Integrative Medicine Commons^™

Exploring Mindfulness Meditation In Managing Elevated Blood Pressure And Heart Rate In Debilitating Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Han Jie Liu, Krish Patel, Zachary Coren, Youssef Daoud, Zeshan Fahim, Shikhar Rastogi, Justin Le, Avinash Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US, with elevated blood pressure (BP) significantly contributing to its progression. Mindfulness meditation has emerged as a high-value preventative care strategy for managing BP and heart rate (HR); however, its specific effects on managing BP and HR in individuals with debilitating CVD remain poorly understood. This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation on HR, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in this population. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we employed a tailored Boolean string to search PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane …

Addressing The Rates Of Contaminated Blood Cultures In The Tjuh Ed, Marina Gonzalez, Md, Trishya Srinivasan, Md, Bertilia Tavárez, Md, Natasa Kostic, Md, Virginia Gonzalez, Md, Kathleen Quinn, Bsn Rn-Bc, Michael Dong, Md

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background & Aim

Blood culture contamination is a common, yet underrecognized, adverse event within emergency departments (ED). Through root cause analysis, this project identified barriers to using standardized blood culture collection techniques in the TJUH (Thomas Jefferson University Hospital) ED.

After incorporating our proposed interventions, we aim to reduce the percentage of contaminated blood cultures to

Accessibility To Gender Affirming Treatments For Transgender Patients In New Jersey, Tara Young, Tara Pellegrino

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The literature clearly indicates that gender affirming treatments, such as gender reassignment surgery, counseling, exogenous hormones, and feminization/masculinization surgery, are highly effective and beneficial for transgender patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to assess the barriers to accessing gender affirming treatments in New Jersey.

Methods: This review utilized the PubMed database and Google searches to gather information. The search terms included LGBTQ healthcare, LGBTQ Medicaid, transgender treatment, transgender healthcare, top surgery New Jersey, New Jersey Medicare and Medicaid, and transgender Health Insurance in New Jersey.

Results: New Jersey State Medicaid covers both gender affirming surgery and …

Fregoli Case Report, Don D. Shamilov, David F. Lo, Gaurav Kumar

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Fregoli Syndrome is a rare delusional disorder in the psychotic spectrum named after Italian actor Leopoldo Fregoli. Existing reports focus on clinical aspects and standard treatments, leaving gaps in understanding complexity and tailored interventions. This case report contributes comprehensive analysis of a young adult male with Fregoli syndrome and emphasizes interplay of psychopathology, neurocognition, and psychosocial factors. This report highlights a holistic approach, including differential diagnosis and psychosocial dynamics and aims to improve diagnostic considerations and personalized treatment strategies for better patient outcomes.

Health Disparities Among Adults With Disabilities, Kirsten Carlberg, Madison Plone, Chrismely Castro, Nayarith Lopez

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 27% of adults in the United States (US) live with a disability. These disabilities are often accompanied by poorer health outcomes with adults with disabilities reporting higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This review aims to characterize rates of disability among young adults in Camden County, New Jersey.

Methods: Data was collected from the CDC and United States Census and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 365.

Results: In 2022, 9.7% of residents of Camden County aged 18-34 were reported as disabled while the rate was 8.3% of US residents nationwide. …

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Referrals In Cancer Patients, Bhumik Patel, Venkateswar Venkataraman, Deanna Janora, Jack Goldberg

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) can address functional limitations in various conditions, including cancer. Cancer rehabilitation aims to address functional impairments resulting from both the disease itself and its treatments, striving to optimize physical, social, psychological, and vocational functioning. Existing literature indicates that PM&R services significantly benefit cancer patients by improving their overall quality of life. Studies have found that optimal utilization of PM&R services can increase the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) in cancer patients. Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Cancer Society guidelines emphasize the importance of incorporating PM&R services into oncology care to enhance the function and …

Community Healthcare Workers (Chw) High-Risk Stabilization Study: Does The Ability Of Chws At Mobile Covid Clinics To Link Patients With Uncontrolled Diabetes To A Physician Improve Short Term Outcomes?, Mo Hadaya, Venkateswar Venkataraman, Jaimy D. Jabon, Kenneth W. Stagliano, Richard T. Jermyn

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Uncontrolled diabetes may cause preventable but significant effects. One major preventative measure is early screening; there are hopes that community healthcare workers can increase awareness and screening availability, especially in underserved populations. We hosted and recorded logs of patients at mobile COVID health clinics, educating those with uncontrolled diabetes and connecting them to healthcare. We then looked to see if any patients had improvements in blood glucose to non-diabetic levels. 378 patients were logged, but only 138 were in events that had a significant amount of repeat visits. Twenty-five of them had blood sugar indicative of uncontrolled diabetes. Out of …

Trichotillomania Case Report, Kimberly Kluglein, David F. Lo, Don D. Shamilov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Trichotillomania is a psycho-dermatologic disorder involving self-inflicted hair loss through pulling. Often complicated by anxiety and depression. Multifactorial etiology and limited evidence-based treatment options makes management difficult. Treatment approaches include a combination of pharmacotherapy, CBT, HRT, and ACT. Case presentation involves a 24-year-old female, diagnosed with treatment-resistant trichotillomania who achieved remission and hair regrowth through mindset reframing, physical barriers, and community support. Novel approaches focusing on mindset and community support can yield positive outcomes.

A Deep Dive Into The Relationship Between Sleep Deprivation And Pain Perception: A Cross-Population Analysis, Adam T. Friedman, Kevin Regan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Sleep deprivation and pain perception significantly impact one another through altered sleep parameters such as Total Sleep Time (TST) and Sleep Efficiency (SE). Particularly in neuropathic pain, disturbed sleep exacerbates pain by disrupting neurobiological mediators like opioids and serotonin. Our research examined how sleep loss affects pain in chronic conditions versus healthy individuals. This research underpins our analysis of how interventions, possibly nutritional, could improve sleep quality and modulate pain perception, exploring this relationship across diverse populations and conditions.

Methods: Our study reviewed peer-reviewed articles published since 2010 on sleep deprivation and pain perception. We searched PubMed, focusing on …

The Impact Of Vitamin Supplementation (D, B12, B9) On Behaviors Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rohan Mehra

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: One in 36 children in the United States are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Although heritability of the condition ranges from 40 to 80%, other factors such as vitamin levels, may have a significant impact on the risk of development. These vitamins include D, B12, and B9.

Purpose: To assess the impact vitamin supplementation has on behaviors associated with ASD, and to determine which specific aspects of ASD may be improved with vitamin supplementation.

Methods: A literature review was performed. The search was utilized PubMed, JSTOR and Web of Science. Keyword strings included: “Vitamin D B12 B9 folate …

Management Of Opioid Use Disorder In Primary Care, Carolyn Jeffries

Capstone Showcase

The prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) in the United States, and worldwide, has drastically increased in the span of 2-3 years. OUD is considered chronic condition and as such requires routine care over a lifetime. This makes OUD patients excellent candidates to be managed by primary care providers (PCPs). This article discusses the various barriers to treatment of OUD in a primary care setting as well methods and models that aim to mitigate these barriers. We will also review how to take a detailed assessment of an OUD patient, mainstays of medication assisted treatment (MAT), and management of side …

Can Non-Pharmacological Interventions Effectively Reduce Anxiety And Pain In Chronic Pediatric Patients?, Kiara Harvey

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Pediatric anxiety and pain have been historically poorly managed. The failure of providers to adequately address medically-induced anxiety and pain in pediatric patients has been shown to prevent them from proactively seeking medical care in the future and has been linked with both altered brain development and increased risk of opioid abuse. Furthermore, poorly managed pain leads to sustained levels of cortisol and exposes patients to several long-term health risks like hypertension. Because non-pharmacological interventions are often preferred by providers, patients, and their caregivers, this research question poses an exploration of the efficacy of non-traditional methods in alleviating procedure-related …

A Holistic Approach To Physical And Mental Health: Associations Between Chronic Disease And Psychiatric Conditions, Pooja Patel, Alison Mancuso

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

OBJECTIVE:

• To investigate the link between chronic medical conditions and psychiatric disorders

BACKGROUND

• Limited research has been done studying the relationship between chronic medical conditions and psychiatric disorders in patients comorbid with both types of conditions.

• Prior research studies have demonstrated that patients with chronic medical conditions are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders compared to healthy individuals without any medical conditions.

• As individuals develop chronic medical conditions, they may encounter additional obstacles in their lives,

Chronic Renal Failure, But Why? A Case Report., Palak Patel, Michael Rothberg

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Renal failure, both acute and chronic, can present from many different etiologies and if diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, it is commonly assumed to be due to diabetic nephropathy. Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) is a disorder that combines monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance with end stage renal disease. Monoclonal immunoglobulins are secreted by B or plasma cells leading to deposition in the kidney causing end organ damage. Several different subtypes fall under this category of renal diseases including, but not limited to, amyloidosis, C3 glomeruopathy, and light chain proximal tubulopathy, or better known as Fanconi syndrome1. Fanconi syndrome, which …