19304 research outputs found
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Ecological Momentary Assessment of Chronic Pain and Hazardous Drinking Among Black Adults Through a Minority Stress Lens: The Role of Daily Microaggressions
No full textHazardous drinking and chronic pain are highly prevalent and frequently comorbid health conditions for which Non-Latinx Black (hereafter Black) adults face disproportionately poorer health outcomes. Racial microaggressions, defined as verbal or non-verbal indignities that insult or put down people because of their race or ethnicity, may be related to alcohol use and pain among Black adults with chronic pain. The current study aimed to elucidate how daily racial microaggressions impact pain experience and alcohol use severity, and to examine the potential moderating effect of distress tolerance and racial identity as protective and risk factors, respectively, using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) methodology. Participants were 107 (31.8% female; Mage = 28.10, SD = 4.05, age range = 22-46 years) adults who self-identified as Black and non-Latinx and endorsed concurrent chronic pain and hazardous drinking. Results indicated that after experiencing microaggressions, individuals had higher pain interference, more severe pain, more severe alcohol cravings, and reported higher subsequent alcohol consumption. When individuals experienced more microaggressions than they do on average, they tended to experience higher pain interference, more severe pain, and more severe alcohol cravings, but not higher alcohol consumption. Additionally, there were significant between-persons effects for microaggressions on alcohol consumption. No significant moderating effects were found for either distress tolerance or racial identity. This study is the first to suggest that microaggressions impact alcohol and pain-related outcomes. Future research is needed to explore the potential of mitigating the deleterious effects of microaggressions among this health disparities group
Different Master Regulators Define Proximal and Distal Gastric Cancer: Insights into Prognosis and Opportunities for Targeted Therapy
No full text<i>Background:</i> Gastric cancer (GC) represents a significant global health burden with considerable heterogeneity in clinical and molecular behavior. The anatomical site of tumor origin&mdash;proximal versus distal&mdash;has emerged as a determinant of prognosis and response to therapy. The aim of this paper is to elucidate the transcriptional and regulatory differences between proximal gastric cancer (PGC) and distal gastric cancer (DGC) through master regulator (MR) analysis. <i>Methods:</i> We analyzed RNA-seq data from TCGA-STAD and microarray data from GEO (GSE62254, GSE15459). Differential gene expression and MR analyses were performed using DESeq2, limma, corto, and RegEnrich pipelines. A harmonized matrix of 4785 genes was used for MR inference following normalization and batch correction. Functional enrichment and survival analyses were conducted to explore prognostic associations. <i>Results:</i> Among 364 TCGA and 492 GEO patients, PGC was associated with more aggressive clinicopathological features and poorer outcomes. We identified 998 DEGs distinguishing PGC and DGC. PGC showed increased FOXM1 (a key regulator of cell proliferation), STAT3, and NF-&kappa;B1 activity, while DGC displayed enriched GATA6, CDX2 (a marker of intestinal differentiation), and HNF4A signaling. Functional enrichment highlighted proliferative and inflammatory programs in PGC, and differentiation and metabolic pathways in DGC. MR activity stratified survival outcomes, reinforcing prognostic relevance. <i>Conclusions:</i> PGC and DGC are governed by distinct transcriptional regulators and signaling networks. Our findings provide a biological rationale for location-based stratification and inform targeted therapy development
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Patients with Lymphopenia: Results from the National Inpatient Sample (2017&ndash;2021)
No full text<b>Background:</b> Lymphopenia has been associated with in-hospital, early, and late mortality. We aimed to elucidate differences in baseline characteristics in patients with lymphopenia with and without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and determine predictors of in-hospital mortality in this patient population. <b>Methods:</b> Patients &ge; 18 years of age with lymphopenia were identified in the National Inpatient Sample (2017&ndash;2021) and stratified according to ARDS diagnosis. Predictors of in-hospital mortality were determined using multivariate analyses with a logistic regression model. <b>Results:</b> From 183,185 patients with lymphopenia, 10,420 (5.7%) had ARDS, of which 92.8% had coronavirus disease 2019. The patients with ARDS suffered from more in-hospital mortality (47% versus 6.7%, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). ARDS increased the odds of in-hospital mortality by eight-fold (odds ratio [OR]: 7.91 [7.06&ndash;8.86], <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Age &ge; 65 years (OR: 4.88 [3.98&ndash;5.99]), moderate/severe liver disease (OR: 2.53 [1.87&ndash;3.42]), and metastatic cancer (OR: 2.18 [1.68&ndash;2.82]) were among the strongest positive predictors of in-hospital mortality (all <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> Patients with lymphopenia who have ARDS have higher in-hospital mortality, likely due to the condition&rsquo;s clinical course. Lymphopenia may be a marker of immune dysregulation and systemic involvement in ARDS
Language as a Barrier to Involvement of Asian Americans in Cardiovascular Clinical Trials
No full textClinical trials (CT) play a major role in medical innovation evaluation. However, patients from different ethnic/racial groups respond variably to identical therapies. For patients whose primary language is not English, language may be a barrier to CT participation. Up to 30% of the 22 million Asian Americans (AA) are not proficient in English. Investigate the impact of language on AA CT participation and current inclusion measures. We reviewed cardiovascular CT literature published from 2020-2024 on PubMed, including US studies reporting AA adult inclusion. Of 506 articles, only 25 met our criteria of inclusion of AA adults. Furthermore, only 7 (28%) of these articles mentioned the native language use in trial administration, specifically only for South Asians, Chinese, and Korean populations. Our results indicate the necessity for increased steps to facilitate recommendations/legislation that will improve language accommodations for non-English speaking AA within CTs, increasing AA CT involvement and equity within medical advancements. [This project was completed with the contributions from Tania Chen, Kira Clark, and Paul Wang from Stanford School of Medicine and Anny Rodriguez from the Morehouse School of Medicine.]Honors Colleg
Comparison of mRNA Transport Rates in the Traditional and Inverted Nuclear Architectures
No full textCondensed DNA is stored in the nucleus as either transcriptionally active euchromatin or dense, transcriptionally inactive heterochromatin. The position of euchromatin, heterochromatin, and other nuclear bodies is known as a "nuclear architecture". The genetic instructions stored in DNA are transferred out of the nucleus by messenger molecules called mRNA. While most eukaryotic cells display a "traditional" architecture in which heterochromatin congregates near the nuclear membrane and euchromatin congregates in the center of the nucleus, rod cells in nocturnal animals display an "inverted" architecture wherein this positional distribution is flipped. Nocturnal animals who regain diurnal activity display a shift back to the traditional architecture, implying an evolutionary pressure towards retaining the traditional architecture. However, the traditional architecture requires mRNA to diffuse through high density heterochromatin to the nuclear pores, which seems counterintuitive towards facilitating translation. This study endeavored to determine the impact of nuclear architecture on mRNA flux through the use of molecular dynamics simulations. An initial nuclear mRNA concentration was defined at the beginning of each trial, and allowed to vary between trials to determine the effect of mRNA concentration on transport efficiency. In analyzing the time required for all mRNA to diffuse to the nuclear pores, it was determined that nuclear architecture only minimally affected mRNA transport efficiency. Further, the results implied that the cost of slightly inefficient mRNA flux in the traditional architecture must not negatively impact the cell enough to overcome the evolutionary motivation for preserving the traditional architecture. [This project was completed with contributions from Matheus F. Mello and José N. Onuchic from Rice University.]Physics, Department ofHonors Colleg
Social Media's Role on the College Experience
No full textThe study will show how social media impacts college student's social and academic experiences. We surveyed 160 students across the UH campus (50.6% ages 20-24; 81.9% female; 29.4% Asian; 26.9% Juniors; 55% employed and school; and 34.4% Education majors) who answered an online questionnaire. Our results supported one of our hypotheses stating a positive correlation between increased social media usage and attending UH social events. Our other hypothesis was rejected because there was a positive correlation between students who use social media and participate in in-person lectures.Honors Colleg
Local 872: Houston's Black Longshoremen's Union and Its Relevance in Researching Lynn Eusan's Life and Death
No full textThis research project investigates Local 872, Houston's Black longshoremen's union, and its intersection with the life of Lynn Eusan, the University of Houston's first African American homecoming queen and civil rights activist. Since the early twentieth century, Local 872 has significantly impacted Houston. Not only was Local 872 the first powerful Black union in the city, but it would give Black longshoremen a strong space to amplify their voices. As Blacks battled segregation in the 1960s, Black longshoremen participated in several movements for equality. Through their initiatives, they molded Local 872 into an epicenter of the local Civil Rights Movement. While the Black longshoremen brought power to Local 872, Lynn Eusan's advocacy efforts helped to mold the University of Houston into another hub of Black activism. While Local 872 seemed powerful from the outside, the inner dynamic exposes a different story. A member of this union, a man named Leo Jackson, Jr., was the primary suspect in Lynn Eusan's murder. Not only was he acquitted of her murder and of several subsequent crimes, but his work records indicate that he was acquitted of obvious work infractions. An examination of these records provides a more accurate picture of Leo Jackson, Jr. and showcases the relevance of Local 872 to Lynn Eusan's story.Honors CollegePsychology, Department o
Organizational Improvement of Storage Area
No full textSiemens Energy specializes in gas turbine maintenance and repair, but inefficiencies in hydraulic and electrical storage zones have led to increased clutter and prolonged retrieval times. This study aims to apply lean methodology to optimize storage and workflow efficiency, aiming to reduce waste and retrieval time by 20% while increasing storage capacity by 30%. Data collection included observational studies, stakeholder interviews, and workflow analysis to understand current storage inefficiencies. The study utilizes the 5S methodology-Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain- to improve organization and accessibility. Analysis show that old stock occupied 26% of the total storage and time studies show a reduction of 4 minutes in retrieval time in the hydraulic storage area, and 3 minutes in the electrical storage area after removal of unnecessary items. The next steps are to propose a more effective rack layout and make systematic labeling for better organization of items. These findings provide a framework for future facility operations, ensuring a streamlined and sustainable storage system.Industrial and Systems Engineering, Department ofHonors Colleg
Student Expectations and Outcomes in Virtual vs. In-Person Interprofessional Simulations: A Qualitative Analysis
No full text<b>Background</b>: Health-related programs frequently integrate interprofessional education (IPE) into their training. The COVID-19 pandemic transitioned many IPE programs online, making it essential to assess student expectations and perceived learning outcomes across virtual simulations and in-person settings. <b>Methods:</b> This qualitative study compared student expectations and self-reported outcomes across in-person and virtual case scenarios at a Texas health science center. Responses to open-ended questions from two data collection periods were analyzed using inductive coding and thematic analysis. <b>Results:</b> Students from nursing, medicine, dentistry, public health, and informatics participated in each group. Three major themes emerged from this study: communication, teamwork, and role identification, with self-development and professionalism as major subthemes. For communication, students often described a desire for increased simulations to &ldquo;practice with interprofessional communication&rdquo;. Teamwork was the second theme identified, with students discussing the significance of effective teamwork, such as, &ldquo;It is a good practice to work together, listen to each other, and achieve a common goal of patients getting better&rdquo;. Additionally, students expressed a desire to better understand the roles of other healthcare professionals across different settings. <b>Conclusions:</b> Realistic IPE simulations may help students build confidence in their team roles while understanding other health professions. To strengthen curriculum design, faculty should include student expectations and perceived outcomes from IPE activities. A limitation of this study is the reliance on self-reported data, which may introduce response bias and the potential variability in student experiences
A Comparative Analysis and Annotation of Anti-Microbial Peptide Genes Across Fly Species
No full textAntimicrobial peptides play an integral role in the innate immune system of many species. Flies are ideal model organisms for studying antimicrobial peptides because they possess a great variety of antimicrobial peptides, often live in pathogen-rich environments, and are tractable for laboratory research. This project aims to characterize antimicrobial peptide genes in blow flies, house flies, and closely related species. First, antimicrobial peptide genes found in well-studied species, such as house fly (Musca domestica) and Australian sheep blowfly (Lucilia cuprina), were collected from the literature. A BLASTp search was performed with the proteins encoded by these genes as the subject and using the genomes of fly species not yet annotated or well-studied as a query. Once the search was completed, these results were used to identify where antimicrobial peptide genes are within these genomes, including what their orientation is along the DNA strand, what the potential exons of the gene may be, and any additional details that may be pertinent to the protein's function. The results will then be compared and light will be shed on how the proteins have evolved. This work is significant because gene conservation across species may reveal which AMPs are crucial for survival across multiple environments, and observing the genes not conserved may reveal if certain AMP genes are selected for in their respective environments. Future work will focus on understanding why these patterns may occur and why the specific AMPs may benefit a species' fitness.Biology and Biochemistry, Department ofHonors Colleg