Increasing Access to Oral Contraceptives, State by State: There’s an App for That

Brittany S. Brown 이화여자대학교 생명의료법연구소 2017 Asia Pacific Journal of Health Law & Ethics Vol.10 No.3

This comment argues that access to oral contraceptives should be increased in the United States by embracing birth control applications (apps), which are governed by state telehealth laws. The best-case scenario for the issue of access would be for oral contraceptives to be made available truly over-the-counter, without a prescription, and covered by public insurance. However, this initiative is highly unlikely, as the Federal Government and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) have failed to prioritize it. This comment contemplates the political and financial motivations of the FDA and pharmaceutical companies not to push for an over-the-counter switch, as well as the political climate surrounding and shaping this issue. This comment also evaluates state pharmacy prescriber laws that were designed to increase access despite these roadblocks, and concludes that these laws are insufficient as standalone strategies. Finally, this comment introduces and evaluates state telehealth laws governing birth control apps, and argues that states should draft such laws in a way that legitimizes telehealth. These apps fly under the political radar,1 do not require legislative approval, and effectively elevate access to oral contraceptives to virtually over-the-counter status. This comment specifically recommends states use California’s telehealth regulatory framework as a workable model, which deems telehealth a legitimate means of healthcare, and requires its public insurance [Medi-Cal] to reimburse some forms of telehealth.

How Can Self Love Lead to Spying on Ex-Partners on Facebook? -The Effects of Ego Factors on Facebook Surveillance-

Brittany Furbee,안홍민 국제문화기술진흥원 2019 International Journal of Advanced Culture Technolo Vol.7 No.4

This study attempted to identify the personality traits that influence one’s likelihood to stalk an ex-partner on Facebook. Specifically, it focused on self-concept-related traits, given that the motivations for using social network sites (SNS) are highly associated with the concept of self. These include self-esteem, narcissism, and self-efficacy. To assess these factors, this study controlled for extraneous variables while assessing the predictive power of personality traits, such as Facebook usage, length of the relationship, and time since the break-up. The results of a self-administered, web-based survey (N=207) showed that self-esteem, narcissism, and self-efficacy are all traits that can predict the stalking of an ex-partner on Facebook. More specifically, the analysis showed a negative association between self-esteem and one’s likelihood to stalk an ex-partner on Facebook, while it showed positive relationships between Facebook stalking and both narcissism and self-efficacy.

Impact of Iliac Crest Bone Grafting on Postoperative Outcomes and Complication Rates Following Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Brittany E. Haws,Benjamin Khechen,Dil V. Patel,Joon S. Yoo,Jordan A. Guntin,Kaitlyn L. Cardinal,Junyoung Ahn,Kern Singh 대한척추신경외과학회 2019 Neurospine Vol.16 No.4

Objective: The relationship between bone graft technique and postoperative outcomes for minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF) has not been well-defined. This study aims to determine the effect of iliac crest bone grafting (ICBG) on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and complication rates following MIS TLIF. Methods: Primary, single-level MIS TLIF patients were consecutively analyzed. Patients that prospectively received a percutaneous technique of ICBG were compared to patients that retrospectively received bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). Complication rates were assessed perioperatively and up to 1 year postoperatively. Changes in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) back, and VAS leg pain were compared. Rates of minimum clinically important difference (MCID) achievement at final follow-up for ODI, VAS back, and VAS leg scores were compared. Results: One hundred forty-nine patients were included: 101 in the BMP-2 cohort and 48 in the ICBG cohort. The ICBG cohort demonstrated increases in intraoperative blood loss and shorter lengths of stay. ICBG patients also experienced longer operative times, though this did not reach statistical significance. No significant differences in complication or reoperation rates were identified. The ICBG cohort demonstrated greater improvements in VAS leg pain at 6-week and 12-week follow-up. No other significant differences in PROs or MCID achievement rates were identified. Conclusion: Patients undergoing MIS TLIF with ICBG experienced clinically insignificant increases in intraoperative blood loss and did not experience increases in postoperative pain or disability. Complication and reoperation rates were similar between groups. These results suggest that ICBG is a safe option for MIS TLIF.

Where are the Maps in Neighborhood Health Research?

Brittany Krzyzanowski,Ruthie A. Burrows 대한공간정보학회 2022 Spatial Information Research Vol.30 No.6

There is a scarcity of maps and spatial analysis in neighborhood health research. The purpose of this study is to identify how maps are being used in the literature on neighborhood health and to identify authors’ motivation for, and barriers to, using and sharing maps. For this purpose, this study reviewed 233 articles on neighborhood health published between 2000 and 2020, and conducted a survey of the authors of the reviewed articles. Results showed that, of the articles reviewed, only 27% contained maps. Temporal analyses of the articles by journal type revealed that the proportion of maps in the literature steadily increased over time for both health science and social science journals. Survey results revealed that, even though maps were not often appearing within the literature, the majority of investigators (63%) created maps or used mapping software during their investigation. Reasons for not publishing maps included data privacy regulations, time constraints, and journal restrictions. While results from our review of the literature confirmed that there is a scarcity of maps in the neighborhood health literature, our survey revealed that most investigators are using mapping in some way, shape, or form. Thus, spatial data visualization is being utilized by neighborhood health researchers, but the extent to which these visualizations are valued is less clear. Given the importance of spatial data visualization in facilitating understanding and generating hypotheses, future research into the use of and attitudes towards maps and spatial data in neighborhood health is warranted.

Swallowing Function Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion With and Without Anterior Plating: A SWAL-QOL (Swallowing-Quality of Life) and Radiographic Assessment

Brittany E. Haws,Benjamin Khechen,Dil V. Patel,Joon S. Yoo,Jordan A. Guntin,Kaitlyn L. Cardinal,Kern Singh 대한척추신경외과학회 2019 Neurospine Vol.16 No.3

Objective: Anterior cervical plating in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures are associated with improved outcomes compared to stand-alone cages. However, concerns exist regarding increased rates of postoperative dysphagia following an ACDF. This study aims to quantify the effect of anterior plating on swallowing-quality of life (SWAL-QOL) scores and radiographic swelling assessments following a primary, single-level ACDF. Methods: Patients retrospectively reviewed. Patients grouped into those receiving a cage or anterior plate. SWAL-QOL scores were recorded preoperatively and 6 weeks and 12 weeks postoperatively. Lateral radiographs were used to create a swelling index with a ratio of the prevertebral swelling distance to the anterior-posterior diameter of each involved vertebral body. An air index was created using the same methodology. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square analysis and independent t-tests for categorical and continuous variables. Results: Sixty-eight primary, single-level ACDF patients were included. Forty-one (60.3%) received a stand-alone cage and 27 (39.7%) received a cage with anterior plating. No differences in demographics, comorbidities, operative time, estimated blood loss, or length of hospital stay were identified between Cage and Plate cohorts. Finally, no differences were observed in postoperative SWAL-QOL scores or swelling and air indices between groups. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that patients undergoing a primary, single-level ACDF with or without anterior plating experience similar operative times and lengths of stay. Patients that receive a cage with anterior plating did not experience significant increases in dysphagia as measured by the SWAL-QOL questionnaire compared to patients that received a stand-alone cage. Furthermore, radiographic assessments of swelling are comparable.

Demographic and clinical factors associated with same-day discharge and unplanned readmission following shoulder arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study

Burton Brittany N.,Finneran John J.,Angerstein Aaron,Ross Evelyn,Mitchell Ana,Waterman Ruth S.,Elsharydah Ahmad,Said Engy T.,Gabriel Rodney A. 대한마취통증의학회 2021 Korean Journal of Anesthesiology Vol.74 No.1

Background: Same-day discharge, defined as discharge from the hospital within 24 h of surgery, has been shown to be safe for joint arthroplasty. We examined demographic and clinical factors associated with same-day discharge and unplanned readmission following shoulder arthroplasty in adult patients.Methods: Utilizing data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we extracted information of all patients that underwent shoulder arthroplasty. The primary and secondary outcome of interest was same-day discharge and 30-day unplanned readmission, respectively. We utilized multivariable logistic regression to identify covariates associated with these outcomes. Results: There were 17,011 patients analyzed when identifying predictors for same-day discharge. There was an increase in same-day discharge from 2007 to 2016. The odds of same-day discharge were significantly better for males (P < 0.001). The odds of same-day discharge was significantly decreased for every 10-year increase in age and for patients with insulin dependent diabetes, poor functional status, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, bleeding disorder, and comorbidity burden (all P < 0.001). There were 14,276 patients analyzed for hospital readmission. The odds of unplanned readmission were significantly higher for every 10-year increase in age and for patients with poor functional status, congestive heart failure, bleeding disorder, and higher comorbidity burden (all P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study show that preoperative comorbidities and advanced age reduce the odds of same-day discharge. Risk stratification, preoperative optimization, and coordinated care after surgery may be helpful to optimize patients for same-day discharge.

How Can Self Love Lead to Spying on Ex-Partners on Facebook? -The Effects of Ego Factors on Facebook Surveillance -

Furbee, Brittany,Ahn, Hongmin The International Promotion Agency of Culture Tech 2019 International Journal of Advanced Culture Technolo Vol.7 No.4

In this study, we attempted to identify the personality traits that influence one's likelihood to stalk an ex-partner on Facebook. Specifically, we focused on self-concept-related traits, given that the motivations for using social network sites (SNS) are highly associated with the concept of self. These include self-esteem, narcissism, and self-efficacy. To assess these factors, we controlled for extraneous variables while assessing the predictive power of personality traits, such as Facebook usage, length of the relationship, and time since the break-up. The results of a self-administered, web-based survey (N=207) showed that self-esteem, narcissism, and self-efficacy are all traits that can predict the stalking of an ex-partner on Facebook. More specifically, we showed a negative association between self-esteem and one's likelihood to stalk an ex-partner on Facebook, while it showed positive relationships between Facebook stalking and both narcissism and self-efficacy.

Effects of Agave Nectar Versus Sucrose on Weight Gain, Adiposity, Blood Glucose, Insulin, and Lipid Responses in Mice

Shirin Hooshmand,Brittany Holloway,Tricia Nemoseck,Sarah Cole,Yumi Petrisko,Mee Young Hong,Mark Kern 한국식품영양과학회 2014 Journal of medicinal food Vol.17 No.9

Agave nectar is a fructose-rich liquid sweetener derived from a plant, and is often promoted as a low glycemic alternative to refined sugar. However, little scientific research has been conducted in animals or humans to determine its metabolic and/or health effects. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of agave nectar versus sucrose on weight gain, adiposity, fasting plasma blood glucose, insulin, and lipid levels. Eighteen (n = 18) male ICR mice (33.8 – 1.6 g) were divided into two groups (n = 6 for agave nectar and n = 12 for sucrose) and provided free access to one of two diets of equal energy densities differing only in a portion of the carbohydrate provided. Diets contained 20% carbohydrate (by weight of total diet) from either raw agave nectar or sucrose. Epididymal fat pads were excised, and blood was collected after 34 days. Weight gain (4.3 – 2.2 vs. 8.4 – 3.4 g), fat pad weights (0.95 – 0.54 vs. 1.75 – 0.66 g), plasma glucose (77.8 – 12.2 vs. 111.0 – 27.9 mg/dL), and insulin (0.61 – 0.29 vs. 1.46 – 0.81 ng/mL) were significantly lower (P £ .05) for agave nectar-fed mice compared to sucrose-fed mice respectively. No statistically significant differences in total cholesterol or triglycerides were detected. These results suggest that in comparison to sucrose, agave nectar may have a positive influence on weight gain and glucose control. However, more research with a larger sample of animals and/or with human subjects is warranted.

Optimizing Stem Cell Therapy after Ischemic Brain Injury

Shuai Zhang,Brittany Bolduc Lachance,Bilal Moiz,Xiaofeng Jia 대한뇌졸중학회 2020 Journal of stroke Vol.22 No.3

Stem cells have been used for regenerative and therapeutic purposes in a variety of diseases. In ischemic brain injury, preclinical studies have been promising, but have failed to translate results to clinical trials. We aimed to explore the application of stem cells after ischemic brain injury by focusing on topics such as delivery routes, regeneration efficacy, adverse effects, and in vivo potential optimization. PUBMED and Web of Science were searched for the latest studies examining stem cell therapy applications in ischemic brain injury, particularly after stroke or cardiac arrest, with a focus on studies addressing delivery optimization, stem cell type comparison, or translational aspects. Other studies providing further understanding or potential contributions to ischemic brain injury treatment were also included. Multiple stem cell types have been investigated in ischemic brain injury treatment, with a strong literature base in the treatment of stroke. Studies have suggested that stem cell administration after ischemic brain injury exerts paracrine effects via growth factor release, blood-brain barrier integrity protection, and allows for exosome release for ischemic injury mitigation. To date, limited studies have investigated these therapeutic mechanisms in the setting of cardiac arrest or therapeutic hypothermia. Several delivery modalities are available, each with limitations regarding invasiveness and safety outcomes. Intranasal delivery presents a potentially improved mechanism, and hypoxic conditioning offers a potential stem cell therapy optimization strategy for ischemic brain injury. The use of stem cells to treat ischemic brain injury in clinical trials is in its early phase; however, increasing preclinical evidence suggests that stem cells can contribute to the down-regulation of inflammatory phenotypes and regeneration following injury. The safety and the tolerability profile of stem cells have been confirmed, and their potent therapeutic effects make them powerful therapeutic agents for ischemic brain injury patients.

Linguistic Dimensions of Learner Speech in English Interviews

Eric Friginal,Brittany Polat 한국코퍼스언어학회 2015 Corpus Linguistics Research Vol.1 No.-

This paper discusses the utilization of multi-dimensional (MD) analysis (Biber, 1988; 1995) to examine linguistic variation in learner speech represented by transcribed interviews from the Louvain International Database of Spoken English Interlanguage (LINDSEI). LINDSEI is the first large-scale corpus of spoken learner English with sub-corpora of interview responses from eleven different mother-tongue backgrounds. The primary goals of this study are: to extract and identify the linguistic dimensions of learner speech from LINDSEI, to functionally interpret these dimensions, and to compare how these dimensions are distributed across speakers’ eleven first language backgrounds. Results show that the four primary functional dimensions of learner speech are: Involved Conversational Style vs. Informational Production; Complex Statement of Opinion; Formal, Academic Focus of Discussion vs. Informal, Non-Academic Discourse; and Personal Narrative Prose vs. Non-Narrative Discourse. Interesting differences are observed in how these dimensions are used by learners across first language backgrounds and interview tasks.