Digital Commons Network^™

Phytochemical And In-Vitro Cytotoxic Analyses Of Flavonoid Species Isolated From Chromolaena Leivensis, Luke A. Bryant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a leading cause of death worldwide, cancer and its treatments remain a primary source of interest among researchers. Modern studies are looking into bioselective cytotoxicity to create new chemotherapies that do not have the same harsh side effects as those we use today. Natural product research has a promising future for the development of such treatments. Specifically, polar flavonoids may be the key to a bioselective treatment. Such flavonoid species are native to plants, often within flower petals or within the body. A natural antioxidant, they are designed not to harm healthy cells. This study focuses on the plant …

Characterizing Children With Chronic Kidney Disease And Severe Proteinuria In The United States: A Retrospective Analysis Using Electronic Health Records., Bradley A. Warady, Simone Heeg, Alfredo E. Farjat, Rachel Knapp, Siir Su Saydam, Alexander Vowinkel, Alain Gay, James Potts, Andrea Scalise, Gordana Atanackovic, Sascha Van Boemmel-Wegmann

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: In recent years, real-world data have been increasingly used to enrich data from interventional studies on treatment effectiveness. To explore the viability of hybrid study designs in pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD), we assessed the feasibility of identifying a real-world cohort of children with CKD and severely increased proteinuria who satisfied adapted eligibility criteria from the FIONA trial.

METHODS: We used data from the Optum® de-identified Electronic Health Record dataset (Optum® EHR) to identify and characterize children with CKD and severely increased proteinuria in records from January 2013 to December 2022. Patients were identified based on two sets of …

Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index Among Children And Adolescents With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Report From The Chronic Kidney Disease In Children Study., Susan M. Halbach, Jennifer Roem, Michael F. Schneider, Joshua Samuels, Susan L. Furth, Bradley A. Warady, Joseph T. Flynn, Ckid Study Investigators

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: To quantify the association between ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and hypertensive status, and to identify additional predictors of AASI, including body mass index (BMI), proteinuria, and mineral metabolism, in children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODS: We analyzed data collected from 654 participants during 1283 study visits in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) prospective cohort study. AASI was calculated from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) data as 1 minus the slope coefficient from a least squares linear regression of diastolic blood pressure (BP) on systolic BP. Hypertensive status was determined by clinic BP and …

Methylated Cfdna May Distinguish Between High- And Intermediate-Risk Uveal Melanoma: A Pilot Study, Mike Wu, Daniël P. De Bruyn, Ruben G. Boers, Aaron B. Beasley, Daan M. Hazelaar, Stavros Makrodimitris, Joachim B. Boers, Jolanda Vaarwater, Ronald O.B. De Keizer, Robert M. Verdijk, Nicole C. Naus, Dion Paridaens, Saskia M. Wilting, Elin S. Gray, Wilfred F.J. Van Ijcken, Joost Gribnau, Annelies De Klein, Erwin Brosens, Emine Kiliç

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Uveal melanoma (UM) is a highly aggressive malignancy with a metastatic risk that depends on the molecular subclass. This subclass can be determined through molecular characterization of tumor-derived tissue. With eye-sparing treatments, tumor tissue is rarely available for molecular testing. We hypothesized that minimal invasive biomarkers such as methylated cell-free DNA (cfDNA) or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be used for prognosis and monitoring of patients. Methods: Plasma cfDNA was isolated from healthy blood donors (HBDs, N = 19) and UM patients (N = 22). Plasma was collected at baseline (localized disease, N = 13) and during follow-up (metastatic …

Genetic Drivers Of Progression In Alzheimer’S Disease Are Distinct From Disease Risk, Celeste E. Cohen, Shane Fernandez, Umran Yaman, Ahmad R. Ehyaei, Eleftheria Kodosaki, Aydan Askarova, Tenielle Porter, Eleanor O’Brien, Paul Maruff, Alexi Nott, John A. Hardy, Simon M. Laws, Dervis A. Salih, Maryam Shoai

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Recent trials in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) demonstrate encouraging outcomes. These trials target risk mechanisms identified through genetic analysis whilst directly aiming to reduce progression rates. Evidence from other neurodegenerative diseases suggests the genetics of progression is distinct from risk of disease. To expand these initial successes and improve clinical outcomes further we need to understand genetics of progression of disease. These can be deduced through rigorous analysis of meticulously phenotyped longitudinal cohorts. In this study we first looked at known genetic drivers of risk, namely polygenic risk scores for AD and APOE‑ε4, to assess their role in progression. This …

Exploring Burnout Among Ncaa Collegiate Athletes: The Impact Of Gender, Sport, Seasonal Demands, And Other Contributing Factors, Anneliese Wong

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine burnout among NCAA Division I student-athletes at one mid-sized University in the Rocky Mountains region of the United States and determine whether differences existed based on gender, sport type, competitive season stage, and burnout dimension. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used and data was collected from 76 student-athletes across 11 varsity sports. Burnout was assessed using items adapted from the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ; Raedeke & Smith, 2001), along with additional items assessing fatigue and seasonal experiences.

Descriptive results showed the student-athletes reported the highest mean level of physical burnout, followed …

Rna Chimeric Antigen Receptor (Car) T Cell Therapies For B Cell Mediated Autoimmune Diseases, Jayamuni Vasuki Vindiya Silva

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multiorgan autoimmune disease caused by the breakdown of self-tolerance that leads to aberrant activation of B cells producing autoreactive antibodies. While traditional immunosuppressants. Glucocorticoids and biologics such as rituximab offer disease management, yet they fail to prevent flares and subsequent organ failures in severe SLE. In fact, increased doses of glucocorticoids are associated with irreversible organ damage. Newly emerged Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies have resulted in unprecedented clinical success with disease remissions and complete depletion of B cells, providing long-term disease remissions. However, autologous conventional CAR T therapies are constrained by …

Characterization Of Regulation Of Ace2 And Morphogenesis (Ram) Pathway Components In Aspergillus Fumigatus, Devi Naga Jyothi Bale

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Aspergillus fumigatus CotA is a conserved protein kinase and predicted orthologue of Cbk1, a terminal kinase of the Regulation of Ace2 and Morphogenesis (RAM) network. In our previous study, disruption of CotA resulted in carbon source dependent invasive growth with the mutant exhibiting preferential growth on glucose but severely impaired growth on alternate carbon sources. This pathway in other fungi has been implicated in the regulation of morphogenesis, stress responses, and virulence, but this study is the first one to characterize it in the pathogenic filamentous fungus.  In yeast, the RAM network includes the CotA ortholog, Cbk1, and associated proteins, …

Comparative Performance Of Physiological Vital-Sign Forecasting Under Random And Patient-Wise Splitting Using Deep Learning, Lavanya Vasavi Chittem Reddy

Theses and Dissertations

Physiological vital-sign forecasting estimates future measurements based on recent temporal patterns and can support analysis of continuously recorded monitoring data. This study comparatively evaluated deep feedforward, recurrent, bidirectional recurrent, long short-term memory, and bidirectional long short-term memory architectures for one-step-ahead forecasting of peripheral oxygen saturation, heart rate, and pulse rate. Each model received consecutive observations of peripheral oxygen saturation, heart rate, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and age, while separate single-output models predicted the next value of the selected target.

Random and patient-wise data splitting were compared using identical input definitions, preprocessing procedures, model architectures, and training hyperparameters. The strongest architecture …

In-Hospital Mortality Patterns And Readmissions In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Analysis Of The Role Of Pulmonary Hypertension, Saad Afzal Khan, Trishna Parikh, Adishwar Rao, Akriti Agrawal, Aarohi Parikh, Sarah Shin, Maulin Patel, Kha Dinh, Bela Patel, Bindu Akkanti

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be complicated by pulmonary hypertension (PH). We aimed to understand the impact of PH on in-hospital mortality and quantify the 30-day readmission rate among patients with COPD. For this cross-sectional study, we used the Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2017-2020 to identify adults ≥18 years with COPD. Patients were stratified according to PH diagnosis. Baseline characteristics between groups were compared using the Pearson chi-square test and two-sample t-test. Predictors of in-hospital mortality were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for demographics and confounders. The 30-day readmission rate and prevalence of PH subgroups by baseline …

Abcb5⁺ Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enable High-Ratio Cellular Augmentation Of Bone Grafts Without Loss Of Osteogenic Function, Jakob Hofmann, Tim Niklas Bewersdorf, Ulrike Sommer, Kai Borcherding, Karsten Thiel, Christoph Ganss, Matthias Gerstner, Markus H. Frank, Gerhard Schmidmaier, Mark Andreas Kluth, Tobias Grossner

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Autologous bone grafting remains the standard for reconstruction of bone defects but is constrained by limited graft volume and loss of osteogenic capacity when expanded with acellular materials. We hypothesized that allogeneic ABCB5⁺ mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can serve as a biologic cell source to augment bone marrow-derived MSC (BM-MSC) populations without impairing osteogenesis. Primary human BM-MSCs from five donors were combined with GMP-manufactured ABCB5⁺ MSCs at graded replacement ratios (0–95%) and cultured under osteogenic conditions for 21 days. Osteogenic potential was evaluated using complementary assays of mineralization, biochemical activity, and matrix composition. Robust osteogenesis was maintained across all groups, …

Increasing Patient Education For Induction Of Labor In A Labor And Delivery Unit In Sacramento, Kiran Gill, Kelsi Mcneil, Kayla Quan, Brianna Beltran

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients receive inconsistent education regarding their scheduled induction of labor before arrival to Sutter Medical Center Sacramento. Some patients may receive enough education, whereas others receive little education and learn more after their admission.  

LOCAL PROBLEM: Within the microsystem, it was acknowledged by nurses and patients that patients lacked prior knowledge about their induction of labor (IOL) when arriving for their scheduled induction, which can cause decreased satisfaction and increased anxiety.

METHODS: This Quality Improvement (QI) project used the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle. The Plan phase took place during spring and summer of 2026 and consisted of literature review, …

Reducing Clabsi Through Nurse Peer Review Audits In A Blood And Marrow Transplant Unit, Skylar Nouvongsa, Kyne Wong, Nicholas Henry, Jaskaran Singh

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Protein Mass Spectrometric Assay For The Characterization Of Colorectal Cancer Exosomes, Frank J. Reed Iv

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Exosomes (sEV) carry proteins involved in intracellular communication and colorectal cancer (CRC) biology, but their morphologic overlap with non-vesicular extracellular particles (NVEPs), and other extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exomeres and supermeres, complicates proteomic characterization. This aim of this study is to develop mass spectrometric assays that evaluate sEV enrichment, purity, and distinguish sEV CRC-associated protein cargo from EV and NVEP CRC-associated protein cargo to better classify the role of sEVs in CRC biology.

Our lab previously analyzed conditioned media from DiFi, cystic clone (CC), and spikey clone (SC) CRC cell lines purified using dialysis, concentration, and electrophoresis enrichment (DCE) by …

When Defense Turns Destructive: Unraveling The Global Rise Of Autoimmune Disease And Sex-Based Disparities, Avery R. Hammersmith

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

This article examines the evolution of autoimmunity from its early rejection under the theory of "horror autotoxicus" to its current status as a pressing global epidemic. While early 20th-century scientists believed the body possessed inherent safeguards against self-attack, mid-century discoveries of autoantibodies established that the immune system can indeed target healthy tissues, leading to chronic conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Current data reflect a significant surge in these disorders, with a reported 19.1% increase in incidence and a 12.5% increase in prevalence between 1985 and 2015. Within the United States, the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies, …

Development Of A Culture System For Eosinophils Derived From Human Cord Blood Stem Cells, Christian Lachance

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

How Disparities In Healthcare Impact Intergenerational Health Outcomes Of Underserved Women In Ethnic Groups Residing In Dekalb County, Georgia, La Tanya Marie Calloway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to better understand how disparities in healthcare impacted poor intergenerational health outcomes for underserved Black, Hispanic and Asian women residing in Dekalb County, Georgia. Qualitative research methods were used to collect data through in-depth semi-structured interviews combined with coding and thematic analysis. Recorded and transcribed interviews used member checking for accuracy which provided insight into the essence of their experiences with the phenomenon. Participants (n=15) shared descriptive lived experiences while facing the challenges of navigating systematic barriers with healthcare systems in their community. Findings highlighted intersectionality as the theoretical framework for the …

Understanding Individual Differences In Mental Health: A Person-Centered Examination Of Temperament-Adversity Profiles In Late Adolescence, Lauri Worley Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adolescents who experience adverse childhood adversity can and often do have different mental health and well-being outcomes. This quantitative study identified temperament-adversity profiles among late adolescents with varying levels of early life adversity and examined whether these profiles differ in emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The diathesis–stress and differential susceptibility theoretical frameworks informed the study. The 200 participants, ages 18 to 21 and living in the United States, were recruited through Prolific and completed an online Qualtrics survey containing the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, Adult Temperament Questionnaire, and Mental Health Continuum–Short Form. Hierarchical and K-means cluster analyses identified four profiles. …

Acceleration Of Coagulation Kinetics For Clot Burst Pressure Assessment, Hanuk Kwon

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Ybx1 Orchestrates Srebp2-Driven Cholesterol Metabolism To Confer Drug Resistance In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Veerababu Nagati, Miguel Salazar, Swathi Tenugu, Yamile Abuchard, Ana Ayala Pazzi, Ricardo Pequeno Bracho, Dennis Kwabai, Manish K. Tripathi

Research Symposium

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with limited therapeutic options and poor prognosis. Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, is the first-line treatment for advanced HCC; however, the rapid emergence of drug resistance significantly limits its clinical efficacy. Our preliminary data indicate that Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) contributes to sorafenib resistance by reprogramming cholesterol metabolism. Specifically, YBX1 upregulates sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2), enhancing cholesterol biosynthesis and accumulation while downregulating the cholesterol efflux transporter ABCA1. This metabolic alteration stabilizes receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), promoting Akt/mTOR signaling and sustaining drug resistance, thereby unraveling the …

Contemplative Pause: Practice As Pedagogy In A Liberal Arts Classroom, Sienna R. Craig, Sid Babla, Abbey Savin

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

This article discusses the integration of contemplative pedagogies – including but not limited to yoga nidra – into two case study courses at an elite private liberal arts institution. We begin by describing the structure, context, and nature of this experiment in contemplative pedagogy, considering this experiment in the context of what we call the “liberal arts promise” at a moment of heightened mental health crises across institutions of higher education and increasing public skepticism about the value(s) of higher education. The article takes as a starting point the idea that building forms of contemplative pause into the fabric of …

Comments On Prevalence Of Cerebrovascular Disease In Patients With Coronary Artery Disease After Pharmacological Stress Test, Xiaowei Wang, Jingwen Wei

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

No abstract provided.

Reply To The Letter Comments On Prevalence Of Cerebrovascular Disease In Patients With Coronary Artery Disease After Pharmacological Stress Test., Muhammad S. Muhammad Hagrass, Haytham S. Ghareeb

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

No abstract provided.

A Retrospective Study Of The Frequency And Factors Associated With Elevated Serum Aspartate Aminotransferase Activity In Domestic Rabbits, Natakorn Siriwattanasatorn, Sompoth Weerakhun

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

This study aimed to identify factors associated with elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and to evaluate the frequency of elevated AST and its association with mortality in domestic rabbits. A retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2021 and 2022, including 1,435 rabbits that underwent blood testing for AST. A significant association was observed between health status and elevated AST activity (P < 0.001). Elevated AST activity was observed in 14.64% (95/649) of healthy rabbits and 33.97% (267/786) of diseased rabbits. Among the 138 rabbits that died during hospitalization, 79 (57.24%) had elevated AST activity. Several hematological and biochemical parameters were associated with elevated AST activity. Leukocytosis, leukopenia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, decreased RBC count, decreased hemoglobin, decreased hematocrit, and thrombocytopenia, elevated ALT, elevated BUN, and elevated creatinine showed positive associations, whereas erythrocytosis, elevated total protein, and elevated albumin showed negative associations. Among diseased rabbits, elevated AST activity was positively associated with several clinical signs, including abnormal mucous membranes, depressed mentation, anorexia, emaciation, hyperthermia, unconsciousness, weakness, decreased fecal output, abdominal pain, and dyspnea; hypersalivation showed an inverse association. Disease conditions positively associated with elevated AST activity included gastrointestinal hypomotility, allergic rhinitis, pneumonia, heat stroke, anaphylactic shock, renal disease, cardiovascular disease, hepatic disease, toxin ingestion, malnutrition, and hypoglycemia, whereas malocclusion showed an inverse association. Multivariable logistic regression showed that the presence of clinical illness (defined as clinical abnormalities or a documented diagnosis of any disease), underweight body condition score, and anemia (hematocrit

Management Of Refractory Spontaneous Pneumothorax Complicated By Secondary Acinetobacter Baumannii Pyothorax In A Siberian Husky Using Autologous Blood Patch Pleurodesis, Pattraporn Olanphakdee, Sekkarin Ploypetch, Maturawan Tunhikorn, Somkiat Huaijantug, Adsada Langputeh, Jeerawat Soonthornsit, Rungrote Osathanon, Teetush Trasyodsakul

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

A 3-year-old intact male Siberian Husky was presented to Prasu Arthorn Veterinary Teaching Hospital with acute restrictive dyspnea and was diagnosed with spontaneous pneumothorax based on thoracic radiography and computed tomography, which revealed pulmonary bullae and pneumomediastinum. Initial thoracocentesis resulted in temporary improvement; however, recurrence necessitated placement of bilateral thoracostomy tubes. Because persistent air leakage continued despite thoracostomy tube drainage and conservative suction, and thoracotomy was not feasible, the pneumothorax was considered refractory to conservative management and autologous blood patch pleurodesis was performed as salvage therapy. The complication progressed to a pyothorax associated with Acinetobacter baumannii infection, confirmed by bacterial …

The Study Of The Clinical Toxicity Of Carbon Monoxide In The South Region Of Saudi Arabia: A Case Review, Ahmed Ali Al-Siwar, Ibrahim Mufadhi M Alanazi

Saudi Toxicology Journal

Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is an important public health concern associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. However, regional data describing the clinical characteristics of CO poisoning and community awareness in Southern Saudi Arabia remain limited.
Methods: This study comprised two independent components: a retrospective review of confirmed CO poisoning cases and a cross-sectional community awareness survey conducted in Southern Saudi Arabia. The clinical component included 30 confirmed cases from Asir, Najran, and Jazan during 2019–2021, while the separate awareness survey included 117 respondents from the general population selected using convenience sampling. Clinical characteristics, exposure patterns, outcomes, and item-level responses …

Care Experiences Of People With Copd During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Judith Kecskemeti, Mausam Vadakkayil, Benson Law, Hengliang Wu, Caitlin Carrigan, Rosa Nguyen, Shannon L Sibbald

Patient Experience Journal

Although there is a substantial body of literature focused on the pathophysiology regarding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and COVID-19, there remains limited exploration of the healthcare experiences of patients with COPD during the pandemic. This study explores the challenges patients with COPD (PWC) experienced during the pandemic, including access to care, the efficacy of virtual COPD care, and mental health impacts. We performed a cross-sectional survey of 200 individuals with COPD recruited through respirologists' offices and local lung health groups on social media from Southwestern Ontario, Canada, who accessed care since the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included 200 participants, …

The Patient Experience Across The Care Continuum: Inpatient Rehabilitation, Discharge Preparedness, And Community Reintegration After Spinal Cord Injuries/Disorders, Sherri L. Lavela, Myrissa Le, Ibuola O. Kale, Ashley Craig, Jane Duff, Marcel Post, Sara Ahmed, Allen W. Heinemann

Patient Experience Journal

The objective was to describe patient experiences, barriers, and facilitators of inpatient rehabilitation, discharge preparedness, and community reintegration after spinal cord injury and disorders (SCI/D) from the perspectives of Veterans with SCI/D. Methods included a descriptive qualitative design using a virtual focus group analyzed via reflexive thematic analysis. Focus group participants (n = 7) were mostly male, white, injured for 1-10 years, with mean age of 52 years. Two domains were identified. The first domain, Barriers and ways rehabilitation could have improved patient experience, included five themes: (1) insufficient preparation for psychological impacts; (2) inadequate preparation for relationship changes; (3) …

Beyond Survival: A Qualitative Study Of Recovery Barriers And Facilitators Following Emergency Laparotomy, Christie L Martin, Samuel Sn Theesfeld, Genevieve B Melton, Elizabeth C Wick, Lindsay L Welton, Samuel E O'Brien, Miranda K Considine, Jenna L Marquard

Patient Experience Journal

This mixed-methods study aimed to identify multi-level barriers, facilitators, and actionable interventions for recovery following emergency laparotomy, a high-acuity event where traditional clinical metrics often fail to capture the nuances of patients' lived experience during convalescence. We conducted semi-structured interviews and surveys with 15 adults recovering from emergency laparotomy and subsequently completed human-in-the-loop AI-assisted thematic analysis. Findings reveal a ``satisfaction paradox'': despite 93.4% satisfaction with acute hospital care, patients experienced a protracted recovery marked by significant distress across 5 themes: (1) Quality and Coordination of Care; (2) Life Impact and Financial Burden; (3) Patient Education and Information Modalities; (4) Environmental …

Parallel Realities: A Narrative Review Of Differences Between Patients And Their Care Providers, Umair Majid, Hazeema Haq, Ziyad Yahmad

Patient Experience Journal

Differences in how patients and healthcare providers perceive, experience, and deliver care can undermine patient-centered care and health outcomes. Yet, few syntheses have examined these divergences as a primary focus. This narrative review aimed to identify and synthesize evidence on the differences between patients and their providers in terms of priorities, expectations, and experiences of care, and to explore how these differences can potentially influence relationships and outcomes. A database search was conducted to identify English-language studies published from January 2019 to January 2025 that included both patients and providers in the same sample and compared their perspectives. Data from …