St. Catherine University

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has been a viable technology for decades, yet widespread adoption in healthcare and academic settings has remained limited to research. One possible explanation for this is limited understanding about the beliefs around GenAI use amongst faculty and students training in biomedical disciplines that frequently lead to non-physician healthcare careers, including physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), allied health (AH), and biomedical engineering (BME). Furthermore, no known studies exist assessing differences that may exist across those disciplines. Given the significant number of professionals in those disciplines and the outsized impact they have on the healthcare system, investigating their beliefs around GenAI use is vital before widespread adoption. Accordingly, we investigated the perceptions of GenAI among students and faculty in the aforementioned fields that frequently lead to careers in healthcare. We found that knowledge of GenAI significantly influences comfort with its use completing college coursework including whether respondents believed it contributed to the process of completing that coursework and whether use of GenAI enhances learning. Interestingly, however, there were no statistically significant differences in perceptions of GenAI across disciplines, roles, or institution sizes. Qualitative findings revealed concerns about plagiarism, decline of critical thinking skills, and ethical challenges, while also recognizing GenAI’s potential to enhance learning efficiency and idea generation. Critically, the study results emphasize the need for proper training and guidelines to ensure GenAI is integrated responsibly into healthcare-related education.

This cross-sectional clinical study aimed to explore the untargeted metabolomic and lipidomic profiles in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) obtained from healthy individuals and patients with periodontitis. GCF was collected from 17 periodontally healthy and 19 periodontitis patients. For the unbiased characterisation of positively and negatively charged polar metabolite and lipid compounds, we employed hydrophilic interaction and reversed-phase liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry platforms, followed by a semisupervised deep learning-based approach for metabolomic peak curation and data analysis. A total of 256 metabolites were identified with Metabolomics Standards Initiative (MSI) confidence Levels 1-3, including 198 elevated and 58 diminished compounds in periodontal lesions (q < 0.05, |log2-transformed Fold Change (FC)| > 1). Periodontitis samples exhibited a significant positive accumulation of purine degradation and ceramide metabolites, along with a negative regulation of oxy fatty acids metabolism. Additionally, we observed a significant increase in established periodontitis biomarkers, including N-acetylneuraminic acid, citrulline and 2-pyrrolidineacetic acid. The study also characterised distinct differences in bacterial and fungal metabolite profiles between the healthy and diseased samples. These findings suggest that untargeted metabolomic screening of GCF may significantly improve our understanding of biochemical changes between healthy tissue and periodontitis. This knowledge is pivotal for the development of a precision paradigm in periodontitis.

HighlightsWhat are the main findings?Vast improvements are needed for both Med-style and DASH eating pattern alignment for adults of Hispanic/Latine origin.Higher alignment to DASH was associated with decreased blood pressure. Higher alignment with Med-style eating patterns was associated with a decrease in average BP and average A1c.What are the implications of the main findings?Low adherence to both eating patterns may partly explain the ubiquitously reported poor cardiometabolic outcomes.Nutrition interventions supporting access and knowledge to culturally tailored eating patterns aligning with evidence-based practice are important.Background/Objectives: The Mediterranean (Med)-style and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating patterns are evidence-based nutrition interventions given their protective effects from cardiometabolic diseases. Little is known about adherence to each eating pattern among the Hispanic/Latine population. The objective of this cross-sectional analysis is to assess the alignment of reported dietary intakes of Hispanic/Latine adults to Med-style and DASH eating patterns and associations with clinical outcomes for diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Methods: A sample of 5406 Hispanic/Latine adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2018) was utilized. Alignment to the Med-style and DASH eating patterns was calculated by scoring indices tailored for overconsumption in the United States. Multiple linear regression determined associations between each respective eating pattern and clinical outcomes. Results: Hispanic/Latine adults in the United States have a mean DASH score of 11.2 and a Med-style score of 8.4 (out of 100), indicating poor alignment. Adjusted regression analysis showed increased alignment of both eating patterns was associated with a decrease in average blood pressure (DASH ꞵ = −0.095, p = <0.0001; Med-style: ꞵ = −0.128, p = 0.0002). Greater adherence to a Med-style eating pattern score was also associated with improved average hemoglobin A1c (ꞵ −0.007, p = 0.017). Neither diet pattern score was associated with total cholesterol. Conclusions: Evidence of low alignment to the Med-style and DASH eating patterns among Hispanic/Latine populations exacerbates the need for future work to understand cultural tailoring of evidence-based eating patterns to increase adherence and support improved cardiometabolic outcomes.

ObjectiveFibrosis can develop after surgical or radiation treatments for cancer and is often seen in rehabilitation settings, yet few measures exist for standardized assessment. The aims of this study are to describe the validity and reliability of a new measure for cancer treatment-related fibrosis in survivors of breast or head/neck cancer.DesignFace validity of the Courage Kenny-Fibrosis Grading Scale was established using an iterative survey process. Reliability and concurrent validity were assessed using repeated measures by blinded raters and concurrent assessment with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, Late Effects Normal Tissue-Subjective, Objective, Management, Analytic scales, and adheremeter rating of skin mobility.SettingOutpatient rehabilitation clinic.ParticipantsQuestionnaires were completed by 43 clinicians and researchers in the first round of face validation and 21 in the second. For reliability and concurrent validity, 41 cancer survivors, including 26 post-breast cancer and 15 post-head/neck cancer, were assessed by four physical therapists.ResultsAdequate face validity of the final version was established using responses from 21 clinicians. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the final scale was adequate at ICC = 0.810 and 0.941, respectively. Associations between the Fibrosis Grading Scale and the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and Late Effects Normal Tissue scales were moderately significant (rS = 0.290-0.574, p < 0.05), indicating concurrent validity.ConclusionAfter development of the Fibrosis Grading Scale using an iterative survey process, sufficient reliability and validity was established to use as an assessment in breast and head/neck cancer survivors.

The United States has a rapidly aging prison population with complex medical comorbidities. Medical parole has been proposed as a mechanism to address the heavy medical burden posed by the aging and chronically ill prison population. Current studies demonstrate medical parole is underutilized, but little is known about the factors considered when rendering a medical parole decision. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of medical parole applications in Massachusetts and identify predictors of the final parole decision. We conducted a retrospective review of 31 applications submitted by a non-profit legal services organization between 2022 and 2023. Univariate analysis demonstrated that a supportive superintendent recommendation and prison-contracted clinician assessment that an applicant could not perform ADLs independently were statistically significant factors in approval of medical parole. Unexpectedly, a history of disciplinary action while incarcerated was also associated with a higher likelihood of application approval, suggesting prior disciplinary action does not decrease the chances of a successful parole application. Our study suggests the superintendent and prison medical clinicians are key stakeholders with influence on the likelihood of approval of a medical parole application. Further work is needed to assess parole board decision-making when evaluating applications.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-24358-0.

This qualitative study examined how faith influences self-care and care for others among sixteen religious individuals actively engaged in their faith communities in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota. Data collected from the semi-structured interviews revealed that participants were motivated to care for themselves and others out of a deep sense of purpose, a will to live, and compassion rooted in faith and love. Participants viewed their bodies and lives as gifts from God, leading them to make healthy lifestyle choices and utilize preventive healthcare services to preserve their well-being. Their motivation to care for others was driven by a calling to act compassionately, translating their faith into action. The findings hold significance for public health professionals, healthcare providers, and faith leaders.