape-pens, whereas nicotine is commonly diluted in equal parts propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin (PG:VG). The …

Patient And Provider Experience With Artificial Intelligence Screening Technology For Diabetic Retinopathy In A Rural Primary Care Setting, Brian M. Nolan, Emma R. Daybranch, Kerri Barton, Neil Korsen

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: The development of autonomous artificial intelligence for interpreting diabetic retinopathy (DR) images has allowed for point-of-care testing in the primary care setting. This study describes patient and provider experiences and perceptions of the artificial intelligence DR screening technology called EyeArt by EyeNuk during implementation of the tool at Western Maine Primary Care in Norway, Maine.

Methods: This non-randomized, single-center, prospective observational study surveyed 102 patients and 13 primary care providers on their experience of the new screening intervention.

Results: All surveyed providers agreed that the new screening tool would improve access and annual screening rates. Some providers also identified …

Injuries In Manual And Mechanical Cpr, Macon Spruill, Malik Bangura

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: To compare the rate of injuries during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using manual versus mechanical chest compressions with the Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (LUCAS™).

Design: Systematic literature review

Methods: We investigated the use of 2 different CPR methods, manual and mechanical, in order to determine if one was more likely to cause injury in individuals during a cardiac arrest. PubMed searches were conducted using the terms “cardiopulmonary resuscitation,” “adverse effect,” “classification,” “method,” “mortality,” “statistical and numerical data,” “trends,” “complication,” “epidemiology,” and “etiology.” Studies were excluded if they took place before the year 2000, included individuals under 18 …

Inpatient Physical Activity Across A Large University City Hospital: A Behavioral Mapping Study, Karin Valkenet, Prue Mcrae, Elja Reijneveld, Marielle Jans, Petra Bor, Lotte Van Delft, Daniel L. Young, Cindy Veenhof

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Background: Physical inactivity is common during hospitalization. Physical activity has been described in different inpatient populations but never across a hospital. Purpose: To describe inpatient movement behavior and associated factors throughout a single university hospital. Methods: A prospective observational study was performed. Patients admitted to clinical wards were included. Behavioral mapping was undertaken for each participant between 9AM and 4PM. The location, physical activity, daily activity, and company of participants were described. Barriers to physical activity were examined using linear regression analyses. Results: In total, 345 participants from 19 different wards were included. The mean (SD) age was 61 (16) …

Project Ankle-Brachial Index: Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Peripheral Artery Disease Protocol, Melaney Banks

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a narrowing or blocking of the arteries due to plaque buildup, which prevents oxygen, blood, and other nutrients from getting to the legs. When this buildup reaches a certain point, it becomes atherosclerosis, which is more prevalent in a smoker. Smoking intensifies the problem of plaque buildup if an individual already suffers from PAD. When an individual smokes, the nicotine causes the arteries to constrict and narrow, reducing blood flow further. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a simple, cost-effective diagnostic test to identify the presence of PAD which will improve patient outcomes.

Purpose: This …

Electrocardiogram-Based Machine Learning Emulator Model For Predicting Novel Echocardiography-Derived Phenogroups For Cardiac Risk-Stratification: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study, Heenaben B. Patel, Naveena Yanamala, Brijesh Patel, Sameer Raina, Peter D. Farjo, Srinidhi Sunkara, Márton Tokodi, Nobuyuki Kagiyama, Grace Casaclang-Verzosa, Partho P. Sengupta

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Electrocardiography (ECG)-derived machine learning models can predict echocardiography (echo)-derived indices of systolic or diastolic function. However, systolic and diastolic dysfunction frequently coexists, which necessitates an integrated assessment for optimal risk-stratification. We explored an ECG-derived model that emulates an echo-derived model that combines multiple parameters for identifying patient phenogroups at risk for major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

Methods: In this substudy of a prospective, multicenter study, patients from 3 institutions (n = 727) formed an internal cohort, and the fourth institution was reserved as an external test set (n = 518). A previously validated patient similarity analysis model was used …

Supply, Demand, And Quality: A Three-Pronged Approach To Blood Product Management In Developing Countries, Kyle L. Gress, Karina Charipova, Ivan Urits, Omar Viswanath, Alan D. Kaye

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

While transfusion of blood and blood products is instinctively linked to the provision of emergent care, blood and blood products are also routinely used for the treatment of subacute and chronic conditions. Despite the efforts of the World Health Organization and others, developing countries are faced with a three-part problem when it comes to access to and delivery of transfusions: insufficient supply, excessive demand, and inadequate quality of available supply. Developing countries rely heavily on replacement and remunerated donors rather than voluntary nonremunerated donors due to concerns regarding donation- and transfusion-transmitted infection as well as local and cultural beliefs. While …