Digital Commons Network^™

Diagnostic Accuracy Of Nanopore Sequencing For Detecting Mycobacterium Tuberculosis And Drug-Resistant Strains: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Timothy Hudson David Culasino Carandang, Dianne Jaula Cunanan, Gail S. Co, John David Pilapil, Juan Ignacio Garcia, Blanca I. Restrepo, Marcel Yotebieng, Jordi B. Torrelles, Kin Israel Notarte

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection, remains a significant public health threat. The timeliness, portability, and capacity of nanopore sequencing for diagnostics can aid in early detection and drug susceptibility testing (DST), which is crucial for effective TB control. This study synthesized current evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of the nanopore sequencing technology in detecting MTB and its DST profile. A comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE, Web of Science, AIM, IMEMR, IMSEAR, LILACS, WPRO, HERDIN Plus, MedRxiv, and BioRxiv was performed. Quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. Pooled …

Large-Scale Experimental Study On The Impact Of Air Cleaning & Ventilation On Indoor Air Quality And Student Illness-Related Absenteeism, Daud Nosham

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This large-scale randomized experimental field study investigated the effect of portable air purifiers (PAPs) on classroom’s air quality and student’s illness related absenteeism. PAPs were installed in 317 classrooms from various school districts located in Eastern Nebraska. The classrooms were randomly assigned into four conditions: three treatment conditions (T1, T2 & T3) and one control condition (device without any filter). T1 was equipped with HEPA filters, T2 added Activated Carbon (AC) layer to HEPA, and T3 further integrated Germicidal Ultraviolet (GUV) alongside HEPA and AC filters. The measured variables were carbon dioxide (CO2), fine particles (PN2.5) and coarse particles (PNcoarse), …

Prevalence And Characterization Of Post-Acute Sequelae Of Sars-Cov-2 Infection (Pasc) In Rwanda, Fernand Rwamwejo, Vivianne Umuhire Niyonkuru, Gilbert Rukundo, Eric Remera, Edson Rwagasore, Les Sztandera, Ruranga Charles, Elizabeth Krebs

School of Business Faculty Papers

Objectives

Reliable, population-level estimates of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) remain scarce for sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to quantify PASC prevalence and identify associated factors among adult COVID-19 survivors in Rwanda.

Methods

A nationally representative cross-sectional telephone survey (August-October 2024) sampled 3143 adults from the national COVID-19 registry. PASC was defined as new or persisting symptoms ≥3 months after acute illness and lasting ≥2 months. The prevalence was calculated, and multivariable logistic regression identified factors independently associated with PASC.

Results

Overall, PASC prevalence was 34%. Leading symptoms were back pain, headache, dizziness, fatigue, and reduced sexual desire. Higher odds …

Identifying Barriers For Community Pharmacies As Vaccines For Children (Vfc) Providers In Rural Alabama: Opportunities For Solutions, Myra Bajwa

Honors Theses

Significant Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination disparities exist between rural and urban areas in the US. A primary contributor is low access to preventive care in rural areas. Among the most promising strategies to overcome this is increasing access through offering HPV vaccination in non-traditional, convenient health settings such as pharmacies. In rural areas, community pharmacies are trusted, convenient pillars of the community. In Alabama, community pharmacies are eligible for enrollment in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, a federally-funded program that provides free vaccines to children and adolescents under 18 years old who are uninsured, underinsured, American Indian, or Alaska …

Impact Of Intravenous Drug Use On Neck Abscess Outcomes: 30-Day Readmission & 5-Year Survival Rates, Elliott Sina, Bryce Hambach, Eric Mastrolonardo, Sruti Tekumalla, Meghan Crippen, Richard A. Goldman

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: Injection drug use (IDU) is a known risk factor for neck abscesses, often requiring urgent surgical intervention by acute-care Otolaryngologists. However, data on the prevalence and long-term outcomes of IDU-related neck abscesses are limited. This study investigates differences in 30-day readmission rates and 5-year all-cause mortality between patients with and without a history of IDU hospitalized for neck abscesses.

METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing the TriNetX national clinical database. Patients hospitalized for neck abscesses (ICD-10: L02.11) were categorized into two cohorts: IDU (current/previous) and non-IDU. Demographics, 30-day readmission rates, and 5-year survival were analyzed. 1:1 Propensity …

Interpretive Prediction Of Hyperuricemia And Gout Patients Via Machine Learning Analysis Of Human Gut Microbiome, Jia Wei Tang, Alfred Chin Yen Tay, Liang Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout result from imbalances in uric acid metabolism and are closely associated with the gut microbiota. Advanced analytical methods facilitate the exploration of microbiota complexity. In this study, 16S rRNA sequencing data from stool samples of 233 patients were thoroughly collected. Machine learning (ML) and Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) interpretability algorithms were applied to identify core taxa and predict the metabolic functions. The results revealed that the high-contribution core taxa identified by SHAP in each group, such as Oscillospiraceae_UCG-005 and Rhodococcus provided the basis for ML prediction. Among the five classification models, Random Forest (RF) achieved the …

High Prevalence And Atypical Genotype Distribution Of Oral Human Papillomavirus In An East African Hiv Cohort: A Cross-Sectional Study, Ian G. Munabi, Adriane Kamulegeya, Dunstan Kalanzi, David P. Kateete, Fred Collins Semitala, Catherine-Lutalo Mwesigwa, Samuel Kalungi, Jennifer E. Cameron, Kimon Divaris, William Buwembo

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Globally, Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) is the predominant genotype associated with oropharyngeal cancers. However, little is known about the prevalence and type distribution of Oral Human Papillomavirus (OHPV) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in the East African region. The objective of this study was to document the prevalence and circulating genotypes of OHPV infection in a large cohort of PLWHIV attending an urban HIV clinic in Eastern Africa METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study among 1,715 participants of the Makerere University Joint AIDS Program clinic, located in Kampala, Uganda, in East Africa. A salivary sample was collected …

Bilateral Endogenous Fungal Endophthalmitis Following Elective Surgical Abortion: A Single Center Case Series, Viet Q. Chau, Jesse D. Sengillo, Flavius A. Beca, Julia L. Hudson, Thomas A. Albini, Harry W. Flynn

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

BACKGROUND: To describe the clinical features and management of three cases of bilateral endogenous fungal endophthalmitis following elective surgical abortion performed at the same outpatient surgical center.

METHODS: Case series.

OBSERVATIONS: Three immunocompetent women presented with vision loss days to weeks following elective surgical abortions performed at a single outpatient clinic. Initial visual acuities ranged from 20/20 to 20/300. Fundoscopic examination revealed multiple white round chorioretinal lesions with vitreous infiltration bilaterally in all three patients. Vitreous tap samples were obtained for culture and broad-spectrum intravitreal antimicrobials were administered. Despite negative cultures and systemic workup, the clinical presentation was consistent with …

Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Reveals Key Immune Responses In St-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction, Zheng Zhang, Shengfang Wang, Yahui Liu, Gaohan Li, Qianqian Cheng, Wei Yang, Gan-Xin Yan, Chuanyu Gao

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the precise immunological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides a powerful approach to dissect immune cell heterogeneity and dynamic changes at single-cell resolution.

METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 7 STEMI patients (within 6h after primary percutaneous coronary intervention) and 3 healthy controls. Single-cell suspensions were prepared and subjected to scRNA-seq using the 10x Genomics Chromium platform and Illumina NovaSeq 6000. Data were processed using Cell Ranger and analyzed with Seurat for quality control, clustering, and annotation. Differentially …

Nirsevimab Effectiveness Against Intensive Care Unit Admission For Respiratory Syncytial Virus In Infants - 24 States, December 2024-April 2025, Laura D. Zambrano, Regina M. Simeone, Margaret M. Newhams, Amanda B. Payne, Natasha B. Halasa, Amber O. Orzel-Lockwood, Jemima M. Calixte, Satoshi Kamidani, Hillary Crandall, Melissa A. Cameron, Jennifer E. Schuster, Aline B. Maddux, Kathleen Chiotos, Katherine Irby, Steven L. Shein, Mary Allen Staat, Lora M. Martin, Samina S. Bhumbra, Ryan A. Nofziger, Jigar C. Chauhan, Danielle M. Zerr, Shira J. Gertz, Judith A. Guzman-Cottrill, Michele Kong, Janet R. Hume, Bria M. Coates, Kelly N. Michelson, Tamara T. Bradford, Et Al

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and respiratory failure among infants (children aged < year) in the United States. In August 2023, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, to protect against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection among all infants aged < 8 months born during or entering their first RSV season. Following licensure, nirsevimab effectiveness has been demonstrated against RSV-associated infant hospitalization, but evidence regarding effectiveness against RSV-associated critical illness is limited. In a 27-hospital case-control investigation, nirsevimab effectiveness against both RSV-associated infant ICU admission and acute respiratory failure (illness requiring continuous positive airway pressure, bilevel positive airway pressure, or invasive mechanical ventilation) after hospital admission was evaluated during December 1, 2024-April 15, 2025. Among 457 case-patients who received a positive RSV test result and 302 control patients who received a negative RSV test result admitted to an ICU with respiratory symptoms, 14% and 45%, respectively, had received nirsevimab ≥ 7 days before symptom onset. Nirsevimab was 80% effective (95% CI = 70%-86%) against RSV-associated ICU admission and 83% effective (95% CI = 74%-90%) against acute respiratory failure when received a median of 52 days (IQR = 32-89 days) and 50 days (IQR = 32-86 days) before onset for each respective endpoint. These estimates support the recommendation for use of nirsevimab as a prevention strategy to protect infants against severe outcomes from RSV infection.

Alcohol Use Disorder, Kendall Walker, James Mcnary, Hamilton Farris

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Hpv Prevention In Men: A Narrative Review Of Strategies, Risks, And Public Health Implications, Martin S. Lipsky, Bayler Gunnell, Justin Nguyen, Samantha Lee, Geo Wolfe, Man Hung

Institute on Aging Publications

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide, impacting both males and females. In men, HPV causes genital warts, more than 90% of anal cancers, and 60% of oropharyngeal cancers. Given that one in three men are infected with HPV worldwide, there is a pressing need for enhanced public health strategies focusing on prevention. This comprehensive narrative review presents an overview of HPV in men, key risk factors, and primary prevention in men. The most effective preventive measure for HPV in males is vaccination. Males at high risk for HPV include those who smoke, have human immunodeficiency …

Extensive Spinal Epidural Abscess Evacuated With Unilateral Interlaminar Approach (With Operative Video): Illustrative Case, George A. Crabill, Jack A. Leoni, Kaleb Derouen, Jamieson Glasser, Wesley Shoap, Gabriel Tender

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The authors present the case of a patient with an extensive lumbosacral spinal epidural abscess (SEA) that was successfully evacuated in its entirety with a unilateral interlaminar approach. This is an alternative to wide bony decompression at multiple segments. The surgical approach described decompresses the neural elements while maintaining spinal integrity. OBSERVATIONS: Partial removal of the ligamentum flavum can provide an interlaminar corridor that is sufficient to evacuate extensive SEAs in select patients. LESSONS: This case illustrates a surgical approach that successfully evacuates extensive lumbosacral SEA while respecting spinal integrity. https://thejns.org/doi/abs/10.3171/CASE25646.

Rabies Virus-Vectored Lyme Disease Vaccine Provides Long-Term Protection Against Tick-Transmitted Borrelia Burgdorferi, Shantel Rios, Bibek Bhattachan, Christoph Wirblich, Anisha Chandwani, Kruthi Vavilikolanu, Jacob F. Myers, Chrysoula Kitsou, Utpal Pal, Matthias J. Schnell

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Lyme disease (LD) cases have doubled globally. LD is a tick-borne illness caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb). If untreated, Bb can disseminate to distal organs, causing carditis, arthritis, and meningitis. Currently, no FDA-approved human LD vaccine exists on the market. This study used two approaches to incorporate OspA into the rabies virus (RABV) vaccine vector. We used the RABV-glycoprotein tail (RVG tail) and the Hendra virus (HeV) glycoprotein tail (HVG tail) to incorporate OspA, creating BNSP333-OspA-RVG and BNSP333-OspA-HVG, respectively. Both vaccines produced type-1 biased anti-OspA antibodies, but only BNSP333-OspA-HVG induced neutralizing antibodies and protected against Bb infection. …

‘In Texas, Everybody Wants Antibiotics’: Reducing Inappropriate Antibiotic Expectations And Use With A Provider-Patient Communication Tool In Primary Care, Ashley Collazo, Paige Wermuth, Johanan Luna Rodriguez, Kiara Olmeda, Azalia Mancera, Fabrizia Faustinella, Michael K Paasche-Orlow, Roger Zoorob, Barbara Wells Trautner, Larissa Grigoryan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/objective: Patients often expect antibiotics for self-limiting diseases, pressuring providers to prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily. These expectations also contribute to the unsafe practice of taking antibiotics without a prescription (non-prescription use), such as pills retained from prior prescriptions or antibiotics from non-medical sources. Previous work shows that non-prescription use is due to strong, widely held misconceptions regarding the curative power of antibiotics. To reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics, we developed and pilot-tested a patient-focused, bilingual (English and Spanish) educational tool with patient and provider stakeholder input. The tool, a trifold brochure, included information on safe antibiotic use, potential antibiotic harms and …

Integration Of High-Resolution Behavioral Data Into Mathematical Models For Public Health Applications, Giulia Pullano

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

The Impacts Of Metapopulation Structure On Infectious Disease Dynamics, Éowyn M. Poplawski, David Brown

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Increasing Pediatric Hpv Vaccination Rates, Brooke A. Nicholas

Dissertations

Increasing Pediatric HPV Vaccination Rates

Abstract

Problem: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that affects more than 80% of the population within the United States (Eisenhauer et al., 2020). HPV can develop into cervical, anogenital, and oropharyngeal cancers (Eisenhauer et al., 2020). About 4,000 individuals die from cervical cancer alone each year (O’Leary, 2022). The HPV vaccine, though recommended by the ACIP and AAP, is below national vaccination rates in comparison to other vaccines (O’Leary, 2022).

Methods: This quality improvement project is a non-randomized controlled trial that observed HPV vaccine dose completion rates for patients aged 9-14 …

Losing Focus In The Age Of Tik Tok: Clinical Evidence For Policy Action On Social Media Use, Megan Conefrey, Robert Griffin

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Tracking Livestock Heart Rate & Location Using Long-Range Radio Networks. An Immediate Solution For Farms Without Reliable Wi-Fi, Dermott Harkin, Martin Bradley

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Voices Matter: Tackling Accentism In Ireland. A Study Addressing Accent-Based Discrimination Awareness In Education, Sadhbh Reddington, Victoria Graham, Holly Jordan, Mairead Moriarty

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Supporting Single Parents: How Loneliness And Self-Stigma Can Impact Single Parents And Their Quality Of Life, Alana Powell, David Mothersill

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Income Inequality And Attitudes Towards Immigrants – How Increased Inequality Drives Division, Niamh Anderson, Vincent O'Sullivan

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Ireland Blossoms Through Multiculturalism - Designing For Community Connection, Julia Kuczera, Shirley Casey, Hilary Kenna

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Unheard And Underserved: Exploring Support For Male Victims Of Partner Abuse, Michael Keenan, Colletta Dalikeni

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Assessing Demand And Simulating Feasibility For Commuter Rail In Lagging Regional Areas. Case Study: Sligo, Holly Briere-Edney, Brian Mccann

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Ireland's Infrastructure: From Delays To Deliveries!, Conor Barnett, Keren Goodman

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

A Fast-Track Way To Identify Derelict And Vacant Homes For Refurbishment, Dylan O'Donnell, Enda Dunican

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Making Buildings Smarter And More Sustainable With Ai, Anthony Lowe, Martin Klepal

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Solving The Bed Crisis - Predicting 30-Day Hospital Readmissions In Elderly Patients Using Ai, Mark Mckeon, Thoa Pham

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.