Digital Commons Network^™

What Factors Increase Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementia?, Elizabeth Vásquez, Kai Zhang

Population Health Research Brief Series

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and ranks 7th in the leading causes of death in the United States (U.S.). This data slice uses nationwide data from 3,155 counties in the U.S. to identify the factors that best predict county-level rates of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRDs) in 2018. The results indicate that insufficient sleep, consuming less than one serving of fruits and vegetables per day, having no high school diploma, Black population percentage, and social vulnerability were among the leading factors predicting county-level ADRD prevalence.

Susceptible Windows Of Prenatal And Postnatal Fine Particulate Matter Exposures And Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms In Early Childhood, Wei-Jen Chen, Alison M Rector-Houze, Mònica Guxens, Carmen Iñiguez, Michael D Swartz, Elaine Symanski, Jesús Ibarluzea, Antonia Valentin, Aitana Lertxundi, Llúcia González-Safont, Jordi Sunyer, Kristina W Whitworth

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Few prior studies have explored windows of susceptibility to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in both the prenatal and postnatal periods and children’s attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms.

We analyzed data from 1,416 mother-child pairs from the Spanish INMA (INfancia y Medio Ambiente) Study (2003–2008). Around 5 years of age, teachers reported the number of ADHD symptoms (i.e., inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity) using the ADHD Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Around 7 years of age, parents completed the Conner’s Parent Rating Scales, from which we evaluated the ADHD index, cognitive problems/inattention, hyperactivity, and oppositional subscales, reported as age- and sex-standardized …

Multivalent Cytomegalovirus Glycoprotein B Nucleoside Modified Mrna Vaccines Did Not Demonstrate A Greater Antibody Breadth, Hsuan-Yuan Wang, Leike Li, Cody S Nelson, Richard Barfield, Sarah Valencia, Cliburn Chan, Hiromi Muramatsu, Paulo J C Lin, Norbert Pardi, Zhiqiang An, Drew Weissman, Sallie R Permar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) remains the most common congenital infection and infectious complication in immunocompromised patients. The most successful HCMV vaccine to date, an HCMV glycoprotein B (gB) subunit vaccine adjuvanted with MF59, achieved 50% efficacy against primary HCMV infection. A previous study demonstrated that gB/MF59 vaccinees were less frequently infected with HCMV gB genotype strains most similar to the vaccine strain than strains encoding genetically distinct gB genotypes, suggesting strain-specific immunity accounted for the limited efficacy. To determine whether vaccination with multiple HCMV gB genotypes could increase the breadth of anti-HCMV gB humoral and cellular responses, we immunized 18 female …

Race-Related Stress, Medical Mistrust, Covid-19 Worry, And Covid-19 Vaccination Behavior Among African Americans, Lisa A. Cash

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, nearly 104 million cases and over 1.1 million deaths from novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported overall, but African Americans have been disproportionately affected. Nevertheless, this population has demonstrated the lowest intention to be vaccinated and lowest vaccination rates of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States. The research problem addressed by this study is African American COVID-19 health disparities. The purpose of this investigation was to examine factors that influence COVID-19 vaccination behavior among African Americans, which is important to better understand how to achieve health equity. Using the health belief model …

Recombinant Rod Domain Of Vimentin Reduces Sars-Cov-2 Viral Replication By Blocking Spike Protein-Ace2 Interactions, Fong Wilson Lam, Cameron August Brown, Shannon Elizabeth Ronca

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Although the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is the primary preventive intervention, there are still few antiviral therapies available, with current drugs decreasing viral replication once the virus is intracellular. Adding novel drugs to target additional points in the viral life cycle is paramount in preventing future pandemics. The purpose of this study was to create and test a novel protein to decrease SARS-CoV-2 replication. We created the recombinant rod domain of vimentin (rhRod) in E. coli and used biolayer interferometry to measure its affinity to the SARS-CoV-2 S1S2 spike protein and the ability to block the SARS-CoV-2–ACE2 interaction. We performed plaque assays …

Success And Challenges Of Infrazygomatic Crest Implants In Orthodontics, Gauri Gill

Annual Research Symposium

Poster on success rates of mini implants used in the infrazygomatic region for orthodontic anchorage , as well as the factors that influence the success of the mini implant placed in IZC region.

Automated Micronuclei Detection In Exfoliated Oral Epithelial Cells Of Smokers Using Image Analysing Softwares, Mukul Saini, Sowmya Sv, Dominic Augustine, Sanjana Shetty, Saiprasad Alva

Annual Research Symposium

Micronuclei assay yields an excellent path to monitor individuals or populations exposed to mutagenic, genotoxic or teratogenic events. Micronuclei are small nucleic structures formed due to the deposition of nuclear envelopes around lagging chromosomes that persist in the interphase. Mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and N-nitrosamines are believed to be responsible for the formation of micronuclei. Hence, micronuclei detection in exfoliated oral epithelial cells of smokers is a significant biomarker for genotoxicity and to identify cellular changes of biological importance to carcinogenesis. While studies have been conducted for the detection of micronuclei in smokers, they may …

Investigating The Role Of Chaos In Minimizing Tumor Growth, Maxwell Geiger

Annual Research Symposium

Chaos is a type of motion found in mathematical systems that is highly sensitive to initial conditions. While many biological systems described in literature have been analyzed for the presence of chaotic dynamics, there are still many that are yet to be discovered. The goal of this project is to reassess Itik and Banks’ discovery of chaotic behavior in their population dynamics model of cancer growth. Once chaotic behavior is confirmed, we want to investigate how chaos could possibly be controlled to minimize tumor growth and discover novel treatments for cancer patients.

A Pharmacist’S Central Role In Improving Hormonal Contraceptive Access, Aleese Smith, Urvi Patel, Alexandra Arledge, Josie Young, Erin Johanson

Annual Research Symposium

In 2019, the roles of Utah pharmacists grew with the implementation of a statewide standing order allowing prescribing abilities for hormonal contraceptives. With the rates of unplanned pregnancies in Utah up to 1 in every 5; pharmacists have a new role in birth control distribution. Pharmacists and pharmacy interns across the state of Utah are able to prescribe self-administered hormonal contraceptive medications including: oral pills, vaginal insertion medications, and birth control patches. Pharmacists are entrusted with the responsibility to evaluate the patient and their needs to ensure all women receiving birth control are educated about the risks and side effects …

The National Status Of Pharmacists’ Ability To Prescribe Hormonal Contraceptives, Aleese Smith, Urvi Patel, Alexandra Arledge, Josie Young, Erin Johanson

Annual Research Symposium

The scope of practice for pharmacists first expanded in California and Oregon with the ability to prescribe hormonal contraceptives to patients in their communities. Since 2016, over 33 states now allow for pharmacist prescribing of birth control in their pharmacy practice laws.

90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a retail pharmacy, making community pharmacies an accessible resource who may otherwise be unable to access contraceptives. The gap in care experienced by certain patient populations is now being filled by pharmacists with their ability to prescribe birth control.

Uterine Leiomyomata As A Cause Of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome In The Postpartum Period, Mason Hui, Baha Sibai, Alvaro Montealegre, Mateo G Leon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Uterine leiomyomas are common benign smooth muscle tumors that often occur during the reproductive years. Although many cases may not result in significant complications, negative pregnancy outcomes have been associated with the size and location of the fibroids. Degeneration of fibroids can occur as early as the late first trimester when they undergo significant volumetric growth, contributing to pain during pregnancy. While myomectomy is typically avoided during pregnancy, conservative management with anti-inflammatory medications may be effective. Surgical removal or preterm delivery may be necessary if symptoms persist. Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a rare condition characterized by sustained elevated intra-abdominal …

Clinical Outcomes And Bacterial Characteristics Of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii Among Patients From Different Global Regions., Minggui Wang, Lizhao Ge, Liang Chen, Lauren Komarow, Blake Hanson, Jinnethe Reyes, Eric Cober, Thamer Alenazi, Zhiyong Zong, Qing Xie, Zhengyin Liu, Lanjuan Li, Yunsong Yu, Hainv Gao, Souha S Kanj, Jairo Figueroa, Erica Herc, Ezequiel Cordova, Gregory Weston, Paul Ananth Tambyah, Julia Garcia-Diaz, Keith S Kaye, Sorabh Dhar, Jose M Munita, Robert A Salata, Samuel Vilchez, Martin E Stryjewski, Maria Virginia Villegas Botero, Alina Iovleva, Scott R Evans, Keri Baum, Carol Hill, Barry N Kreiswirth, Robin Patel, David L Paterson, Cesar A Arias, Robert A Bonomo, Henry F Chambers, Vance G Fowler, Michael J Satlin, David Van Duin, Yohei Doi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAb) is 1 of the most problematic antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. We sought to elucidate the international epidemiology and clinical impact of CRAb.

Methods: In a prospective observational cohort study, 842 hospitalized patients with a clinical CRAb culture were enrolled at 46 hospitals in five global regions between 2017 and 2019. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 30 days from the index culture. The strains underwent whole-genome analysis.

Results: Of 842 cases, 536 (64%) represented infection. By 30 days, 128 (24%) of the infected patients died, ranging from 1 (6%) of 18 in Australia-Singapore to 54 (25%) …

Description Of Cryptococcosis Following Sars-Cov-2 Infection: A Disease Survey Through The Mycosis Study Group Education And Research Consortium (Msg-19), Jeremey Walker, Todd Mccarty, Gerald Mcgwin, Eloy E Ordaya, Paschalis Vergidis, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Mehriban Mammadova, Andrej Spec, Adriana M Rauseo, John Perfect, Julia Messina, Gabriel Vilchez, Rachel Mcmullen, Carolynn T Jones, Peter G Pappas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Invasive fungal infections have been described throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Cryptococcal disease after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been reported in several isolated case reports and 1 larger case series. We sought to describe cryptococcal infections following SARS-CoV-2 through establishing a database to investigate underlying risk factors, disease manifestations, and outcomes.

METHODS: We created a crowdsourced call for cases solicited through the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emerging Infectious Diseases Network, and infectious diseases Twitter groups. Data were collected in a web-based and secure REDCap …

Immunity From Nk Cell Subsets Is Important For Vaccine-Mediated Protection In Hpv+ Cancers, Madison P O'Hara, Ananta V Yanamandra, K Jagannadha Sastry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are associated with genital and oral cancers, and the incidence of HPV+ head and neck squamous cell cancers is fast increasing in the USA and worldwide. Survival rates for patients with locally advanced disease are poor after standard-of-care chemoradiation treatment. Identifying the antitumor host immune mediators important for treatment response and designing strategies to promote them are essential. We reported earlier that in a syngeneic immunocompetent preclinical HPV tumor mouse model, intranasal immunization with an HPV peptide therapeutic vaccine containing the combination of aGalCer and CpG-ODN adjuvants (TVAC) promoted clearance of HPV vaginal tumors via induction …

Ucf's Infectious Disease And Travel Health Initiative: Pioneering Resilience For A Healthier Tomorrow, Chait Renduchintala, Frank Badu-Baiden

Rosen Research Review

In a world grappling with the profound challenges posed by infectious diseases and global travel, the University of Central Florida (UCF) stands at the forefront of groundbreaking research and innovation. An exceptional new initiative—the Infectious Disease and Travel Health Initiative—is set to revolutionize how we approach health resilience, disease outbreak mitigation, traveler safety, and the continuity of essential services. Spearheaded by eminent researchers from UCF's College of Medicine, including Dr. Kenneth A. Alexander, Dr. Griff Parks, Dr. Eric Schrimshaw, and Dr. Taj Azarian, along with Dr. Robertico Croes, principal investigator from the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management, this initiative …

Predictive Criterion Validity Of The Parsley Symptom Index Against The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-10 In A Chronic Disease Cohort: Retrospective Cohort Study, Hants Williams, Sarah Steinberg, Kendall Leon, Ryan Vingum, Mengyao Hu, Robin Berzin, Heather Hagg, Patrick Hanaway

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Approximately 60% of US adults live with chronic disease, imposing a significant burden on patients and the health care system. With the rise of telehealth, patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) have emerged as pivotal tools for managing chronic disease. While numerous PROMs exist, few have been designed explicitly for telehealth settings. The Parsley Symptom Index (PSI) is an electronic patient-reported outcome measure (ePROM) developed specifically for telehealth environments.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to determine whether the PSI predicts changes in the established Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-10 (PROMIS-10) Global Health, a 10-question short form.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort …

Backfilling Patients In Phase I Dose-Escalation Trials Using Bayesian Optimal Interval Design (Boin), Yixuan Zhao, Ying Yuan, Edward L Korn, Boris Freidlin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In recent years, there has been increased interest in incorporation of backfilling into dose-escalation clinical trials, which involves concurrently assigning patients to doses that have been previously cleared for safety by the dose-escalation design. Backfilling generates additional information on safety, tolerability, and preliminary activity on a range of doses below the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), which is relevant for selection of the recommended phase II dose and dose optimization. However, in practice, backfilling may not be rigorously defined in trial protocols and implemented consistently. Furthermore, backfilling designs require careful planning to minimize the probability of treating additional patients with potentially …

Virtual Facilitation Best Practices And Research Priorities: A Scoping Review, Asya Agulnik, Derrecka Boykin, Denalee M O'Malley, Julia Price, Mia Yang, Mark Mckone, Geoffrey Curran, Mona J Ritchie

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Facilitation is an implementation strategy that supports the uptake of evidence-based practices. Recently, use of virtual facilitation (VF), or the application of facilitation using primarily video-based conferencing technologies, has become more common, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Thorough assessment of the literature on VF, however, is lacking. This scoping review aimed to identify and describe conceptual definitions of VF, evaluate the consistency of terminology, and recommend "best" practices for its use as an implementation strategy.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review to identify literature on VF following the PRISMA-ScR guidance. A search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and …

Development Of A Curriculum For Osteoporosis Education In Rural Populations, Serin Baker, Hannah Berhow, Rebekah Hans, Emily Schwartz, Hunter Stutz, Mehruba Alam, Alizon Pachas, Darell Schmick, David Sant Phd, Erika Noonan Md

Annual Research Symposium

Osteoporosis contributes to annual costs exceeding $10 billion in the U.S. due to hip fractures and is the primary cause of hospitalization among older women. Historically, geriatric populations have received inadequate education in navigating the U.S. medical system, emphasizing the importance of targeted education among the elderly. The study’s objective is to improve health literacy among the geriatric population in rural Utah by expanding their understanding of osteoporosis.

Birth Progression Monitoring Device, Erik Gardner, Jaryn Anderson, Alesia Larsen, Joseph Sherman, Marina Setelmayer, Hadley Thomas, Ben Merrell, Will Michelson, Preston Manwaring, Kim Manwaring

Annual Research Symposium

Over the last two decades, there has been an increase in the number of cesarian sections performed in the United States both planned and unplanned. To help reduce the rise in unplanned cesarian sections we have developed a device that will give physicians and other medical professionals more information about where the fetus is in the birth canal in real time. This current study aims to test the accuracy and usability of the prototype birth progression monitor on birth simulations.

Ligaplant: Recreating Natural From Artificial, Disha Kamavisdar

Annual Research Symposium

Missing teeth can be substituted by the use of the dental implants. The most widely used implants in the current scenario are the osseointegrated implants with various shortcomings and the most prominent one is the lack of the periodontal ligament. To overcome this, implants with periodontal ligaments can be procured and this can be possible by the application of the tissue engineering concept along with suitable implant material.

Application Of In-Silico Computational Biology Strategies To Demonstrate Mechanism Of Oral Cancer Cell Death By Natural Peptide, Dr Dominic Augustine

Annual Research Symposium

This research work is designed to identify biomolecules from Earthworm Coelomic Fluid (ECF) of Eudrilus Eugeniae (EE) that can inhibit oral cancer cells from proliferating. The study aims to construct a homology model of the 18 kDa protein from ECF of EE (18-ECFP) with molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) to enable its molecular docking with pro-apoptotic caspase receptors with determination of binding energy scores. The study also evaluates the anti-cancer potential of 18-ECFP on SCC-9 cells in vitro by wet lab techniques.

Pathogenic Implications Of Candidal Species In Both Oral Cancer And Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders - A Review, Dr Dominic Augustine, Sowmya Sv, Kuntala Mondal

Annual Research Symposium

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the 6th most common cancer in worldwide. Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and betel quid chewing are its major risk factors other factors that can lead to OSCC include excessive sun exposure, viral or fungal infection, poor nutrition, and poor oral hygiene. The carcinogenesis of OSCC occurs gradually and oral epithelial dysplasia is considered a potential histologic precursor of OSCC. Most OSCC cases are preceded by clinically evident oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs). The aim of this review is to correlate the association between Candida species and oral potentially malignant disorders and its possible mechanisms …

Immunohistochemical Expression Of Cyclin D1 In Dentigerous Cyst, Odontogenic Keratocyst And Unicystic Ameloblastoma- An In-Vitro Study, Kuntala Mondal, Sv Sowmya, Dominic Augustine

Annual Research Symposium

Cyclin D1, a G1 cyclin member, regulates the transition of the cell cycle from the G1 phase to the S phase. The uncontrolled and elevated expression of cyclin D1 has been associated with rapid growth, heightened proliferative activity and increased histologic aggressiveness. Unicystic ameloblastoma pertains to cystic lesions that present clinical, radiographic, or gross features akin to jaw cysts. Nevertheless, upon histological scrutiny, these lesions display a distinctive ameloblastomatous epithelium lining the cystic cavity, with or without luminal or mural proliferation. This cystic variant of tumor bears substantial resemblances to dentigerous cysts, and occasionally, both entities can become indistinguishable upon …

An Immunohistochemical Panel For The Accurate Differentiation Between Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma And Pleomorphic Adenoma, Kuntala Mondal, Sv Sowmya, Dominic Augustine

Annual Research Symposium

Salivary Gland Tumors (SGTs) are a diverse group of neoplasms, with a wide range of histological subtypes, some of which can exhibit overlapping features. Amongst this group of tumors, Pleomorphic Adenoma (PA) and Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma (MEC) stand out as prevalent entities originating from the salivary glands. The accurate differentiation between these two entities is crucial for treatment planning, as it influences decisions regarding the extent of surgical resection. Because of the overlapping histopathological features, it is difficult to differentiate these two lesions with the help of conventional Hematoxylin & Eosin (H& E). The evaluation of Immunohistochemical (IHC) markers holds pivotal …

Cheiloscopic Characteristics Detection And Pattern Classification By Machine Learning Technique, Dr Dominic Augustine, Sowmya Sv

Annual Research Symposium

Machine Learning (ML) is a field enhancing the rapid growth of technology. Though use of digital softwares for cheiloscopic investigations have been attempted with limited success, the use of ML based techniques are scarce and seldom have been employed in forensic odontology. The present study aimed to identify cheiloscopic patterns through machine learning based methods and to correlate the segmented patterns with age and gender of individuals.

Association Between Abo Blood Grouping And Odontometry: An Unexplored Evidence In Forensics, Dr Dominic Augustine, Sowmya Sv

Annual Research Symposium

Recent research has exhibited a strong association between ABO blood groups and susceptibility to diseases. Extraoral and intraoral hard tissue landmarks provide a stable and reliable record for odontological and anthropological analysis, forensic investigations and identification. The association between anthropometric indices and ABO blood grouping have been reported in the past, however, the association between ABO blood groups and odontometric indices is yet to be comprehensively explored. This study aimed to establish the correlation of ABO blood groups with odontometric indices and extraoral hard tissue landmarks for personnel identification.

Assessing The Prevalence Of Computer Vision Syndrome At An Osteopathic Medical School With An Electronic Content Delivery Model, Jonathon Reynolds, Joseph Bachman, Elizabeth Turner, Tipsuda Junsanto-Bahri Md

Annual Research Symposium

To determine the overall prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS) among students, faculty, and staff while promoting awareness. CVS is caused by extended screen exposure that can lead to eye discomfort and vision changes which can affect quality of life and educational performance. Our institution is a new Osteopathic medical school that aims to create an innovative approach to medical education delivery via employment of modern technology that is already prevalent. Implementation of pre-recorded lecture materials in the curriculum requires 4-6 additional electronic screen exposure hours. Members of our institution are potentially at increased risk for CVS stemming from the …

Advanced Techniques For Tooth Pulp Rna Extraction In Forensic Investigations-A Systematic Review, Kuntala Mondal, Sv Sowmya, Dominic Augustine

Annual Research Symposium

Teeth are fundamental structures in a forensic context due to their high strength and specificity. It is challenging to obtain high quality RNA from pulpal tissues. It has been described that pulp RNA degradation could be an indicator of post-mortem interval. Researchers have been in the quest to develop optimal techniques for tooth RNA extraction. The systematic review aimed to determine the most reliable method of RNA extraction from dental tooth pulp for forensic investigations.

Assessment Of Micrometastasis In Lymph Nodes Of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma –Attaining Excellence Through Immunohistochemistry, Dr Dominic Augustine, Sowmya Sv, Kuntala Mondal

Annual Research Symposium

Cervical lymph node metastasis is the most important prognostic factor in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck (SCCHN). Lymph node prognostic determinants hold immense significance in influencing both patient’s survival outcomes and the propensity for recurrence. The current study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Cyclin D1 and Pan-CK for the detection of lymph node micrometastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissue sections and re-evaluate the tumor staging.