Digital Commons Network^™

Two Decades With Chronic Actinic Granuloma: A Case Report, Neena Edupuganti, Nathan Sagasser, Melinda Greenfield

Research Day

Actinic granuloma (AG), also known as O’Brien’s granuloma, is a rare idiopathic granulomatous dermatosis affecting sun-exposed areas, predominantly in older individuals. It presents as erythematous papules that expand into annular plaques with central atrophy and serpiginous borders. The pathogenesis of AG remains unclear, but it is hypothesized to involve an autoimmune response to actinically damaged elastic fibers. Diagnosis is confirmed through histopathological examination, and treatment options vary widely with inconsistent outcomes. Here, we present a case of an individual with a 20-year history of AG that was refractory to treatment with topical steroids and topical antifungals. This case highlights the …

Sequence Of Target Vessel Revascularization Does Not Affect Outcomes During Endovascular In-Situ Laser Fenestrated Repair Of Complex Aortic Aneurysms, Saad Rahman, Harshita Yepuri, Daniel J. Badia

Research Day

Introduction: Endovascular laser fenestration (LFEN) has emerged as a popular method for thoracoabdominal aneurysm (TAA) repair, but prolonged branch vessel ischemia during graft deployment remains a concern. We compared a conventional proximal-to-distal “top-down” fenestration strategy with a "superior mesenteric artery first” (SMA) approach designed to prioritize visceral perfusion and minimize bowel ischemia.

Methods: We performed a single-center, single-operator retrospective review of two patients undergoing LFEN repair for complex aortic aneurysms using either a “top-down” or “SMA-first” approach. Outcomes included ischemia time, postoperative clinical and laboratory evidence of visceral/renal malperfusion, and procedural metrics such as time to fabric penetration and stent …

Cardiomegaly As A Risk Factor For Hemorrhagic Stroke: A Cadaveric Case Study, Erica L. Parker, Brayton C. Myers, Alexander F. Capello, Grace E. Bang, Anuksha A. Gotmare, Diana Petrucello

Research Day

INTRODUCTION:

This case study examines the gross cardiac morphology of a 66-year-old male with a history of heart disease whose cause of death was hemorrhagic stroke, with emphasis on correlating cardiac structural changes with systemic vascular disease and cerebrovascular outcome.

METHODS:

Gross anatomical dissection of the thoracic cavity was performed. Cardiac measurements included transverse width and thickness ventricular walls. The width of the thoracic cavity was also measured to assess proportional cardiac size. Measurements and photographs were taken to document.

RESULTS:

Gross examination revealed increased ventricular wall thickness relative to expected adult reference ranges, and the myocardium appeared diffusely thickened …

Calvarial Lesions In A Cadaver With Metastatic Osteosarcoma: A Case Study And Differential Diagnoses, Madelyn N. France, Louis G. Deavers, Shelley Dicecco

Research Day

Introduction

This case study aims to investigate suspicious bony lesions on the calvarium of a 22-year-old cadaver whose cause of death was reported to be respiratory failure/metastatic osteosarcoma. Respiratory failure, left total femur replacement, and evidence of metastasis to the lungs raise suspicion for widespread metastatic disease. This case study aims to investigate the observed lesions and review potential differential diagnoses for the bony skull-based lesions observed in this cadaver.

Methods

A right-sided frontotemporal protrusion was identified on examination of the cadaver’s face and head during gross anatomy lab. Further dissection revealed erythematous, thickened bony lesions localized to the right …

Exblifep, A New Antibacterial For The Treatment Of Urinary Tract Infections And Pyelonephritis, Olivia Wilcock, Leonard Clark, Shashidharamurthy Taval, Vicky Mody

Research Day

Antibiotic resistance is an ever-present threat that demands constant innovations in order to treat urinary tract infections and pyelonephritis. Bacteria are known to develop various adaptations in order to evade eradication by antibiotic agents. In this project we have reviewed, Exblifep, one of the newer drugs that have been developed to target resistant bacteria. Exblifep, a combination of cefepime with enmetazobactam. Cefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin that contains a cephem nucleus and a side chain with a quaternary amine. It is considered a broad-spectrum antibiotic whose coverage includes most gram-negative bacteria and some gram positives, including MSSA and streptococcus spp. …

Denervation Injuries In The Lower Limbs: A Cadaver-Based Case Study, Gavin G. Scott, Kedarnath Malapati, Rohan S. Patel, Ethan M. Cook, Atharva M. Athalye, Jordan E. Pullins, Mackwan Sringam, Rishab Prakash, Shelley Dicecco

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: Denervation injuries result from an interruption of the neural input necessary for the normal contraction and maintenance of skeletal muscle. Without proper innervation, skeletal muscles atrophy and are replaced by adipose and fibrous tissue. Prolonged denervation can result in gross anatomical changes, such as reduced muscle mass, muscle pallor, and fatty tissue replacement, which are easily observed during dissection of the cadaveric body. This case presents bilateral muscular degeneration of the lower extremities observed in a 98-year-old cadaveric donor.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objectives of this case study are to document the gross anatomical findings associated with chronic denervation in …

Social Power, Moral Inhibition, And Risk-Taking: A Theory-Driven Review Of The Approach–Inhibition Framework, Samantha Loitsch, Ishaa Dubey, Shari N. Allen

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: The approach–inhibition theory of power proposes that perceived social power changes how people tend to process information by increasing approach tendencies (such as reward pursuit and automatic cognition) while decreasing inhibition tendencies (such as threat monitoring and controlled processing). These changes can thereby influence a person’s emotions, thinking, and behavior (Keltner, Gruenfeld, & Anderson, 2003). Extensive meta-analytic work in moral psychology shows that moral disengagement – where individuals justify or minimize harmful actions – is strongly linked to transgressive and antisocial behavior, and that both personal and environmental factors influence this relationship (Luo & Bussey, 2023). This suggests that …

I’M Going To Disney World: Regenerative Injection Therapy(Regenexx) Enabling Functional Recovery In Chronic Ankle Dorsiflexion, Marzena Buzanowska, Kévin Borgella

Research Day

Chronic foot drop, weakness or inability to dorsiflex the ankle and toes. Gait deficits such as this can originate from issues in the motor pathway of the cerebral cortex or from injury to peripheral nerves that innervate the foot musculature. The most common cause is L5 radiculopathy and peroneal nerve injury, but can also include lumbar herniation, spinal stenosis, and degenerative nerve diseases. Physical therapy has been the fundamental means of treating this issue with a focus on muscle strengthening, adjusting gait patterns and engaging the mechanisms of neural plasticity to improve muscle activation. In lieu of these methods, Ankle-foot …

Hepatomegaly In Cadaver Dissection: Clinical Correlations And Preventative Implications, Teralan Hobson-Matthews, Selena Berry, Toby Cisco, Thomas Nguyen, Chloe Phillips, Diana Petrucello

Research Day

Introduction: Hepatomegaly is an objective finding associated with various pathophysiologies. Some of the most common sources of hepatomegaly in the United States include fatty liver and cirrhosis. We performed a routine cadaveric dissection on a 71-year-old truck driver that passed from respiratory failure with a history of tobacco abuse and lung malignancies. During the dissection, the patient was found to have an enlarged liver. This case study explored possible etiologies of the patient's hepatomegaly. This research provided insight into comorbidities and prevention for complex patients like this case.

Methods: Measurements of the liver were obtained in the horizontal, vertical, and …

Dispensing Discovery: A Summer Camp Approach To Pharmacy Recruitment., Mary Wines-Samuelson, Gabriela Cipriano, Ankit Rochani, Ramil Sapinoro, Juliette Miller, Kaylee Schelah, Jill C. Hardy, Christine R. Birnie Phd

Fisher Showcase 2026

No abstract provided.

Innovations In Pharmacy Resident Research To Streamline Preceptor Workload And Improve Publication Rates, Kathryn A. Connor, Nicole M. Acquisto, Jennifer Iuppa Melaragno, Samantha C. Heacock, Stephen Rappaport

Fisher Showcase 2026

Organization: Nine-hospital health system (includes 886-bed academic medical center, 261-bed academic community hospital, 12 outpatient pharmacies, specialty pharmacy program); pharmacy residency program spans 2 hospitals.

Residency Programs: Currently, 5 PGY1 Pharmacy (3 academic medical center, 2 community teaching hospital), 2 PGY1 community-based pharmacy and 7 PGY2 programs in ambulatory care, critical care, emergency medicine, infectious diseases, oncology, pediatrics, and specialty pharmacy administration and leadership.

Pharmacy Research Committee (PRC): Comprised of ~10 clinical pharmacists and local pharmacy school faculty members including 2 co-chairs, research administrative pharmacist, biostatistician, and clinical informatics pharmacist experienced in research methods who meet monthly and otherwise communicate …

Development And Pilot Implementation Of A Generative Ai-Powered Virtual Learning Assistant (Vla) In First-Year Pharm.D. Courses, Vivek S. Dave, Ankit Rochani, Priyanka Bhatt

Fisher Showcase 2026

To develop and implement a generative AI-powered Virtual Learning Assistant (VLA) within foundational Pharm.D. pharmaceutics courses (Pharmaceutics I & II).

Influence Of Background Music On Proton Dose Monitors, Julia Colangeli, Rachel Felder, Nicole Geer, Favour Ihenwe, Shermineh Roodi, Sandra John Baptiste

Research Methods Poster Session 2026

This study examines the effects of background music, particularly varying bass frequencies, on dose monitor accuracy in proton therapy using the Hitachi PROBEAT-FR proton accelerator.

2026 Rocky Mountain Healthcare Symposium Program, Kristen Marshall

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Exploration Of A Relationship Between The Activities Of Trail And 4’-Trifluoromethoxychalcone., Abigail C. Ernst

Undergraduate Theses

Cancer is the overgrowth of dysregulated or mutated cells that affects 1 in 3 Americans. Chalcones are natural products with many possible derivatives, such as 4’-trifluromethoxychalcone (4TF), developed in Dr. Krzysiak’s lab, which exhibit anticancer activity against cancer cell lines. Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) is a tumor surveillance cytokine that acts on two receptor types: death receptors and decoy receptors. One way cancer cells can become resistant to TRAIL is by upregulating decoy receptors and/or downregulating death receptors. In this study, MTS assays evaluated the potential relationship between TRAIL and 4TF that sensitizes A549 cells to TRAIL. The …

Health Professional Education Associations: What Other Professions Teach Us About Building Resources, Community, And Advocacy For Midwifery Educators, Kim Q. Dau, Ms, Cnm

Doctor of Midwifery Advances in Midwifery Projects

In response to a looming health care workforce deficit, several health professions have experienced recent rapid workforce growth. These professions are supported by specialized health professional associations designed to promote educational excellence in the face of rapid growth. In contrast, the midwifery profession does not have dedicated professional organizations to support education programs. The purpose of this study is to better understand the various strategies used by selected health professional education associations and their value to the profession. This can be adapted to promote the growth and excellence of midwifery education in the United States, responding to the need for …

Assessment Of Clinical And Neuroimaging Efficacy Of Treatment Targeting Tau Pathology In Mild Cognitive Impairment And Mild To Moderate Alzheimer’S Disease With Hydromethylthionine Mesylate Using External Control Data, Bjoern O. Schelter, Helen Shiells, Serena Lo, Nafeesa Nazlee, Emily Evans, Peter Bentham, Serge Gauthier, Henrik Zetterberg, Gordon K. Wilcock, Lutz Froelich, Alistair Burns, Emer Macsweeney, Clive Ballard, Jin-Tai Yu, Tay Siew Choon, Vahe Asvatourian, Natalia Muehlemann, Jan Priel, Karin Kook, Tenecia Sullivan, Diane Downie, Sonya Miller, Carol Pringle, John M. D. Storey, Tom Baddeley, Charles R. Harrington, Roger Staff, Anca-Larisa Sandu, Claire Hull, Richard G. Stefanacci, Claude M. Wischik

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Hydromethylthionine mesylate (HMTM) targets tau pathology and also has tau-independent symptomatic activity. A traditional randomised placebo-controlled trial (RCT) was precluded by loss of blinding due to urinary colouration and therapeutic activity at the minimum dose required to maintain blinding.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of HMTM in participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS: Because a traditional RCT was not feasible without loss of blinding, we compared HMTM 16 mg/day in TRx-237-039 with propensity score matched true placebo controls from the FDA-sponsored Critical Path for AD (CPAD) database with …

The Effect Of A Low-Glycemic Index Diet On Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Symptoms Among University-Aged Women, Angelika A. Gonzalez, Annalise M. Sankar, Noelle D. Nguyen

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is an endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age and is associated with insulin resistance, menstrual irregularities, hyperandrogenism, and metabolic dysfunction. Dietary modifications targeting glycemic response have emerged as a nonpharmacologic approach for PCOS management. However, long-term randomized controlled trials targeting young adult populations remain limited.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term effects of adherence to a low-glycemic index diet on the frequency and severity of PCOS symptoms among female college students ages 18-22. This 12-month randomized controlled trial will recruit participants meeting the Rotterdam criteria from university health clinics. Participants will be randomly …

Effects Of Probiotic Supplementation On Symptoms In Teenagers Ages 13-18 With Inflammatory Skin Conditions, Katelyn S. Walker, Jessica Rosen, Matilde Belfiore

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 are particularly susceptible to inflammatory skin disorders such as acne vulgaris and atopic dermatitis, which can have a detrimental effect on their physical and mental health. Emerging evidence highlights the importance of the gut-skin axis, indicating that the makeup of the gut microbiota affects both skin health and systemic inflammation. Adolescent-specific research is still limited even though probiotic supplementation, especially Lactobacillus strains, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory, animal, and small clinical studies.

The purpose of this experimental study is to determine whether oral probiotic supplementation improves inflammatory skin condition symptoms in …

Mplus Data For Campus Mental Health Study 2026 - Flourishing Paper, Alice Ann Crandall, Carl L. Hanson

ScholarsArchive Data

MPlus Data file, input file, and output file.

Patient Perception Of Pain Following Extraction And Bone Graft With Or Without Preemptive Ibuprofen: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Samah Rady

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Objective: The purpose of this randomized clinical trial is to investigate the effects of preemptive analgesia on postoperative pain following extraction and ridge preservation and to evaluate the association between dental care-related fear and anxiety, health literacy, fear of pain, and pain catastrophizing with post-operative pain and swelling perception as well as Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). Materials and Methods: Ibuprofen 600mg (test; n=9) or placebo (n=13) were randomly given one hour prior to extraction and ridge preservation. Preoperatively, patients completed the following questionnaires: Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), Oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14), Fear of Pain (FPQ-III), Pain …

Moving From Pico To Ppco, Amy Six-Means

PPCO Resources & Education

No abstract provided.

Ms-Gator: Multi-Scale Graph Attention With Topological Reasoning For Segmentation And Classification Of Prostate Cancer Based On Gleason Scores Using Histopathology Images, Sujata Patil, Mahadeva Swamy, Kavitha Sooda, Rajanikanth Vadigepalli, Khalid Nazim Abdul Sattar, Md Rafeeq

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Prostate cancer is one of the prevalent and potentially fatal malignancies, affecting men globally. Accurate segmentation and classification of prostate cancer in histopathology images remain challenging due to complex tissue architecture, staining variability, and high inter-observer differences in manual diagnosis. To address these challenges, this research proposes a Multi-Scale Graph Attention with Topological Reasoning (MS-GATOR) for segmentation and classification of prostate cancer based on Gleason Scores (GS). The MS-GATOR incorporates topological reasoning with hierarchical biological structures by constructing a graph-based representation among three spatial scales such as nuclei, glands, and tissues using Delaunay triangulation to capture both geometric and photometric …

Dementia De-Escalation Staff Education Program, Gretchan Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), including agitation and aggression, present significant challenges in acute care settings and contribute to increased staff injury risk and inconsistent patient care. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to evaluate the impact of a structured dementia de-escalation education program on staff knowledge, confidence, and perceived ability to manage dementia-related behaviors. The guiding PICOT question asked: In acute care staff, how does participation in a structured de-escalation training program that incorporates environmental modifications and organizational support, compared with no formal de-escalation training, affect staff knowledge, confidence, and perceived impact …

Conserved Post-Odor Dynamics In The Olfactory Systems Of Mice And Locusts, Elizabeth H Moss, Doris Ling, Cameron L Smith, Feiyang Deng, Ryan Kroeger, Jacob Reimer, Baranidharan Raman, Benjamin R Arenkiel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Interpreting chemical information and translating it into ethologically relevant output is a shared challenge of olfactory systems across species, but are olfactory computations conserved across species to overcome these common challenges? To investigate this, we compared neural activity in the locust antennal lobe (AL) and mouse olfactory bulb (OB) both during and after odor presentations. We found that odors activated nearly mutually exclusive neural ensembles during odor presentations ("ON response") and after the termination of the odor stimulus ("OFF response"). ON and OFF responses evoked by a single odor were anticorrelated with each other. Inverted OFF responses persisted long after …

Clustering Of Internet Behaviors And Associated Mental Health Outcomes Among U.S. Adolescents, Aakansha Singh, Timothy Grigsby, Miguel Fudolig, Ying Guo, Clariana Ramos De Oliveira

School of Medicine Research Poster Showcase

Poster: Clustering of Internet behaviors and associated mental health outcomes among U.S. adolescents

Patient's Age Impact On Stroke Risk And Intracranial Aneurysm Occlusion: Scent Flow Diverter Study-A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial On Large And Giant Aneurysms, Ajay K. Wakhloo, Paul Jenkins, Philip M. Meyers, Alexander L. Coon, Peter T. Kan, Ajit S. Puri, Joost De Vries, Giuseppe Lanzino, Mark D. Bain, Koji C. Ebersole, Babu G. Welch, Aclan Dogan, Pascal Jabbour, J. Mocco, Adnan H. Siddiqui, Aquilla S. Turk, Philipp Taussky, Ricardo A. Hanel

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The prospective single-arm nonrandomized SCENT (Surpass Intracranial Aneurysm Embolization System Pivotal) trial on flow diverter treatment of large and giant intracranial aneurysms (IA) was analyzed for patients' age and IA characteristics affecting stroke and occlusion rates over 5 years (Trial registration NCT01716117).

METHODS: Impact on major ipsilateral stroke and IA occlusion was studied by stratifying age as 65 years and younger vs older than 65. Kaplan-Meier estimates of time to both endpoints, stratified by age, were created. Univariate predictors of time-to-stroke were analyzed using univariable proportional hazards regression models. Limited bivariable modeling was also attempted.

RESULTS: Of …

Predicting Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer With Or Without Digital Rectal Exam And Mri Data Using Claritydx Prostate Models, Robert J Paproski, Adam Kinnaird, M Eric Hyndman, Adrian Fairey, Leonard Marks, Christian P Pavlovich, Sean A Fletcher, Roman Zachoval, Vanda Adamcova, Jiri Stejskal, Armen Aprikian, Christopher J D Wallis, Desmond Pink, Catalina Vasquez, Perrin H Beatty, John D Lewis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This prognostic study created optimized ensembles of calibrated random forest models to predict clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa, grade group ≥2 PCa) using total prostate-specific antigen (PSA), free PSA, negative biopsy status, and age, with or without DRE and MRI data. Observational data were aggregated from cohorts in six organizations in Canada, the USA, and Czechia. Prostate biopsies were performed between 2009 and 2024. Risk models (ClarityDX Prostate + DRE, ClarityDX Prostate + MRI, and ClarityDX Prostate + MRI + DRE) were derived (training cohorts n = 1626 to 2191) and validated (validation cohorts n = 378 to 1318) from …

An Emerging Approach To Ibd Treatment: Personalized Nutrition Through Gut Microbiome Optimization., Kafayat Yusuf, Thomas M. Attard, Mazin Al-Kasspooles, Shahid Umar

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by relapsing and remitting disease activity. Despite decades of research, a definitive cure for IBD remains elusive, as cycles of remission and flare-ups mark the disease course and often relies on long-term pharmacologic and supportive strategies. Increasing evidence indicates that diet and nutrition play an important role in modulating the outcomes of IBD. Although a wide range of dietary interventions has been explored, no universally effective approach has been established. Investigations have also proven that different dietary interventions can significantly affect clinical outcomes by altering gut …

Evaluating The Impact Of Vosoritide On Complications Of Achondroplasia, Ravi Savarirayan, Jacqueline T Hecht, Kala Jayaram, Sheetal Ingole, Anne Dee, Julie Hoover-Fong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Impaired endochondral bone growth in people with achondroplasia causes complications that impair function, cause pain, require surgery, and contribute to mortality. Rates of complications in participants with achondroplasia enrolled in clinical trials of vosoritide, a targeted treatment, were analyzed and compared with published natural history (NH) rates.

Methods: Prevalence (medical history + new events post-treatment initiation) and incidence (new/worsening events posttreatment initiation) were calculated for complications across 6 clinical trials (2.5-30 μg/kg/day vosoritide) in children with achondroplasia, stratified by age at treatment initiation (< 5 years/≥5 years). Complication-related procedures and mortality rates were examined.

Results: By August 2024, 230 participants received vosoritide (68 aged < 5 years at treatment initiation [exposure, 289.1 person-years]; 162 aged ≥5 years at treatment initiation [exposure, 834.5 person-years]). Prevalence for most complications was consistent with or lower than NH rates. Incidence of leg malalignment; foramen magnum stenosis; spinal stenosis; kyphosis; lordosis; hydrocephalus; ear, nose, and throat complications; and pain was generally lower than NH rates. Foramen magnum decompression frequency was 3.0% overall (5.9% in participants who initiated treatment aged < 2 years). Crude mortality was lower than NH rates.

Conclusion: Vosoritide was not associated …