Digital Commons Network^™

Structural And Interpersonal Determinants Of Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake In Vulnerable Populations Of The United States, Alyea Wood

Capstone Showcase

Since its introduction in late 2020, the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine has had the lowest rates in marginalized populations like minorities, elderly, and those of low socioeconomic status. Decreased rates of vaccination uptake in these groups has resulted in increased burden of disease and subsequently higher rates of hospitalization and death. Many inequities in poor COVID-19 health outcomes can be explained by examining common predictive factors that determine vaccination rates in these United States populations. This special article research aims to explore these various predictive factors with the goal to provide targeted strategies to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates, especially …

Caspases Protect Against Hyperglycemia Induced Necroptosis-Like Cell Death In Brain Endothelial Cells, Aleena S. Mathew

Theses and Dissertations

Acute diabetes characterized by high spikes in blood glucose levels in association with severe hyperglycemia can lead to an increased risk of ischemic stroke in the brain. To better understand high blood glucose levels, hyperglycemia, in the brain we explored its effects on endothelial cells. Endothelial cells line the inner walls of blood vessels and are directly impacted in hyperglycemia. Brain endothelial cells are a major component of the blood brain barrier (BBB) which tightly regulates the brain’s microenvironment. The type of cell death such as apoptosis, caspase dependent, or necroptosis, caspase independent, can exacerbate diabetes associated complications. There is …

Antibiotic Resistance: The Growing Threats And Potential Solutions, Olisaemeka Zikora Akunne, Blessing Nkechi Emmanuel, Umar Faruk Saidu, Ayobami Sunday Akinnawo, Nasiru Ademola Adeyemi, Livia Chinaza Egoh, Malami Aishatu Muhammad, Olusegun Ayo Ade-Adekunle, Deborah Ahuoyiza Peter, Anne Amina Freitas

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Antibiotic resistance (AR) has become a critical global health crisis, threatening the efficacy of antibiotics and increasing healthcare costs, morbidity, and mortality. The One Health approach, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, is increasingly recognized as an essential framework for addressing the complex drivers of AR. This review explores the mechanisms of resistance, such as genetic mutations, horizontal gene transfer, and biofilm formation, along with contributing factors such as the overuse of antibiotics in healthcare and agriculture. We assess both traditional and emerging strategies to combat AR, including antimicrobial stewardship, the development of new antibiotics, and …

Development Of A Proposed Selective Medium For The Isolation And Differentiation Of P. Sordellii, Dimyana Bottros

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Clostridium, a genus of anaerobic, spore-forming bacteria, includes clinically and ecologically significant species like Clostridium difficile and Paeniclostridium sordellii. C. difficile causes antibiotic-associated colitis, while P. sordellii is linked to fatal infections and spontaneous abortions. Recent studies found both species in marine sediments, suggesting their role in environmental and wildlife health disturbances, including the 2013 mass mortality of over 300 manatees in the Indian River Lagoon. However, isolating and differentiating P. sordellii is challenging due to the lack of selective media optimized for its growth. This thesis proposes a novel selective medium tailored to P. sordellii’s physiological …

Zika Virus Modulates Arthropod Histone Methylation For Its Survival In Mosquito Cells, Telvin Harrell

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne human pathogen that causes mild febrile illness in adults and severe neurological complications and microcephaly in newborns. Studies have reported that ZIKV modulates methylation of human and viral RNA critical for its replication in vertebrate cells. In this study, we show that ZIKV modulates mosquito S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe)-synthase, an enzyme involved in the production of SAMe (methyl donor), and histone methylation for its survival in mosquito cells. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR followed by immunoblotting analysis showed increased amounts of SAMe synthase at both RNA and protein levels, respectively, in C6/36 mosquito cells infected with …

Schistosoma Mansoni Infection Causes Consistent Changes To The Fecal Bacterial Microbiota Of Mice Across And Within Sites, Mariam A. Mhanna, David T. Gauthier, Lisa M. Shollenberger

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Eggs of Schistosoma mansoni are produced by adult female worms in mesenteries of infected hosts. Eggs can cross the intestinal barrier and form granulomas in the tissue or breach and exit the host through fecal excretion. These interactions may affect the host microbiome assemblages. Given the potential for schistosomal alteration of host gut microbiome and subsequent effects on the fecal bacterial composition, it is important to conduct controlled microbiome studies on model animals. While pursuing these studies, it is important to take into account the different conditions in which microbiome studies are conducted and their consequent impacts on variability and …

Changing Climate, Changing Health: Perspectives From General Population In Mysuru, Lekhashree A, Manirsha P V, Paranthaman Chinnasamy, Srishti Arya, Sunil Kumar D

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Climate change has emerged as a major public health concern, contributing to rising morbidity and mortality worldwide. In India, increasing heat waves, unpredictable rainfall, and deteriorating air quality have intensified climate-sensitive health conditions. This study aims to assess the health impacts of climate change among the general population of Mysuru.

Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 residents of Mysuru (April–June 2024). Participants were recruited through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire via Google Forms. Analysis was performed using SPSS v26, with descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Among 400 participants, …

Use Of Augmented Reality For Mosquito Breeding Sites Identification, Venant Niyonkuru, Sylla Sekou, Jimmy J. Sinzinkayo

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

An augmented reality app is used for detecting the possible breeding locations of mosquitoes in different settings precisely. With the aid of the advanced augmented vision technology, the AR system recognizes water-containing containers that are frequent breeding places for mosquitoes according to the visual information obtained through a head-mounted display. It then overlays visual highlights and labels directly onto these containers within the user's field of view, allowing one to instantly identify and spot breeding sites in real time. By combining state-of-the-art AR functionality with powerful computer vision algorithms, the method provides real-time visual feedback for identifying and tagging mosquito …

A Study Of Electrocardiogram And Echocardiography Parameters Of Post Covid – 19 Patients, Venkateswararao K, Durga Prasad Sadhupati

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background: Coronavirus Disease – 2019 [COVID-19] infection is multisystem disease not restricted to the lungs it has negative impact on Cardiovascular system by activation of ACE-2 receptors causing plaque stability, vascular inflammation and MI. ECG and 2D ECHO is a simple bed side diagnostic test can be used to assess cardiovascular disease involvement in such patients. We aimed to find out ECG and 2D ECHO abnormalities of Covid – 19 patients. To Study relation of SARS-COV-2 infection and Prevalence of Cardiovascular disease.

Methods: We perform Cross Sectional study among 500 Post Covid – 19 patients [>20 and

Results: Out …

Cryptogenic Fusobacterium Liver Abscesses In Two Healthy, Young Adult Males, Cooper Alden Josephs, Anna Bryce Tucker, James Everhart, Nick Fuerstenau, Taylor Templeton-Jager

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Clinical Presentation And Management Of Littoral Cell Angioma: A Case Report, Rebecca Ashton Taylor, Steven Carpenter

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Anaphylaxis Vs. Sepsis: A Case Of Distributive Shock After Receiving Hemodialysis, William Downs, Benjamin H. Bridges, Trey Embrey, Logan Reid, Meghan Rosenquist

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

A Case Of An Undocumented Immigrant With Rectal Adenocarcinoma, Rajiv Shah, Nizar Hallak, Selent Cameron

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Bloodstream To Heart Valve: A Case Of Pseudomonas Endocarditis, Jacob Keesee, Brenden Pearce, Mohammed Faris

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Concomitant Diagnoses Of Lymphoma And Pml In An Hiv-Positive Patient, Madelaine Duarte, Delon Altherr, Mohamed Faris

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Unraveling Daptomycin-Induced Lung Injury, Vishal Shah, Fady Awad, Jacob Keesee, Anna Cohen

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Viral Vengeance: A Case Of Hiv Induced Myocarditis, Jacob Keesee, Brenden Pearce, Mohammed Faris

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

From Proposal To Podcast: Starting A Student-Driven Pharmacy Podcast In The Classroom, Jarett C. Worden, Jennifer Duck

Funded Scholarship

Background: Podcasts are a widely available and popular educational medium for healthcare providers, residents, students, and patients. Podcasts are convenient, accessible, and may be effective education tools for listeners. While some studies have attempted to measure the effectiveness of podcasting to enhance knowledge, there are few studies evaluating podcasts in pharmacy education. The purpose of this project was to provide students with the opportunity to create a podcast episode through an in-class, semester-long assignment and to evaluate student perceptions of knowledge, confidence, and professional identity.

Educational activity: Over the course of a semester-long elective class, students worked in groups to …

Immunoglobulin G N-Glycome As A Biomarker Of Mortality Risk In Escherichia Coli Induced Sepsis, Huachen Wang, Houqiang Li, Zheng Guo, Hongda Hou, Haifeng Hou, Bing Chen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome caused by an imbalance in the inflammatory response to an infection that can lead to a high mortality rate. Escherichia coli is a common pathogen that causes sepsis. The role of immunoglobulin G N-glycome in estimating the mortality in patients with sepsis remains unknown. This study aims to reveal the clinical application of immunoglobulin G N-glycome as a potentially novel biomarker to predict mortality risk in Escherichia coli-induced sepsis. Methods: The serum immunoglobulin G N-glycome levels in 100 adult septic patient serum samples on the day of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and 100 …

Pleural Infection: Controversies On The Therapeutic Strategies, Ken K.P. Chan, Estee P.M. Lau, Y. C. Gary Lee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose of review Management of pleural infection remains heterogeneous worldwide. This review highlights current controversies in therapeutic strategies for pleural infection, focusing particularly on recent studies and their implications. Recent findings The introduction of intrapleural therapy combining alteplase [a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)] and deoxyribonuclease (DNase) has revolutionized treatment practices, though the optimal delivery and dosing regimen is an area of active investigation. Variations to simplify administration protocols and/or to lower the required drug doses have been published. Most were exploratory studies, but the variations showed maintained therapeutic efficacy. Whether intrapleural alteplase/DNase or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is superior is …

In Danger: Hiv Vaccine Research And Development In Europe, Roger Tatoud, Yves Lévy, Roger Le Grand, Jose Alcami, Giorgio Barbareschi, Christian Brander, Andrea Cara, Behazine Combadière, François Dabis, Sarah Fidler, Tomáš Hanke, Carolina Herrera, Gunilla B. Karlsson Hedestam, Hester Kuipers, Sheena Mccormack, Christiane Moog, Giuseppe Pantaleo, Laura Richert, Rogier W. Sanders, Robin Shattock, Hendrik Streeck, Rodolphe Thiebaut, Alexandra Trkola, Klaus Üeberla, Marit J. Van Gills, Ralf Wagner, Winfried Weissenhorn, Yazdan Yazdanpanah, Gabriella Scarlatti, Jean Daniel Lelièvre

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Highly effective antiretroviral-based HIV prevention plays an important role in ending the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, the sustainable control of the epidemic is hampered by unequal access to prevention options, including HIV testing, alongside with drug resistance and ongoing barriers to accessing sustainable HIV treatment. Therefore, an HIV vaccine, combined with effective prevention and treatment, remains an absolute necessity to control the epidemic. Yet, the recent discontinuation of four major vaccine efficacy studies is raising concerns about the future of HIV vaccine research and development globally, and particularly in the European region where funding for vaccine research and development has …

Racial Disparities In Maternal Mortality Before, During, And After The Covid-19 Pandemic In The United States: A Difference-In-Difference Analysis, Kyosuke Kamijo, Misa Hayasaka, Tetsuya Kawakita

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Background

This study aimed to examine changes in racial disparities in pregnancy-related and maternal mortality before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Methodology

This was a cross-sectional study using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) data from January 2018 to June 2024. We focused on pregnancy-related and maternal mortality among Black and White individuals to examine racial disparities. The study periods were defined as pre-pandemic (January 2018-March 2020), pandemic (April 2020-March 2022), and post-pandemic (April 2022-June 2024). We applied interrupted time series analysis and difference-in-difference (DID) models …

Drug-Induced Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis From An Unreported Source: Daptomycin, Jennifer K. Priessnitz, Timothy Kuzel, Lindsay Ackerman, Nelson Nicolasora

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) is a rare small-vessel vasculitis caused by immune-complex-mediated deposition on endothelial cells of dermal capillaries. Common triggers include medications, infections, autoimmune disorders, and malignancies. We present a case of a 58-year-old male who developed daptomycin-induced LCV after being treated for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) endocarditis. The patient experienced painful palpable purpura on his lower extremities, which was diagnosed as LCV by skin biopsy. At the time of the biopsy, warfarin and daptomycin were discontinued, and the patient was transitioned to heparin and ceftaroline. MRSA-induced LCV was ruled out, due to negative blood cultures and adequate source control …

Cultures For Acid-Fast Bacilli: Are We Being Good Stewards?, Jennifer Hanrahan, Julie D. Sill, Patricia Ver Schneider, Jessica F. Copeland, Elsie Frimpongmaa Amoako-Kissi, Ogochukwu O. Ilobi, Angela J. Toepp

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective: To describe the use of cultures for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and situations in which AFB cultures are unlikely to be of clinical benefit.

Design: Retrospective descriptive study of AFB cultures submitted to Sentara Health microbiology laboratory from December 1, 2021, to December 1, 2023. Data were collected from the electronic medical record and included patient demographics, the service line that ordered the culture, specimen source, and culture results.

Setting: Sentara Healthcare System.

Patients: All patients who had specimens submitted to the microbiology laboratory during the study period were included.

Results: A total of 13,944 AFB cultures from 8,243 …

A Historic Case Of Relapsing-Remitting Alzheimer's Disease In An Adolescent Attributed To Scarlet Fever., Richard Lathe, Brian J. Balin

PCOM Scholarly Works

We draw attention to a historic case of a boy who suffered from scarlet fever (typically caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes) at age 7 years and went on to develop the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). His physicians believed that the subsequent dementia was related to the infection. After death at 24 years of age, postmortem brain examination revealed abundant AD-type senile plaques and fibrils, formally confirming AD. Other potential causes of early-onset dementia are discussed, but these are distinct from patient E.H. This case is pertinent regarding the current debate about the potential role of infection in …

Predictors Of Viral Suppression Among People Living With Hiv (Plhiv) On Antiretroviral Treatment In Almaty, Kazakhstan, Ainur Kussainova

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region is experiencing the world’s fastest-growing HIV epidemic, with Kazakhstan among the countries most affected. Despite progress in HIV testing and treatment, Kazakhstan continues to face significant challenges in achieving optimal viral suppression among PLHIV. While 82% of PLHIV in Kazakhstan know their HIV status, only 73% are on ART, and just 67% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression. Adherence to ART remains a critical barrier, influenced by a complex interplay of individual, social, and structural factors, including mental health disorders such as depression, substance use, stigma and discrimination. Understanding …

Ribosome Hibernation In Mycobacterium Abscessus And Its Effect On Antibiotic Resistance, Ryan Treen

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) represent a diverse repertoire of species, most of which are ubiquitous in the environment. Some NTM species, such as Mycobacterium abscessus, can cause life-threatening infections in people with underlying medical conditions. The clinical incidence of such infections is on the rise, posing an emerging threat to public health. M. abscessus is characterized by intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance, complicating treatment strategies. Most chemotherapeutic approaches for M. abscessus infection target the bacterial ribosome, necessitating a better understanding of the physiological processes which confer this resistance. Multiple mycobacterial species respond to zinc-limiting conditions by inducing remodeling and hibernation …

Association Of Non-Communicable Diseases With Severe Covid-19 Among People Living With And Without Diagnosed Hiv/Aids In New York State, Ravi Kumar Balu

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Background: People living with diagnosed HIV (PLWDH) have a higher chance of co-infections and co-morbidities than the general population. When SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in China in December 2019 and later declared a pandemic, it was speculated that PLWDH might be more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease outcomes given their increased vulnerability to other respiratory infections like influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia and tuberculosis. However, several facets of COVID-19 disease in PLWDH are incompletely understood, including whether non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are strong risk factors for severe disease outcomes and death as they are in the general population.

Methods: The data …

Diversity Within Species: Mechanisms, Evolution And Implications In Bacterial Disease, Kathryn R. Piper

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli are ubiquitous commensal and opportunistic pathogens. In humans, S. aureus is commonly found on the skin and mucus membranes, and is known to cause infections in the skin, bloodstream and brain. E. coli is a normal part of the gut microbiota in humans and can cause intestinal and extraintestinal infections alike. S. aureus and E. coli pose global threats to public health, due to the high morbidity and mortality of invasive strains. The wide range of infections they cause in humans and other animals are exacerbated by the presence …

Robot-Assisted Surgical Treatment Of Caseoma, Nancy Wang, Abdussalam Elsenousi, Kenneth K Liao

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

This report reviews 5 cases of mitral annular caseoma. Four patients presented with fatigue, stroke, or mitral stenosis. Robot-assisted resection of caseoma with or without mitral valve replacement was successfully performed in all patients with good outcomes. These cases demonstrate the safety and efficacy of robotic surgery in treating caseoma.