Nathan Tran

All Publications

• Hypnosis for Antineoplastic-Related Taste Disturbance in a Patient With Metastatic Breast Cancer. Psycho-oncology Saperia, C., Tran, N., Zewde, N., Spiegel, D. 2024; 33 (12): e70052

  Abstract

  Taste disturbances are prominent side effects of antineoplastic medications and contribute to morbidity and quality-of-life impairment. Few treatment options are available for antineoplastic-related taste disorders. Hypnosis has been found to be effective for a variety of symptoms in the cancer setting, including insomnia, pain, mood disorders and anxiety. Numerous somatosensory perceptual changes have been observed with hypnosis, including perception of tactile stimuli and color. Here, we report a case of a 74-year-old woman with recurrent metastatic breast cancer presenting with an 18-month history of antineoplastic-related hypogeusia. She was treated with hypnosis and reported resolution of taste symptoms after 10 days of daily practice. Her improvement seems to be related to hypnotic changes in somatosensory perception, which may be associated with functional alterations in salience, executive control and default mode networks during hypnosis. Further investigation of hypnosis for antineoplastic-related taste disturbances is indicated.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/pon.70052

  View details for PubMedID 39694869

• Zolpidem for the Management of Catatonia: A Systematic Review. Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Gunther, M., Tran, N., Jiang, S. 2024

  Abstract

  Catatonia is a psychomotor syndrome associated with neurotransmitter disturbances, common in both psychiatric and medical settings. Hypoactivity of the GABAA receptor is one of the predominant theories behind the pathophysiology of catatonia, affecting both motor functioning and emotional regulation. Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam are considered the first-line treatment for catatonia. However, up to 27% of catatonia cases fail to respond to benzodiazepines alone. Zolpidem, which can be used as a challenge, monotherapy, or augmentation agent, serves as a promising pharmacological agent for catatonia due to its unique pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile.We sought to systematically examine the evidence behind zolpidem's use among adult patients to understand its clinical utility in the management of catatonia against prevailing treatments such as lorazepam and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).We conducted a systematic review using search terms related to zolpidem and catatonia in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. We followed PRISMA guidelines and identified 29 studies, including case studies and case series, that met inclusion criteria.We reviewed 35 cases in which zolpidem was used for catatonia management (age: M =51.5 ± 21.0 SD years; 68.6% female; Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale: M=22.2 ± 9.0 SD). Proportions of positive responses for zolpidem on catatonia varied by treatment approach: 91% as a challenge agent (n=10), 100% as a first-line monotherapy agent (n=3), 57% as a first-line combination therapy agent (n=4), 70% as a second-line monotherapy agent (n=7), and 100% as a second-line augmentation agent (n=4). In total, 28 out of the 35 reported cases of catatonia (80%) responded positively to zolpidem.An 80% positive response rate for zolpidem in lysing catatonia is encouraging but may be an overestimate due to reporting bias of case level data. Results may be explained by zolpidem's selectivity for the α1 subunit of the GABAA receptor. Thus, zolpidem may be an under-utilized catatonia treatment and prove useful in situations when benzodiazepines fail or when ECT access is limited. Given that current literature on the use of zolpidem for catatonia is limited to case reports, more robust research in this area is warranted.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaclp.2024.10.004

  View details for PubMedID 39522949

• Hypnosis facilitates psychosomatic improvement in a patient with treatment-resistant idiopathic tinnitus. The American journal of clinical hypnosis Tran, N., Zewde, N., Spiegel, D. 2024: 1-6

  Abstract

  Chronic tinnitus, also known as phantom sound perception, is a pervasive and often debilitating condition, affecting 15 to 20% of the population. Due to its idiopathic and persistent nature, chronic tinnitus is frequently associated with co-occurring psychiatric disorders as well as decreased sleep and quality of life. Additionally, heterogeneous presentations of tinnitus create challenges for treatment. In this paper, we present a case study of a 70-year-old female patient who presented with severe bilateral tinnitus over a period of 5years. After failing multiple treatment trials such as transtympanic electric stimulation, acupuncture, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and medication, the patient found relief only through hypnotherapy. Results may be explained by alterations in interoceptive processing, increased cognitive flexibility, or somatosensory changes, with corresponding changes in functional neural structures. Given the results of this case study, we recommend hypnosis as an alternative or adjunct to current treatment modalities for tinnitus and further investigation in this area.

  View details for DOI 10.1080/00029157.2024.2379284

  View details for PubMedID 39051968

• The role of perceived health in retention disparity: A HIV-testing-related behavioral intervention among African American and Latinx men who have sex with men in the United States. Preventive medicine reports Tran, N., Nishi, A., Young, L. E., Endo, A., Cumberland, W. G., Young, S. D. 2023; 33: 102195

  Abstract

  Retention in healthcare and health behavior remains a critical issue, contributing to inequitable distribution of intervention benefits. In diseases such as HIV, where half of the new infections occur among racial and sexual minorities, it is important that interventions do not enlarge pre-existing health disparities. To effectively combat this public health issue, it is crucial that we quantify the magnitude of racial/ethnic disparity in retention. Further, there is a need to identify mediating factors to this relationship to inform equitable intervention design. In the present study, we assess the racial/ethnic disparity in retention in a peer-led online behavioral intervention to increase HIV self-testing behavior and identify explanatory factors. The research used data collected from the Harnessing Online Peer Education (HOPE) HIV Study that included 899 primarily African American and Latinx men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. Results show that African American participants had higher lost-to-follow-up rates at 12-week follow-up compared to Latinx participants (11.1% and 5.8% respectively, Odds Ratio = 2.18, 95% confidence interval: 1.12 - 4.11, p = 0.02), which is substantially mediated by participants' self-rated health score (14.1% of the variation in the African American v.s. Latinx difference in lost-follow-up, p = 0.006). Thus, how MSM perceive their health may play an important role in their retention in HIV-related behavioral intervention programs and its racial/ethnic disparity.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102195

  View details for PubMedID 37223563

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10201871

• Revisiting social MPE: an integration of molecular pathological epidemiology and social science in the new era of precision medicine. Expert review of molecular diagnostics Dai, J., Nishi, A., Tran, N., Yamamoto, Y., Dewey, G., Ugai, T., Ogino, S. 2021; 21 (9): 869-886

  Abstract

  Molecular pathological epidemiology (MPE) is an integrative transdisciplinary area examining the relationships between various exposures and pathogenic signatures of diseases. In line with the accelerating advancements in MPE, social science and its health-related interdisciplinary areas have also developed rapidly. Accumulating evidence indicates the pathological role of social-demographic factors. We therefore initially proposed social MPE in 2015, which aims to elucidate etiological roles of social-demographic factors and address health inequalities globally. With the ubiquity of molecular diagnosis, there are ample opportunities for researchers to utilize and develop the social MPE framework.Molecular subtypes of breast cancer have been investigated rigorously for understanding its etiologies rooted from social factors. Emerging evidence indicates pathogenic heterogeneity of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Presenting specific patterns of social-demographic factors across different molecular subtypes should be promising for advancing the screening, prevention, and treatment strategies of those heterogeneous diseases. This article rigorously reviewed literatures investigating differences of race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status across molecular subtypes of breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease to date.With advancements of the multi-omics technologies, we foresee a blooming of social MPE studies, which can address health disparities, advance personalized molecular medicine, and enhance public health.

  View details for DOI 10.1080/14737159.2021.1952073

  View details for PubMedID 34253130

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8478868