Digital Commons Network^™

Stat4-Dependent Regulation Of Neuroinflammation In Atherosclerosis, Natalie Stahr, Alina K. Moriarty, Shelby D. Ma, W. Coles Keeter, Woong-Ki Kim, Larry D. Sanford, Elena V. Galkina

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Atherosclerosis is linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline, with chronic inflammation being a common feature of both pathologies. IL-12 activates STAT4 to regulate myeloid cell functions, and blockade of this pathway alleviates cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's models. However, the mechanisms connecting vascular pathology to neuroinflammation remain unclear. Here, we examine whether STAT4 functions as a common mediator of neuroinflammation in atherosclerosis. We demonstrate that LysM^Cre-specific STAT4 deficiency ameliorates deficits in long-term memory in low-density lipoprotein-deficient (Ldlr^-/-) mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD-C). STAT4 deficiency moderately reduces Ser199-phosphorylated Tau burden. Atherosclerosis alters brain immune …

Educational Case: Atypical Presentation Of Primary Hyperparathyroidism With Brown Tumor, Ariel Flotte, Jonathan Light, Harrison Klause, Richard M. Conran

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

The following fictional case is intended as a learning tool within the Pathology Competencies for Medical Education (PCME), a set of national standards for teaching pathology. These are divided into three basic competencies: Disease Mechanisms and Processes, Organ System Pathology, and Diagnostic Medicine and Therapeutic Pathology.

Inhibition Of Histone Demethylase Lsd1 Suppresses Cd47 Expression And Enhances Efficacy Of Cd47 Blockade In Breast Cancer, Fengjie Jiang, Yu Shen, Bing Li, Michael Henry, Nancy Davidson, Yi Huang

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Background CD47 functions as a “don’t eat me” checkpoint, inhibiting macrophage-mediated phagocytosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). While anti-CD47 therapies can restore immune surveillance, their efficacy in TNBC is often limited by immune evasion and drug development challenges.

Methods We investigated the crosstalk between the histone demethylase lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and CD47 signaling in TNBC using in silico datasets, isogenic cell lines, conditional BRCA1 knockout models, and syngeneic mouse models. Techniques such as immunohistochemistry, multiplex immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, protein ubiquitination, chromatin immunoprecipitation, chemotaxis, flow cytometry, and phagocytosis assays were employed to examine the epigenetic regulation of CD47 by LSD1 and …

Lipid And Foam Cell Accumulation As Novel Pathological Features Of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Dita Julianingsih, Samara V. Silver, Thaissa Horne, Kasun Gunawardena, Savannah Ward, Alicia Malewska, Douglas Strand, Julius Nyalwidhe, Ilya Sobol, Petra Popovics

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) encompasses a heterogeneous set of pathological processes that instigate lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Using a mouse model of steroid hormone imbalance-induced lower urinary tract dysfunction, we identified luminal lipid-laden foamy macrophages, although their presence and contribution to human pathology have not yet been established. The objective of this study was to determine whether luminal macrophages are associated with human BPH and to assess how lipid accumulation relates to underlying pathological features and clinical parameters.

Methods

Whole-mount tissue sections from simple prostatectomy specimens and prostates from healthy donors were used to evaluate the association of …

The Structure Of The Native Cardiac Crossbridge In The Rigor State, Cristina M. Risi, Tyler Nguyen, Betty Belknap, Howard D. White, Jose R. Pinto, Prescott B. Chase, Vitold E. Galkin

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Cardiac contraction is driven by double-headed myosin cycling on cardiac thin filaments, where troponin-tropomyosin regulates myosin access to actin. Prior high-resolution structural studies used a single-headed myosin bound to bare actin, thereby limiting insight into coordination between myosin heads and the influence of troponin-tropomyosin on actomyosin interactions. Here, we report a high-resolution structure of the native cardiac rigor cross-bridge formed by heavy meromyosin bound to the thin filament. We show that direct communication between the two bound heads, uneven interactions between the heads and tropomyosin, and spatial constraints imposed by troponin govern myosin placement along the thin filament. Additionally, the …

Revised Microbiology Core Knowledge Objectives For Modern Undergraduate Medical Education, Timothy J. Bauler, Cindy G. Arvidson, Samina Akbar, Dennis N. Arvidson, Margaret E. Bauer, Dwayne M. Baxa, Rebecca J. Greenblatt, Kerstin Honer Zu Bentrup, Yingguang Liu, Inaia Phoenix, Julie A. Kerry

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Defining the core content for each scientific discipline in a modern preclinical medical education curriculum is critical to ensure optimal student learning and application of foundational knowledge for clinical practice. Attendees of the Association of Medical School Microbiology and Immunology Chairs (AMSMIC) Educational Strategies Workshop recently highlighted the need for updated medical microbiology learning objectives, given the shift in medical education toward less time for preclinical coursework and more integrated learning. Herein, we describe the process of developing a comprehensive, educator-driven set of knowledge objectives for medical microbiology. These objectives emphasize common pathogens, as well as pathogens associated with severe …

Oxytocin Dosing During Trial Of Labor After Cesarean To Minimize The Risk Of Uterine Rupture: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Pierpaolo Nicolì, Moti Gulersen, Jordan Beacham, Hila Hochler, Alessandra Familiari, Anna Locatelli, Cynthia Abraham, Ettore Cicinelli, Amerigo Vitagliano, Vincenzo Berghella

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Oxytocin remains the mainstay for induction and for the management of labor arrest during trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). Therefore, the clinical question should be not whether to use oxytocin, but how to optimize its administration. This meta-analysis aimed to assess which oxytocin protocol, in terms of initial dose, amount of increase, timing to next increase, and maximum dose, may minimize the risk of uterine rupture (UR) during TOLAC.

DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched up to September 21, 2024.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Randomized and nonrandomized studies evaluating the association between induction and/or augmentation with oxytocin …

Distinct Glycosyltransferase Expression Governs Organ-Specific Survival In Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis, Venkatesh Varadharaj, Frank Leon, Nivedeta Krishna Kumar, Palanisamy Nallasamy, Pratima Raut, Annant Bir Kaur, Kirtana Arikath, Wyatt Petersen, Sanchita Rauth, Neelanjana Gayen, Zahraa Wajih Alsafwani, Poompozhil Mathivanan, Saravanakumar Marimuthu, Kavita Mallya, Madhu Bommideni, Jesse L. Cox, G. Talmon, Paul M. Grandgenett, Michael A. Hollingsworth, Dominick J. Dimaio, Jean L. Grem, Surinder K. Batra, Moorthy P. Ponnusamy

Journal Articles: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the most lethal cancers, with over 83% of patients presenting metastases to vital organs such as the liver, lungs, and peritoneum. Although glycosylation has been established as a critical factor in PDAC development, little is known about the molecular underpinnings of organ-specific metastasis. In this study, we investigated the role of glycosyltransferases (GTs) in mediating PDAC metastatic organotropism. Through an unbiased transcriptomic screen, we identified distinct GT expression patterns in liver- and lung-tropic PDAC cells. Notably, GCNT3 and B3GNT3 were selectively upregulated in liver and lung-tropic cells, respectively. These mutually exclusive expression patterns were …

Prolonged Qt Interval In Hiv-1 Infected Humanized Mice Treated Chronically With Dolutegravir/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine, Ali Namvaran, Julian V. Garcia, Mahendran Ramasamy, Kayla Nguyen, Farzaneh Tavakkoli Ghazani, Bryan T. Hackfort, Prasanta Dash, Reagan E. Fisher, Benson J. Edagwa, Santhi Gorantla, Keshoer R. Bidasee

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

The REPRIEVE Trial recently reported high rates of sudden cardiac death (SCD) middle-aged people living with HIV-1 infection (PWH) using the WHO/NIH-recommended two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)/one integrase strand inhibitor (INSTI) regimen to manage HIV-1 viremia. To date, clinically relevant animal models to delineate underlying causes for this remain limited. Here, we assessed if HIV-1-infected NOD.Cg-Prkdc^scidIl2rg^tm1Wjl/SzJ humanized mice (Hu-mice) treated with the WHO/NIH-recommended antiretroviral regimen, dolutegravir (DTG, INSTI)/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF, NRTIs)/emtricitabine (FTC, NRTIs), can recapitulate abnormalities in the ECG and subclinical structural heart disease that serve as harbingers of SCD in middle-aged PWH. …

From Screens To Stress: Public Health Implications Of Cancer Worry In A Digitally Connected World, Shreya Mathur, Ethan Burns, Michael Pokojovy, Tzu-Liang Bill Tseng, Sunil Mathur

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Aims:

This study examines how digital information environments, genetic testing experiences, health behaviors, and psychological distress influence cancer-related worry among adults in the United States. It further considers the public health implications of elevated or reduced cancer worry for prevention and risk communication.

Methods:

Data were drawn from a nationally representative survey of 6,252 U.S. adults. Measures included reliance on social media for health decision-making, smoking status, history of genetic testing, and psychological distress. Multivariable analyses assessed associations between these factors and levels of cancer worry.

Results/Findings:

Reliance on social media for health decisions was associated with greater cancer worry, …

A Bayesian Late-Fusion Supportability Framework For Rare-Disease Severity Prediction In Glut1 Deficiency Syndrome, Jordan M. Rodriguez

Mathematics Dissertations

Glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1-DS) is a rare neurometabolic disorder with heterogeneous neurological and developmental severity. Because patient-level severity is not observed as a single validated outcome, this dissertation develops a Bayesian late-fusion supportability framework for constructing and predicting an ordered latent severity phenotype from clinical, genetic, and EEG-derived evidence. The primary target was constructed in a larger clinical cohort using age-5 symptom burden and learning cognition, then assigned to an aligned multimodal prediction cohort. Target-defining variables were excluded from supervised predictors, and models were evaluated using patient-exclusive cross-validation with training-fold preprocessing and fold-wise EEG PCA.

The primary …

Blood Flow Regulates Metabolism In Hematopoietic Development, Pamela L Wenzel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Blood flow modifies oxygen availability and biomechanical forces within the vasculature of the embryo as the hematopoietic system develops. The aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) envelops the largest artery in the body and is a critical site for the emergence of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Herein, I discuss the role of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and force as determinants of metabolism and fate determination. To address the effects of blood flow on hematopoietic development, I employ mouse embryo models and biomimetic culture. Real-time cell metabolic analyses show that oxygen consumption rates (OCR) and extracellular acidification rates (ECAR) are altered by flow in cultures of …

Development Of A Practical Lu-177 Activity Calibration Protocol For Clinical Nuclear Medicine: Dosimetric Impact Analysis And Implementation Tools, Azam Almolaiki

Theses and Dissertations

Lutetium-177 (Lu-177) is widely used in radionuclide therapy, where accurate activity measurement prior to administration is essential for safe and effective treatment delivery. However, variability in dose calibrator response due to measurement conditions and source geometry remains a practical challenge in routine clinical settings. This study presents a practical clinical calibration strategy under real-world constraints for Lu-177 activity measurement using standard nuclear medicine instrumentation. A vial-based approach was implemented using a well-type ionization chamber (Capintec CRC-15R) to evaluate measurement repeatability, temporal stability, and geometry dependence. All measurements were performed under consistent conditions with appropriate decay correction applied using the physical …

Oropharyngeal Syphilis Presenting As Tongue Based Ulcer With Lymphadenopathy, Serena F. Pu, Kevin J. Carlson, Jonathan R. Mark, Benjamin J. Rubinstein

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Within the aerodigestive tract, syphilis presents with varied signs and symptoms, some of which may mimic malignancy or other disease processes. We present the case of a 29-year-old man with otalgia and odynophagia who was found on physical examination and office laryngoscopy to have a 4-cm ulcerative mass of the tongue base and cervical lymphadenopathy. While planning for tissue diagnosis, the patient’s serologies revealed positive treponemal antibody testing and elevated rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titers, confirming syphilitic infection, likely representing secondary syphilis. While awaiting operative biopsy, the patient received intramuscular penicillin with complete resolution of the mass and symptoms, and …

Dupilumab In Chronic Rhinosinusitis Without Nasal Polyps: Randomized Phase 2 Trial (Orion), Stella E. Lee, Anju T. Peters, Philippe Gevaert, Joseph K. Han, Claus Bachert, Francisco Moreira Da Silva, Andrés Rosenblüt, Chih-Chi Hu, Jennifer Maloney, Paolo Caferra, Adrianna Michalak, Andrew P. Fontenot, Lacey B. Robinson, Neelam A. Phadke

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is often driven by type 2 inflammation and is characterized by nasal obstruction/ discharge, facial pain/pressure, and/or reduced smell, either with or without nasal polyps (CRSwNP or CRSsNP).

OBJECTIVE: To test whether dupilumab improves radiographic features in CRSsNP. Methods: ORION (NCT04678856), a phase 2, randomized, multicenter, double blind, placebo-controlled study, assessed dupilumab efficacy and safety in adults with uncontrolled CRSsNP. Patients were randomized 1:1 to dupilumab or placebo for 24 to 52 weeks. Endpoints included changes from baseline at week 24 in Lund–Mackay computed tomography (LMK-CT) score (dupilumab only [primary] and vs placebo [secondary]), sinus Total …

Analyzing Early Medieval Perspectives Of Fetal Development, Nivedha Srinivasan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis examines early medieval perspectives of fetal development by analyzing two manuscripts: British Library, Cotton Tiberius A III and Leiden University, Vossianus lat. Q69. This study will investigate how knowledge of pregnancy was shared throughout England before the establishment of universities. Interest in medieval reproductive language has piqued in importance in recent years, especially due to modern legal debates surrounding reproductive rights. By examining descriptions of the nine months of fetal development in these two manuscripts, as well as in widely known earlier medical texts like Pliny’s Natural History and Vindicianus’ Gynaecia, this research explores how monastic writers in …

Timelines Of Care: Analyzing Treatment Access For Women With Ongoing Reproductive Health Needs, Nyla M. Keith

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Mandates in the United States created pressure on an already strained healthcare system post-COVID-19 pandemic. With new regulations placed upon abortion care forcing the closing of low-cost health clinics such as Planned Parenthood, legislation that has made health insurance more expensive, and rising pharmaceutical prices, women’s OB/GYN care in America has struggled to meet patient needs. A cross-sectional survey was developed and distributed to four clinics in the Orlando area to assess patients' perceived access to care and identify barriers to receiving OB/GYN care. The survey took approximately 10 – 15 minutes to complete, was available in print and online …

Evaluating The Efficacy And Safety Of Inactivated Dengue Vaccines In Vulnerable Populations, Alaa Daghash

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Dengue virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus responsible for over 390 million annual cases worldwide. While there are live-attenuated vaccines available to prevent dengue, none are currently approved for use in the United States, and existing platforms pose significant risks of viral reactivation and antibody-dependent enhancement in vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women, children under the age of nine, and the immunocompromised. This widespread exclusion of vulnerable populations exposes a significant vaccine equity gap in dengue prevention, as the populations most at risk for severe dengue are the same ones who are currently excluded from vaccination. In this study, I conducted …

Studying Chronotypes And Their Role In Sleep And Mental Health: A Scoping Review, Evan Nguyen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Sleep patterns remain a significant public health concern globally, impacting several aspects of life, including mental health. This scoping review examined how chronotype and circadian typology predict mental health, with sleep quality serving as a crucial mediator. While the importance of sleep is widely acknowledged, there is a lack of studies specifically investigating chronotype-aligned interventions to reduce psychological distress. To address the shortage, a comprehensive review of the peer-reviewed literature was conducted, identifying six papers for analysis. These studies mostly utilized cross-sectional designs to assess diverse global groups, including university students, healthcare workers, and military personnel. The results indicate that …

Post-Metabolites Of Two Commensal Bacteria Suppress Dna Damage In An Experimental Model Of Acid Reflux Disease, Maanya Pradeep

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Chronic heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects approximately 25% of the US population [1]. Repeated bile acid exposure from the regurgitation of stomach contents leads to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause oxidative DNA damage and promote genomic instability [2]. Barrett’s esophagus (BE), which can develop as a response to chronic bile acid exposure, increases the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) by 30% to 125% [1].

There are more than 18,000 new cases of esophageal cancer in the United States each year, and while its incidence is relatively low compared to other cancers, its mortality …

The Role Of P2y1 And P2y2 Receptors In Human Neural Stem Cell Proliferation, Daria Sokolova

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) are located in specialized niches of the adult brain and play a vital role in both neurogenesis and neuronal repair. However, declines in NSC proliferation and metabolism associated with age and pathology make these cells less efficient at responding to neurodegenerative disease. Understanding signaling pathways that regulate NSC function is therefore essential for the understanding and development of treatments for these conditions. P2Y receptors are G-protein-coupled purinergic receptors that are activated by extracellular nucleotides and regulate cellular metabolism and proliferation. Among the eight known P2Y subtypes, P2Y1 and P2Y2 have been linked to neuronal signaling …

Effect Of Plant-Based Vs. Standard American Diet On Cardiovascular Parameters In College Students, Timothy J. Horanic

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines how adherence to different dietary patterns—specifically a plant-based diet compared to the standard American diet—can influence physiological indicators tied to cardiovascular health, including heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR). Among these markers, HRV is considered especially sensitive to autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation and may offer earlier insight into physiological stress or dysfunction than HR or BP alone. Although nutritional habits are widely believed to impact heart health, few investigations have focused on how specific long-term diets affect autonomic and cardiovascular metrics in healthy, college-aged adults. This study aims to investigate if …

Exploring Anticholinergic Neurotoxicity: Diphenhydramine's Impact On Neuro-2a Cell Morphology, Expression, And Viability, Jordan B. Mcintyre

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Anticholinergic medications, such as diphenhydramine (commonly known as Benadryl), are increasingly recognized for their association with cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disease. These medications, which inhibit the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for the formation and utilization of the central and peripheral nervous system, have been implicated in conditions such as dementia and may impact fundamental cellular processes like neurogenesis and cell proliferation. This study investigates the effects of diphenhydramine on neurogenesis when introduced to Neuro-2a cells during differentiation. For all studies cells were plated on coverslips or in 6-well plates with differentiation media containing 0 ng/mL, 50 ng/mL, …

Multisite, Multiancestry Genome-Wide Association Study Meta-Analysis Of Functional Seizure Disorder In A Hospital Sample Of 675,680 Patients, Slavina B Goleva, Costin Leu, Yen-Chen Anne Feng, David Burstein, Sanan Venkatesh, Rebecca Birnbaum, Veera M Rajagopal, Peter Straub, Jakob Christensen, Jocelyn F Bautista, Robyn M Busch, Imad M Najm, Jakob Grove, Anders D Børglum, Georgios Voloudakis, Panos Roussos, Jordan Smoller, Dennis Lal, Lea K Davis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Functional seizures (FS) are paroxysmal episodes that phenotypically resemble epileptic seizures but are not associated with brain epileptiform discharges; they are also known as psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. The exact etiology and pathophysiology of FS is unknown; however, trauma and stress-related disorders are known risk factors.

Methods: We used a validated algorithm applied to electronic health records to identify individuals with FS in 6 international biobanks and hospital sites. We conducted a multisite FS genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis, including 10,910 FS cases (9040 predicted European ancestry [EA] and 1870 predicted African ancestry [AA]) and 664,500 (561,150 EA and 103,350 …

Asthma Integrative Review: Effects Of Aerobic Exercise On Asthma Exacerbation, Abigail Williams, Dazya Crayton, Nicole Stasiak, Sabrina Stich

Master's Projects

Asthma is a chronic respiratory illness defined by airway inflammation and episodes of exacerbation. Pharmacological intervention remains the treatment of choice; however, there is growing evidence to support moderate intensity aerobic exercise as adjunct therapy to promote asthma control. The integrative review evaluates current evidence supporting the PICO question: In adults with mild to moderate asthma, what is the effect of prescribed aerobic exercise on reducing exacerbations? A systematic search of CINAHL, Health Source: Nursing, MEDLINE, and PubMed identified eligible studies. The inclusion criteria required peer-reviewed quantitative articles written in English and published within the past five years. In addition, …

Comparative Study Between High Performance Polymers Versus Metallic Definitive Obturator: A Finite Element Analysis, Mostafa S. Swedan

Mansoura Journal of Dentistry

Aim: This study investigates the mechanical performance of obturators fabricated from PEKKTON, PEEK, and traditional Cobalet-chromium materials using finite element analysis. Methods : One three dimensional finite element model was created for this study. Starting by cast laser scanning to create solid parts of the model "cortical, cancellous, mucosa, obturator, and partial denture" that to simulate restoration of maxillectomy defects. The model was subjected to average masticatory load of 200N distributed on the partial denture vertically and oblique. Results: The results of the three obturator materials showed too similar deformation and stresses distributions with small variation in values. The obturator …

The Use Of Pekk Versus Peek In The Fabrication Of Maxillary Definitive Obturators, Mostafa S. Swedan, Sherin F. Donia, Salah Af. Hegazy

Mansoura Journal of Dentistry

Purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of CAD-CAM-milled PEKK frameworks versus PEEK frameworks in the fabrication of clasp-retained maxillary obturators, assessing retention outcomes and patient satisfaction over a sixmonth follow-up period. Materials and Methods. Ten patients with maxillary defects (Armany class I) were randomly assigned to two equal groups (n=5). Group 1 received obturators with CADCAM- milled PEKK frameworks (Pekkton, Cendres+Métaux), while Group 2 received obturators with CAD-CAM-milled PEEK frameworks (Bio-HPP, bredent), both incorporating hollow bulb extensions fabricated from PMMA. A standardized digital workflow including exocad software design, and subtractive manufacturing was employed for all prostheses. Framework …

The Effects Of Attending Prediabetes Prevention Workshops On Improving Students' Awareness, Knowledge, And Interest, Madelene Hamann

DNP Research Projects

Abstract

Objective:This DNP project evaluated the effectiveness of a five-week educational intervention on adolescents’ knowledge of prediabetes, awareness, and intentions to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors. Method and Intervention:Youth aged 13 to 18 years participated in five 40-minute school-based workshops. Outcomes were measured using the Adolescent Diabetes Awareness Test (ADAT), Health Belief Model (HBM), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) workshop evaluation. Effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to determine clinical relevance. Results:The intervention had a large, clinically relevant effect on prediabetes knowledge and awareness measured by the ADAT (Hedges’ g = 1.10) …

Neural Correlates Of Cognitive Fatigue In Regular Cannabis Users And Non-Users: A Pilot Fnirs Study, Mariia Vistyzenko

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Background: Cognitive fatigue impairs performance across multiple domains, yet how regular cannabis use affects fatigue responses remains unclear. This pilot study investigated neural and behavioural correlates of cognitive fatigue in abstinent cannabis users versus non-users.

Methods: Twenty-six participants (18 non-users, 8 regular cannabis users after 24-hour abstinence) completed cognitive tasks before and after a 60-minute Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) designed to induce fatigue. Tasks assessed working memory (N-Back), cognitive flexibility (Wisconsin Card Sorting), psychomotor speed (Digit Symbol Substitution), sustained attention (Continuous Performance Task), inhibition (Stroop, Stop Signal), and motion perception. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) continuously monitored prefrontal cortex …

Healthcare Transition In Spina Bifida: A National Mixed Method Study, Betsy Hopson, Kathy H Huen, Molly B Richardson, Rhonda G Cady, Jennifer T Queally, Judy Thibadeau, Ellen Fremion

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with spina bifida (SB) face substantial challenges during the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare, including fragmented systems, limited adult provider availability, and gaps in self-management readiness. Despite national guidelines, little is known about how transition practices are implemented across the Spina Bifida Association (SBA) Clinical Care Partner (CCP) network. This study examined clinician perspectives on current practices, barriers, facilitators, and definitions of successful healthcare transition (HCT).

Methods: Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, we first conducted a 47-item survey with clinicians from SBA CCP clinics (n = 20/32; 62.5 % response rate). …