Natural Sciences at Parkland College - Fall 2017

The Parkland College Natural Sciences Department Newsletter for Fall 2017 -- this issue features an article on IR cameras, use of display case, engaging students outside the classroom with the Astronomy Club and the Parkland Science Club, the solar eclipse, updates from the professional development subcommittee for faculty, summaries from events and meetings, a report on Phenotypic Pasticity Research Experience for Community College Students (PRECS) first summer, and a special feature from former professor Rich Blazier, with a special feature on the history of the Natural Sciences Department

2016 Research & Innovation Day Program

A one day showcase of applied research, social innovation, scholarship projects and activities.https://first.fanshawec.ca/cri_cripublications/1003/thumbnail.jp

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among English-Speaking Hmong Americans.

BackgroundCOVID-19 mitigation strategies such as masking, social distancing, avoiding group gatherings, and vaccination uptake are crucial interventions to preventing the spread of COVID-19. At present, COVID-19 data are aggregated and fail to identify subgroup variation in Asian American communities such as Hmong Americans. To understand the acceptance, adoption, and adherence to COVID-19 mitigation behaviors, an investigation of Hmong Americans' contextual and personal characteristics was conducted.MethodsThis study aims to describe COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among Hmong Americans and the contextual and personal characteristics that influence these behaviors. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from April 8 till June 1, 2021, with Hmong Americans aged 18 and over. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the overall characteristics and COVID-19 related behaviors of Hmong Americans. Chi-square and Fisher's Exact Test were computed to describe COVID-19 mitigation behaviors by gender and generational status (a marker of acculturation).ResultsThe sample included 507 participants who completed the survey. A majority of the Hmong American participants in our study reported masking (449/505, 88.9%), social distancing (270/496, 55.3%), avoiding group gatherings (345/505, 68.3%), avoiding public spaces (366/506, 72.3%), and obtaining the COVID-19 vaccination (350/506, 69.2%) to stay safe from COVID-19. Women were more likely to socially distance (P = .005), and avoid family (P = .005), and social gatherings (P = .009) compared to men. Social influence patterns related to mitigation behaviors varied by sex. Men were more likely compared to women to be influenced by Hmong community leaders to participate in family and group gatherings (P = .026), masking (P = .029), social distancing (P = .022), and vaccination uptake (P = .037), whereas healthcare providers and government officials were social influencers for social distancing and masking for women. Patterns of social distancing and group gatherings were also influenced by generational status.ConclusionContextual and personal characteristics influence COVID-19 mitigation behaviors among English speaking Hmong Americans. These findings have implications for identifying and implementing culturally appropriate health messages, future public health interventions, policy development, and ongoing research with this population

Factors associated with habitual sleep duration in US adults with hypertension: a cross-sectional study of the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BackgroundThe relationship between inadequate sleep duration and hypertension risk has been established in the general population, but there is a gap in the literature on predictors of habitual sleep duration in adults with hypertension. This study examined factors associated with habitual sleep duration among adults with hypertension in the United States (US).MethodsData of 5660 adults with hypertension were obtained by combining the 2015-2018 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Survey weighted multinomial logistic regression models were fit to examine factors associated with short (< 7 h) and long (> 9 h) sleep duration with adequate sleep duration (7-9 h) as the reference.ResultsThe prevalence of self-reported adequate sleep duration was 65.7%, while short sleep duration was 23.6%, and long sleep duration 10.7%. Short sleep duration (compared to adequate sleep duration) was positively associated with history of seeking help for sleeping difficulties (relative risk ratio [RRR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.53), Non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity (RRR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.61-2.67), working ≥45 h/week (RRR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.32-2.48), and negatively associated with older age ≥ 65 years (RRR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.45-0.91) and female gender (RRR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.56-0.88). Long sleep duration was positively associated with female gender (RRR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.001-1.54), chronic kidney disease (RRR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.14-1.92), moderate depressive symptoms (RRR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.08-2.44), moderately severe to severe depressive symptoms (RRR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.05-3.43), being in retirement (RRR, 3.46; 95% CI, 2.18-5.49), and not working due to health reasons (RRR, 4.87; 95% CI, 2.89-8.22) or other reasons (RRR, 3.29; 95% CI, 1.84-5.88).ConclusionThis population-based study identified factors independently associated with habitual sleep duration in adults with hypertension. These included help-seeking for sleeping difficulty, gender, age, chronic kidney disease, depressive symptoms, race/ethnicity, and employment status. These findings can help in the development of tailored approaches for promoting adequate sleep duration in adults with hypertension

The Association Between Habitual Sleep Duration and Blood Pressure Control in United States (US) Adults with Hypertension.

PurposeThis study examined the relationship between habitual sleep duration and blood pressure (BP) control in adults with hypertension.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used data of 5163 adults with hypertension obtained from the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the association between habitual sleep duration and BP control. Habitual sleep duration was self-reported and defined as the amount of sleep usually obtained in a night or main sleep period during weekdays or workdays. It was categorized as <6, 6 - <7, 7-9, and >9 hours. BP control was defined as average systolic BP <130mmHg and diastolic BP <80mmHg.ResultsResults from the fully adjusted models show that among all adults with hypertension, habitual sleep duration of <6 hours night/main sleep period was associated with reduced odds of BP control (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0ss.37-0.76, P = 0.001) when compared to 7-9 hours. In the subpopulation of adults who were on antihypertensive medication, those with a sleep duration of <6 hours had lower odds of BP control than those with a sleep duration of 7-9 hours (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.36-0.77, P = 0.002). No significant differences were noted in all adults with hypertension and in the subpopulation of those on antihypertensive medication in BP control between the reference sleep duration group (7-9 hours) and the 6 - <7 or >9 hours groups. There were no significant differences across age groups or gender in the relationship between habitual sleep duration and BP control.ConclusionSleep duration of <6 hours is associated with reduced odds of hypertension control. These significant findings indicate that interventions to support adequate habitual sleep duration may be a promising addition to the current hypertension management guidelines