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Abstract Book (Pdf), School Of Medicine

Medicine Research Day

The collection of abstracts for all three sections of the 2025 Medicine Research Day organized by session (Translational Research, Quality Improvement, Clinical Vignettes) then alphabetical by last name of the primary author.

Disc Edema Secondary To Sleep Apnea: A Case Report, Jeannette A. Wong-Powell Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Bilateral optic disc edema is associated with multiple systemic conditions of potentially dire consequences. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a common culprit and diagnosis of exclusion, which has been observed in multiple patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and raised questions of a pathophysiological link between the two.

Case Report: A 28-year-old Caucasian male with history of transient ischemic attack-like symptoms presented with bilateral disc edema prompting a multi-disciplinary work up that included imaging, lumbar puncture, laboratory analysis, neuroophthalmological, cardiological, and pulmonary evaluations that ultimately led to a diagnosis of OSA. The case is unique in that it followed …

Social Health Among Adolescents In The Global School-Based Student Health Survey (Gshs), Luke Pontoriero, Sarah Simon, Lauren Anderson

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Background: Social health is a function of the quantity and quality of relationships, including with family members and peers. Adolescents who report being lonely or having no close friends have a low quantity of relationships, and those who feel that their peers are unkind and their parents are not understanding have low quality relationships. We examined whether poor social health is associated with violent behavior.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), which employs a standardized two-stage cluster sampling method and a validated questionnaire to explore health and risk behaviors among nationally representative samples of …

Effects Of Beetroot Juice Supplementation On Power Output During Resistance Exercise In Resistance-Trained Women, Christopher B. Sottile, Sydney N. Brennan, Trevor J. Molnar, Raymond T. Gerardo, Justin M. Foster, Ryan Tran, Michael Egiazarian, Kyle S. Geppert, Abigial F. Ballhagen, Adam Pennell, Rachel Tan

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Dietary nitrate supplementation has been reported to enhance explosive-type movements, but our understanding of the ergogenic potential of nitrate in resistance exercise and women is understudied. PURPOSE: To investigate if dietary nitrate, provided as nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR), improved resistance exercise performance compared to nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (PL) in resistance-trained women. METHODS: Eighteen resistance-trained women were assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to consume PL (0.10 mmol nitrate) and BR (6 mmol of nitrate) 2.5 h prior to performing barbell back squats and bench press at 55% one-repetition max (1RM), 60%1RM, and 65%1RM. Power and velocity were measured via …

A Cluster Randomized Trial Of Xylitol Chewing Gum For Prevention Of Preterm Birth: The Ppax Trial, Gregory C Valentine, Kathleen M Antony, Haleh Sangi-Haghpeykar, Alexis C Wood, Rose Chirwa, Saukani Petro, Mary Dumba, Deborah Nanthuru, Cynthia Shope, Jesse Mlotha-Namarika, Jeffrey Wilkinson, Joshua Aagaard, Ellen J Aagaard, Maxim D Seferovic, Judy Levison, Peter Kazembe, Kjersti M Aagaard

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Maternal periodontal disease is associated with preterm and low-birthweight deliveries, but randomized trials of likely efficacious treatments (e.g., dental scaling and root planing) during pregnancy have not reduced these adverse outcomes. As an alternative, we hypothesized that periconception initiation of xylitol chewing gum would reduce the occurrence of preterm or low-birthweight deliveries among a historical high-prevalence population in Malawi.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, parallel-enrollment, matched-pair, cluster-randomized, controlled clinical trial across eight health centers (sites) in and around Lilongwe, Malawi. Sites were paired by anticipated delivery volume and randomized to prenatal and oral health education alone (active control) or …

Impact Of Cde Referral On A1c Control In Adult Type 2 Dm Patients., Alivia Watts Bsn, Rn, Yesica Sanchez Bsn, Rn, Morgan Hilliard Bsn, Rn, Laura Reed Dnp, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Type II Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic health condition impacting many adults in Tennessee. Certified Diabetic Educators (CDEs) are specifically trained in educating and addressing the health care needs of patients with diagnoses of Type I or Type II Diabetes. Research has shown that education conducted by CDEs leads to improved outcomes and self- care in those with diabetes (Bowen, et al., 2016, King et al., 2019). Not only are CDEs cost effective services leading to a decrease in healthcare costs, but they also aid in the improvement of hemoglobin A1C (Hgb A1C) levels and decrease complications associated with Type …

Total Intestinal Atresia In A Neonate: A Case Report., Cory Nonnemacher, Seth Saylors, Naomi-Liza Denning, Vatche Melkonian, Pablo Aguayo

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Intestinal atresias are a common cause of neonatal intestinal obstruction. An extremely rare variant is total intestinal atresia, where no lumen is appreciable from the duodenum through the colon. We describe a case of a 33-week female who was born at an outside hospital and underwent laparotomy for concern for intrauterine perforation and proximal intestinal obstruction. Laparotomy revealed a duodenal perforation and an atresia in the proximal jejunum. Resection of this segment revealed no intestinal lumen distally, and the patient was left in discontinuity and transferred to our tertiary children's hospital. Repeat laparotomy revealed atretic bowel with no lumen through …

Lipoprotein(A) And Risk Of Incident Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Impact Of High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein And Risk Variability Among Human Clinical Subgroups, Ron C Hoogeveen, Margaret R Diffenderfer, Elise Lim, Ching-Ti Liu, Hiroaki Ikezaki, Weihua Guan, Michael Y Tsai, Christie M Ballantyne

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Universal Health Care, Oregon, Jennifer S. Arnold, Bethany Clouse, Alec Martin

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Historically, the US has chosen not to fund universal health care at every opportunity, leaving our nation as the only industrialized country without some system of health coverage for our citizens and with the worst health care outcomes of any high-income nation in the world. Health care in Oregon is no exception. Our current health care system is financially unsustainable, harmfully complex, and socially unjust, as well as inequitably delivered. Too many Oregonians, because of their race, age, income, geography, or insurance, endure vastly different health care access, varied health care quality, and wide-ranging health outcomes. In 2019, the Oregon …

The Intersecting Association Of Speaking A Non-Dominant Language And Lower Healthcare Access On Self-Reported Depression Among U.S. Adults: A Cross Sectional Study Using Nhanes Data (2015-March 2020), Vincenzo J. Cornacchione, Corey Linver

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Objective: This analytic study examined the joint and independent associations between language preferences and healthcare access on moderate to severe depression among non-institutionalized adults living in the U.S., using data from the 2015 to March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study design, we analyzed a nationally representative data set comprised of 11,051 participants. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the joint and independent associations between our dual exposures and moderate to severe depression, adjusting for key demographic variables based on our theoretical framework. We created categorical measures of preferred language (speaking …

Primary Place To Go For Health Care And Its Association With Hpv Prevalence In Us Adults: Results From Nhanes 2013-2016, Amy L. Mcveety, Miyuki Sun

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Background: While access to health care is a known risk factor for many infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted infections, little research has investigated the relationship between access to primary care services and prevalent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Given HPV’s prevalence in the general population and lack of available treatments, it is necessary to understand possible risk factors to identify areas for intervention. This study uses primary place to go for health services as a proxy measure for access to care, in order to understand which sources of health care are serving patients with the highest prevalence of HPV infections and …

Nutrition Education Intervention For Patients Living With Hiv Attending An Outpatient Clinic In Dubai, Uae, Souheir Mahmoud Alia

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Nutrition is crucial to HIV/AIDS management. HIV affects the immune system, making infections and illnesses harder to resist. Despite the importance of nutrition for people living with HIV (PLHIV), there have been no studies of nutritional interventions for PLHIV in the MENA region. Aim: The objective of this study is to assess the baseline status of PLHIV and the impact of a lifestyle intervention on various aspects of their health and lifestyle status, including nutritional knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP), and intake of immune-boosting food/nutrients. Methods: Sixty-three patients attending an outpatient clinic in Dubai were randomly assigned to an intervention …

Education About Eds: How Can Colleges Reduce The Risk And Prevalence Of Eating Disorders In Ncaa Female Athletes?, Meghan J. Mcnabb, Alexandra Jakubiak

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Female collegiate athletes are currently recognized as a high-risk group for developing eating disorders due to performance pressures and unrealistic body standards. Limited studies have analyzed the impact of tailored educational and behavioral interventions on the prevalence of eating disorders among female athletes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). This proposed research will be conducted at Nova Southeastern University to explore how colleges can decrease the cases of eating disorders among female athletes using a multi-component educational intervention. Participants will be screened through the EAT-26 assessment tool and initial BMI measures will be recorded to establish a baseline for …

Bryant University Research And Engagement Day Program

Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day)

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Maternal Dental Anxiety And Children's Dental Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study, Mariam I. Sharaf, Mayssoon A. Dashash

Arabian Journal of Pediatric Dentistry

Background and aim of the study: Dental fear and anxiety are one of the main challenges in pediatric dentistry, and dental fear and anxiety are a common reason for avoiding dental treatments, which may lead to deterioration of oral health status over time. Many researchers have shown that the relationship between parents and children has a direct impact on dental anxiety in children, so this study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the relationship between dental anxiety in mothers and dental anxiety in children.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 children and their mothers …

Heterozygous Hereditary Vitamin D-Dependent Rickets Type 2a (Vddr2a) In A Patient Presenting With Pseudoarthrosis, Risa Goldberg, Gunjan Umarji, Serge Jabbour

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Faculty Papers

This case report is centered on an atypical presentation of Hereditary Vitamin D-dependent Rickets 2A (VDDR2A), a rare disorder caused by defects in the gene encoding the vitamin D receptor (VDR). While this disorder is primarily autosomal recessive in inheritance, this case demonstrates that a single heterozygous variant in the VDR gene could be linked to both phenotypic and laboratory manifestations of this condition. To understand the pathogenesis of this condition, one must know the typical roles of vitamin D, calcium, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in maintaining homeostasis in the body. This case report focuses on the underlying pathogenesis of …

Building Bridges: A Community Health Worker Training Course, Taylor A. Ramsey, Lesley Khan-Farooqi, Phd, Otd, Otr, Dr. Sharita Ambrose, Dhed., Mph, Ches, Chwi

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Building Bridges: A Community Health Worker Training Course is a comprehensive 20-hour continuing education course designed for community health workers (CHWS) who work with Black pregnant women. This training course was developed for and in collaboration with Allure Alliance Incorporated, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of Black women through community programming, education, and advocacy. This training course reflects an interprofessional collaborative approach to addressing the racial disparities in the Black maternal health population in the U.S. The course includes evidence-based strategies and health management interventions derived from the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 4th Edition (OTPF-4), …

Optimizing Care For Heart Failure Patients With Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Quality Improvement Project On Guideline Directed Medical Therapy Adherence, Leonie Campbell-Williams

DNP Projects

Significance and Background: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains a major cause of hospital readmissions, increasing both healthcare utilization and patient morbidity. Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) has been proven to reduce mortality and hospitalizations; however, adherence to these evidence-based guidelines remains inconsistent (Yancy et al., 2022).

Purpose: This quality improvement project aimed to evaluate whether enhancing GDMT adherence in an outpatient heart failure clinic could reduce emergency room (ER) admissions among patients with HFrEF.

Methods: A structured intervention was implemented at a local healthcare system Cardiology Clinic, focusing on optimizing adherence to GDMT in 60 patients with HFrEF. …

A Training Toolkit For Introducing Stem Cell Transplantation To The Inpatient Oncology Nurse, Susan G. Berg Bsn, Rn, Cmsrn, Ocn, Jenna Ruggiero Bsn, Rn, Jordan Mellinger Kish Msn, Rn, Lisa Russo Msn, Rn, Gavin Bauer Bsn, Rn, Tammy Selby Rn

Hematology-Medical Oncology Division

No abstract provided.

The Association Of Sleep Quality And Depression On Having Three Vs. All Five Diagnostic Criteria Of Metabolic Syndrome, Nina Pollard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Metabolic syndrome is increasing in prevalence in the United States. To be diagnosed, three of the five diagnostic criteria must be met. There is a higher risk of metabolic syndrome due to lifestyle and social factors, with increased criteria occurring as an individual has unmet social determinants of health. This quantitative quasi-experimental/quasi-comparative study examined the association between education level, with sleep quality and depression as moderators, on a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome with all five criteria versus three criteria using a binary logistic regression while controlling for age, race, gender, income, employment, and marital status. Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological theory served …

Can Endothelin-1 Help Address The Diagnostic And Prognostic Challenges In Multimorbid Acute Heart Failure Patients?, Bianca-Ana Dmour, Minerva Codruta Badescu, Cristina Tuchiluș, Corina Maria Cianga, Daniela Constantinescu, Nicoleta Dima, Ștefania Teodora Duca, Awad Dmour, Alexandru Dan Costache, Maria-Ruxandra Cepoi, Adrian Crișan, Sabina Andreea Leancă, Cătălin Loghin, Ionela-Lăcrămioara Șerban, Irina Iuliana Costache-Enache

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The management of acute heart failure (AHF) is becoming increasingly complex, especially in patients with multiple comorbidities. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a vasoconstrictive peptide, is an important mediator of neurohormonal activation, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiac remodeling-key processes involved in the pathogenesis of AHF. The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic performance of ET-1 in multimorbid AHF patients, compared to established markers such as amino terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI). We conducted a single-center prospective study including 76 patients; 54 with AHF and 22 serving as controls. Upon admission, all patients …

Geographic Divergence Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus St5-Scc Mec I In The Aftermath Of A Major Earthquake And Tsunami: Impact Of A Plasmid Harboring Heavy Metal Resistance Genes, Jose R W Martínez, Manuel Alcalde-Rico, Estefanía Jara-Videla, Jinnethe Reyes, Lina P Carvajal, Sandra Rincon, Rafael Ríos, Lorena Diaz, Ana Quesille-Villalobos, Roberto Riquelme-Neira, Lina Rivas, Ahmed M Moustafa, Blake Hanson, Eduardo A Undurraga, Jorge Olivares-Pacheco, Patricia García, Rafael Araos, Paul J Planet, César A Arias, Jose M Munita

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major public health menace. The global spread of MRSA is characterized by successive waves of epidemic clones dominating specific geographical regions. The acquisition of genes encoding resistance to heavy metals (HMRGs) is thought to be a key feature in the geographic divergence of MRSA. However, the cause-effect relationship between the presence of HMRGs and the divergence of MRSA clones remains to be clarified. In this study, we assessed the role that HMRGs may have played in the evolutionary divergence of the MRSA ST5-SCCmecI lineage in Latin America. We conducted a genomic characterization …

Bioseq: A Molecular Intelligence Platform Based On Organism-On-Chip Technology For Bridging Data Gaps Between C. Elegans And Humans, Hunter Edwards, Adnan Qureshi, Mizanur Rahman, Tyler Chiriboga, Amar Chittiboyina, Ikhlas Khan, Siva Vanapalli

Oxford ICSB

The FDA Modernization Act 2.0, emphasizes the urgent need for New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to replace conventional animal testing in safety and efficacy assessments. NemaLife’s organism-on-chip platform, utilizing C. elegans, microfluidics and visual AI, provides a high throughput platform for in vivo screening. To enhance human relevance and reduce the inter-species gap between C. elegans and human, we developed BioSeq, a novel discovery workflow, based on high-throughput transcriptomics. Leveraging the 60-80% homology between C. elegans and human genomes, BioSeq translates worm gene expression data to human orthologs. This enables: (i) identification of differentially expressed human-relevant genes triggered by bioactive ingredients …

Caffeine-Free Plant-Based Nootropics: The Evolving Science And Regulatory Journey Of Alpinia Galanga., Deshanie Rai

Oxford ICSB

Consumer interest in using botanicals as complementary medicine to help address a variety of health benefits is rooted in the traditional use of botanicals to support for example vision performance, joint health, and mental wellbeing. With increasingly busy lifestyles, consumers are seeking ways to support their mental energy. While caffeine is a widely used nootropic, consumers are wary of consuming too much caffeine and/or it’s associated “caffeine-crash” effects, and therefore looking for plant-based nootropic alternates. Plant-derived nutraceutical research is now on the research agendas in academic and industry settings. At OmniActive Health Technologies, we are helping to address consumer health …

Publicly Available Online Data From National Adverse Event Reporting Schemes: Observations On Cases Involving ‘Ashwagandha’, Jo Barnes

Oxford ICSB

No abstract provided.

Ashwagandha – Is It Safe? A Toxicologist’S Perspective, Mukesh Summan

Oxford ICSB

Withania somnifera (WS) also known as ashwagandha is a herb commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine with recorded use dating back centuries. Different plant parts including roots, leaves, fruits, seeds and stems are purported to have various biological actions such as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-stress, anti-anxiety when used alone or in combination with other plants. Despite this long history of use as a traditional herb in Indian medicine and world-wide as a food supplement, regulatory health authorities have begun to question the safety of WS due clinical cases of herb-induced liver injury from products labelled as containing ashwagandha and concerns for WS …

Abstract Title: What Is Chaga? Unique Biochemistry Of The Sterile Conk., Anna Kreynes

Oxford ICSB

Fungal based supplements or functional mushrooms are growing in popularity worldwide. Among them, Chaga is attracting increasing attention for its broad immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Chaga is unique among “mushroom” supplements as it is technically neither a mushroom (fruiting body), nor a sclerotia, as some researchers assert, but rather a sterile conk or canker that forms on trees, infected and colonized by mycelia of the pathogenic fungus Inonotus obliquus. Commonly associated with birch (Betula spp.), I. obliquus also parasitizes other hardwood species such as alder (Alnus), beech (Fagus), and ash (Fraxinus), found in boreal forests of northern Europe, Asia and …

Supplement Product Quality Woes: A Call To Action, Andrew Shao

Oxford ICSB

No abstract provided.

Digitization Of Hptlc Chromatograms For Chemometric Analysis, Menglian Zhang, Jianghao Sun

Oxford ICSB

HPTLC has been a major analytical tool for the botanical industry for many years. Its strength has been the ability to provide multiple chromatograms for parallel visual comparison of standards and samples. It’s weakness has been the lack of digitization to allow objective chemometric analysis of the data. Two studies are presented: analysis of 3 species of Echinacea (E. angustifolia, E. palida, and E. purpurea) and analysis of cranberry supplements, fruits, and juices (35 supplements, 8 dried fruits, and 4 juices). Accurate comparison of the patterns of the chromatograms required pre-processing: removing initial and final peaks, derivatization, alignment of samples …

Rooted In Quality: Elevating Standards In Botanical Supplements, Katie Banaszewski

Oxford ICSB

The botanical supplement industry is currently navigating a landscape that demands an unwavering commitment to high standards of quality, transparency, and sustainability. This sector faces a host of challenges alongside new opportunities, particularly emphasizing the vital role of quality assurance in preserving the integrity of botanical products. To ensure the authenticity of botanical ingredients and safeguard consumer health, advanced scientific testing techniques have become indispensable. Methods such as DNA barcoding, mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy play crucial roles in verifying the purity and identity of these natural products. Furthermore, as the market increasingly prioritizes ethical consumption, there is a growing …