3D Bioprinted Sustained-Release Platform for Intravaginal Delivery of Probiotics

• Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is the most prevalent vaginal infection, affecting 30% of reproductive age women in the United States and worldwide. • BV is characterized by a shift in the vaginal microbiome from a dominance of Lactobacilli to the overgrowth of vaginal pathogens (specifically Gardnerella vaginalis). • Some common complications include adverse pregnancy outcomes and increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases. • Current treatment primarily involves antibiotics, but this is ineffective due to high antibiotic resistance and BV recurrence rates of 50%. Thus, a more permanent cure is sought. • Lactobacilli probiotics are a promising alternative to antibiotics. They have shown success in reestablishing healthy flora, inhibiting pathogen growth, and reducing recurrence. • Probiotics have been administered both orally and intravaginally, but vaginal delivery is preferred. • Unfortunately, present vaginal dosage forms require frequent administration, thereby decreasing user adherence and efficacy. • Only one sustained release probiotic dosage form, in the form of pod intravaginal rings, has been published to date. However this design leads to discomfort and is susceptible to biofilm formation. • Therefore, an intravaginal probiotic delivery platform capable of sustained release and that offers women flexibility in dosage forms is necessary

Frequency and Perceived Authenticity of Social Determinants of Health Discussion by Medical Trainees

Introduction Social determinants of health (SDOH)—the conditions in which people live, learn, and work—play a vital, but often neglected role in shaping a community’s health. SDOH influence risk factors for disease and access to healthcare, consequently promoting health inequities among different populations. Examining how providers discuss SDOH with patients can identify opportunities to better integrate social context into care. Methods We analyzed standardized patient (SP) encounters of rising UofL M3 trainees to 1) determine whether SDOH are integrated into healthcare conversations, and 2) investigate what constitutes an authentic conversation to identify how trainees can better express interest in a patient. SP encounters (n=41) were randomly sampled from 139 video recordings of new patient histories. Discussions concerning SDOH categories were coded for content, patient response, and the perceived authenticity of each interaction. Results The most frequently discussed SDOH was employment (80.49% of encounters) while financial security (0%), healthcare access (2.44%), and discrimination (2.44%) were among the least discussed. Trainees appeared more engaged and interested when they empathized with patients, provided reassurance, established personal connections, and displayed a logical/organized flow of thought. Discussion Clinical skills around SDOH could be improved if students were provided more practice incorporating patients’ answers about SDOH into the health management plan. SDOH discussions can be used to get to know the patient holistically and foster strong doctor-patient relationships, both of which are crucial communication/clinical skills assessed by licensing exams. Emphasis on SDOH in medical education can help students advance these skills.https://ir.library.louisville.edu/uars/1039/thumbnail.jp

Your Personal Guide to Getting into Research

The stereotype of a researcher conjures up an image of a person in a white lab coat, juggling various test tubes and chemicals. However, this picture does not capture the essence of all research. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be a STEM major to do research! Research is for everyone, and there are many options to participate across all disciplines. As an R-1 classified research institute, the University of Louisville (UofL) is involved with groundbreaking research across many disciplines including education, political science, and business. Below are some compelling reasons to pursue research as an undergraduate student, and as you read further, you will hear first-hand advice from Dr. Running and Dr. Fuselier, two research professors in the Biology department at UofL

Study for the Assessment of Macrovascular Complications of Madhumeha (T2DM) and its Association with Sara

Diabetic complications are generally classified into macrovascular and microvascular conditions. Depending on the location of the atherosclerotic lesion, macrovascular disease (coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease) may occur. The prevalence of diabetes and its complication is increasing all over the world, particularly in developing countries. It has emerged as a major public health problem in our country. The disease Madhumeha is described under Prameha and it is the subtype of Vataja Prameha Madhumeha manifest due to morbidity of Shukra and Shonita which is incurable. In Madhumeha, Sara is the most useful entity for the measurement of strength and the life span of an individual, so it’s very important to know about Sara from a treatment point of view because lean and thin persons may have Pravara Sara. Here the attempt will be made to highlight the study for the assessment of the macrovascular complication of Madhumeha and its association with Sara. This study has been done on the basis of subjective and objective parameters in T2DM patients with macrovascular complications. Sara was assessed in each subject as per the scheduled proforma. In the research, we found that the diabetic complications were related to Sara, which is statistically highly significant. The conclusion of the study is Avara Meda Sara patients were found with all types of complications, only a few patients with complications belong to Madhyama Meda Sara, and there are no patients belonging to Pravara Meda Sara. Maximum patients of T2DM complication of Asthi, Majja and Shukra Sara having Madhyama Sara

Blood pressure related to age: The India ABPM study

The present paper reports trends in office blood pressure (BP) measurement (OBPM) and ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) with age in a large multi‐center Indian all comers’ population visiting primary care physicians. ABPM and OBPM data from 27 472 subjects (aged 51 ± 14 years, males 68.2%, treated 45.5%) were analyzed and compared. Individual differences between OBPM and ABPM patterns were compared for patients according to 10‐year age categories. Results showed that systolic (S) BP values started to increase with age from the age of 40, BP variability (SD) increased from the age of 30 years. Diastolic (D) BP values started to decrease from the age of 50 years. Mean OBPM values were higher than daytime ABPM values (all P < .001) in all age‐groups. The prevalence of white coat hypertension (WCH) and masked hypertension (MH) was based on OBPM and daytime, 24‐hour, and nighttime average BPs together. WCH decreased with age from 15.1% and 12.4% in treated and untreated subjects at the youngest age to 7.2% and 6.9% in the oldest age, respectively. MH prevalence was higher for untreated than for treated subjects but remained similar for all age‐groups (range of 18.6%‐21.3%). The prevalence of reverse dippers increased with age from the youngest to oldest group with 7.3%‐34.2% (P < .001 for trend). Dippers prevalence decreased from 42.5% to 17.9% from the youngest to oldest age‐groups, respectively (P < .001 for trend). These findings confirm that BP patterns show clear differences in trends with age, particularly regarding nighttime BP

Blood pressure related to age: The India ABPM study

The present paper reports trends in office blood pressure (BP) measurement (OBPM) and ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) with age in a large multi‐center Indian all comers’ population visiting primary care physicians. ABPM and OBPM data from 27 472 subjects (aged 51 ± 14 years, males 68.2%, treated 45.5%) were analyzed and compared. Individual differences between OBPM and ABPM patterns were compared for patients according to 10‐year age categories. Results showed that systolic (S) BP values started to increase with age from the age of 40, BP variability (SD) increased from the age of 30 years. Diastolic (D) BP values started to decrease from the age of 50 years. Mean OBPM values were higher than daytime ABPM values (all P < .001) in all age‐groups. The prevalence of white coat hypertension (WCH) and masked hypertension (MH) was based on OBPM and daytime, 24‐hour, and nighttime average BPs together. WCH decreased with age from 15.1% and 12.4% in treated and untreated subjects at the youngest age to 7.2% and 6.9% in the oldest age, respectively. MH prevalence was higher for untreated than for treated subjects but remained similar for all age‐groups (range of 18.6%‐21.3%). The prevalence of reverse dippers increased with age from the youngest to oldest group with 7.3%‐34.2% (P < .001 for trend). Dippers prevalence decreased from 42.5% to 17.9% from the youngest to oldest age‐groups, respectively (P < .001 for trend). These findings confirm that BP patterns show clear differences in trends with age, particularly regarding nighttime BP