Diseases Commons^™

An Assessment Of Outpatient Clinic Room Ventilation Systems And Possible Relationship To Disease Transmission, Kristin G King, George L Delclos, Eric L Brown, Susan Tortolero Emery, Jose Miguel Yamal, Robert J Emery

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: With healthcare shifting to the outpatient setting, this study examined whether outpatient clinics operating in business occupancy settings were conducting procedures in rooms with ventilation rates above, at, or below thresholds defined in the American National Standards Institute/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers/American Society for Health Care Engineering Standard 170 for Ventilation in Health Care Facilities and whether lower ventilation rates and building characteristics increase the risk of disease transmission.

METHODS: Ventilation rates were measured in 105 outpatient clinic rooms categorized by services rendered. Building characteristics were evaluated as determinants of ventilation rates, and risk of disease …

Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography For Detecting Subclinical Left Ventricular Dysfunction In Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Rongjuan Li, Jinjie Xie, Bo Jiang, Zhonghua Sun, Lvya Wang, Zhaoting Leng, Yueli Wang, Ya Yang

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Myocardial ischemia and left ventricular dysfunction have been documented in young adults with familial hypercholesterolemia. We investigated whether speckle-tracking echocardiography can be used to detect subclinically impaired global and regional myocardial function in patients with this lipid disorder. This single-center study included 47 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and 37 healthy control subjects who underwent transthoracic Doppler echocardiography and speckle-tracking echocardiography from January 2003 through December 2016. Conventional echocardiographic and strain parameters in the 2 groups were analyzed and compared. Left ventricular dimensions were significantly larger at end-diastole (P=0.02) and end-systole (P=0.013), left ventricular walls were significantly thicker (P

Prevalence Of Allergic Fungal Sinusitis Among Patients With Nasal Polyposis, Rahim Dhanani, Shayan Khalid, Basit Salam, Hamdan Ahmed Pasha, Farah Hafiz Yousuf, Mubasher Ikram

Section of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery

Objective: To determine the frequency of allergic fungal sinusitis among patients with nasal polyps, and to compare Lund-Mackay scores of patients with and without allergic fungal sinusitis.
Methods: The cross-sectional longitudinal study was conducted at a tertiary healthcare centre in Karachi, Pakistan, from December 2016 to November 2018, and comprised patients with sinonasal polyposis undergoing surgery. The patients were categorised as having allergic fungal sinusitis when histopathology showed allergic mucin with fungal hyphae and culture was positive for fungal growth. Lund-Mackay scoring of each patient was noted and mean scores of allergic fungal sinusitis and non-allergic fungal sinusitis patients were …

Computational Analysis Of Protein Stability And Allosteric Interaction Networks In Distinct Conformational Forms Of The Sars Cov 2 Spike D614g Mutant: Reconciling Functional Mechanisms Through Allosteric Model Of Spike Regulation, Gennady M. Verkhivker, Steve Agajanian, Deniz Oztas, Grace Gupta

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In this study, we used an integrative computational approach to examine molecular mechanisms underlying functional effects of the D614G mutation by exploring atomistic modeling of the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins as allosteric regulatory machines. We combined coarse-grained simulations, protein stability and dynamic fluctuation communication analysis with network-based community analysis to examine structures of the native and mutant SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins in different functional states. Through distance fluctuations communication analysis, we probed stability and allosteric communication propensities of protein residues in the native and mutant SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, providing evidence that the D614G mutation can enhance long-range signaling of the allosteric spike …

A Novel Biomarker Panel For The Early Detection And Risk Assessment Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Patients With Cirrhosis, Ilvira M Khan, Donjeta Gjuka, Jingjing Jiao, Xiaoling Song, Ying Wang, Jing Wang, Peng Wei, Hashem B El-Serag, Jorge A Marrero, Laura Beretta

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Novel biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in patients with cirrhosis are urgently needed. We previously identified osteopontin (OPN) as a promising biomarker for the early detection of HCC. This study is to further validate the performance of OPN and identify fatty acids (FA) that could improve OPN's performance in HCC risk assessment in patients with cirrhosis. To that end, we selected 103 patients with cirrhosis under surveillance. Among them, 40 patients developed HCC during follow-up. We investigated in these 103 patients, the association between HCC incidence and prediagnostic serum levels of AFP, OPN, and 46 FAs. OPN performance was …

Modeling The Spread Of Covid-19 Over Varied Contact Networks, Ryan L. Solorzano

Master's Theses

When attempting to mitigate the spread of an epidemic without the use of a vaccine, many measures may be made to dampen the spread of the disease such as physically distancing and wearing masks. The implementation of an effective test and quarantine strategy on a population has the potential to make a large impact on the spread of the disease as well. Testing and quarantining strategies become difficult when a portion of the population are asymptomatic spreaders of the disease. Additionally, a study has shown that randomly testing a portion of a population for asymptomatic individuals makes a small impact …

Evaluating Motor Performance With The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test Of Motor Proficiency In Impoverished Pakistani Children, Zehra Habib Hasan, Fariha Shaheen, Arjumand Rizvi, Jelena Obradovic, Aisha Khan Yousafzai

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity of the modified Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test in identifying motor differences secondary to malnutrition and poverty.
Methods: This longitudinal cohort study was conducted at Nowshero Feroze, Sindh from 2013 to 2014 and comprised data drawn from children who participated in a randomised controlled trial, that assessed responsive stimulation and nutrition interventions in the first two years of life. Outcome measures included motor development assessed using Brief Form of Bruininks Oseretsky Test, child anthropometry and household economic and demographic information. Data was analysed using SPSS 15 and STATA 12.
Results: Of the 1058 children, …

A Survey Of Covid-19 Information Dissemination Behavior Of Library And Information Professionals In Nigeria, Joy Iguehi Ikenwe, Idowu Adegbilero-Iwari, Oluwaseun Eniola Adegbilero-Iwari

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The corona virus disease reported in 2019 became a global pandemic in 2020. It now maintains an unwelcome status as one of the most difficult public health challenge of modern era. The disease is highly contagious much as the rate of information and misinformation diffusion about it. Whereas members of the public might have shared information on COVID-19 but library and information professionals (LIPs) are trained on the meaningful use of information and information dissemination through social infrastructure. Thus, this paper studied in Nigeria, the COVID-19 information dissemination behavior of LIPs, using the survey research approach. Data were collected through …

Intraoperative Hypothermia In Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Cross-Sectional Study From A Developing Country, Ronika Devi Ukrani, Aiman Arif, Anum Sadruddin Pidani, Obada Hussein Hasan, Shahryar Noordin

Medical College Documents

Background: Intraoperative hypothermia is associated with various risk factors, morbidity, and mortality in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), increasing the emotional and financial burden on patients. This study aimed to identify risk factors of intraoperative hypothermia in patients undergoing TKA.
Materials and methods: All adult patients (⩾18 years) who underwent TKA from January 2016 to December 2017 at a tertiary-care hospital in Pakistan were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional study. Temperature < 36 °C was defined as hypothermia.
Results: The study included 286 patients (77.6% female) with a mean age of 61.4 ± 10.4 years. The overall proportion of intraoperative hypothermia was 26.6%. Of the total …

Morphological Spectrum Of Vesiculobullous Skin Lesions: An Institutional Perspective, Javaria Ali, Sabeeh Islam, Syed Munqaad Ali, Syed Rafay Yaqeen, Anum Aslam, Qurat Ul Ain Khan, Umair Arshad Malik, Muhammad Irfan, Hanna Naqvi, Atif A. Hashmi

Section of Internal Medicine

Introduction: A vesiculobullous lesion of the skin encompasses a group of dermatological disorders with protean clinicopathological features. They usually occur as a part of the spectrum of various infectious, inflammatory, drug-induced, genetic, and autoimmune disorders. Therefore, accurate diagnosis of these lesions is essential for appropriate management and to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality. The conventional skin punch biopsy is the mainstay in the diagnosis of dermatological diseases, especially when combined with confirmatory tests, such as direct immunofluorescence (DIF). Our study evaluated the clinicopathological spectrum of vesiculobullous lesions.
Methods: We studied 150 cases of vesiculobullous lesions at the Department of …

A Review Of Toolkits And Case Definitions For Detecting Enteric Fever Outbreaks In Asian And African Countries From 1965-2019, Asif Khaliq, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai, Salman Haq, Rahima Yaseen, Sonia Qureshi, Fahad Rind, Zahra A. Padhani, Ayub Khan, Abdul Momin Kazi, Farah Naz Qamar

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: This review assessed the case definitions, diagnostic criteria, antimicrobial resistance, and methods used for enteric fever outbreaks and utilization of any unified outbreak score or checklist for early identification and response in Asia and Africa from 1965-2019.
Methods: We searched enteric fever outbreaks using PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane library. Studies describing a single outbreak event of enteric fever in Asia and Africa from 1965-2019 were reviewed. We excluded case reports, letter to editors, studies reporting typhoid in conjunction with other diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) trip reports, the World Health Organization (WHO) bulletins …

Utility Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy To Reduce Pain In Children With Sickle Cell Disease, Abigail Radomsky

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report appraising:

Schatz J, Schlenz AM, McClellan CB, et al. Changes in coping, pain, and activity after cognitive-behavioral training. The Clinical Journal of Pain 2015;31(6):536-47 https://doi.org/10.1097/ajp.0000000000000183

for a child with sickle cell disease.

Interventional Treatment With The Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (Tips) Procedure May Offer A Preferable Alternative To Systemic Anticoagulation In Patients With Cirrhosis And Portal Vein Thrombosis, Molly N. Pantelic

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report appraising:

Wang Z, Jiang MS, Zhang HL, et al. Is post-tips anticoagulation therapy necessary in patients with cirrhosis and portal vein thrombosis? A randomized controlled trial. Radiology. 2016;279(3):943-951. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2015150369

for a patient with cryptogenic cirrhosis, gastroesophageal varices, pancreatic cancer, and portal vein thrombosis.

Luspatercept Diminishes The Need For Red Blood Cell Replacement In Transfusion-Dependent Β-Thalassemia Patients, Joudeh B. Freij

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report appraising:

Cappellini MD, Viprakasit V, Taher AT, et al. A phase 3 trial of luspatercept in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(13):1219-1231. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1910182

for a patient with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.

Sleeve Gastrectomy Improves Metabolic Syndrome In Psychologically Stable Patients With Schizophrenia, Irene Chen

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report appraising:

Archid R, Archid N, Meile T, Hoffman J, Wulff D, Teufel M, Muthig M, Quante M, Konigsrainer A, Lange J. Patients with schizophrenia do not demonstrate worse outcome after sleeve gastrectomy: a short-term cohort study. Obesity Surgery. 2019;29:506-510. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-018-3578-0

for a patient with schizophrenia and obesity.

Weak Evidence, Supplemented With Common Sense For Reduction In Postoperative Pulmonary Complications, Natalie M. Wiseman

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report appraising:

Kaminski PN, Forgiarini LA, Jr., Andrade CF. Early respiratory therapy reduces postoperative atelectasis in children undergoing lung resection. Respir Care. 2013;58(5):805-809. https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.01870

for prevention of postoperative pulmonary complications following thoracic surgery for a patient who is not able to participate in incentive spirometry.

External Beam Radiation Therapy Carries Lower Risk Of Sexual Dysfunction As Compared To Radical Prostatectomy In Treatment Of Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer, Aamod S. Dekhne

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report appraising:

Donovan JL, Hamdy FC, Lane JA, et al. Patient-Reported Outcomes after Monitoring, Surgery, or Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(15):1425-1437. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1606221

for a patient with localized prostate cancer and concerns regarding future sexual dysfunction.

Postdischarge 24/7 Hotline Service For Neurology And Neurosurgery Patients And 1-Year Impact On Readmission Rates, Unplanned Emergency Department Visits, And Patient Satisfaction, Shafqat Bibi, Rida Mitha, Kiran Bano, Farida Datoo, Nadia Karim, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Objective: Telephone triage is a system in which trained nurses use standardized protocols to evaluate symptoms over the phone and determine the appropriate course of action.
Materials and methods: We implemented a protocol for systematic follow up phone calls and telephonic triage to families of neurology and neurosurgery patients after discharge, primarily to improve care transition and to assess its impact on the ratio of visits in the emergency department, readmissions, and overall satisfaction of patients and families. The intervention comprised the implementation of nurse led telephone triage and postdischarge follow up phone calls. After implementing hotline services in mind …

Acuity Level Of Care As A Predictor Of Case Fatality And Prolonged Hospital Stay In Patients With Covid-19: A Hospital-Based Observational Follow-Up Study From Pakistan, Aysha Almas, Zain Mushtaq, Jette Moller

Section of Internal Medicine

Objectives: To determine if there is an association between acuity level of care (ALC), case fatality and length of stay in patients admitted to hospital due to COVID-19.
Design: A hospital-based observational follow-up study.
Setting: Internal Medicine Service of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan, from 26 February 2020 to 30 June 2020.
Participants: Adult patients with confirmed COVID-19, aged ≥18 years.
Methods: ALC was categorised into low, intermediate and high level and patients were triaged using the standard emergency severity illness score. All patients were followed until the end of hospital admission for the outcome of case fatality and …

Laser-Assisted Tooth Extraction In Patients With Impaired Hemostasis, Elena Larionova Dr., Ekaterina Diachkova Dr., Elena Morozova Prof., Albert Davtyan Dr., Svetlana Tarasenko Prof.

BioMedicine

Introduction: The provision of efficient dental care to patients with hemostatic disorders is tied to difficulties and problems such as prolonged bleeding after or during surgical manipulation.

Aim: This study aims to increase the efficiency of oral surgery in patients with thrombocytopenia with the use of erbium laser on different stages of tooth extraction.

Methods: Patients (n = 96) were selected for tooth extraction on an outpatient basis: patients with confirmed thrombocytopenia (age 44 ± 15.4, 19–74) were included in the 1st group, and patients without impaired hemostasis (age 47.6 ± 15.3, 19¬81) were included in the …

Microrna-26a-5p As A Potential Predictive Factor For Determining The Effectiveness Of Trastuzumab Therapy In Her-2 Positive Breast Cancer Patients, Sadra Samavarchi Tehrani, Ehsan Zaboli, Farzin Sadeghi, Soraya Khafri, Ansar Karimian, Mahnoosh Rafie, Hadi Parsian

BioMedicine

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is known as the most prevalence type of cancer among women. Trastuzumab, as a cancer drug, has been used broadly in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) positive BC patients. On the other hand, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs involved in pathogenesis BC. Hence, we aimed to investigate the effect of trastuzumab on the expression levels of microRNA-26a in HER-2positiveBC patients.

Methods: This study was conducted on HER-2 positive BC patients and HER-2 Negative BC patients. Serum expression of microRNA-26a were detected by real-time PCR. Then, we assessed the correlation of microRNA-26a level with …

Predictors Of Mortality In Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients: A Mexican Population-Based Cohort Study., Fernando Mesta Dr., Ángel Mario Coll Dr., Miguel Ángel Ramírez M.Sc., Livan Delgado-Roche Dr.

BioMedicine

Objectives. COVID-19 outbreak brings a challenge to healthcare systems. The sex, age, and cardiometabolic comorbidities have been considered risk factors for disease severity. To evaluate the association between risk factors with death as well the risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Methods. The present cross-sectional cohort study, includes hospitalized SARS‑CoV‑2 confirmed cases. Data analysis was performed using the National COVID‑19 Cases Report Database. Pearson´s χ² test and odds ratios (95% CI) were calculated to determine the association between variables. Thereafter, risk of death was evaluated by Cox proportional hazards model.

Results. A total of 67 …

Covid-19 Newsletter (Vol. 73), Center For Disaster Medicine, New York Medical College

COVID-19 Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Alzheimer’S Disease Drug Development Pipeline: 2021, Jeffrey Cummings, Garam Lee, Kate Zhong, Jorge Fonseca, Kazem Taghva

Brain Health Faculty Research

Introduction The number of individuals worldwide with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is growing at a rapid rate. New treatments are urgently needed. We review the current pipeline of drugs in clinical trials for the treatment of AD. Methods We interrogated ClinicalTrials.gov, the federal registry of clinical trials to identify drugs in trials. Results There are 126 agents in 152 trials assessing new therapies for AD: 28 treatments in Phase 3 trials, 74 in Phase 2, and 24 in Phase 1. The majority of drugs in trials (82.5%) target the underlying biology of AD with the intent of disease modification; 10.3% are …

Improved First Trimester Maternal Iodine Status With Preconception Supplementation: The Women First Trial, Amy E. Young, Jennifer F. Kemp, Charis Uhlson, Jamie L. Westcott, Sumera Aziz Ali, Sarah Saleem, Ana Garcès, Lester Figueroa, Manjunath S. Somannavar, Shivaprasad S. Goudar

Community Health Sciences

Maternal iodine (I) status is critical in embryonic and foetal development. We examined the effect of preconception iodine supplementation on maternal iodine status and on birth outcomes. Non-pregnant women in Guatemala, India and Pakistan (n ~ 100 per arm per site) were randomized ≥ 3 months prior to conception to one of three intervention arms: a multimicronutrient-fortified lipid-based nutrient supplement containing 250-μg I per day started immediately after randomization (Arm 1), the same supplement started at ~12 weeks gestation (Arm 2) and no intervention supplement (Arm 3). Urinary I (μg/L) to creatinine (mg/dl) ratios (I/Cr) were determined at 12 weeks …

Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma To Pancreas And Gastrointestinal Tract: A Clinicopathological Study Of 3 Cases And Review Of Literature, Jamshid Abdul Ghafar, Nasir Ud Din, Ramin Saadaat, Zubair Ahmad

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) metastasizes in approximately 20-30% cases. The most common sites for metastases are the lungs, bones, liver, and brain. Metastases of RCC in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are very rare. Metastatic RCC has a poor prognosis. We herein present a case series of three patients with metastatic disease in the colon, duodenum, and pancreas following complete resection of RCC.
Methods: Hematoxylin and Eosin and immunohistochemical slides of 3 cases of RCC metastatic to GIT were reviewed. These cases were diagnosed between 2002 and 2019 at French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC), Kabul, Afghanistan, and …

Scaling Up Information Sharing On Hiv-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: Raising Awareness And Knowledge Among Key Stakeholders, Renato M. Liboro, Paul A. Shuper, Lori E. Ross

Psychology Faculty Research

Although the majority of specialists and researchers in the field of HIV/AIDS are aware and knowledgeable about HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) as a condition that affects as much as 50% of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH), research has documented that many health care and service providers who work directly with PLWH are either unaware of HAND or believe they do not know enough information about HAND to effectively support their clients experiencing neurocognitive challenges. Based on the findings of a qualitative study that interviewed 33 health care and service providers in HIV/AIDS services to identify and examine their awareness and …

Analysis Of Single Cell Rna-Seq Data Revealed Interferon Gamma Signaling Alteration In Severe Covid Patients, Ahmed Elbaz

Theses and Dissertations

Background: SARS-COV2 virus detected in December 2019, and was considered a pandemic in March 2020 by the WHO. Symptoms range from asymptomatic to life threatening ones. Studying cell-cell interactions in patients' blood samples may lead to novel diagnosis and treatment approaches.

Aim: This study aims to analyze single-cell RNA sequencing data to identify differences in cell-cell communications between healthy and COVID patients and differentially expressed T-cells genes that contributed to immune system antiviral activity.

Materials and methods: Single-Cell RNA sequencing data from seven COVID patients and five healthy individuals were collected from (GEO accession GSE155673). Cell types were identified and …

Review Of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (Fasd) Among Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People, Sharynne Hamilton, Michael Doyle, Carol Bower

Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a preventable, lifelong disability that disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the available information on FASD among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with reference to the limitations on population-based data and evaluated programs. The review outlines; the harms of alcohol use in the context of colonisation, cultural perspectives on assessment and diagnosis, effective prevention programs and a summary of state and national policies. Health impacts, educational outcomes and the effects of FASD on vulnerable populations such as children in protection and young people in …

Complexity Of Malaria Transmission Dynamics In The Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Ana Maria Ribeiro De Castro Duarte, Licia Natal Fernandes, Fabiana Santos Silva, Igor Lucoves Sicchi, Luis Filipe Mucci, Izilda Curado, Aristides Ferrnandes, Antônio Ralph Medeiros-Sousa, Walter Ceretti-Junior, Mauro Toledo Marrelli, Eduardo Evangelista, Renildo Teixeira, Juliana Laurito Summa, Marcello Schiavo Nardi, Margoth Ramos Garnica, Ana Carolina Loss, Julyana Cerqueira Buery, Crispim Cerutti Jr., M. Andreína Pacheco, Ananias A. Escalante, Maria Anice Mureb Sallum, Gabriel Zorello Laporta

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium vivax are protozoan parasites that can cause malaria in humans. They are genetically indistinguishable from, respectively, Plasmodium brasilianum and Plasmodium simium, that is, parasites infecting New World non-human primates in South America. In the tropical rainforests of the Brazilian Atlantic coast, it has long been hypothesized that P. brasilianum and P. simium in platyrrhine primates originated from P. malariae and P. vivax in humans. A recent hypothesis proposed the inclusion of Plasmodium falciparum into the transmission dynamics between humans and non-human primates in the Brazilian Atlantic tropical rainforest. Herein, we assess the occurrence of human …