Public Health Commons^™

Covid-19 In Cns And Pns: Basic And Clinical Focus On The Mechanisms Of Infection And New Tools For The Therapeutic Approach, Jorge Matias-Guiu, Jordi A. Matias-Guiu, Carmen Garrido, Genaro Pimienta, Patricio F. Reyes, Abdul Mannan Baig, Ulises Gomez-Pinedo

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Cellular Dna Effects Of Radiation And Cancer Risk Assessment In Cells With Mitochondrial Defects, J. Chen, D. M. Sridharan, C. L. Cross, J. M. Pluth

Epidemiology & Biostatistics Faculty Research

Mitochondria play a key role in mediating non-targeted effects (NTE) post-radiation exposure. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), due to its less efficient repair as compared to nuclear DNA, is more severely affected by radiation exposure and mutations in essential mtDNA genes can further exacerbate oxidative stress. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of mitochondrial defects on radiation-induced DDR and genomic instability, biomarkers that can foreshadow cancer development. To better understand this relationship, we used commercially available lymphoblastoid cell lines containing characterized mitochondrial mutations and studied the kinetics of DNA damage and relative telomere length (RTL) changes over time post 0.5 Gy …

Association Between Diagnosed Anxiety And Depression And Exposure To Life Stressors During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Emily Hallgren Phd, Don E. Willis Phd, Brett Rowland Ma, James P. Selig Phd, Pearl A. Mcelfish Phd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Research suggests that mental health disorders heighten the risk of exposure to life stressors. Drawing on a sample of 754 adults from a survey distributed at six primary care clinics, we examine whether adults who reported ever being diagnosed with depression or anxiety were more likely to experience an employment disruption, a housing disruption, and/or report more COVID-19-related stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals who reported ever being diagnosed with depression reported a greater burden (B=.75) of COVID-19-related stressors. Those who reported ever being diagnosed with anxiety had higher odds of experiencing an employment disruption (OR=1.90) and a housing disruption …

Social Support Needs Of Minority Breast Cancer Patients: Significance Of Racial Homogeneity And Kin Composition Of Social Networks, Ganga Vijayasiri, Garth H. Rauscher, Ifeanyi Beverly Chukwudozie, Richard T. Campbell, Richard Warnecke

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Social support from family and friends assists breast cancer patients navigate a life crisis, but more needs to be understood about specific social network characteristics that can benefit breast cancer patients. To address this need, the primary aim of this study was to identify social network factors that facilitate or reduce social support. Given racially patterned gaps in social support among breast cancer patients, a secondary goal was to identify network characteristics that are linked to gaps in support. We examined these research questions using data from a sample of 915 breast cancer patients (NHWhite=373; NHBlack=377; Hispanic=165) and 4,021 of …

Studying Stimuli And Smoking Behaviors Among Self-Identified Gifted Smokers And Strategies For Customizing Cessation Support, Danae Deligeorges, Michele Kane, Paraskevi Katsaounou

Special Education Faculty Publications

The aim of the study was to examine smoking habits and triggers among self-identified gifted (inner experiences and awareness qualitatively different from the norm in terms of asynchronous development, advanced cognitive abilities, and heightened intensity) adults in order to customize smoking cessation support.

Riding The Wave: Reactive Vector-Borne Disease Policy Renders The United States Vulnerable To Outbreaks And Insecticide Resistance, Kyndall C. Dye-Braumuller, Jennifer R. Gordon, Kaci Mccoy, Danielle Johnson, Rhoel Dinglasan, Melissa Nolan Ph.D., Mph

Faculty Publications

Funding for vector-borne disease surveillance, management, and research is cyclical and reactive in the United States. The subsequent effects have yielded gross inequities nationally that unintentionally support recurrent outbreaks. This policy forum is comprised of four primary subsections that collectively identify specific areas for improvement and offer innovative solutions to address national inadequacies in vector borne disease policy and infrastructure.

Of Vascular Defense, Hemostasis, Cancer, And Platelet Biology: An Evolutionary Perspective, David G Menter, Vahid Afshar-Kharghan, John Paul Shen, Stephanie L Martch, Anirban Maitra, Scott Kopetz, Kenneth V Honn, Anil K Sood

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We have established considerable expertise in studying the role of platelets in cancer biology. From this expertise, we were keen to recognize the numerous venous-, arterial-, microvascular-, and macrovascular thrombotic events and immunologic disorders are caused by severe, acute-respiratory-syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. With this offering, we explore the evolutionary connections that place platelets at the center of hemostasis, immunity, and adaptive phylogeny. Coevolutionary changes have also occurred in vertebrate viruses and their vertebrate hosts that reflect their respective evolutionary interactions. As mammals adapted from aquatic to terrestrial life and the heavy blood loss associated with placentalization-based live birth, platelets …

Prognostic And Predictive Biomarkers In Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Treated With Tocilizumab In A Randomized Controlled Trial, Jennifer Tom, Min Bao, Larry Tsai, Aditi Qamra, David Summers, Montserrat Carrasco-Triguero, Jacqueline Mcbride, Carrie M Rosenberger, Celia J F Lin, William Stubbings, Kevin G Blyth, Jordi Carratalà, Bruno François, Thomas Benfield, Derrick Haslem, Paolo Bonfanti, Cor H Van Der Leest, Nidhi Rohatgi, Lothar Wiese, Charles Edouard Luyt, Farrah Kheradmand, Ivan O Rosas, Fang Cai

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: To explore candidate prognostic and predictive biomarkers identified in retrospective observational studies (interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, d-dimer, and platelets) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia after treatment with tocilizumab, an anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody, using data from the COVACTA trial in patients hospitalized with severe coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia.

DESIGN: Exploratory analysis from a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.

SETTING: Hospitals in North America and Europe.

PATIENTS: Adults hospitalized with severe coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia receiving standard care.

INTERVENTION: Randomly assigned 2:1 to IV tocilizumab 8 mg/kg or placebo.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN …

In Silico Analysis Of Dnd1 And Its Co-Expressed Genes In Human Cancers, Yun Zhang, Yafang Li, Dhruv Chachad, Bin Liu, Jyotsna D Godavarthi, Abie Williams-Villalobo, Latifat Lasisi, Shunbin Xiong, Angabin Matin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Dead-End (DND1) is an RNA-binding protein involved in translational regulation. Defects in DND1 gene causes germ cell tumors and sterility in rodents. Experimental studies with human somatic cancer cells indicate that DND1 has anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic function in some while oncogenic function in other cells. We examined The Cancer Genome Atlas data for gene alterations and gene expression changes in DND1 in a variety of human cancers. We found that DND1 is amplified, deleted or mutated in multiple human cancers. In different cancers, DND1 alteration correlates with increased diagnosis age of patients, shift in tumor spectrum or change of tumor …

Travel Ban Effects On Sars-Cov-2 Transmission Lineages In The Uae As Inferred By Genomic Epidemiology, Andreas Henschel, Samuel F. Feng, Rifat A. Hamoudi, Gihan Daw Elbait, Ernesto Damiani, Fathimathuz Waasia, Guan K. Tay, Bassam H. Mahboub, Maimunah Hemayet Uddin, Juan Acuna, Eman Alefishat, Rabih Halwani, Herbert F. Jelinek, Farah Mustafa, Nawal Alkaabi, Habiba S. Alsafar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Global and local whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 enables the tracing of domestic and international transmissions. We sequenced Viral RNA from 37 sampled Covid-19 patients with RT-PCR-confirmed infections across the UAE and developed time-resolved phylogenies with 69 local and 3,894 global genome sequences. Furthermore, we investigated specific clades associated with the UAE cohort and, their global diversity, introduction events and inferred domestic and international virus transmissions between January and June 2020. The study comprehensively characterized the genomic aspects of the virus and its spread within the UAE and identified that the prevalence shift of the D614G mutation was due to …

The Estimation Of Excess Mortality During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Jakarta, Indonesia, Madona Yunita Wijaya

Kesmas

Indonesia is among the countries affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and DKI Jakarta Province recorded the highest number of deaths. This study aimed to analyze the excess mortality across five administrative cities in Jakarta stratified by gender to assess the pandemic impact on mortality. The monthly mortality data from January 2018 to December 2020 was obtained through government sources. This data helped to measure excess mortality by estimating the baseline mortality had the COVID-19 pandemic not occurred. The analysis used a linear mixed model because of its ease and flexibility in forecasting subject-specific mortality. The results showed …

The Determinants Of Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance In Sumatra, Cindy Sidarta, Andree Kurniawan, Nata P H Lugito, Jeremia Imanuel Siregar, Veli Sungono, Rivaldo Steven Heriyanto, Novia Lauren Sieto, Devina Adella Halim, Claudia Jodhinata, Saraswati Anindita Rizki, Terry Devita Sinaga, Chintya Marcella, Felix Wijovi, Billy Susanto, Elizabeth Marcella, Johan Wibowo, Jonathan Juniard Anurantha, Michelle Imanuelly, Michele Indrawan, Nadia Khoirunnisa Heryadi

Kesmas

In light of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination programs being implemented worldwide, this study aimed to evaluate the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance survey in Indonesia conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), published in November 2020. It was found that Sumatra Island having lower COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates, with Aceh Province displaying the lowest level of vaccine acceptance. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted, and a logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors affecting …

Increased Thyroid Hormone Levels In Pesticide Sprayer At Agricultural Area, Aditya Pawitra, Khuliyah Candraning Diyanah, Mohd Talib Latif, Beni Hari Susanto, Muhammad F D Lusno

Kesmas

Pesticides used massively in the agricultural sector would cause many poisoning and serious health problems. Organophosphate pesticides have been identified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This study aimed to compare thyroid hormone levels between the sprayers chronically exposed to pesticides and the control respondents who had never been exposed to pesticides. This study was an analytical observational with a cross-sectional design. The total number of respondents was 150, 50 as sprayers and 100 as control respondents. The venous blood samples were examined using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The findings significantly showed that the sprayer had a higher level of thyroid-stimulating hormone …

Consumption Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages And Its Potential Health Implications In Indonesia, Ratu Ayu D. Sartika, Atmarita Atmarita, M. I Zulkarnain Duki, Saptawati Bardosono, Lindawati Wibowo, Widjaja Lukito

Kesmas

The broad availability of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the Indonesian market is increasing consumption. It, combined with escalating incidence and prevalence of diabetes and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and the ongoing debate on policies, has called for a comprehensive review as described in this study. Data was compiled from various sources but mainly gathered from the reported or published documents because of no direct access to the necessary data set. The lack of studies that assessed the direct relationship between SSB consumption and health outcomes in the Indonesian context also became a strong reason for the preparation of this review …

Body Image, Quality Of Life, And Their Predicting Factors In Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study, Zeynab Rezaei Fard, Arman Azadi, Yousef Veisani

Kesmas

Pregnancy can influence women’s psychological health, including body image and quality of life. This study aimed to examine the relationship between body image and quality of life and their predicting factors in pregnant women. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 pregnant women referred to health centers in Ilam City, Iran. Participants were selected using a random sampling method. Data collection tools comprised a sociodemographic questionnaire, Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI), and quality of life questionnaire (Short Form-12). Data were analyzed using statistical software. The mean ± SD of body image concern and quality of life was estimated at 31.77 …

The Development Of A Work Stress Model For Air Traffic Controllers In Indonesia, Lalu Muhammad Saleh, Syamsiar Siang Russeng, Istiana Tadjuddin, Iva Hardi Yanti, Nurul Mawaddah Syafitri, Mahfuddin Yusbud, Yulianah Rahmadani

Kesmas

The workload complexity experienced by and expected air traffic controllers (ATCs) causes psychological fatigue, engenders stressful conditions, and affects their quality of life. This study investigated the development of a model of psychological fatigue in ATCs in Indonesia, which affected their work stress levels and quality of life. This cross-sectional, three-month study focused on 185 ATCs randomly selected from six AirNavs based on strata. The results indicated a relationship between work duration (p-value = 0.033) and stress on ATCs; additionally, a relationship between work time and the opportunity to meet personal life needs (p-value = 0.007) were found. Feelings of …

Effectiveness Of Using Information, Education, And Communication Flowchart Media In Implementation Of Early Breastfeeding Initiation, Rizna Notarianti, Sandra Fikawati, Alifani Faiz Faradhila

Kesmas

Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIB) has many benefits for both the baby and the mother. However, in Bogor City, there are still many babies who do not get EIB when they are born (33.6%). The implementation of EIB is not optimal due to the absence of standard procedures to equalize its theory and perception. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) flowchart media concerning the standard procedure for EIB implementation in the Primary Health Care (PHC) in Bogor City. A quasi-experimental research was conducted on 58 midwives divided into the intervention and control …

Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase Allelic Frequency And Lead Toxicity In Children Under-Five In A Former Used Lead-Acid Battery Area, Yana Irawati, Haryoto Kusnoputranto, Umar Fahmi Achmadi, Ahmad Safrudin, Alfred Sitorus, Rifqi Risandi, Suradi Wangsamuda, Dendi Hadi Permana, Lepa Syahrani, Farahana Kresno Dewayanti, Puji B S Asih, Din Syafruddin

Kesmas

Polymorphisms in the Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase (ALAD) gene responsible for the ALAD1 and ALAD2 alleles have been implicated in susceptibility to lead toxicity. This study aimed to determine the allelic frequency of ALAD2 among children living in Bogor District, Indonesia, and its association with blood lead levels (BLLs) and lead toxicity. A cross-sectional study involving 128 children was conducted during September-October 2019 in the former ULAB area in Cinangka Village. The ALAD polymorphism, BLLs, and hematological parameters were evaluated. Blood samples were taken for dried blood spotting on filter paper, blood film, and BLL measurement. The PCR amplification and sequencing …

Public Perception And Obedience With Social Distancing Policies During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Jakarta, Indonesia, Widyamurti Widyamurti, Edwina Bernita Sitorus, Dewi Susanna, Bambang Wispriyono, Aria Kusuma, Renti Mahkota

Kesmas

The Indonesian Government established a social distancing policy to prevent COVID-19 transmission. However, this implementation will be ineffective without the compliance of the people. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between public perception and obedience with social distancing in terms of the variables based on the Health Belief Model. This study used a cross-sectional design with a population of Daerah Khusus Ibukota (DKI) Jakarta’s indigenes within the productive age of 15-64 years. The sample comprised 408 participants, with the independent variables of sociodemographics (age, gender, occupation, and education) and health beliefs (perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy). Meanwhile, …

A Study On The Impact Of Occupational Fatigue On Human Performance Among Oil And Gas Workers In Indonesia, Achmad Dahlan, Baiduri Widanarko

Kesmas

Occupational fatigue is a serious problem since it may cause several issues, including deteriorating human performance. Some major accidents in the oil and gas industries were associated with the lack of human performance due to occupational fatigue. This study aimed to analyze the impact of occupational fatigue on human performance among oil and gas workers in Indonesia. This study used a cross-sectional design using a self-administered validated questionnaire to gather information on demographic (gender and age), work characteristics (work rotation, work duration, shift work model, day/night shift, job position), sleep debt, sleep quality, occupational (acute and chronic) fatigue, and at-risk …

Neighborhood Deprivation And Risk Of Mortality Among Men With Prostate Cancer: Findings From A Long-Term Follow-Up Study, Madhav K.C., Ariane L. Rung, Edward J. Trapido, Laura S. Rozek, Elizabeth T.H. Fontham, Jeannette T. Bensen, Laura Farnan, Susan E. Steck Phd, Mph, Rd, Lixin Song, James L. Mohler, Edward S. Peters

Faculty Publications

Background The overall survival rate of prostate cancer (PCa) has improved over the past decades. However, huge socioeconomic and racial disparities in overall and prostate cancer-specific mortality exist. The neighborhood-level factors including socioeconomic disadvantage and lack of access to care may contribute to disparities in cancer mortality. This study examines the impact of neighborhood deprivation on mortality among PCa survivors. Methods North Carolina–Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP) data were used. A total of 2113 men, 1046 AA and 1067 EA, with PCa were included in the analysis. Neighborhood deprivation was measured by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) at the census …

Role Of Body Mass And Physical Activity In Autonomic Function Modulation On Post-Covid-19 Condition: An Observational Subanalysis Of Fit-Covid Study, Ana Paula Coelho Figueira Freire, Fabio Santos Lira, Ana Elisa Von Ah Morano, Telmo Pereira, Manuel-João Coelho-E-Silva, Armando Caseiro, Diego Giullano Destro Christofaro, Osmar Marchioto Júnior, Gilson Pires Dorneles, Luciele Guerra Minuzzi, Ricardo Aurino Pinho, Bruna Spolador De Alencar Silva

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

The harmful effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can reach the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and endothelial function. Therefore, the detrimental multiorgan effects of COVID-19 could be induced by deregulations in ANS that may persist after the acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, investigating the differences in ANS response in overweight/obese, and physically inactive participants who had COVID-19 compared to those who did not have the disease is necessary. The aim of the study was to analyze the autonomic function of young adults after mild-to-moderate infection with SARS-CoV-2 and to assess whether body mass index (BMI) and levels of physical activity modulates …

Pulmonary Post-Acute Sequelae Of Covid-19, Usman Akbar, Shivam Gulati, Johnny Zakhour Md, Alex Glynn, Jose Bordon

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Introduction: Persistent symptoms have been observed in a substantial proportion of survivors of COVID-19 since relatively early in the pandemic. Among these post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), respiratory symptoms appear to be the most prevalent.

Methods: We conducted a literature review of peer-reviewed publications in English on the clinical and epidemiological features of respiratory PASC in cohorts of 100 or more patients with a follow-up of four weeks or more after acute infection. Included studies reported the prevalence of persistent respiratory symptoms and/or the results of follow-up pulmonary function tests.

Results: On our review included 14 studies across eight countries …

Diet Quality Scores And Cardiometabolic Risk Factors In Mexican Children And Adolescents: A Longitudinal Analysis, Abeer Ali Aljahdali, Karen E. Peterson, Alejandra Cantoral, Edward Ruiz-Narvaez, Martha M. Tellez-Rojo, Hyungjin Myra Kim, James R. Hébert Scd, Michael David Wirth Msph, Phd, Face, Libni A. Torres-Olascoaga, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., Ana Baylin

Faculty Publications

There is limited evidence for the effects of diet on cardiometabolic profiles during the pubertal transition. We collected repeated measures of diet quality and cardiometabolic risk factors among Mexican youth. This analysis included 574 offspring of the Early Life Exposure in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) birth cohort followed up to three time points. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMedDiet), and Children’s Dietary Inflammatory Index (C-DII^TM) scores were computed from food frequency questionnaires. Higher DASH and aMedDiet scores reflect a higher diet quality, and lower C-DII scores reflect an anti-inflammatory diet. Cardiometabolic risk factors …

Rare Coding Variants In Rcn3 Are Associated With Blood Pressure, Karen Y. He, Tanika N. Kelly, Heming Wang, Jingjing Liang, Luke Zhu, Brian E. Cade, Themistocles L. Assimes, Lewis C. Becker, Amber L. Beitelshees, Lawrence F. Bielak, Adam P. Bress, Jennifer A. Brody, Yen-Pei Christy Chang, Yi-Cheng Chang, Paul S. De Vries, Ravindranath Duggirala, Ervin R. Fox, Nora Franceschini, Anna L. Furniss, Yan Gao, Donna K. Arnett

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: While large genome-wide association studies have identified nearly one thousand loci associated with variation in blood pressure, rare variant identification is still a challenge. In family-based cohorts, genome-wide linkage scans have been successful in identifying rare genetic variants for blood pressure. This study aims to identify low frequency and rare genetic variants within previously reported linkage regions on chromosomes 1 and 19 in African American families from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program. Genetic association analyses weighted by linkage evidence were completed with whole genome sequencing data within and across TOPMed ancestral groups consisting of 60,388 individuals of …

Patients With Obesity And A History Of Metformin Treatment Have Lower Influenza Mortality: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Tammy H. Cummings, Joseph Magagnoli Ph.D., Ms, James W. Hardin, S. Scott Sutton

Faculty Publications

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for the development of influenza by leading to a chronic inflammatory state and T-cell dysfunction. Based upon preclinical research, metformin has influenza activity by restoring T-cell function and improving the immune response. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the potential drug repurposing of metformin for the management of influenza among patients with obesity utilizing national claims data in an electronic health record database. Methods: The VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI) was utilized to obtain individual-level information on demographics, administrative claims, and pharmacy dispensation. A cohort was created among individuals with laboratory confirmed diagnosis of …

Compliance With Guidelines For Treatment Of Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia Is Associated With Decreased Mortality In Patients Hospitalized For Community-Acquired Pneumonia With Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia, Leslie Beavin, Vidyulata Salunkhe, Shashvin Singh, Ahmed Gana, Balaji Sekaran, Mahder A. Tella, Stephen P. Furmanek, Forest W. Arnold

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia has a minimum treatment duration of two weeks, while S. aureus community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) treatment is at least five days. Treatment failure, persistent bacteremia, and recurrence are common among patients with community-acquired S. aureus bacteremia. There is conflicting information in the current Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines for the treatment of S.aureus bacteremia patients with CAP. Therefore, the appropriate treatment duration and modality for S. aureus CAP with bacteremia is unclear. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes among patients with S. aureus CAP and bacteremia treated in compliance versus non-compliance with …

Allosteric Determinants Of The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Protein Binding With Nanobodies: Examining Mechanisms Of Mutational Escape And Sensitivity Of The Omicron Variant, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Structural and biochemical studies have recently revealed a range of rationally engineered nanobodies with efficient neutralizing capacity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and resilience against mutational escape. In this study, we performed a comprehensive computational analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer complexes with single nanobodies Nb6, VHH E, and complex with VHH E/VHH V nanobody combination. We combined coarse-grained and all-atom molecular simulations and collective dynamics analysis with binding free energy scanning, perturbation-response scanning, and network centrality analysis to examine mechanisms of nanobody-induced allosteric modulation and cooperativity in the SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer complexes with these nanobodies. By quantifying energetic and allosteric …

A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial For A Multi-Level, Clinic-Based Smoking Cessation Program With Women In Appalachian Communities: Study Protocol For The "Break Free" Program, Joanne G. Patterson, Tia N. Borger, Jessica L. Burris, Mark Conaway, Robert Klesges, Amie Ashcraft, Lindsay Hauser, Connie Clark, Lauren Wright, Sarah Cooper, Merry C. Smith, Mark B. Dignan, Stephenie Kennedy-Rea, Electra D. Paskett, Roger Anderson, Amy K. Ferketich

Psychology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The cervical cancer burden is high among women living in Appalachia. Cigarette smoking, a cervical cancer risk factor, is also highly prevalent in this population. This project aims to increase smoking cessation among women living in Appalachia by embedding a smoking cessation program within a larger, integrated cervical cancer prevention program.

METHODS: The broader program, the Take CARE study, is a multi-site research collaborative designed to address three risk factors for cervical cancer incidence and mortality: tobacco use, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and cervical cancer screening. Break Free is a primary care clinic-based implementation program that aims to promote …

Prevalence And Types Of Drugs Used Among Hepatitis A Patients During Outbreaks Associated With Person-To-Person Transmission, Kentucky, Michigan, And West Virginia, 2016–2019, Megan G. Hofmeister, Alice Asher, Christopher M. Jones, Ryan J. Augustine, Cole Burkholder, Jim Collins, Monique A. Foster, Shannon Mcbee, Erica D. Thomasson, Doug Thoroughman, Mark K. Weng, Philip R. Spradling

Journal of Appalachian Health

Background: People who use drugs are at increased risk for hepatitis A virus infection. Since 1996, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended hepatitis A vaccination for people who use drugs. Since 2016, the U.S. has experienced widespread hepatitis A outbreaks associated with person-to-person transmission.

Purpose: To describe the prevalence of drug use, route of use, and drugs used among hepatitis A outbreak-associated patients.

Methods: State outbreak and medical records were reviewed to describe the prevalence, type, and route of drug use among a random sample of 812 adult outbreak-associated hepatitis A patients from Kentucky, Michigan, and West Virginia …