Digital Commons Network^™

Imaging And Non-Imaging Approaches For The Diagnosis And Monitoring Of Necrotizing Enterocolitis-What Lies Ahead?, Indrani Bhattacharjee, Catalina Le Cacheux, Eric B. Ortigoza, Jonathan Dillman, Sherwin S. Chan, Alain Cuna

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains one of the most serious gastrointestinal emergencies in preterm infants, and imaging plays a central role in diagnosis and clinical management. Historically, evaluation has relied primarily on abdominal radiography, which remains widely available and embedded in established diagnostic frameworks. However, the hallmark radiographic signs of NEC (i.e., pneumatosis intestinalis, portal venous gas, and free air) reflect relatively advanced manifestations of intestinal injury that indicate established mucosal disruption or transmural necrosis. Bowel ultrasound has increasingly complemented radiography by enabling real-time assessment of bowel wall integrity, perfusion, motility, and intra-abdominal fluid, providing physiologic information that may refine clinical …

Targeted Reflex Rna Sequencing For Enhanced Variant Classification On Exome And Genome Sequencing Improves Patient Outcomes, Xiaonan Zhao, Robert Rigobello, Morgan Driver, Sydney Lau, Mei Ling Chong, Jason Chibuk, Hongzheng Dai, Wilson C W Wu, Christina Peroutka, Laura Famularo, Alexander Y Kim, Bailey Hummel, Sarah Dugan, Tinsley Douglas, Linyan Meng, Fan Xia, Christine M Eng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has been utilized to provide functional evidence regarding the impact of splicing variants. This study explores the utility of targeted reflex RNA-seq to inform classification of predicted splicing variants identified through clinical exome sequencing (ES) and genome sequencing (GS). A retrospective analysis was conducted on consecutive ES/GS cases completed at a single center in which targeted reflex RNA-seq was performed following identification of eligible variants. There were 131 cases (4.1%) that had at least one RNA-seq eligible variant reported, with eight of these cases having two unique eligible variants. Of the 139 eligible variants, 125 were classified …

Rehabvr: A Virtual Reality System For Upper-Body Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Rehabilitation, Winnie Brenda Wanjiru Waiya

Computer Science Senior Theses

Physical therapy is a central component of rehabilitation for musculoskeletal conditions, yet adherence to prescribed treatment remains persistently poor. Jack et al. identified pain, boredom, and insufficient feedback as key barriers to treatment adherence in physiotherapy outpatient settings,¹ and Rucinski et al. confirmed that non-adherence rates in orthopaedic populations remain between 50 and 70%, with patients who disengage facing elevated risk of reoperation, progressive functional decline, and poor clinical outcomes.² According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.71 billion people globally live with musculoskeletal conditions,³ with shoulder pain specifically carrying a community prevalence ranging from 0.67 to 55.2% worldwide and …

Recommendations For Disclosure Of Artificial Intelligence In Scientific Writing And Publishing: A Regional Anesthesia And Pain Medicine Modified Delphi Study, Michael R Fettiplace, Anuj Bhatia, Yian Chen, Steven L Orebaugh, Michael Gofeld, Rodney A Gabriel, Daniel I Sessler, Hannah Lonsdale, Brittani Bungart, Christopher P Cheng, Garrett W Burnett, Lichy Han, Matthew Wiles, Steve Coppens, Thomas Joseph, Kristin L Schreiber, Thomas Volk, Richard D Urman, Vesela P Kovacheva, Christopher L Wu, Edward R Mariano, Vivian H Y Ip

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the scientific process is advancing at a remarkable speed, thanks to continued innovations in large language models. While AI provides widespread benefits, including editing for fluency and clarity, it also has drawbacks, including fabricated content, perpetuation of bias, and lack of accountability. The editorial board of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine (RAPM) therefore sought to develop best practices for AI usage and disclosure.

Methods: A steering committee from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine used a modified Delphi process to address definitions, disclosure requirements, authorship standards, and editorial oversight …

Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Pcdh7 Inhibit Tumor Growth And Enhance Immune Responses In Kras-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Nicole Novaresi, Poorva Ghosh, Shayna Thomas-Jardin, Hui Deng, Xuejun Fan, Zhiqiang Ku, Wei Xiong, Xiaorong Zhou, Jingfei Zhu, Huiyu Li, Mahesh S Padanad, Bethany Smith, Chul Ahn, John D Minna, Zhiqiang An, Ningyan Zhang, Kathryn A O'Donnell

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

We identified an important oncogenic role for protocadherin 7 (PCDH7), a cell surface protein frequently overexpressed in lung adenocarcinoma and associated with poor clinical outcome. Pcdh7 depletion reduces tumor burden and prolongs survival in KrasLSL-G12D; Tp53fl/fl mice. These findings nominate this cell surface protein as an actionable therapeutic target and highlight the therapeutic potential of PCDH7 inhibition for non–small cell lung cancer. We report the development and characterization of high-affinity anti-PCDH7 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that inhibit downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation and suppress tumor growth in multiple mutant KRAS–driven models. A lead mAb (mAb7) sensitized tumors …

The Aggregated Latent Profile Index: Measuring Person Profile Differentiation Within A Bootstrap-Validated Latent Profile Space, Se-Kang Kim

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Multivariate assessment profiles contain two conceptually distinct sources of variation: overall level and profile shape. Existing approaches recover some aspects of this structure, but none jointly establishes the replicability of latent pattern dimensions and provides a principled, population-referenced summary of person profile differentiation independent of overall level. We introduce the Aggregated Latent Profile Index (ALPI), a variance-weighted Euclidean distance that quantifies the degree to which an individual’s profile departs from a flat population reference within a bootstrap-validated latent profile space. ALPI is derived from the Aggregated Latent Profile Space (ALPS), a framework that combines parallel analysis with bootstrap stability diagnostics …

Intrathecal Antibody Synthesis - Reiber Method Revisited, John J. Halperin, Dane Granger

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: CSF immunoglobulin (IgG) often informs diagnosis in CNS inflammatory disease- qualitatively (oligoclonal bands; OCBs), or quantitatively (CSF: serum IgG: albumin, e.g. IgG index). Most US laboratories estimate excess CSF IgG using linear models, most in Europe, Reiber's hyperbolic model - the latter often also incorporated into CSF pathogen-specific immunoreactivity calculations. We compared Reiber hyperbolic and linear approaches.

METHODS: Required data were available for 1,872 samples, Lyme-specific data for 1,365. We compared linear and Reiber's hyperbolic models to determine which better describes normal CSF: serum IgG/albumin, assessed correlations with OCBs using ROC analysis and compared Lyme-specific antibody indices (AI) by …

Global Burden Of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis In Children: A Systematic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study, Xuhui Liu, Peierdun Mijiti, Lu Xia, Sylvia M Lacourse, Wulan Talafuhan, Alexander W Kay, Yang Yang, Huarui Liu, Dan Ye, Leonardo Martinez, Shuihua Lu, Adong Shen, Anna M Mandalakas, Feng Li, Christoph Lange, Zhen Huang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Paediatric tuberculosis (TB), particularly drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), is associated with significant mortality. However, the global burden of childhood TB remains poorly understood.

Methods: We analysed incident cases, deaths, and age-standardised incidence and mortality rates among children (0-14 years) with multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database. Data were stratified by age, sex, region, country, and HIV/AIDS status. Annual and average annual percentage changes were assessed using joinpoint regression analysis. Secondary analyses compared adult and paediatric TB trends in the End TB era and evaluated the potential impact of the …

Vitamin D–Amp Axis In Host Defense Against Fungal Infections, Nuraly S. Akimbekov, Ilya Digel, Svetlana K. Sakhanova, Kuanysh Tastambek, Dinara K. Sherelkhan, Mohammed S. Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

Vitamin D–mediated regulation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is an important focus in innate immunology and is aimed at elucidating the role of vitamin D in enhancing antimicrobial defense. AMPs are short protein chains that serve as a first line of defense against invading pathogens, including fungi, bacteria and viruses. Unlike conventional antibiotics, AMPs are produced endogenously and are less likely to induce antimicrobial resistance, making them promising candidates for treating infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens. Studies indicate that optimal vitamin D levels are essential for activating antimicrobial pathways and regulating AMPs that target multiple fungal pathogens. This article summarizes recent …

Autoregulation Of Three Yeast Ribosomal Protein Genes By Splicing Inhibition, David Granas, Anirudh Kesanapally, Michael A White, Gary D Stormo

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Yeast ribosomal protein genes RPL18B, RPL28, and RPS22B are autoregulated by inhibition of splicing. This is demonstrated by inserting their introns into a chromosomal copy of GFP and observing repression upon induction of the cognate protein. In RPL18B and RPS22B, a predicted conserved secondary structure within the intron is required for regulation, while in RPL28, it is not.

Nmda Receptor Subunit Nmr-2 Regulates Pathogen-Induced Immune Responses Via The Nervous System In C. Elegans, Benson Otarigho, Jonathan Lalsiamthara, Alejandro Aballay

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neural control of innate immunity must balance restraint of basal immune activity with rapid activation upon pathogen encounter. Glutamate, the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, has been implicated in several neurological disorders associated with inflammation, suggesting a potential link to immune regulation. However, how glutamatergic signaling contributes to immune balance remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that the NMDA-type ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit NMR-2, a component of the NMDA receptor complex, acts in the

A Multi-Country Community Of Practice To Strengthen Quality Improvement In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: A Quality Improvement Program Description, Samhita Bhargava, Heather A Haq, Brodus A Franklin, Elizabeth Davis, Florence Anabwani-Richter, Thobile Bhembe, Lindokuhle P Dlamini, Makhosazana Dlamini, Andy Chapola, Nomsa Kafumba, Chisomo Mzandu Zinyemba, Menard Bvumbwe, Kyakuwa Richard Jjuuko, Jacqueline Balungi Kanywa, Dithan Kiragga, Andreas Boy Isaac, Esther Makhalanyane, Lwamba Nyembo, Retselisitoe Mahlaha, John T Farirai, Eunice W Ketang'enyi, Andrea E M Imsen, Iuliana Costas, Susan B Torrey

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/objectives: Quality improvement (QI) is widely used in global health to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and strengthen service delivery. The Texas Children's Global Health Network (TCGHN) includes nine independent non-governmental organizations supporting healthcare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with pediatric HIV clinical centers of excellence in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), supported technically by Baylor College of Medicine. We describe the development of a virtual QI Community of Practice (QICoP) to connect geographically dispersed teams and strengthen local QI capacity.

Methods: In 2022, QI and global health experts convened to design the QICoP and assess site readiness. …

Diabetes Mellitus Exacerbates Covid-19 Severity And Prolongs Recovery: A Clinical Study From Southern Iraq, Hussein Ali Hussein Al-Hchaimi, Mohammad Ali Hassan Jassim, Mustafa Abbass, Shahab Abdulla, Ralela Makline

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Diabetes mellitus (DM) constitutes one of the most consequential comorbidities shaping the clinical trajectory of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), operating through intersecting mechanisms of chronic inflammation, endothelial injury, and immunosuppression that collectively amplify viral pathogenicity. This study investigated the impact of diabetes type on COVID-19 symptom severity, hospitalization duration, and recovery time among patients in Nasiriyah City, southern Iraq — a region substantially underrepresented in the global DM–COVID-19 literature. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted across healthcare facilities in Nasiriyah City from 2023 to 2024. A total of 150 hospitalized adult patients carrying confirmed diagnoses of both COVID-19 and type …

Understanding Interprofessional Collaborative Practice: A Firm Foundation For Allied Health Student Education, Isabel A. Paton, Narelle T. Patton, Anne Croker

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Accompanying the contemporary need for a collaborative practice ready health workforce is a focus on health student preparation for interprofessional collaborative practice. This research explored allied health pre-registration student preparation for interprofessional collaborative practice. Further, this examination illuminated new understandings of interprofessional collaborative practice itself. Methods: Informed by philosophical hermeneutics, this research involved two studies. One study was drawn from interpretation of the literature. The other study drew from 24 academic and student participants’ experiences from five allied health professions, accessed through semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Thematic interpretation was used to highlight key themes and topics. Results: This …

The Association Of Motherhood And Maternal-Related Life Events And Cardiovascular-Related Health, Disease Events, And Mortality, Taishayla Mckitt

ETDs from 2020-2029

More than 40% of U.S. women have cardiovascular disease (CVD), and nearly half have at least one major risk factor. Sparse evidence exists related to the role of childrearing (regardless of prior pregnancy) on CVD. A recent literature review highlighted the influence of reproduction on CVD and health and identified opportunities for advancement. At present, it has yet to be discovered from prospective epidemiologic studies the extent to which parenting and maternal events have influence on cardiovascular health and clinical events. It has been demonstrated that parous women have greater prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., short sleep duration and …

Electrophysiological Retinal Changes In Aging And Its Implication In Alzheimer’S Disease, Samuel Jacob Haskins

ETDs from 2020-2029

Alzheimer’s disease remains one of the most expensive and fatal diseases facing medical practitioners to this day. According to the CDC, statistics show that it is the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. In addition to fatalities, there is a tremendous financial and emotional cost of dementia to the patient and surrounding caregivers. Improved screening techniques and new treatments for this disease are a priority of several institutes within the NIH. Early detection and early intervention are critical to improve the outcomes of patients worldwide. Amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) are two of the most important protein aggregates …

Sex-Based Disparities In Health Care Access And Utilization Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation, Ji Mei May Wong, Peter R. Kowey

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Females with atrial fibrillation (AF) experience a higher risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, and mortality than males with AF. Theories suggest that sex-based differences in hormonal, structural, and electrophysiologic factors are associated with this imbalance; we hypothesized that sex-based differences in health care access and utilization (HCAU) are also underlying factors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sex-based disparities in HCAU barriers exist among individuals with AF.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study used data on patients with AF in the All of Us Research Program Registered Tier dataset (version 8), which contains integrated data from the electronic health record …

Updated 2026 Comprehensive Evidence-Based Guidelines For Facet Joint Interventions In The Management Of Chronic Spinal Pain: American Society Of Interventional Pain Physicians (Asipp) Guidelines, Laxmaiah Manchikanti, Mahendra R. Sanapati, Sheri L. Albers, Alan D. Kaye, Vinita Singh, Nebojsa Nick Knezevic, Rajesh Naidu Janapala, Amol Soin, Annu Navani, Adam M. Kaye, Ahad Mussarat, Alexander Bautista, Dajie Wang, Paul J. Christo, Maged Mina, Daneshvari R. Solanki, Devi Nampiaparampil, Gerard Limerick, John Manor, Kris Ferguson, Lynn Cintron, Michael Bottros, Shirley Chen, Shivam S. Shah, Vahid Grami, Douglas P. Beall, Shalini Shah, Sairam Atluri, Mittal S. Prajapati, Alaa Abd-Elsayed, Salahadin Abdi, Steve Aydin, Sanjay Bakshi, Joseph Cabaret, Aaron K. Calodney, Kenneth D. Candido, Christopher G. Gharibo, Mayank Gupta, Michael Harned, Standiford Helm Ii, Sachin Sunny Jha, Radomir Kosanovic, Vidyasagar Pampati, Ramarao Pasupuleti, Bradley W. Wargo, Hermant Kalia, Gary Schwartz, Joshua A. Hirsch

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Chronic axial spinal pain is a major contributor to disability and healthcare expenditures, with facet joints recognized as one of the established sources of pain.

OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence-based guidance in performing diagnostic and therapeutic facet joint interventions.

METHODS: A multidisciplinary panel of experts from various medical and pharmaceutical disciplines, convened by the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP), reviewed the available evidence, considered patient perspectives, and formulated recommendations for facet joint interventions in the management of chronic pain.The methodology included the development of key questions with evidence-based statements and recommendations. Grading of the evidence and recommendations followed …

Frequency Of Diabetes Mellitus In Patients Diagnosed With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Study From A Tertiary Care Setting, Harwindar Kumar, Sadiq Ali Shah, Syed Azaz Ali Shah, Noor Ul Wahab

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Background and Objective: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common entrapment neuropathy caused by compression of the median nerve when it passes through the wrist. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of diabetes mellitus in patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the neurology unit of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from December 2019 to June 2020. A total of 140 patients aged 20–60 years with electrophysiologically confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome were included using non-probability consecutive sampling. Diabetes mellitus was established based on prior diagnosis, use of antidiabetic medications, or laboratory …

Patterns Of Central Nervous System Infections In Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study, Zainab Memon, Safia Awan, Ibrar Rafq, Shafaq Saleem, Saleem Barech, Muhammad Arif Nadeem Saqib, Syed Ahmed Asif, Haris Majid Rajput

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Background and Objective: In low- and middle-income countries, central nervous system infections are amongst the neurological entities associated with significant disability. Despite the availability of both preventative and antimicrobial treatment, management of CNS infections continues to be a great challenge. The objective of this study was to assess the pattern of CNS infections across multiple urban and rural centers in Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted across 39 outpatient neurology centers in Pakistan, including both public and private setups from August 2017 to December 2019. Data on demographics, comorbidities, and categorization of CNS infections were obtained from the …

Seizure Spectrum In Children With Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis: A Cross-Sectional Study From A Tertiary Care Center, Naveed Anjum, Faisal Zafar, Muhammad Tariq Aziz, Arif Zulqarnain, Aysha Fayyaz, Amir Hanif

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

No abstract provided.

Incidental Colorectal Adenomas In Adolescents: Clinical Management, Genetic Evaluation, And Surveillance., Brett J. Hoskins, Shlomi Cohen, Colleen B. Flahive, Isabel Rojas, Aparajita Singh, Thomas M. Attard

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The rising incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer has renewed attention to colorectal adenomas in adolescents and young adults (AYA), although these lesions remain rare and poorly characterized in adolescents. Lack of age-specific guidance creates uncertainty regarding genetic evaluation, surveillance intervals, and long-term management when these lesions are identified in adolescents. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence and expert perspective on epidemiology, evaluation, endoscopic management, surveillance, genetic considerations, and psychosocial implications of incidentally identified colorectal adenomas across the AYA spectrum, with emphasis on adolescents as a distinct clinical population. Available data largely derive from adults aged 20-49 years but suggest that …

Viscoelastic And Morphologic Changes In The Lumbar Intervertebral Discs Of The 5xfad Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, C E Gonzalez, C A Schurman, K A Wilson, B Schilling, L M Ellerby, S Y Tang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain, commonly associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, is highly prevalent in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the severity of the pain is correlated with the severity of the dementia. While incidences of both afflictions increase dramatically in the elderly population, it is unknown whether AD exacerbates the health of the IVD.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to examine how AD-related mutations affect the structure and mechanics of the IVD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Utilizing one-year-old male and female 5xFAD mice that constitutively express human APP and PSEN1 transgenes with five AD-linked mutations, we …

Personal And High-Intensity Gait Factors Associated With Balance And Walking Improvement With Outpatient Stroke Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Study, Heather Staal

Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between personal factors and High-Intensity Gait variables and balance and walking improvement in an outpatient stroke population.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, with persistent gait and balance impairments commonly limiting independence and participation. High-intensity gait training (HIGT) is an evidence-based rehabilitation approach that improves walking outcomes following stroke; however, guidance on how specific training variables are applied in outpatient physical therapy settings remains broad.

Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzes clinical data from outpatient physical therapy episodes in which HIGT is a …

The Who Classification Of Genetic Tumour Syndromes: Considerations For Histopathology, Ian A Cree, Mark J Arends, Joseph D Khoury, Erika Re Denton, Anthony J Gill, Alexander J Lazar, Ian M Frayling, Stefan M Pfister, Mark A Rubin, Katia Rm Leite, Raymond Dalgleish, Elspeth A Bruford, Sharon Plon, Ada Hamosh, Michael Francis Walsh, Gabrielle Goldman-Lévy, Harshima Wijesinghe, William D Foulkes, Dilani Lokuhetty

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Corneal Innervation Research At A Crossroads: A Tool-Driven Roadmap For The Future, Anna Matynia, Ian D Meng, Brian M Davis, Stephen C Pflugfelder, Anat Galor, Victor L Perez, Elizabeth R Felix, Pedram Hamrah, Pantelimon Rompolas, Raul E Ruiz-Lozano, Shamsuddin A Bhuiyan, Kaveh Moghbeli, Evangelia Semizoglou, William Renthal, Harinder Singh, Jishnu Das, Marcin Golczak, Mary Ann Stepp, Catherine W Morgans, Cintia S De Paiva, Carl Y Saab, Igor Spigelman, Rony R Sayegh, Tally M Largent-Milnes, Hao Wu, Wenqin Luo, Sreya Mitra, Heesuk Yoo, Sina Farsiu, Sejiro Littleton, Eden Jacob, Matthew T Mcpheeters, Maryse Lapierre-Landry, Jordan J Smith, Xi Wang, Roxana Florea, Made Airanthi K Widjaja-Adhi, Scott Holmes, Zane Zemborain, Kate E T Laise, Nicholas J Pondelis, Ki-Soo Jeong, Rui Chen, Michael W Jenkins, Vivian Lee, Eric A Moulton, Deborah S Jacobs, Sue A Aicher, Anthony J St Leger, Daniel R Saban

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Corneal innervation research has faced long-standing clinical challenges that only recent technological breakthroughs now make tractable. Advances in single-cell analysis, viral vectors, clinical imaging, and artificial intelligence provide integrated approaches for uncovering molecular mechanisms underlying functional outcomes and facilitating clinical applications. The National Eye Institute's U01-funded consortium on ocular surface innervation addresses major knowledge gaps in characterizing corneal-projecting neurons, understanding neuroimmune and epithelial interactions in the cornea, and translating animal model findings to human pathology. The unique properties of the cornea (transparent, avascular, and densely innervated) make it ideal for neurobiology research on peripheral and central sensory processing. Through a …

Transient Yap Activation Uncovers The Neurogenic Potential Of Proliferative Mammalian Müller Glia, English J Laserna, Irina V Saltykova, Benjamin M Hall, Xuefei Tong, Justin S Dhindsa, Borna Sarker, Ayrea E Hurley, Paul G Swinton, William R Lagor, Nicholas M Tran, James F Martin, Ross A Poché

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The Hippo pathway effector YAP promotes spontaneous proliferation of Müller glia (MG), suggesting that bypassing Hippo signaling and activating YAP could enhance retinal regeneration. However, whether proliferative adult MGs retain meaningful neurogenic competence remains unclear. Here, using viral delivery of a Hippo-resistant YAP variant to wild-type adult MGs, we achieved transient YAP activation in adult MGs, inducing proliferation followed by cell-cycle withdrawal and differentiation. Intersectional genetic lineage tracing and EdU labeling, combined with transcriptomic analyses, revealed that YAP-activated MGs predominantly regenerate MGs, whereas only a subset gives rise to bipolar cell-like neurons. These results indicate that proliferative MGs acquire a …

Co-Designed Interventions Package For Enhancing Women's Resilience In Reproductive And Child Health Through Income-Generating Associations: A Human-Centered Design Study In Tanzania, Kahabi Isangula, Aminieli Itaeli Usiri, Eunice Pallangyo

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Maternal and under-five mortality remain major public health concerns in many low- and middle-income countries, including Tanzania. Despite their widespread use in strengthening economic resilience, income-generating associations (IGAs) have not fully utilized their potential as platforms for addressing reproductive and child health (RCH) challenges.

Objective: This study aimed to co-design an intervention package with women participating in income-generating associations to enhance their preparedness and resilience in addressing RCH challenges in Tanzania.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study guided by a Human-Centered Design (HCD) framework was conducted in the Arusha and Shinyanga regions of Tanzania. The study followed …

Socioeconomic Inequalities In Health-Related Quality Of Life During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Six-Country Comparison Using The Eq-5d-5 L, Joëlle Eijkens, Joshua M. Bonsel, You-Shan Feng, M. F. Bas Janssen, Erica I. Lubetkin, Juanita A. Haagsma

Publications and Research

Purpose

Despite the growing attention to health inequalities, there is no global consensus on how to measure socio-economic status. This study examined inequalities in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic across six countries—China, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US)—using three SES indicators: education level, income, and work status.

Methods

Between April and June 2020, individuals aged 18–75 years old completed a web-based survey. HRQoL was measured using the EQ-5D-5L Level Sum Score (LSS), where higher scores indicate poorer health. Country-specific differences in LSS across SES groups …

Moving Beyond Traditional Cost Containment For Glp-1 Coverage Within Oregon's Proposed Universal Health Plan, Manoj Rajesh

University Honors Theses

In 2022, Oregon voters passed Measure 111, constitutionally mandating access to affordable health care. As the Universal Health Plan Governance Board (UHPGB) designs the state's proposed single-payer system, it faces an unprecedented financial vulnerability: the clinical demand for GLP-1 receptor agonists. These high-cost, indefinite-use medications for obesity and metabolic syndrome threaten to overwhelm fixed public budgets. Historically, both the Oregon Health Plan's Medicaid framework and commercial private insurers have relied on static cost-containment models—categorical exclusions, step therapy, and aggressive utilization management—that achieve short-term fiscal solvency at the expense of comprehensive preventative care. This thesis argues that to fulfill the mandate …