Public Health Commons^™

Patterns And Outcomes In Urotrauma: An Analysis Of Fatality Trends And Contributing Factors, Neharika Penmetcha, Aun Bangash, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

Background: Urotrauma, involving injuries to the kidneys, ureters, and bladder, represents a critical subset of trauma cases, significantly impacting patient morbidity and mortality. Renal and urogenital injuries account for 10–20% of abdominal trauma in adults and children. Understanding urotrauma's epidemiology is vital for improving care protocols and resource allocation. Despite its impact, data on injury mechanisms, intent, and care modalities specific to urotrauma remain limited. This study investigates patterns in injury mechanisms, intent, transport modalities, and facility transfer status to identify factors influencing patient outcomes and inform trauma care improvements.

Methods: A retrospective review analyzed 3,492 trauma cases, filtered for …

Assisted Reproductive Technology (Art) In The Mountain West, 2022, Caitlin J. Saladino, Kristian Thymianos, William E. Brown Jr., Monserrat Cristando-Romo, Taylor Volk, Yashesvi Sharma

Health

This fact sheet examines data on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinics located in five Mountain West states: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2022 Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report includes data from all 50 states and provides information on ART services offered by individual clinics, including data on total cycles, fertility preservation cycles, pregnancies, deliveries, and total infants born.

Heart Failure In Black Populations: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, And Treatment Disparities, Kazi N. Islam, Rahib K. Islam, Ivan Nguyen, Yasmeen Magherahabed, Humza Pirzadah, M. Bazlur Rashid

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Heart failure (HF) remains a significant health challenge globally, placing a heavy burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. The prevalence of HF continues to rise, posing substantial public health concerns. This burden is particularly pronounced among the Black Population, who face higher prevalence, earlier onset, and greater severity of HF compared to other racial and ethnic groups. This review explores the multifaceted landscape of HF in Black individuals by examining epidemiological patterns, pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical presentations, treatment disparities, and clinical outcomes. Black individuals exhibit distinct pathophysiological characteristics, such as genetic variations contributing to heightened susceptibility and severity of HF. …

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Mortality Trends In Mississippi, 2012–2022, Elizabeth Jones

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Due to the lack of studies examining SIDS mortality trends and its implications on pediatric populations, this study aimed to address the gap in research and to identify the magnitude and the impact of SIDS by exploring trends in SIDS among infants from 2012 to 2022. The study uses data from the Mississippi Statistically Automated Health Resource System, which is an online database with data collected from vital statistics. Joinpoint regression models were used to calculate Annual Percentage Change (APC) and Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) as an indicator of trends. The overall SIDS mortality rate remained 0.5 deaths per …

Exploring Options To Maximize Hpv Vaccination Rates In Mississippi: A Commentary, Mcking I. Amedari

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers remain a significant cause of mortality. Nevertheless, disparities in vaccination coverage persist across the U.S., with Mississippi reporting the lowest HPV dose completion rates despite achieving high overall vaccination rates for other vaccines. Dental professionals can play a vital role in improving HPV vaccination rates by promoting and administrating the vaccine. Notably, Mississippi remains one of the few states where the dental board permits dentists to administer the HPV vaccine. This presents a valuable opportunity to expand access points as a preventive strategy against HPV-related cancers. Additionally, there is a need to explore legislative measures to …

Outcomes Of Double Free Flap Reconstruction For Advanced Head And Neck Tumors In A Safety-Net Hospital Population, Yossef Alsabawi, John M. Gaddis, Angela D. Haskins, Jonathan Shum, David J. Hernandez

Research Symposium

Background: Double-free flap reconstruction has emerged as a viable option for addressing more complicated defects after oncologic resection. We aim to report the feasibility of this approach at a single-institutional safety net hospital.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed between November 2020 and October 2023 for adult patients who underwent multiple, simultaneous free tissue transfers for head and neck defects following tumor resection. This study occurs at Ben Taub Hospital, a safety net hospital in Houston, Texas. Data collected included demographics, risk factors, oncologic and operative details, complications, and functional and disease outcomes. Socioeconomic status was assessed …

Advancing Telemedicine Adoption: Insights From Health Behavior Models With A Focus On The Multi-Theory Model, Rahib K. Islam, Abigail E. Watson, Alec Robitaille, Manoj Sharma, Robert E. Davis, Joshua T. Clark, Vinayak K. Nahar

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Telemedicine, the use of digital communication technologies to deliver clinical healthcare remotely, has emerged as a pivotal advancement in modern medicine. By providing virtual consultations, asynchronous data transmission, and remote patient monitoring (RPM), telemedicine enhances accessibility, particularly for underserved populations, while promoting efficiency and continuity of care. As telemedicine transforms healthcare delivery, its adoption hinges on understanding health behaviors—actions influenced by psychological, sociocultural, and environmental factors. These behaviors can be categorized into preventative, illness, and risk-related actions, with established models like the Health Belief Model (HBM), Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), and Transtheoretical Model (TTM) offering insights into behavior change mechanisms. …

A Review Of Educational Interventions To Increase Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates In Low-Income Populations, Maria F. Lozano Bonilla, Bria Okere, Yazeth Gonzalez, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar

Research Symposium

Background: The human papillomavirus (HPV) 9-valent vaccine protects against nine high-risk types of HPV which are known to cause genital warts, cervical, vaginal, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancer. As of 2022, Texas ranks 48th in HPV vaccine completion rates and 44th in vaccine initiation rates. In Hidalgo County, only 16.8% of females and 16.7% of males aged 9 to 17 have completed the HPV vaccination series. This ranks the county 119th for females and 111th for males out of 254 counties in the state of Texas. These rates are remarkably below the Healthy People 2030 target of an 80% completion …

A Sex Comparison Of Fall And Fracture Occurrence In The Elderly Diabetic Population: A Quantitative Study, Fahamina Ahmed, Kaylin Miller, Meva Beganovic, Ali Siddiqui, Candice Smith

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

AIMS: To assess differences in falls and fractures in men and women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) within a diverse population in Southeast Louisiana. METHODS: A list of 1200 patients was generated through an electronic health record system using keywords: diabetic diagnosis, falls, and fractures to conduct this retrospective cohort study. This chart review included adults with T2DM who experienced at least one fall and/or fracture between January 2018 and May 2023 at East Jefferson General Hospital located in Metairie, Louisiana. Only falls and fractures that resulted in a hospital visit were included. Results were compared between males and …

Targets To Increase Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) Uptake Among Communities In Northeast Georgia, Kaley E. Parchinski, Molly Hirsh, Andrew Cheng, Nia Kalifa, Manvi Manyam

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: This study seeks to identify targets to increase HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake in Athens-Clarke County, GA, a non-urban area with high HIV burden and poor PrEP utilization.

Methods: A cross sectional survey of adults attending HIV outreach screenings in Athens, GA between November 2022 and March 2023 describes participant demographics and validated scales measuring PrEP knowledge, attitudes, stigma, descriptive norms, and intentions.

Results: Of 136 total participants, key demographic groups included Black (N=84, 61.8%), Latinx (N=10, 8.1%), LGBTQ+ (N=25, 18.4%), and persons who use injection drugs (N=19, 15%); overall, less than half of the PrEP knowledge items were …

Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy: Evidence From Italy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alessandro Del Ponte, Audrey De Dominicis, Paolo Canofari

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

Objectives

Study design

Michelle Obama: Moving Towards Childhood Obesity Solutions, Ian Gallagher

Osmosis Magazine

Throughout the Obamas' time in office, approval ratings made it clear the most popular Obama was not the man in the Oval Office. First Lady Michelle Obama consistently received higher approval ratings than her husband during his time in office. This could be attributed to her strong devotion to her family and her appearance as a genuinely good and caring person. During her time in office she drew the attention of the public by shedding light on one of the worst health epidemics currently afflicting the country: childhood obesity.

The Role Of Chemistry In The Prevention And Containment Of The Zika Virus, Joe Ortolani

Osmosis Magazine

Similar to West Nile and yellow fever, Zika is a mosquito-born e dis ease th at has gained quite a bit of attention since its recent arrival in Latin America for its possible link to a string of fetal brain defects. The Zika virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947, but for much of the late 20th century, very little was known about the virus.

Health Disparities In Third-Degree Burn Care In The State Of Texas, Jocelyn Torres, Isabella Ortigoza Martinez, Saloni Saldhi, Mary Arden Guillory, Shalika Padhi, Ashlyn Holubar

Research Symposium

Background: Third-degree burns are injuries that penetrate through the dermis and can affect underlying tissues, resulting in severe functional and aesthetic impairments. Despite advancements in burn care, challenges remain in care equality. Of note, best practices recommend third-degree burn treatment should occur at a registered burn center due to the high risk of shock and/or infection. Additionally, a burn center provides specialized treatments such as grafts that can lead to improved recovery. Previous studies have shown that marginalized racial groups correlate with worse burn injury outcomes, suggesting that they may not have access to burn centers. This study aimed to …

A Five-Year Study Of Pelvic Fractures In Texas: Demographics, Location And Healthcare Needs, Isabella Ortigoza, Saloni Saldhi, Shalika Padhi, Ashlyn Holubar, Mary Arden Guillory, Jocelyn Torres, Daniel Salinas, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

Background: Pelvic fractures, while rare, are one of the more severe fractures due to their potential to damage crucial internal organs. Many are deemed medical emergencies that require immediate surgical attention, highlighting the importance of accessible healthcare. Previous research indicates that pelvic fractures are more prevalent in women and most often as a result from a high impact traumatic injury. However, it remains unclear the impact of epidemiologic factors on pelvic fracture incidence and severity, particularly in minority populations. Here, we sought to evaluate the influence of geographical area on pelvic fracture incidence, including specific injury causes and anatomical fracture …

Heart Disease Prediction Using Ensemble Tree Algorithms: A Supervised Learning Perspective, Enoch Sakyi-Yeboah, Edmund F. Agyemang, Vincent Agbenyeavu, Akua Osei- Nkwantabisa, Priscilla Kissi-Appiah, Lateef Moshood, Lawrence Agbota, Ezekiel N.N. Nortey

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Heart disease stands as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, presenting a significant public health challenge. Therefore, early prediction and detection are critical, leading to timely and appropriate interventions at early stages. Four ensemble tree-based algorithms were used in this study: adaptive boosting, extreme gradient boosting, random forest, and extremely randomized trees, investigating their ability to predict heart disease. Data related to heart disease clinical features was obtained from the open Kaggle Machine Learning Dataset repository. Adaptive Boosting stands out as the highest performer, achieving an average testing accuracy of 93.70%, precision of 93.71%, recall of 93.70%, and …

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake Among Black/African American Men Who Have Sex With Other Men In Midwestern, United States: A Systematic Review, Oluwafemi Adeagbo, Oluwaseun Abdulganiyu Badru, Prince Addo, Amber Hawkins, Monique J. Brown Ph.D., Mph, Xiaoming Li, Rima Afifi

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Black/African American men who have sex with other men (BMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV, experience significant disparities in HIV incidence, and face significant barriers to accessing HIV treatment and care services, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Despite evidence of individual and structural barriers to PrEP use in the Midwest, no review has synthesized this finding to have a holistic view of PrEP uptake and barriers. This review examines patterns of, barriers to, and facilitators of PrEP uptake among BMSM in the Midwest, United States (US).

Methods: Five databases (CINAHL Plus, PUBMED, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, and Web of Science) were searched …

Neonatal Outcomes In Periviable Births Weighing ≤ 500 Grams, Bijan Morshedi, Diego Maurente, Ursula Griffiths-Randolph, Elisabeth Kamano, Katharine Hopkins, Dana Baraki, Juliana Martins, Steven Warsof

Eastern Virginia Medical Journal

Background: The average rate of preterm birth in the US in 2021 was 10.1%. Although the rate of mortality from preterm birth has been decreasing, complications remain the leading cause of death in infants under the age of 5 years worldwide. Gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) remain the 2 most important variables for predicting survivability in preterm births, and lower GA and BW are both correlated with lower survivability.

Objective: To explore outcomes of neonates born in the periviable period (20 weeks and 0 days to 25 weeks and 6 days) with BW ≤ 500 g and to …

Microglial Disruption In Young Mice With Early Chronic Exposure To Lead, Christina Sobin, Mayra Flores Montoya, Natali Parisi, Tanner Schaub, Miguel Cervantes, Rodrigo Armijos

Departmental Papers (PH)

The mechanisms by which early chronic lead (Pb) exposure alters brain development have not been identified. We examined neuroimmune system effects in C57BL/6J mice with Pb exposure, including levels that may be common among children in lower socioeconomic income environments. Pups were exposed via dams’ drinking water from birth to post-natal day 28 to low, high or no Pb conditions. We compared gene expression of neuroinflammatory markers (study 1); and microglial mean cell body volume and mean cell body number in dentate gyrus, and dentate gyrus volume (study 2). Blood Pb levels in exposed animals at sacrifice (post-natal day 28) …

A Bland–Altman Comparison Of The Lead Care® System And Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry For Detecting Low-Level Lead In Child Whole Blood Samples, Christina Sobin, Tanner Schaub, Natali Parisi, Eva De La Riva

Departmental Papers (PH)

Chronic childhood lead exposure, yielding blood lead levels consistently below 10 μg/dL, remains a major public health concern. Low neurotoxic effect thresholds have not yet been established. Progress requires accurate, efficient, and cost-effective methods for testing large numbers of children. The LeadCare® System (LCS) may provide one ready option. The comparability of this system to the “gold standard” method of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the purpose of detecting blood lead levels below 10 μg/dL has not yet been examined. Paired blood samples from 177 children ages 5.2–12.8 years were tested with LCS and ICP-MS. Triplicate repeat tests …

The Ethical Dilemma Of Social Media, Janet H. Southerland

New Orleans Dental Association News

Social media has transformed dentistry, enhancing communication, education, and patient engagement. However, ethical challenges, including privacy concerns and misinformation, pose risks. This article explores the benefits and challenges of social media in dentistry, emphasizing the need for ethical guidelines to uphold professional standards while leveraging digital advancements for improved care and education.

A Peculiar Pancreatitis: Investigating The Adverse Effects Of Mesalamine, Elias Arellano Villanueva, Miguel Lopez, Alhasan Asaad, Jose Campo Maldonado

Research Symposium

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a leading cause of gastrointestinal-related hospitalizations in the United States, accounting for approximately 300,000 emergency department visits annually. It is characterized by parenchymal and peripancreatic fat necrosis accompanied by inflammation. The clinical diagnosis of AP is based on elevated serum amylase and lipase levels, characteristic imaging findings, and epigastric pain often radiating to the back. While gallstones and alcohol use are the most common causes of AP, drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP) is a rare but increasingly recognized etiology, contributing to 0.1–5% of cases. DIP is typically diagnosed by excluding other causes and is often associated with …

National Cancer Centers And Cancer Rates In Nevada, 2017-2021, Yashesvi Sharma, Ivan Sun, Taylor Volk, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr., Fatma Nasoz

Health

This fact sheet presents data from the National Institutes of Health including the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) “State Cancer Profiles” report and includes age-adjusted cancer incidence rates by race/ethnicity in Nevada, between 2017 and 2021. The fact sheet also shows data from the 2024 National Cancer Institute’s “NCI-Designated Cancer Centers” map, listing NCI-Designated Cancer Centers by state, and the distance to the nearest NCI-Designated Cancer Centers from the Las Vegas metro and Reno metro.

The Athletes’ Plate: Understanding Influences Of Athletes’ Eating Attitudes, Exercise Behaviors, And Body Image Satisfaction, Delanie Patterson, Brooklynn Raacke, Ryssa Schlaefli

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Delanie Patterson¹, Brooklynn Raacke¹, and Ryssa Schlaefli²

¹Department of Psychology, Fort Hays State University

²Department of Health and Human Performance, Fort Hays State University

Faculty Sponsors: Brooke Mann¹, Ph.D. and Jessica Phelan², Ph.D.

¹Department of Psychology, Fort Hays State University

²Department of Health and Human Performance, Fort Hays State University

Hays, Kansas

Introduction: Disordered eating (DE), compulsive exercise (CE), and body image satisfaction (BIS) negatively affect male and female athletes. These variables each have a core symptomology but continue to evolve with the increased usage of social …

The Cost-Effectiveness Of Long-Term Post-Treatment Peer Recovery Support Services In The United States, J Michael Wilkerson, H Shelton Brown

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background:

Peer recovery support services (PRSS) have been widely adopted across a variety of settings, but little is known about their economic impact.

Objectives:

To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of long-term, PRSS delivered after specialty substance use disorder (SUD) treatment (post-treatment), and to describe the development of a free, web-based cost-effectiveness calculator based on this analysis.

Methods:

Using publicly-available data from a variety of sources, post-treatment PRSS were compared to specialty SUD treatment from the societal (broad perspective including costs like participant time) and health systems perspectives (only costs borne by health system), and in terms of quality-adjusted life years …

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome: A Current Perspective, Astrid-Ines Foamkom, Maria Sophia Zaraspe Malbas, Kory D. Punch, Victor A. Bob-Yellowe, Allison J. Mcadams, Julia Paz, Karina Zamora, Kelsey Baker, Ihsan Salloum, Ney Alliey-Rodriguez

Research Symposium

Background: Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is a debilitating neuropsychological condition characterized by the profound loss of thiamine (vitamin B1). The neuropsychological presentation of WKS has been increasingly refined since its discovery in the nineteenth century, leading to a more robust understanding of the condition. In general, it has been shown that WKS causes differ amongst individuals but the main causes for the condition include chronic alcoholism, immunodeficiency, genetic disorders, malnutrition, drug-induced thiamine deficiency, and hyperemesis gravidarum. However, it remains unclear how demographic, environmental, and ethnic differences may influence WKS etiology and severity. Here, we sought to conduct a systematic review of …

Utilidad De La Combinación De Los Biomarcadores: Procalcitonina, Proteína C Reactiva Y Volumen Plaquetario Medio En El Diagnóstico Temprano De Sepsis Neonatal [Usefulness Of The Combination Of Biomarkers: Procalcitonin, C-Reactive Protein And Mean Platelet Volume In The Early Diagnosis Of Neonatal Sepsis], Oscar Manuel Berlanga Bolado Jr, Patricia Rivera Vazquez, Arely Socorro Hernández García, Angelica Lizbeth Martinez Ortiz

Research Symposium

Introducción: La sepsis neonatal es una causa frecuente de morbilidad y mortalidad infantil. Se le ha definido como un síndrome clínico caracterizado por signos sistémicos de infección, acompañado de bacteriemia en el primer mes de vida. Por lo tanto, el diagnóstico temprano es fundamental.

Objetivo: Conocer la sensibilidad y especificidad de la combinación de biomarcadores séricos como procalcitonina, proteína C reactiva y volumen plaquetario medio en el diagnóstico temprano de sepsis neonatal.

Material y métodos: Estudio clínico, de tipo prospectivo, predictivo, observacional, analítico, longitudinal y conveniencia. Se analizaron los biomarcadores como PCT, PCR, VPM para diagnosticar sepsis neonatal. Se incluyeron …

Trauma In Pregnancy: A Statistical Retrospective Analysis Of Leading Causes And Demographic Insights, Andrea Argenal, Sonya Bhatia, Sowmya Duddu, Julia Paz, Sriya Gullapalli, Kelsey Baker, Bharathi Gadad

Research Symposium

Background: Trauma during pregnancy is a significant contributor to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Understanding the leading causes of trauma can guide interventions to improve outcomes of injuries for pregnant women. This study aimed to analyze the distribution of trauma causes in a cohort of pregnant women treated in Texas Emergency Department over the year 2021.

Methods: A retrospective statistical analysis was conducted on a sample of 96 pregnant women who experienced trauma. Data was collected from the Texas Emergency Department for patients admitted to the hospital during 2021 and categorized by the cause of injury; some of these …

From Crisis To Action: Investigation, Research, And Response In The Rio Grande Valley Following The Anencephaly Cluster Of 1990-1991, Jonathan Hebert, Miguel Lopez, Padmanabhan Rengasamy

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

The 1990-1991 birth defect cluster of anencephaly in the Rio Grande Valley has had lasting effects on Texas public health and birth defect prevention nationwide. The purpose of this study is to clearly illuminate public health efforts to investigate, identify, and combat the rise of anencephaly and other neural tube defects (NTDs) in the Rio Grande Valley and other border counties following the 1990-1991 cluster, as well as to report the findings of each branch of environmental, infectious, and genetic investigation into the possible causes of the disaster. Information was gathered via a literature review and from other sources including …

Identifying Pregnant Women With Disabilities And Maternal And Newborn Outcomes, Thérèse A Stukel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Pregnant women with disabilities are at higher risk of poor pregnancy and birth outcomes. Different methods for identifying disability may affect estimates of health disparities in this population.

Objective: To compare pregnancy and birth outcomes among pregnant women using different ways of identifying maternal disability.

Design, setting, and participants: Retrospective cohort study of linked vital records and maternal and newborn claims for Medicaid-insured live births from January 2010 to December 2014 in Texas. Data analysis was conducted from October 2023 to May 2024.

Exposure: Births grouped into 5 maternal cohorts: no identified disability, disability benefits enrollment only, disability diagnostic …