Medical Specialties Commons^™

Living With Dementia In Kenya: Pathways To Care, Diagnosis And Management, Edna Bosire

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is experiencing a sharp rise in the size of theolder population; consequently, the incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer’s DiseaseRelated Dementias (AD/ADRD) is also expected to rise. There is limited research onAD/ADRD lived experiences have been conducted in SSA including Kenya. Our projectaimed to explore patient’s and caregivers lived experiences with Alzheimer’s disease inKenya.

Methods: This ethnographic study was conducted at the Aga Khan University hospital(AKUH), involving in-depth interviews with 21 health care providers, 26 patientswith mild cognitive impairment and 36 caregivers. We also conducted 10 homevisits and observations. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.In what …

Exploring Bone Oncology In A Medically Underserved Area: A Retrospective Cohort Of Bone Metastases And Malignant Bone Neoplasia In The Rio Grande Valley, Blake C. Martin, Juan Carlos Lopez Alvarenga, Michael Sander

School of Medicine Publications

Objectives: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a developing clinical research region characterized by its distinctive demographic profile that offers an opportunity to investigate diverse health issues. This pilot investigation sought to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics linked to bone metastases and primary malignant bone neoplasms (PMBNs) in patients from the RGV and to compare the frequency of these conditions with the US general population.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review in which data were gathered from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley UTHealth electronic database from January 1, 2018 to September 4, 2024. Various statistical analyses …

Blood-Based Clinical Markers For Early Dementia Detection: Insights From Ad-Detect-Cohort, Benard Aliwa, Jasmit Shah, Olivera Nesic Taylor,, Samuel Nguku, Juzar Hooker, Dilraj Sokhi, Sylvia Mbugua, Litha Musili, Rachel Maina, Harrison Kaleli, Levi Muyela, Anne Njoki Gitere, Anne Nyambura, Zul Merali, Karen Blackmon, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Over 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, with more than60% residing in low- and middle-income countries. Alzheimer’s disease, the mostcommon form of dementia, accounts for 60–70% of cases. Early and accurate diagnosisremains a global challenge, necessitating novel approaches to mitigate the diseaseburden. Biomarkers hold significant promise in improving diagnostic accuracy andpredicting disease progression. Validated biomarkers for the preclinical stages ofdementia are crucial for advancing diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. We aimedto identify potential clinical markers for early dementia detection and assess theirpredictive accuracy in identifying high-risk individuals.

Method: We analyzed blood samples from dementia cases (n = 30) and …

Understanding And Willingness To Participate In Dementia Clinical Trials In Kenya: An Ethnographic Study, Edna Bosire, Lucy Kamau, Chinedu Momoh, Jasmit Shah, Karen Blackmon, Caroline Kiio, Irene Meier, Vaibhav Narayan, Olivera Nesic Taylor,, Zul Merali

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Advancements in dementia research are in part contingent on participation in clinical research. Clinical trials can help researchers determine if new drugs, devices, or diagnostic procedures for dementia are safe and effective. However, little is known about clinical trials for dementia in resource constrained settings such as Kenya. The aim of our research was to explore people’s understanding of dementia clinical trials, their attitudes and perceptions towards dementia clinical trials and what can be done to enhance enrollments on such clinical trials.

Method: This was an ethnographic study involving 8 focused group discussions (FGDs; age and gender stratified; n=81) …

Proceedings Of The 25th International Symposium On Adapted Physical Activity, Catherine Carty, Gerard Masdeu Yelamos

Publications

This volume presents the Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA 2025), hosted by Munster Technological University under the Patronage of UNESCO. It is intended as a permanent scholarly record of the symposium, its themes, and its contributions across research, practice, policy, culture, and inclusion in line with CoARA principles.

From Molecules To Models: A Holistic Review Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Mechanisms And Research Tools, Sriya Gullapalli, Lois Baldado, Megan W. Szobody, Anesu K. Murambadoro, Kevin Garcia Valdez, Arjun Bellamkonda, Daniela Gonzalez, Usman Ghumman, Nikhilesh Anand, Kelsey A. Potter-Baker, Bharathi Gadad

School of Medicine Publications

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. These features are associated with atypical early brain development and connectivity. While ASD has been traditionally associated with molecular genetic alterations, recent research highlights the significant contribution of various environmental factors to the pathophysiology of the disorder. Pathogenic genetic variations in key regulatory genes remain central to ASD risk; however, environmental influences such as advanced maternal or paternal age, poor maternal health during pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, alterations in the early-life …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy In Postoperative Rehabilitation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Meta-Analysis, Maryam Salimi, Alireza Keshtkar, Seyedarad Mosalamiaghili, Walter Lowe, Aamir Ahmad, Arash Sharafatvaziri

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction can be challenging. While standard rehabilitation helps restore knee function, many patients still face a slow or incomplete recovery. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has recently gained attention as a potential way to speed up healing and improve outcomes when added to traditional rehab.

Aim: To explore whether combining ESWT with standard postoperative rehabilitation truly leads to better recovery compared with rehab alone.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, evaluating participant status following ACL reconstruction with standard rehabilitation and without …

Cultural Adaptation Of An Innovative Reproductive Health Assessment Tool For Dementia Research In Africa: Insights From The Fember-Africa Study, Alice Moraa Ondieki, Anne Njogu, Cynthia I Sabel Smith, Edna Bosire, Karen Blackmon, Harrison Kaleli, Jasmit Shah, Rachel Maina, Sheila Waa, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Dementia research accounts for only 0.1% of all research in Africa,making it the lowest among all low- and middle-income country (LMIC) regions. Thedevelopment and adaptation of biological and psychosocial measures in ethnicallyand culturally diverse populations remain limited but are essential for culturallyinformed research. This is particularly critical for examining sex- and gender-basedvulnerabilities to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), including factorssuch as reproductive health and fertility.

Method: We conducted a thorough review of our clinical and health questionnaires forcultural relevance and sensitivity through a series (n = 3) of focus groups discussions.These focus groups included a diverse range of …

Objective Structured Clinical Examination (Osce) For Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block Utilizing Ultrasound Guidance And Landmark Technique, Madison Mize, Mckayla Moore, Peyton Shell

Doctoral Projects

The purpose of this doctoral project was to create learning and evaluation tools for interscalene brachial plexus blocks (ISBPB) to be used by certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and students in the Nurse Anesthesia Program (NAP) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). ISBPB is a regional anesthesia technique used to provide anesthesia for procedures of the shoulder and upper arm. CRNAs and students can use these tools to refresh their current knowledge and enhance their regional anesthesia skills.

The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and cognitive aid for ISBPB utilizing landmark and ultrasound-guided techniques were evaluated by the USM …

Listening Beyond The Stethoscope, Lia M. Smerina, Priya Darbhanga

be Still

No abstract provided.

What The Stethoscope Can’T Hear: A Book Review Of Every Patient Tells A Story, Faith Abraham

be Still

My love for reading has always shaped the way I see people and stories. Through books, I’ve learned to listen deeply to characters, voices, and emotions. That same curiosity drives how I approach medicine and the humanities. Reading reminds me that every person carries a story worth understanding, and that healing often begins with paying attention.

Impact Of Structured Internal Medicine Pharmacotherapy Education In Improving Pharmacist Readiness In Transitioning To An Academic Medical Center, Jude Pierre, Erika Dittmar, Heidi Clarke, Radhan B. Gopalani, Stephanie Palma

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Introduction: Baptist Hospital of Miami (BHM) is transitioning to an academic medical center by starting medical residency training in July 2025. As healthcare systems expand, pharmacists must ensure safe medication dispensing and provide real-time clinical decision support. To support this transition, a structured internal medicine pharmacotherapy curriculum was developed to refresh clinical knowledge and enhance confidence among experienced clinical pharmacists.

Methods: A single-site, Institutional Review Board-exempt, quality improvement project was conducted at BHM. Inclusion criteria included Clinical Pharmacists 2s (primarily decentralized pharmacists with ≥ 1 year of pharmacy experience at BHM) who completed a structured pharmacotherapy curriculum from January 2025 …

A Retrospective Analysis Of Relapse Rates And Medication Compliance In Bipolar I And Bipolar Ii Disorders: A Comparative Study, Nasir Mehmood, Qudsia Tariq

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Background and objective:

Bipolar disorder is a chronic, serious mental health condition characterized by mood episodes, and medication non-compliance is a significant predictor of relapse. The objective of this study was to investigate the relapse rates and medication compliance in patients with bipolar I and II disorders.

Methods:

This retrospective observational study was conducted at Karwan-e-Hayat Institute for Mental Health Care, Karachi, Pakistan. Medical records of 377 patients diagnosed with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder between July 2019 and June 2022 were retrieved from the Hospital Management System (HMS). Diagnosis was confirmed using DSM-IV criteria. Medication compliance was assessed …

Bridging The Gut And The Heart-Exploring Pathophysiology, Risk Factors, And Therapeutic Implications Of Cardiovascular Disease In Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Diana Othon-Martinez, Sylvia Valeria Peña-Muñoz, Margarita Riojas-Barrett, Genesis Vidales-López, Josué Moisés Sánchez Guzmán, Lukasz Kwapisz

School of Medicine Publications

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic systemic immune dysregulated disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract that often has extraintestinal manifestations. Limited data exist on the cardiovascular (CV) implications of IBD, but a higher prevalence of CV disease (CVD) has been observed compared to the general population, resulting in increased mortality risk. This review examines the pathophysiology and risk factors linking IBD to CVD, highlighting several key mechanisms: The “lipid paradox” in active IBD, arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction, proinflammatory cytokine activity, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and drug-induced myocardiopathy. The main findings include information about IBD …

Advancing Trypanosoma Cruzi N-Myristoyltransferase As A Drug Target For Chagas Disease Through In Silico Discovery And Biochemical Evaluation, Diana Citlali González García

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Chagas disease remains one of the most persistent and neglected parasitic infections in the Americas, advancing silently through the intracellular replication of Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes and the invasive spread of trypomastigotes. The survival of the parasite is critically reliant on protein N-myristoylation, a lipid modification catalyzed by N-myristoyltransferase (NMT). This dissertation aims to advance beyond prior studies by systematically investigating NMT inhibition across multiple biological levels, spanning from the characterization of the purified enzyme, through cellular infection models, to the global proteomic remodeling induced within the parasite, thereby evaluating TcNMT as a potential therapeutic vulnerability in T.cruzi.Recombinant TcNMT was expressed, …

Responsible Adoption Of Multimodal Artificial Intelligence In Health Care: Promises And Challenges., Ghazal Azarfar, Sara Naimimohasses, Sirisha Rambhatla, Matthieu Komorowski, Diana Ferro, Peter R Lewis, Darren Gates, Nawar Shara, Gregg M Gascon, Anthony Chang, Muhammad Mamdani, Mamatha Bhat

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

Clinicians rely on various data modalities-such as patient history, clinical signs, imaging, and laboratory results-to improve decision making. Multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) systems are emerging as powerful tools to process these diverse data types; however, the clinical adoption of multimodal AI systems is challenging because of data heterogeneity and integration complexities. The 2024 Temerty Centre for AI Research and Education in Medicine symposium, held on June 17, 2024, in Toronto, Canada, explored the potential and challenges of implementing multimodal AI in health care. In this Review, we summarise insights from the symposium. We discuss current applications, such as those used …

A Reversal In Fortunes: A Case Of Triumphant Retrograde Intubation., Vishal Tharani, Nickolas Meier

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

A 48-year-old male presented to the emergency department in respiratory distress, with a history of poorly controlled asthma and a remote history of pulmonary embolus. After failing a non-invasive ventilation trial and numerous treatments for presumed status asthmaticus, he was planned for intubation. During the procedure, a large supraglottic mass was visualized, obstructing the airway and preventing successful orotracheal intubation via video laryngoscopy. Securing the airway was complicated by cardiac arrest, likely hypoxia-driven. The patient underwent a successful retrograde intubation followed by post-cardiac arrest stabilization. This case highlights the technique and its role in difficult airway management.

The Revised Risk Analysis Index Outperforms The 5-Factor Modified Frailty Index In Predicting Postoperative Morbidity After Pilon Fracture Fixation., Gabriel Deoliveira, Amber Park, Arsalaan Sayyed, Aruni Areti, Nithin Gupta, Taylor Manes, Morgan Turnow, Benjamin Taylor, Jack W Weick

Trauma and Acute Care Articles

BACKGROUND: Pilon fractures often result from high energy mechanisms resulting in long-term morbidity and postoperative complications. While there is extensive literature investigating frailty scales as tools for preoperative risk stratification in orthopedic surgery, there is no literature regarding their use in fixation of pilon fractures. The objective of this study was to compare the predictive ability and discriminative accuracy of the Revised Risk Analysis Index (RAI-rev) and the 5-Item Modified Frailty (mFI-5) in 30-day postoperative outcomes following surgical fixation of pilon fractures.

METHODOLOGY: The ACS-NSQIP database was used to identify patients undergoing surgical fixation of pilon fractures from 2015 to …

Prevalence Of Sleep Disturbances And Factors Associated Among School Going Children In Uganda, A Cross-Sectional Study, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Sleep disturbances greatly impact children's academic performance and social well-being. This study set out to determine the prevalence of sleep disturbances and factors associated among school going children in Kawempe division, Kampala, Uganda. Methods: In a community cross-sectional study, 548 study participants using random cluster sampling were enrolled. The children start lessons at 8am and end the days classes at 5pm. Random cluster sampling method was used to select participants from the 19 parishes in Kawempe district. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). Descriptive statistics and multivariate binary logistic regression were …

Dual-Level Pattern Tree For Visual Field Improves Glaucoma Progression And Polygenic Risk Prediction, Luo Song, Lucy Q. Shen, Louis R. Pasquale, Michael V. Boland, Sarah R. Wellik, Carlos Gustavo De Moraes, Ayellet Segre, Janey L. Wiggs, Constance Turman, Jonathan S. Myers, Tobias Elze, Nazlee Zebardast, David S. Friedman, Jae H. Kang, Mengyu Wang

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: To develop a dual-level pattern tree to characterize visual field (VF) loss subtypes that can be used to better predict glaucoma progression and glaucoma polygenic risk scores (PRSs).

METHODS: This study included 113,030 patients from three datasets, each used for a specific purpose: (1) model training, (2) progression forecasting, and (3) PRS correlations. We applied archetypal analysis to cluster 24-2 VFs into trunk patterns and their branch patterns. The Cox regression model was used to forecast VF progression using mean deviation (MD) slope, MD-fast slope, total deviation (TD) pointwise slope, and visual field index (VFI) slope. Multivariable regression analyses …

Net Effects Of Correlated Determinants Of Health Among U.S. Older Adults, Haomiao Jia, E I. Lubetkin

Publications and Research

Background

The health effect produced by a contributing factor alone may be different from the effect when other interacting factors are present. The effects of a set of contributors, estimated by regression coefficients, may be invalid or inappropriate if some of the predictors are correlated or the model has interaction and nonlinear terms. The net effect (NE) of a given contributing factor is the effect produced by the factor alone, not by other factors due to their correlations with the factor of interest. This study estimated NE of selected determinants of health for U.S. older adults.

Methods

Participants, aged ≥ …

Assessing The Impact Of Maternal Oral Health On The Risk Of Adverse Birth Outcomes, May Amr Salama

Health Services Research Dissertations

Preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) are leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Maternal periodontal disease (PD) has been increasingly linked to these adverse birth outcomes (ABOs), yet questions about causality and treatment effectiveness persist due to study design heterogeneity and potential unmeasured confounding. These gaps hinder the development of clear clinical and public health guidelines. This dissertation addresses these gaps through three interconnected studies assessing the relationship between maternal oral health and ABOs.

The first study employed a meta-epidemiological analysis of 62 original studies from nine systematic reviews to evaluate the impact of unmeasured confounding on …

Monte Carlo Simulations Of Geometric Deformation Of Harrison-Anderson-Mick Applicators Used In Intraoperative Radiation Therapy, Benjamin Insley, Brett Bocian, Sam Beddar, Reza Reiazi, Patrick James Jensen, Rachael M Martin-Paulpeter, Joshua Scott Niedzielski, David Flint, Gabriel Oliveira Sawakuchi, Luis Augusto Perles

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The Harrison-Anderson-Mick (HAM) applicator is a high-dose-rate intraoperative radiotherapy (HDR-IORT) applicator used to position Ir-192 brachytherapy sources over surgically-accessed tumor volumes or post-resection tumor beds. Because of the lack of a 3D imaging system, dwell times are optimized pre-surgery by a TG-43-based treatment planning system (TPS) that assumes a perfectly flat applicator surface surrounded by an infinite water phantom. These assumed conditions are disparate from typical treatment conditions, especially in the pelvic regions, which often involve uneven patient surfaces and superficial irradiations with little to no backscatter material.

Purpose: Develop and validate a Monte Carlo (MC) model of HDR-IORT …

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography And Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: A Retrospective Study Of A High-Volume Program, Kristel Leung, Michael Youssef, Yasi Xiao, Catherine Streutker, Aliya Gulamhusein, Bettina Hansen, Natalia Calo, Gary May, Jeffrey Mosko, Gideon Hirschfield

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is valuable in management of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Herein, we characterize individuals with PSC who underwent ERCP on-demand at a high-volume quaternary centre, with evaluation of pathology results and short-term postprocedural outcomes.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study evaluated patients with PSC who underwent ERCP at St Michael's Hospital between April 2011 and July 2021. Chart review was conducted to collect clinical, procedural, and pathology data, and reported post-ERCP complications within 90 days. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate factors associated with post-ERCP complications and placement of a biliary stent.

RESULTS: One hundred and …

Categorizing Weight Growth Of Infants Born Before 32 Weeks' Gestation Using The 2023 Postnatal Growth Charts For Preterm Infants., Fu-Sheng Chou, Hung-Wen Yeh, Crystal Hsueh, Jing Zhang, Maria Fe B. Villosis, Karine Barseghyan, Ashwini Lakshmanan, Reese H. Clark

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: To categorize growth and correlate growth categories with morbidities in infants born before 32 weeks of gestation.

STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective study categorized weight growth by correlating mean growth velocity (GV) with growth trajectory z-score changes (ΔGTZ ), as measured using 2023 Postnatal Growth Charts for Preterm Infants. The associations between weight categories and morbidities were assessed.

RESULTS: Weight gain of infants without morbidities was categorized into three groups based on correlating ΔGTZ with mean GV: slower ( ΔGTZ < -0.1), in-parallel ( ΔGTZ -0.1 to 0.3), and faster ( ΔGTZ > 0.3). The proportions of infants with and without morbidities in these categories were evaluated across two distinct cohorts, revealing similar …

Left And Right Ventricular Strain Mechanics In Fetal Tachyarrhythmia., Rukmini Komarlu, Janelle R. Noel-Macdonnell Phd, Neha Chellu, Geetha Haligheri

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Introduction: Assessment of myocardial function in fetuses with supraventricular tachyarrhythmia is challenging. Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is a newer sensitive method to assess ventricular systolic function. We sought to assess left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular myocardial strain mechanics in fetuses with tachyarrhythmia and hypothesized that strain mechanics are impaired in this patient population even after conversion to sinus rhythm.

METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective review. LV and RV strain parameters were assessed using STE in tachyarrhythmia and after conversion to sinus rhythm and, compared to gestational age (GA), matched control fetuses in sinus rhythm.

RESULTS: Eighteen fetuses with tachyarrhythmia …

Adenovirus Types In Us Children Hospitalized Or Seen In The Emergency Department With Acute Respiratory Illness, 2016-2019., Tess Stopczynski, Varvara Probst, Adam Gailani, Justin Z. Amarin, Olla Hamdan, Haya Hayek, Laura S. Stewart, Herdi K. Rahman, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Jennifer E. Schuster, Christopher J. Harrison, Mary E. Moffatt, Marian G. Michaels, John V. Williams, Julie A. Boom, Leila C. Sahni, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Mary Allen Staat, Elizabeth P. Schlaudecker, Christina Quigley, Geoffrey A. Weinberg, Peter G. Szilagyi, Janet A. Englund, Eileen J. Klein, Aaron T. Curns, Heidi L. Moline, Ariana P. Toepfer, James D. Chappell, Andrew J. Spieker, Natasha B. Halasa

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Human adenovirus (HAdV) is a common cause of pediatric acute respiratory illness (ARI), contributing to 5-13% of cases worldwide. Clinical manifestations vary by HAdV species and type; therefore, delineating type-specific disease presentations and understanding severity of specific HAdV types' disease may help develop targeted interventions.

METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, prospective study within the New Vaccine Surveillance Network to characterize HAdV types. Children < 18 years old with ARI were enrolled in the emergency department or inpatient setting at 7 US children's hospitals from 1 December 2016 to 30 November 2019. Respiratory specimens were collected and tested for HAdV and other viruses. Subsequently, typing was conducted on HAdV specimens using single-plex real-time PCR assays targeting sequences in the hexon gene. Comparisons between HAdV types were performed to determine differences in characteristics and outcomes. Generalized linear mixed effects models were used to evaluate severity.

RESULTS: Among the 1843 HAdV-positive cases, 1402 specimens (76%) were typed. The most common types detected were HAdV-C1 (n = 439), HAdV-C2 (n = 393), and HAdV-B3 (n = 221). Children with HAdV-B7 (n = 78) …

Trends In Hospital Resource Use For Children With Complex Chronic Conditions., Nathaniel D. Bayer, Matthew Hall, Maria Osipovich, John M. Morrison, Christian D. Pulcini, Jana C. Leary, Joanna E. Thomson, Tamara D. Simon, Dennis Z. Kuo, Jeffrey D. Colvin, Eyal Cohen, Jay G. Berry

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

IMPORTANCE: Despite a small prevalence, children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs) use substantial inpatient resources.

OBJECTIVE: To assess national trends in hospital discharges, bed days, and hospital charges for children with and without CCCs in the US from 2000 to 2022.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective, repeated cross-sectional study used hospital discharge data from the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) from the years 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2022 for US children aged 0 to 18 years, excluding uncomplicated newborn discharges.

EXPOSURE: Presence of 0, 1, 2, or 3 or more CCCs.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Trends …

Definition Of The 3d Position And Motion Status Of The Moving Heart Based On 2d Projections, Lawrence D. Orijuela

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis presents a novel application of deep learning to the estimation of pulmonary vein coordinates using X-ray image pairs from a FORBILD Thorax phantom derived motion dataset. A Siamese neural network was developed to predict the 3D coordinates of one pulmonary vein at a time, specifically the Right Superior Pulmonary Vein (RSPV), Left Superior Pulmonary Vein (LSPV), Left Inferior Pulmonary Vein (LIPV), or Right Inferior Pulmonary Vein (RIPV), based on two-dimensional projection images.

The input data consisted of over 1.6 million grayscale X-ray image pairs across 1331 virtual patients, each annotated with ground truth 3D coordinates. To manage memory …

Comparative Value Of Echocardiography Vs. Right Heart Catheterization In Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction, Nathanael Tran, Mohammad Shaar, Hussein Al-Sudani, Ramy Sedhom, Hamza Akhtar, Kevin Bryan Lo, Gregg S. Pressman

Einstein Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Echocardiography and right heart catheterization (RHC) are useful in the evaluation of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We compared the two among decompensated HFpEF patients to determine their relative value in predicting all-cause mortality and a composite of cardiovascular (CV) death and heart failure (HF) readmission at 1 year.

METHODS: One hundred seventy-eight decompensated HFpEF patients who underwent both procedures and survived to hospital discharge were retrospectively identified. Hospital records and the National Death Index were queried to determine outcomes. Echocardiographic and invasive parameters were tested for significant associations with each outcome. Additionally, three predictive models were …