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Penicillin: The Burdensome Physiology Of Β-Lactamase, Lena Uyen-Thi Ngo

University Honors Theses

This thesis is a literature review investigating the effects of overusing penicillin and the nonadherence to proper treatment on the evolutionary changes in a bacterium's resistance. Drawing upon the history, present, and future of penicillin research, the examination analyzes how penicillin came to be, how bacteria developed their resistance, and how scientists are combating this issue. In doing so, the study investigates the historical timeline regarding the discovery of penicillin as an antibiotic. Furthermore, the review will examine the scientific changes within a bacterium's physiology to develop its antibiotic resistance. Finally, the review will delve into what scientists are currently …

"Sex Out Of Boredom": Key Stakeholders' Perspectives On Teen Pregnancy Prevention In Emerging Immigrant Latino Rural Communities., Romina Barral, J Dennis Fortenberry, Astrid Guerrero Avitia, Mariana Ramirez, Abbey R. Masonbrink, Claire D. Brindis

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

INTRODUCTION: Teen pregnancy (TP) rates are 1.5 times higher among Latina youth than the United States national average and one-third times higher in rural counties. The Socio-Ecological framework recognizes the myriad of issues that impact TP, including four bidirectional levels of influence on teenagers' behaviors: macro, community, institutional, and interpersonal levels. We aim to fill critical knowledge gaps regarding the influence of key community stakeholders living in rural, Latino-majority communities shaping Latino/a, immigrant adolescents' TP-related environments.

METHODS: A purposive sample of 48 key stakeholders was drawn from three rural counties (Finney, Ford, and Seward) in southwestern Kansas from 2016 to …

Psychometric Properties Of The Spanish Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale - Second Edition, Eric A Storch, Jessica Sc Cheng, Miranda Higham, Josselyn S Muñoz, Vanessa Zavala Cruz, Dayan Berrones, Diana P Obando, Jacey L Anderberg, Renee M Frederick, Vissente Tapia-Cuevas, Macarena Churruca Muñoz, Constanza Uribe Villar, Pablo R Moya, Marcos E Ochoa-Panaifo, Mayra C Martinez Mallen, Andrew D Wiese, Caitlin M Pinciotti, Melisa N Sagarnaga, Joseph F Mcguire, Ogechi C Onyeka, María B Moyano, Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative For Ocd Genomics (Latino), Brazilian Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorder Working Group (Gttoc), Wayne K Goodman, James J Crowley

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Second Edition (Y-BOCS-II) is an evidence-based clinician-rated measure for assessing the presence and severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The Spanish version of the Y-BOCS-II has not yet been validated. The present study examines the psychometric properties of the Spanish Y-BOCS-II (Spanish-Y-BOCS-II) in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who are of Hispanic/Latino ancestry. The Spanish-Y-BOCS-II was administered to 1805 adults with OCD. Participants also completed a battery of measures assessing OCD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. The internal consistency for the Symptom Checklist (Kuder-Richardson-20=0.92), Obsession Severity (α=0.87), Compulsion Severity (α=0.86), and Total Severity (α=0.92) were high. The inter-rater reliability …

Functional Mobility And Pain Are Improved For 6 Years After Adolescent Bariatric Surgery, Neil Thivalapill, Todd M Jenkins, Thomas H Inge, Changchun Xie, Anita P Courcoulas, Carroll M Harmon, Michael A Helmrath, Stephanie Sisley, Marc P Michalsky, Justin R Ryder, Teen‐Longitudinal Assessment Of Bariatric Surgery (Teen‐Labs) Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The long-term durability of improvements in functional mobility and musculoskeletal pain for adolescents after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is unknown.

Methods: We used the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) study to determine the change in mobility and pain among adolescents who underwent MBS. From standardized 400-m walk tests, we analyzed walk time, heart rate (HR) parameters, and musculoskeletal pain.

Results: The mean walk time improved from 383 s (95% CI: 368-399) prior to surgery to 351 s (95% CI: 330-372) by 6 years. The mean resting HR was 90 beats per minute (bpm; 95% CI: 87-93) preoperatively …

Stress, Employment Changes, And Psychological Distress Among Caregivers Of Patients With Head And Neck Cancer, Lama Abdurrahman, Vlad C Sandulache, Cielito Reyes-Gibby, Erich M Sturgis, Pavan Jhaveri, Hoda Badr

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Patients undergoing external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) often experience adverse effects that require substantial caregiving. The burdens of caregiving can impact caregiver employment and mental health over time, yet this topic remains underexplored.

Objective: To examine the associations between caregiving for patients with HNC who undergo EBRT and caregiver stress, employment status, and psychological distress.

Design, setting, and participants: This was a secondary analysis of data from a longitudinal survey study that surveyed caregivers at baseline (ie, at initiation of EBRT) and at 4-month and 12-month follow-ups. The study was conducted at 2 …

Performance Of Stool-Based Molecular Tests And Processing Methods For Paediatric Tuberculosis Diagnosis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Lucía Carratalà-Castro, Shilzia Munguambe, Belén Saavedra-Cervera, Petra De Haas, Alexander Kay, Olivier Marcy, Pamela Nabeta, Willy Ssengooba, Elisabetta Ghimenton-Walters, Sozinho Acácio, Maryline Bonnet, Joanna Ehrlich, Andrew R Dinardo, Anca Vasiliu, Christoph Lange, Sabine Hermans, Anna M Mandalakas, Elisa López-Varela, Alberto L García-Basteiro

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: There has been a global pursuit to improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis in young children by applying diagnostic methods on accessible biospecimens such as stool. We aimed to conduct a systematic review on the accuracy of stool-based molecular tests for tuberculosis diagnosis in children and to assess the impact of the available pre-processing methods and other design characteristics.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated studies in children younger than 16 years with presumptive tuberculosis that were published in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese from Jan 1, 2000, to May 3, 2024, in MEDLINE, Embase, and Embase …

Navigating Crisis: A Qualitative Exploration Of Parents' Journeys With Suicidal Adolescents In Australian Emergency Departments, Demee Rheinberger, Lauren Mcgillivray, Fiona Shand, Sally Ann Pollard, Susanne Oliver Armstrong, Julia Lessing, Katherine Boydell

The Qualitative Report

Rates of emergency department (ED) presentations for suicide crisis (thoughts, feelings, plans and behaviours) in adolescents are increasing. Parents play a key role in supporting adolescents during and after the ED presentation, however little is known about parental experiences in the ED. Interviews with 20 parents from across Australia were undertaken to help understand this experience. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted, resulting in three themes which explore the impact of the suicide crisis and ED presentation on the parents’ sense of identity. First, parents’ identity was threatened as they were faced with the juxtaposition between the role of protector …

Development Of A Novel Biomarker Platform For Profiling Key Protein-Protein Interactions To Predict The Efficacy Of Bh3-Mimetic Drugs, Andrew J Kinloch, Faiyaz Rahman, Bahriye Karakas, Muhammad Shahid, Bora Lim, Stephanie J Bouley, James A Walker, Erinna F Lee, Walter D Fairlie, Kevin R Kelly, Michael H Cardone

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

One of the hallmarks of cancer cells is their failure to respond to the cellular mechanism of apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) family of proteins regulate apoptosis. Their ability to do so can be measured using several methods that in turn anticipate the fate of the cancer cell in response to apoptosis-inducing treatment. These assays ultimately identify the readiness of the cancer cell to undergo apoptosis, which is referred to as the mitochondrial priming state. These metrics, however, have been challenging to implement in the clinic.

Anti-Viral Cd8 Central Memory Veto Cells As A New Platform For Car T Cell Therapy, Wei-Hsin Liu, Anat Globerson Levin, Assaf Lask, Galit Horn, Tova Waks, Bar Nathansohn Levi, Irit Milman Krentsis, Einav Shoshan, Xiaohua Su, Maksim Mamonkin, Richard E Champlin, Yair Reisner, Esther Bachar Lustig

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Central memory CD8 T cells exhibit marked veto activity enhancing engraftment in several mouse models of T cell-depleted bone marrow (TDBM) allografting. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can be prevented by stimulation of mouse or human memory CD8 T cells against their cognate antigens under cytokine deprivation, in the early phase of culture followed by further expansion with IL21, IL15, and IL7. Thus, human anti-viral CD8 central memory veto T cells generated from CMV and EBV-positive donors are currently evaluated in a clinical trial at MD Anderson Cancer Centre (MDACC). Results in 15 patients indicate a low risk of GVHD. Considering that …

Multicenter Evaluation Of A New Strip-Based Blood Glucose System For Point-Of-Care Testing In Critical And Non-Critical Care Settings, Michael Goodman, Sven Bercker, Nancy Breitenbeck, Cristina Canada-Vilalta, Daisy D Canepa, William A Clarke, Christopher W Farnsworth, Edward O Ganser, Nienke Geerts, Barbara Goldsmith, Gary Headden, Debra Hoppensteadt, Birgit Klapperich, Ryan Matika, Gabrielle Miles, Sagori Mukhopadhyay, James H Nichols, Rebecca M O'Dell, Zubaid Rafique, Andre Schuetzenmeister, Robbert Slingerland, Ann F Stankiewicz, Jonathan R Swanson, Nam K Tran, Alan H B Wu, Brad S Karon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Evaluation of the performance of Cobas® Pulse (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany), a new blood glucose (BG) monitoring system (BGMS; referred to here as BGMSA) intended for point-of-care testing using samples from patients in diverse clinical settings by intended point-of-care test operators.

Methods: Arterial, capillary, venous, or heel stick whole blood (WB) samples from patients in non-critical and critical care settings were collected and analyzed using BGMSA and the Nova StatStrip® BGMS (Nova Biomedical, Waltham, MA; referred to here as BGMSB), and a hexokinase comparator (Cobas 6000 Analyzer Series; Roche Diagnostics GmbH). The blood glucose measurement accuracy was assessed …

Neovascular Pruning By Ido1 Inhibitors Can Potentiate Immunogenic Cytotoxicity Of Ischemia-Targeted Agents To Synergistically Enhance Anti-Pd-1 Responsiveness, Shih-Chun Shen, Souvik Dey, James B. Duhadaway, Erika Sutanto-Ward, Maurice T. Hampton, Serguei V. Kozlov, George C. Prendergast, Alexander J. Muller

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Strategies for deploying indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1)-targeted therapies for use against cancer have focused on IDO1's role in promoting peripheral immune tolerance that shields tumors from effector T cells. However, preclinical investigation of both primary and metastatic tumor development in the lungs has uncovered a previously unappreciated role for IDO1 in directing a counterregulatory response to interferon (IFN)-γ that realigns the local inflammatory environment to promote tumor neovascularization. Understanding how to therapeutically leverage the ability of IDO1 inhibitors to subvert inflammatory neovascularization within the tumor microenvironment has potential ramifications for future clinical development of these compounds.

METHODS: Pulmonary metastases …

Biallelic Loss-Of-Function Variant In Minpp1 Causes Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia With Characteristic Severe Neurodevelopmental Disorder, Aljazi Al-Maraghi, Rulan Shaath, Katherine Ford, Waleed Aamer, Jehan Alrayahi, Sura Hussein, Elbay Aliyev, Nourhen Agrebi, Muhammad Kohailan, Satanay Z Hubrack, Sasirekha Palaniswamy, Adam D Kennedy, Karen L Debalsi, Sarah H Elsea, Ruba Benini, Tawfeg Ben-Omran, Bernice Lo, Ammira S A Akil, Khalid A Fakhro

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH) encompasses a group of autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorders marked by cerebellar and pontine atrophy. Multiple subtypes of PCH have been identified, among which the rare subtype PCH type 16 is caused by MINPP1 genetic variants. MINPPI encodes an enzyme essential for inositol polyphosphate dephosphorylation, regulating calcium and iron homeostasis. We conducted genome sequencing on a proband from the consanguineous family, who presented with a severe neurodegenerative disorder, to identify the underlying cause of disease. A comprehensive clinical assessment in addition to neuroradiological findings are described. We performed the functional validation of the identified variant and conducted untargeted …

Physical Activity And Body Image In Early Onset Cancer Patients, Madeleine Z. Pollard

Graduate Masters Theses

Abstract: Cancer is the leading cause of death among Americans under the age of 85 (Brown et al., 2012). There are increasing rates of cancer diagnoses in adults aged 18-49, which is described as an early onset (EO) diagnosis. Despite high survival rates (Lewis et al., 2021), EO cancer patients are at increased risk for long-term physical and psychological challenges associated with both the disease and its treatment (Haque et al., 2023). Cancer diagnosed during these critical periods of life can significantly impact self-perception and body image, which are critical to identity formation and quality of life (Castonguay, et al., …

Nuclear Phase Separation Drives Npm1-Mutant Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Gandhar K Datar, Elmira Khabusheva, Archish Anand, Joshua Beale, Marwa Sadek, Chun-Wei Chen, Evdokiia Potolitsyna, Nayara Alcantara-Contessoto, Guangyuan Liu, Josephine De La Fuente, Christina Dollinger, Anna Guzman, Alejandra Martell, Katharina Wohlan, Abhishek Maiti, Nicholas J Short, S Stephen Yi, Vibeke Andresen, Bjørn Tore Gjertsen, Brunangelo Falini, Rachel E Rau, Lorenzo Brunetti, Nidhi Sahni, Margaret A Goodell, Joshua A Riback

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

During cancer development, mutations promote gene expression changes that cause transformation. Leukemia is frequently associated with aberrant HOXA expression driven by translocations in nucleoporin genes or KMT2A, and mutations in NPM1. How disparate mutations converge on this regulatory pathway is not understood. Here we demonstrate that mutant NPM1 (NPM1c) forms nuclear condensates in multiple human cell lines, mouse models, and primary patient samples. We show NPM1c phase separation is necessary and sufficient to coordinate the recruitment of NUP98 and KMT2A to condensates. Through extensive mutagenesis and pharmacological destabilization of phase separation, we find that NPM1c condensates are necessary …

Antibiofilm Properties Of 4-Hydroxy-3-Methyl-2-Alkenylquinoline, A Novel Burkholderia-Derived Alkaloid, Mckinley D Williams, Taylor R Sweeney, Sabrina Trieu, Ravi Orugunty, Abdelahhad Barbour, Fereshteh Younesi, Michael Glogauer, Nopakorn Hansanant, Ronald Shin, Shi-En Lu, Kevin Cao, Abraham Tenorio, Sigmund J Haidacher, Anthony M Haag, Thomas D Horvath, Leif Smith

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Biofilms are an important colonization mechanism employed by several microbial species to better establish themselves and monopolize the acquisition of resources across different environs. Some bacteria have evolved specialized metabolites that, when secreted, disrupt the formation and stability of biofilms generated by competing heterospecies, providing the producing organism with an ecological advantage. Soil-derived species are probable candidates for the identification of such compounds, given the intense level of competition that occurs within the terrestrial ecosystem. The MS14 strain of Burkholderia contaminans isolated from soil in Mississippi has previously been shown to produce antimicrobial compounds like occidiofungin and ornibactin. In this …

Targeting Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase (Nnos) As A Novel Approach To Enhancing The Anti-Melanoma Activity Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Anika R. Patel, Shirley Tong, Kate Alison Lozada, Amardeep Awasthi, Richard B. Silverman, Jennifer Totonchy, Sun Yang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background and Objectives: Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) overexpressed in melanoma plays a critical role in disease progression. Our previous studies demonstrated that nNOS inhibitors exhibited potent anti-melanoma activity and regulated PD-L1 expressions in the presence of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). However, the role of nNOS in the melanoma immune response has not been well defined. Methods: Changes in gene expression profiles after nNOS inhibitor treatment were determined by transcriptomic analysis. A melanoma mouse model was used to determine the effects of nNOS inhibition on peripheral T cells and the in vivo anti-tumor activity of combining nNOS inhibitors with immune …

Self-Management For People With Epilepsy And A History Of Negative Health Events (Smart): A Randomized Controlled Effectiveness Trial, Martha Sajatovic, Jessica Black, Jacqueline Krehel-Montgomery, Richard Barigye, Joy Yala, Clara Adeniyi

Faculty Scholarship

Objectives: This 2-site, 6-month randomized controlled trial of an epilepsy self-management (ESM) curriculum (SMART) vs. 6-month waitlist (WL) control assessed effects on epilepsy outcomes in 160 people with epilepsy (PWE). Methods: PWE had at least 1 negative health event (NHE) defined as a seizure, emergency department visit, hospitalization or self-harm attempt in the last 6 months. Primary outcomes were differences in proportions of PWE with reductions in NHEs from baseline to 6 months follow up and change in NHE/seizure counts between SMART and WL. Secondary outcomes included the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), Quality of Life …

Effect Of Cardiac Rehabilitation Program On Left Ventricular Systolic Function In Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy Using Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography, Sarah Mohamed Abdelhady, Ahmed Kadry Araquib, Adel Mohamed Shabana, Adel Gamal Hassanein, Ramy Raymond Elias

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Objectives: Anthracyclines used in the treatment of breast cancer are known for their cumulative cardiotoxic effect. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography is a promising technique in detection of subclinical cardiotoxicity. Cardio-oncology rehabilitation is a new field aiming to decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve cardiopulmonary fitness among cancer patients

Methods: The study included 100 female patients with de novo breast cancer and treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups in a 1:1 ratio. Group (1) included patients who were allocated to cardiac rehabilitation program in addition to their regular chemotherapeutic drugs and group 2 …

Interprofessional Collaboration Between Primary Care And Occupational Therapy, Ellen Modlin, Phd, Otr/L, Bcp, Caps, Deana Shevit Goldin, Phd, Dnp, Arnp, Fnp-Bc

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Purpose: This article explores the utilization of occupational therapy (OT) in interprofessional health care teams in adult populations. Primary care settings are typically the first point of contact for individuals seeking health care services; therefore, primary care practitioners (PCPs) are in a unique position to initiate collaboration with specialty clinicians to optimize the use of health care resources.

Method: Peer- reviewed literature from primary care and OT research was reviewed and summarized. The search focused on barriers and potential opportunities for collaboration between primary care and occupational therapy in adult populations.

Results: Occupational therapy (OT) is underutilized, as lack of …

Imaging Hallmarks Of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension And Insights Into Pathogenesis, Albalooshy Basimah, Scott Faro, Hsiangkuo Yuan, Kiran Talekar, Prabath Mondel, Enchao Qiu, Joga Chaganti

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Idiopathic Intracranial hypertension (IIH), also referred to as pseudotumor cerebri, is a term used to describe increased intracranial pressure in the absence of a known identifiable secondary cause. Despite advancements of neuroimaging techniques, imaging of the pathological underpinnings in the diagnosis of IIH has been limited. Although the causation of IIH has been ascribed to increased Cerebrospinal Fluid production and disordered drainage through the dural sinuses, new evidence shows that the glymphatic system which is an alternate pathway of drainage is likely to play a pivotal role. In this review, we address the pathophysiological underpinnings in the causation of IIH …

Turning Analysis Into Action: Opportunities And Challenges In Implementing Wastewater Science For Public Health Decision-Making, Anna Gitter, Valeria Ruvalcaba, Katelyn Clark, Theresa Tran Carapucci, Fuqing Wu, Blake M Hanson, Jennifer Deegan, John Balliew, Eric Boerwinkle, Anthony W Maresso, Kristina D Mena

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In the 5 years since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the field of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has dramatically expanded with programs implemented across the globe to monitor for SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses of public health concern. However, the best way to use wastewater surveillance data and inform local communities of the utility of wastewater science remains limited and sporadically discussed. Specifically, there is vague guidance regarding interpreting varying levels of viral loads in wastewater for public health significance. While collaborative efforts are key to implementing these community-specific wastewater surveillance programs, effectively using the data for public health decision-making still …

Towards Universal Chemosensory Testing: Needs, Barriers, And Opportunities, Steven D. Munger, Kai Zhao, Linda A. Barlow, Duncan Boak, Katie Boateng, Susan E. Coldwell, Pamela Dalton, Richard L. Doty, Jennifer E. Douglas, Valerie Duffy, Frank A. Franklin, John E. Hayes, Howard J. Hoffman, Patrice Hubert, Paule V. Joseph, Jeb M. Justice, Joshua M. Levy, Julie A. Mennella, Marianna Obrist, M. Yanina Pepino, Jayant M. Pinto, Edmund A. Pribitkin, Christopher T. Simons, Mark W. Albers, Valentina Parma

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

Millions of people in the United States experience a reduced or distorted ability to smell or taste. Chemosensory disorders such as anosmia (the inability to smell), parosmia (distorted smell), or dysgeusia (altered taste) have major impacts on health and quality of life including difficulty sensing dangers such as fire or spoilage, a diminished palatability of food and drink that can negatively influence diet and nutrition, feelings of social isolation, and an increased incidence of frailty, anxiety, and depression. Smell or taste dysfunction can also be symptoms of other health issues, including sinonasal disease, cancer, or neurodegenerative disease. Aging adults are …

Addressing Socioeconomic Disparities In The Treatment Of Antimicrobial-Resistant Infections: The Role Of Pharmacists In Mitigating Barriers, Arin Wade, Danielle Egbujor, Anna Spalvieri, Owen Fox, Marisa Petrunich, Joshua Honaker, Samantha Mccord, Kasie Landin

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Antimicrobial resistance is an escalating global threat driven by inappropriate antibiotic use and shaped by socioeconomic disparities. Social determinants of health, including limited healthcare access, poverty, low health literacy, and environmental conditions, contribute to higher rates of resistant infections and poorer treatment outcomes in underserved populations. Barriers such as pharmacy deserts, self-medication, and inadequate stewardship infrastructure amplify these risks. Pharmacists, as accessible and highly trained healthcare professionals, play a critical role in combating antimicrobial resistance by optimizing antibiotic use, delivering culturally competent education, and leading antimicrobial stewardship programs across settings. Community and clinical pharmacists are especially well positioned to bridge …

E-Cigarette Or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury: A Comprehensive Review, Mohammad Asim Amjad, Daniel Ocazionez Trujillo, Rosa M Estrada-Y-Martin, Sujith V Cherian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

E-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) is a critical and potentially fatal form of lung injury that gained considerable public health concern in 2019. The use of e-cigarettes and vaping products is causally associated with EVALI, a condition characterized by a constellation of respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. This comprehensive narrative literature review explores the complexities of EVALI, including its association with the structure and composition of e-cigarettes and its epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical and radiological manifestations, management strategies, and public health implications. Moreover, it uncovers the long-term repercussions of EVALI and underscores …

Emergency Medicine Residency Website Wellness Pages: A Content Analysis, Alexandra Sappington, Brian Milman

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the way medical students seek residency positions. In 2020, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education advocated for virtual interviews. Most emergency medicine (EM) interviews in 2023 remained virtual, and this format will persist for the foreseeable future. Since students are not evaluating programs in person in most cases, residency websites are crucial for prospective residents. Resident wellness is critical for resident training and important to prospective residents; it follows that programs must be transparent about resident wellness on websites. In this study we aimed to quantify the number of EM programs with wellness pages …

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection In A Patient With A Progestin-Releasing Intrauterine Device, Enad Haddad, Sudeep Nugooru, Tyler Lee, Prerana Sevella, Asoka Balaratna

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), which predominantly affects women. This case report describes a 55-year-old female with SCAD potentially linked to a progestin-releasing intrauterine device (IUD) placed 1.5 years ago. The patient presented with acute chest pain and diaphoresis, and was eventually found to have ST-elevation myocardial infarction that led to coronary angiography, revealing type 1 SCAD from the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) to the mid-RCA with grade 3 thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow distally. She was managed conservatively with antithrombotics, statins, and blood pressure control, achieving favorable outcomes …

Burnout And Self-Efficacy: Exploring The Rewards And Challenges Faced By Crisis Counselors Working In Emergency Department Settings, Ellen Dotas

Dissertations, 2020-current

This dissertation explores burnout and self-efficacy in counselors who work with clients in crisis in emergency department settings. Mental health and emergency departments are two areas that tend to report higher levels of burnout than are reported in other occupational fields. While much research has been done on the topics of burnout and self-efficacy, limited information is available about counselors who work in these crisis roles. This dissertation follows a three-manuscript format and includes a conceptual, qualitative, and quantitative manuscript. The conceptual manuscript explores the nature of the crisis assessment itself, focusing on the area of risk assessment. The qualitative …

Forward Genetic Screen In Zebrafish Identifies New Fungal Regulators That Limit Host-Protective Candida-Innate Immune Interaction, Bailey A Blair, Emma Bragdon, Gursimran Dhillon, Nnamdi Baker, Lena Stasiak, Mya Muthig, Pedro Miramon, Michael C Lorenz, Robert T Wheeler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Candida is one of the most frequent causes of bloodstream infections, and our first line of defense against these invasive infections is the innate immune system. The early immune response is critical in controlling Candida albicans infection, but C. albicans has several strategies to evade host immune attack. Phagocytosis of C. albicans blocks hyphal growth, limiting host damage and virulence, but how C. albicans limits early recruitment and phagocytosis in vertebrate infection is poorly understood. To study innate immune evasion by intravital imaging, we utilized the transparent larval zebrafish infection model to screen 131 C. albicans mutants for altered …

Spatial Epigenomic Niches Underlie Glioblastoma Cell State Plasticity, Sam Kint, Subhi Talal Younes, Shuozhen Bao, Gretchen Long, David Wouters, Erin Stephenson, Xing Lou, Mei Zhong, Di Zhang, Graham Su, Archibald Enninful, Mingyu Yang, Huey-Miin Chen, Katrina Ellestad, Colleen Anderson, Jennifer Moliterno, John Kelly, Jennifer A Chan, Alejandro Sifrim, Jiangbing Zhou, Ana Nikolic, Rong Fan, Marco Gallo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IDH-wildtype glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with poor survival and few therapeutic options. Transcriptionally-defined cell states coexist in GBM and occupy defined regions of the tumor. Evidence indicates that GBM cell states are plastic, but it remains unclear if they are determined by the underlying epigenetic state and/or by microenvironmental factors. Here, we present spatially-resolved epigenomic profiling of human GBM tissues that implicate chromatin structure as a key enabler of cell plasticity. We report two epigenetically-defined and spatially-nested tumor niches. Each niche activates short-range molecular signals to maintain its own state and, surprisingly, long-range signals to reinforce …

"Bridging Research, Outreach, And Care: Advancing Community-Driven Cancer Solutions", Rachel M. Ceballos Phd​, Angie Fausett Agnp-C, Dnp​, Allison Foust Mha, Mches​

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

"This panel will provide an overview of Huntsman Cancer Institute’s (HCI) collaborative efforts to enhance cancer care through innovative community outreach and local treatment programs, with a specific focus on rural outreach and care. Panelists will discuss HCI’s approach to fostering partnerships with community champions, integrating regional outreach through initiatives like the Mountain West Cancer Collaborative (MWCC), and expanding local treatment options to increase accessibility and equity in care, especially in rural areas. By highlighting how these initiatives align with HCI’s mission to reduce cancer disparities, the panel will emphasize strategies for improving cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship in underserved …