Digital Commons Network^™

Alpha-Synuclein Seed Amplification Assays: Data Sharing, Standardization Needed For Clinical Use, Byron Caughey, Ronald Melki

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Alpha-synuclein seed amplification assays can improve neurodegenerative disease diagnosis and care, but widespread use depends on a framework that standardizes protocols and encourages data sharing.

Clinical Characteristics And Outcomes Of Pediatric Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (Ssss) At An Inner-City Tertiary Care Center, Nina Kb Gust Md, Ashley Frei Bs, Rebecca M. Adams Bs, Elika Ridelman Phd, Christina Shanti Md, Ronald Thomas Phd, Jocelyn Y. Ang Md

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS) is a blistering skin condition caused by a toxin-producing staphylococcus species. Epidemiologic studies on pediatric SSSS in the United States are limited, with a reported incidence of 7.67 cases per million children and 45.1 per million infants. Immature renal function, lack of protective antibodies, and increased exotoxin target desmoglein-1 are hypothesized to increase incidence in younger children. We aimed to determine clinical and microbiological characteristics of pediatric SSSS and factors that could help predict disease severity.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed for admitted patients under 18 years old diagnosed with SSSS from …

Pacific Rxtracts - April 2025, Pacific Rxtracts

Pacific RxTracts

Articles:

• FDA Approves Miudella: First New Hormone-Free IUD in Over 40 Years
• First Treatment for Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis Approved
• Presepsin: A New Biomarker for Assessing Cardiovascular Disease
• New Insights into Severe NOWS Prediction
• Myasthenia Gravis: Nipocalimab, a Potential Add-on Therapy
• ARF/ARDS Concern with Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole in Youth
• Hormone Replacement Therapy: Beneficial for Managing Menopausal Symptoms Long-Term?
• Esketamine Shows Promise in Preventing Postpartum Depression After Cesarean Delivery
• From One Week to One Hour: FDA Approves Label Changes for Sublocade Rapid Induction in Patients with Moderate to Severe Opioid Use Disorder
• Repurposing Semaglutide: A Novel Approach to Alcohol Use Disorder
• Treating Neuropathic Pain: Pregabalin …

Epidemiologic Investigation Of Protozoa And Soil-Transmitted Helminths In Starr County, Texas, Cici Bauer, Maya D Murry, Eric L Brown, Rojelio Mejia, Sarah M Gunter

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The burden of pathogenic enteric protozoa and soil-transmitted helminths among impoverished populations living on the Texas-Mexico border is unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional study on an ongoing longitudinal cohort of 616 adults residing in Starr County, Texas. A total of 359 adults were screened for four protozoa and five soil-transmitted helminths by using real-time polymerase chain reaction. This analysis identified 48 (13.4%) participants who tested positive for Blastocystis sp., three (0.8%) who tested positive for Giardia intestinalis, and one (0.3%) who tested positive for Strongyloides stercoralis and was also coinfected with Blastocystis sp. Infection was significantly associated with age, a …

The Microbiome-Restorative Potential Of Ibezapolstat For The Treatment Of Clostridioides Difficile Infection Is Predicted Through Variant Polc-Type Dna Polymerase Iii In Lachnospiraceae And Oscillospiraceae, Ashok Kumar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ibezapolstat (IBZ), a first-in-class antibiotic targeting the PolC-type DNA polymerase III alpha-subunit (PolC) in low G + C bacteria, is in clinical development for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). In the phase 2 trials, IBZ had potent activity against C. difficile while sparing or causing regrowth of Lachnospiraceae, Oscillospiraceae, and Erysipelotrichales, common commensal low G + C bacteria. The purpose of this study was to utilize in silico approaches to better interpret the narrower than expected IBZ spectrum of activity. IBZ susceptibility to human commensal microbiota was predicted using genomic analysis and PolC phylogenetic tree construction in relation …

Assessing Various Methods Of Social Media Use To Combat Vaccine Hesitancy, Jeremy Abe, Janelle Angelo, Emily Martin, Braden Prillwitz

NURS 464: Evidence-Based Nursing Capstone

Science is no stranger to skeptics, and vaccine technology has proven no exception to being immune from detractors since the inception of inoculation (Lanzarotta, 2024). At first, people questioned vaccine safety and efficacy, fearing contraction of disease. Public trust in vaccination gained traction with such successes as the polio vaccine, but the Wakefield article published in 1998 falsely linked the MMR vaccine to autism, arguably launching modern vaccine skepticism (Motta & Stecula, 2021). It was retracted twelve years after publication following refutation by evidence-based research, but not before increasing internet speeds allowed for the dissemination and proliferation of vaccine misinformation. …

When The Farm Turns Fatal: A Rare Infection Causing Heart Block, Shaun Abid Md, Anton Stolear, Sumedh Iyengar, Yussif Issaka Md, Vanessa Agberien Md, Stuart Zarich

Posters

Brucellosis, a zoonotic bacterial infection caused by Brucella species, is typically acquired through contact with infected livestock or consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. It can manifest with various systemic symptoms but is rarely associated with cardiac complications, particularly conduction disturbances such as heart block. When brucellosis does affect the heart, it may result in endocarditis, myocarditis, or, more infrequently, conduction abnormalities. This report describes an unusual case of brucellosis-induced complete heart block in an elderly woman who recently returned from a farm in Colombia, a region where brucellosis is endemic.

The Impact Of Long Covid On Language Proficiency Across Different School Levels In Hong Kong, Shebe S. Xu, Yixun Li, Wanyi Li, Catherine M. Capio, Winnie W.Y. Tso, Derwin K.C. Chan

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Long COVID, where symptoms persist after recovering from COVID-19, can affect cognitive functions like language. However, little is known about its impact on children’s language skills, especially across different school levels. This study investigated the impact of long COVID on language proficiency among 1244 children (Asian; 53.5% boys) from kindergartens (N = 408, Mage = 4.42 ± 1.26 years), primary schools (N = 547, Mage = 9.69 ± 1.96 years), and secondary schools (N = 289, Mage = 14.97 ± 1.85 years) in Hong Kong. Language proficiency was assessed using the Language Experience and Proficiency Questionnaire (LEAP-Q), which measured speaking, …

Predictors Of Incidence Of Candida Endocarditis In Patients With Candidemia: Insights From The National Inpatient Sample (2016-2020, Didien Meyahnwi Md, Tawanda Zinyandu, Ashraf Ahmed, Isaac Opoku Md

Posters

This study identifies critical predictors of CE incidence in patients with candidemia, including IV drug use, male gender, and the presence of prosthetic devices. These findings highlight the importance of targeted surveillance and management strategies in vulnerable populations.

A Rising Threat: Epidemiologic Trends In Incidence, Mortality, And Cost Of Candida Endocarditis In The United States, Didien Meyahnwi Md, Ashraf Ahmed, Tawanda Zinyandu, Isaac Opoku Md

Posters

Candida Endocarditis (CE) is a rare yet critical form of infective endocarditis (IE), accounting for approximately 1% of all IE cases. In light of the evolving epidemiology of candidemia, this study aims to elucidate any associated shifts in the epidemiology of CE within the United States.

Exploring The Impact Of Pharmacy Education On Pharmacy Residents' Confidence & Knowledge Of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy, Grace Thompson, Jordan Ballou, Chao Cai

Senior Theses

This thesis will examine the relationship between pharmacy school education about gender-affirming hormone therapy and the confidence and knowledge of PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residents at ASHP-accredited or candidate pharmacy residency programs across the United States. This cross-sectional study was completed through an analysis of de-identified survey data, including demographics, confidence-based questions, and knowledge-based questions. The study survey and thesis were compiled by reviewing the current literature regarding the perceptions of pharmacists, pharmacy residents, and student pharmacists on transgender and gender diverse topics. The survey was sent to pharmacy residents through residency program directors (RPDs) and program contacts. After considering …

Reducing Antibiotic Duration For Pneumonia And Sinusitis In The Emergency Department: A Quality Improvement Approach, Joshua Saucedo, Leslie Hueschen, Amanda Nedved, Marsha Dannenberg, Patricia Phillips, Jennifer Floyd, Alaina N. Burns, Rana El Feghaly

Posters

Background: Antibiotic duration is one of the pillars of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) as it helps to limit unnecessary antibiotic exposure while continuing to provide appropriate care for infections. In our emergency department (ED), clinicians are using first-line guideline-recommended antibiotics as an appropriate choice for most patients (per our ASP report tracking), however, duration continues to be prolonged especially for community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS). National guidelines recommend shortening antibiotic durations to 3-5 days for CAP and 5-7 days for ABRS, however currently only 22% of patients discharged from our ED receive the recommended duration. Objective: …

Priorities For Research, Education, Clinical Practice, And Policy From The Long Covid Physio International Forum, Kiera Mcduff, Darren A. Brown, Douglas P. Gross, Mark A. Faghy, Todd E. Davenport, Jennifer Audette, Laura Bassi, Michelle Bull, Saul E. Cobbing, Simon Décary, Alison Flynn, Flic Jeyes, Cara Kaup, Malissa Martin, Etienne Ngeh, David Putrino, André Saravia, Asya Shiloff-Rogers, Helen Skiffington, Lindsay Skipper, Julia M. Vogel

Pacific Faculty Work

Purpose: Long COVID Physio (LCP) is an international peer support, education and advocacy, patient-led association of physiotherapists living with long COVID and allies. In 2022, LCP hosted an international forum. One of the aims of the forum was to identify priorities in long COVID and rehabilitation. Methods: We conducted an international consultation on priorities for long COVID and rehabilitation with people living with long COVID, clinicians, researchers, and other key interest-holders (referred to collectively as “consultants”) who registered for and attended the LCP International Forum. We collected feedback from consultants using web-based questionnaires, the Zoom chat from the forum, and …

Study Of Proportion Of Cardiac Involvement Secondary To Dengue Infection In Pediatric Population Admitted In A Tertiary Hospital- A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study, Neha Bhongale, Qudsiya Ansari, Ravindra Chittal

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background- Dengue is one of the most important mosquito-borne illnesses worldwide. Cardiac manifestations of dengue illness can range from asymptomatic bradycardia to life-threatening myocarditis. There is an overall paucity of published Indian studies of clear demonstration of cardiac manifestations secondary to dengue in the pediatric population. Aim- To study the proportion of patients with cardiac involvement secondary to dengue viral infection in the pediatric age group based on clinical manifestations of cardiac enzymes (CKMB, Troponin I) and ECG (electrocardiography), in a tertiary center. Methodology- This study is undertaken to find out the proportion of patients with cardiac manifestations secondary to …

Nsu Kpcom Link - Spring 2025 - Volume 4.1, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Florida Link Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Spring 2025 Edition, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

The Sig

Greetings, COP Community!

We are so proud of our student pharmacists and graduates. Whenever I meet alumni, I am impressed by their accomplishments. To look back and remember their first weeks of pharmacy school and to now hear about their career journey and successes reminds us of how a quality pharmacy education can positively impact the personal and professional growth of young people. It also helps us as teachers, preceptors, and mentors to remember why we have dedicated our careers to pharmacy education. The COP is 85 years young, and we continue to strive to provide a personalized educational experience …

Program Evaluation: Family Centered Rounding To Support Communication In Pediatric Care, Kristy M. Schmidt

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Family centered rounding (FCR) is a pediatric evidence-based practice intended to bring healthcare teams, patients, and families together at the bedside in a collaborative approach to care planning. FCR emphasizes communication and shared decision-making between healthcare teams and families, leading to improved patient outcomes. Despite well-documented benefits of FCR, challenges such as inconsistent nursing participation, variability in practices, and workflow disruptions hinder implementation and sustainability of FCR.

Aim: This program evaluation was designed and conducted at an urban pediatric hospital to assess the processes, perceptions, and impact of FCR. The overall quality of FCR and the strengths and barriers …

Haemato-Urological Profile And Asymptomatic Urinary Tract Infection In Ghanaian Steady-State Sickle Cell Disease Patients: A Case-Control Study, Stephen Twumasi, Richard Owusu Ansah, Samuel Essien-Baidoo, Laud Anthony W. Basing, Alexander Yaw Debrah, Enoch Odame Anto, Allwell Adofo Ayirebi, Rebecca Asiamah-Broni, Waldemer Attivor, Eric Twum Ameyaw, Gabriel Addai Manu, Edward Afriyie, Thomas Kwabena Gyampomah, Joseph Nkrumah Opoku, Prince Kwadwo Amoafo, Samuel Kelvin Owusu, Vincent Akwai, Matthew Talmang, Amos Mensah, Isaac Kusi-Amponsah, Angela Opoku, Lilian Antwi Boateng

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and Aims: Due to the reduction in immunity caused by auto-splenectomy and the consequent opsonic antibody shortage, patients with SCD are more susceptible to encapsulated organism infections, especially asymptomatic urinary tract infection (ASM-UTI). This study investigated the prevalence of ASM-UTI and compared urine and hematology parameters among SCD patients in Ghana to their healthy counterparts. Methods: In this study, 104 SCD participants (cases) and 80 non-SCD (HbAA) controls were recruited. Participants' information was thoroughly documented using a well-structured questionnaire and patient case records. To achieve the study's aims, a mid-stream urine in a cleaned dry aseptic urine capped container …

Soluble Cd13 Is A Potential Mediator Of Neutrophil-Induced Thrombogenic Inflammation In Sars-Cov-2 Infection, Pei-Suen Tsou, Ramadan A. Ali, Chenyang Lu, Gautam Sule, Carmelo Carmona-Rivera, Serena Lucotti, Yuzo Ikari, Qi Wu, Phillip L. Campbell, Mikel Gurrea-Rubio, Kohei Maeda, Sharon E. Fox, William D. Brodie, Megan N. Mattichak, Caroline Foster, Ajay Tambralli, Srilakshmi Yalavarthi, M Asif Amin, Katarina Kmetova, Bruna Mazetto Fonseca, Emily Chong, Yu Zuo, Michael D. Maile, Luisa Imberti, Arnaldo Caruso, Francesca Caccuri, Virginia Quaresima, Alessandra Sottini, Douglas B. Kuhns, Et Al

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The soluble variant of the ectopeptidase CD13 (sCD13), released from the cell surface by matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14), is a potent pro-inflammatory mediator, displaying chemotactic, angiogenic, and arthritogenic properties through bradykinin receptor B1 (B1R). We revealed a link between sCD13 and amplified neutrophil-mediated inflammatory responses in SARS-CoV-2 infection. sCD13 was markedly elevated in patients with COVID-19 and correlated with disease severity and variants, ethnicity, inflammation markers, and neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis). Neutrophils treated with sCD13 showed heightened NETosis and chemotaxis, which were inhibited by sCD13 receptor blockade. Meanwhile sCD13 did not induce platelet aggregation. Single-cell analysis of COVID-19 lungs …

Hospital-Onset Bacteremia In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Strategies For Risk Adjustment, Erica C Prochaska, Shaoming Xiao, Elizabeth Colantuoni, Nora Elhaissouni, Reese H Clark, Julia Johnson, Sagori Mukhopadhyay, Ibukunoluwa C Kalu, Danielle M Zerr, Patrick J Reich, Jessica Roberts, Dustin D Flannery, Aaron M Milstone, Cdc Prevention Epicenters Program

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the impact of patient- and unit-level risk adjustment on infant hospital-onset bacteremia (HOB) standardized infection ratio (SIR) ranking.

DESIGN: A retrospective, multicenter cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Infants admitted to 284 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the United States between 2016 and 2021.

METHODS: Expected HOB rates and SIRs were calculated using four adjustment strategies: birthweight (model 1), birthweight and postnatal age (model 2), birthweight and NICU complexity (model 3), and birthweight, postnatal age, and NICU complexity (model 4). Sites were ranked according to the unadjusted HOB rate, and these rankings were compared to rankings based …

Precision Drug Dosing And Disease Risk Prediction: Advanced Deep Learning Artificial Intelligence Approaches For Precision Medicine Using Structured Electronic Health Records Data, Bingyu Mao

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Advancements in precision medicine increasingly rely on data-driven approaches to improve clinical decision-making. This work presents three interconnected studies that leverage deep learning, reinforcement learning, and comparative modeling to address key challenges in precision drug dosing and disease risk prediction. Together, these contributions offer novel computational frameworks that enhance model performance, improve dosing strategies, and guide model selection for clinical predictive tasks.

To improve individualized vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), the first study introduces PKRNN-2CM, a novel deep learning framework that integrates a two-compartment pharmacokinetic (PK) model with recurrent neural networks (RNNs). While one-compartment models are commonly used in clinical …

A Mechanistic Understanding Of The Effect Of Staphylococcus Aureus Vras Histidine Kinase Single-Point Mutation On Antibiotic Resistance, Liaqat Ali, Salima Karki, Gunavanthi D. Boorgula, Amir Mekakda, Brittnee Cagle-White, Shrijan Bhattarai, Robert Beaudoin, Aryanna Blakeney, Sanjay Singh, Shashikant Srivastava, May H. Abdelaziz

Pharmacy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bacterial genomic mutations in Staphylococcus aureus have been detected in isolated resistant clinical strains, yet their mechanistic effect on the development of antimicrobial resistance remains unclear. Resistance-associated regulatory systems acquire adaptive mutations under stress conditions that may lead to a gain-of-function effect and contribute to the resistance phenotype. Here, we investigate the effect of a single-point mutation (T331I) in VraS histidine kinase, part of the VraSR two-component system in S. aureus. VraSR senses and responds to environmental stress signals by upregulating gene expression for cell wall synthesis. A combination of enzyme kinetics, microbiological, and transcriptomic analyses revealed the mechanistic effect …

Duty To Care And Job Turnover Intention In The Post-Pandemic Nursing Workforce, Cathleen A. Lopez

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Natural and human-made disasters are increasing in number and intensity. In 2020, approximately 688.3 million people required assistance from disaster response personnel. During a disaster or pandemic, nurses must weigh their personal and/or family safety against the ethical code of caring for others. The purpose of this convergent mixed-methods study was to examine duty to care and job turnover intention of registered nurses working in patient-facing roles. A convergent mixed method design was used to address research questions by employing the Nash Duty to Care Scale (NDCS) and the Turnover Intent Scale (TIS-6). Open-ended survey questions were used to explore …

Spring 2025, Humayun Islam

PMI Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Death Becomes Us: The Consumptive Body In Nineteenth-Century Gothic Literature, Jennifer Marie Mcmahon

All NMU Master's Theses

This thesis examines the impacts of nineteenth-century tuberculosis epidemics on gothic literature published between 1842 and 1872. In this period of time, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the United States and in Europe, killing an estimated one in seven people. Using theoretical lenses of psychoanalysis and material ecocriticism, this project considers borders between material bodies—specifically those between bacterial agents and humans—to be illusory and socially constructed. The first chapter focuses on the ways in which representations of tuberculosis, and its associated entanglement with the environment, appear in the work of two authors from the United States: Edgar …

The Lived Experience Of Acute Stroke Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (Aprn) Working In Expanded Roles: A Mixed Methods Study, Terri-Ellen Kiernan

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Introduction. Nurse practitioners have made credible gains through the six decades since inception to cover the growing need for outpatient family care. Nurse practitioners are now working in all aspects of medicine by continuing to fill gaps with healthcare needs that persist due to physician shortages. Stroke neurology is a medical specialty plagued by a shortage of physician specialists in hospital acute care which can limit acute stroke diagnosis and treatment capabilities. Stroke nurse practitioners (SNP) are vascular neurology trained specialists who fill relatively new hospital roles to assume traditionally physician-based responsibilities in an expanded role. This study aims to …

Variation In Blood Culture Testing For Three Common Infections, Smit Shah, Jennifer Goldman, Matt Hall, Jillian Cotter, Samantha A. House, Matthew J. Molloy, Michelle Polich, Michael J. Steiner, John R. Stephens, Michael J. Tchou, Ronald J. Teufel Ii, Irma Ugalde, Andrew Yu, Jessica L. Markham

Presentations

Background: Routine blood culture (BC) testing in uncomplicated community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), and urinary tract infections (UTI) has demonstrated low clinical utility. Objectives: To evaluate hospital-level BC testing trends and their association with clinical outcome differences for children hospitalized with CAP, SSTI, and UTI. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the Pediatric Health Information System database to identify hospitalizations of children aged 3 months-18 years admitted with CAP, SSTI, or UTI from 2016-2023. We excluded patients with complicated infections, medical complexity, ICU admission, or length of stay (LOS) >7 days. Hospital-level BC testing rates were …

Tuberculosis Screening In The Ambulatory Setting, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways

No abstract provided.

Revitalizing Passenger Rail: A Sustainable Solution To Environmental And Public Health Challenges In South Carolina, Benjamin Cochran

Theses and Dissertations

South Carolina, a historic leader in passenger rail, has become a heavily vehicle-dependent state. As the population rapidly grows, so does the number of vehicles, vehicle miles traveled, and vehicle emissions, including the greenhouse gas pollutants carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and particulate matter (PM2.5), significantly contributing to air pollution and deteriorating health and environmental outcomes. Despite this, mass transit is nonexistent for the three largest cities in South Carolina, Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, forcing residents and travelers to drive. This study evaluates the feasibility and the environmental, public health, environmental justice, and economic implications of a passenger rail …

From Relapse To Restoration: Insights Into The Immunopathology Of Bacterial Vaginosis (Bv) In Women Of Reproductive Age, Nhi To, Ms

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been a subject of study for decades, yet its complex pathogenesis remains poorly understood. BV affects most women of reproductive age, with significant associations to gynecological and obstetric complications. A deeper understanding of the complicated host-microbiota dynamic is crucial for advancing treatment options, as BV continues to pose challenges in effective management. This review aims to explore the current research on vaginal microbiota as well as potential mechanisms of BV-associated bacteria (BVAB) and their interaction with the host immune system, altogether sheds light on the complex interplay within the human reproductive tract. While Lactobacillus-dominant communities support …