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Health And Nutritional Status Among Internally Displaced Children Under Five Years, During The Civil War: Sri Lankan Experience, Madhuka Ambagahage Apr 2023

Health And Nutritional Status Among Internally Displaced Children Under Five Years, During The Civil War: Sri Lankan Experience, Madhuka Ambagahage

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Around the globe, 1 in 6 children become vulnerable to grave physical and mental violence, hunger, sexual assaults, and exploitation of human rights due to war. These adversities are multi-dimensional, synergistic, and often subtle. This study attempted to evaluate the health and nutritional status of children aged under five years and living in the war zone of Sri Lanka, in view of improving the health services delivered to them. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. The study sample, 400, was based on probability proportionate and then systematic sampling drawn from IDP camps located in the Vavuniya district. Validated instruments …


Factors Related To The Incidence Of Diarrhea Of Children Aged 24-59 Months In Karangkamulyan Village, Cihara District, Lebak Regency In 2020, Hafshah Farah Fadhilah, Kusharisupeni Djokosujono, Ratu Ayu Dewi Sartika Apr 2023

Factors Related To The Incidence Of Diarrhea Of Children Aged 24-59 Months In Karangkamulyan Village, Cihara District, Lebak Regency In 2020, Hafshah Farah Fadhilah, Kusharisupeni Djokosujono, Ratu Ayu Dewi Sartika

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Diarrhea remains a major issue in developing countries, including Indonesia, and is a leading cause of malnutrition and death. Banten is one of the provinces with a high incidence of diarrhea. In 2019, the district with the highest number of diarrhea cases for all ages in Banten was Lebak with a total of 50,270 cases. The age group with the greatest number of diarrhea cases was toddlers with over 14,000 cases. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the incidence of diarrhea and the characteristics of toddlers and their parents, personal hygiene, and environmental sanitation. The study used secondary …


Prevalence Of Dog Heartworm (Dirofilaria Immitis) Infection In Invasive Aedes Aegypti And Aedes Albopictus Mosquitoes In Southern California, Irene Hui Ying Lee, Donghwi Kim, Romina Lee Apr 2023

Prevalence Of Dog Heartworm (Dirofilaria Immitis) Infection In Invasive Aedes Aegypti And Aedes Albopictus Mosquitoes In Southern California, Irene Hui Ying Lee, Donghwi Kim, Romina Lee

Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference (PURCC)

No abstract provided.


Implementing Auc Monitoring In A Pharmacist-Managed Vancomycin Dosing Protocol: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Brandon L S Robinson, Blake Bennie, Mahmoud Nasiri, Kieu Nguyen, Reba Forbess, Mallory Gessner-Wharton, Cassie Robertson Apr 2023

Implementing Auc Monitoring In A Pharmacist-Managed Vancomycin Dosing Protocol: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Brandon L S Robinson, Blake Bennie, Mahmoud Nasiri, Kieu Nguyen, Reba Forbess, Mallory Gessner-Wharton, Cassie Robertson

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Consensus guidelines on the therapeutic drug monitoring of vancomycin published in 2020 recognize that using the calculated area-under-the-curve (AUC) to guide dosing maximizes clinical efficacy and minimizes risk when compared to traditional trough-based dosing. The purpose of this study was to determine whether AUC monitoring results in reduced acute kidney injury (AKI) rates in adult patients receiving vancomycin for all indications.

Methods

In this study, patients 18 years or older who received pharmacist-managed vancomycin therapy were selected using pharmacy surveillance software from 2 timeframes. Patients were excluded if they received less than 48 hours of therapy or had unstable …


A Rare Case Of Rapidly Progressive Cll/Sll Presenting As Bilateral Tonsillar Enlargement And Upper Airway Obstruction, William Mangin, Kashif Aslam Apr 2023

A Rare Case Of Rapidly Progressive Cll/Sll Presenting As Bilateral Tonsillar Enlargement And Upper Airway Obstruction, William Mangin, Kashif Aslam

North Texas GME Research Forum 2023

Although chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) differ in clinical presentation, they are both arise from the same pathologic process, namely the clonal expansion of mature B-cells. This malignancy is usually quite indolent and carries a favorable prognosis. Thanks to a number of highly-effective oral targeted therapies, such as the Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, Ibrutinib, patient outcomes have improved significantly. Unfortunately, these therapies are not always well tolerated and many patients are forced to discontinue the medication due to side effects. Many patients experience a disease flair and some even transformation to a high-grade malignancy after …


Case Of Shiga-Toxin Producing E. Coli Dysentery In Adult Patient In The Absence Of Diarrhea, Diana Roy Apr 2023

Case Of Shiga-Toxin Producing E. Coli Dysentery In Adult Patient In The Absence Of Diarrhea, Diana Roy

North Texas GME Research Forum 2023

This is a unique case of a 38 year old Caucasian female with no significant medical history who presented to the hospital with complaint of 3 days of abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, dark red formed stool, and fever (TMax 102F), as well as dizziness, body aches and throat pain. She reported eating meatloaf with her daughter two days before symptom onset, and daughter was reported to be ill as well. Upon initial exam, patient was found to have temp 100F, was hypotensive and tachycardic with lactate of 4.2. FOBT was positive. Significant lab values include creatinine 3.39 (baseline normal), hemoglobin of …


A Case Of Erythema Nodosum, Mahmood Ahmad, Sunitha Valayil Apr 2023

A Case Of Erythema Nodosum, Mahmood Ahmad, Sunitha Valayil

North Texas GME Research Forum 2023

Background: Erythema nodosum (EN) is characterized as a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to subcutaneous adipose tissue. This panniculitis process presents as erythematous, tender nodules and plaques most commonly located on the pretibial areas. EN may be idiopathic or may be caused by a number of factors such as infection, chronic systemic inflammatory processes, drugs or malignancy.

Case presentation: A 29-year-old male with no significant past medical history presented with a 2-week history of worsening bilateral lower extremity erythema, nodules and pain. This patient was initially seen in the emergency department after a 4-day history of his symptoms. At this time, he …


Extraintestinal Salmonellosis Unmasked In A Parotid Mass, Kahmalia-Kalee Sada Apr 2023

Extraintestinal Salmonellosis Unmasked In A Parotid Mass, Kahmalia-Kalee Sada

North Texas GME Research Forum 2023

Salmonella infection can cause a wide range of presentations, predominantly gastrointestinal but occasionally with cardiovascular or other extraintestinal manifestations. The diagnosis of extraintestinal salmonellosis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion and should be considered in patients with deep-seated abscesses. [1]. Typically, these types of infections, are extremely rare, and when revealed are typically seen in the immunocompromised patient with chronic illness, HIV, or Hepatitis. While the incidence of nontyphoid salmonellosis is estimated at over 2 million cases annually, extraintestinal manifestations account for less than 1% of cases. Studies have revealed that individuals with diabetes have risk for salmonellosis due …


Early Diagnosis Of Purulent Pericarditis Secondary To Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus In An End-Stage Renal Disease Patient, Stephen Shey, Alejandro Espinosa-Tello, Amnah Andrabi Apr 2023

Early Diagnosis Of Purulent Pericarditis Secondary To Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus In An End-Stage Renal Disease Patient, Stephen Shey, Alejandro Espinosa-Tello, Amnah Andrabi

North Texas GME Research Forum 2023

Introduction Purulent pericarditis is a rare illness in the modern age of medicine due to the increased usage of antibiotics. Unfortunately, diagnosis of this disease is often delayed due to its nonspecific symptoms. Without treatment, the mortality is nearly one hundred percent due to major complications such as cardiac tamponade and constrictive pericarditis. As a result, most cases of purulent pericarditis are discovered post-mortem. This case report details an early diagnosis of purulent pericarditis secondary to methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) in an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patient. Case Presentation A 66-year-old female with past medical history of ESRD initially presented …


The Current State Of Prenatal Detection Of Genetic Conditions In Congenital Heart Defects, Areebah S Ahmad, Kathleen M Mulligan, David X Zheng, Katie A O'Connell, Benjamin Gallo Marin, Misha V Koshelev Apr 2023

The Current State Of Prenatal Detection Of Genetic Conditions In Congenital Heart Defects, Areebah S Ahmad, Kathleen M Mulligan, David X Zheng, Katie A O'Connell, Benjamin Gallo Marin, Misha V Koshelev

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Interest in subspecialty training remains high for dermatology residency graduates. Fellowship program directors (FPDs) are largely responsible for fellowship organization and development. Here, we study the dermatology fellowship leadership landscape and identify notable differences in the characteristics of current dermatopathology, paediatric dermatology, and Mohs micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology FPDs.


Human Sapovirus Replication In Human Intestinal Enteroids, Gabriel Euller-Nicolas, Cécile Le Mennec, Julien Schaeffer, Xi-Lei Zeng, Khalil Ettayebi, Robert L Atmar, Françoise S Le Guyader, Mary K Estes, Marion Desdouits Apr 2023

Human Sapovirus Replication In Human Intestinal Enteroids, Gabriel Euller-Nicolas, Cécile Le Mennec, Julien Schaeffer, Xi-Lei Zeng, Khalil Ettayebi, Robert L Atmar, Françoise S Le Guyader, Mary K Estes, Marion Desdouits

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Human sapoviruses (HuSaVs), like human noroviruses (HuNoV), belong to the Caliciviridae family and cause acute gastroenteritis in humans. Since their discovery in 1976, numerous attempts to grow HuSaVs in vitro were unsuccessful until 2020, when these viruses were reported to replicate in a duodenal cancer cell-derived line. Physiological cellular models allowing viral replication are essential to investigate HuSaV biology and replication mechanisms such as genetic susceptibility, restriction factors, and immune responses to infection. In this study, we demonstrate replication of two HuSaV strains in human intestinal enteroids (HIEs) known to support the replication of HuNoV and other human enteric viruses. …


The Effectiveness Of Increasing Frequency Of Central-Line Dressing Changes And Monitoring On Clabsi Rates: A Scoping Review, Jacob Schmidt, Bsn, Rn, Ccrn, Georgia Brown, Bsn, Rn, Laura Dickey, Agpcnp-C, Lauren Faulkner, Bsn, Rn, Margaret Harvey, Phd, Aprn, Acnp-Bc, Chfn Apr 2023

The Effectiveness Of Increasing Frequency Of Central-Line Dressing Changes And Monitoring On Clabsi Rates: A Scoping Review, Jacob Schmidt, Bsn, Rn, Ccrn, Georgia Brown, Bsn, Rn, Laura Dickey, Agpcnp-C, Lauren Faulkner, Bsn, Rn, Margaret Harvey, Phd, Aprn, Acnp-Bc, Chfn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Abstract

Purpose/Background

Central lines provide many benefits to critically ill patients; however, there are additional risks with them, including central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). CLABSIs place patients at increased risk for morbidity and mortality, longer length of stay, and higher medical costs. Studies evaluating various methods of reducing CLABSIs have been performed. This scoping review was completed to determine the effectiveness of frequent central-line dressing changes and increased monitoring on the incidence of central-line associated blood stream infections in adults with central-lines.

Methods

An extensive database search through the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) Online Library was performed …


Rapid Escape Of New Sars-Cov-2 Omicron Variants From Ba2-Directed Antibody Responses, Aiste Dijokaite-Guraliuc, Raksha Das, Daming Zhou, Helen M Ginn, Chang Liu, Helen M E Duyvesteyn, Jiandong Huo, Rungtiwa Nutalai, Piyada Supasa, Muneeswaran Selvaraj, Thushan I De Silva, Megan Plowright, Thomas A H Newman, Hailey Hornsby, Alexander J Mentzer, Donal Skelly, Thomas G Ritter, Nigel Temperton, Paul Klenerman, Eleanor Barnes, Susanna J Dunachie, Optic Consortium, Cornelius Roemer, Thomas P Peacock, Neil G Paterson, Mark A Williams, David R Hall, Elizabeth E Fry, Juthathip Mongkolsapaya, Jingshan Ren, David I Stuart, Gavin R Screaton Apr 2023

Rapid Escape Of New Sars-Cov-2 Omicron Variants From Ba2-Directed Antibody Responses, Aiste Dijokaite-Guraliuc, Raksha Das, Daming Zhou, Helen M Ginn, Chang Liu, Helen M E Duyvesteyn, Jiandong Huo, Rungtiwa Nutalai, Piyada Supasa, Muneeswaran Selvaraj, Thushan I De Silva, Megan Plowright, Thomas A H Newman, Hailey Hornsby, Alexander J Mentzer, Donal Skelly, Thomas G Ritter, Nigel Temperton, Paul Klenerman, Eleanor Barnes, Susanna J Dunachie, Optic Consortium, Cornelius Roemer, Thomas P Peacock, Neil G Paterson, Mark A Williams, David R Hall, Elizabeth E Fry, Juthathip Mongkolsapaya, Jingshan Ren, David I Stuart, Gavin R Screaton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In November 2021, Omicron BA.1, containing a raft of new spike mutations, emerged and quickly spread globally. Intense selection pressure to escape the antibody response produced by vaccines or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection then led to a rapid succession of Omicron sub-lineages with waves of BA.2 and then BA.4/5 infection. Recently, many variants have emerged such as BQ.1 and XBB, which carry up to 8 additional receptor-binding domain (RBD) amino acid substitutions compared with BA.2. We describe a panel of 25 potent monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) generated from vaccinees suffering BA.2 breakthrough infections. Epitope mapping shows potent …


The Characterization Of The Sars-Cov-2 Receptor Binding Domain Interaction With The Human Ace2 Receptor And Potential Small Molecule Inhibitors, Camryn Carter Apr 2023

The Characterization Of The Sars-Cov-2 Receptor Binding Domain Interaction With The Human Ace2 Receptor And Potential Small Molecule Inhibitors, Camryn Carter

Honors Theses

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), was identified in Wuhan, China after numerous patients experienced pneumonia symptoms, but existing medicinal treatments were ineffective.1 The global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus caused an outbreak of the infectious disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was soon after declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, referred to as the COVID-19 pandemic. According to John Hopkins University, over 1,000,000 people have died from SARS-CoV-2 infection and about 104,000,000 cases have been confirmed in the United States (US). An infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is caused by the …


Characterizing Movement Patterns Of Nomadic Pastoralists And Their Exposure To Rift Valley Fever In Kenya, G. Mosomtai, J. L. Kasiiti, R. M. Murithi, P. Sandström, T. Landmann, O. W. Lwande, O. A. Hassan, C. Ahlm, R. Sang, M. Evander, Z. Szantoi, G. Ottavianelli Apr 2023

Characterizing Movement Patterns Of Nomadic Pastoralists And Their Exposure To Rift Valley Fever In Kenya, G. Mosomtai, J. L. Kasiiti, R. M. Murithi, P. Sandström, T. Landmann, O. W. Lwande, O. A. Hassan, C. Ahlm, R. Sang, M. Evander, Z. Szantoi, G. Ottavianelli

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The role of animal movement in spreading infectious diseases is highly recognized by various legislations and institutions such as the World Organisation for Animal Health and the International Animal Health Code. The increased interactions at the nexus of human-animal-ecosystem interface have seen an unprecedented introduction and reintroduction of new zoonotic diseases with high socio-economic impacts such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease that affects both humans and animals and is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes or through contact with the body fluids of infected animals. This study seeks to characterize movement patterns of pastoralist and …


A Cascade Of Care Of Patients With Hepatitis C Infection In A Rural State, Wollelaw Agmas, Wendy Craig, Kathleen Fairfield, Brian F. King, Elizabeth Eisenhardt, Kinna Thakarar Apr 2023

A Cascade Of Care Of Patients With Hepatitis C Infection In A Rural State, Wollelaw Agmas, Wendy Craig, Kathleen Fairfield, Brian F. King, Elizabeth Eisenhardt, Kinna Thakarar

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: The substance misuse epidemic has fueled an increase in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Despite the availability of sensitive screening and curative treatment, relatively few people are aware of their diagnosis and engaged in care. In this study, we aimed to identify local gaps in HCV care and inform strategies for improvement.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we assessed adult patients seen at a tertiary care center from 2015 to 2019 and who were eligible for HCV screening based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Inclusion criteria were birth from 1945 to 1965, long-term dialysis …


Physician Stress In The Era Of Covid-19 Vaccine Disparity: A Multi-Institutional Survey, Sarah Zahl, Debasis Mondal, David Tolentino, Jennifer A Fischer, Sherry Jimenez Apr 2023

Physician Stress In The Era Of Covid-19 Vaccine Disparity: A Multi-Institutional Survey, Sarah Zahl, Debasis Mondal, David Tolentino, Jennifer A Fischer, Sherry Jimenez

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

CONTEXT: Healthcare workers are at a high risk of infection during infectious disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the availability of several vaccines against COVID-19, the absence of vaccination in patients and colleagues remains a continuous source of stress in healthcare workers. We conducted a survey of physician preceptors, both MDs and DOs, to explore the impact of differences in the patients' and colleagues' vaccination status on their well-being, stress, and burnout.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to determine whether exposure to unvaccinated patients and/or colleagues increases stress and burnout in physician preceptors by utilizing a …


Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Testing Strategies, Carla Bonczak Apr 2023

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Testing Strategies, Carla Bonczak

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. Symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain and discomfort, malabsorption, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea overlap with several common GI complaints. SIBO affects millions of people worldwide. Many providers are not aware of SIBO or the guidelines that standardize testing and diagnosing.

The Final Scholarly Project (FSP) was based on a literature review that discovered evidence-based literature on SIBO testing strategies such as gut aspirate and culture, clinical symptom presentation, breath testing, nutrient challenge test, and scintigraphy with either lactulose or hydrogen breath testing. To implement the project, …


Independent Effects Of Hiv And Antiretroviral Therapy On The Oral Microbiome Identified By Multivariate Analyses, Clifford J. Beall, Elizabeth A. Lilly, Carolina Granada, Kelly Treas, Kenneth R. Dubois, Shahr B. Hashmi, Jose A. Vazquez, Michael E. Hagensee, Ann L. Griffen, Eugene J. Leys, Paul L. Fidel Apr 2023

Independent Effects Of Hiv And Antiretroviral Therapy On The Oral Microbiome Identified By Multivariate Analyses, Clifford J. Beall, Elizabeth A. Lilly, Carolina Granada, Kelly Treas, Kenneth R. Dubois, Shahr B. Hashmi, Jose A. Vazquez, Michael E. Hagensee, Ann L. Griffen, Eugene J. Leys, Paul L. Fidel

School of Dentistry Faculty Publications

The oral microbiome is an important predictor of health and disease. We recently reported significant yet modest effects of HIV under highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the oral microbiome (bacterial and fungal) in a large cohort of HIV-positive (HIV+) and matched HIV-negative (HIV-) individuals. As it was unclear whether ART added to or masked further effects of HIV on the oral microbiome, the present study aimed to analyze the effects of HIV and ART independently, which also included HIV- subjects on preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) therapy. Cross-sectional analyses of the effect of HIV devoid of ART (HIV+ ART- versus matched …


“Healing Can Be A Very Jagged Line”: Reflections On Life As A Covid-19 Long Hauler, Leah M. Hecht, Rhonda Adams, Danielle Dutkiewicz, Debbie Radloff, Mallory N. Wales, Jeffory Whitmer, Dana Murphy, Sara Santarossa Apr 2023

“Healing Can Be A Very Jagged Line”: Reflections On Life As A Covid-19 Long Hauler, Leah M. Hecht, Rhonda Adams, Danielle Dutkiewicz, Debbie Radloff, Mallory N. Wales, Jeffory Whitmer, Dana Murphy, Sara Santarossa

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

“Long COVID” — a term referring to COVID-19-associated symptoms and conditions (ie, sequelae) that remain or emerge after resolution of a SARS-CoV-2 infection — is a multifaceted condition about which little is known. As part of formalized patient-engaged research at a large Midwestern health system, patient stakeholders with long COVID (N = 5) wrote stories based on their lived experience, as this was their preferred format for detailing their experience with the condition. These patient stakeholders reviewed one another’s stories, identified relevant quotes, and provided opportunities for elaboration. Independently, a trained researcher extracted quotes from the stories, identified themes, and …


Exploring The Possible Phenomenon Of Viral Interference Between The Novel Coronavirus And Common Respiratory Viruses, Spencer Deleveaux, Alexandria Clarke-Kregor, Xavier Fonseca-Fuentes, Essam Mekhaiel Apr 2023

Exploring The Possible Phenomenon Of Viral Interference Between The Novel Coronavirus And Common Respiratory Viruses, Spencer Deleveaux, Alexandria Clarke-Kregor, Xavier Fonseca-Fuentes, Essam Mekhaiel

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

At the peak of the 2021 wave of the SARS-CoV-2 alpha variant in North America, there was concern for a superimposed wave of viral respiratory infections. There was, however, an apparent shift in the usual epidemiology of these pathogens, especially during the traditional influenza season from approximately October 2020 to March 2021. This article seeks to briefly describe the epidemiology of notable respiratory pathogens during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and to focus on one possible factor for the trends observed. There are many contributory elements to the observed viral trends, but in particular, we present a synopsis …


Zoster-Associated Prothrombotic Plasma Exosomes And Increased Stroke Risk, Andrew N Bubak, Christina Coughlan, Janelle Posey, Anthony J Saviola, Christy S Niemeyer, Serena W R Lewis, Sara Bustos Lopez, Adriana Solano, Stephen K Tyring, Cassidy Delaney, Keith B Neeves, Ravi Mahalingam, Kirk C Hansen, Maria A Nagel Apr 2023

Zoster-Associated Prothrombotic Plasma Exosomes And Increased Stroke Risk, Andrew N Bubak, Christina Coughlan, Janelle Posey, Anthony J Saviola, Christy S Niemeyer, Serena W R Lewis, Sara Bustos Lopez, Adriana Solano, Stephen K Tyring, Cassidy Delaney, Keith B Neeves, Ravi Mahalingam, Kirk C Hansen, Maria A Nagel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Herpes zoster (HZ; shingles) caused by varicella zoster virus reactivation increases stroke risk for up to 1 year after HZ. The underlying mechanisms are unclear, however, the development of stroke distant from the site of zoster (eg, thoracic, lumbar, sacral) that can occur months after resolution of rash points to a long-lasting, virus-induced soluble factor (or factors) that can trigger thrombosis and/or vasculitis. Herein, we investigated the content and contributions of circulating plasma exosomes from HZ and non-HZ patient samples. Compared with non-HZ exosomes, HZ exosomes (1) contained proteins conferring a prothrombotic state to recipient cells and (2) activated platelets …


Safety And Immunogenicity Of Multimeric-001 (M-001) Followed By Seasonal Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine In Young Adults – A Randomized Clinical Trial, Robert L Atmar, David I Bernstein, Patricia Winokur, Sharon E Frey, Laura S Angelo, Christopher Bryant, Tammy Ben-Yedidia, Paul C Roberts, Hana M El Sahly, Wendy A Keitel Apr 2023

Safety And Immunogenicity Of Multimeric-001 (M-001) Followed By Seasonal Quadrivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine In Young Adults – A Randomized Clinical Trial, Robert L Atmar, David I Bernstein, Patricia Winokur, Sharon E Frey, Laura S Angelo, Christopher Bryant, Tammy Ben-Yedidia, Paul C Roberts, Hana M El Sahly, Wendy A Keitel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The continuing evolution of influenza viruses poses a challenge to vaccine prevention, highlighting the need for a universal influenza vaccine. We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of one such candidate, Multimeric-001 (M-001), when used as a priming vaccine prior to administration of quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV4).

METHODS: Healthy adults 18 to 49 years of age were enrolled in a phase 2 randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Participants received two doses of either 1.0-mg M-001 or saline placebo (60 per study arm) on Days 1 and 22 followed by a single dose of IIV4 on about Day 172. Safety, reactogenicity, …


Serinc5 Restricts Hiv Membrane Fusion By Altering Lipid Order And Heterogeneity In The Viral Membrane, Amanda E Ward, Daria Sokovikova, Melvin Neal Waxham, Frederick A Heberle, Ilya Levental, Kandice R Levental, Volker Kiessling, Judith M White, Lukas K Tamm Apr 2023

Serinc5 Restricts Hiv Membrane Fusion By Altering Lipid Order And Heterogeneity In The Viral Membrane, Amanda E Ward, Daria Sokovikova, Melvin Neal Waxham, Frederick A Heberle, Ilya Levental, Kandice R Levental, Volker Kiessling, Judith M White, Lukas K Tamm

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The host restriction factor, Serinc5, incorporates into budding HIV particles and inhibits their infection by an incompletely understood mechanism. We have previously reported that Serinc5 but not its paralogue, Serinc2, blocks HIV cell entry by membrane fusion, specifically by inhibiting fusion pore formation and dilation. A body of work suggests that Serinc5 may alter the conformation and clustering of the HIV fusion protein, Env. To contribute an additional perspective to the developing model of Serinc5 restriction, we assessed Serinc2 and Serinc5's effects on HIV pseudoviral membranes. By measuring pseudoviral membrane thickness via cryo-electron microscopy and order via the fluorescent dye, …


Upregulation Of Cell Surface Glycoproteins In Correlation With Kshv Lana In The Kaposi Sarcoma Tumor Microenvironment, Sara R. Privatt, Owen Ngalamika, Jianshui Zhang, Qinsheng Li, Charles Wood, John T. West Apr 2023

Upregulation Of Cell Surface Glycoproteins In Correlation With Kshv Lana In The Kaposi Sarcoma Tumor Microenvironment, Sara R. Privatt, Owen Ngalamika, Jianshui Zhang, Qinsheng Li, Charles Wood, John T. West

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

HIV-associated epidemic Kaposi sarcoma (EpKS) remains one of the most prevalent cancers in sub-Saharan Africa despite the widespread uptake of anti-retroviral therapy and HIV-1 suppression. In an effort to define potential therapeutic targets against KS tumors, we analyzed previously published KS bulk tumor transcriptomics to identify cell surface biomarkers. In addition to upregulated gene expression (>6-fold) in the EpKS tumor microenvironment, biomarkers were selected for correlation with KSHV latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) expression. The cell surface glycoprotein genes identified were KDR, FLT4, ADAM12, UNC5A, ZP2, and OX40, as well as the endothelial lineage determinants Prox-1 and CD34. Each protein …


Increases In Group A Streptococcal Infections In The Pediatric Population In Houston, Tx, 2022, Aya Aboulhosn, Misu A Sanson, Luis Alberto Vega, Maria G Segura, Lauren M Summer, Marritta Joseph, J Chase Mcneil, Anthony R Flores Apr 2023

Increases In Group A Streptococcal Infections In The Pediatric Population In Houston, Tx, 2022, Aya Aboulhosn, Misu A Sanson, Luis Alberto Vega, Maria G Segura, Lauren M Summer, Marritta Joseph, J Chase Mcneil, Anthony R Flores

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Beginning in October 2022, we observed a substantial increase in the total number of cases of invasive GAS disease (iGAS) in the pediatric population in Houston, TX. Emm12 GAS strains were disproportionately represented but the overall proportion of iGAS infections observed during the current spike was similar to pre-pandemic years.


The Effects Of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediator Lipoxin A4 On Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilms And Interactions With Monocytes, Julianne M. Thornton Apr 2023

The Effects Of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediator Lipoxin A4 On Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilms And Interactions With Monocytes, Julianne M. Thornton

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an opportunistic pathogen known as a major cause of hospital-acquired secondary infections, commonly causing chronic respiratory infections in immunocompromised individuals, especially those with cystic fibrosis, and often found in wound infections. P. aeruginosa uses the quorum sensing pathway to readily form protective biofilms, which reduce the efficacy of antibiotics and access by host immune cells to eradicate the pathogen. Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) are lipids endogenously produced by the host immune response to infection to aid in infection resolution. One SPM, Lipoxin A4 (LxA4), has been shown to be a robust quorum sensing inhibitor.

The …


Investigating The Antibacterial And Immunomodulatory Properties Of Lactobacillus Acidophilus Postbiotics, Rachael M. Wilson Apr 2023

Investigating The Antibacterial And Immunomodulatory Properties Of Lactobacillus Acidophilus Postbiotics, Rachael M. Wilson

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Probiotics are nonpathogenic microorganisms that have been extensively studied for their ability to prevent various infectious, gastrointestinal, and autoimmune diseases. The mechanisms underlying these probiotic effects have not been elucidated. However, we and other researchers have evidence suggesting that probiotic bacteria secrete metabolites that are antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. As such, we developed a methodology to collect the secreted metabolites from a probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and tested this cell free filtrate (CFF) both in vitro and in vivo. Using this CFF, we have demonstrated that L. acidophilus secretes a molecule(s) that has specific bactericidal activity against the opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas …


Spatiotemporal Patterns Of Ticks And Tick-Borne Disease Dynamics At Neon Sites Across A Sub-Continental Scale., Ana Sofia Rivera Apr 2023

Spatiotemporal Patterns Of Ticks And Tick-Borne Disease Dynamics At Neon Sites Across A Sub-Continental Scale., Ana Sofia Rivera

2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference

At local scales, dynamics of ticks and tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease are driven by resource pulses, such as mast seeding in forest trees, that creates increases in tick hosts. Tick-borne diseases in humans have nearly doubled between 1940 and 2004 and understanding the dynamics of infectious diseases has long been of interest for ecologists. The family Ixodidae is the most capable of transmitting pathogens to humans and tick-borne diseases are the most common vector of illness in the United States. The objective of this research is to characterize the spatiotemporal dynamics of ticks and tick-borne diseases, which may …


Effects Of Diet On Lcn2 Expression And Onset Of Neuroinflammation In An Alzheimer’S Disease Mice Model, Abdirahman A. Hayir Apr 2023

Effects Of Diet On Lcn2 Expression And Onset Of Neuroinflammation In An Alzheimer’S Disease Mice Model, Abdirahman A. Hayir

Neuroscience Honors Projects

This project covers the findings regarding the impact of diet on lipocalin 2 (LCN2) and the effects it has on neuroinflammation Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). LCN2 is a protein that is critical to the functionality of mitochondria and inflammatory responses. Evidence has shown that mitochondrial dysfunction is a potential central event in driving AD pathogenesis and contributing to formation of pathological hallmarks such as chronic inflammation. Furthermore, studies have shown that LCN2 can be deficient under metabolic conditions such as high-fat-diet (HFD). This study investigates if HFD induces LCN2 deficiency and increased neuroinflammation in an AD mice model.