Medical Specialties Commons^™

Older Adults' Health Care Utilization A Year After Experiencing Fear Or Distress From Hurricane Sandy, Laura P Sands, Yimeng Xie, Rachel Pruchno, Allison Heid, Yili Hong

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether self-reports of disaster-related psychological distress predict older adults' health care utilization during the year after Hurricane Sandy, which hit New Jersey on October 29, 2012.

METHODS: Respondents were from the ORANJ BOWL Study, a random-digit dialed sample from New Jersey recruited from 2006 to 2008. Medicare hospital, emergency department (ED) and outpatient claims data from 2012 and 2013 were matched to 1607 people age 65 and older in 2012 who responded to follow-up surveys conducted from July 2013 to July 2015 to determine their hurricane-related experiences.

RESULTS: In total, 7% (107) of respondents reported they experienced …

Telepsychiatry: Access In Rural Areas, David P. Paul Iii, Brianna Washington, Annie Robinson, Mike Tonnie, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

Rural areas have experienced higher than average healthcare workforce problems, especially concerning limited access to mental health services. Telepsychiatry may provide at least a partial solution, as it has improved access and quality of care available in rural environments despite implementation problems. As technology continues to advance access, telepsychiatry will also need to strengthen making access more readily available. Additional research is required to identify modalities and diverse methods that can be used to increase access to mental health services further and improve outcomes in rural and underserved areas.

Using Virtual Reality In Medical Education To Teach Empathy, Elizabeth Dyer, Barbara Swartzlander, Marilyn R. Gugliucci

Library Services Faculty Publications

Objective: The project adopted technology that teaches medical and other health professions students to be empathetic with older adults, through virtual reality (VR) software that allows them to simulate being a patient with age-related diseases, and to familiarize medical students with information resources related to the health of older adults.

Methods: The project uses an application that creates immersive VR experiences for training of the workforce for aging services. Users experience age-related conditions such as macular degeneration and high-frequency hearing loss from the patient’s perspective. Librarians and faculty partner to integrate the experience into the curriculum, and students go to …

Laryngeal Mask Airway: A Postoperative Sore Throat Clinical Practice Guideline, Logan Williams

Doctoral Projects

One of the most common and preventable complications experienced by patients undergoing general anesthesia is a postoperative sore throat (POST). Up to 70% of patients who receive a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) during anesthesia suffer from POST. Despite its regular occurrence and designation as a minor complication, POST has proven to be a distressing complication for patients afflicted. Consequently, a perceived minor complication can, in fact, play a major role in a patient’s perception of their care, the skill of their anesthesia provider, and their overall satisfaction with their experience.

Evidence shows that inflation of LMA cuffs beyond the recommended …

Aggressive Fibromatosis In Pediatric Population: A Case Series, Masood Umer, Javeria Saeed, Nida Zahid

Section of Orthopaedic Surgery

Introduction: Aggressive fibromatosis or Desmoid fibromatosis is a benign tumor which originated form mesenchymal tissues of the body. This tumor has strong potential of recurrence and infiltration but it does not metastasize to other organs of the body. This case series is focused to determine the treatment outcomes for pediatric patients of aggressive fibromatosis.
Methodology: It is a retrospective case series conducted on 7 patients presented to section of Orthopedics, department of surgery of our institute in Karachi. We included all the cases of pediatric patients from 1 to 16 years, with biopsy proven fibromatosis from January 2000 to December …

Outcome Of Decompressive Craniectomy In Traumatic Closed Head Injury, Altaf Ali Laghari, Muhammad Ehsan Bari, Muhammad Waqas, Syed Ijlal Ahmed, Karim Rizwan Nathani, Wardah Moazzam

Section of Neurosurgery

Objective: The aim of the current study was to observe functional outcomes of patients undergoing decompressive craniectomy (DC) for raised intracranial pressure (ICP) after blunt head injury and to assess possible predictive factors.
Methodology: This study was a prospective cohort study which was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi over a period of 2 years (January 2015-December 2016). Adult patients, aged between 15 and 65 years of both genders undergoing DC during the study period were selected. Outcomes of DC were assessed at an interval of 3 months following injury using the Glasgow outcome score. The data were analyzed …

Tumour Treating Fields (Ttfs) For Recurrent And Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme, Farhan Ahmed, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim

Section of Neurosurgery

In the last decade, significant advances have been made in Glioblastoma Multiforme treatment with the novel use of alternating electrical fields, also termed as tumour treating fields (TTFs). This modality has shown promising results in recurrent and newly diagnosed GBM patients, and according to some, may soon be considered an addition to the previously known 'trifecta' of GBM standard of care, i.e., surgery, chemo and radiation therapy.Here we review the existing data on TTF for both recurrent and newly diagnosed GBM. This review does not discuss the limitations of TTF, especially from compliance and cost point of view.

The Global Dilemma: Standardization Of Nonoperative Treatment., Karsten Wiechert, Jeffrey C Wang, Jens R Chapman

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

No abstract provided.

Factors Associated With Substance Use Among Adolescents Living With Hiv In Kenya, Wambui Kagucia

Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Substance use is rife in our society and adolescents (10-19 years) do face this problem during this vulnerable period of growth and development. Use of substances is known to be associated with poor health choices and risky sexual behaviour. Since the advent of antiretroviral therapy (ART), significant progress has been made with reduced rates of mother to child transmission (MTCT) and a general downward global trend in acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS) related mortalities. However, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS is still a leading cause of mortality in adolescents living in Sub Saharan Africa, with an upward trend in new HIV …

Young Man With Severe Metabolic Acidosis After Transformer Oil Ingestion: A Case Report, Farah Gul Khan, Syed Muhammad Zubair

Section of Nephrology

Background: Transformer oil is used in oil-filled transformers for its insulating as well as coolant properties. Transformer oil ingestion for attempted suicide is seldom heard of. Our patient’s case presented us with a major diagnostic as well as treatment challenge because we encountered such a case for the first time and were totally unaware of the fact that methanol might make up the main component of an aged transformer oil.

Case presentation: A 19-year-old Pakistani/Asian man was brought to our hospital with altered sensorium. He was found to have elevated anion gap acidosis, increased osmolal gap, and acute kidney injury. …

Frequency Of Ocular Emergencies In A Tertiary Care Setting In Karachi, Pakistan: It Is Time To Reduce Unnecessary Visits, Rashid Baig, Khabir Ahmad, Sidra Zafar, Nadeem Ullah Khan, Areeb Ashfaq

Section of Ophthalmology

Objective: To examine the frequency of ocular emergencies received in a tertiary care setting..
Methods: This retrospective clinical audit was undertaken at the Emergency Department of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of all individuals who presented between January and October 2016. The department's triage database was used to retrieve the data on patient's age, gender, presenting complaints, time and date of presentation. Data was analyzed using SPSS 19.
Results: Of the 74729 individuals who presented, 928 (1.2%) presented with ocular complaints. The age range with the highest total number of visits was 0-9 years followed by …

Designing A Wrist-Worn Sensor To Improve Medication Adherence: Accommodating Diverse User Behaviors And Technology Preferences., Jenna L Marquard, Barry Saver, Swaminathan Kandaswamy, Vanessa I Martinez, Jane M Simoni, Joanne D Stekler, Deepak Ganesan, James Scanlan

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Objectives: High medication adherence is important for HIV suppression (antiretroviral therapy) and pre-exposure prophylaxis efficacy. We are developing sensor-based technologies to detect pill-taking gestures, trigger reminders, and generate adherence reports.

Materials and Methods: We collected interview, observation, and questionnaire data from individuals with and at-risk for HIV (

Results: While participants displayed diverse medication taking practices and physical actions, most (67%) wanted to use the system to receive real-time and summative feedback, and most (69%) wanted to share data with their physicians. Participants preferred reminders via the wrist-worn device or mobile app, and summative feedback via mobile app or email. …

Microbiological Testing Of Adults Hospitalised With Community-Acquired Pneumonia: An International Study, Manuela Carugati, Stefano Aliberti, Luis Felipe Reyes, Ricardo Franco Sadud, Muhammad Irfan

Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care

This study aimed to describe real-life microbiological testing of adults hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and to assess concordance with the 2007 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)/American Thoracic Society (ATS) and 2011 European Respiratory Society (ERS) CAP guidelines.

This was a cohort study based on the Global Initiative for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureusPneumonia (GLIMP) database, which contains point-prevalence data on adults hospitalised with CAP across 54 countries during 2015.

In total, 3702 patients were included. Testing was performed in 3217 patients, and included blood culture (71.1%), sputum culture (61.8%), Legionella urinary antigen test (30.1%), pneumococcal urinary antigen test (30.0%), …

A Real-World Comparison Of Relapse Rates, Healthcare Costs And Resource Use Among Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Newly Initiating Subcutaneous Interferon Beta-1a Versus Oral Disease-Modifying Drugs., James D Bowen, Chris M Kozma, Megan M Grosso, Amy L Phillips

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Background: Administrative-claims data enable comparative effectiveness assessment using large numbers of patients treated in real-world settings.

Objective: To evaluate real-world relapses, healthcare costs and resource use in patients with MS newly initiating subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (sc IFNβ-1a) v. oral disease-modifying drugs (DMDs: dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, teriflunomide).

Methods: Patients from an administrative claims database (1 Jan 2012-31 Dec 2015) were selected if they: were 18-63 years old; had an MS diagnosis; had newly initiated sc IFNβ-1a, dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, or teriflunomide (first claim = index); had no evidence of DMD 12-months pre-index; and had 12-month eligibility pre- and post-index. Relapse was …

Aligning Systems Science And Community-Based Participatory Research: A Case Example Of The Community Health Advocacy And Research Alliance (Chara)., Melinda M Davis, Paul Lindberg, Suzanne Cross, Susan Lowe, Rose Gunn, Kristen Dillon

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Partnered research may help bridge the gap between research and practice. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) supports collaboration between scientific researchers and community members that is designed to improve capacity, enhance trust, and address health disparities. Systems science aims to understand the complex ways human-ecological coupled systems interact and apply knowledge to management practices. Although CBPR and systems science display complementary principles, only a few articles describe synergies between these 2 approaches. In this article, we explore opportunities to utilize concepts from systems science to understand the development, evolution, and sustainability of 1 CBPR partnership: The Community Health Advocacy and Research …

Evaluating The Potential Benefit Of Reduced Planning Target Volume Margins For Low And Intermediate Risk Patients With Prostate Cancer Using Real-Time Electromagnetic Tracking., Avinash R Chaurasia, Kelly J Sun, Christopher Premo, Timothy Brand, Brent Tinnel, Stacie Barczak, John Halligan, Michael Brown, Dusten Macdonald

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Purpose: The aim of this study is to quantify and describe the feasibility, clinical outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes of reduced planning target volume (PTV) margins for prostate cancer treatment using real-time, continuous, intrafraction monitoring with implanted radiation frequency transponder beacons.

Methods and materials: For this prospective, nonrandomized trial, the Calypso localization system was used for intrafraction target localization in 31 patients with a PTV margin reduced to 2 mm in all directions. A total of 1333 fractions were analyzed with respect to movement of the prostate, pauses and interruptions, and dosimetric data. Pre- and posttreatment quality-of-life scores were tracked at …

Manifestations Of Hypomelanosis Of Ito, Ana C. Albuja, Arpan Shrivastava, Gulam Q. Khan

Neurology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Champion Teams As A Mechanism For Developing Team Care Capacity, Robert M. Tolliver, Gayatri Jaishankar, Jodi Polaha

ETSU Faculty Works

"Practice transformation" toward team care as a singular undertaking can be daunting. In this presentation, we describe the development of a mechanism for small, iterative and sustainable practice changes toward team care known as "Champion Teams." Champion Teams are based on the Institute of Medicine's "learning health care system" approach in which practitioners develop an internal mechanism for and culture around digesting and implementing new evidence based practices on an ongoing basis. In addition to presenting the Champion Team concept as a strategy for implementing new team care initiatives, interprofessional providers will present two case examples from each adult and …

Use Of Quantitative Molecular Diagnostic Methods To Investigate The Effect Of Enteropathogen Infections On Linear Growth In Children In Low-Resource Settings: Longitudinal Analysis Of Results From The Mal-Ed Cohort Study, Elizabeth T. Rogawsk, Jie Liu, James A. Platts-Mill, Furqan Kabir, Paphavee Lertsethtakarn, Adil Kalam, Fatima Aziz, Shahida Qureshi, Najeeha Talat Iqbal, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Enteropathogen infections in early childhood not only cause diarrhoea but contribute to poor growth. We used molecular diagnostics to assess whether particular enteropathogens were associated with linear growth across seven low-resource settings.
Methods: We used quantitative PCR to detect 29 enteropathogens in diarrhoeal and non-diarrhoeal stools collected from children in the first 2 years of life obtained during the Etiology, Risk Factors, and Interactions of Enteric Infections and Malnutrition and the Consequences for Child Health and Development (MAL-ED) multisite cohort study. Length was measured monthly. We estimated associations between aetiology-specific diarrhoea and subclinical enteropathogen infection and quantity and attained …

Reducing Micronutrient Deficiencies In Pakistani Children: Are Subsidies On Fortified Complementary Foods Cost-Effective?, Simon Wieser, Beatrice Brunner, Christina Tzogiou, Rafael Plessow, Michael B. Zimmermann, Jessica Farebrother, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Zaid Ahmad Bhatti, Imran Ahmed, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Objective: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of price subsidies on fortified packaged complementary foods (FPCF) in reducing iodine deficiency, iron-deficiency anaemia and vitamin A deficiency in Pakistani children.
Design: The study proceeded in three steps: (i) we determined the current lifetime costs of the three micronutrient deficiencies with a health economic model; (ii) we assessed the price sensitivity of demand for FPCF with a market survey in two Pakistani districts; (iii) we combined the findings of the first two steps with the results of a systematic review on the effectiveness of FPCF in reducing micronutrient deficiencies. The cost-effectiveness was estimated by …

Sex Specific Outcomes In A Substance Use Intervention Program, Alexandra M. Amaducci Do, Ryan A. Anderson Do, Aaron S. Frey Do, Andrew W. Sheen Do, Manuel F. Colón Bs, Paige Roth Msw, Lsw, Crs, Jennifer Stephens Do, Facp, Kevin R. Weaver D.O.,Facoep, David B. Burmeister Do, Mba, Cpe, Facep, Marna R. Greenberg Do, Mph, Facep, Robert D. Cannon Do

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Medical Student Brief Motivational Interviewing For Substance Use In The Emergency Department, Alanna M. Balbi Bs, Anthony E. Gak Ms, Esther S. Kim Ba, Tennessee D. Park Ba, Joann F. Quinn Phd, Mba, Manuel F. Colón Bs, Paige Roth Msw, Lsw, Crs, Kevin R. Weaver Do,Facoep, David M. Richardson Md, Robert D. Cannon Do, Marna R. Greenberg Do, Mph, Facep

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Comparative Success Of A Substance Use Intervention Between Providers, Pratik M. Parikh Do, Erica K. Mason Do, Hillary H. Ward Do, Hanna R. Warren Do, Paige Roth Msw, Lsw, Crs, Manuel F. Colón Bs, David B. Burmeister Do, Mba, Cpe, Facep, Jennifer Stephens Do, Facp, David M. Richardson Md, Marna R. Greenberg Do, Mph, Facep, Robert D. Cannon Do

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Reducing Substance Use By An Emergency Department Intervention, Matthew D. Marschall Do, Smeet Bhimani Do, Rachel Fieman Md, Derek J. Fikse Do, Paige Roth Lsw, Jennifer Stephens Do, Manuel F. Colón Bs, Kevin Weaver D.O.,Facoep, David M. Richardson Md, Marna R. Greenberg Do, Mph, Facep, Robert D. Cannon Do

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Oxcarbazepine Overdose In A Polysubstance Related Suicide, Melissa Beals, Robert J. Krumsick, C. Clinton Frazee Iii, Lindsey J. Haldiman, Uttam Garg

Posters

Introduction
Oxcarbazepine is a derivative of carbamazepine that is used primarily in the treatment of epilepsy, and experimentally as a mood-stabilizer in adjunctive therapy for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Oxcarbazepine is converted through oxidation to its pharmacologically active metabolite 10-OH-Carbazepine, which is thought to be responsible for most of the anticonvulsant action of the drug. Adverse effects of oxcarbazepine are generally dose-dependent and may include fatigue, somnolence, dizziness, diplopia, nystagmus, and ataxia. Additive sedative effects have been noted when oxcarbazepine is used in combination with other CNS depressionproducing medications. Furthermore, oxcarbazepine and 10-OH-Carbazepine are powerful CYP2C19 inhibitors, potentially increasing …

A Curious Case Of Intermittent Left Bundle Branch Block Associated With Cough, Hunaina Shahab, Osman Faheem, Kumail Khandwala, Aamir Hameed

Section of Cardiology

A handful of cases of voluntary control of left bundle branch block (LBBB) have been described in the literature. We report the case of a middle-aged man who was found to have LBBB on baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) which disappeared on coughing and then reappeared with the same maneuver. Subsequent myocardial perfusion scan showed reduced count in the anteroseptal region likely attributed to LBBB. It is possible that the intermittent conduction changes may be due to the alteration in the vagal tone associated with cough as reflected in the change in the PR interval on the ECG.

Outcome Of Radioactive Iodine Therapy In Toxic Nodular Goiter In Pakistan, Tauseef Ahmad, Adeel Khoja, Naveed Rashid, Muhammad Areeb Ashfaq

Section of Cardiology

Objective: To determine the outcome of patients receiving radioactive iodine therapy for toxic nodular goiter coming to Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi.

Methods: A total of 89 patients who visited the outpatient department of Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2010 to August 2017 were recruited for the study. Toxic nodular goiter was diagnosed on the basis of having hot nodule on thyroid scan with low TSH and high FT4/T4. Other demographic and laboratory data were also recorded.

Results: Eighty nine patients with toxic nodular goiter received a dose range from 10 to 30mCi RAI. Six months after RAI, 36.2% …

Integrating Primary Care And Wellness Into A Community Mental Health Clinic, Brett Williamson Msw, Mba, Brenda Frutos Mph, Ches, Nyann Biery Ms

Department of Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Sleep Fainting: A Neurocardiogenic Entity, Hunaina Shahab, Ambreen A. Sonawalla, Maryam Khan, Aman Qureshi

Section of Cardiology

Fainting is a common clinical presentation, with vagally mediated (neurocardiogenic) causes being the most common for syncope presentation to the emergency room, and for hospital admissions. Classic teaching is that upright posture is a prerequisite for vagally mediated syncope (VMS) and that syncope in the supine position has more sinister causes. We present five patients, three males and two females, with a mean age of 44.4 (range 29-67) years, who presented with VMS in the supine position (sleep fainting). Four patients also had a history of classic upright syncope. Based on their clinical features and thorough investigations, we excluded other …

Intra-Tracheal Extension Of Hilar Mass Mimicking Severe Asthma: Anesthesiologist Perspective, Khalid M Siddiqui, Muhammad Faisal Khan, Muhammad A. Asghar, Syed S. Uddin

Department of Anaesthesia

No abstract provided.