Public Health Commons^™

Trends In The Utilization Of Metabolic And Bariatric Surgery (Mbs) Procedures By Race And Ethnicity In Florida (2006-2017), Siyao Liu, Sarah E. Messiah, Denise C. Vidot, Preesha Malladi, Wayway M. Hlaing

Florida Public Health Review

Abstract

Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is an increasingly common treatment option for individuals with severe obesity, but utilization disparities remain with race and ethnic minority groups completing the procedure less frequently than non-Hispanic Whites. We examined the trends in MBS procedure types and prevalence of utilization by race and ethnicity among Florida inpatients.

Discharge records with any MBS using the International Classification of Diseases 9th or 10th edition Procedure Coding System (ICD-PCS), were extracted from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) inpatients’ data (2006 to 2017). Those who completed either Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB), Sleeve Gastrectomy …

Polygenic Scores For Tobacco Use Provide Insights Into Systemic Health Risks In A Diverse Ehr-Linked Biobank In Los Angeles, Vidhya Venkateswaran, Kristin Boulier, Yi Ding, Ruth Johnson, Arjun Bhattacharya, Bogdan Pasaniuc

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Tobacco use is a major risk factor for many diseases and is heavily influenced by environmental factors with significant underlying genetic contributions. Here, we evaluated the predictive performance, risk stratification, and potential systemic health effects of tobacco use disorder (TUD) predisposing germline variants using a European- ancestry-derived polygenic score (PGS) in 24,202 participants from the multi-ancestry, hospital-based UCLA ATLAS biobank. Among genetically inferred ancestry groups (GIAs), TUD-PGS was significantly associated with TUD in European American (EA) (OR: 1.20, CI: [1.16, 1.24]), Hispanic/Latin American (HL) (OR:1.19, CI: [1.11, 1.28]), and East Asian American (EAA) (OR: 1.18, CI: [1.06, 1.31]) GIAs but …

Alternative Dosing Regimen Of Exemestane In A Randomized Presurgical Trial: The Role Of Obesity In Biomarker Modulation, Harriet Johansson, Aliana Guerrieri-Gonzaga, Sara Gandini, Bjørn-Erik Bertelsen, Debora Macis, Davide Serrano, Gunnar Mellgren, Matteo Lazzeroni, Parijatham S Thomas, Katherine D Crew, Nagi B Kumar, Irene Maria Briata, Viviana Galimberti, Giuseppe Viale, Lana A Vornik, Valentina Aristarco, Tania Buttiron Webber, Stefano Spinaci, Powel H Brown, Brandy M Heckman-Stoddard, Eva Szabo, Bernardo Bonanni, Andrea Decensi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In a 3-arm presurgical trial, four-six weeks exemestane 25 mg three times/week (TIW) was non-inferior to 25 mg/day (QD) in suppressing circulating estradiol in postmenopausal women with ER-positive breast cancer. Since obesity may decrease exemestane efficacy, we analyzed changes in sex steroids, adipokines, Ki-67, and drug levels in relation to obesity. Postmenopausal women with early-stage ER-positive breast cancer were randomized to either exemestane 25 mg QD (n = 57), 25 mg TIW (n = 57), or 25 mg/week (QW, n = 62) for 4-6 weeks before breast surgery. Serum and tissue pre- and post-treatment biomarkers were stratified by body mass …

Risk For Diagnosis Or Treatment Of Mood Or Anxiety Disorders In Adults After Sars-Cov-2 Infection, 2020–2022, Christina X. Wang, Rhea Kohli, Veronica R. Olaker, Pauline Terebuh, Rong Xu, David C. Kaelber, Pamela B. Davis

Faculty Scholarship

COVID-19 is associated with increased risks for mood or anxiety disorders, but it remains uncertain how the association evolves over time or which patient groups are most affected. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a nationwide database of electronic health records to determine the risk of depressive or anxiety disorder diagnoses after SARS-CoV-2 infection by 3-month blocks from January 2020 to April 2022. The study population comprised 822,756 patients (51.8% female; mean age 42.8 years) with COVID-19 and 2,034,353 patients with other respiratory tract infections (RTIs) (53.5% female, mean age 30.6 years). First time diagnoses of depressive or anxiety …

Short Peripheral Blood Leukocyte Telomere Length In Rheumatoid Arthritis-Interstitial Lung Disease, Tracy J Doyle, Pierre-Antoine Juge, Anna L Peljto, Seoyeon Lee, Avram D Walts, Anthony Joseph Esposito, Sergio Poli, Ritu Gill, Hiroto Hatabu, Mizuki Nishino, Paul F Dellaripa, Michael E Weinblatt, Nancy A Shadick, M Kristen Demoruelle, Jeffrey A Sparks, Ivan O Rosas, Benjamin Granger, Kevin D Deane, Bruno Crestani, Paul J Wolters, Philippe Dieudé, Joyce S Lee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Shortened telomere lengths (TLs) can be caused by single nucleotide polymorphisms and loss-of-function mutations in telomere-related genes (TRG), as well as ageing and lifestyle factors such as smoking. Our objective was to determine if shortened TL is associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This is the largest study to demonstrate and replicate that shortened peripheral blood leukocytes-TL is associated with ILD in patients with RA compared with RA without ILD in a multinational cohort, and short PBL-TL was associated with baseline disease severity in RA-ILD as measured by forced vital capacity percent predicted.

Equilibrium Points And Their Stability Of Covid-19 In Us, Xiaoxi Hu, Zixin Hu, Tao Xu, Kai Zhang, Henry H Lu, Jinying Zhao, Eric Boerwinkle, Li Jin, Momiao Xiong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study aims to develop an advanced mathematic model and investigate when and how will the COVID-19 in the US be evolved to endemic. We employed a nonlinear ordinary differential equations-based model to simulate COVID-19 transmission dynamics, factoring in vaccination efforts. Multi-stability analysis was performed on daily new infection data from January 12, 2021 to December 12, 2022 across 50 states in the US. Key indices such as eigenvalues and the basic reproduction number were utilized to evaluate stability and investigate how the pandemic COVD-19 will evolve to endemic in the US. The transmissional, recovery, vaccination rates, vaccination effectiveness, eigenvalues …

Pilot Implementation Of A Nutrition-Focused Community-Health-Worker Intervention Among Formerly Chronically Homeless Adults In Permanent Supportive Housing, Jane E Hamilton, Diana C Guevara, Sara F Steinfeld, Raina Jose, Farrah Hmaidan, Sarah Simmons, Calvin W Wong, Clara Smith, Eva Thibaudeau-Graczyk, Shreela V Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Food insecurity is a known health equity threat for formerly chronically homeless populations even after they transition into permanent housing. This project utilized a human-centered design methodology to plan and implement a nutrition-focused community-health-worker (CHW) intervention in permanent supportive housing (PSH). The project aimed to increase access to healthy foods, improve nutritional literacy, healthy cooking/eating practices, and build community/social connectedness among 140 PSH residents. Validated food-security screening conducted by CHWs identified low or very low food security among 64% of 83 residents who completed the baseline survey, which is similar to rates found in a previous study among formerly homeless …

Real-World Dispensing Of Buprenorphine In California During Prepandemic And Pandemic Periods, Yun Wang, Alexandre Chan, Richard Beuttler, Marc L. Fleming, Todd Schneberk, Michael Nichol, Haibing Lu

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: The opioid overdose crisis in the United States has become a significant national emergency. Buprenorphine, a primary medication for individuals coping with opioid use disorder (OUD), presents promising pharmacokinetic properties for use in primary care settings, and is often delivered as a take-home therapy. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the scarcity of access to buprenorphine, leading to dire consequences for those with OUD. Most existing studies, primarily focused on the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak, highlight the challenges in accessing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs), particularly buprenorphine. However, these studies only cover a relatively short timeframe. Methods: To …

Effective Management And Implementation Of A Coordinated Health Program - The Steps Snap-Ed Experience, Moises Cisneros, Brenda Rodriguez-Guerra, Joseph Reyes, Emilio Puente Barrios

Research Symposium

Purpose: Coordinated health programs have been proposed for more than four decades to improve the health of children in school settings. Although a challenging task, it has the potential to touch many lives, especially those from impoverished communities (Darlington, Violon, & Jourdan, 2018). The South Texas Early Prevention Studies (STEPS) aim to positively impact the community of the Rio Grande Valley, a population known to have a high rate of obesity, by implementing a comprehensive and proactive approach with various components within a preschool students’ life. The project's goal has been to plant a seed at an early age for …

Treatment Strategies For Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (Mafld) In Childhood: A Systematic Review, Anthony Alanis, Alisha Valdez, Hector Rivera-Marrero, Joshua Membreno, Isabel Omaña-Guzman, Marisol Rosas-Diaz, Yoscelina Estrella Martínez-López, Esperanza Milagros Garcia-Oropesa, Nayely Garibay-Nieto, Alejandra Bustamante, Octelina Castillo-Ruiz, Beatriz Tapia, Leonel Vela, Kathleen V. Carter, Juan Carlos Lopez-Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Introduction: Obesity is associated with various metabolic conditions, but the impact differs between children and adults. Our previous research has demonstrated that children may exhibit reversibility in biochemical features, while experiencing less response in terms of anatomical damage. Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) is a condition that necessitates urgent treatment during childhood to mitigate future complications, such as worsening chronic inflammation and increased predisposition to diabetes, hypertension, or endothelial damage. In this study, we aim to evaluate the main clinical interventions (including drugs, behavioral treatments, nutrition programs, and traditional medicine) that effectively reduce MAFLD in children with obesity. …

Nonhormonal Pharmacotherapies For The Treatment Of Postmenopausal Vasomotor Symptoms, Taylor Witten, Julia Staszkiewicz, Logan Gold, Mallory A. Granier, Rachel J. Klapper, Gabriel Lavespere, Bradley Dorius, Varsha Allampalli, Shahab Ahmadzadeh, Sahar Shekoohi, Alan D. Kaye, Giustino Varrassi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

An average of 60-80% of all menopausal women experience bothersome vasomotor symptoms (VMSs), such as flushing and sweating, within the first seven years of onset. However, despite increasing prevalence, these hot flashes remain hard to treat and have a negative effect on the quality of life. Though hormone replacement therapy is commonly utilized as a standard treatment for VMSs, this therapy is not recommended for all women. Specifically, the oral form of hormone replacement therapy is associated with several contraindications, including a history of thromboembolic disease, migraine headache with aura, liver failure, heart disease, and hormone-dependent cancers. For women with …

Self-Efficacy Of Urban African Americans In Response To Covid-19 Health Information, Katrina Volbrecht

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Using The R = Mc2 Heuristic To Understand Barriers To And Facilitators Of Implementing School-Based Physical Activity Opportunities: A Qualitative Study, Derek W Craig, Timothy J Walker, Paula Cuccaro, Shreela V Sharma, Natalia I Heredia, Michael C Robertson, Maria E Fernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Schools are a key setting for supporting youth physical activity, given their broad reach and diverse student populations. Organizational readiness is a precursor to the successful implementation of school-based physical activity opportunities. The R = MC

METHODS: We analyzed interview data from 15 elementary school staff (principals, assistant principals, physical education teachers, and classroom teachers) from a school district in Texas. We focused on factors related to adopting, implementing, and sustaining a variety of school-based physical activity opportunities. We used the Framework Method to guide the analysis and coded data using deductive (informed by the R = MC

RESULTS: …

Disruption Of The Arabidopsis Acyl-Activating Enzyme 3 Impairs Seed Coat Mucilage Accumulation And Seed Germination, Ninghui Cheng, Paul A Nakata

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The Acyl-activating enzyme (AAE) 3 gene encodes an oxalyl-CoA synthetase that catalyzes the conversion of oxalate to oxalyl-CoA as the first step in the CoA-dependent pathway of oxalate catabolism. Although the role of this enzyme in oxalate catabolism has been established, its biological roles in plant growth and development are less understood. As a step toward gaining a better understanding of these biological roles, we report here a characterization of the Arabidopsis thaliana aae3 (Ataae3) seed mucilage phenotype. Ruthidium red (RR) staining of Ataae3 and wild type (WT) seeds suggested that the observed reduction in Ataae3 …

Analysis Of Breast Cancer Mortality In The Us-1975 To 2019, Jennifer L Caswell-Jin, Liyang P Sun, Diego Munoz, Ying Lu, Yisheng Li, Hui Huang, John M Hampton, Juhee Song, Jinani Jayasekera, Clyde Schechter, Oguzhan Alagoz, Natasha K Stout, Amy Trentham-Dietz, Sandra J Lee, Xuelin Huang, Jeanne S Mandelblatt, Donald A Berry, Allison W Kurian, Sylvia K Plevritis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

IMPORTANCE: Breast cancer mortality in the US declined between 1975 and 2019. The association of changes in metastatic breast cancer treatment with improved breast cancer mortality is unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To simulate the relative associations of breast cancer screening, treatment of stage I to III breast cancer, and treatment of metastatic breast cancer with improved breast cancer mortality.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Using aggregated observational and clinical trial data on the dissemination and effects of screening and treatment, 4 Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) models simulated US breast cancer mortality rates. Death due to breast cancer, overall and by …

Hidradenitis Suppurativa Disease Severity And Outcomes Among Black Patients From Low-Income Neighborhoods At A Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Review, Anna M. Catinis, Olivia A. Gioe, Caroline Savoie, Erika Rosen, Deborah Hilton

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a debilitating, inflammatory condition of apocrine sweat glands. Black patients are disproportionately affected, a finding largely attributed to lower socioeconomic status (SES) in the literature; yet, most HS studies include majority White cohorts. We present, to our knowledge, the first retrospective review of an entirely Black patient population living in low-income neighborhoods diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) to identify potentially modifiable factors related to disease severity and outcomes. We reviewed charts of Black patients with an encounter for HS from 2010-2020 in the New Orleans University Medical Center database. Hurley stage III (HSt III) disease was …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Subjective Norms Associated With Covid-19 Vaccination Among Pregnant Women In Kenya: An Online Cross-Sectional Pilot Study Using Whatsapp, Sylvia Ayieko, Walter Jaoko, Rose Okoyo Opiyo, Elkanah Omenge Orang'o, Sarah E Messiah, Kimberly Baker, Christine Markham

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been recommended, but the perceptions related to uptake remain unexplored. This pilot study aimed to explore how perceptions influence COVID-19 vaccine uptake among a sample of 115 pregnant women in Kenya, recruited via WhatsApp. Data were collected using an adapted online questionnaire between May and October 2022. Logistic analyses assessed the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination uptake and the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) constructs: attitudes and subjective norms. COVID-19 vaccination coverage was 73%, with vaccine hesitancy estimated at 41.4% among the unvaccinated group. Most participants had completed college education and had good knowledge of COVID-19 …

Modeling The Health Impact And Cost-Effectiveness Of A Combined Schoolgirl Hpv Vaccination And Cervical Cancer Screening Program In Guangdong Province, China, Yating Huang, Dantao Zhang, Lihua Yin, Jianguo Zhao, Zhifeng Li, Jing Lu, Xiaoming Zhang, Chenggang Wu, Wei Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Low human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake is a key barrier to cervical cancer elimination. We aimed to evaluate the health impact and cost-effectiveness of introducing different HPV vaccines into immunization programs and scaling up the screening program in Guangdong. We used a dynamic compartmental model to estimate the impact of intervention strategies during 2023-2100. We implemented the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in costs per averted disability-adjusted life year (DALY) as an indicator to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. We used an age-standardized incidence of 4 cases per 100,000 women as the threshold for the elimination of cervical cancer. Compared …

Large Scale Plasma Proteomics Identifies Novel Proteins And Protein Networks Associated With Heart Failure Development, Amil M Shah, Peder L Myhre, Victoria Arthur, Pranav Dorbala, Humaira Rasheed, Leo F Buckley, Brian Claggett, Guning Liu, Jianzhong Ma, Ngoc Quynh Nguyen, Kunihiro Matsushita, Chiadi Ndumele, Adrienne Tin, Kristian Hveem, Christian Jonasson, Håvard Dalen, Eric Boerwinkle, Ron C Hoogeveen, Christie Ballantyne, Josef Coresh, Torbjørn Omland, Bing Yu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Heart failure (HF) causes substantial morbidity and mortality but its pathobiology is incompletely understood. The proteome is a promising intermediate phenotype for discovery of novel mechanisms. We measured 4877 plasma proteins in 13,900 HF-free individuals across three analysis sets with diverse age, geography, and HF ascertainment to identify circulating proteins and protein networks associated with HF development. Parallel analyses in Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study participants in mid-life and late-life and in Trøndelag Health Study participants identified 37 proteins consistently associated with incident HF independent of traditional risk factors. Mendelian randomization supported causal effects of 10 on HF, HF risk …

Dna Barcoding Of Herbal Supplements On The U.S. Commercial Market Associated With The Purported Treatment Of Covid-19, Calin M. Harris, Diane Y. Kim, Chevon R. Jordan, Miranda I. Miranda, Rosalee S. Hellberg

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increased global use of traditional medicines, including Ayurvedic herbal preparations. Due to their growing demand, their processed nature, and the complexity of the global supply chain, there is an increased risk of adulteration in these products.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to assess the use of DNA barcoding for species identification in herbal supplements on the US market associated with the Ayurvedic treatment of respiratory symptoms.

Methods

A total of 54 commercial products containing Ayurvedic herbs were tested with four DNA barcoding regions (i.e., rbcL, matK, ITS2, and …

Portable Air Purifiers To Mitigate The Harms Of Wildfire Smoke For People With Asthma, Tianshi David Wu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Covid-19 And Burnout Among Community Pharmacists In The West Bank – Palestine, Amjad H. Bazzari, Firas H. Bazzari

Journal of the Arab American University مجلة الجامعة العربية الامريكية للبحوث

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a strong impact on the physical and mental well-being of healthcare workers. However, the focus has been directed towards nurses and physicians compared to pharmacists. Here, the researchers investigated the prevalence of burnout among community pharmacists in the West Bank – Palestine during the pandemic and the associated COVID-19 factors. The study was conducted using a written questionnaire and the sample included a total of 70 pharmacists. The results showed a burnout prevalence of 45.7% with work-related burnout having the highest impact on both males (50%) and females (54.8%). The level of burnout …

Digital Phobia: An Inquiry For Mapping The Unseen Dimension Of New Digital Anxiety, The ‘Digiphobia’, Amarjit Kumar Singh ,Library Assistant, Md. Arshad Ali , Professional Assistant, Dr. Pankaj Mathur, Deputy Librarian,

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Background: As technology continues to advance, individuals' interactions with digital platforms have become integral to daily life. Amidst this technological evolution, a novel concern emerges—Digital Phobia, hereafter referred to as “Digiphobia.” This phenomenon, although not previously explored in scholarly literature, necessitates an in-depth investigation due to its potential impact on individuals' well-being. Our research employs a two-step methodology to investigate its existence, implications, and manifestations.

Introduction: This research paper introduces and proposes the term "Digiphobia" as a comprehensive conceptualization of anxiety arising from interactions with digital spaces, applications, and environments. The proliferation of digital technologies has led to the emergence …

Coronary Flow Capacity And Survival Prediction After Revascularization: Physiological Basis And Clinical Implications, K Lance Gould, Nils P Johnson, Amanda E Roby, Linh Bui, Danai Kitkungvan, Monica B Patel, Tung Nguyen, Richard Kirkeeide, Mary Haynie, Salman A Arain, Konstantinos Charitakis, Abhijeet Dhoble, Richard Smalling, Angelo Nascimbene, Marwan Jumean, Sachin Kumar, Biswajit Kar, Stefano Sdringola, Anthony Estrera, Igor Gregoric, Dejian Lai, Ruosha Li, David Mcpherson, Jagat Narula

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Coronary flow capacity (CFC) is associated with an observed 10-year survival probability for individual patients before and after actual revascularization for comparison to virtual hypothetical ideal complete revascularization.

METHODS: Stress myocardial perfusion (mL/min/g) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) per pixel were quantified in 6979 coronary artery disease (CAD) subjects using Rb-82 positron emission tomography (PET) for CFC maps of artery-specific size-severity abnormalities expressed as percent left ventricle with prospective follow-up to define survival probability per-decade as fraction of 1.0.

RESULTS: Severely reduced CFC in 6979 subjects predicted low survival probability that improved by 42% after revascularization compared …

Antibiotic Use, Obesity, And Preterm Birth Among Women In The United States, Mya Thuzar Win

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Pastoral Leaders’ Perception Of Obesity And Their Role Within Faith-Based Organizations, Darren D. Moore, Clinton E. Cooper, Charles Williams

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of pastoral leaders regarding obesity and health within faith-based organizations (FBOs). In this study, the authors focused on gaining additional insight regarding how pastoral leaders conceptualize and make sense of their roles in terms of health promotion within FBOs. Utilizing a qualitative research methodological approach, specifically Qualitative Description, authors administered a qualitative survey to 12 participants which yielded three emerging themes: (1) perceived scope, (2) understanding and use of resources, and (3) defining obesity through pastoral leaders’ perspectives. In the study, investigators discuss clinical implications and provide recommendations.

The Association Between Dietary Flavonoid Intake And Cardiovascular Health Indicators In Women Aged 45 To 65, Melissa Wedel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Fecal Pharmacokinetics And Gut Microbiome Effects Of Oral Omadacycline Versus Vancomycin In Healthy Volunteers, Jinhee Jo, Chenlin Hu, Khurshida Begum, Weiqun Wang, Thanh M Le, Samantha Agyapong, Blake M Hanson, Hossaena Ayele, Chris Lancaster, M Jahangir Alam, Anne J Gonzales-Luna, Kevin W Garey

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a common healthcare-associated infection with limited treatment options. Omadacycline, an aminomethylcycline tetracycline, has potent in vitro activity against C difficile and a low propensity to cause CDI in clinical trials. We aimed to assess fecal pharmacokinetics and gut microbiome effects of oral omadacycline compared to oral vancomycin in healthy adults.

METHODS: This was a phase 1, nonblinded, randomized clinical trial conducted in healthy volunteers aged 18-40 years. Subjects received a 10-day course of omadacycline or vancomycin. Stool samples were collected at baseline, daily during therapy, and at follow-up visits. Omadacycline and vancomycin stool concentrations …

Fbpp: Software To Design Pcr Primers And Probes For Nucleic Acid Base Detection Of Foodborne Pathogens, Mohamed A Soliman, Mohamed S Azab, Hala A Hussein, Mohamed M Roushdy, Mohamed N Abu El-Naga

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Foodborne pathogens can be found in various foods, and it is important to detect foodborne pathogens to provide a safe food supply and to prevent foodborne diseases. The nucleic acid base detection method is one of the most rapid and widely used methods in the detection of foodborne pathogens; it depends on hybridizing the target nucleic acid sequence to a synthetic oligonucleotide (probes or primers) that is complementary to the target sequence. Designing primers and probes for this method is a preliminary and critical step. However, new bioinformatics tools are needed to automate, specific and improve the design sets to …

Innovative Virtual Wellness Interventions At An Academic Medical Center: A Pilot Feasibility Study, Ritika Baweja, Michael Hayes, Aditya Joshi, Raman Baweja

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: There is generally a concerning likelihood of burnout in healthcare workers. Given the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers, our institution identified the need for wellness interventions to foster adaptive functioning and mitigate burnout. The purpose of this pilot project was to assess the feasibility of virtual holistic interventions like meditation, art, laughter therapy and dance and their impact on overall well-being of physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs).

Methods: A series of 12 virtual sessions (art therapy, dance therapy, mindfulness-based practices/meditation and laughter therapy) were offered to providers over a 6-month period. Participants completed an online survey reporting …