Health Sciences – Page 30 – UROP Spring Symposium 2021

Health Sciences

The effect of statins on the progression of Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver due to causes unrelated to excessive alcohol consumption. Around 25% of the global population is affected by NAFLD, with some countries having even higher rates.[1] However, most people with this condition are just suggested to change their lifestyle.[2] Often associated with these underlying causes are cardiovascular disease (CVD) and high cholesterol levels, which the class of drugs known as statins are often prescribed to help treat. Statins have been shown to lead to some liver injury and therefore they have not been a popular medication physicians consider for NAFLD.[3] Thus, the aim of this study will be to explore the impact of statins on treating the progression of NAFLD. While some studies have been performed on the effects of statins on liver disease associated with varying causes,[4] it is not well-known what effect these medications have on the progression of NAFLD. Some have suggested that there is a beneficial effect in reducing the time it takes the disease to progress[5,6] and generally improving liver blood tests,[7] but there are not many systematic reviews synthesizing all recent data. Our goal is to conduct an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the current literature investigating the effects of statins on NAFLD to determine the consensus on whether these medications do have a beneficial effect in disease progression. To investigate this relationship, we used Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE to gather all the references, utilizing the Boolean search method to collect the past research studies using all keywords relating to NAFLD and statins. The relevant, qualified studies were then compiled into EndNote X9, and Microsoft Excel and R statistical software were used to conduct a formal meta-analysis (i.e., inclusion of forest plot, funnel plot, etc.). The data is expected to show that statins do help improve the condition of NAFLD patients due to decreasing the build-up of fat and improving NAFLD test scores. The implications of this study will allow for physicians to more easily reject or approve of the use of statins in NAFLD treatment.

The effect of statins on the progression of Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver due to causes unrelated to excessive alcohol consumption. Around 25% of the global population is affected by NAFLD, with some countries having even higher rates. However, most people with this condition are just suggested to change their lifestyle. Often associated with these underlying causes are Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and high cholesterol levels, which the class of drugs known as statins are often prescribed to help treat. Statins have been shown to lead to some liver injury in extreme cirrhotic cases and therefore they have not been a popular medication physicians consider for NAFLD. Thus, the aim of this study will be to explore the impact of statins on treating the progression of NAFLD.

The Contribution of PM2.5 to Depressive Disorders and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD)

Background: Poor air quality can have negative consequences for multiple organ systems throughout the body with some of the most severe effects linked to PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter = 2.5 µm). Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress are key biological mechanisms by which PM2.5 exposure is believed to influence health, and also interact with the central nervous system and brain. However, the impact of PM2.5 on common neuropsychiatric and neurological conditions of depression and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) is not well established. Objectives: The goal of this project was to review existing literature in order to determine the potential for PM2.5 to contribute to depressive disorders and ADRD. Exposure of Interest: PM2.5

You’ve Got Mail: Assessing the Usefulness of Mail-Based Suicide Prevention and Wellness Tools within Alaskan Native Communities

Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people (10-14, 14-24, and 25-34-year olds) and disproportionately affects Indigenous communities. Promoting Community Conversations About Research to End Suicide (PC CARES) is a community-based participatory research project that is committed to developing relationships within Alaskan Native (AN) communities that supports using “upstream” prevention methods of suicide. This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of PC CARES At Home, which involves direct mailings and social media interactions to maintain a connection with community members who started with the first cohort (N=140) that was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to establish new connections with school staff who were nominated as influential people in students’ lives. To continue building local capacity to support youth wellness and suicide prevention throughout a remote setting, we will send information and material resources that introduce and reinforce the PC CARES curriculum for AN families at home. This involves PC CARES Care Package mailings every couple of months, along with the option for a consistent exchanging of ideas and support through a private Facebook page. We estimate that 100 people will “opt-in” to receive more packages after receiving their first 1-2 packages. Our research will examine satisfaction, perceived benefits, and feasibility of this approach. Our analysis will assess recipient reactions to each package via feedback surveys, opt-in rates for future deliveries, and phone interview transcript summaries. In addition, we will track social media engagement in response to posts themed on the package contents and information. In conducting this study, we expect to gain a better understanding of the usefulness, appeal, and recipient satisfaction with mail and social media-based suicide prevention and wellness tools. These results will be especially beneficial for understanding socially-distanced suicide prevention and wellness education during the COVID-19 pandemic. This will also act as a guide for practitioners to understand mail and social media-based suicide prevention programs.

Alaska Native Health Research

Compared to the lower 48 states, Alaska faces unproportional rates of suicide related death and injuries, especially among the Alaskan Native (AN) youth. From the effects of colonialism to social changes, there are numerous issues plaguing Native youth today, putting them at higher risk of suicide compared to their White counterparts. Another aspect of life that puts youth at higher risk is access to firearms, which are commonly found within rural Alaskan homes. Research is being done to learn about safe firearm storage practices within people’s homes in order to increase safety and reduce the risk of firearm related accidents and suicide. The short intervention we are developing uses motivational interviewing to increase adult family members’ safe firearm storage practices in their households. Building on information generated through local household surveys about home firearm storage practices, communications, responsibilities and preferences, we will develop motivational Interviewing guides. This project will identify key motivations and ways of engaging adults in a universal intervention to improve safety practices related to firearm storage. This project integrates previous motivational interviewing research and guides to be used to adapt our brief intervention–the family safety net–to the local priorities, motivations, values and local language use and norms.

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