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Child Sex Trafficking in Pediatrics: From Screening to Comprehensive Care
Get PDFChild sex trafficking is a significant issue in New Jersey, with minors making up 22% of trafficking victims in 2023. While screening tools exist to identify at-risk youth, there is a major gap in understanding the steps healthcare providers should take after identification to ensure appropriate care, support, and referrals. Current research highlights the lack of data on the use of trafficking screening tools and the absence of standardized post-screening protocols. Most pediatricians rely on referrals to social services or law enforcement, yet limited coordination between healthcare providers and these agencies complicates effective care. The shortage of child abuse pediatric specialists, inadequate training, and the lack of organizational policies further hinder healthcare providers’ ability to respond effectively. To address these gaps, recommendations include implementing trauma-informed approaches, training all staff on appropriate language to reduce retraumatization, and fostering partnerships with local agencies for seamless referrals. Developing comprehensive protocols and providing ongoing education for healthcare professionals is essential to improving the care and support available to trafficking victims
Case Report: Alpha Gal Syndrome
Get PDFWe report a case of a 40-year-old male who presented with sensation of throat closing and shortness of breath while at work at a meat processing facility. The differential diagnosis of shortness of breath is throat closing includes, but is not limited to, allergic reactions to antibiotics in meat, allergy to food additives, Symptom triggers are useful in identifying causes and a good supporting history and exposures can help with diagnosis. In this case, the patient had a known diagnosis of Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) which is a tick-bite associated, possibly life-threatening immunoglobin E-mediated (IgE) hypersensitivity to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal). The patient noted he typically wore a respirator while working directly with animals but did not always wear a respirator in certain locations in the meat packing facility. He noted he had not been wearing his respirator prior to the onset of symptoms because he was working in a separate section of the facility. He received methylprednisolone intravenously (IV) 125 mg, famotidine IV 20 mg, diphenhydramine IV 50 mg, and 1 L IV sodium chloride in the emergency department. An hour after receiving the medications, he noted resolution of symptoms. He was observed in the ED for an additional hour with no recurrence of symptoms and discharged with oral prednisone oral cetirizine, oral famotidine, and an epinephrine pen with strict return to ED precautions. He was advised about his work-related risks
Identifying Early Presentation of Serotonin Syndrome in a 20-year-old Male Prescribed Clomipramine and Quetiapine: A Case Report
Get PDFSerotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, can be challenging to diagnose due to its diverse etiology and varied symptomatology. Despite its severity, serotonin syndrome may present from mild to fatal, with symptoms such as autonomic instability, altered mental status, and neuromuscular excitation (e.g. muscle rigidity, hyperreflexia). Here, we present a 20-year-old male with an extensive psychiatric history who was prescribed clomipramine and developed serotonin syndrome. Few cases of serotonin syndrome have been reported to date, exacerbating the difficulty in recognizing and quickly treating such cases. Cases of serotonin syndrome should continue to be reported, in order to familiarize clinicians with varied presentations of this toxicity
Case Report: Lamotrigine-Induced Rash in an Adult Patient
Get PDFLamotrigine (Lamictal®) is a commonly prescribed anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing medication. One of the rare but serious adverse effects of lamotrigine is the development of a drug-induced rash, which can be potentially life-threatening. This case report highlights the occurrence of a drug-induced rash in a 33-year-old female patient who was prescribed lamotrigine for the management of bipolar disorder. The patient presented with a characteristic rash, and following timely intervention, the rash resolved without complications. This case emphasizes the importance of monitoring for early signs of rash in patients receiving lamotrigine and outlines management strategies
USING STORY-DRIVEN GAMES TO INVESTIGATE ENGINEERING STUDENT BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS RELEVANT TO ENGINEERING JUDGMENTS
No full textEngineering professionals must uphold professional standards and prioritize public welfare to mitigate risks and ensure the safety and well-being of society. To achieve this outcome, engineering students need to be appropriately prepared to navigate and make judgments with competing criteria. By identifying what individuals believe and the circumstances where their behaviors might be different, educators can support the development of awareness of future engineers who may be confronting these types of judgments. The first study in this work investigates what students believe about how they would approach process safety judgments with competing criteria and compares that to their behavior in a digital process safety decision-making game, Contents Under Pressure. The second study dives deeper into the narrative components of Contents Under Pressure to better understand their influence on students’ judgments. The third study investigated differences in engineering students’ beliefs and behaviors in public welfare settings and sought to determine how students perceive their professional responsibilities as engineers. This dissertation found that many students had gaps in awareness about how relationships and business-oriented criteria influence their judgments in engineering practice contexts, suggesting that additional instruction on these topics may be beneficial to help prepare engineering students for the judgments they will be faced with in professional practice
From One Campus to Another: Transfer Student Journeys
No full textCommunity college systems offer accessible and affordable postsecondary education, with nearly half of all undergraduates attending public institutions opting for community colleges, particularly low-income, minority, and first-generation students. Less than 35% of students will reach the goal of transferring to a four-year institution within six years even though 80% of community college students intend to (Jabbar et al, 2019). This thesis explores the experiences of transfer students as they transition from one institution to another, focusing on the challenges they face and the support systems they rely on during this process. Focusing on transfer students can provide insights into why this gap exists and help address challenges such as financial burdens, transfer shock, emotional wellbeing and social integration. This study employs a qualitative phenomenological design to investigate the lived experiences of transfer students through semi-structured interviews. The phenomenological analysis revealed key themes such as social integration, academic adjustment, and many more. Creating in-person social events, increasing transfer student representation in student government, offering dedicated advising and orientation, providing clear financial aid resources, improving transparency in the credit transfer process, and creating more accessible and convenient parking could help ease some of the stress transfer experience and improving their overall campus experience
DEVELOPING INDICATORS FOR COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF EQUITY IN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
No full textAchieving transportation equity is essential for social inclusion, access to opportunities, and reducing disparities. However, traditional evaluation methods are often fragmented and fail to capture equity’s multidimensional nature. This dissertation develops a comprehensive framework for creating indicators to evaluate transportation equity effectively. It begins with a literature review to comprehend the theoretical background, followed by expert interviews highlight gaps in current evaluation practices. Statistical modeling and machine learning analysis was conducted to first explore indicators’ impact on transportation equity, and then investigate transportation safety disparities in underserved communities. Findings from literature review, interview with professionals, and analysis results are used to develop a program for comprehensive evaluation of equity in transportation systems. The dissertation introduces case studies of transportation equity initiatives that demonstrate the practical application of the developed framework. By combining statistical, machine learning, and geospatial tools, this work offers actionable strategies to help planners and policymakers design equitable transportation systems
Assessing Credibility of Open Access Journals for Scholarly Publishing
Get PDFLearning objectives: Learn the importance of open access publishing. Learn some strategies for identifying (top) journals for publication. Learn about what to look for in identifying and avoiding predatory publishers. Be introduced to resources to help with evaluating open access journals.
Description:
Scholarly publishing is an important part of a faculty member’s academic and scholarly life cycle. With the rise of digital publishing, however, it is important to have the tools and awareness to identify quality journals to publish in. In this workshop, attendees will learn what to look for in identifying and avoiding predatory publishers and will be introduced to resources to help with evaluating open access journals. The workshop includes a hands-on activity where attendees will evaluate an online journal for its quality and credibility by applying criteria learned during the workshop and using some tools that the Rowan University Libraries licenses.
Skill levels for attendees: Little to no experience, Some experienc
Effects of Social Isolation on Cecum Opioid Receptor Expression and Affective Behavior
Get PDFBACKGROUND
Psychological stress can induce gastrointestinal symptoms and exacerbate existing gastrointestinal disorders, indicating an interaction between the central and enteric nervous systems. Central nervous system activation of opioid receptors stimulates sympathetic outflow to the enteric nervous system, delaying motility and reducing gastrointestinal secretions, producing a similar clinical presentation to IBS.
HYPOTHESIS
We hypothesize that social isolation induces anxiety states, disrupting homeostatic noradrenergic activity in the brain and gut, leading to neurophysiological changes in the cecum characterized by altered expression of opioid receptors.
METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats were housed in either group (control) or socially isolated conditions. Affective behavior was assessed using the Open Field, Elevated Plus Maze, Three-Chamber Social Isolation, and Defensive Shock Probe Burial tests. Cecal tissue was collected, cleaned, and processed for mRNA extraction and purification. RT-qPCR was used to quantify δ, κ, and μ opioid receptor expression.
RESULTS
Socially isolated rats exhibited decreased social behavior, increased neophobia, and more passive coping strategies compared to controls. μ opioid receptor (MOR) expression was significantly elevated in the socially isolated cohort compared to the control. δ and κ opioid receptor expression was undetectable by qPCR, suggesting low expression in the cecum and minimal involvement in gut opioid signaling.
CONCLUSIONS
Behavioral changes associated with social isolation stress correspond with increased MOR expression in the cecum. This upregulation may mediate stress-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction and represents a potential target for therapeutic intervention in stress-related GI disorders
Hydralazine-Induced Vasculitis Resulting in Large Pleural Effusion and Progressive Renal Dysfunction
Get PDFHydralazine is a vasodilator commonly used to treat high blood pressure. Even with the safety profile of Hydralazine, it is necessary to know that it may lead to Hydralazine-Induced Vasculitis. Here, we discuss how this rare side effect can present in an 80-year-old female with a past medical history of hypertension who presented to the emergency department with complaints of progressive shortness of breath on exertion and while lying supine. Further evaluation revealed a large right-sided pleural effusion with consolidation at the right lower lobe. The patient’s dyspnea worsened, and the surgical team placed a chest tube. The patient also experienced deteriorating kidney function and was noted to have proteinuria. Further workup revealed elevated Proteinase 3 (PR3), Myeloperoxidase (MPO), and anti-histone antibodies. A renal biopsy showed moderate interstitial fibrosis and 22% globally sclerosed glomeruli, leading to the diagnosis of Hydralazine-induced ANCA vasculitis