Publications
Bayanzay K, Amoozgar B, Kaushal V, Holman A, Som V, Sen S. Impact of profession and wards on moral distress in a community hospital. Nursing Ethics. November 2021.
This research explores how moral distress affects nurses and physicians working in different wards of a community hospital. Moral distress occurs when health care professionals face ethical dilemmas that compromise their values or integrity. The authors surveyed 156 nurses and 54 physicians using a validated instrument called the Measure of Moral Distress—Healthcare Professionals. They found that nurses experienced higher levels of moral distress than physicians, and that moral distress was more prevalent in the intensive care units and emergency rooms than in the medical/surgical ward and telemetry ward. They also discovered that psychological empowerment, which refers to one’s sense of control and influence over one’s work environment, was negatively correlated with moral distress among nurses. The authors suggest that interventions to enhance psychological empowerment and ethical climate may help reduce moral distress among health care professionals.
Bayanzay, Karim, et al. "The Effects of Episodic Glycemic Variations on the Clinic Outcomes of patients with Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock in a Community Hospital Setting" Chest 158.4 (2020): A678.
This research investigates how fluctuations in blood sugar levels affect the outcomes of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, which are life-threatening conditions caused by infection. The authors analyzed data from 101 patients admitted to a community hospital’s intensive care unit over a period of two years. They measured the frequency and magnitude of glycemic variations using a metric called coefficient of variation (CV). They found that patients with higher CV had higher mortality rates, longer lengths of stay, and more organ failures than patients with lower CV. They also found that patients who received insulin therapy had lower CV than those who did not. The authors conclude that episodic glycemic variations may be associated with worse outcomes in septic patients, and that insulin therapy may help reduce these variations.
Bayanzay K, Razzeto A, Amoozgar B, et al. “The Clinical Challenges of Diagnosing Acutely Decompensating Amyloidosis” Cureus 12(11): e11418. November 10, 2020.
This research presents a case of a middle-aged female who died of cardiac arrest due to undiagnosed amyloidosis, a rare disease that causes abnormal protein deposits in various organs. The authors describe the clinical challenges of diagnosing amyloidosis, which can mimic other conditions such as heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease. They highlight the importance of early recognition and intervention to improve survival and quality of life for patients with amyloidosis. They also review the current diagnostic tools and treatment options for this condition.
Bayanzay K, Khan R, “Meta-Analysis on Effectiveness of Hydroxyurea to Treat Transfusion Dependent Beta-Thalassemia Patients.” Hematology 20.8 (2015): 469-476.
This research evaluates the effectiveness of hydroxyurea, a drug that stimulates fetal hemoglobin production, in reducing the need for blood transfusions in patients with beta-thalassemia, a genetic disorder that impairs red blood cell formation. The authors conducted a meta-analysis of 11 studies involving 376 patients who received hydroxyurea therapy for at least six months. They found that hydroxyurea significantly reduced the transfusion frequency and volume in beta-thalassemia patients, especially those with non-severe genotypes. They also found that hydroxyurea was well tolerated and had minimal side effects. The authors suggest that hydroxyurea may be a useful alternative or adjunct to conventional transfusion therapy for beta-thalassemia patients.
Bayanzay K, Alzoebie L, “Reducing the Iron Burden and Improving Survival in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients: Current Perspectives.” Journal of Blood Medicine. 2016;7:159-169.
This research reviews the current perspectives on reducing the iron burden and improving survival in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients, a group of inherited blood disorders that cause severe anemia and require lifelong blood transfusions. The authors explain the pathophysiology of thalassemia and iron toxicity, which can damage vital organs such as the heart, liver, and endocrine glands. They also discuss the comprehensive transfusion protocols, accurate measurements of total body iron, and strategies to reduce iron burden using chelation therapy or stem cell transplantation. The authors emphasize the importance of early diagnosis, regular monitoring, and individualized treatment plans for thalassemia patients.
Bayanzay K, S Gomez, E Usman, “Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma”, Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia 19, S203, 2019.
This research examines the impact of Medicaid expansion on the stage of diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The authors used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program to compare the stages at which DLBCL was diagnosed before and after Medicaid expansion in states that expanded Medicaid versus states that did not expand Medicaid. They found that Medicaid expansion was associated with a significant increase in early-stage diagnosis of DLBCL and a significant decrease in late-stage diagnosis of DLBCL. They also found that Medicaid expansion reduced the disparity in stage of diagnosis between white and non-white patients. The authors conclude that Medicaid expansion may improve survival and reduce health care costs for DLBCL patients.
M Abbasi, AH Khan, K Bayanzay, A Rana, A Mosabbir “Precise Mean Axis of Rotation (MAR) Analysis for Clinical and Research Applications", International Symptosium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Springer, 107-122, August 2019.
This research presents a precise method for calculating the mean axis of rotation (MAR) of individual cervical vertebrae during flexion and extension movements. The MAR is an important indicator of normal and abnormal spinal pathologies, such as whiplash injury or degenerative disc disease. The authors use computer vision techniques to automatically detect and track the vertebrae landmarks from X-ray images and compute the MAR coordinates using a least-squares approach. They also propose a novel method for estimating the uncertainty of the MAR measurements using Monte Carlo simulations. They validate their method on synthetic and real data sets and compare it with existing methods. They demonstrate that their method is accurate, robust, and efficient for clinical and research applications.
Salem AM, Jaumally BA, Bayanzay K, Khoury K, Torkaman “Traumatic brain injuries from work accidents: a retrospective study” A. Occup Med. 2013 Jul;63(5):358-60.
This research analyzes the causes and outcomes of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) that occurred in work accidents in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The authors used data from 56 hospitalized patients who suffered TBI from work accidents between 2008 and 2010. They found that most of the patients were young male construction workers who sustained TBI due to falls or falling objects. They also found that TBI resulted in significant morbidity and mortality, with 11% of the patients having a moderate-to-severe disability and 8% dying from their injuries. The authors emphasize the need for preventive measures to improve worker safety and reduce the burden of TBI.
Mubashir U, Amoozgar B, Sen S, Kaushal V, Bayanzay K. "Immune Thrombocytopenia after Asymptomatic COVID-19 Infection." Authorea. May 28, 2020.
This research reports a rare case of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) following an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. ITP is a disorder that causes low platelet count and increased bleeding risk. The authors describe a 36-year-old male who presented with petechiae and ecchymosis on his lower extremities and was diagnosed with ITP based on laboratory tests and a bone marrow biopsy. He had no history of fever, cough, or other symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 infection. However, he tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, indicating previous exposure to the virus. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and steroids and achieved complete remission of his ITP. The authors suggest that COVID-19 infection may trigger an autoimmune response that leads to ITP in some patients
Kaushal V, Amoozgar B, Garala P, Bayanzay K, Sen S (May 20, 2020) "Spontaneous Recurrent Pneumoperitoneum due to Opioid-Induced Constipation" Cureus 12(5): e8205.
This research presents a rare case of spontaneous recurrent pneumoperitoneum due to opioid-induced constipation. Pneumoperitoneum is a condition where air accumulates in the abdominal cavity and causes abdominal pain and distension. Opioid-induced constipation is a common side effect of chronic opioid use that can lead to severe complications such as bowel perforation. The authors describe a 52-year-old male who had a history of chronic back pain and opioid use who presented with abdominal pain and respiratory distress. He was found to have massive pneumoperitoneum on chest X-ray and underwent emergency laparotomy. No evidence of bowel perforation was found and he was diagnosed with spontaneous pneumoperitoneum due to opioid-induced constipation. He was treated with bowel decompression, antibiotics, and laxatives and recovered well. However, he developed recurrent pneumoperitoneum after resuming his opioid use at home. He was advised to stop using opioids and switch to alternative pain management strategies.
Ozonoff S, Young GS, Goldring S, et al. "Gross motor development, movement abnormalities, and early identification of autism." J Autism Dev Disord. 2008 Apr;38(4):644-56.
This article explores how gross motor development and movement abnormalities in infancy can help identify autism spectrum disorders (ASD) early. The authors analyzed home videos of infants who were later diagnosed with ASD, developmental delays (DD), or typical development. They found that infants with ASD showed delayed and atypical gross motor development, such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking. They also exhibited more movement abnormalities, such as stiff postures, toe walking, and poor coordination. These findings suggest that gross motor development and movement abnormalities can be useful indicators of ASD risk in infancy, and can help clinicians and parents monitor the development of children at risk for ASD.