Public Health Commons^™

Correlation Between Salivary Levels And Tissue Expression Status Of Her2 In Breast Cancer Patients - A Cross-Sectional Study, Arthi Sri A.S, Massillamani F, Vinothkumar Thilla Sekar

Annual Research Symposium

The study aims to investigate if soluble salivary human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) would play a role in the diagnosis of breast cancer patients and also to find out the influence of demographic and hormonal factors on the salivary HER2 levels in breast cancer.

Fit Evaluation Of Soft Milled Zirconia And Cocr By Microcomputed Tomography, Elie Daou

Annual Research Symposium

Statement of problem. The absolute marginal fit of CAD-CAM presintered fixed partial dentures has been poorly documented. Purpose. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the marginal fit of presintered cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) and zirconia 3-unit fixed partial dentures by using X-ray microcomputed tomography (mCT).

Material and methods. A metal model was prepared from a typodont to receive fixed partial dentures (N=12). The maxillary first premolar and first molar were prepared with a circumferential 1.2-mm chamfer and 2-mm occlusal reduction. The dies were scanned and assigned to 1 of 2 groups to receive the prostheses made of presintered …

Smile Miles Away: Navigating The Future Of Teledentistry, Farhad Jafeen J, Prem Blaisie Rajula, Pl Ravishankar, Shivani Senthilkumar

Annual Research Symposium

Teledentistry is a combination of telecommunications and dentistry involving the exchange of clinical information and images over remote distances for dental consultation and treatment planning. Teledentists are capable of improving access to oral healthcare, increasing the provision of oral health care and reducing its costs. The disparities in oral health care between rural and urban areas could also be eliminated. This article analyses the origin, rationale, scope, basis and requirements of teledentistry in conjunction with current evidence available in the literature. Ethical and legal issues relating to teledentistry, as well as the future of this alternative and innovative way of …

Validity Of Digital Cephalometric Tracing: A Systematic Review, Alia Chaudhry, Frank W. Licari, Shankargouda Patil

Annual Research Symposium

Aim of this systematic review was to assess the accuracy of digital cephalometric tracing with manual hand tracing.

Evidence Of Prostate Cancer Progression In Transgender Women After Hormone Replacement Therapy - Scoping Review Protocol, Emily Nelson

Annual Research Symposium

This scoping review aims to determine the extent and quality of evidence regarding prostate cancer progression outcomes in transgender women who have undergone hormone replacement therapy. Notably, transgender females undergoing hormone replacement therapy as a component of the gender affirmation treatment commonly have their prostate, rendering them vulnerable to developing prostate cancer. There is no current agreement about the likelihood of transgender women developing prostate cancer or the impact of hormone replacement therapy on oncogenic molecular pathways. Unfortunately, due to a lack of scientific data and inadequate trust and awareness in the medical community, transgender women are often not provided …

Relationship Between Periodontal Disease And Coronary Heart Disease: A Bibliometric Analysis, Xiaowen Bo, Wenpeng Song

Annual Research Symposium

Periodontal disease (PD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) are both prevalent diseases worldwide and cause patients physical and mental suffering and a global burden. Recent studies have suggested a link between PD and CHD, but there is less research in this field from the perspective of bibliometrics. This study aimed to quantitatively analyze the literature on PD and CHD to summarize intellectual bases, research hotspots, and emerging trends and pave the way for future research.

Efficacy Of Concentrated Growth Factor Membrane Versus Collagen Membrane In Treating Gingival Recession, Shazneen Kandawalla

Annual Research Symposium

Creating a beautiful smile has always been a cornerstone of dental practice. Gingival recession, characterized by a downward shift of the gum line, causing uneven gum margins and an unattractive appearance.

The Vestibular Incision Subperiosteal Tunnel Access (VISTA) technique, introduced by Zadeh in 2011, offers an innovative solution for root coverage. Concentrated Growth Factor Membrane (CGF) further enhances dental repair.

Spatial Analysis Of Maxillary Central Incisors In Relation To The Nasopalatine Canal And Surrounding Alveolar Bone, Harnoor Dhillon

Annual Research Symposium

The use of mini-implants in orthodontics has enabled greater retraction of incisors than previously achievable. This change underscores the need to understand how incisors relate to the alveolar bone and nasopalatine canal. The varying labiolingual inclination of incisors during orthodontic treatments may influence these anatomical relationships. Our study aimed to assess the spatial relationship between maxillary central incisors and the surrounding alveolar bone and nasopalatine canal.

Implementation Of Best Practice When Collecting Blood Cultures In The Emergency Department (Ed), Parker Grossman

Annual Research Symposium

The purpose of this study is to compare blood culture contamination rates in the ED before and after educational in-services on best practice.

Overlooked Dental Disease In Cbct Imaging And The Impact Of Oral Radiologist Interpretation, Jared Fausnaught

Annual Research Symposium

This study aims to underscore the necessity for a comprehensive interpretation of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) volume images obtained by dentists. The research demonstrates and quantifies potentially overlooked dental pathology, categorizing incidental findings into three groups: 1) requiring some form of treatment or follow-up, 2) necessitating follow-up (monitoring) only, and 3) demanding no further treatment or follow-up.

Photodynamic Therapy Effects In The Treatment Of Residual Periodontal Pockets, Kade Janes

Annual Research Symposium

This systematic review examined the adjunctive effect of photodynamic therapy to treat residual pockets.

Impact Of Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment On Salivary Hif-1Α In Gingivitis & Periodontitis Patients, Srijanani S

Annual Research Symposium

To estimate and compare the level of salivary HIF-1α in periodontally & systemically healthy volunteers, generalized chronic gingivitis & periodontitis patients before and after non-surgical periodontal treatment.

Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis Secondary To Sodium Glucose 2 Transport Inhibitor: A Case Report, Alexis Duevel, Edward Ramirez

Annual Research Symposium

The purpose of this case report is to highlight the emergence of a rare adverse drug reaction (ADR), euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EDKA), associated with the use of sodium glucose transport 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.EDKA is a rare and often misdiagnosed condition, due to the absence of hyperglycemia, but represents a life-threatening emergency. We present a unique case of a 35-year-old female patient with a past medical history of diabetes and recent diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The primary objective is to provide valuable insights and education to the medical community regarding this infrequent yet significant complication. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance …

Investigating The "Sex Paradox" In Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Results From The Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry (Phar), Jacqueline T. Desjardin, Noah Kime, Nicholas A. Kolaitis, Richard A. Kronmal, Matthew R. Lammi, Stephen C. Mathai, Corey E. Ventetuolo, Teresa De Marco

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Female sex is a significant risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), yet males with PAH have worse survival - a phenomenon referred to as the "sex paradox" in PAH. METHODS: All adult PAH patients in the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry (PHAR) with congruent sex and gender were included. Baseline differences in demographics, hemodynamics, functional parameters, and quality of life were assessed by sex. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate survival by sex. Mediation analysis was conducted with Cox proportional hazards regression by comparing the unadjusted hazard ratios for sex before and after adjustment for covariates. The plausibility …

Detection And Relative Quantitation Of Changes In Gene Expression Of Hippo Proteins In Doxorubicin-Exposed Human Cells By Rt-Qpcr, Lillian Fleisher, Tricia Domingo, Christopher So, Stephen Lee

Annual Research Symposium

The HIPPO signaling pathway plays a key role in cell proliferation and tumor suppression. It consists of serine/threonine kinase cascades, including MST1/2, LATS1/2, YAP, and TAZ. When the HIPPO pathway is activated, gene expression is altered. Dysfunction of the activity of this cascade may contribute to cancer development and chemoresistance. FAT4 is an intracellular protein that may regulate the HIPPO signaling. The purpose of this study is to determine the relative changes of mRNA of the HIPPO pathway members and FAT4 in doxorubicin-treated and vehicle-treated in vitro cell lines.

Dentofacial Effects Of Radiotherapy On Pediatric Population With Retinoblastoma, Kristi Truong

Annual Research Symposium

This literature review investigates the dentofacial consequences of radiotherapy in young patients with retinoblastoma by referencing current research. In addition, the management and rehabilitation of the dentofacial abnormalities, highlighting orthodontic, surgical, and prosthetic approaches, is examined. By understanding the changes of dentofacial development due to retinoblastoma treatment, effective management techniques can be implemented to resolve significant issues, relating to dental and skeletal relationship and facial appearance.

Referral Patterns Of Neonatal Healthcare Professionals For Cleft Lip And Palate Patients, Alyssa Morrow

Annual Research Symposium

Cleft Lip and Palate patients are some of the most vulnerable and complex orthodontic patients. They face a myriad of health challenges including psychological, nutritional, auditory, speech, airway, skeletal, and dental. Ideal comprehensive treatment for CLP patients is provided via multidisciplinary teams of healthcare providers. However, there is currently limited access to proper multidisciplinary care for CLP patients in the US, partly due to lack of education regarding available resources. For the most effective treatment and optimal outcomes, it is essential that coordinated care starts at birth and that parental education begins as soon as CLP is detected in utero. …

Quantifying Community-Based Pharmacy Student Operational And Clinical Rotation (Ippe) Activities., Kenneth Kunke, Phillip Lawrence, C. Leiana Oswald, Erin Johanson, Michelle Hon

Annual Research Symposium

The purpose of this study is to identify and describe trends in the quantity and proportion of operational and clinical activities performed by students on introductory (IPPE) rotations.

Comments Re: Draft Guidance Considering Exercise Of March-In Rights - Docket No.: 230831-0207, Fred D. Ledley, Edward Zhou

CISI Publication

This comment focuses on criterion #3 of the march-in provisions of the Bayh Dole Act, which pertains to “…action is necessary to meet requirements for public use specified by Federal regulations and such requirements are not reasonably satisfied by the contractor, assignee, or licensees.” We recognize that the term “public use” in Bayh Dole refers not only to commercialization or availability of products representing practical applications of the inventions made with federal funding and licensed to industry under the terms of the Act, but also use of these inventions to achieve a series of socioeconomic goals (i.e., access to and …

Patient Satisfaction With A Coach-Guided, Technology-Based Mental Health Treatment: Qualitative Interview Study And Theme Analysis, Ashley Helm Smith, Hilary Touchett, Patricia Chen, Terri Fletcher, Jennifer Arney, Julianna Hogan, Miryam Wassef, Marylene Cloitre, Jan A Lindsay

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Technology-based mental health interventions address barriers rural veterans face in accessing care, including provider scarcity and distance from the hospital or clinic. webSTAIR is a 10-module, web-based treatment based on Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation, designed to treat posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in individuals exposed to trauma. Previous work has demonstrated that webSTAIR is acceptable to participants and effective at reducing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression when delivered synchronously or asynchronously (over 5 or 10 sessions).

Objective: This study explored factors that lead to greater patient satisfaction with webSTAIR, a web-based, coach-guided intervention.

Methods: …

Chronic Respiratory Symptoms Following Deployment-Related Occupational And Environmental Exposures Among Us Veterans, Eric Garshick, Carrie A Redlich, Anna Korpak, Andrew K Timmons, Nicholas L Smith, Karen Nakayama, Coleen P Baird, Paul Ciminera, Farrah Kheradmand, Vincent S Fan, Jaime E Hart, Petros Koutrakis, Ware Kuschner, Octavian Ioachimescu, Michael Jerrett, Phillipe R Montgrain, Susan P Proctor, Emily S Wan, Christine H Wendt, Cherry Wongtrakool, Paul D Blanc

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Characterise inhalational exposures during deployment to Afghanistan and Southwest Asia and associations with postdeployment respiratory symptoms.

Methods: Participants (n=1960) in this cross-sectional study of US Veterans (Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study 'Service and Health Among Deployed Veterans') completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire regarding 32 deployment exposures, grouped a priori into six categories: burn pit smoke; other combustion sources; engine exhaust; mechanical and desert dusts; toxicants; and military job-related vapours gas, dusts or fumes (VGDF). Responses were scored ordinally (0, 1, 2) according to exposure frequency. Factor analysis supported item reduction and category consolidation yielding 28 exposure items in 5 categories. Generalised …

Veterans Health Administration Enrollees’ Choice Of Care Setting Relates To The Expansion Of Care Options: Evidence From Screening Colonoscopies Before And After The Mission Act, Chase S Eck, Cheng Jiang, Laura A Petersen

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Objective: To estimate whether those enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) were less likely to use VHA-delivered colorectal cancer screening colonoscopies after the MISSION Act.

Data sources and study setting: Secondary data were collected on VHA-enrolled Veterans from FY2017-FY2021.

Study design: This retrospective cross-sectional study measured the volume and share of screening colonoscopies that were VHA-delivered over time and by drive time eligibility-defined as living more than 60 min away from the nearest VHA specialty-care clinic. We used a multivariable logistic regression to adjust for patient and facility factors.

Data extraction: Data were extracted for VHA enrollees (n = …

Collaboration And Growth In A Large Research Cooperative: A Network Analytic Approach, Lori J Ducharme, Kayo Fujimoto, Jacky Kuo, Jonathan Stewart, Bruce Taylor, John Schneider

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Research networks encourage team science and facilitate collaboration within and across research teams. While many analyses have examined the output of these collaborative networks (e.g., authorship networks, publications, grant applications), less attention has been paid to the formative phases of these initiatives. This article presents analyses of a whole-network survey of investigators participating in a new research initiative, and examines the development of collaborative ties over the network's first year. In particular, we examine the influence of research center affiliation, seniority, and prior network experience on the number and structure of collaborative ties, including participants' bridging and broker roles. Such …

Fibroblast Heterogeneity In Pulmonary Fibrosis: A New Target For Therapeutics Development?, Konstantin Tsoyi, Ivan O Rosas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Correlates Of Risk For Disinhibited Behaviors In The Million Veteran Program Cohort, Peter B Barr, Tim B Bigdeli, Jacquelyn L Meyers, Roseann E Peterson, Sandra Sanchez-Roige, Travis T Mallard, Danielle M Dick, K Paige Harden, Anna Wilkinson, David P Graham, David A Nielsen, Alan C Swann, Rachele K Lipsky, Thomas R Kosten, Mihaela Aslan, Philip D Harvey, Nathan A Kimbrel, Jean C Beckham

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Many psychiatric outcomes share a common etiologic pathway reflecting behavioral disinhibition, generally referred to as externalizing (EXT) disorders. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have demonstrated the overlap between EXT disorders and important aspects of veterans' health, such as suicide-related behaviors and substance use disorders (SUDs).

Objective: To explore correlates of risk for EXT disorders within the Veterans Health Administration (VA) Million Veteran Program (MVP).

Design, setting, and participants: A series of phenome-wide association studies (PheWASs) of polygenic risk scores (PGSs) for EXT disorders was conducted using electronic health records. First, ancestry-specific PheWASs of EXT PGSs were conducted in the …

The Pridx Framework To Engage Payers In Reducing Diagnostic Errors In Healthcare, Kisha J Ali, Christine A Goeschel, Derek M Delia, Leah M Blackall, Hardeep Singh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: No framework currently exists to guide how payers and providers can collaboratively develop and implement incentives to improve diagnostic safety. We conducted a literature review and interviews with subject matter experts to develop a multi-component 'Payer Relationships for Improving Diagnoses (PRIDx)' framework, that could be used to engage payers in diagnostic safety efforts.

Content: The PRIDx framework, 1) conceptualizes diagnostic safety links to care provision, 2) illustrates ways to promote payer and provider engagement in the design and adoption of accountability mechanisms, and 3) explicates the use of data analytics. Certain approaches suggested by PRIDx were refined by subject …

Development And Validation Of A Risk Model For Hospital-Acquired Venous Thrombosis: The Medical Inpatients Thrombosis And Hemostasis Study, Neil A Zakai, Katherine Wilkinson, Andrew D Sparks, Ryan T Packer, Insu Koh, Nicholas S Roetker, Allen B Repp, Ryan Thomas, Chris E Holmes, Mary Cushman, Timothy B Plante, Hanny Al-Samkari, Allyson M Pishko, William A Wood, Camila Masias, Radhika Gangaraju, Ang Li, David Garcia, Kerri L Wiggins, Jordan K Schaefer, Craig Hooper, Nicholas L Smith, Leslie A Mcclure

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Regulatory organizations recommend assessing hospital-acquired (HA) venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk for medical inpatients.

Objectives: To develop and validate a risk assessment model (RAM) for HA-VTE in medical inpatients using objective and assessable risk factors knowable at admission.

Methods: The development cohort included people admitted to medical services at the University of Vermont Medical Center (Burlington, Vermont) between 2010 and 2019, and the validation cohorts included people admitted to Hennepin County Medical Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota), University of Michigan Medical Center (Ann Arbor, Michigan), and Harris Health Systems (Houston, Texas). Individuals with VTE at admission, aged < 18 years, and admitted for < 1 midnight were excluded. We used a Bayesian penalized regression technique to select candidate HA-VTE risk factors for final inclusion in the RAM.

Results: The development cohort included …

Herpes Zoster And Risk Of Incident Parkinson's Disease In Us Veterans: A Matched Cohort Study, Louis Tunnicliffe, Rimona S Weil, Judith Breuer, Maria C Rodriguez-Barradas, Liam Smeeth, Christopher T Rentsch, Charlotte Warren-Gash

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Although some systemic infections are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), the relationship between herpes zoster (HZ) and PD is unclear.

Objective: The objective is to investigate whether HZ is associated with incident PD risk in a matched cohort study using data from the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Methods: We compared the risk of PD between individuals with incident HZ matched to up to five individuals without a history of HZ using Cox proportional hazards regression. In sensitivity analyses, we excluded early outcomes.

Results: Among 198,099 individuals with HZ and 976,660 matched individuals without HZ (median age 67.0 years …

The Human Vaginal Microbiota: From Clinical Medicine To Models To Mechanisms, Samantha Ottinger, Clare M Robertson, Holly Branthoover, Kathryn A Patras

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The composition of the vaginal microbiota is linked to numerous reproductive health problems, including increased susceptibility to infection, pregnancy complications, and impaired vaginal tissue repair; however, the mechanisms contributing to these adverse outcomes are not yet fully defined. In this review, we highlight recent clinical advancements associating vaginal microbiome composition and function with health outcomes. Subsequently, we provide a summary of emerging models employed to identify microbe-microbe interactions contributing to vaginal health, including metagenomic sequencing, multi-omics approaches, and advances in vaginal microbiota cultivation. Last, we review new in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models, such as organoids and humanized …

Improving Veteran Engagement With Virtual Care Technologies: A Veterans Health Administration State Of The Art Conference Research Agenda, Taona P Haderlein, Jenice Guzman-Clark, Navid S Dardashti, Nicholas Mcmahon, Elizabeth L Duran, Jolie N Haun, Stephanie A Robinson, Amanda C Blok, Sarah L Cutrona, Jan A Lindsay, Christina M Armstrong, Kim M Nazi, Stephanie L Shimada, Nancy R Wilck, Erin Reilly, Eric Kuhn, Timothy P Hogan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Although the availability of virtual care technologies in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) continues to expand, ensuring engagement with these technologies among Veterans remains a challenge. VHA Health Services Research & Development convened a Virtual Care State of The Art (SOTA) conference in May 2022 to create a research agenda for improving virtual care access, engagement, and outcomes. This article reports findings from the Virtual Care SOTA engagement workgroup, which comprised fourteen VHA subject matter experts representing VHA clinical care, research, administration, and operations. Workgroup members reviewed current evidence on factors and strategies that may affect Veteran engagement with virtual …