J A Akinsanya

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The research focused on the challenges that osteopathic and allopathic medical schools in the U.S. face in attracting students from underrepresented backgrounds in medicine. Over eight years, an initiative called the COMPASS program helped create welcoming events for these candidates, leading to a more diverse student body. This is important because increasing diversity in medical education improves the training environment and may lead to better healthcare for a wider range of patients. Who this helps: This benefits medical students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, as well as the patients they will serve in the future.

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This research looked at whether having a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) could explain why Black and Hispanic people newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) had lower test scores compared to white participants. Out of 1,172 people in the study, 330 had experienced at least one TBI, but even after considering TBI history, the scores of Black and Hispanic participants remained significantly lower. The study highlights that systemic racism is a key factor for these disparities in cognitive performance. Who this helps: This helps patients, especially those with multiple sclerosis from minority backgrounds, by highlighting the impact of systemic issues on their health outcomes.

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This study looked at how mentorship affects early-career neuroscientists from diverse backgrounds. Researchers found that while cross-identity mentoring can create challenges due to power differences, it also offers valuable support that can help these scientists succeed. The study, which included feedback from 14 participants, identified key areas where mentorship can be improved, such as understanding personal dynamics, addressing power imbalances, and recognizing institutional barriers. Who this helps: This helps early-career neuroscientists from diverse backgrounds and their mentors.

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This study looked at how different groups—including patients, doctors, and advocates—view health inequalities in neurological disorders and strokes. It found that 89% of respondents pointed to social and environmental factors as major reasons for these health disparities. The feedback emphasizes the need for better access to care and more inclusive research practices to improve health equity in this field. Who this helps: This helps patients with neurological disorders and strokes, as well as their caregivers and healthcare providers.

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Doctors create dialysis access points (tubes connecting arteries and veins) by first mapping veins with ultrasound to find the best location. However, this study found that veins appear smaller on ultrasound than they actually are because patients are dehydrated and cold. When doctors gave patients a nerve block anesthetic before surgery, it relaxed their blood vessels and made veins larger—so the researchers repeated the vein mapping after the nerve block to see if they could find better access locations. In 63% of cases, the second ultrasound revealed better vein options than the first one, and these better-located access points worked just as well as the originally planned locations.

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This study focused on how to improve admissions for underrepresented minority (URM) students in osteopathic medical schools in the U.S. Since 2015, the COMPASS program at Touro College has been working to recruit and support these students. The findings highlight that such programs can help bridge the racial gaps in medical education, which is crucial for creating a diverse healthcare workforce. Who this helps: This benefits underrepresented minority students aspiring to become doctors.

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This study looked at specific proteins in the muscles of patients with heart failure and compared them to those without heart failure during exercise. It found that heart failure patients had higher levels of two proteins, TRP1 and COX-2, than the healthy group, which could explain why they experience greater feedback from their muscles that affects their ability to exercise. This is important because understanding these mechanisms might help improve exercise responses in heart failure patients. Who this helps: This helps patients with heart failure and their doctors in managing exercise-related challenges.

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This study looked at how sex differences, menstrual cycles, and menopause status affect a body response during exercise called the exercise pressor reflex (EPR), which helps control blood pressure. The researchers found that premenopausal women experience lower blood pressure increases during exercise compared to men, while postmenopausal women show higher blood pressure responses, potentially due to hormonal changes. Understanding these differences matters because it can help doctors better manage exercise and blood pressure in women at different life stages. Who this helps: This research helps patients, particularly women experiencing menopause.

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This study looked at how doctors assess a patient's ability to agree to thrombolysis, a treatment for acute stroke, especially when the patient is very ill. The research found that understanding a patient’s ability to make decisions can be tough, and both patients and doctors shared their views on this issue. It matters because being able to properly assess consent ensures that patients receive appropriate treatment, which can improve outcomes in acute situations. Who this helps: This helps patients and doctors in emergency situations.

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The researchers studied a new method to measure a particular substance called muraglitazar 1-O-beta-acyl glucuronide in blood samples without needing to go through a complicated separation process. They found that their improved method significantly reduced the time it takes to complete the measurement from 12 minutes to just 2.5 minutes, while still producing accurate results. This is important because it means faster and more efficient testing, which can help in monitoring drug levels for safety and effectiveness in patients. Who this helps: This benefits doctors and patients by allowing quicker drug monitoring.

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This study looked at a new method for preparing human blood plasma samples to accurately measure a basic drug. The researchers found that their simplified technique effectively cleaned the samples and achieved results similar to traditional methods, while also removing unnecessary steps. Specifically, it maintained high sample purity with a detection range from 0.5 to 100 ng/mL. Who this helps: This benefits researchers and doctors who need to test drug levels in patients efficiently.

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This paper looks at how nursing research can better connect with everyday nurses and be more useful in their work. It finds that while there has been progress in nursing research globally, many nurses still feel disconnected from this evolving field. The authors argue that nursing education should focus more on research and that clinical research should be promoted to show nurses how valuable this information can be in their practice. Who this helps: This helps nurses and ultimately improves patient care.

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This paper discusses the importance of connecting nursing education with higher education in the UK, emphasizing that recent decisions have not benefited nurses in the healthcare system. Specifically, it highlights that educating nurses separately from their professional peers has hindered their progress in administration and management within the NHS. The authors argue for a shift towards integrating nursing education into mainstream higher education to improve the profession and adapt to the evolving healthcare landscape. Who this helps: This helps nurses seeking better education and career opportunities in healthcare.

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This study looked at what affects the quality of life for elderly people dealing with pain. Researchers spoke with 190 elderly patients and their community nurses, discovering that feelings of regret, staying active, and feeling in control of their pain significantly impacted their mood. They found that patients who used active coping strategies felt better than those who used passive ones. It's important for community nurses to recognize these factors and improve how they assess and manage pain in elderly patients. Who this helps: This helps elderly patients and their community nurses.

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This research paper looks at how nurses can better manage pain in people living in the community. It introduces a new framework that considers different types of pain, how people react to it, and what distinguishes those who manage pain well from those who struggle. The findings highlight the important role nurses play in helping elderly patients improve their ability to cope with pain. Who this helps: This benefits elderly patients dealing with chronic pain.

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The research paper looks at how modern nursing practices have depended on doctors for their understanding of health sciences since nursing began. It found that this reliance on the medical profession has shaped nursing education and practices significantly. This finding matters because it highlights the importance of collaboration between nurses and doctors to improve patient care. Who this helps: Patients receive better care through improved teamwork between nurses and doctors.

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This paper looks at how the study of life sciences, like anatomy and microbiology, relates to nursing and how these subjects can be better taught to future nurses. The authors suggest a new model that connects these sciences directly to nursing practices, advocating for a "bio-nursing" approach similar to how life sciences are used in medical education. This is important because by improving the way life sciences are taught, nursing education can become more relevant and effective, which ultimately benefits patient care. Who this helps: This helps nursing students and educators.

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This research paper discusses the challenges in integrating life sciences into nursing education. It found that while life sciences are important for nursing, many nursing schools focus more on medical practices and theories, making it hard to connect these sciences to actual nursing work. The paper proposes a new approach called bionursing to better link life sciences to nursing practice, which could enhance the training and effectiveness of nurses. Who this helps: This helps nursing educators and students.

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The study focused on Lichen Planus, a skin condition, among 95 Nigerians over three years and found it made up 5% of all skin cases, with more women affected than men. Most patients (68%) had widespread lesions on their bodies, and the condition was more common during the rainy season, from April to September, affecting mostly younger people. Understanding these patterns can help in better diagnosing and treating this condition in tropical Africa. Who this helps: This information helps doctors and healthcare providers in treating patients with Lichen Planus.