Assessing Wellness Needs of Breast Cancer Survivors in Vermont

Background: • In Vermont, 500 breast cancer diagnoses are made annually. • As of 2005, epidemiological data suggest that as many as 7,000 breast cancer survivors were living in VT. • Dragonheart Vermont’s “Survivorship NOW”4 initiative aims to bridge the gap between treatment and recovery. • A literature review, including the Taking Charge program and a survivor needs assessment done by Dr. Geller, supported conducting a needs assessment in three areas: exercise, nutrition, and emotional support. • UVM COM paired with Dragonheart Vermont’s “Survivorship NOW” initiative to determine how to best address these needs.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1073/thumbnail.jp

The relationship between the geological setting and the groundwater condition in a natural hill area in Ma On Shan

Engineering projects involving excavation such as mining, tunneling and dam construction require the understanding of the groundwater condition. The hydraulic conductivity of a fractured crystalline rock mass is a critical factor in such projects. Lugeon Test is the typical test to obtain the in-situ permeability of the rock mass. To obtain a more precise estimation of hydraulic conductivity, the test section cannot be too long in order to reduce the range of variation of the affecting parameters. Large amount of Lugeon Test has to be done to construct a detailed profile of hydraulic conductivity which can be costly and time consuming. This dissertation aims to study the relationship between the parameters including depth, Rock Quality Designation (RQD) and other fracture parameters that affect the hydraulic conductivity of the rock mass in order to create an empirical model to estimate the conductivity. Data from 13 vertical and 22 inclined boreholes with 76 Lugeon Tests were analyzed. Regression analysis was done to evaluate the correlation relationship between the measured hydraulic conductivity and the factors including depth, RQD, fracture density and lithology which are available from borehole logs and Borehole Televiewer data. For this particular study area, it was found that the depth was not a useful indicator on the hydraulic conductivity. Instead, the average RQD gave the best correlation relationship with coefficient of determination R^2 equals 0.42 among all the factors; and the weathering grade also has certain degree of effect on the conductivity. It was concluded that the hydraulic conductivity of a rock mass is affected by a combination of factors, therefore the empirical model has to be able to consider several parameters at the same time. An empirical method called HC-System was proposed by Hsu et al. to estimate the hydraulic conductivity based on four parameters: Depth Index (DI), Rock Quality Designation (RQD), Gouge Content Designation (GCD) and Lithology Permeability Index (LPI). Three case studies were done to evaluate the application and performance of the HC-System and to examine the feasibility to use it in this study area. It was found that the performance differs from site to site and modifications must be made on how the parameters are considered in order to create a more accurate and reliable model. Modifications were made based on the dependence of the measured hydraulic conductivity on different individual factors. With the modified HC-System, a general solution was obtained with a coefficient of determination R^(2 ) equals 0.45, which is not a very well correlation relationship. By cluster analysis based on RQD and weathering grade, it was found that the model works well in the sections with Grade III as the highest weathering grade, with the equation K=0.0006×〖(HC)〗^2+3×〖10〗^(-5)×(HC)+1×〖10〗^(-7) and a coefficient of determination R2 equals 0.738. The estimation of hydraulic conductivity of a fractured rock mass is complicated. The proposed model can only be used to estimate the hydraulic conductivity for sections with Grade III rocks as the highest weathered materials. Further study is recommended to examine the geological and geotechnical factors in details in order to generate a more general and accurate empirical model.published_or_final_versionApplied GeosciencesMasterMaster of Scienc

Light at the End of the Tunnel - Abstract

A 24-year-old Chinese man presented with 1-year history of progressive blurring of vision of the right eye. He had no significant past ocular nor medical history except moderate myopia and migraine. On ophthalmologic examination, his corrected visual acuity at distance was 20/100 OD and 20/30 OS. Ishihara OD failed test plate, OS 3/14. Ocular examination, including intraocular pressure, was normal, except the finding of bilateral disc pallor with enlarged cup-disc ratio of 0.9 OD and 0.7 OS. Visual field examination showed OD general depression and OS tunnel vision. OCT retinal nerve fiber layer analysis confirmed optic atrophy OU. MRI brain and orbit with contrast did not show any optic nerve abnormalities, but there were abnormal T2 hyperintensities at the genu of corpus callosum and the adjacent white matter, which were commented as highly suggestive of demyelinating disease. Other investigations including C-reactive protein, anti-nuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, vitamin B12, folate levels were all normal. Neuromyelitis optica antibody was not found. Lumber puncture showed CSF white cell count of 13 (99% lymphocyte), and oligoclonal bands were present. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta- human chorionic gonadotropin (b-HCG) levels, in serum and CSF, were normal. Multiple sclerosis was suspected, and intravenous steroid therapy was considered, but withheld since the diagnosis was not certain and there was no definite evidence of acute deterioration. When reviewed 2 months after initial presentation, his visual acuity had dropped to 20/400 OS and 20/100 OS. In view of the rapidly deteriorating visual acuity, the MRI was reviewed. It was felt the nodular ependymal and hypothalamus/ pituitary stalk lesions were atypical for demyelination. A diagnostic procedure was performed.VBintracranialtumor

Light at the End of the Tunnel - Video

A 24-year-old Chinese man presented with 1-year history of progressive blurring of vision of the right eye. He had no significant past ocular nor medical history except moderate myopia and migraine. On ophthalmologic examination, his corrected visual acuity at distance was 20/100 OD and 20/30 OS. Ishihara OD failed test plate, OS 3/14. Ocular examination, including intraocular pressure, was normal, except the finding of bilateral disc pallor with enlarged cup-disc ratio of 0.9 OD and 0.7 OS. Visual field examination showed OD general depression and OS tunnel vision. OCT retinal nerve fiber layer analysis confirmed optic atrophy OU. MRI brain and orbit with contrast did not show any optic nerve abnormalities, but there were abnormal T2 hyperintensities at the genu of corpus callosum and the adjacent white matter, which were commented as highly suggestive of demyelinating disease. Other investigations including C-reactive protein, anti-nuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, vitamin B12, folate levels were all normal. Neuromyelitis optica antibody was not found. Lumber puncture showed CSF white cell count of 13 (99% lymphocyte), and oligoclonal bands were present. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta- human chorionic gonadotropin (b-HCG) levels, in serum and CSF, were normal. Multiple sclerosis was suspected, and intravenous steroid therapy was considered, but withheld since the diagnosis was not certain and there was no definite evidence of acute deterioration. When reviewed 2 months after initial presentation, his visual acuity had dropped to 20/400 OS and 20/100 OS. In view of the rapidly deteriorating visual acuity, the MRI was reviewed. It was felt the nodular ependymal and hypothalamus/ pituitary stalk lesions were atypical for demyelination. A diagnostic procedure was performed.VBintracranialtumor

Light at the End of the Tunnel - Slides

A 24-year-old Chinese man presented with 1-year history of progressive blurring of vision of the right eye. He had no significant past ocular nor medical history except moderate myopia and migraine. On ophthalmologic examination, his corrected visual acuity at distance was 20/100 OD and 20/30 OS. Ishihara OD failed test plate, OS 3/14. Ocular examination, including intraocular pressure, was normal, except the finding of bilateral disc pallor with enlarged cup-disc ratio of 0.9 OD and 0.7 OS. Visual field examination showed OD general depression and OS tunnel vision. OCT retinal nerve fiber layer analysis confirmed optic atrophy OU. MRI brain and orbit with contrast did not show any optic nerve abnormalities, but there were abnormal T2 hyperintensities at the genu of corpus callosum and the adjacent white matter, which were commented as highly suggestive of demyelinating disease. Other investigations including C-reactive protein, anti-nuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, vitamin B12, folate levels were all normal. Neuromyelitis optica antibody was not found. Lumber puncture showed CSF white cell count of 13 (99% lymphocyte), and oligoclonal bands were present. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta- human chorionic gonadotropin (b-HCG) levels, in serum and CSF, were normal. Multiple sclerosis was suspected, and intravenous steroid therapy was considered, but withheld since the diagnosis was not certain and there was no definite evidence of acute deterioration. When reviewed 2 months after initial presentation, his visual acuity had dropped to 20/400 OS and 20/100 OS. In view of the rapidly deteriorating visual acuity, the MRI was reviewed. It was felt the nodular ependymal and hypothalamus/ pituitary stalk lesions were atypical for demyelination. A diagnostic procedure was performed.VBintracranialtumor

Decreased Antibiotic Consumption Coincided with Reduction in Bacteremia Caused by Bacterial Species with Respiratory Transmission Potential during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nonpharmaceutical interventions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) have provided a unique opportunity to understand their impact on the wholesale supply of antibiotics and incidences of infections represented by bacteremia due to common bacterial species in Hong Kong. The wholesale antibiotic supply data (surrogate indicator of antibiotic consumption) and notifications of scarlet fever, chickenpox, and tuberculosis collected by the Centre for Health Protection, and the data of blood cultures of patients admitted to public hospitals in Hong Kong collected by the Hospital Authority for the last 10 years, were tabulated and analyzed. A reduction in the wholesale supply of antibiotics was observed. This decrease coincided with a significant reduction in the incidence of community-onset bacteremia due to Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis, which are encapsulated bacteria with respiratory transmission potential. This reduction was sustained during two pandemic years (period 2: 2020–2021), compared with eight pre-pandemic years (period 1: 2012–2019). Although the mean number of patient admissions per year (1,704,079 vs. 1,702,484, p = 0.985) and blood culture requests per 1000 patient admissions (149.0 vs. 158.3, p = 0.132) were not significantly different between periods 1 and 2, a significant reduction in community-onset bacteremia due to encapsulated bacteria was observed in terms of the mean number of episodes per year (257 vs. 58, p p p Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli. Sustained implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions against respiratory microbes may reduce the overall consumption of antibiotics, which may have a consequential impact on antimicrobial resistance. Rebound of conventional respiratory microbial infections is likely with the relaxation of these interventions

Asian Cohort for Alzheimer's Disease (ACAD) pilot study on genetic and non‐genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease among Asian Americans and Canadians

IntroductionClinical research in Alzheimer's disease (AD) lacks cohort diversity despite being a global health crisis. The Asian Cohort for Alzheimer's Disease (ACAD) was formed to address underrepresentation of Asians in research, and limited understanding of how genetics and non-genetic/lifestyle factors impact this multi-ethnic population.MethodsThe ACAD started fully recruiting in October 2021 with one central coordination site, eight recruitment sites, and two analysis sites. We developed a comprehensive study protocol for outreach and recruitment, an extensive data collection packet, and a centralized data management system, in English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.ResultsACAD has recruited 606 participants with an additional 900 expressing interest in enrollment since program inception.DiscussionACAD's traction indicates the feasibility of recruiting Asians for clinical research to enhance understanding of AD risk factors. ACAD will recruit > 5000 participants to identify genetic and non-genetic/lifestyle AD risk factors, establish blood biomarker levels for AD diagnosis, and facilitate clinical trial readiness.HighlightsThe Asian Cohort for Alzheimer's Disease (ACAD) promotes awareness of under-investment in clinical research for Asians. We are recruiting Asian Americans and Canadians for novel insights into Alzheimer's disease. We describe culturally appropriate recruitment strategies and data collection protocol. ACAD addresses challenges of recruitment from heterogeneous Asian subcommunities. We aim to implement a successful recruitment program that enrolls across three Asian subcommunities