Publications by authors named "Heather Jones"
Grass awns: Morphological diversity arising from developmental constraint.
Curr Opin Plant Biol
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- * Awns, which vary in form and function, may have evolved through a conserved set of developmental genes similar to those that form leaf blades in grasses.
- * The evolutionary pattern of awns shows how conservation in development can foster diversity, allowing for their frequent gain and loss without negatively impacting grass fitness.
Article Synopsis
- Parents of children with ADHD experience more stress and lower satisfaction compared to parents of children without ADHD, and mothers with ADHD and depression may impact child outcomes.
- A study involving 70 Black mothers showed that those with children who have ADHD reported higher parenting stress and lower efficacy, but there were no notable differences in maternal ADHD or depression levels between groups.
- Maternal depression played a significant role in affecting parenting satisfaction and stress, suggesting the need for further research on how cultural factors influence parenting and treatment for ADHD in Black families.*
Article Synopsis
- * The study found that there is limited representation of Black youth with ADHD in existing research, with many studies relying on comparative race approaches and utilizing secondary data.
- * The authors recommend increasing research, funding, and publication efforts centered on Black youth with ADHD to address health disparities and enhance understanding of their specific needs.
Background: Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBPs) recommend using gowns and gloves for certain nursing home residents during specific high-contact care activities associated with multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) transmission. Though EBP is included in published guidance as an MDRO control strategy, optimal implementation approaches remain unclear.
Methods: We implemented a quality improvement (QI) initiative using the 4E process model (engagement, education, execution, and evaluation) to optimize EBP implementation in 4 Maryland nursing homes.
Background: Interprofessional collaboration can improve the quality of care in complex health conditions often seen in underserved populations. Communication is key to effective collaboration, and digital communication tools can enhance information sharing, collaboration, and satisfaction between professionals, especially when teams are distanced.
Local Problem: In a semirural student-run free clinic that provides care to uninsured and underinsured patients with multifaceted health issues, there is a gap in communication and collaboration across interprofessional teams because of the frequent rotation of various staff, part-time hours, and electronic health record (EHR) function and interoperability limitations.
Article Synopsis
- A comprehensive review of treatment research for ADHD in children and adolescents over the past 50 years analyzed 126 studies involving 10,604 participants in the U.S. !*
- Reporting on participant demographics revealed that most studies focused on White, non-Hispanic boys, with significant underrepresentation of girls, racial minorities, and Hispanic/Latine youth. !*
- The analysis also highlights an increase over time in the representation of girls and minorities in ADHD research, while suggesting the need for better demographic reporting and addressing research gaps.!*
Article Synopsis
- The study assessed the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Hub Australia website's effectiveness and user satisfaction through an online survey with diverse participant groups.
- A total of 76 participants, mostly from Australia, reported high likelihoods of recommending the site and rated its usability dimensions as generally positive, with scores ranging from 3.45 to 4.04 on a 5-point scale.
- Users appreciated the site's authoritative content but requested more resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and enhancements in search functions.
Article Synopsis
- * Using the Kotter Change Model as a framework, one institution showcases how it effectively maintains and advances its clinical track, enhancing faculty development and scholarly productivity.
- * Although improvements in equity and inclusion for nursing CTs are necessary, a well-structured clinical track significantly benefits faculty promotion and engagement in academia, fostering clinical scholarship and enhancing the institution’s reputation both nationally and internationally.
The Content of Usual Clinical Care for Youth with Primary Anxiety Problems.
Adm Policy Ment Health
April 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to outline the typical clinical care for young people dealing with primary anxiety issues in community mental health centers by analyzing therapy sessions.
- Researchers used the Therapy Process Observational Coding System for Child Psychotherapy - Revised Strategies scale (TPOCS-RS) to evaluate 403 therapy sessions from two different trials, focusing on youth ages around 10 years old and their clinicians.
- Findings revealed that clinicians employed a diverse set of therapeutic techniques, but the frequency of these techniques was generally low to medium, with noticeable differences in the approach used between the two groups of youth and clinicians.
Objective: In 2020, one study by Strait and colleagues raised awareness that the clinical images in rheumatology educational materials underrepresent people with skin of color (P-SOC). Since then, publishers of rheumatology educational materials have focused on addressing this shortcoming. This study investigates the change in representation of P-SOC following the review of Strait et al.
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- This study examined early outcomes of a new medication, LCPT, compared to the traditional IR TAC in African American kidney transplant patients.
- The study found that while LCPT led to higher tacrolimus levels shortly after transplant, the overall kidney function and key clinical outcomes after one year were similar to those of IR TAC.
- The results suggest that LCPT can be safely used as a first-line treatment post-transplant without increasing complications like delayed graft function.
Article Synopsis
- - The study compares the ability of MRI and radiographs to detect erosions in the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) for patients with recent-onset axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) over a 104-week period, with a focus on the effects of the treatment etanercept. - Results showed that MRI detected more erosions than radiographs at baseline and in changes over time, with a significant number of patients demonstrating improved erosion scores on MRI compared to radiographs after treatment. - The research highlights that MRI may be superior in monitoring SIJ erosions in axSpA, suggesting that further investigation into the clinical significance of these findings is needed.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to explore how often dogs experience poor recovery after general anesthesia and identify the risk factors involved.
- - Out of 247 dogs assessed, 29.1% had poor recovery, with many needing sedation; factors like higher ASA status decreased risk, while using multiple inhalational anesthetics significantly increased it.
- - Researchers concluded that poor recovery is fairly common in dogs and is often associated with the health status of the animal and anesthesia techniques used.
Personal- vs. Group-Level Discrimination and Physical and Mental Health Outcomes Among Black Adolescents.
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities
October 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the impact of personal-level and group-level racial discrimination on the health of Black adolescents, using data from 186 participants who reported their experiences of discrimination, physical health, anxiety, and depression.
- Results show that higher personal-level discrimination is linked to worse physical and mental health, but awareness of high group-level discrimination may buffer against these negative effects.
- The findings support the idea that understanding and awareness of group-level discrimination can help protect Black adolescents from the detrimental health outcomes associated with personal-level discrimination, indicating a potential area for further research.
Objective: Clinicians report low confidence assessing cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) lesions, especially for patients who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who are historically excluded from educational materials. To address this, we created an online, interactive module teaching an approach to assessing CLE across skin tones and measured its impact on medical knowledge and confidence.
Methods: Our team created a module with case-based methods to introduce an approach to CLE, common mimicking rashes, and tips for photographing cutaneous lesions in BIPOC.
Article Synopsis
- Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (AMNs) are complex tumors linked to pseudomyxoma peritonei, and the need for better objective biomarkers is evident as current prognostic systems have limitations.
- A study of 183 patients using next-generation sequencing (NGS) found that 98% had significant genomic alterations, especially in genes like TP53 and SMAD4, which correlated with worse clinicopathologic outcomes.
- The results indicated that patients with specific gene alterations had significantly lower overall survival rates, making genomic testing a valuable tool for enhancing patient prognosis and identifying those needing more intensive monitoring and treatment.
Background: Multiple digital data sources can capture moment-to-moment information to advance a robust understanding of opioid use disorder (OUD) behavior, ultimately creating a digital phenotype for each patient. This information can lead to individualized interventions to improve treatment for OUD.
Objective: The aim is to examine patient engagement with multiple digital phenotyping methods among patients receiving buprenorphine medication for OUD.
Article Synopsis
- CRS-HIPEC is an effective but risky surgical procedure for patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, and the study aims to create a tool for better preoperative patient selection.* -
- Analyzing data from 1959 CRS-HIPEC procedures, the researchers used various models to predict severe complications within 90 days, identifying key factors that impact these risks.* -
- The study demonstrates that a tailored risk score, developed with machine learning, outperforms existing tools and could improve decision-making for potential CRS-HIPEC patients.*
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the availability and compliance of chargemaster and negotiated rates for extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) across 20 health care institutions, highlighting the complexity of the US health care payment system.
- Results show that while the availability of chargemaster data increased from 2019 to 2022, only 65% of institutions provided both types of pricing data, with significant variations in rates observed.
- The findings indicate that current pricing resources are often insufficient for consumers needing ECP, and institutions lacking proper data face substantial financial penalties.
Article Synopsis
- * Data was collected from 179 adolescent-caregiver pairs, revealing significant effects of sleep issues and fatigue on mental health symptoms due to experiences of discrimination.
- * The findings suggest that family dynamics play a crucial role in addressing mental health in this context, indicating the need for family-focused interventions that consider the impact of racial discrimination.
Article Synopsis
- Hyperhemolysis syndrome (HHS) is a rare transfusion reaction that can occur in conditions like sickle cell disease, leading to a drop in hemoglobin levels after receiving red blood cell transfusions, along with signs of hemolysis.
- A reported case involved a 28-year-old male with sickle cell disease who experienced severe symptoms and a dramatic drop in hemoglobin after being transfused while infected with the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.
- The findings suggest that sickle cell patients with COVID-19 could be at an increased risk for HHS due to similar underlying mechanisms affecting both conditions.