Medical Specialties Commons^™

Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning In Cancer Pain: A Systematic Review, Vivian Salama, Brandon Godinich, Yimin Geng, Laia Humbert-Vidan, Laura Maule, Kareem A Wahid, Mohamed A Naser, Renjie He, Abdallah S R Mohamed, Clifton D Fuller, Amy C Moreno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/objectives: Pain is a challenging multifaceted symptom reported by most cancer patients. This systematic review aims to explore applications of artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) in predicting pain-related outcomes and pain management in cancer.

Methods: A comprehensive search of Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science databases was conducted using terms: "Cancer," "Pain," "Pain Management," "Analgesics," "Artificial Intelligence," "Machine Learning," and "Neural Networks" published up to September 7, 2023. AI/ML models, their validation and performance were summarized. Quality assessment was conducted using PROBAST risk-of-bias andadherence to TRIPOD guidelines.

Results: Forty four studies from 2006 to 2023 were included. Nineteen studies used …

Social Media As Health Educator: An Assessment Of The Understandability And Accuracy Of Tiktok Content About Contraception, Julianna Coleman, Maetal Haas-Kogan, Andrea Pelletier, Rachel Stoddard, Natasha Johnson, Julia Beatini, Nora Sun, Alex Keuroghlian, Deborah Bartz

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Contraception knowledge and attitudes are largely formed from conversations within one's social network. More recently, this network has expanded to include social media. As the fastest growing social media platform, we aimed to assess popular contraception videos on TikTok for content understandability, actionability and accuracy.

METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of the most viewed, contraception-specific TikTok videos that were previously coded as containing educational messaging in a content-analysis study. We assessed videos for understandability (ability to explain a key message) and actionability (identify what they can do to act on that message) using the Patient Education Materials Assessment …

The Impact Of Cumulative And Acute Loading On Achilles Tendon Health, Performance, And Reported Pain In Collegiate Gymnasts, Julio Serrano Samayoa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gymnasts are at a high risk of Achilles tendon (AT) injuries due to intense loads during takeoffs and landings. To better understand better the relationship between impact loading and its effects on tendon adaptation and athletic performance, this study uses Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) to track AT loading across a collegiate gymnastics season. This data were compared against physiological and athletic performance metrics, obtained through force plates and ultrasound imaging, to explore how mechanical load influences reported pain and athletic performance. Results varied, with cumulative impacts being correlated with improved jump height (Spearman 0.362, Pearson 0.348), while peak power and …

The Role Of Uncertainty In Illness: Insights Into Psychological Adjustment In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Theresa A. Skojec

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

There are currently few studies that directly explore the relationship between uncertainty in illness and psychological adjustment to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), highlighting a critical gap in understanding how patients cope with and adjust to the emotional and mental challenges posed by this chronic condition. This dissertation comprises three manuscripts focused on filling this knowledge gap. The first is an integrative review guided by Mishel’s Uncertainty in Illness Theory, which examines how uncertainty affects patients' psychological and emotional well-being during illness and explores strategies to manage or reduce this uncertainty. The integrative review included 27 publications that examined uncertainty in …

Initiation Of Hearing Aids Use And Incident Dementia Among Mid-To-Late Life Adults: The Health And Retirement Study 2010-2018, Jingkai Wei, Kun Li, Youngran Kim, Rahul Ghosal, Donglan Zhang, Anwar T Merchant, Casey Crump

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hearing aids may reduce the risk of dementia among individuals with hearing loss. However, no evidence is available from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of hearing aids use in reducing incident dementia. Using target trial emulation, we leveraged an existing longitudinal cohort study to estimate the association between hearing aids initiation and risk of dementia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Health and Retirement Study was used to emulate target trials among non-institutionalized participants aged ≥50 years with self-reported hearing loss, without dementia at baseline, and without use of hearing aids in the previous 2 years. …

The Southern Nevada Care Economy: Addressing Child Care And Elder Care Challenges, The Lincy Institute

Lincy Institute Events

This community forum examines the economic and societal impact of the “care economy” in Southern Nevada in collaboration with Tripp Umbach, a nationally recognized consulting firm that provides comprehensive services including research and strategic plans to further the operations and activities of healthcare services.

Central to the care economy is elder care and child care. Having access to elder care and child care services is essential to working age adults, many of whom need one or both types of services to continue participating in the workforce. The delivery of child care and elder care services have far-reaching implications for our …

Fgf21 Acts In The Brain To Drive Macronutrient-Specific Changes In Behavioral Motivation And Brain Reward Signaling, Md Shahjalal H. Khan, Sora Q. Kim, Robert C. Ross, Florina Corpodean, Redin A. Spann, Diana A. Albarado, Sun O. Fernandez-Kim, Blaise Clarke, Hans Rudolf Berthoud, Heike Münzberg, David H. Mcdougal, Yanlin He, Sangho Yu, Vance L. Albaugh, Paul L. Soto, Christopher D. Morrison

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective: Dietary protein restriction induces adaptive changes in food preference, increasing protein consumption over carbohydrates or fat. We investigated whether motivation and reward signaling underpin these preferences. Methods and Results: In an operant task, protein-restricted male mice responded more for liquid protein rewards, but not carbohydrate, fat, or sweet rewards compared to non-restricted mice. When the number of responses required to access protein reward varied, protein-restricted mice exhibited higher operant responses at moderate to high response requirements. The protein restriction-induced increase in operant responding for protein was absent in Fgf21-KO mice and mice with neuron-specific deletion of the FGF21 co-receptor …

Nevada’S Care Workforce: Obstacles And Opportunities For Policymakers, David Damore, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr., Fatma Nasoz

Policy Briefs and Reports

The care economy includes “the paid and unpaid labor and services that support caregiving in all its forms.” This work includes caring for children, the elderly, and those who are ill or have disabilities. Care work is often undervalued, underpaid, and without a fair system of work benefits in place (e.g. contracts, paid leave, workers’ rights) that in many cases falls disproportionately on women and communities of color. In this policy brief, we examine the care economy in Nevada by focusing on three areas of care: (1) child care; (2) elder care; and (3) mental and behavioral health care. In …

Personality Feedback With Tailored Self-Care Recommendations Improves Self-Efficacy For Cancer Management: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Laura M. Perry, Brenna Mossman, Sofia F. Garcia, Sheetal M. Kircher, Addison Dunn, Sarah Alonzi, Sanjana Easwar, Michael Hoerger

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective: To test whether a personality feedback intervention improves three domains of cancer self-management: self-awareness, self-efficacy, and positive affect. Methods: From 11/2020-02/2021, 372 adults diagnosed with cancer participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an intervention that entailed reading a brief personality-related excerpt during an online survey. Eligibility included self-reported age ≥ 18 years, current or past cancer diagnosis, and ability to read English. The survey included a baseline assessment with a personality questionnaire, then randomized participants to one of two groups. The intervention group (n = 184) received a personality feedback report with tailored self-care tips, whereas the …

Laboratory Literacy: Surveying Lab Result Interpretations Of A Local Patient Population, Jordan Franco, Mark K. Fung

Patient Experience Journal

A patient's independent interpretation of their medical laboratory data has become an unspoken prerequisite in the current age of medicine. In the outpatient setting, it is anecdotally commonplace for patients to receive their lab results before their physicians, resulting in patients often relying on self-interpretations of their results. This study analyzed the degree to which patients are comfortable interpreting lab results and sought to shed light on the question: How are patients interpreting their laboratory reports? A survey was constructed to include the items from a validated health literacy screening tool, followed by items inquiring about the respondent's experience and …

A Quality Improvement Initiative Using Discharge Education Videos To Improve Communication With Families In A Pediatric Urgent Care, Hannah G. Carron, Gisella Valderrama, Adam A. Vukovic

Patient Experience Journal

Introduction: Effective discharge communication, often given in verbal and written form, during pediatric acute healthcare visits positively impacts caregiver satisfaction and competency in providing at-home care. Institutions are beginning to incorporate evidence-based, and standardized multimedia education to try to further improve these outcomes.

Methods: For this QI initiative, educational videos were created and shown to families prior to discharge from a pediatric urgent care. PDSA cycles focused on development of an electronic medical record (EMR) order to provide video education, a best practice alert regarding this order, and recurrent staff education. The primary outcome measure was the percentage …

Driving Healthy Behaviors Through Social Support: The Role Of Co-Responsibility In Weight Loss And Maintenance, Melanie Knufinke-Meyfroyt, Carlo Lancia, Yentl Lodewijks, Simon Nienhuijs, Eva Deckers

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: The effectiveness of out of hospital lifestyle interventions in healthcare is likely co-dependent on social support from involved one's. We sought to investigate the interrelationships between patient-partner Co-responsibility, Spousal Support, and Self-efficacy and the mechanisms through which they contribute to health behaviors and outcomes relevant to weight loss and maintenance. Methods: Co-responsibility, Spousal Support, self-efficacy, health outcomes and health behaviors like total weight loss, physical activity, OBESI-Q, and health satisfaction were assessed through a questionnaire among 868 individuals attempting to lose weight. Full and semi-partial correlations were used to understand the association between Co-responsibility, Spousal Support, Self-efficacy …

Efficacy Of A Communication Toolkit To Optimize Palliative Care Communication In The Surgical Intensive Unit, Kathryn J. Cary, Aubrey Place, Marta Mccrum, Joanna Grudziak, Lauren Mcguire

Patient Experience Journal

Data demonstrates patients benefit from the experience of specialty palliative care providers for advance care planning and prioritizing quality of life, regardless of diagnosis or stage of illness. Despite these benefits, many intensive care units (ICUs) show low utilization of palliative care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of a bedside communication toolkit to improve communication between family members and caregivers of surgical ICU patients and the ICU team, particularly in the context of medical updates and decision-making. A pilot bedside communication tool was completed by fifty family members of trauma and emergency general surgery (EGS) …

The Impact Of Coordination Training On Motor Skills In Adolescent Handball Players Aged 14–15 Years: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Michał Spieszny, Wojciech Wąsacz, Zbigniew Kamys, Tadeusz Ambroży, Krzysztof Kasicki, Paweł Kapuściński, Łukasz Rydzik

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: Motor skills are fundamental to athletic performance, particularly in sports like handball, where coordination, speed, and power are critical. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an innovative coordination training program on the profile of motor skills of adolescent handball players compared to traditional training methods. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 27 young handball players. Participants were divided into an experimental group (n = 15) receiving additional co-ordination training and a control group (n = 12) following standard training. The participants’ motor fitness was assessed using selected population tests from the …

A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial Of A Smartphone-Based Application To Support At-Home Psa Screening And Culturally Tailored Prostate Cancer Education For African American Men: A Study Protocol, Jordan Neil, Bingjing Mao, Ruosi Shao, E. Ogunsanya Motolani, Summer Frank-Pearce, Michael Businelle, Michael Cookson, Kelly Stratton, Mark Doescher, Stephanie Pharr, Valerie Moise, Brianna Fleshman, Jack Fronheiser, Kimberly Estrada, Iván Flores, David Bradley, Ashley Kendrick, Adam C. Alexander

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Black/African American men (AA) and the second‑leading cause of cancer-related deaths. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is an early detection screening tool for prostate cancer, but uptake of PSA screening remains low among AA men. Greater PSA screening rates among AA men, coupled with earlier treatment, may reduce disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, including mortality. The current pilot study will test the first-of-its-kind mobile health (mHealth) app to improve prostate cancer knowledge and increase PSA screening uptake among AA men using home-based screening methods. Methods: AA men aged 55 to …

Tumor-Associated Edema In Children With Kaposi Sarcoma: 14 Years' Experience At Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi, Fatsani Rose Manase, Allison Silverstein, William Kamiyango, Jimmy Villiera, Clement Dziwe, Claudia Wallrauch, Tom Heller, Mark Zobeck, Tamiwe Tomoka, Michael E Scheurer, Carl E Allen, Nmazuo Ozuah, Rizine Mzikamanda, Nader Kim El-Mallawany, Casey L Mcatee

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Background/objectives: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a common lymphatic endothelial cancer among children with and without HIV in central and eastern Africa. Despite its clinical heterogeneity, its various clinical phenotypes are often grouped together in staging and treatment algorithms. Patients with KS tumor-associated edema, referring to hard, non-pitting lesions which often lead to chronic disability, represent a unique, understudied subgroup of children with KS. To continue our work defining the distinct phenotypes of pediatric KS, this study aimed to assess the clinical progression and outcomes of KS edema in children.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Kamuzu Central Hospital …

What Makes An Effective Chief Of Pediatric Cardiology: Insights From Chiefs Of North American Pediatric Programs, Michael E. Kim, Wayne Franklin, Anne M. Dubin, Jeffrey J. Kim, Shubhayan Sanatani, R. Krishna Kumar, Shubhika Srivastava, Thomas R. Kimball, Mark Lewin, Joseph Rossano, Colin J. Mcmahon

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Although the position of a pediatric cardiology chief is often seen as the apex of one's academic career, its roles, responsibilities, and qualifications are not well defined in the literature. This study was done to gain further insight of the role and attributes of a pediatric cardiology chief by surveying those who are currently serving the position across North American centers.

METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a mixed-methods study with a survey given to North American pediatric cardiology chiefs at programs with fellowship training programs. The survey was a semistructured questionnaire that was independently reviewed by 3 cardiologists. Smaller …

Nerve Injury Inhibits Oprd1 And Cnr1 Transcription Through Rest In Primary Sensory Neurons, Ashok Subedi, Asieh Etemad, Aadhya Tiwari, Yuying Huang, Biji Chatterjee, Samantha M Mcleod, Yungang Lu, Diangelo Gonzalez, Krishna Ghosh, Mario Sirito, Sanjay K Singh, Elisa Ruiz, Sandra L Grimm, Cristian Coarfa, Hui-Lin Pan, Sadhan Majumder

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The transcription repressor REST in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is upregulated by peripheral nerve injury and promotes the development of chronic pain. However, the genes targeted by REST in neuropathic pain development remain unclear. The expression levels of four opioid receptor genes (Oprm1, Oprd1, Oprl1 and Oprk1) and the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (Cnr1) gene in the DRG regulate nociception. In this study, we determined the role of REST in controlling their expression in the DRG induced by spared nerve injury (SNI). SNI induced chronic pain hypersensitivity in wild-type mice and was accompanied by increased levels of Rest transcript and …

Data-Driven Cutoff Selection For The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Depression Screening Tool, Brooke Levis, Parash Mani Bhandari, Dipika Neupane, Suiqiong Fan, Ying Sun, Chen He, Yin Wu, Ankur Krishnan, Zelalem Negeri, Mahrukh Imran, Danielle B Rice, Kira E Riehm, Marleine Azar, Alexander W Levis, Jill Boruff, Pim Cuijpers, Simon Gilbody, John P A Ioannidis, Lorie A Kloda, Scott B Patten, Roy C Ziegelstein, Daphna Harel, Yemisi Takwoingi, Sarah Markham, Sultan H Alamri, Dagmar Amtmann, Bruce Arroll, Liat Ayalon, Hamid R Baradaran, Anna Beraldi, Charles N Bernstein, Arvin Bhana, Charles H Bombardier, Ryna Imma Buji, Peter Butterworth, Gregory Carter, Marcos H Chagas, Juliana C N Chan, Lai Fong Chan, Dixon Chibanda, Kerrie Clover, Aaron Conway, Yeates Conwell, Federico M Daray, Janneke M De Man-Van Ginkel, Jesse R Fann, Felix H Fischer, Sally Field, Jane R W Fisher, Daniel S S Fung, Bizu Gelaye, Leila Gholizadeh, Felicity Goodyear-Smith, Eric P Green, Catherine G Greeno, Brian J Hall, Liisa Hantsoo, Martin Härter, Leanne Hides, Stevan E Hobfoll, Simone Honikman, Thomas Hyphantis, Masatoshi Inagaki, Maria Iglesias-Gonzalez, Hong Jin Jeon, Nathalie Jetté, Mohammad E Khamseh, Kim M Kiely, Brandon A Kohrt, Yunxin Kwan, Maria Asunción Lara, Holly F Levin-Aspenson, Shen-Ing Liu, Manote Lotrakul, Sonia R Loureiro, Bernd Löwe, Nagendra P Luitel, Crick Lund, Ruth Ann Marrie, Laura Marsh, Brian P Marx, Anthony Mcguire, Sherina Mohd Sidik, Tiago N Munhoz, Kumiko Muramatsu, Juliet E M Nakku, Laura Navarrete, Flávia L Osório, Brian W Pence, Philippe Persoons, Inge Petersen, Angelo Picardi, Stephanie L Pugh, Terence J Quinn, Elmars Rancans, Sujit D Rathod, Katrin Reuter, Alasdair G Rooney, Iná S Santos, Miranda T Schram, Juwita Shaaban, Eileen H Shinn, Abbey Sidebottom, Adam Simning, Lena Spangenberg, Lesley Stafford, Sharon C Sung, Keiko Suzuki, Pei Lin Lynnette Tan, Martin Taylor-Rowan, Thach D Tran, Alyna Turner, Christina M Van Der Feltz-Cornelis, Thandi Van Heyningen, Paul A Vöhringer, Lynne I Wagner, Jian Li Wang, David Watson, Jennifer White, Mary A Whooley, Kirsty Winkley, Karen Wynter, Mitsuhiko Yamada, Qing Zhi Zeng, Yuying Zhang, Brett D Thombs, Andrea Benedetti, Depression Screening Data (Depressd) Phq Group

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IMPORTANCE: Test accuracy studies often use small datasets to simultaneously select an optimal cutoff score that maximizes test accuracy and generate accuracy estimates.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree to which using data-driven methods to simultaneously select an optimal Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) cutoff score and estimate accuracy yields (1) optimal cutoff scores that differ from the population-level optimal cutoff score and (2) biased accuracy estimates.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This study used cross-sectional data from an existing individual participant data meta-analysis (IPDMA) database on PHQ-9 screening accuracy to represent a hypothetical population. Studies in the IPDMA database compared participant PHQ-9 …

Protein Consumption And Risk Of Cvd Among Us Adults: The Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis (Mesa), Ji Yun Tark, Ruosha Li, Bing Yu, Alexis C Wood, Nikhil S Padhye, Marcia C De Oliveira Otto

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Although some randomized trials have reported beneficial effects of protein intake on cardiometabolic risk factors, evidence from prospective studies have not supported a strong link between protein intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It is also unclear whether diversity in protein intake plays a role in CVD risk.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated prospective associations of (1) protein intake, overall and by food source and (2) diversity of protein sources with risk of CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke.

METHODS: In a multi-ethnic cohort of 5879 U.S. adults (45-84 years), who were free of CVD at baseline, protein intake was …

Neighborhood-Level Deprivation Mediates Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Hcc Diagnosis In Texas, Itunu O Sokale, Aaron P Thrift, Hashem B El-Serag, Abiodun O Oluyomi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Texas has the highest HCC rates in the United States, and the greatest burden is among Hispanics. Racial and ethnic disparities in HCC incidence have multiple underpinning factors. We conducted a mediation analysis to examine the role of neighborhood disadvantage (Area Deprivation Index) as a potential mediator of the association between neighborhood race and ethnicity distribution and neighborhood HCC case counts in Texas.

METHODS: The primary outcome measure was counts of new HCC diagnoses per census tract based on Texas Department of State Health Services Texas Cancer Registry data. The primary exposure of interest was the race and ethnicity-based …

First Interim Results From Fine-Real: A Prospective, Non-Interventional, Phase 4 Study Providing Insights Into The Use And Safety Of Finerenone In A Routine Clinical Settingfirst Interim Results From Fine-Real: A Prospective, Non-Interventional, Phase 4 Study Providing Insights Into The Use And Safety Of Finerenone In A Routine Clinical Setting, Susanne B Nicholas, Ricardo Correa-Rotter, Nihar R Desai, Lixin Guo, Sankar D Navaneethan, Kevin M Pantalone, Christoph Wanner, Stefanie Hamacher, Samuel T Fatoba, Andrea Horvat-Broecker, Antonio Garreta-Rufas, Alain Gay, Martin Merz, David C Wheeler

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Background: Finerenone, a selective non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, improves kidney and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The FINE-REAL study (NCT05348733) aims to evaluate the characteristics and treatment patterns of participants treated with finerenone in clinical practice.

Methods: FINE-REAL is a prospective, single-arm, non-interventional study of patients initiated on finerenone as part of their routine care in accordance with country-approved labels. The study, initiated in June 2022, is expected to be completed by January 2028. The cutoff for this pre-specified interim analysis was June 13, 2023.

Results: Participants were …

The Association Of Migration-Related Stress With Poor Mental Health Among Recently Resettled Afghan Refugees, Munjireen Sifat, Sarah Kenney, Venera Bekteshi, Shawn Chiang, Motolani Ogunsanya, Laili Boozary, Adam Alexander, Darla Kendzor

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The resettlement of Afghan refugees in Oklahoma City, OK, provides a critical context for examining the mental health challenges faced by this population due to post-migration stressors.

METHODS: This study utilized online surveys to recently resettled Afghan refugees in Oklahoma City, with support provided by bilingual research assistants to accommodate low literacy rates. Surveys, initially in English, were professionally translated into Dari and Pashto and validated through back-translation.

RESULTS: Participants (N = 348) were majority of Pashtun ethnicity. High rates of mental health issues were evident, with 62.1 % of participants screening positive for depression and 20.1 % …

Trustworthiness Criteria For Meta-Analyses Of Randomized Controlled Studies: Obgyn Journal Guidelines., Vincenzo Berghella

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Use Of Peripheral Nerve Blocks For Total Hip Arthroplasty, Leon Grinman, Brett Elmore, Alberto E Ardon, Adnan Hussain, Mohammed Faysal Malik, Nadia Hernandez, Mackenzie Janice Jacoby

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent literature regarding regional anesthesia (RA) techniques and outcomes for total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the face of changing surgical techniques and perioperative considerations.

Recent findings: Based on large meta-analyses, peripheral nerve blocks are indicated for THA. Each block has its own risks and benefits and data for outcomes for particular techniques are limited. New surgical techniques, improved use of multimodal analgesia, and improved ultrasound guided regional anesthetics lead to better pain control for patients undergoing THA with less associated risks. Block selection continues to be influenced by …

Using Geographic Momentary Assessment To Explore Spatial Environment Influences On Wellbeing In People With Hiv, Rayna E. Gasik, Ethan A. Smith, Simone J. Skeen, Stephanie Tokarz, Gretchen Clum, Erica Felker-Kantor, Katherine P. Theall

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Place-based socio-economic and racial inequities contribute to health disparities among people with HIV (PWH). We used geographic ecological momentary assessment (GEMA) methodologies to explore the interplay between psychosocial outcomes in daily diaries and community spatial measures among PWH in New Orleans. PWH (N = 69) were recruited from a clinic-based cohort study. Micro-longitudinal data were collected via smartphone-based daily diaries and geospatial tracking over 14 days. First, correlations were run between diary derived outcomes (e.g., feeling safe in current location, stress), and spatial measures (e.g., violent crime, alcohol outlets, and vacant lots) within a half-mile buffer around each diary point …

Digital, Social Micro-Interventions To Promote Physical Activity Among Midlife Adults With Elevated Cardiovascular Risk: An Ambulatory Feasibility Study With Momentary Randomization., Danielle Arigo, Leah M Schumacher, Kiri Baga, Jacqueline A Mogle

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Although regular physical activity (PA) mitigates the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) during midlife, existing PA interventions are minimally effective. Harnessing social influences in daily life shows promise: digital micro-interventions could effectively engage these influences on PA and require testing.

PURPOSE: This feasibility study employed ecological momentary assessment with embedded micro-randomization to activate two types of social influences (i.e., comparison, support; NCT04711512).

METHODS: Midlife adults (N = 30, MAge = 51, MBMI = 31.5 kg/m2, 43% racial/ethnic minority) with ≥1 CVD risk conditions completed four mobile surveys per day for 7 days while wearing PA monitors. After 3 days …

Aromatase, Testosterone, Tmprss2: Determinants Of Covid-19 Severity, Eric C Mohan, Jude P J Savarraj, Gabriela D Colpo, Diego Morales, Carson E Finger, Alexis Mcalister, Hilda Ahnstedt, Huimahn Choi, Louise D Mccullough, Bharti Manwani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Male sex has been identified as a risk factor for worse COVID-19 outcomes. This sex difference has been mostly attributed to the complex role of sex hormones. Cell surface entry of SARS-CoV-2 is mediated by the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) which is under transcriptional regulation by androgens. P450 aromatase enzyme converts androgens to estrogens. This study measured concentrations of aromatase enzyme, testosterone, estradiol, and TMPRSS-2 in plasma of hospitalized COVID-19 patients to elucidate the dynamics of sex-linked disparity in COVID-19 and correlate them with disease severity and mortality.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, a total of 265 …

Demographic Characteristics, Perinatal Smoking Patterns, And Risk For Neonatal Health Complications Among Pregnant Smokers In The United States Who Begin Using Electronic Cigarettes During Pregnancy: A Descriptive Study Using Population-Based Surveillance Data., Hui Nian, Rachel Odland, Samantha Mindlin, Lin Ammar, Hilary Tindle, Angela M Miller, Kelli K Ryckman, Ethan Xie, Tina V Hartert, Brittney M Snyder, Steven M Brunwasser, Pingsheng Wu

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

INTRODUCTION: Health agencies have called for research evaluating e-cigarette (EC) use in supporting prenatal smoking cessation. This study aimed to describe (1) the characteristics of smokers who begin using electronic cigarettes (ECs) during pregnancy, (2) how frequently smokers reduce or eliminate pre- and post-natal combustible cigarette (CC) use, and (3) the risk for neonatal health complications among smokers who initiate ECs during pregnancy.

AIMS AND METHODS: Pregnant women using CCs exclusively during prepregnancy, who participated in a U.S. surveillance study, were classified by their reported late-pregnancy smoking behavior as CC-exclusive users, EC initiators, or quitters. EC initiators were further subclassified …

Gender And Sexuality Awareness In Medical Education And Practice: Mixed Methods Study, Rola Khamisy-Farah, Eden Biras, Rabie Shehadeh, Ruba Tuma, Hisham Atwan, Anna Siri, Manlio Converti, Francesco Chirico, Łukasz Szarpak, Carlo Biz, Raymond Farah, Nicola Bragazzi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The integration of gender and sexuality awareness in health care is increasingly recognized as vital for patient outcomes. Despite this, there is a notable lack of comprehensive data on the current state of physicians' training and perceptions in these areas, leading to a gap in targeted educational interventions and optimal health care delivery.

OBJECTIVE: The study's aim was to explore the experiences and perceptions of attending and resident physicians regarding the inclusion of gender and sexuality content in medical school curricula and professional practice in Israel.

METHODS: This cross-sectional survey targeted a diverse group of physicians across various specializations …