Digital Commons Network^™

Invasive Aspergillosis In An Immunocompetent Patient, Grant Haden, Alexis Lopez Cruz, Julianna Vecchio, Munanchui Poudel, Sahista Kapadia, Zuhair Ali

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Nurse-Led Distraction Techniques On Pain And Anxiety During Cancer Treatment In Pediatric Oncology Patients: Examining Virtual Reality And Play Therapy, Alexis Abalos

Nursing | Senior Theses

Children undergoing cancer treatment often experience pain and anxiety during cancer treatment, including chemotherapeutic invasive procedures such as frequent port access or peripheral catheterization. Nurse-led distraction techniques, including virtual reality and play therapy, have emerged as promising non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce levels of pain and anxiety in pediatric oncology patients. This thesis analyzes existing data through a close examination of primary and secondary research articles that prove the effectiveness of virtual reality and play therapy on reducing pain, anxiety, and psychosocial distress in pediatric oncology patients receiving cancer treatment. Using the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Symptom Management Theory, …

A Rare Case Of Invasive Group A Streptococcus Bacteremia, Extensive Streptococcal Myositis, And Septic Knee Arthritis, Cristina Lee, Morgan Seaton, Christina Mie Minami, Bailey Weidner, Dmitriy Scherbak

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

When Arteries Twist And Kidneys Shrink: A Case Of Fmd With Ruq Pain, Brian Nguyen, Ephrem Demie, Jeffrey Lesser, Rajeev Raghavan

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Septic Shock And Cardiac Arrest Secondary To Delayed Traumatic Jejunal Transection, Esra Shurbjy, Rasheed Lawal

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Improving False Code Blue Rates In The Hospital, Edrianna Mae Ablola, Muhammad Siddiqi, Veronica Phung, Sivatej Sarva

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Suspected Cornual Ectopic Pregnancy In A Bicornuate Uterus Following In Vitro Fertilization, Jacqueline Baron, Natalie Canuteson

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Strep Pasteurianus Toxic Shock Syndrome Revealing Colon Adenocarcinoma, Kendal Hansen, Enrique Urrutia

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Knowledge Based Automated Planning For Non-Coplanar Vmat Stereotactic Radiosurgery In Ocular Malignancies, Chase Cochran, Shane Mccarthy, William St. Clair, Damodar Pokhrel

Radiation Medicine Faculty Publications

Background and Purpose: Stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy (SRS/SRT) has emerged as a less invasive alternative to enucleation in the management of ocular malignancies. SRS/SRT planning is time-consuming, complex, and the plan quality depends on the experience of the treatment planner. We demonstrate the use of RapidPlan modeling in conjunction with HyperArc for the treatment of ocular diseases to improve planning efficiency, consistency, and quality.

Materials and Methods: A HyperArc-based RapidPlan (HARP) model was iteratively trained on 80 patient datasets that simulated ocular malignancies. Twenty additional patient datasets were reserved for model testing and comparison with manual plans. Each testing dataset was both …

Designing Theranostic Radiopharmaceutical Trials For Uterine Cervix Cancer, Denise Fabian, Molly E. Buffington, Brianna S. Cagle, Steve M. Keefe, Michael K. Schultz, Charles A. Kunos

Radiation Medicine Faculty Publications

Designing and interpreting early phase trials of theranostic radiopharmaceuticals remains challenging because it is difficult to isolate effective levels of activity in enriched patient populations that would be worth following up in later-phase development. This study explores the known challenges and emerging opportunities for clinical research on patients with uterine cervical cancer. We identified eight randomized combination trials for advanced-stage uterine cervix cancer that were activated between 2011 and 2022 and tabulated their results to determine whether combinations were better than individual constituents and which suitable study population is best situated for the study of a new theranostic agent. In …

Traumatic Brain Injury, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with traumatic brain injury.

Mitochondrial Transfer To Granulocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Augments Immunosuppressive Activity, Prabhakar Arumugam, Cortney E. Heim, Rachel W. Fallet, Dhananjay Shinde, Vinai Chittezham Thomas, Rafael J. Argüello, Tammy Kielian

Journal Articles: Pathology and Microbiology

The anti-inflammatory properties of granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (G-MDSCs) promote Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) biofilm persistence. Evidence suggests that G-MDSC activity is shaped not only by S. aureus products but also by intrinsic metabolic programs. This study explores whether G-MDSC activity can be modulated by increasing mitochondrial abundance using a co-culture paradigm with macrophages as a mitochondrial donor. Macrophages transfer mitochondria directly to G-MDSCs via tunneling nanotubes, enhancing G-MDSC respiration, as reflected by increased basal, maximal, and spare respiratory capacity. Augmenting mitochondrial abundance in G-MDSCs enhances T cell-suppressive activity and reduces tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) production. …

Meta-Analysis: Diabetes Mellitus And The Risk Of Endometrial Cancer, Tricia Ho, Marika Ongpauco, Han Ha Ngoc Nguyen

Physician Assistant Studies | Graduate Research Papers

Background: Many studies have looked at the relationship between diabetes mellitus and development of endometrial cancer. This study provides an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the estimated effect of diabetes and the risk of endometrial cancer.

Methods: Some studies were found on databases such as PubMed and Iceberg. The remaining studies were extracted from the initial studies found. Binary data was collected and the raw data was imputed into a Fixed Effects Model.

Results: A total of 25 studies were included in this meta-analysis, generating statistically significant results (p < 0.001, OR 2.05, 95% Cl 1.92-2.19).

Discussion: Diabetes is found to be …

The Effects Of Antidepressant Medications On Sleep Quality In Dominican University Of California Students, Natalie L. Davis, Kenna Wohlford, Stephanie Lee

Physician Assistant Studies | Graduate Research Papers

We spend approximately one third of our life time sleeping or attempting to sleep. The quality of our sleep is equally, if not more important than the amount of sleep we get. This study assesses the effects that medications, specifically antidepressants, can have on sleep quality in Dominican University of California students. 118 participants completed a Qualtrics survey including questions regarding stress, sleep quality, medication lists, and demographics. This study utilized the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to quantify participants’ sleep quality as the outcome. Participant stress levels were assessed with a Likert scale question asking for stress levels on …

Limbic Encephalitis, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with limbic encephalitis.

Lupus, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with lupus.

Lymphoma, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with lymphoma.

Major Depressive Disorder, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with major depressive disorder.

Functional Neurological Disorder, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with functional neurological disorder.

Embodied Aging: Older Adults’ Gendered Participation In Physical And Recreational Activity In Assisted Living, Gavin Anderson

Self-Designed Majors Honors Papers

This study examines how older adults interpret their experiences with physical and recreational activity in assisted living, and how these interpretations influence how they engage in their everyday social and physical contexts. In the fall of 2025, eleven older adults—nine women and two men—living in an assisted living facility in a coastal city in Southeastern Connecticut participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews. The facility provides both short-term post-acute care and long-term residential care, offering structured opportunities for physical and recreational engagement.

Past research demonstrates that participation in physical and recreational activity provides substantial benefits for older adults; yet, the lived experience …

Simulation Training In Radiation Oncology, Michael C. Schell, Andrew W. Beavis, Derek W. Brown, Michael Milano, Michael O'Neill, Yan Yu, Daniel C. Pavord, Peter Dunscombe

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Simulation training can be used in the design of new processes or, more commonly, to train and re-train healthcare personnel in standard processes. Simulation training is one avenue to making radiation oncology a high reliability health care intervention. In this paper, we explore the relevance of simulation training to the provision of high-quality and safe radiation oncology practice against the background of simulation training conducted in high reliability industries. The use of simulation training in healthcare, as well as specific examples in radiation oncology, is reviewed. An outline of the steps for developing a simulation training program is provided. Simulation …

Sleep Problems In Children With Adhd: Associations With Internalizing Symptoms And Physical Activity, Xiao Liang, Mengping Zhao, Li Su, Justin A. Haegele, Richard H. Xu, Jiayue Li, Jinxian Guo, Choi-Yeung Tse, Shirley X. Li, David H. K. Shum

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience high rates of sleep problems and are at increased risk for developing internalizing problems. This study aimed to examine the association of sleep problems and physical activity with internalizing symptoms in children with ADHD. This cross-sectional study included 188 children with ADHD (M age = 8.60 ± 1.38, 78.7% boys). Self-reported questionnaires were used to assess sleep problems (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]) and internalizing symptoms (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 [DASS 21]). The presence of sleep problems was defined as a PSQI score > 5. Physical activity was recorded by an ActiGraph …

Associations Between Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity And Sleep Duration And Health Indicators In Children And Adolescents With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Xiao Liang, Hui Qiu, Justin A. Haegele, Xiao Li, Minghui Li, Jiayue Li, Shirley Xin Li

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Objective

This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized available studies to explore relationships between accelerometer-measured physical activity (PA) levels or sleep duration and health-related outcomes in children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses guidelines, the six databases APA PsychInfo, CINAHL Ultimate, Embase, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus with Full Text and Web of Science were searched from inception through July 2024. The correlation coefficient (r) was employed to determine the effect size in the meta-analysis. A random-effects model was utilised to estimate the potentially heterogeneously distributed effect sizes with a 95 % …

The Relationship Between Physical Activity, Sleep, And Hallucinations In Adults With Charles Bonnet Syndrome, Jarrod Hollis, Rohit Narayan, Eldre W. Beukes, Rosie Lindsay, Aliyah Bharwani, Umair Mughal, Ikra Yaqoob, Justin A. Haegele, Scott Muriden, Peter M. Allen

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Physical activity levels, hallucination experiences, sleep quality, and perceived stress were assessed using a survey administered to 57 adults with a confirmed diagnosis of Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS). Physical activity demonstrated a significant negative correlation with hallucination severity (r = –0.335, p = 0.011, two-tailed). A significant negative correlation was also observed between physical activity and perceived stress (r = –0.497, p < 0.001, two-tailed). In contrast, no significant association was identified between hallucination frequency and sleep disruption or insomnia. These findings suggest that engaging in appropriate levels of physical activity may help reduce the severity of hallucinations and mitigate stress among individuals with CBS. The observation that higher levels of physical activity are associated with reduced hallucination burden may help the development of evidence-based management strategies for CBS. Additionally, the finding that physical activity was significantly related to hallucination severity, whereas sleep disruption was not, merits deeper exploration in future research.

Single Intratympanic Injection Of Proprietary Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Oto-413) In Subjects With Speech-In-Noise Hearing Impairment: A Randomized, Dose Escalating, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 1/2 Study, Alan C. Foster, Jeffery J. Anderson, David R. Moore, Morgan Oktela Fuentes, Yiwei Wang, Peter G. Volsky, K. Paul Boyev, Victoria A. Sanchez

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Purpose

To evaluate the safety and tolerability and exploratory efficacy of OTO-413, an intratympanic-administered, sustained release formulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in a thermoreversible gel, in participants with speech-in-noise hearing difficulties.

Methods

This was a single dose, dose-ascending, randomized, double-blind, Placebo-controlled Phase 1/2 study conducted at 7 enrolling clinical sites in the U.S. 110 participants (56% female) enrolled had self-reported speech-in-noise (SIN) difficulties that were confirmed by a SIN test and were randomized to OTO-413 or Placebo. OTO-413 dose range was escalated from 0.01 mg to 1.5 mg within 7 Cohorts. Safety evaluations included monitoring for treatment-emergent adverse events, …

Surgical Interventions For Treating Vesicovaginal Fistula In Women, Yoshiyuki Okada, Tomomi Matsushita, Takeshi Hasegawa, Hisashi Noma, Erika Ota, Bob Achila, Yasukuni Yoshimura

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Objectives This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows:

To assess the benefits and harms of surgical interventions for treating vesicovaginal fistula in women.

It Was Part Of The Plan, So I Showed Up: An Exploration Of Patient Experiences With An Embedded Exercise Referral Process During Cancer Treatment, Mary A. Kennedy, Jack Dalla Via, Kim Edmunds, Pam Eldridge, Yvonne Zissiadis, Lauren Fortington

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Exercise is a key part of cancer care, yet its integration into routine practice remains limited. This study explored the experiences of people living with and beyond cancer, with an updated, opt-out referral model embedded within a supportive oncology setting, focusing on initial engagement with exercise physiology appointments. Through this model, patients were automatically scheduled for a consultation with an in-house exercise professional during their cancer treatment. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design comprised of two focus groups with 13 participants was employed to explore views across pre-defined elements of the model: referral to exercise, appointments, counselling, and tailoring. Results: …

Emerging Blood-Based Biomarkers For The Detection Of Parenchymal Brain Metastasis: Current Progress And Future Perspectives, Désirée Sexauer, Elin S. Gray, Helen Rizos, Pauline Zaenker, Aaron B. Beasley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Parenchymal brain metastases of solid malignancies remain a significant clinical challenge, as they are often detected at later symptomatic stages, which are typically associated with worse prognosis. Delayed detection limits treatment options and contributes to poor outcomes, while early detection is critical for improving patient outcomes and quality of life. In this comprehensive review, we investigated the potential use and challenges of blood-based biomarkers, including circulating tumor cells, cell-free DNA, noncoding RNAs, extracellular vesicles, proteins, and other immune-related biomarkers, for the early detection of parenchymal brain metastasis. The use of blood-based liquid biopsies offers a promising avenue for early detection …

Precision Exercise For Breast Cancer-Related Outcomes: Towards Personalised Training Based On Tumour, Treatment And Patient Characteristics, Cristina Crespo-Garcia, Anita Borsati, Dennis R. Taaffe, Carolyn J. Peddle-Mcintyre, John P. Campbell, Alice Avancini, Emily Jeffery, Daniel A. Galvao, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Exercise is a promising strategy associated with improved cancer-related outcomes through multiple biological mechanisms. However, current exercise guidelines largely adopt a one-size-fits-all approach and overlook inter-individual variability in response. Given the heterogeneity of breast cancer, precision exercise prescriptions may better target biological pathways linked to therapeutic efficacy and long-term prognosis. Observational studies consistently show that higher physical activity levels are associated with improved survival outcomes, including reduced all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality. In contrast, evidence from interventional trials remains limited and inconsistent, with effects on tumour response and survival largely derived from secondary or exploratory analyses. These discrepancies likely reflect …

When Dying Patients Fall Silent: How Nurses Navigate Decision-Making In The Last Days Of Life—A Qualitative Study, Tricia O'Connor, Aileen Collier, Karen Strickland, Carla Thamm, Catherine Paterson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To explore nurses' perspectives on decision-making processes and influencing factors when caring for unresponsive dying patients in the last days of life. Design: A qualitative interpretive study.

Methods: Using purposive recruitment and informal peer referral, twenty-one nurses from a specialist palliative care service in a metropolitan city in Australia were interviewed between July 2024 and January 2025. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Decision-making theory was used as an interpretive lens.

Findings: Two themes were generated: ‘The patient as an absent presence’ and ‘Enacting agency through embodied cognition and relational attunement’, together with five interconnected subthemes. The analysis …