Primary Care Commons^™

Bilateral Eagle Syndrome: A Surprising Cause Of Neck Pain, Kailyn M. Mutsch, Alla Zamulko

Aesculapius Journal (Health Sciences & Medicine)

We report the case of a 45-year-old female who presented with chronic neck pain primarily left sided, globus sensation, and dysphagia for several years. Bilateral elongated styloid processes were identified on CT scan completed prior to the visit. Clinical and radiographic features were consistent with bilateral Eagle syndrome. Eagle syndrome can manifest as a constellation of symptoms characterized by throat and neck pain aggravated by rotation of the head, globus sensation of the throat, dysphagia, headache, tinnitus, syncope, or transient ischemic attacks in some cases. The objective of this case report was to discuss the features of Eagle syndrome and …

Strategies For Combating Vaccine Hesitancy In Primary Care, Elizabeth Perkins Hayes

Student Scholar Showcase

This article will summarize methods for providers to effectively combat vaccine hesitancy in their patient populations. Vaccine hesitancy is a growing concern in the medical field, as new cases of vaccine preventable diseases arise. However, vaccine hesitancy is more common than vaccine resistance and can be converted into vaccine acceptance with effective communication strategies.

There is no easy solution to the complex problem of vaccine hesitancy. Most studies demonstrate that effective conversion to vaccine acceptance requires tailoring vaccine information to the patient and listening to their concerns. Other methods include exposing patients to survivors of vaccine preventable diseases, or using …

Measuring The Impact Of Primary Care Team Composition On Patient Activation Utilizing Electronic Health Record Big Data Analytics, Kristen K. Will, Yue Liang, Chih-Lin Chi, Gerri Lamb, Michael Todd, Connie Delaney

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose

Team-based care has been linked to key outcomes associated with the Quadruple Aim and a key driver of high-value patient-centered care. Use of the electronic health record (EHR) and machine learning have significant potential to overcome previous barriers to studying the impact of teams, including delays in accessing data to improve teamwork and optimize patient outcomes.

Methods

This study utilized a large EHR dataset (n = 316,542) from an urban health system to explore the relationship between team composition and patient activation, a key driver of patient engagement. Teams were operationalized using consensus definitions of teamwork from the literature. …

Adult Development And Associated Health Risks, Elizabeth C. Halloran

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Much has been learned about adult development in recent decades. Adults go through stages of development (emerging adulthood, young adulthood, middle adulthood, post-retirement, and very old age) with certain challenges at each stage. Viewing patients through a developmental lens is part of providing patient-centered care. Knowing the prominent issues, stressors, and risks at each stage of development is important in understanding patients. This knowledge can help customize medical advice to patients regarding obesity, disability, sleep, substance use, relationships, and age-related declines. This paper summarizes an updated view of adult development and discusses its relevance to health risks and patient-centered care …

A Systematic Review: Mirror Neurons & Schizophrenia, Yashesvi Sharma, Surajit Dey

Annual Research Symposium

This research project establishes a link between Mirror Neuron System (MNS) activity and this information's implications in treating and understanding schizophrenia, specifically, schizophrenic patients with negative symptoms.

Deprescribing Proton Pump Inhibitors In A Rural Health Clinic, Jason Thomas Barney

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been extensively prescribed for gastrointestinal pathologies, contributing to $14 billion in annual expenditure in the United States alone. Inappropriate PPI prescriptions, affecting 48% of adults, raise concerns about prolonged usage and associated health risks. Addressing these issues is vital, considering the significant impact of PPIs on patient health and healthcare costs.

Local Problem: A Midwestern clinic grapples with inappropriate and unnecessary PPI use among patients. In response, a comprehensive deprescribing intervention combining a provider algorithm with patient education was implemented to reduce PPI usage that was medically unnecessary.

Methods: A literature …

Establishing The First Student-Run Clinic To Provide Free Health Care To A South Texas Colonia, John Nicholas Cauba, Andrew B. Callan, Beatriz Tapia

Research Symposium

Purpose: The purpose of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine Student Run Clinic is to bridge the healthcare gap in the local colonias by providing excellent, compassionate primary care to all who enter our doors, free of charge. We also work to connect our patients to low-cost, high-quality services in the area like women’s health visits, appointments with social workers, and dental services. Additionally, we offer medical students’ opportunities from their first year to serve an underserved population and get hands-on experience with patients.

Many patients in colonias face challenges like limited transportation options and a …

Development Of Solitary Keratoacanthoma From A Cutaneous Wart, Joshua M. Ninan, Veronica Salazar

Research Symposium

Background: Common cutaneous warts, referred to in medicine as verrucae vulgaris, are proliferative lesions caused by human papillomavirus. These lesions are mostly benign and usually resolve without incident, except in the case of the patient mentioned in this report. Our patient developed a solitary keratoacanthoma, currently accepted as a clinical variant of squamous cell carcinoma, as a result of several risk factors and traumatic exposure. The current literature does not have an established association of HPV with solitary keratoacanthomas. This case report explores the presentation and pathogenesis of solitary keratoacanthomas within the setting of HPV.

Case Presentation: 48-year-old Caucasian female …

Baclofen Induced Excessive Perspiration; A Case Report, Othman Farahneh, Lois C. Akpati, Miguel Alvarez Silva

Research Symposium

This case report highlights an unexpected side effect of Baclofen, a well-known medication, excessive sweating, a rare occurrence not typically associated with the drug. The patient, a 63-year-old woman, experienced persistent sweating despite initial attributions to postmenopausal symptoms and subsequent medication adjustments. Extensive testing revealed an association between Baclofen use and the symptoms, which resolved upon discontinuation of the drug.

The significance of this case lies in drawing attention to the underreported side effects of excessive sweating linked to Baclofen, emphasizing the importance of considering medication-related effects even with established drugs. The report urges increased awareness among healthcare professionals, addressing …

A True Bloody Emergency: An Unusual Case Of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Joshua M. Ninan

Research Symposium

Background: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a primary thrombotic microangiopathy that is classically characterized by thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA). Although rare with an annual incidence of 3.7 cases per one million adults, it is considered a true hematological emergency due to its fatality rate of almost 100% if appropriate treatment is not initiated immediately. This makes it vitally important to identify and treat patients with TTP, a task that becomes unusually challenging in the absence of the disorder’s other characteristically diagnostic clinical features such as mucosal bleeding, fever, or presence of schistocytes.

Case Presentation: A 30-year-old gentleman with …

Assessment Of Breastfeeding Education In Medical Training, Saranya Madan, Abigail Kuplicki

Medical Student Research Symposium

In 2019, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine issued a revised set of educational objectives for medical trainees at various stages of education. In this statement, objectives for medical school were broken down into preclinical and clinical training objectives. In this project, our goal is to assess the degree to which medical training at Wayne State University School of Medicine is addressing these aims.

The assessment of breastfeeding education is accomplished by surveying medical students at various stages of training (M1-M4) and eliciting their level of confidence in and understanding of the topics outlined in the objectives by the Academy of …

Presentations Of Cutaneous Disease In Various Skin Pigmentations: Acne Vulgaris - Comedonal Acne, Christopher M. Wong, Christina Guo, Christian J. Scheufele, Daniel A. Nguyen, Jean Elizze M. Charles, Michael Carletti, Stephen E. Weis

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory skin condition of the pilosebaceous unit in adolescents and young adults and is primarily characterized by the presence of open and closed comedones. In patients of various skin pigmentations, skin-colored comedones may be difficult to appreciate and lead to incorrect or delayed diagnosis of acne. To aid in the identification of acne vulgaris in patients of various skin pigmentations, we present comedonal acne in different skin types and commonly encountered differential diagnoses. With its significant volume and burden of disease, acne vulgaris should be correctly identified in various skin pigmentations by primary care clinicians …

Revolutionizing Denture Excellence: An Invigorating In-Vitro Exploration Of Organic Products In Prosthetic Rehabilitation, Nighila Ravindran, Sneha Joseph, Aswani Surya K

Annual Research Symposium

The denture base comes into contact with diverse substances in the oral cavity, acting as a reservoir for microorganisms like corynebacterium, streptococcus, lactobacillus, and candida. This colonization elevates the risk of complications such as denture stomatitis and candidiasis. Commercial denture cleaners have explored the use of natural ingredients, less commonly employed but offering various advantages. These ingredients aim to mitigate the potential issues associated with microbial colonization on denture surfaces, contributing to improved oral hygiene for denture wearers. The exploration of natural elements reflects a nuanced approach to denture care, considering both efficacy and less conventional alternatives.

Investigating Racial And Ethnic Healthcare Disparities In Screenable Ob/Gyn-Related Cancers, Lara Laughrey

Annual Research Symposium

This is a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature addressing healthcare inequity based on race and ethnicity with a specific focus on Ob/Gyn-related management and treatment of screenable cancers.

Assessment Of Emotional Intelligence Among Students In Dental College, Gowri Nandana S Final Year Student, Sudeep C. B Professor And Head Of The Department Of Public Health Dentistry

Annual Research Symposium

Over an extended period, the examination of intelligence predominantly centered on the adaptive deployment of cognitive abilities. In more recent times, scholars such as Gardner (1983) and Sternberg (1988) have proposed comprehensive frameworks for comprehending intelligence. Pioneering the concept of "emotional intelligence," Salovey and Mayer (1990) posited that emotional intelligence encompasses three distinct categories of adaptive capabilities: the evaluation and expression of emotions, the regulation of emotions, and the utilization of emotions in problem-solving. The objective is to evaluate emotional intelligence among dental students across various educational institutions.

Quality Of Life In Orthodontics, Claudia Eisenhuth, Gabriel Eisenhuth, Connor Schwartz, Amir Mohajeri, Man Hung, Tiffany Nelson, Ryann Glenn

Annual Research Symposium

Orthodontic treatment goes beyond mere cosmetic enhancement; it significantly impacts various aspects of an individual's quality of life. Beyond the physical benefits of improved oral function and prevention of dental issues, orthodontics also yields profound psychological benefits. Aligned teeth enhance self-confidence, reduce social anxiety, and contribute to better relationships and professional opportunities. Moreover, addressing dental concerns through orthodontic treatment reduces psychological distress and promotes overall happiness and satisfaction. Real-life case studies vividly illustrate the transformative effects of orthodontic interventions, emphasizing the importance of considering quality of life outcomes in dental care.

De Novo Microdeletion Spanning Ywhae And Crk In An Individual With Intellectual Disability And Stunted Growth, Eden E. Pope, John A. Kriak, Kyle B. Bills, David W. Sant

Annual Research Symposium

In this report, we present a case of a 20-year-old female with congenital intellectual disability, stunted growth, and hypothyroidism. Competitive genetic hybridization (CHG) revealed a loss of a portion of 17p13.3 at least 195 Kb in size, not present in either parent. This area of chromosome 17 is associated with Miller-Dieker Syndrome (MDS) and Isolated Lissencephaly Sequence (ILS), but these conditions are related predominantly to PAFAH1B1, which is not included in the patient’s deletion.

Investigating The Interplay Between Glucose Regulation, Neural Activity, And Motivation: A Novel Approach Utilizing Vibration Stimulation, Blake D. Harris, Patrick Tanner Brain, Alessandra Maisie Rivera, Tiffany Nguyen, James Barber, Amar Paul, John Dougherty Jr., Matthew Jennings, Bridger Gunter, David W. Sant, Christina A. Small, Scott Steffenson, Kyle B. Bills

Annual Research Symposium

This research explores the intricate relationship between glucose regulation, neural activity, and motivation in key brain regions, including the hypothalamus, basal ganglia, ventral tegmental area (VTA), and nucleus accumbens (NA). We aim to unravel the potential relationship of these factors on dopamine (DA) release and the broader implications for mental health, glucose regulation, well-being, and overall health. Our innovative approach involves using a chair that causes heterodyned whole-body vibration designed to stimulate DA release from the VTA and NA, areas associated with motivation and rewards.

Exploring The Interconnected Role Of The Oral Microbiome And Periodontal Disease In The Development And Progression Of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Malak Al-Regib, Claudia M. Tellez Freitas

Annual Research Symposium

This comprehensive review explores the complex linkage among the oral microbiome, periodontal disease, and the onset and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

A Rare Appendiceal Mucocele Of The Appendix Captured On The Ultrasound: Case Report, Vera Shulgina, Meghan Single, Joel Thompson

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Appendiceal mucocele is a rare disease which results from an accumulation of mucus in the lumen of the appendix, leading to distension and obstruction of the lumen. Clinical diagnosis is often delayed, as the presenting symptoms are usually non-specific. Even with the use of imaging, preoperative diagnosis is difficult. The treatment is surgical, with the extent determined by the surgical specimen. Definitive diagnosis is by histopathology. Our case report presents a rare case of appendiceal mucocele originally captured by ultrasound. The aim of this paper is to further understand the clinical presentation, discuss key ultrasound findings, and examine the proper …