Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Non-Invasive Monitoring Device For Early Detection Of Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema, Amy Prendergast

Honors Theses and Capstones

Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema (BCRL) is a common co-morbidity in cancer survivors following neoadjuvant therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery. It is brought about by the disruption in the lymphatic system (think lymph node biopsy) that leads to a buildup of lymphatic fluid in the arm. Current diagnostic strategies for this condition are merely retroactive, and fairly limited in the parameters that are examined to ensure patient well-being long term. We hypothesize that with an approach that mimics bioimpedance spectroscopy analysis, we will be able to provide a clinical support tool that would better determine early stages of lymphedema …

Digital Clock Drawing As An Alzheimer's Disease Susceptibility Biomarker: Associations With Genetic Risk Score And Apoe In Older Adults, L I Thompson, M Cummings, S Emrani, David J. Libon, A Ang, C Karjadi, R Au, C Liu

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Faculty Scholarship

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in older adults, but most people are not diagnosed until significant neuronal loss has likely occurred along with a decline in cognition. Non-invasive and cost-effective digital biomarkers for AD have the potential to improve early detection.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the validity of DCTclockTM (a digitized clock drawing task) as an AD susceptibility biomarker.

DESIGN: We used two primary independent variables, Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele carrier status and polygenic risk score (PRS). We examined APOE and PRS associations with DCTclockTM composite scores as dependent measures.

SETTING: We used existing data …

Instrumental Assessment Of Aero-Resistive Expiratory Muscle Strength Rehabilitation Devices, Angela M. Dietsch, Rahul Krishnamurthy, Kelsey Young, Steven M. Barlow

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Purpose

Expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) is increasingly being used to treat voice, cough, and swallowing deficits in a wide range of conditions. However, a multitude of aero-resistive EMST models are commercially available, and the ab-sence of side-by-side comparative data interferes with clinicians’ ability to assess which model is best suited to a particular client’s needs. The primary aim of this research was to test and compare the pressure and flow parameters of six currently available EMST models to help inform clinical decision making.

Method

We identified and tested five devices of each of six different EMST models to generate …

Implementation Of A Non-Pharmacological Cognitive Stimulation Therapeutic Activities Protocol As A Delirium Prevention Method For Adults, Jada Hieb

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Practice Innovation Projects

Background/Purpose: Delirium is a complex clinical syndrome comprising a constellation of symptoms, including acute onset, inattention, altered level of consciousness, and disorganized thinking or cognitive dysfunction. Delirium is a common complication often unrecognized, expensive, and preventable. This project's focus was further exploring non-pharmacological delirium prevention strategies (NDPS).
Methods: A NDPS program using a therapeutic activity book (TAB) was implemented in a Midwestern acute care hospital measuring the impact on the number of positive delirium screens, the number of delirium diagnoses, and hospital length of stay (LOS).
Results: A causative relationship or association between the TAB and outcomes could not be …

From Heel To Toe: Investigating Plantar Fasciitis Causes, Diagnosis, And Treatment Strategies, Breanna Littlejohn

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This presentation informs plantar fasciitis patients. The cause of plantar fasciitis is multifactorial but most cases result from overuse stress. The cause of plantar fasciitis is multifactorial but most cases result from overuse stress. The classic presentation is of sharp localized pain at the heel. In some cases, a heel spur may be found. This presentation explains how exercise can improve plantar fasciitis. Reviewing risk factors will help you identify and manage plantar fasciitis when undergoing treatment. Understanding plantar fasciitis is crucial as it is a common and painful condition affecting the bottom of the foot. This inflammation of the …

Hypothermia Versus Normothermia As Intervention To Reduce Mortality Rates Following Out Of Hospital Cardiac Arrest, Cora Blunden

Soaring: A Journal of Undergraduate Research

Abstract

Background: Cardiac arrest contributes to 300,000 to 450,000 deaths in the United States every year. Individuals who survive cardiac arrest often still die after resuscitation. Induced hypothermia is often an intervention used for individuals after being resuscitated after a cardiac arrest and has become standard practice for several institutions. There is significant motivation to see if induced hypothermic states promote improved mortality rates for patients who experience cardiac arrests.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to determine the effectiveness of induced hypothermia versus normothermia on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest mortality rates. Methods: A review of recent literature in the …

Utilizing Ai Integrated Neuroimaging Technology To Expand Upon Machine Learning In Positron Emission Tomography Technology With The Aim Of Detecting Amyloid Beta Biomarkers Early In The Onset Of Alzheimer's., Ethan S. Terman

Undergraduate Research Posters

Early intervention in Alzheimer's is vital for treatment. The earlier a professional can detect symptoms and make a diagnosis the earlier a prognosis can be implemented. With the prevalence of data in our day-to-day world combined with Artificial intelligence (AI), utilizing both for machine learning can pave the way for more accurate and efficient detection of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. AI combined with Machine learning (ML) increases diagnostic efficiency and reduces human errors, making it a valuable resource for physicians and clinicians alike. With the increasing amount of data processing and image interpretation required, the ability to use AI …

Incidence Of Above Knee Amupations Due To Total Knee Arthroplasty Complications: A Comprehensive Analysis From A Midwest Metropolitan Hospital System, Robert Garner, Collin Erickson, Evan Johnson, Brandalynn Holland, Jacob Frisbie

Continental, MidAmerica, & Mountain Divisions Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Utility Of Bedside Ultrasound In Identifying Undiagnosed Malpresentation Upon Admission To Labor And Delivery: A Quality Improvement Project, Kristen Daugherty, Gloria Wang, Samantha Mclean, Jeffrey Johnson, Kelly Mosher

Continental, MidAmerica, & Mountain Divisions Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Retrospective Analysis Of Surgical Time Proficiency During Laparoscopic Myomectomies, Jeffrey Johnson, Kimberly Swan, Errick Arroyo

Continental, MidAmerica, & Mountain Divisions Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Hsp70 Is A Critical Regulator Of Hsp90 Inhibitor's Effectiveness In Preventing Hcl-Induced Chronic Lung Injury And Pulmonary Fibrosis, Ruben M. L. Colunga Biancatelli, Pavel A. Solopov, Tierney Day, Betsy Gregory, Michael Osei-Nkansah, Christiana Dimitropoulou, John D. Catravas

Bioelectrics Publications

Exposure to hydrochloric acid (HCl) can provoke acute and chronic lung injury. Because of its extensive production for industrial use, frequent accidental exposures occur, making HCl one of the top five chemicals causing inhalation injuries. There are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments for HCl exposure. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitors modulate transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling and the development of chemical-induced pulmonary fibrosis. However, little is known on the role of Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) during injury and treatment with HSP90 inhibitors. We hypothesized that administration of geranylgeranyl-acetone (GGA), an HSP70 inducer, or gefitinib (GFT), an …

Role Of Plasmapheresis: A Tale Of Two Thyroid Storms, Zhiwei Zhang, Sam Joseph, Donald Eagerton

South Atlantic Division Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Severe Knee Pain Status-Post Total Knee Arthroplasty (Tka): A Primer For Possible Interventional Procedures, Rishabh Agrawal, Rohan Kapuria, Arthur M. Freedman, Hanping Wu

South Atlantic Division Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Multidisciplinary Management For Large And Difficult Choledocholithiasis: The Role Of Choledochotomy, Jilpa Shah, Balu Chandra

North Texas Research Forum 2024

Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm is a rare sequela of atherosclerosis, trauma, and conditions of chronic inflammation. Standard treatments include antiplatelet medications, open resection, or endovascular stenting. Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) has become a well-recognized alternative treatment in the past few decades. This case study documents the first reported case of Horner’s syndrome post-TCAR for an internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm. A 68 year-old male with intermittent double vision was referred to vascular surgery clinic with brain CT angiography showing a 9mm saccular aneurysm with dissection flap of the right cervical ICA. Prior attempts by neuro-interventional radiology were unsuccessful due to …

Development And Validation Of A Novel Skin Pigment Scale, Christina Guo, Henry Lim, Christopher Wong, Christian Scheufele, Michael Carletti, Michele L. Mccarroll, Stephen Weis

North Texas Research Forum 2024

Background: Precise description of the skin is a pillar of dermatology. For dermatologists, skin pigment is akin to a ‘vital sign’ in that it represents a basic, yet illuminating, piece of information for each patient. The current method used to describe skin color is the Fitzpatrick scale. The Fitzpatrick scale was designed to measure skin burning and the scale is inadequate for precise measurement of skin color in a diverse population. The prevalence of its use perpetuates harmful and outdated structures and contributes to health disparity. For those reasons, there is a critical need for initiatives that evaluate the current …

Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return: To Fix Or Not To Fix?, Akshaj Pole, Jennifer Austin, Amnah Andrabi

North Texas Research Forum 2024

Patient is a 56-year-old male with a past medical history of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, prior MVA with chest trauma, and coronary artery disease with 2 prior stents in the obtuse marginal and right coronary artery who was brought to the ED for severe chest pain. Patient was immediately taken to the cath lab for cardiac intervention. Patient was identified to have 90-95% stenosis of his left circumflex but was unable to be stented due to tortuosity of the vessel and tight lesion. Due to patient’s multivessel coronary artery disease and newly diagnosed diabetes, patient was referred to cardiothoracic surgery …

Retrospective Review Of Adverse Events After Treatment Of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer With Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy, Marshall Hall, Henry Lim, Jason Pham, Alyssa Forsyth, Wenqin Du

North Texas Research Forum 2024

No abstract provided.

Colovaginal Fistula In A Patient Without A Hysterectomy, Austin Moore, Mollie Ahn, Anthony Macaluso

North Texas Research Forum 2024

Introduction: A majority of case reports and review studies exploring the incidence of colovaginal fistulas typically involve patients of older age with a history of both a hysterectomy and at least one episode of symptomatic diverticular disease. Colovaginal fistulas rarely occur in patients who have not had a prior hysterectomy. Case Description: A 52 year old female presented to colorectal surgery clinic with a history of multiple episodes of sigmoid diverticulitis who now had passage of air and stool from her vagina. She was confirmed to have evidence of a colovaginal fistula from her sigmoid colon to her …

Comparing Large Language Models Accuracy In Following Interval Surveillance Colonoscopy Guidelines, Olufemi Osikoya, Gregory Brennan

North Texas Research Forum 2024

Introduction: Providing pathology results and appropriate recommendations after resection of colon polyps is mandatory. Large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Google Bard, have shown promise in clinical workflows such as pathology results letters. We tested whether LLMs could provide appropriate surveillance recommendations based on current guidelines from the US multi-society task force for post-colonoscopy follow-up. Methods: Our aim was to compare the accuracy of ChatGPT 3.5, ChatGPT 4, and Google Bard in providing appropriate interval surveillance recommendations. An example prompt being “Write a patient pathology result letter after a colonoscopy with one tubular adenoma polyp (< 10mm) resected. Include recommendations for when the next surveillance colonoscopy should be completed.” Seventeen different post polypectomy surveillance queries and responses were analyzed (correct, partially correct, incorrect) compared to USMSTF guidelines. Results: When …

Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis Discovered Through Skin Biopsy In A Pregnant Patient From Mexico, Henry Lim, Christina Guo, Marshall Hall, Christian Scheufele, Christopher M. Wong

North Texas Research Forum 2024

Introduction: Coccidioidomycosis is an infection caused by the organism Coccidioides immitis, a fungus endemic to the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central and South America. The presentation of coccidioidomycosis can range from symptoms resembling a simple upper respiratory infection, such as cough, to more severe systemic symptoms including fever, malaise, and chills. Cutaneous lesions of coccidioidomycosis demonstrate a large heterogeneity of clinical manifestations but are significant as they may be the presenting sign of disseminated disease. While usually confined to the lungs, extrapulmonary coccidioidomycosis can occur in about 1 in 200 patients, most commonly associated with immunocompromised status. Pregnancy is an …

Improving Lesion Diameter Reporting On Skin Biopsy Requisition Forms: A Quality Improvement Project, Christopher Wong, Christian Scheufele, Marshall Hall, Henry Lim, Daniel A. Nguyen

North Texas Research Forum 2024

Background: Skin biopsy requisition forms (SBRFs) are the primary communication tool between dermatologists and dermatopathologists. Diameters of biopsied skin lesions are frequently omitted on SBRFs. This quality improvement project aimed to increase the rate of reporting diameters of neoplasms on SBRFs from an academic dermatology outpatient clinic to greater than 65% within three years. Methods: The Plan-Do-Study-Act model was utilized. An initial audit was performed for SBRFs of biopsies obtained between July 1, 2021, and February 4, 2022 (“Cycle 1”). On February 4, 2022, the authors discussed societal guidelines for lesion diameter reporting on SBRFs (“Intervention A”). Cycle 2 prospectively …

Polypharmacy And Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing In Geriatric Population, Maryam Burney, Barry Brown, Victoria Nguyen, Garrett Furth, Ambreen I. Ahmed

North Texas Research Forum 2024

Polypharmacy is a ubiquitous concern among patients, especially geriatric patients, who are at a higher risk of clinical burden. It is associated with an increase in healthcare costs, decreased functional status, and adverse drug events, contributing to geriatric syndromes, such as falls, cognitive decline, and urinary retention. Geriatric care is multi-tiered, requiring assistance and care from a thorough physician who is attune to the potential risks of medications that are commonly prescribed. Smaller communities, often with less resources and clinical providers and with an aging population, especially at the hospital setting, are vulnerable to oversights when it comes to medication …

Geometric Favre-Racouchot Syndrome Following Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy, Marshall Hall, Cecilia Nguyen, Christian Scheufele, Christopher M. Wong, Stephen E. Weis

North Texas Research Forum 2024

Introduction: Favre-Racouchot Syndrome is a cutaneous disease characterized by nodules, cysts, and comedones located in sun-exposed areas of the face. It is most commonly found on the bilateral temporal and periorbital skin. Favre-Racouchot Syndrome is most associated with chronic sun exposure. It occurs more commonly in cigarette smokers. It has been rarely associated with radiation therapy. It has not been reported after image-guided superficial radiation therapy or in a geometric pattern. Case presentation: We present the first two recorded cases of Favre-Racouchot Syndrome occurring in the setting of image-guided superficial radiation therapy. Both patients presented with well-demarcated geometric plaques with …

Machine Learning As A Tool For Early Detection: A Focus On Late-Stage Colorectal Cancer Across Socioeconomic Spectrums, Hadiza Galadima, Rexford Anson-Dwamena, Ashley Johnson, Ghalib Bello, Georges Adunlin, James Blando

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of various machine learning (ML) algorithms in predicting late-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnoses against the backdrop of socio-economic and regional healthcare disparities. Methods: An innovative theoretical framework was developed to integrate individual- and census tract-level social determinants of health (SDOH) with sociodemographic factors. A comparative analysis of the ML models was conducted using key performance metrics such as AUC-ROC to evaluate their predictive accuracy. Spatio-temporal analysis was used to identify disparities in late-stage CRC diagnosis probabilities. Results: Gradient boosting emerged as the superior model, with the top predictors for late-stage CRC diagnosis being anatomic site, …

Delays In Chest Compressions During Ems Cpr: A Retrospective Review Of Cardiac Ultrasound Vs Carotid Views During Ohca, Himanshu Gupta, Ryan Richardson, Casey Patrick, James Seek, Nick Smith, Kevin Crocker, Josh Rasco, Robert Dickson

Gulf Coast Division Research Symposium 2024

No abstract provided.

Foreign Body Removed Through Laparotomy: A Case Report And Literature Review, Kayla Nguyen, Duyen Quach, David Ortiz, Dominique Norris, Srinivas Ramireddy, Jody Smith

Gulf Coast Division Research Symposium 2024

No abstract provided.

Differences In C-Section Times With Resident Involvement Vs No Resident Involvement, Samantha Mclean, Kimberly Swan, Rabiya Suleman, Jeffery Durbin

Continental, MidAmerica, & Mountain Divisions Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of 3 Treatments For Fractures Of The Humeral Shaft, Neil Werthmann, Mason Poffenbarger, John Riehl

North Texas Research Forum 2024

INTRODUCTION: Over the past 40 years, surgical treatment for humeral shaft fractures has become more common. The purpose of the study was to evaluate complication rates seen with different treatments for humeral shaft fractures. Nerve injury (NI), infection, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and nonunion (NU) were the specific complications investigated. METHODS: A retrospective database review was performed looking at all patients with humeral shaft fractures. Data was analyzed for complication rates for non-surgical (NS) treatment, open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), and intramedullary nailing (IMN). Inclusion criteria were: 1) patients ages of 18 to 89 and 2) those with humeral shaft …

Association Of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Treatment With Perioperative And Postoperative Complications In Patients Undergoing Elective Bariatric Surgery, Justin Sanchez, Enith Espinosa, Sean Sojdie, Michael Green, Lauren Wonderly

North Texas Research Forum 2024

Glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) are FDA-approved medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity, and are also beneficial in cardiovascular risk reduction. However, due to known GLP-1 RA adverse effects, notably delayed gastric emptying, the ASA has implemented GLP-1RA guidelines aiming to minimize potential complications related to GLP-1 RA use in patients undergoing procedures requiring general anesthesia. With the ever-increasing number of patients being prescribed GLP-1 RAs, more research needs to be conducted to investigate their potential impact in other areas of healthcare. This retrospective study aims to compare surgical outcomes before and following the …

Wernicke Encephalopathy: Not Always Alcohol’S Fault, Joseph Hendrickson, Ryan Spilman

Continental, MidAmerica, & Mountain Divisions Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.