Digital Commons Network^™

Ivig As Salvage Therapy In Refractory Antisynthetase Syndrome-Associated Ild: A Three-Case Series, Shine Vazhappilly, Julio Paoli-Gonzalez, Jose Herazo-Maya

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Splenic Ectopic Pregnancy: A Rare Cause Of Hemoperitoneum With Diagnostic Challenges-A Case Report And Literature Review, Mustafa Tahir, Nuzhat Shahid, Sainarayana Mangu, Serena Usmani Qureshi, Neami Tervil

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

New Therapies, New Challenges: Cystic Lung Disease After Cancer Immunotherapy, Ananya Venkatesh, David Camacho, Ross Summer, Michael Dong

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Immunotherapies have reduced reliance on cytotoxic strategies with their associated high toxicity levels, revolutionizing cancer care. However, these targeted therapies have also increased prevalence of previously rare sequelae, impacting patients experiencing longer survival. We describe a case of endometrial adenocarcinoma with lung metastases, in which tumor resolution following immunotherapy created cystic airspaces, leading to a pneumothorax complication. A 49-year-old female with advanced stage endometrial adenocarcinoma and lung metastasis developed cystic lung lesions in areas of previous metastatic lesions after treatment with Pembrolizumab and Bevacizumab. She developed a pneumothorax secondary to the rupture of one of the large lung cysts, leading …

Radial And Carotid Arterial Pulse Signals For Assessing Cardiovascular Function At Rest And During Post-Exercise Recovery In A Heart Transplant Patient: A Case Study, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Mamun Hasan, Jennifer F. May, John M. Herre, Leryn Reynolds, Zhili Hao

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Aim: This study investigates the feasibility of using radial and carotid arterial pulse signals to assess cardiovascular (CV) function at rest and during post-exercise recovery in a heart transplant (HTx) patient. Method: Two micro-fabricated tactile sensors were used to simultaneously acquire arterial pulse signals at the radial artery (RA) and carotid artery (CA). Measurements were taken at rest and at multiple time points post-exercise on three subjects: an HTx patient, a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; coronary stent) patient and a healthy control. An SDOF-TF-based time-frequency analysis algorithm was applied to extract a comprehensive set of CV parameters, including heart rate …

Tele-Psychiatry Adoption And Its Effect On Rural Mental Health Service Availability, Anna Heineman, Kaylee Canterbury, Taylor Carpenter

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Purpose of study: This study examined the association between tele-psychiatry implementation and mental health service availability in rural healthcare settings. The analysis compared tele-psychiatry to traditional in-person psychiatric care among rural populations, focusing on access and utilization outcomes, including time to first psychiatric appointment, number of completed visits, and appointment no-show rates.

Methods: A qualitative literature review following a systematic approach was conducted using peer-reviewed articles published between 2016-2026. Databases included PubMed, ProQuest Health, CINAHL, Journal of Medical Internet Research, and the National Library of Medicine, with Google Scholar used as a supplemental source. The review followed PRISMA …

Prophylactic Distal Perfusion Catheters In Femoral Va-Ecmo: Association With Lower Limb Ischemia And Major Limb Outcomes (Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis), Yves Najm Mrad, Snehalkumar Patel

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Association Of N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide With Ckd Progression In The Ckd In Children Study., Alexander Kula, David K. Prince, Joseph T. Flynn, Susan L. Furth, Bradley A. Warady, Tamara Isakova, Derek Ng, Jeese Seegmiller, Rob Christenson, Nisha Bansal

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Traumatic Brain Injury Exacerbates Mitochondrial Dysfunction In App/Ps1 Knock-In Mice Through Time-Dependent Pathways, Elika Z. Moallem, Hemendra J. Vekaria, Teresa Macheda, Margaret R. Hawkins, Kelly N. Roberts, Samir P. Patel, Patrick G. Sullivan, Adam D. Bachstetter

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

Cerebral hypometabolism occurs in both traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), but whether these conditions act through distinct or overlapping mechanisms is unclear. TBI disrupts cerebral metabolism via blood–brain barrier damage, altered glucose transporter expression, calcium buffering abnormalities, and oxidative damage to metabolic enzymes. AD-related hypometabolism is linked to amyloid-β (Aβ) effects on mitochondria, including impaired respiration, oxidative stress, and altered mitophagy, fusion, and fission. We tested whether TBI-induced mitochondrial dysfunction exacerbates Aβ-mediated impairment using a closed-head injury (CHI) model in APP/PS1 knock-in (KI) mice. Injuries were delivered at 4–5 months of age, before plaque formation and mitochondrial …

Current Concepts In Hip And Core Assessment To Reduce The Risk Of Acl Injury, Jeremy M. Burnham, Anthony T. Drazick, Ghislain Aminake, Darren L. Johnson, Mary Lloyd Ireland, Brian W. Noehren

Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Hip and trunk (“core”) muscle dysfunction has emerged as a modifiable contributor to lower-limb biomechanics linked with non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Clinicians increasingly target core stability and control during injury-prevention screening and post-operative rehabilitation programs; however, the literature lacks a focused synthesis of core-directed strategies for ACL injury mitigation. The purpose of this current concepts review is to synthesize current evidence on hip- and core-focused assessment and rehabilitation strategies that may mitigate ACL injury risk.

Design: Current Concepts Review.

Methods: A narrative search of PubMed and Google Scholar (January 2000 – April 2025) identified biomechanical, prospective, interventional, …

Difficult-To-Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis With Concomitant Yao Syndrome With Response To Dual-Inhibitor Therapy, Nawar Aljundi, Paramarajan Piranavan

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Developing Curcumin Analogues For Treating Breast Cancer, Tulasi Laxmi Nutalapati

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Breast cancer is still one of the most common types of cancer and one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths in women around the world. Despite significant advances in early detection and treatment strategies, drug resistance, systemic toxicity, and poor outcomes in aggressive subtypes continue to limit the overall effectiveness of cancer therapy. Natural compounds have become promising anticancer agents because they can target many different things and are not very toxic. Curcumin has shown promise as an anticancer drug, but it cannot be used in the clinic because it does not absorb well, breaks down quickly, and …

Successful Anesthetic Management Of Patient With Marfan Syndrome: Optimizing Cardiovascular Stability And Maternal Outcomes, M Roberts, C Cox, K Leavitt

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Comparative Evaluation Of R134a And Hfo‐1234ze Cryogen Spray Cooling Using A Mouse Model With Controllable Epidermal Pigmentation, Wangcun Jia, Yurie Jeong, Crystal Huynh, Oswald Lai, Emily Nguyen, Grant Swajian, Jade Niu, Ayana Kashikar, Joshua Khaw, Hong Pu, Bernard Choi, John August D'Orazio, J. Stuart Nelson, Bahman Anvari

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Objectives: Cryogen spray cooling (CSC) is critical for protecting the epidermis during laser dermatologic procedures. The widely used cryogen, R134a, has a high global warming potential (GWP), motivating interest in environmentally favorable alternatives such as HFO-1234ze. This study evaluated whether HFO-1234ze provides epidermal protection comparable to R134a during laser exposure and investigated the mechanistic basis underlying any differences in cooling performance.

Methods: Laser-induced epidermal injury in conjunction with two cryogens was assessed in K14-SCF Mc1r^e/e mice with pharmacologically controllable interfollicular epidermal pigmentation. Laser treatment sites were assigned fluences relative to baseline skin lightness (L*) to span subthreshold …

Dementia Incidence In Patients With Prurigo Nodularis: An Observational Retrospective Cohort Study, Madison P. Olexson, Ana Ormaza Vera, Chunghwan Ro, Clinton W. Enos

Department Dermatology Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic neuroinflammatory dermatosis of unknown etiology characterized by severely pruritic, symmetrically-distributed nodules with a negative impact on quality of life [1]. While some consider PN a primary idiopathic disorder, it often arises as a secondary manifestation of underlying conditions, including atopic dermatitis (AD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), human-immunodeficiency-virus (HIV), and thyroid disorders [2]. Although patients with PN are at higher risk for psychiatric comorbidities including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation [3] research which investigates associations between PN and neurodegenerative disorders is limited [4]. Moreover, emerging evidence implicating sustained systemic inflammation, characteristic of psoriasis and …

Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia In Pediatric Patients: A Retrospective Analysis, Radhika Gupta, Nikhita Perry, Noelle Desir, Iain Encarnacion, Jonathan Miles, Susan Taylor, Michelle Oboite, Temitaya Ogunleye

Department Dermatology Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a scarring alopecia that predominantly affects middle-aged women of African descent.¹ It begins at the vertex scalp and expands centrifugally, and given that symptoms may be absent, many patients have scarring at presentation. CCCA is primarily described in adult populations, with limited reports of CCCA in children.²^-⁴ We aimed to characterize demographics, clinical findings, and histological features among pediatric patients with CCCA to facilitate earlier diagnoses, prior to irreversible alopecia.

Understanding The Impact Of Psychosocial Barriers On Colorectal Cancer Knowledge In Emerging Black Men, Chelsey Mcgill, Maria D. Thomson, Caroline Kuno, Emmanuel Taylor, Kimberly Lawrence, Alison J. Patev, Arnethea L. Sutton, Ruth Nyagaka, Oxana Palesh, Larry D. Keen Ii

Research and Infrastructure Service Enterprise (RISE) Faculty Publications

In the United States, Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and the third leading cause of death among non-Hispanic African American/Black (henceforth Black) men. Inadequate CRC knowledge leads to missing early warning signs, delaying prevention and increasing risk. Emerging adulthood (18-25) is a key period for building healthy behaviors and addressing barriers to CRC knowledge in addition to understanding attitudes and practices to CRC screening. Psychosocial barriers - including social support, medical mistrust, and perceived racial discrimination - contribute to the lack of CRC knowledge among older Black men, yet emerging adult Black men remain …

Tezepelumab's Effects On Patient-Reported Symptoms In Severe Asthma, Overall And With History Of Comorbid Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps (Crswnp), Njira L. Lugogo, Joseph K. Han, Anju T. Peters, Stella E. Lee, Monica Kraft, Mary Kay Margolis, Sonia F. Shenoy, Nicole Martin, Shradha Chandarana, Christopher S. Ambrose

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Background

Tezepelumab (an anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin monoclonal antibody) treatment resulted in reduced exacerbations and improved sino-nasal symptoms and health-related quality of life in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma (SUA) and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) in the NAVIGATOR study.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of tezepelumab versus placebo on sleep disturbances, activity levels, and physical exertion tolerance in NAVIGATOR patients with SUA overall and in those with past medical history of comorbid CRSwNP.

Methods

Patients (12-80 years old) with SUA were randomized to receive tezepelumab 210 mg or placebo subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 52 weeks. Patient responses to …

Stronger Isn't Always Better: 1.5 Tesla Vs 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanners, Taylor Deiter

Student Research Poster Presentations 2026

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging modality that does not use ionizing radiation. Instead, MRI uses magnetic fields, gradience, coils, and radio frequency to provide anatomic and physiologic information. The purpose of the research study is to examine the strengths and weaknesses of a 1.5 tesla to a 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Cross sectional images are produced to better visualize muscles, organs, and soft tissues for diagnostic purposes. MRI screening and safety is a crucial part of the modality. The most common magnetic strength used for clinical diagnosis are 1.5 and 3 teslas. The higher the strength …

In Vivo Telemetry To Record Long-Term Cardiovascular Parameters, Temperature, And Activity In Spinal Cord Injury Rat Models, Sajeev Kaur, Anna M. Baur, Jillian A. Condrey, Dorottya P. Gal, Samir P. Patel, John C. Gensel

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

Higher-level spinal cord injury (SCI) above thoracic level 6 (T6) disrupts autonomic function and contributes to secondary complications, including fluctuations in blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature. In rats, the placement of telemetric implants in the descending aorta offers a robust methodology for assessing various cardiovascular parameters, such as systolic and diastolic pressure, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate. Core body temperature and animal activity can also be recorded following telemetric implant placement. A rat with a telemetric implant is kept on the receiver plate connected to a computer system for recording various parameters. Continuous long-term recordings at defined time …

Skeletal Muscle Mass And Gait Speed In Patients With Lung Cancer: A Pilot Study, Riley K. Russo, Abigail Schmitt

2026 Honors Symposium

Skeletal Muscle Mass and Gait Speed in Patients with Lung Cancer: A Pilot Study

Russo, R. & Schmitt, A.C.: The MOVE Lab, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR

Background: Lung Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths in the United States, and Arkansas has one of the highest rates of lung cancer in the nation. Many patients with lung cancer experience cancer cachexia, fatigue, reduced strength, and mobility, all which negatively affect a patient’s life. Gait can be used as an essential indicator of underlying health challenges; specifically gait speed has been defined as the “sixth vital sign” for …

Exploring The Impact Of Age On Traumatic Brain Injury Cause And Recovery In Arkansas: A Retrospective Review, Abby Jones, Steven Wheeler, Jessica Danley

2026 Honors Symposium

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) remain a major public health concern, and increasing evidence goes to show the significance of the effect of age in quality of care, diagnosis, and recovery outcomes. In rural states, such as Arkansas, where research has shown a lack of resources and higher fatality rates among TBI patients, healthcare professionals can become better informed and equipped as a result of research efforts to uncover the effects of age on cause and recovery for inpatient TBI individuals in the early stages (Daugherty et al., 2022). Current research and prior evidence suggests that older individuals are more likely …

Improving Early Detection And Response To Clinical Deterioration Among Nurses Through Competency-Based Interventions, Courtney E. Miller

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Clinical deterioration among hospitalized patients remained a significant contributor to preventable morbidity and mortality, often due to delayed recognition and response in general care settings (Choi et al., 2025; Chung & Jung, 2024).

PICOTS: For registered nurses working on a general level of care inpatient hospital unit (P), how did a competency-based training program bundle incorporating didactic educational intervention of learning how to use technology, machine learning (ML) based early warning system (EWS) of trends and patterns to identify at risk patients, and low-fidelity simulation-based education (SBE) (clinical readiness to improve confidence with education and coaching) (I), …

Leveraging The Clinical Potential Of Spatially Fractionated Radiotherapy For Enhanced Therapeutic Impact & Rapid Management Of Large And Unresectable Tumors, Joshua Misa

Theses and Dissertations--Radiation Medicine

Annually, about two million people are diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone, with nearly half receiving radiation therapy during their course of treatment. Advances in radiation therapy focuses on widening the therapeutic window by maximizing the tumor local control while minimizing normal tissue toxicities. Since the 1950s, spatially fractionated radiotherapy (SFRT) has been a niche treatment technique for treating large, unresectable tumors while sparing the skin tissue. Unlike conventional radiation therapy, which delivers a uniform dose to the tumor, SFRT utilizes an alternating pattern of high- and low-dose irradiation regions. However, significant challenges and knowledge gaps remain, most …

Optimizing Kidney Allograft Years: Underutilization Of Pediatric Donors, Nicholas Herrera, Ana Cortez, Diane Cibrik, Bradley A. Warady

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background. 

The Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) score drives kidney allocation in the United States for both adult and pediatric donors, despite the calculation being primarily derived from adult donor data. A KDPI of ≤20% is considered to have the longest graft survival potential and is typically prioritized for recipients who have a low Estimated Posttransplant Survival (EPTS) score. Using KDPI to assess pediatric donor quality may underestimate graft survival and result in underutilization of these kidneys for recipients with a low EPTS score.

Methods. 

Using Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data, we analyzed 5-y posttransplant death-censored graft survival of …

Evaluation Of Mycoplasma Genitalium Positivity And Co-Infection With Chlamydia Trachomatis And/Or Neisseria Gonorrhoeae At Various Care Sites Across The United States, Rebecca Lillis, Rodney Arcenas, Christy M. Boraas, Steven E. Chavoustie, Lashonda Crane, Nicole D'Empaire, Aaron C. Ermel, Glenn Harnett, Federico Hinestrosa, Stacey House, Joseph Miller, Anthony Mills, Ronald Poblete, Stephen Young, Barbara Van Der Pol

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) positivity and co-infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), based on results from a trial assessing clinical performance of the Cobas® Liat CT/NG/MG point-of-care test. METHODS: A prospective, US, multicenter, noninterventional study assessed MG positivity in prospective urine samples (male) and clinician-collected vaginal swabs (female) from symptomatic/asymptomatic patients aged ≥14 years attending various clinical settings. Participants were designated positive or negative for MG, CT, and NG based on combined results from three US Food and Drug Administration-approved assays and one laboratory-developed test. MG co-infection with CT and/or NG was assessed. RESULTS: Among …

Synergistic Sensitization Of Pancreatic Cancer Cells By Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields And Cold Atmospheric Plasma Via Amplifying Ros And Apoptotic Signaling, Zobia Minhas, Edwin A. Oshin, Lifang Yang, Chunqi Jiang, Siqi Guo

Bioelectrics Publications

Pancreatic cancer remains a highly lethal malignancy, with standard therapies offering limited benefits in advanced stages; thus, novel strategies that exploit specific cancer cell vulnerabilities are urgently needed. Building on our previous findings that nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) combined with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) produce enhanced cytotoxicity, this study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying this synergy. Pan02 pancreatic cancer cells were subjected to nsPEF, CAP, or a combination of both. We assessed cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial integrity using metabolic assays, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Apoptotic markers were evaluated via Western blotting and caspase …

Hsp90 Inhibitor, At13387 Mitigates Chronic Lung Injury In Pre-Pubertal Mice: A Therapeutic Axis In Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Pavel A. Solopov, Christiana Dimitropoulou, John D. Catravas, Ruben M. L. Colunga Biancatelli

Bioelectrics Publications

Exposure to hydrochloric acid (HCl) can provoke severe chronic pulmonary injury. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their smaller airways, higher respiratory rate, and stronger inflammatory response; yet no countermeasures exist for HCl-induced chronic lung injury in the pediatric population. We have previously demonstrated the involvement of HSP90 during HCl-induced lung injury in pre-pubertal (p24) mice, who develop stronger persistent inflammation with higher NLRP3 inflammasome activation, but less pulmonary fibrosis compared to adults. Here, we tested the hypothesis that post-treatment with the second-generation HSP90 inhibitor AT13387 (Onalespib), administered subcutaneously beginning 24 h after HCl instillation, would prevent HCl-induced chronic lung …

The All Of Us Evenings With Genetics Research Program, Stacy M Lloyd, Jasmine Baker, Carolina Jorgez, Julie Coleman, Laterrica Williams, April Adams, Ashley Butler, Elizabeth Atkinson, Shamika Ketkar, Steven Scherer, Kim Worley, Susan Fernbach, Keasia Daniels, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Laura Rosales, Brendan Lee, Debra Murray

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The All of Us Evenings with Genetics (All of Us EwG) Research Program, funded in part by the National Institute of Health’s All of Us Research Program, engages researchers to utilize the All of Us Researcher Workbench to advance precision medicine. The All of Us EwG program has two core aims: (1) address barriers to research productivity for minorities, disadvantaged, and persons with disabilities aspiring to enter STEM fields; and (2) promote the use of the All of Us Researcher Workbench to develop research focused on health equity. To achieve these goals, the program implements three key activities: (1) …

Limosilactobacillus Reuteri Alleviates Proinflammatory T-Cell-Mediated Liver Injury And Transcriptomic Changes In Immunocompromised Mice, Ana Fadhel Alvarez, Zheng Yin, Beanna Okeugo, Alexander Banerjee, Meng Luo, Christopher M Taylor, Salomea Giorgberidze, Vaishali Harne, Rambabu Majji, Melissa N Munroe, Ji Ho Suh, Stephen T C Wong, Kang Ho Kim, Hari Krishna Yalamanchili, Suhair Al Salihi, Jon Marc Rhoads, Yuying Liu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: A deficiency of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells, as seen in scurfy (SF) mice or in IPEX syndrome in humans, can lead to multiorgan inflammation. Oral administration of the probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSM) 17938 prolongs survival and reduces Th1- and Th2-associated inflammation in SF mice. It remains unclear how DSM 17938-educated SF-CD4+ T cells modulate T-cell-liver communication.

Methods: To characterize CD4+ T cells from SF mice orally administered DSM 17938 (Prob-SF-CD4+ T cells) and to compare them with CD4+ T cells from SF mice (SF-CD4+ T cells), cells isolated from SF spleens were …

Cerebellar Motor And Non-Motor Contributions To Dystonia Pathophysiology And Treatment, Linda H Kim, Cheryl Brandenburg, Roy V Sillitoe

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Dystonia is a complex neurological disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent abnormal movements and/or postures. However, dystonia's non-motor symptoms, particularly the sleep disturbances, are critical yet underexplored concerns that affect all ages. Here, we synthesize current knowledge on the motor and non-motor domains of dystonia, emphasizing the functional interconnections and plasticity within cerebellar motor, cognitive, and sleep-associated circuits to motivate more comprehensive and effective treatments that improve overall quality of life.