Implementation science in higher education: Identifying key determinants in the selection of evidence-based alcohol and substance prevention and treatment.

Introduction: Although there are evidence-based strategies (EBSs) for alcohol and other drug (AOD) prevention and treatment for college students, there has been little focus on evaluating AOD EBS implementation in higher education. The use of implementation strategies in higher education may help bridge the gap between research and practice and improve students' access to EBSs. However, it is important to first understand determinants of AOD EBS program implementation to support AOD EBS selection and implementation strategy selection.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Within the dementia space, many caregivers lack understanding of hospice care and may not be well prepared for transition to hospice. Nonetheless, few studies have explored hospice transition specifically from the perspective of caregivers for persons with dementia and how it impacts their mental health. In this study, we aimed to examine caregivers' mental health indicators and their correlation structure based on the timing of hospice transition.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: There are 55 million persons living with dementia (PLwD) today, projected to 139 million by 2050. As they progress towards dementia's advanced stages, hospice care becomes crucial to manage their symptoms and the caregiver burden. Solo family caregivers, particularly lacking in social support, are vulnerable to deteriorating physical and mental well-being.

Autologous porcine VRAM flap model for VCA research.

Introduction: As research advances in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA), large animal models are essential for translational studies related to immune rejection and graft survival. However, procurement of large flaps can cause significant defects, complicating wound closure and increasing postoperative risks. This study details the surgical techniques and outcomes of autologous vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap transplantation and neck flap isolation with induced ischemia in a swine model.

Variations in digital health literacy for pediatric caregivers of hospitalized children: implications for digital health equity.

Objectives: We sought to assess whether race, ethnicity, and preferred language were associated with digital health literacy in pediatric caregivers.

Materials And Methods: We used linear regression to measure associations between 3 eHealth Literacy Questionnaire (eHLQ) domains (score range: 1-4) and demographic characteristics.

Results: Non-Latinx White respondents (n = 230) had highest adjusted mean eHLQ scores: 3.

Preservation of Murine Whole Eyes With Supplemented UW Cold Storage Solution: Anatomical Considerations.

Purpose: Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) apoptosis and axon regeneration are the principal obstacles challenging the development of successful whole eye transplantation (WET). The purpose of this study was to create a neuroprotective cocktail that targets early events in the RGC intrinsic apoptotic program to stabilize RGCs in a potential donor eye.

Methods: University of Wisconsin (UW) solution was augmented with supplements known to protect RGCs.

Assessing Fears of Negative Consequences in Children With Symptoms of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.

Objective: Fear of Aversive Consequences (FOAC), such as choking or vomiting, is an important associated feature of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). However, the manifestation of FOAC in young children is poorly understood. This study aimed to describe the fears of children with ARFID symptoms and examine the concordance between parent and child ratings of fear.

A qualitative exploration of factors influencing healthcare utilization among rural Missourians: "We have to be bleeding, broken".

Researchers performed a hybrid inductive-deductive thematic analysis of 25 individual interviews to explore factors influencing healthcare utilization in rural Missouri. Data indicated that a desire for self-sufficiency, preference for natural interventions, and poor perception of rural healthcare quality may deter healthcare utilization. Influential subjective norms included respect for toughness and resilience, conservative approach to healthcare, view of the body as an instrument, and influence of faith and religion.

Family caregiver narratives of hospice death vigils.

Background: Often, family members and friends gather around a dying hospice patient to say goodbye in what is known as a death vigil. The purpose of this study is to explore the stories and experiences of family caregivers of hospice patients who participated in death vigils.

Methods: Qualitative analysis of interviews with 50 hospice family caregivers explored the experiences and memories affiliated with death vigils.

The Secrets of the Backstage: Directing Death Vigils.

The majority of hospice patients are over the age of 65, and the majority of hospice deaths occur in private homes. As a hospice patient's disease progresses, death becomes imminent and family and friends gather around to say good-bye. These private vigils are the culmination of the hospice experience and reflect both the strengths and the challenges surrounding hospice care.

Exploring Social Support Experiences of Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia in Hospice Care.

As the number of persons living with dementia (PLWD) enrolling in hospice care rises, caregiver support becomes increasingly crucial. While social support can help buffer caregiver stress, many caregivers report feeling isolated and having unmet needs, highlighting the limited research on this population. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to better understand caregivers' social support during the period when the PLWD is enrolled in hospice care.

Addressing Statistical Power and Increasing Diversity in Hospice Research: Electronic Medical Record Participant Identification Compared to Nurse Referral Approaches to Recruitment.

Context: Recruitment of targeted samples into hospice clinical trials is often challenging. While electronic medical records (EMR) are commonly used in hospital-based research, it is uncommon in hospice research. The community setting and the variability in hospices and their medical record creates unique challenges.

Drug use practices and wound care experiences in the age of xylazine adulteration.

Introduction: Exposure to xylazine has been associated with wounds distinct from typical injection-related skin and soft tissue infections. We sought to understand drug use and wound care practices, and treatment experiences of people who use drugs (PWUD) in a high-prevalence area of xylazine adulteration.

Methods: In August 2023, we surveyed adult PWUD reporting at least one past-year drug use-related wound across three Massachusetts syringe service programs.

Using Structural Competencies for Faculty and Students to Integrate Principles of Social Justice and Health Equity Into a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.

Background And Purpose: Integrating principles of social justice and health equity (SJHE) into Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) education may be one way to confront the root causes of health inequity. The purpose of this method/model presentation is to highlight structural competencies for faculty and students to integrate SJHE into a 3-year DPT program and a professional development program designed to provide core and clinical faculty with the tools to engage in critical discussions with students and support their development as agents of change.

Method/model Description And Evaluation: This presentation highlights how SJHE structural competencies can be integrated into existing course content (as opposed to presented as a standalone course).

Development of a Porcine VCA Model Using an External Iliac Vessel-Based Vertical Rectus Abdominus Myocutaneous Flap.

Background:  Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) involves transplanting a functional and anatomically complete tissue graft, such as a hand or face, from a deceased donor to a recipient. Although clinical VCA has resulted in successful outcomes, high rates of acute rejection and increased requirements for immunosuppression have led to significant long-term complications. Of note, immunosuppressed graft recipients are predisposed to infections, organ dysfunction, and malignancies.

Adapting an Intervention to Address Barriers to Pain Management in Hospice: Formative Research to Inform EMPOWER-D for Dementia Caregivers.

Background: Nearly half of more than 1.7 million older Americans who receive hospice care each year have a primary or comorbid diagnosis of dementia. Pain is often undertreated in this patient population owing to myriad factors, including unmet informational needs among family caregivers.

Using language sample analyses across English dialects: A case-based approach for preschoolers.

This study compared language samples from typically developing 4-year-olds who spoke African American English (AAE), Jamaican English (JE), or Mainstream American English (MAE) to assess the value of using language sample analysis (LSA) measures for characterising language use across dialects of English. Specific LSA metrics included mean length of utterance (MLU) in morphemes and in words, the Index of Productive Syntax (IPSyn), Developmental Sentence Scoring (DSS) and measures of lexical diversity. Children demonstrated diverse linguistic patterns across dialects, but a Kruskal-Wallis H test did not reveal significant differences in scores obtained through LSA measures.

Does Family Functioning Matter? Understanding the Relationship Between Family Interactions and Depressive Symptoms for Caregivers of Cancer Patients.

Background: Caregivers of cancer patients are at increased risk of depression and other health challenges. There is limited understanding of the role of the caregiver's own family members in promoting or discouraging mental wellbeing. Family functioning conceptualizes how family members interact to promote a positive family environment and has the potential to impact caregiver mental health.

Loneliness, psychological distress, and the moderating effect of positive aspects of caregiving among cancer caregivers.

Purpose: Family caregivers of patients with cancer often experience both loneliness and symptoms of psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between loneliness and anxiety and loneliness and depression among family caregivers of patients with cancer and to investigate whether positive aspects of caregiving can have a moderating effect on these relationships.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional exploratory study using baseline data from an ongoing multisite clinical trial.

HIGH THROUGHPUT QUANTITATION OF HUMAN NEUTROPHIL RECRUITMENT AND FUNCTIONAL RESPONSES IN AN AIR-BLOOD BARRIER ARRAY.

Dysregulated neutrophil recruitment drives many pulmonary diseases, but most preclinical screening methods are unsuited to evaluate pulmonary neutrophilia, limiting progress towards therapeutics. Namely, high throughput therapeutic screening systems typically exclude critical neutrophilic pathophysiology, including blood-to-lung recruitment, dysfunctional activation, and resulting impacts on the air-blood barrier. To meet the conflicting demands of physiological complexity and high throughput, we developed an assay of 96-well Leukocyte recruitment in an Air-Blood Barrier Array (L-ABBA-96) that enables -like neutrophil recruitment compatible with downstream phenotyping by automated flow cytometry.

Accessibility, Relevance, and Impact of a Symptom Monitoring Tool for Home Hospice Care: Theory Elaboration and Qualitative Assessment.

Background: Early users found Engagement and Visualization to Improve Symptoms in Oncology Care (ENVISION), a web-based application designed to improve home management of hospice patients' symptoms and support patients' and family caregivers' well-being, to be generally useful and easy to use. However, they also raised concerns about potential challenges users with limited technological proficiency might experience.

Objective: We sought to concurrently accomplish two interrelated study aims: (1) to develop a conceptual framework of digital inclusivity for health information systems and (2) to apply the framework in evaluating the digital inclusivity of the ENVISION application.

Successful Extension of Vascularized Composite Allograft Perfusion Cold Storage to 24 h in a Rat Hindlimb Transplant Model.

Background: Vascularized composite allograft transplantation is a treatment option for complex tissue injuries; however, ischemia reperfusion injury and high acute rejection rates remain a challenge. Hypothermic machine perfusion using acellular storage perfusate is a potential solution. This study evaluated the University of Wisconsin Kidney Preservation Solution-1 (KPS-1) compared with normal saline (NS) for preservation of donor rat hindlimbs subjected to 24 h of ex vivo perfusion cold storage.

Retinal transplant immunology and advancements.

Several gaps and barriers remain for transplanting stem cells into the eye to treat ocular disease, especially diseases of the retina. While the eye has historically been considered immune privileged, recent thinking has identified the immune system as both a barrier and an opportunity for eye stem cell transplantation. Recent approaches leveraging scaffolds or cloaking have been considered in other tissues beyond immune suppression.

Critical updates in neuroendocrine tumors: Version 9 American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for all cancer sites, including gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), is meant to be dynamic, requiring periodic updates to optimize AJCC staging definitions. This entails the collaboration of experts charged with evaluating new evidence that supports changes to each staging system. GEP-NETs are the second most prevalent neoplasm of gastrointestinal origin after colorectal cancer.