Translational Medical Research Commons^™

Rethinking Existing Extension Programming: A Foundation For Healthy Aging?, Nicholas J. Spokely, Sloane A. Montgomery, Kelsey J. Weitzel, Kristin A. Miller, Marta Novaes Oliveira, Stephen D. Ball, Breanne S. Baker

Journal of Extension

Muscle declines are becoming more prevalent in younger adults, driving the need for accessible exercise programs. The Stay Strong, Stay Healthy (SSSH) Extension program was developed for adults 60 years old or older, but for this study, we enrolled 135 participants aged less than 60 years old in rural and urban counties to assess if it could improve their muscle performance. We analyzed data with time and group comparisons using paired t-tests and 2 × 2 repeated measures ANOVAs. Younger adults significantly improved muscle performance after SSSH, and the results were similar between rural and urban counties. This study …

A Predictive Coding Account Of Spatial Working Memory Following Prophylactic Levetiracetam Administration Prior To Traumatic Brain Injury, Omeima Mutwali

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptom prevention and remediation is an important area of research that would benefit vulnerable groups, including active-duty and veteran soldiers. These patients can sustain penetrative forces in fields of combat or in training, which result in focal lesions that trigger inflammatory and degenerative processes in the brain. Both primary and secondary injuries are associated with changes to cognition, behavior and affective state. This disease poses increased risk of epileptogenesis, as well. Given these outcomes, prior research has evaluated levetiracetam (LEV) as a prophylactic treatment for seizures, cognitive deficits and negative emotionality. LEV acts as a presynaptic …

Multiple Interest Holder Perspectives Of The True Grit Sci Residential Program: A Mixed Methods Program Evaluation, Keara Mcnair

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Young adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) face significant challenges during the transition to adulthood, including barriers to independence, community participation, and psychosocial adjustment (Ingimarsdóttir et al., 2023; Zebracki et al., 2010). Current rehabilitation models in the United States prioritize short-term physical recovery and offer limited support for the developmental and contextual needs that shape long-term outcomes after SCI, particularly during transitions from inpatient rehabilitation to the community (Anderson et al., 2024; Bryden & Gran, 2024). Community-based programs may help address these gaps, though few have been rigorously evaluated using implementation science frameworks that attend to health equity, contextual influences, …

Comparison Of Ecg Features, Cardiac Biomarkers, And Clinical Outcomes In Three Waves Of Hospitalized Covid-19 Pneumonia Patients With Cardiovascular Events, Yuchen Han, Jahnavi Sunkara, Tshura S Ali, Harideep Samanapally, Vidyulata Salunkhe, Fnu Deepti, Emma C. Huang, Justin J. Huang, Maiying Kong, Jiapeng Huang

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a rapidly evolving virus that can severely impact the cardiovascular system. With new variants, it is important to characterize wave-specific (defined by dominant circulating variants) clinical changes.

Methods

A multi-center retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 community acquired pneumonia at eight adult acute-care hospitals in the city of Louisville, KY was conducted. Patients hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) community acquired pneumonia who experienced a cardiovascular event between March 2020 and July 2022 were included in this analysis. Variant assignment was based on temporal prevalence rather than genomic confirmation, and …

Facebook Interaction As A Potential Marker Of Cognitive Decline: Pilot Study, Esraa M. Qansuwa

Theses and Dissertations

One of the critical challenges in brain disorder research is the early identification of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who may later develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or other dementias. MCI in older adults is frequently associated with diminished social engagement and observable behavioral changes. With the rapid expansion of social media platforms and advances in Machine Learning (ML), digital traces from online activity present a novel and scalable avenue for mental health screening. In particular, predictive ML approaches have demonstrated strong potential in building reliable classifiers for early detection of neurocognitive decline. This study introduces an innovative framework that …

Long Covid Incidence Across Sars-Cov-2 Lineages And Identification Of Conserved Spike Targets For Multivalent Vaccines, Grace J. Kim, Md Ashad Alam, Judy S. Crabtree, Rebecca Rose, Susanna L. Lamers, San Chu, Ronald Horswell, Daniel Fort, Lucio Miele

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Background: Long COVID remains poorly characterized at the genomic level. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between viral sequences and the incidence of Long COVID at a tertiary care center in Louisiana between April 2020 and December 2022. A secondary aim was analysis of the Spike protein to identify conserved regions for multivalent vaccine targets. Method: To estimate Long COVID incidence across variants, we linked 4,789 SARS-CoV-2 sequences to 3,090 de-identified patient electronic health record information. The base population was defined as any patient with an International Classification of Diseases-10-Clinical Modification COVID-19 diagnosis code (U07.1) …

Acceptability Of Corticosteroid Use In The Treatment Of Infant Bronchiolitis: Utilizing The Theoretical Framework Of Acceptability To Design Research Instruments, Caroline R. Smetanka

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants under six months, yet treatment remains largely supportive due to clinical guidelines that discourage pharmacologic intervention. Recent research suggests that bronchiolitis is not a uniform condition, and a subgroup of infants (those classified within “Profile A”) may benefit from targeted corticosteroid therapy. However, these treatments remain outside current clinical guidelines, and their successful adoption depends on stakeholder acceptability. This Capstone project developed and refined four data collection instruments- two questionnaires and two interview guides- designed to assess how healthcare providers and caregivers perceive the acceptability of corticosteroid treatment for Profile A …

A Study On Nutritional Status Among Regular Gym Goers In And Around Chennai, India, Ettiyappan Thirumurugan, Kalpana Devi Venkatesan, Pavithra Tamilmani, Devika Preetha, Joyce Albert Princy Mariya Selvanathan, Dhanyasree Mohandas, Ameer Basha Sathik, Santhosh Kumar Manjunathan, Ashika Kannadhas Sheeba

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The increasing sales of sports supplements indicate a concerning trend, as many gym-goers may misuse these products owing to misinformation and insufficient knowledge, potentially impacting their performance. This issue is further compounded by specific gym trainers who may lack comprehensive information and inadvertently influence their clients' choices. To address this concern, the present study evaluated dietary supplement practices and sports nutrition knowledge among regular gym-goers at fitness centers in Chennai, India.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2023 to May 2024 using a validated questionnaire distributed across Chennai, India. A total of 450 participants were …

Increasing Community Members' Engagement In Cancer Research: The Making Research Clear Program, Rebecca J. Melillo, Christiane J. El Khoury, Joshua Blanding-Godbolt, Q. Greene, Karen M. Bussard, Amy Leader

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of engaging community members in research, multiple barriers from the perspective of the investigator and community member exist. The Making Research CLEAR (Community Learning and Experience about Research) Program aims to bridge the gap between research conducted at an NCI-designated cancer center and the community.

METHODS: Community members and a cancer center investigator were paired for a 6-month immersive research experience. Community members had at least one research experience per month with their investigator, while also attending cancer center activities such as Institutional Review Board (IRB) meetings, research lectures, protocol review meetings, and community outreach events. …

A Retrospective Study Of Pulmonary Function Tests In Bronchiectasis: An Infectious Disease Of The Respiratory System, Vinod Mutkule, Mahesh Shinde, Vidya Bapmare, Sangramsingh Dixit, Atharva Sharma, Kshitij Sarwey, Yogeshwari Patil, Sanket Jethlia, Aayushi Dwivedi, Disha Pardeshi, Anmol Rai, Kunal Shah, Vidhi Kalwar

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Introduction: Bronchiectasis, currently being recognized worldwide, is an abnormal dilatation of the bronchi and bronchioles brought on by recurrent cycles of inflammation and airway infection. Impaired pulmonary function has a predictive significance in bronchiectasis. When treating patients with suspected or confirmed respiratory diseases, pulmonary function tests (PFT) are useful examinations. Very few studies have been done on PFTs in bronchiectasis. The main aim of this study is to study PFTs in bronchiectasis.

Method: This is a retrospective observational study done on 50 patients over two years at the tertiary care center. The previous records of patients were collected from the …

Toward The Application Of Natural Language Processing In Electronic Health Record Analysis For Taxonomy Development, Latoya Mcdonald

All Dissertations

Electronic health records (EHRs) are pivotal resources for nurse practice because they increase the timeliness and reliability of patient information at the point of care and support access by multiple healthcare providers and the individual patients themselves. However, it is widely recognized that data extraction from EHRs is challenging due to the variability in the language used in clinical care notes and the lack of standardized terminology across healthcare systems. The broad objective of this dissertation is to develop taxonomy-based classification models for nursing care by applying feature engineering approaches to EHRs that include nursing care of ostomy patients following …

Indeterminate Benefit Of Long-Term Beta-Blocker Use After Acute Myocardial Infarction For Some Patients, Logan S. Thayer, Khush Hussain, Nicholas Apostolakis, Gretchen Swift, Arifbillah Sarowar, Mohammad Al-Hadidi, Scott Yaekle

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Yndigegn T, Lindahl B, Mars K, et. al., Beta-blockers after myocardial infarction and preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med. April 7 2024;390:1372-1381. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2401479

for a patient showing 55% left ventricular ejection fraction after myocardial infarction.

Socioeconomic And Demographic Factors In Genetic Testing Utilization Among Advanced Prostate Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Single-Institution Study, Alexandra T. Skowron Ms, Karen Childers, Courtney M. Rose Ms, Kyle C. Mcelyea Md, Avery K. Supernois Bs, Yousuf Hussain, Mohammed Baseer Ms, Sunita Ghosh Phd, Clara Hwang Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction

Germline genetic testing in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa) is underutilized. Socioeconomic and demographic factors are hypothesized to affect low rates of testing, but causality has not been established. This single institution, retrospective study aimed to understand what barriers may affect germline genetic testing for PCa patients.

Methods

The Henry Ford Health (HFH) tumor registry was queried for new diagnoses of stage 3, 4A and 4B PCa from 2017-2022. Census tract levels were assigned using patient addresses and neighborhood-based geocoding was completed for Median household income (gMHI) and Social vulnerability index (SVI). gMHI and SVI were divided into …

Characteristics And Outcomes Of Adults Hospitalized With Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Brian S. Shaw, Cara Slaton, Ian P. Murphy, Michael Mcalister, Daniel Egan, Kwabena Ayesu

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a negative sense single-stranded RNA virus (ssRNA) that primarily causes respiratory infections in both children and older adults. We examined clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized adult patients who tested positive for RSV.

Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective, descriptive study that examined adult patients admitted with a positive RSV test over two years across eight hospitals in Orlando, Florida.

Results: A total of 120 patients were included, of which 88 (73%) were 60 years old and older. Overall, patients with RSV infection were caucasian (62%) with a median age of 70 years and …

Poner En Práctica Las Regulaciones Federales: Habilitando A Los Pacientes Dominio Limitado Del Inglés, Caitlyn Gailey

World Languages and Cultures Senior Capstones

This paper examines the gaps in the U.S. healthcare system that affect the Hispanic community, focusing on language barriers and cultural competence. It highlights the challenges faced by Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients, who may struggle with medical terminology, leading to misdiagnosis and improper treatment. The paper advocates for culturally sensitive language services, including qualified interpreters, translated documents and signage in order to improve communication, patient satisfaction, and reduce medical errors. It calls for systemic changes to ensure equitable care for all patients, regardless of language or cultural background.

El Uso De Las Prácticas Curativas No Occidentales En Lugar De Y Dentro De La Cultura Biomédica, Lynda Gulledge

World Languages and Cultures Senior Capstones

This paper explores the difficulties that the Hispanic community faces when accessing healthcare in the United States, which emphasizes the use of biomedical culture. Topics such as cultural and linguistic barriers, past and present healthcare policies, and the use of non-Western medical practices are examined. Furthermore, this paper explores the history and use of curanderismo as an accessible and culturally appropriate form of healthcare. Lastly, the integration and acknowledgement of curanderismo in biomedical culture is explored and encouraged in order to create a more holistic healthcare experience for the Hispanic community.

Summary Of: Ai Diabetic Retinopathy Screening In A Primary Care Setting In Rural Maine, Rachel Heuer Md, Emma Daybranch Mph, Anastasia Tsomides Do, Jessica F. Dibiase Mph, Neil Korsen Md, Brian Nolan Md

Northern New England Clinical & Translational Research

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness globally. Early diagnosis and treatment reduce the risk of vision loss by 98%.

Study found @ "AI Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in a Primary Care Setting in Rural M" by Rachel Heuer, Emma DayBranch et al.

Enhancing Public Health Surveillance: Development And Validation Of Machine Learning Models For Suspected Opioid Overdose Detection In Emergency Medical Services Data, Peter J. Rock

Theses and Dissertations--Clinical and Translational Science

The ongoing opioid overdose crisis in the United States requires timely and accurate surveillance systems to inform public health responses. Traditional public health surveillance methods rely on hospital discharge data and death certificates, which suffer from significant reporting delays and miss cases where patients refuse hospital transportation. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) data presents a promising alternative with advantages in timeliness and case ascertainment but lacks validated definitions for suspected opioid overdose (SOO).

This dissertation addresses this critical gap through the development, validation, and fairness assessment of machine learning models with natural language processing (ML-NLP) for identifying SOOs in EMS data. …

Metastatic Recurrence In Women Diagnosed With Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Eileen Morgan, Colette O’Neill, Richa Shah, Oliver Langselius, Yaqi Su, Clara Frick, Hanna Fink, Aude Bardot, Miriam Mutebi, Paul Walsh

General Surgery, East Africa

Background: To assess proportions of metastatic recurrence in women initially diagnosed with non-metastatic breast cancer by stage at diagnosis, breast cancer subtype, calendar period and age.

Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE and Web of Science databases (January 2010–12 May 2022) was conducted. Studies reporting the proportion of distant metastatic recurrence in women with non-metastatic breast cancer were identified and outcomes and characteristics were extracted. Risk of bias was assessed independently by two reviewers. Random-effects meta-analyses of proportions were used to calculate pooled estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: 193 studies covering over 280,000 patients were included in the …

Proteomic Profile Of The Icam1 Pk56m Hfpef Risk Variant, Pedro Giro, Mallory Filipp, Michael J Zhang, Ethan D Moser, Edward B Thorp, Prarthana J Dalal, Ravi V Shah, Patrick T Ellinor, Jonathan W Cunningham, Sean J Jurgens, Arjun Sinha, Laura Rasmussen-Torvik, Jorge Kizer, Kent D Taylor, Philip Greenland, Bruce M Psaty, Russell P Tracy, Lin Yee Chen, Amil M Shah, Bing Yu, Sanjiv J Shah, Ravi B Patel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

A common missense variant in ICAM1 among African American individuals (rs5491; pK56M) has been associated with risk of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but the pathways that lead to HFpEF among those with this variant are not clear. In this analysis of 92 circulating proteins and their associated networks, we identified 7 circulating inflammatory proteins associated with rs5491 among >600 African American individuals. Using weighted coexpression network analysis, 3 protein networks were identified, one of which was associated with rs5491. This protein network was most highly represented by members of the tumor necrosis receptor superfamily. The rs5491 variant …

The Impact Of Minimally Processed High Fat Meals On Postprandial Glucose, Lipids And Metabolic Index In Pre-Diabetics, Oluwafemi Ayoola

Masters Theses, 2020-current

There is an increasing global prevalence of prediabetes, commonly diagnosed through increased fasting glucose (GLU). Elevated levels of GLU and triglycerides (TRG) have also been linked with more severe diabetes-related complications. Even a single high-fat meal (HFM) may result in adverse metabolic outcomes, in healthy individuals and prediabetics, which are a better predictor of disease risk than measuring fasting levels. Therefore, reducing these metabolic outcomes after a typical HFM often consumed in the Western diet is of critical importance to reduce chronic disease risk. The aim is to determine whether incorporating polyphenols and dietary fiber into an HFM would reduce …

Exploring Negotiated Autonomy In The Physician–Physician Assistant Collaborative Dyad, Stephen Robie

Doctor of Philosophy in Translational Health Sciences Dissertations

Physician Assistants (PAs) are integral members of multidisciplinary medical care teams who practice medicine legally under the supervision of physicians. During medical care, supervision is a dynamic process of collaboration wherein a PA who displays competence is granted increasing independence by the supervising physician. This process has been referred to as negotiated autonomy. Despite being noted in work-force literature, the mechanics of how negotiated autonomy operates in real-time have not been described. As organizations increasingly work to integrate PAs into practice, new-hire training programs called ‘on-boarding’ have been implemented to accelerate PA professional development with a goal of increased efficiency …

Strategies To Recruit, Retain, And Disseminate Findings To Older Adults In Health Research: A Literature Review, Sydney Giancola, Russell Estreicher, Merna Mina

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

This paper outlines various strategies to recruit, retain and disseminate information to older adults in health research. There is a limited scope on the best ways to engage with older adults, maintain their interest over time, and share their results post-data collection. This literature review aims to fill this gap and discuss various methods to increase the engagement of the older adult population in health research.

Challenges In Post Graduate General Surgery Training In Tanzania: A Trainee’S Perspective, Shabbir Adamjee

Master of Surgery

v>

General Surgery residency training is a complex vigorous program which includes long working hours and complex surgical cases, in order to develop and attain the knowledge and the skills the trainee needs by the end of the program. Worldwide, general surgery programs have high attrition rates and residents have identified challenges which may be work related, related to social wellbeing and/or the residency program structure. Tanzania has public and private institutions providing general surgery residency training and although most have a quality assessment program the data is not readily available. Each institution has its personalized curriculum with its unique …

Feasibility Of Using Podcasts For Knowledge Dissemination To Reduce Health Disparities For Women Targeting Preventative Initiatives And Lifestyle Medicine Interventions, Kristin Stovern

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

The purpose of this feasibility project was to look at podcasts to shed light on the issues that affect the well-being of women with gender-based disparities in healthcare. Women face persistent obstacles when it comes to the quality of healthcare they receive. One of the barriers that has been ever-present is with failure of the medical system to rigorously study the effects of diseases and drugs on women or to fund studies on women’s health conditions. Implicit biases and lack of access to care inhibit the quality of healthcare. Collectively, these issues result in unnecessary sickness, disability, and decreased quality …

“Be Sustainable”: Eosc-Life Recommendations For Implementation Of Fair Principles In Life Science Data Handling, Romain David, Arina Rybina, Jean-Marie Burel, Jean-Karim Heriche, Pauline Audergon, Jan-Willem Boiten, Frederik Coppens, Sara Crockett, Katrina Exter, Sven Fahrner, Maddalena Fratelli, Carole Goble, Philipp Gormanns, Tobias Grantner, Björn Grüning, Kim Tamara Gurwitz, John M Hancock, Henriette Harmse, Petr Holub, Nick Juty, Geoffrey Karnbach, Emma Karoune, Antje Keppler, Jessica Klemeier, Carla Lancelotti, Jean-Luc Legras, Allyson L Lister, Dario Livio Longo, Rebecca Ludwig, Bénédicte Madon, Marzia Massimi, Vera Matser, Rafaele Matteoni, Michaela Th Mayrhofer, Christian Ohmann, Maria Panagiotopoulou, Helen Parkinson, Isabelle Perseil, Claudia Pfander, Roland Pieruschka, Michael Raess, Andreas Rauber, Audrey S Richard, Paolo Romano, Antonio Rosato, Alex Sánchez-Pla, Susanna-Assunta Sansone, Ugis Sarkans, Beatriz Serrano-Solano, Jing Tang, Ziaurrehman Tanoli, Jonathan Tedds, Harald Wagener, Martin Weise, Hans V Westerhoff, Rudolf Wittner, Jonathan Ewbank, Niklas Blomberg, Philip Gribbon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The main goals and challenges for the life science communities in the Open Science framework are to increase reuse and sustainability of data resources, software tools, and workflows, especially in large-scale data-driven research and computational analyses. Here, we present key findings, procedures, effective measures and recommendations for generating and establishing sustainable life science resources based on the collaborative, cross-disciplinary work done within the EOSC-Life (European Open Science Cloud for Life Sciences) consortium. Bringing together 13 European life science research infrastructures, it has laid the foundation for an open, digital space to support biological and medical research. Using lessons learned from …

Promoting Mammography Screenings In African American Women: Media, Church, And Health Providers, Lasonya Little, Debra C. Wallace, K.Jay Poole

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Due to the underutilization of screening mammography, African American women (AAW) are more likely to experience negative health outcomes after receiving a late-stage breast cancer diagnosis than White Women (WW). The purpose of this article is to examine the roles of the media, health community and the African American church and pastor and their potential impact in AAW screening decisions. Fifteen AAW, ages 45 and older, were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Most women agreed the African American pastor and church as well as the health community, and media are an integral part of their lives. Therefore, specific …

Neurotropic Manifestations As A Potential Risk Factor For Schizophrenia Following In Utero Exposure To Sars-Cov-2, Mir Ali R Talpur, Omar H. Elsayed, Rif S. El-Mallakh

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background: COVID-19 infection is associated with neurologic and psychiatric morbidity that suggests a direct effect of the virus or secondary effect of an inflammatory process. These neuropsychiatric consequences may increase the likelihood of schizophrenia in the offspring of women who become infected with COVID-19 during their pregnancy.

Methods: We performed a directed narrative review of the literature focusing on the proposed pathophysiological processes that lead to schizophrenia and known pathological consequences of COVID-19 infection.

Results: Schizophrenia in adult offspring has been associated with maternal infections during pregnancy by a wide range of respiratory and neurotropic pathogens. Spikes in the incidence …

Interpreting P Values In 2023, Jennifer K. Homa-Bonell

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

If recent experiences shared among the biostatistician community are indicative of a sea change in research, then a most-welcome culture shift in dialogue surrounding the proper use and interpretation of the P value, which measures statistical probability, is underway. This editorial strives to offer guidance for researchers who would like to incorporate more comprehensive reporting in their research, namely, a broader discussion that goes beyond looking at the P value by itself and includes effect size estimates, confidence intervals, and clinical implications when interpreting quantitative results. Another evolving development in clinical research is the preferred language when referring …

Calcium Carbonate As A Potential Intervention To Prevent Labor Dystocia: Narrative Review Of The Literature, Sabahat Raees, Marie Forgie, Rita Mitchell, Emily Malloy

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Anecdotally, there are attestations from clinicians of calcium carbonate being used successfully for laboring people experiencing labor dystocia. The goal of this narrative review was to provide a synopsis of pertinent literature on calcium use in obstetrics to explore the potential benefit of calcium carbonate as a simple and low-cost intervention for prevention or treatment of labor dystocia. To answer how calcium and carbonate physiologically contribute to myometrium contractility, we conducted a literature search of English-language peer-reviewed articles, with no year limitation, consisting of the keywords “calcium,” “calcium carbonate,” “calcium gluconate,” “pregnancy,” “hemorrhage,” and variations of “smooth muscle contractility” and …